GIs Take Her Hugs Into Battle Zone

Paulette Nelson Thanks GIs By Greeting Them On Their Way To, And When They Return From, War

(CBS)  It's a somber sense of duty that brings Paulette Nelson to Warrior's Walk at Fort Stewart, Ga. -- a quiet, tree-lined memorial dedicated to fallen soldiers.

The soldiers at Fort Stewart are Paulette's extended family -- a big responsibility for a busy, stay-at-home mom.

Early Show contributor Flavia Colgan introduced viewers to this extraordinary person on Wednesday.

"When Sept. 11 happened, I saw the sacrifice (the troops) had to make," Paulette told Colgan. "I saw, firsthand, them leaving their families behind. ... I just felt like I'd never done anything to show my appreciation. ... I knew it was time for me to do something and give back."

So, in 2004, Paulette became a USO volunteer. Her job? Personally greeting soldiers going to or coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

She meets them at the airport or the military airfield and gives each soldier a clap, a handshake, sometimes a hug.

Four hundred flights and four years later, she's still committed.

"I'm there when they leave and I'm there when they come back," Paulette says. "I call that, completing the circle."

"People ask me," she continued, " 'How do you do this? You don't get paid and it takes away your time?' And all I can say is, 'How can you not do it? How can you really just let them go over there and do what they do and not support them? ' "

Paulette even gets her kids involved.

Twelve-year-old Will and ten-year-old Madison have found ways to support the troops, such as standing by the side of the highway waving flags to soldiers en route from the airfield to the base.

Paulette's husband, Bill, says he feels "100 percent" like he married a hero.

Her dedication convinced him they, as a family, could do even more for the troops. So, a few years ago, Bill built houses on their property that they rent to soldiers they've taken under their wing.

"This is like a little getaway for them, like a little resort," he says.

"It's really taken a burden off of us and, out here, we can relax," says Staff Sgt. Mike Adkins, who's served three tours in Iraq.

He says the Nelson family has given him a new sense of belonging: "Bill's one of my best friends, and Paulette's like my big sister, and I can't replace them with anything. This is my new family, and I love them."

With two tours in Iraq under his belt, Cpl. Joshua Kampert believes the Nelsons help him to be a better soldier. "There's nothing I can't go to Paulette and Bill for and they'll say 'No' to," Kampert says. "As long as I know they got my back, and she's going to be the last person I see when I go and I'm going to come back to this again, I'll keep going."

Colgan remarked to Paulette that the soldiers are "regular guys doing something extraordinary," to which Paulette responded, "Absolutely."

"But," Colgan continued, "I see you as a hero like that, a regular woman doing something incredible."

"No," Paulette insisted. "I'm an ordinary person who was given an extraordinary chance."

An ordinary person, Colgan observes, with an incredible sense of duty and gratitude.

"Isn't that all we want to do as a human -- is make a difference?" asked a tearful Paulette.

She wants people to know that it doesn't take a lot to support the troops -- what they really appreciate is a letter or postcard from home.

And -- Colgan noted -- Thursday is Paulette's birthday!

[oneamerican-]

Awesome!

Paulette Nelson is a true American and a patriot.

We need more people to unashamedly display their support for our troops!

[sociald63]

best news for today, for the whole week :)

[cerberusii]

Thanks you Paulette, and like you, there are others like you who perform this vital role on our deployments. There is a sweet senior who also does the same thing for us leaving and returning to Fort Hood, she is always there on the outgoing and the homecomings for ALL troops coming into Killeen. It means a lot to us thank you.

[jen773]

After all that''s wrong in the world, it''s good to know that some things are still right. Glad to see an uplifting story in the news.

[libsluv2spit]

liberals dont hug soldiers..they spit at them..

[paulette1537]

wow..thank you everybody.

[cantshutup]

This is a wonderful gesture on her part. As for myself, a liberal and also a conservative, I also support the troops...I wish they could come home tomorrow, our brave soldiers shouldn''t be doing bush''s dirty work. American soldiers are meant to protect America and its citizens, this is an illegal war and unconstitutional. Bush should have been impeached long ago and put to death for treason and his many other crimes against Americans, Iraqis, and a long list of other crimes. I hate you george bush!!! I wish the house actually had done their job, we''d be rid of you by now. Bush you are a scum, liar, thief, scoundrel, war-monger, greedy pig, piece of filth, hypocrit and traitor. I don''t know why you hate America and Americans so much but I can''t wait till your dust is returned to hell. bush you TRAITOR, LIAR, THIEF, MURDERER!!! There''s only one justice for you and America will have the party of the century when justice finally comes to you!

[cantshutup]

America''s traditional values, dating back to our nation''s founding, are respect for liberty, democracy, progress, community, fairness, responsibility, human rights, equality, conservation, diversity, and compassion. The path of American history has been toward the more complete embodiment of these values. Liberals have been on the right side of American history. Now is no time to allow Republicans and right wing Democrats to turn back the clock.
Talk is cheap. Evaluate our values by what we do. Who is working to defend people from torture? Liberals are. Who is working against war? Liberals are. Who is struggling for equal rights? Liberals are. Who is championing more fairness for working Americans? Liberals are. Who is defending the integrity of education? Liberals are. Who is organizing to protect voting rights? Liberals are. Who is rallying around the Bill of Rights? Liberals are. Who is speaking out against wasteful government spending? Liberals are. Who is seeking ways to promote healthy, sustainable communities? Liberals are. Who is working for the restoration of a clean environment? Liberals are. Who is moving America''s values forward into the future?
Traditional liberal values are at the heart of what''s best about America. The best way to defend America is to support liberal values.http://www.squidoo.com/liberalamerica

[cantshutup]

libsluv2spit you don''t have any idea of the meaning of the word liberal. Our founding Fathers were great liberal thinkers. Please educate yourself...as for republiCONS...

[cantshutup]

Bring Back the Dark Ages. Vote Republican
Stop and think historically for just a minute and you''ll see the clear connections between the right wing''s ideology and the way of life that predominated in the Dark Ages. The Republican agenda is essentially motivated by a medieval way of thinking, and the consequences we suffer are like the suffering of the Dark Ages. War. Ignorance. Lack of progress. Persecution. Torture. Inability to fight disease. Lack of preparation for disaster. Fear. Centralized power. Theocracy. Line up the world that the Republicans threaten to bring us alongside the Dark Ages, and they match with frightening accuracy. America has been given a choice with implications that are deadly clear: Bring Back the Dark Ages. Vote Republican.

[marinewife11]

Paulette, thank you for all that you do. You have touched my heart. It is wonderful to know that there are people out there that show our soldiers the appreciation and support that they deserve. You truely are a hero!
Thanks again,
A Thankful Marine Wife

[latrocinor-2009]

liberals dont hug soldiers..they spit at them..

Posted by libsluv2spit
... .. ..

When I was soldier that was my experience also.

Libs luv to spit at soldiers.

Call them names, sneer at them, treat them like unwanted outcasts. The City of Berkley is a fine example of spitting Libs..