Commander In Chief lands at Milwaukee Air Guard Wing

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nathan T. Wallin
  • 128ARW/PA
President Barack Obama made a brief appearance at the 128th Air Refueling Wing today before a scheduled town hall meeting in Racine.

Air Force One touched down at General Mitchell International Airport around noon.

After briskly departing the aircraft, the president was greeted on the tarmac by Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and the 128 ARW Wing Commander, Col. Ted Metzgar. The president immediately walked to a receiving line of over 150 Airmen who were waiting for an opportunity to meet the president.

Senior Airman Justin Gruber, a crew chief in the 128th's Maintenance Squadron, was among the many Milwaukee airmen who shook hands with their commander in chief.

"It was pretty cool, he came over to us really quick and I froze for a second," Gruber said.

"He looked at me, and I said 'welcome Mr. President' and he replied 'Thank you for your service,'" Gruber added.

Tech. Sgt. Kristen Henrichs, a military pay technician in the 128th's Finance Office also met the president.

"He was very personable and friendly, he looked me right in the eye and said 'it's nice to meet you,'" Henrichs told a military reporter during an interview later in the day.

Henrichs continued, "It was an awesome day, it's not every day you get to meet the president."

Soon after he greeted the assembled airmen, the president was gone, his motorcade on its way to the meeting in Racine.