The Franklin Press; By Michael Lewis Tuesday, December 9, 2003
We've all seen it. The president walks off the portico onto the South Lawn of the White House, salutes the two dress blue Marines at the door of his helicopter and bolts off toward Andrews Air Base to hop on Air Force One - bound to parts unknown.

We've watched JFK, Reagan, and other presidents do it on TV for years.

What you may not know, is that sometime in the very near future, one of Franklin's own will be saluting the president, and boarding the chopper to take care of the nation's leader and the presidential helicopter Marine One.

George Hughes, a 2000 graduate of Franklin High School, went straight into the Marine Corps upon graduation. Scoring high on his ASVAB, Hughes was recruited to enter helicopter mechanic school, where his aptitude was evident to his instructors.

After impressing his teachers at chopper school, he was sent directly to HMX-1 in Quantico, VA - Helicopter Marine Experimental Squadron One.

Originally established as a Marine Corps facility for testing the latest in helicopter technology, HMX-1 evolved into providing transportation for the president.

HMX-1 also provides transportation for the vice president, cabinet, and foreign heads of state - though the chopper changes its call sign to Marine Two when carrying the VP.

There are two divisions at HMX-1 -- a green side and a white side. The green side is where new personnel start their careers at Quantico.

Green side Marines get their feet wet here, working on support choppers and getting a feel for the importance of their post.

Green side is also where Marines get their security clearance before moving to the white side -- where the real fun begins.

The white side of HMX-1 is made up of the personnel that will handle the transportation of the president.

The green and white designations probably started because of the chopper colors at HMX- green side helicopters are totally olive green while the white side choppers are olive with a white top.

On the white side is where crew chiefs are made.

A crew chief is the Marine responsible for the aircraft. Crew chiefs stand at the door and salute the president, but the real job begins in the air.

Hughe's job in flight is to monitor the chopper ar all times. Obviously the president's safety is of prime concern, and many variables must be observed to ensure that the president safely reaches his destination.

Two other helicopters fly with Marine One in support at all times. In the event of the slightest problem, the birds land and transfer the president to one of the other three choppers -- the new chopper takes on the call sign Marine One.

Anytime there's a problem on a flight, the crew chief is in charge -- he outranks anyone on the bird.

The three choppers follow the president where ever he goes, and stay in his location in case he needs a ride.

During presidential retreats at Camp David, Hughes says the HMX crew stays on the grounds – sometimes hanging with the president.

Hughes says many times at Camp David, President Bush has worked out with them in the gym, or stopped to say hello in the recreational room.

At Bush’s Texas ranch, Hughes says he and his fellow marines have encountered the president several times.

While waiting to be assigned as the president’s crew chief, Hughes has flown Vice President Cheney, and dignitaries such as President Putin of Russia and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Flying two to three hundred feet above the D.C. landscape, Hughes says he gets to see the nation’s capital in a way that few others ever have.

“It’s the most amazing thing to me,” Hughes says. “To see D.C. at that altitude is awesome, especially at night.”

Sometimes they fly so low, he says people will wave to them.
“We always wave back,” he smiles.

On a recent trip to Geneva, Switzerland for a G8 Summit the president attended, Hughes recounts the beautiful landscape he saw – the Swiss and French Alps.

But the job isn’t all glamour – it’s hard work.

Living in Fredricksburg, Va., with his wife Rebecca, daughter Taylor and son Isaac, Hughes says he’s gone a lot.

The phone can ring at any minute.

“I appreciate my wife and my family’s support,” he said, alluding to the fact that they understand his hectic work pace.

In a few months, Hughes will board a white topped Sikorsky, and head for the White House to pick up the president – starting his duty as the one of the president’s crew chiefs.

“They say there’s no feeling like approaching and landing on the South Lawn,” he says, adding it’s something you never get tired of.

In Franklin for Thanksgiving and to see his folks, Hughes was asked to join the local Marine Corps League on their Christmas float to promote Toys for Tots.

Hughes also attended the kickoff luncheon for Toys for Tots in D.C., a dinner hosted by the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

“I encourage everyone to donate a toy this Christmas,” he says, “Whatever it might be.”
Corporal Hughes is the son of Marine Corps League member Randy Hughes.