Obama lunches with US service members at Irish pub

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama made an unannounced trip out for lunch with members of the military.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with five active duty service members at Molly Malone's on Barracks Row in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013. From left are, Coast Guard Petty Officer Katie Cole, Navy Lt. Junior Grade Courtney Williams, Marine Corp. Jason Davis, the president, Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Cynthia Gamez, the vice president and Army Sgt. First Class Angel Febus Munoz. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with five active duty service members at Molly Malone's on Barracks Row in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013. From left are, Coast Guard Petty Officer Katie Cole, Navy Lt. Junior Grade Courtney Williams, Marine Corp. Jason Davis, the president, Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Cynthia Gamez, the vice president and Army Sgt. First Class Angel Febus Munoz. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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APImages.com

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with five active duty service members at Molly Malone's on Barracks Row in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013. From left are, Coast Guard Petty Officer Katie Cole, Navy Lt. Junior Grade Courtney Williams, Marine Corp. Jason Davis, the president, Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Cynthia Gamez, the vice president and Army Sgt. First Class Angel Febus Munoz. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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APImages.com

The president and Vice President Joe Biden dined with active duty service members from each of the five military branches at Capitol Hill restaurant Molly Malone's on Tuesday. The commander-in-chief ditched his suit coat for the meal in an upstairs dining room at the Irish pub near the Marine barracks.

The White House said it was a chance for Obama to hear directly from enlisted troops and junior officers before meeting and having dinner with military leadership later at the White House.

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