Jenna Bush Hager honors her grandfather George H.W. Bush’s legacy
Jenna Bush Hager celebrated her late grandfather’s legacy on Sunday while returning home from the USS George HW Bush in Norfolk, Virginia.
The Today host, 41, watched as 5,000 sailors were reunited with their loved ones after spending nearly nine months in Europe and the Mediterranean aboard the supercarrier named after the 41st president and naval aviator.
“Each mission aboard the USS George HW Bush has special meaning to me and my family, as it was my grandfather’s greatest legacy,” Bush Hager explained in the emotional segment which aired Monday.
Bush joined the United States Navy on his 18th birthday on June 12, 1942, becoming one of the youngest Navy pilots in World War II.
Jenna Bush Hager, 41, paid tribute to her late grandfather on Sunday while attending the homecoming of the USS George HW Bush in Norfolk, Virginia
Today’s host watched 5,000 sailors reunite with their loved ones after spending nearly nine months in Europe and the Mediterranean aboard the supercarrier
The supercarrier is named after her paternal grandfather, former President George HW Bush. She attended the christening of the ship with him in 2006 (pictured)
In 1944 he began flying torpedo bombers from aircraft carriers in the Pacific theater. In September, he was piloting one of four planes that attacked the Japanese installations on Chi Chi Jima when his plane was shot down.
With the engine on fire, he managed to fire his bombs before parachute-jumping into the water. He hit his head on the plane during the jump and was later rescued by a US submarine.
Two members of his crew – William G. White and John Delaney – did not survive.
Bush’s bravery during the mission earned him a Distinguished Flying Cross. He flew a total of 58 combat missions during the war.
He completed a total of eight skydives in memory of his deceased crew members.
The former chairman celebrated his 75th, 80th, 85 and 90th birthdays skydiving with the Golden Knights parachute team before passing away at age 94 in 2018.
Bush Hager was with her paternal grandfather when the USS George HW Bush was christened in 2006 and knew how much the honor meant to him.
“He would have loved to see these brave men and women man the rails as they prepare to enter the port,” she said.
Bush enlisted in the United States Navy on his 18th birthday on June 12, 1942, becoming one of the youngest Navy pilots in World War II
Bush flew a total of 58 combat missions during the war and earned a Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery
Bush Hager had a front row seat at the emotional reunions that took place at the docks, where she spoke with sailors and their families upon arrival.
Navy air traffic controller Craig Holloway first met his infant son, Vincent, and gave him a loving kiss on the forehead as he held him.
“There were 26 men who had never met [their] babies, who got to hold their newborns — some of whom were eight months old — for the first time,” Bush Hager told her co-stars on Monday’s show.
Chief Stephen Vaiza wrote love letters to his wife, Lisa, while he was deployed and hand-delivered them to her after they shared a hug and kiss.
Bush Hager spoke to sailors and their families at the ship’s homecoming for a segment that aired on the Today Show Monday
“He would have loved to see these brave men and women man the rails as they prepare to enter the port,” she said of her late grandfather.
Navy air traffic controller Craig Holloway met his son Vincent for the first time after he returned home on Sunday
Chief Stephen Vaiza delivered the love letters he wrote to his wife, Lisa, while deployed
Lieutenant Cornetha Williams reunited with her husband and their children, 13-year-old Elijah, and three-year-old daughter Samara
He explained that he “just wanted to let her know she was always on” [his] mind,” said writing the letter helped him through his deployment.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Cornetha Williams reunited with her husband and their children, 13-year-old Elijah, and three-year-old daughter Samara. She noticed that they had both grown bigger since she had last seen them eight and a half months ago.
“That is one of the greatest sacrifices I have to make as a mother and as a wife to come out here every day to defend freedom for the United States,” she told Today. ‘My husband understands. He’s keeping the house under control.’
“We go away for the weekend to cover a story and miss our kids dearly. Imagine nine months? Bush Hager co-host Carson Daly said after watching the clip.
Bush Hager encouraged everyone to attend one of these homecomings to “welcome our heroes” if possible.
“I think sometimes we forget how much they sacrifice,” she told her co-stars on Monday’s show
Bush Hager added that ‘it was a day I will never forget’
Bush Hager noted that the sailors cannot FaceTime their families while on deployment due to national security.
“I think sometimes we forget how much they sacrifice,” she said.
The former first daughter encouraged everyone to attend one of these homecomings to help “welcome back our heroes” if they can.
“That’s just the tip of the surface,” she said of the families she spoke to. “There were 5,000 people coming back yesterday, so there were 5,000 of those moments.”
“It was a day I will never forget,” she added.