Remote outposts receive presidential call

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. President George W. Bush called U.S. armed forces members stationed in remote locations Thursday to wish them a happy holiday, the White House says.

A White House statement said among those soldiers receiving Thanksgiving telephone calls from the president were Staff Sgt. Kevin R. Everett and Staff Sgt. David A. "Dave" Mickem, both of the U.S. Army.

Everett is currently serving in Afghanistan as a tactical operations trainer, while Mickem is stationed in Iraq, where he trains Iraqi police as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

While details regarding the presidential telephone calls were not discussed in the release, the White House confirmed the president contacted nine other active U.S. soldiers to offer them holiday greetings.

Some of the other soldiers were also stationed in either Iraq or Afghanistan, while others like Petty Officer First Class Corey A. Snowden of the U.S. Navy were at sea near the country of Bahrain.

Other soldiers were closer to home, serving their country in remote U.S. locations.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class James Nichols in Barbers Points, Hawaii, received a presidential call, as did Army Reserve Sgt. Shannon M. Dyer in Orangeburg, N.Y.