Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

12:42 p.m.

PROVIDENCE -- President Obama had been his commander in chief for all of 40 minutes when Army Master Sgt. Leonard Pimental talked about his hopes for the new administration's plans for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Pimental served in the first Gulf War, where his platoon came within 50 miles of Bagdad, and he returned to Iraq in 2005 and 2006 during a dangerous tour on security patrol.

"Politics aside, it's all about democracy," Pimental said from the Army National Guard recruiting office on Weybosset Street. "It's all about helping people."

Even though a giant screen television in the office was showing the live broadcast of the inauguration, some of the National Guardsmen went next door to the Providence Performing Arts Center to watch the ceremony with the crowd of 2,500. Pimental remained behind at work -- "my wife is recording it for me" -- and thought about the "momentous" event unfolding in Washington, D.C.

He said Obama was "impressive," and he was interested in the president's plan to draw down troops from the wars.

"I think change is coming, and it's a good thing," Pimental said, as the crowd from PPAC streamed past his office. "If we can draw down our guys and let them [the Iraqis] govern their own country."

-- Amanda Milkovits, Journal staff writer

 Tags  inauguration Providence Performing Arts Center Rhode Island Army National Guard

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