A visit to Marine One: A father/son experience never to be forgotten

Editor's Note: The following item was submitted by Dr. Steve Perkins of Waukon in reflection on a recent experience he and one of his sons had touring Marine One, the helicopter that transports the President of the United States.

April 24, 2012 was just an ordinary day to most of us, but to my seven-year-old son, Jackson, it will be a day that neither he nor I will ever forget.
Two days prior while seeing an Emergency Department full of patients, I received a text message from my wife, Stefanie, that told me to call a former college roommate and teammate from Central College, Captain Nick Turner of the United States Marine Corps. I haven’t seen Captain Turner since his wedding some eight or nine years ago, as he has been flying helicopters in reconnaissance missions in the Pacific, combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now Marine One and President Barack Obama from the South Lawn at the White House.
When I had the time to get in touch with Captain Turner later in the day, he informed me he was in Cedar Rapids preparing for President Obama’s visit to the University of Iowa. Captain Turner was recently promoted to a position called the White House Liaison Officer and his new role requires him to perform the advanced planning for any Presidential trip where Marine One will be used. As such, Captain Turner was preparing all of the necessary details for the safety, security, maintenance, and storage of Marine One in anticipation of President Obama’s trip to the University.
As he told me of his latest adventures, he asked if I would like to come to Cedar Rapids and take a tour of Marine One. I knew that my six-year-old son, Caleb, had a soccer game, and as the team’s coach, I hesitated. I also knew that we were going to be a little short-staffed in clinic that day, so I told him I’d make some calls and get back to him. I knew that it wouldn’t be fair to my co-workers to miss too much of the day and I knew that my expert knowledge of herding cats (what coaching kindergarten soccer is really like) might make the logistics an issue, but after consultation with my wife, Stefanie, we decided that she would use her cat-herding skills that evening with the kindergarteners and I would leave work one hour early and take our son, Jackson, to Cedar Rapids.
The thought of taking all three of my kids was daunting considering there would not have been enough armed guards to keep them from breaking something on the most important helicopter on Earth. I then got back in touch with Captain Turner and made arrangements to meet him at the designated hangar Tuesday evening, April 24.
With much anticipation, Jackson and I took off from Waukon and headed to Cedar Rapids. I was interrupted every five minutes by the sound of Jackson’s voice asking me if we were there yet as he was very excited to see the “Helicopter President”. I finally got through to him that it was the “President’s Helicopter” and not the helicopter elected to the highest office a helicopter could attain, although I’m sure if helicopters had egos and feelings Marine One would probably consider himself the “Top Gun” of his world.
When we arrived at the airport and found the hangar where Marine One was being stored, we were amazed to see a large United States Air Force C-17 cargo jet on the runway next to us. It was a massive structure bigger than any other jet that I have seen. It has the capacity (so I’m told) to carry Blackhawk helicopters, tanks, troops, and tons of other vital gear.
We then found my longtime friend. I had instructed Jackson to salute Captain Turner, but when Nick and I gave each other a big hug, Jackson decided that if I didn’t need to salute him, then he didn’t either and he gave Nick a hug and asked him the type of random question that only would come out of a seven-year-old's mouth: “What happens if your helicopter is struck by lightning?” There wasn’t a “hello” or a “nice to meet you," it was something that we parents have come to expect from our children: total randomness in every situation.
Captain Turner took us to the hangar where we were met by two fully-armed Marine Lance Corporals who were carrying assault rifles and had hand guns strapped to their legs. Jackson’s first instinct was to touch the assault rifle and the young Marine quickly flipped the safety to the “on” position. As I was being checked in by the Marine not being occupied with Jackson’s requests to hold the gun, I saw the sign reading “No Cameras” and I quickly shoved mine into my pocket (as if the Marine Corps wasn’t going to check my pockets).
After getting checked in (and probably added to a list that the Secret Service now probably possesses), Captain Turner gave us the history of Marine One and told us more about his experiences. All the while we were accompanied by one of the Marines who was never more than three feet away from me with his weapon readied for action should I attempt to do something that was not in the interest of national security. I was informed that Marine One is a “national asset” and it was given the same treatment as the man who occupies it.
We were then able to take a tour of the inside of the helicopter, which was truly one of the neatest things I have ever experienced. The helicopter itself is not, by any means, fancy on the inside and has simple upholstered seats and, as far as I could tell, outside of the instrument panel, the only piece of technology on the helicopter was a phone that was at the President’s seat.
A picture of the Chicago skyline was hanging in the back and we were informed that a picture of the President’s “hometown” is placed by the crew to make the President and his family feel more “at home” while they are aboard Marine One. Captain Turner then asked Jackson if he would like to sit in the seat that every President since Gerald Ford had sat in, and he jumped at the chance. Jackson then picked up the phone and pretended to make a phone call (to whom I’m not sure, but I’m sure he would have called his mother if given the chance).
He then acted exactly like a seven-year-old and asked to push the buttons on the chair that allow it to spin and recline. After becoming bored with that, he moved to the cockpit and sat alongside Captain Turner and asked what each of the literally hundreds of buttons and gauges did.
At that time, I acted like a giddy seven-year-old and sat down in the seat which has served our Presidents since 1975. I was overwhelmed by pride and humility knowing that my dear friend was in charge of such a vessel and the important cargo that inhabits it, but also because we got to sit in the seat where some pretty amazing people have rested their weary legs. I couldn’t help but think of the important conversations that were held there and it became very clear to me how humbling of an experience this was to be in the presence of some upholstery which probably holds some very interesting secrets.
After Jackson finished quizzing Captain Turner on how helicopters fly, land and evade lightning (yes, he asked that question again) we were able to get a few pictures of the outside of Marine One. We were not allowed to take pictures of the inside, but I know I’ll remember what it looks like forever and I hope that Jackson’s memory will permit him to do the same.
As we took pictures of Jackson and myself standing outside of Marine One, Captain Turner mentioned something about zooming out on one of the shots so the flag could be seen in the photo. The Marine (and his assault weapon) that accompanied us asked if they still do the Pledge of Allegiance in the schools and while I wasn’t sure about that answer, I did ask Jackson to give us a Cub Scout salute and he promptly rattled of the Pledge for us. It was pretty neat to see three Marines stand silent and pay attention to a seven-year-old while he recites the Pledge of Allegiance.
Our tour then ended and we both thanked Captain Turner for his invitation, but also the two other Marines for their service and willingness to serve our great country. As we drove home, we were both reliving the experience and when we finally got back to Waukon and put Jackson to be, he said the words that every parent loves to hear: "Thanks, Dad, for the best day ever!" It truly was a great day and one that we'll cherish forever.