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                         February 1, 2002

USMA grad among special guests at State of Union address

WASHINGTON (Army News Service) -- Three soldiers who fought in Afghanistan, the widow of another, and a soldier who helped with the Pentagon search and rescue Sept. 11 attended the president’s State of the Union address Tuesday.

The White House extended invitations to the four soldiers and Renae Chapman, wife of the first soldier killed by hostile fire in Afghanistan.

Capt. Jason Amerine (USMA ’93) and two members of his Army Special Forces "A Team" represented Operation Enduring Freedom veterans at the event. Amerine’s Operational Detachment Alpha was one of the first U.S. military forces on the ground in Afghanistan and fought alongside Hamid Karzai, now the interim leader of that country.

Sgt. 1st Class Michael S. McElhiney and Sgt. 1st Class Ronnie L. Raikes of Amerine’s detachment sat with First Lady Laura Bush in Congress’ Executive Gallery during the televised address.

McElhiney lost one arm and the other was severely damaged in a Dec. 5 explosion during the battle for Kandahar. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with a "V" device for valor, and the Purple Heart.

"I feel good just for being here and representing the Special Forces community that’s still over in Afghanistan," McElhiney said.

Raikes was also wounded Dec. 5 when a bomb dropped by a U.S. aircraft hit close to where the Special Forces soldiers were fighting. Raikes was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

"It’s a great honor to be asked to come here," said Amerine, who watched the State of the Union speech from a different gallery, allowing his soldiers to accompany the first lady. "But I don’t want all the focus to be on our team. I want people to understand that there are other teams still over there doing the same job we did."

Operation Noble Eagle veteran Spc. Angela M. Ortega also joined the first lady for the State of the Union address. She is a member of the Military District of Washington Engineer Company at Fort Belvoir, Va. She helped shore up the timbers and structure of the Pentagon immediately after the Sept. 11 attack so that rescue personnel could retrieve the wounded and deceased from the building.

Renae Chapman, who lives near Fort Lewis, Wash., also joined the Army group. She is the widow of Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Chapman, a Special Forces soldier killed Jan. 4 in the Gardez-Khost region of Afghanistan. His team was ambushed following a meeting with locals.

Before the State of the Union address, the four soldiers and Mrs. Chapman attended a White House reception in the East Wing. The First Lady and her guests then departed for the Capitol.

The soldiers also met with Secretary of the Army Thomas White, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John Keane and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack L. Tilley.

"It was a great pleasure to meet the people who make the decisions for the Army," Raikes said. "It’s really great to know that we’re getting the support we need to accomplish our mission when we go into a country like Afghanistan."