From the S&S archives: 200 Americans in Spain bid Reagan farewell

MADRID — President Reagan couldn't have had a prouder or more enthusiastic audience for his final appearance Wednesday in the two-day visit to Spain.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I'll probably never get a chance like this again," said Staff Sgt. Victor McDonald, of the 401st Aircraft Generation Sq at Torrejon AB. "I've never seen him in person before. I wish he could have come out to the base to talk to us."

About 200 Americans, including 100 airmen from Torrejon AB, came to the Barajas Airport to bid Reagan goodbye as he flew to Strasbourg, France, to address the European Parliament.

The group of airmen, students from the American School in Madrid and members of the American Club were invited by the U.S. Embassy to attend the 10 a.m. departure. The airmen were selected from various base squadrons.

McDonald and the other airmen were dressed in suits because base officials had asked them not to wear uniforms.

"That's not unusual," said Tech. Sgt. Jose Lugo, of the 401st Transportation Sq. "A lot of Americans have started wearing their civilian clothes to work and home."

Many demonstrations have been held in recent weeks protesting the presence of U.S. forces in Spain and Spain's membership in NATO. In mid-April, 18 Spaniards were killed when an explosion ripped through a restaurant near Torrejon. Fifteen Americans were injured.

Lugo said he was apprehensive about coming to see the president off.

"Because of all the trouble we have had with the demonstrations, I was worried about coming here. I almost didn't," he said. "My friends at work had mixed feelings about my visiting out here. On the one hand, they wanted to come out with me, but, on the other, they wanted to stay alive."

But, once he arrived at the spot set aside for the group at the airport, Lugo said, "I felt more relaxed. The security is real good "

As the Americans crowded forward in a roped-off area in front of a press stand, Master Sgt. Caleb Ortiz paced around at the rear. Every once in a while, he would stretch up to get a glimpse of the action.

"I consider this to be a great honor and privilege to have been selected to come out and see the president," he said.

"If I had the chance to tell President Reagan something today, I would say that he is headed in the right direction with our country," Ortiz said. "He is a bold man, and I am behind him 100 percent. The man's got lots of guts. I admire that in a president."

Sgt. Albert McPherson, from the aircraft generation squadron, said that, if he had a chance to speak to the president, he would just ask, "How are you doing? And how did you enjoy Europe?"

McPherson and Tech. Sgt. Truman Duggin, assigned to the maintenance training squadron, were chosen to visit the airport immediately after returning from the USAFE NCO Academy at Kapaun AS, Germany.

"All I want is a picture for my scrapbook," said Duggin. Asked what he would say to Reagan, he stood silent for a few seconds and said, "I don't know. I'd probably be speechless like I am now."

Luis Baralt, one of about 40 Americans invited from the private American Club in Madrid, said he had a message for Reagan: "I was having lunch with three Spanish small-town mayors a few days ago, and this is what they said: `We are ashamed of what our people are doing. They are a small minority of the Spanish people, and we are not behind them. Should he come back again, we'll show him real hospitality.'"

Sgt. Clark Williams, of Det 3, 7025th Air Postal Sq, had a simple request: "I just want to see his shoes."

Williams, wearing expensive black dress shoes, wouldn't say why.

Sgt. Joey L. Rainey, assigned to base document security, said he wrote his mother "to tell her to be looking at the news so she might see her baby son."

As President and Mrs. Reagan walked into view more than an hour later, the crowd of Americans clapped and cheered. Many strained on tiptoes to catch a glimpse.

The Reagans walked over to the Americans, faced them and stood for a few seconds.

Following a review of Spanish troops by Reagan and Spain's King Juan Carlos I, the crowd waved as the Reagans walked toward Air Force One.

"I felt proud to be an American," said Lugo. "It gave me a warm, home feeling outside of home to see the guy who runs the U.S."

The Reagans climbed the stairs to the plane, turned and waved. The Americans all waved, cheered and clapped until Air Force One pulled out of view.

"I felt comfortable and satisfied just seeing him," said Ortiz. "It made me feel confident that 1 have a president who's worth being a president."