RETURNING TROOPS NOT ALLOWED INTO OAKLAND AIRPORT TERMINAL
On September 27th 204 Marines and soldiers who were returning from Iraq
were not allowed into the passenger terminal at Oakland International
Airport. Instead they had to deplane about 400 yards away from the
terminal where the extra baggage trailers were located.
This was the last scheduled stop for fuel and food prior to flying to
Hawaii where both were based. The trip started in Kuwait on September
26th with a rigorous search of checked and carry on baggage by US
Customs. All baggage was x-rayed with a “backscatter”,machine AND each
bag was completely emptied and hand searched. After being searched,
checked bags were marked and immediately placed in a secure container.
Carry on bags were then x rayed again to ensure no contraband items were
taken on the plane. While waiting for the bus to the airport, all
personnel were in quarantined in a fenced area and were not allowed to
leave.
The first stop for fuel/food and crew change was in Leipzig Germany.
Troops exited the aircraft and took a bus to a reception area in the
terminal, where there was a convenience store, phones, Internet and
restrooms. As we excited the bus we were given a re-boarding pass. Three
troops remained on the plane with the rifles and pistols. There was no
ammunition on the plane and the bolts of the rifles had been removed.
After about 2 hours troops re-boarded the plane and flew to JFK in NY.
At JFK the procedure was similar to Germany, 3 troops stayed on the
plane to guard weapons while the rest deplaned. At the gate we were each
given a re-boarding pass and spent about 1.5 hours in the terminal, at
which time we re-boarded and flew to Oakland.
As we came in for the final approach to Oakland a Lieutenant who served
in Afghanistan with the same unit in 2006 mentioned how when they landed
in Oakland they were not allowed in the terminal. He said, “they made us
get out by the FED EX building and we had to sit out there for 3 hours”.
He also indicated he was almost arrested by the TSA for getting
belligerent about them not letting the Marines into the terminal.
Well the same thing happened again. This time we did not park by the FED
EX building, instead we were offloaded near the grass that separates the
active runway from the taxi ramp, about 400 yards from the terminal.
When we inquired why they wouldn’t allow us in the airport they gave us
some lame excuse that we hadn’t been screened by TSA. While true, the
screening which we did have was much more thorough than any TSA search
and was done by US Customs. Additionally, JFK didn’t seem to have a
problem with our entering their terminal, nor did security in Germany.
It felt like being spit on. Every Marine and soldier felt the message
loud and clear, “YOU ARE NOT WELCOME IN OAKLAND!”
Chaplain Brandon Harding
1ST BN 3D MARINES
My friend Bob T also added: I say boycott Oakland, California and anything to do with them. Don't go to any oakland sporting events, don't go into oakland to visit. When everyone in Oakland feels a hit to thier pockets, then they will do something about thier airport.
(repost of original by 'PITA BUNNY' on '2007-10-03 10:36:45')
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