The Long Gray Line

Bill Kelly, Lemoore, Ca — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:17:18 GMT

Mr. Williams,
I greatly admire your devotion to a great man. You are a class gentleman.
Very Respectfully,
Bill Kelly

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Tom Davis, Lansing, MI — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:47:02 GMT

Thank you for telling the story of General Downing. He deserves the title, "American Hero."

God Bless.

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Steve Mattoon Columbus, GA — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:55:19 GMT

Brian;
It was an honor for Marilyn and I to meet you and your wife today, you like General Diwning are a great American for the way you do your job. My offer to you to come to Fort Benning to our training site for some shooting is always open.

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Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta,Georgia — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:13:53 GMT

Good Evening Mr.Williams, What a beautifully written tribute about General Wayne Downing, a true patriot to our country and a friend, traveling companion, teacher and protector of yours. The military honors for General Wayne Downing that you showed at the end of the broadcast looked like a fine tribute. He will always be with you in spirit Mr.Williams. On another note regarding the medical news concerning alcohol and breast cancer I suppose one tries ones best to keep healthy and follow what these studies indicate, but as you say there is always a new study every 5 or 6 months later. It is difficult to keep up with all the information. Thank you Mr Williams for the broadcast. Again, a fine tribute to General Downing. Peace to all.

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Nancy Lemieux, Blountville, TN — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:20:11 GMT

Brian,
A wonderful tribute to a great American military hero. I hope to see a book written by you in the future, "Hit me with the sweet spot, General."
Respectfully,
Nancy Lemieux

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Larry Bjorson, Charlotte, NC — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:44:43 GMT

Brian:

You have done the General well. He was a great American in whatever he did for this country. A man who not only cared about is country but his men and his friends. I watch you nightly and I am grateful to have the opportunity to listen to a down to earth newscaster as yourself. You have my respect.

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SSG Robert Bell, Austin, TX — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:10:26 GMT

Brian, I watch you everynight. Thank you for doing what you do the way you do it.
About the great American Hero, General Wayne Downing; I am curious on why he was laid to rest at Westpoint more than two months after he died. He deserves every honor that the Army can award the General, I was really surprised to see that delay in the burial at Westpoint though.

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Lynn G., Minneapolis, MN — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:14:00 GMT

Thank you, Brian, for another tribute to this wonderful American. From day to day, we hear so much about the bad guys among us; it's a ray of brilliant sunshine to be reminded that there are still people who value honor and duty, and who serve without fanfare and ego. I hope the General is only in the company of angels now.

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Dot, Illinois — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:33:13 GMT

Mr. Williams:

Thank you for sharing the story of General Downing. He apparently was a man who loved life, and his life in the military. May this good man rest in peace.

The fighting in Burma is very troubling. Buddhist monks are men of prayer and peace. Seeing them being attacked and beaten disturbs me--it just seems wrong!
Hopefully calm can somehow be restored to this country soon.

Saying goodbye to friends is never easy, so if you had a down day, I wish you a more joyous one tomorrow.

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COL (Ret) Bruce M. Hamilton — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 01:46:19 GMT

Mr. Williams: Thank you so much for taking the time to pay tribute to a great soldier and patriate. He was a soldier's soldier and greatly respected throughout the military. Thanks also for broadcasting from West Point. The cadets at West Point are in training to be our future military leaders in this dangerous time for our nation. God bless them all!

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Andy McArdle, West Point, NY — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 02:05:01 GMT

Mr.Williams, there will never be enough thanks for all you and youre fellow journalist do to bring the American people and the world insight to the goings on of life around all of us. Thank you for the brodcast this evening from West Point and the kind tribute to(R)General Wayne A.Downing.Being an average civilian here in NY, I had never know the man or much of his career accomplishments. I did however get the personal privledge today as I was able to walk directly beside his flag drapped coffin as it made it's way by horse and carriage to the West Point cemetary to the Generals final resting place. The stories of his life that I heard today and throughout the previous week moved me greatly. I never knew General Downing but I was able to spend the last hour of his physical being on this earth beside him, his family, and friends. We were blessed to have him as an American soldier. My sympathy to his family. Duty,Honor,Country. Thank You!!!

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Suzanne Pratt, Birmingham, AL — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 05:12:04 GMT

Thank you Brian for telling us about the General. It must have been a rare privilege to know and work with this gentleman. As I read your story about him all I could think of was the phrase "a life well spent" - to accomplish what he did, know what he knew, and be the gentleman he surely was is such a great example for us all.

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Mina Park-Hyun, Cold Spring, New York — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 08:11:38 GMT

Dear Mr. Williams,
Thank you so much for sharing your story of General Downing. I am one of the innkeepers at the Hudson House in Cold Spring, NY where many of General Downing's immediate family are staying for the funeral procession at West Point. I am ashamed to say that I have not heard much of General Downing or have known how much he has done for the security of this country. Although I have graduated with a Political Science degree, I have stopped watching the news or kept up with past and current affairs of our nation in war. Your story has sparked a fire within me and have caused me to change my apathy into more inquiry and responsibility. For one man such as General Downing to do so much for America and the course of history gives me great hope for the future. I regret not knowing of him before he has passed but I feel very fortunate to have met with his family and will express my gratitude to them.
I once again thank you, Mr. Williams for what you do to inform citizens such as myself to "wake up" and be more proactive.
Sincerely,
Mina Park

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Buck Kernan, Pinehurst, NC — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:19:50 GMT

Brian:
Thank you, Tom, and the NBC crew for the honor you renedered our friend, Wayne Downing. I am sorry I did not get a chance to personally thank you yesterday. I can attest to the fact that Wayne tresured your friendship and appreciated the opportunity you and NBC gave him to convey to the public the real stories of our American patriot-warriors. Well done!!

Buck Kernan

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Bruce Moore, San Antonio, TX — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:28:40 GMT

Brian,
I also want to thank you for all you and the NBC/MSNBC personal did for Wayne and his family. I was at the ceremony and you did so much for the family by your comments and presentation. Outstanding in all aspects. A heartfelt thanks.

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Straight UP//AZ — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 04:58:58 GMT

Brian.

I is wonderfull the meaning in which you honor this General and your Friend. I'm sure you shall miss such a honorable man.

As this story presented honor, so is another story presented by John Rutherford ""Purple Heart "candor".

The article was replusive and served as to ""One"" standing on his "soap Box" as a war Protester!

The article started to inform about those soldiers which had been awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds on the battle field while serving in Iraq.

Then ""the subject matter content turned to their tour of duty"" He ""QUESTIONED" those soldiers a Walter Reed Hospital, as to how they felt of their tour of duty being extended from 12 months to 15 monthss, spinning that the Marines only serve ""SEVZEN MONTHS""! He also injected the hardship families endure!!

With the next Paragraph ""John Rutherford slammed the President and the Army for the tour of duty extention.

This article was only self serving and was a needless article to use a medal decoration cermoney which honored our wounded troops.

Does NSN hire War Protesters to devalue our troops morale and their moment to be honored for their valor and service?

It is a replusive article ""If you can understand English!

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Ron and Martha Howard, Allen, Texas — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:27:32 GMT

Deepest sympathies Tim will live on for eternity.