This seems similar to the treatment given to astronauts in the golden age of space exploration. If they were afraid that explorers of the proverbial heavens would spread “space coodies” across our planet, then perhaps Oakland International Airport thought our troops carried a rare case of “Iraq coodies”.

Troops returning from Iraq were barred from entering the terminal at Oakland (Calif.) International Airport and instead parked 400 yards away — without access to food and bathroom facilities, a soldier reported.

During my deployment back and forth to Iraq from the states, I had one of many lay overs in Shannon, Ireland. With the site of American troops spilling out of a commercial 747, I wouldn’t be shocked that the Irish authorities would prefer us being quarantined from the general population. It’s a foreign country, after all.

With our weapons left on the plane, of course, the Irish civilians seemed to be thrilled with our company. We posed for pictures with ‘wee Irish lassies’ and helped our self to duty free whiskey.

But back in the country our troops are actually risking their lives for:

An unnamed Marine reported the incident to the lawmakers in an e-mail and said the airport’s decision “felt like being spit on.” “Every Marine and soldier felt the message loud and clear. ‘You are not welcome in Oakland!’ ” the Marine wrote to the lawmakers.

The return home is an emotional affair with the smallest gestures finding a deep place in a returning soldier’s hearts. Alternately, rotten treatment only enrages a person (and country, for that matter) who’s goal is only to get home.

It’s the small gestures that send the message of “supporting our troops”. Thank Oakland for being a shining example of how not to support our fighting men and women.

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