From Katrina to Harvey: Honore' reunites with twins saved 12 years ago

[Stuart G]

http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/02/us/honore-harvey-katrina-houston/index.html

This one will bring a smile to you....


Houston (CNN) — Almost 12 years to the day after her babies nearly succumbed to the hellish aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Alexandra Wheeler finally got to thank the man she credits for saving their lives.

In the throes of another devastating flood, retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré arrived this week in Houston, where Wheeler and her boys put down roots after Katrina's flood forced them from New Orleans.

Historic rain from the storm known as Harvey left Wheeler's home unharmed this week. But the storm gave her an opportunity to tell Honoré what he has meant to her and sons, now almost teenagers, since they first encountered each other a dozen years a

"We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you," she told him.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Please read the part where the retired general gets a hug from Alexandra Wheeler for saving her kids..What he says is total "class"...

[tblue37]

1. We need the picture of that lovely family:

[Stuart G]

2. Thank You for posting that picture..

Wonderful..!!!

[tblue37]

4. The boys were just 6-month-old babies at the time! nt

[tblue37]

6. Those kids are so cute. nt

[LeftInTX]

14. Those are some earrings!!!!!

[tblue37]

3. when trying to find safety, she ran into military who pointed their weapons at her and her infants.

Gen. Honore ordered the troops to put their weapons down!

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[tblue37]

5. Ms. Wheeler says without his help, she and her babies would have died of thirst and starvation:

"Put those weapons down, dammit!" he yelled at the troops in a moment now famous for recalibrating the military's role in the disaster zone from enforcer to helper.

snip

CNN's Barbara Starr was there in 2005 when Honoré encountered Wheeler and her twins, who by then were lethargic from too little nourishment and exposure to overwhelming heat.

snip

"Grab the babies, c'mon!" Honoré said as he took the children from Wheeler and handed them off to soldiers. "C'mon, tiger. Let's go!"
Honoré walked with the family to a US Coast Guard boat that took them to a Navy ship. There, they bathed and got clean clothes and food.

snip

All told, Wheeler estimated that Honoré spent about four hours with her and her boys, whom he cradled in his arms.

[tblue37]

7. The babies really were near death when they were airlifted to a hospital in San Antonio:

The family was airlifted to San Antonio. At a hospital there, it became clear just how much the babies' health had deteriorated.

"They were completely dehydrated. Their veins -- everything -- it was really hard for them to put in IVs," Wheeler said. "They were there for a week and a half. A'Mari actually coded blue, and then J'Mari went directly after him."

[politicat]

12. I'd forgotten the looks of contempt and hate Gen. Honore got for that order.

Those snot-nosed 19 year olds wanted to kill someone.

[shanny]

19. why the fuck were the guns "up" in the first place

(yeah, I know: scary black people and lotters...christ on a trailer hitch)

[Hoyt]

8. Honore deserves a Freedom Medal and statue.

[sandensea]

9. Hear, hear.

He was perhaps Bush's only wise appointment, and truly lived up to his name: Honoré, of course, means 'honored' in French.

[burrowowl]

17. I agree!!!!

[malaise]

10. Saw this on CNN

Lovely

[raven mad]

11. Another statue to add to my wish list when the confederate ones are all down.

And this.

"I will take that hug, he said, "on behalf of all our military people that were there on the ground as first responders."

[GoCubsGo]

13. I'm so glad their home was spared from the flooding.

It would suck to have to endure that kind of hell twice.

Great story! Thanks for posting it, Stuart!

[tavernier]

15. I was privileged to meet him several years ago

at an event in the Keys where he spoke for about an hour. Interesting man with a wonderful sense of humor.

[LeftInTX]

16. What a great story!

There were so many Katrina stories, that I couldn't keep up. I did not know about these two little boys. She is very lucky that they did not die. The awful conditions: Days in the heat, no food and water...poor babies...

[KT2000]

18. I remember seeing him

tell troops to put their guns down to troops riding in jeeps pointing guns at the citizens. That I have never forgotten. He does deserve the Medal of Freedom.