Airman receives special Christmas phone call

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tammie Moore
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq --  An Airman deployed from Spangdahlem Air Base received a unique Christmas gift, a phone call from Pres. George W. Bush thanking her for service to the country.

Airman 1st Class Rachael Whitlow, 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron aviation resource management, was excited as she waited to be connected with the President while some of her co-workers watched.

"He told me to tell everyone, 'Merry Christmas,'" she said. "Also, he said that he read about my husband and me, and that he thanks us for our service."

Her husband, Airman 1st Class Gregory Whitlow, is currently stationed at Kadena Air Force Base, Japan.

Airman Whitlow was notified by her commander that she was selected to receive the phone call; after which she received advice from her fellow Airmen about what to say.

"Mostly I was told to just act normal, say 'yes sir' and 'no sir,'" she said.

While the conversation was short, the memory is one that Airman Whitlow will carry with her for a long time.

The whole thing was really great, she said. "I mean who else gets to talk to the President."