It’s been 67 years since he flew his last Avenger flight in World War II, 20 years since he was commander-in-chief, but ailing former President George H.W. Bush still feels that it is his job to cheer returning American troops, especially the injured.
At a dinner this month called by the United States Association of Former Members of Congress in part to honor his lifetime of service to the nation, Bush turned the attention to the recovery of a 22-year-old Pennsylvania marine, Lance Cpl. Mark Fidler, who lost his legs in an explosion during his first combat tour in Afghanistan last October.
Bush, unable to attend the Washington dinner, videotaped a thank you message to the group then had a letter to Fidler, in the audience, read by dinner chairman former Rep. Lou Frey, R-Fla.
“I don’t pretend to know the trauma you have endured, Mark, and I wish there was something I could do to help. But maybe it does help a tiny bit to know that a lot of folks are in your corner praying for you and admiring you–and that includes Barbara and me,” penned the 41st president in the letter provided to Washington Secrets. “Hang in there,” he added. “This Navy man and former commander-in-chief salutes you and sends you his respects and his warmest best wishes.”
In a brief interview, Fidler said the letter, and its reading at the dinner, was “awesome” and said it gave him encouragement during his recovery at Bethesda Medical Hospital. “It gave me some inspiration,” he said.
Frey said it was his idea to read the letter, one of many Bush sends to troops and others. “He’s just incredible,” Frey said of the former president who spends most of his days in Houston. “He doesn’t do this stuff for a purpose. He’s just that kind of a person,” added Frey. “This was typical Bush.”
