A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....09-29-03....Military Monday

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest
....Every Day

FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues; salute and support our military and our leaders;  tell a few jokes;  learn a new word;  write poetry;  pray for those in need;  and congratulate those who are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest November 11, 2001

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I could no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I had been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that didn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why we've created a place for just that. This is a friendly room in JimRob's house where FReeper FRiends can gather every day and just say hello if that's all they want to do.

There's more of course. We sometimes feature different FReepers, with a little background information on who they are and what makes them who they are, along with a few photos you might not have seen on other threads; sometimes others write an essay for us to post as the feature for the day; sometimes our presentation is a human interest story found elsewhere that you might not have read; sometimes special holiday threads; but whatever the topic of the day, it is always with FR's Finest in mind and that is YOU!

If you would like to be featured, or would like to see someone else featured, please send me a private FR mail.

Every Monday we will post the photos of FR's Military Personnel that I have collected and put into groups; these will be available to view through a link the remainder of the week - every day just a click away. :)   If you would like to add a photo of yourself or a loved one in the military, past or present, please let me know; I will hold it until I have enough for a new group.

Thank you, and please have fun with us...every day! ~ Billie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank You For Serving Our Country!

TOP: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete
MIDDLE:  T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
BOTTOM:  YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet
MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga
BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette
MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid
BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP
MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian
BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

TOP:  g'nad, AgThorn's son Justin, SLB, AgThorn's son Brett.
MIDDLE:  fish70, razorback-bert, CheneyChick,Leroy S Mort, Mark17.
BOTTOM:  Terry's Take, Taxman, DinkyDau.

TOP:  ValerieUSA's son Grant, SK1Thurman, kd5cts, RangerVetNam,
dansangel and .45man's son-in-law Tony
BOTTOM:  rangerX, Old China Hand, Trish, Howlin's dad, Mustang

TOP: ohioWfan's son, MamaBear's father-in-law, MamaBear's dad, ladtx
MIDDLE:  The Mayor's niece, M.Kehoe, Beach_Babe's son-in-law
BOTTOM:  deadhead's dad, HiJinx, Severa's hubby, viligantcitizen's granddad.

TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68.
MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797
BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack

TOP:  Q6-God, Scan59, Mama Bear and JKPhoto's son, ofMagog.
MIDDLE:  Big'ol_freeper, JustAmy's great uncle, Prodigal Son.
BOTTOM:  JustAmy's husband, JustAmy's brother-in-law, JustAmy's brother.

TOP:  dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7, AlasBabylon.
BOTTOM:  Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad, Aomagrat.

TOP:  ladtx #2 son; DiverDave's twin Don; petuniasevan and husband
poorman; Mustard; ladtx #1 son;
BOTTOM:  AlamoGirl's brother Floyd; AG's dad; AG's brother Jim (inset);
WVNan's husband; ladtx' Aunt Eva.

TOP: Mo1's dad; BuffyT's Uncle (right, w/ her dad & grandmother); Armymarinemom's 3 sons.
MIDDLE: ru4Liberty's dad; SheLion's husband, MaineRebel; wirestripper.
BOTTOM: fivetoes; bigghurtt; hurricane; ladtx' dad; Pippin's brother.




                     

THE WEEKEND THREAD 09-27,28-03 Week In Review

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

[Billie]

[Billie]

Good morning! It's Monday, and time to pay tribute to some of FR's Finest Fighting Men & Women, past and present.

[ladtx]

My weekly contribution the Military Monday.

In memory of my fellow Vietnam helicopter pilots who were killed in that war the following were lost on SEP 29. God bless them all.

1967 CW3 Bennett G. Wilder (USA) -- 117th AHC, Age 38, Married, Spring Hope, North Carolina
1968 1LT Lee M. Halstead (USMCR) -- HML-167, Age 23, Married, Lansing, Michigan
1968 1LT William A. Voss (USMCR) -- HMM-167, Age 25, Married, Kansas City, Missouri
1968 WO1 Jerry L. Harris (USAR) -- 11th ACR, Age 27, Married, Mobile, Alabama
1968 WO1 William P. Rollins (USAR) -- 11th ACR, Age 20, Married, Snyder, Texas
1968 WO1 Sherwood D. Kreis (USAR) -- 1st AVN BDE, Age 21, Single, Midlothian, Illinois
1970 WO1 James M. Benicek (USAR) -- E/1/9th CAV 1st CAV, Age 19, Single, Racine, Wisconsin

A tribute to 1Lt Halstead and 1Lt Voss (USMCR) of HMM-167 and the mission on which they and their crew, LCpl T.B. Day, Cpl S.B. Pugh, and Cpl C.B. Wagner were killed. Semper Fi from an Army pilot.

Personal Narrative:
They told me that the fuselage was riddled. They had evidently flown over a concentration of troops. This was as dangerous a helo mission as one could fly, as the low bird, a slick was deliberately seeking the enemy at tree top level, well within the dead mans' curve if the engine were to be lost. It is doubtful that Mike ever learned he had been awarded the Navy Cross for an earlier action. He was shot down over what we called "mortar valley" on eastern end of Charlie Ridge.
Submitted by Michael J. Remme, FAC 1/7

Comment on Incident:
Mike Halstead was a good friend; we went through gunship training together in VMO-1 at MCAS New River. I was the FAC with 1/7 at Hill 10 on the day he was shot down flying the Sniffer [personnel detection] mission. A unit from our battalion recovered the remains.

The citation for the Navy Cross awarded to 1Lt Halstead for an earlier action on 29 AUG 68. He probably never knew it was awarded.

NAVY CROSS CITATION 29AUG68:
For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Pilot with Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 167 in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 29 August 1968, Lieutenant Halstead was Aircraft Commander aboard an armed UH-1E helicopter providing support for a UH-34 helicopter assigned to evacuate three wounded Marines from an area southwest of Da Nang in Quang Nam Province.

Seeking to determine the source of enemy fire, he boldly commenced a low-level pass over the friendly position and immediately came under intense hostile fire, which struck a box of ammunition in the crew’s compartment. As the evacuation helicopter prepared to land, Lieutenant Halstead skillfully delivered covering fire on the hostile positions. Suddenly, the transport aircraft was damaged by enemy fire and crash-landed in hostile territory 500 meters from the friendly unit.

With complete disregard for his own safety, Lieutenant Halstead commenced an approach to the disabled aircraft while simultaneously expending all remaining rockets and delivering a heavy volume of machine-gun fire around the damaged helicopter. Although the evacuation aircraft was receiving intense enemy antitank rocket and small-arms fire, he fearlessly continued his gallant efforts and executed a landing beside the downed crew members. Despite the hostile fire impacting nearby, he steadfastly remained on the ground until all the survivors had boarded his aircraft and, skillfully maneuvering his dangerously overloaded helicopter through the accurate fire, sustained additional damage as he departed the hazardous area.

His heroic actions and extraordinary aeronautical skill inspired all who observed him and undoubtedly saved the lives of five Marines. By his courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and selfless devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Lieutenant Halstead sustained and enhanced the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Squadron patch of HML-167 "Checkmates"

SCOUTS OUT!

[Calpernia]

Morning to the Finest!

[jwfiv]

Good Morning, Billie Blue...)

Wishin' all Freepers a most auspicious beginning to a new week...))))))

[The Mayor]

There you are, I've been hanging out waiting for you!

[Diver Dave]

Mornin' Billie.

Military Monday at the Finest is a great way to start the week.

Salute to all our Armed Forces - Past and Present.

I must be gettin' old. Today marks the 36th anniversary of the day I completed my enlistment in the Navy.

[Temple Owl]

Good morning. May you all have a wonderful day.

[Billie]

God Bless the families of these seven heros, and I am still so glad to see you have resumed these tributes on this thread each week.

[Billie]

Good morning, Cal - hoping you are beginning to feel like your old self again. :)

[Billie]

Good morning, Johnny Mac. You are here early today - nice! Thank you for your mail - I'm glad things are going well! How much longer will your little feline Lucy be staying with you? You didn't kidnap her, did you? :)

[Billie]

Thanks for waiting for me! :) I hate to miss my morning coffee you bring each day!

[MEG33]

Good Morning!Hope all those that are ill are improving and little Lucy improves,too.God Bless Our Armed Forces and those who wait at home.

[The Mayor]

I'm working at my desk for a while..want a donut?

[Calpernia]

I am much better. Thank you for asking Billie. And thanks for the well wishes.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Billie.

[Pippin]

GOOD MORNING/AFTERNOON EVERYBODY!

MODEM UPDATE

My sister and brother in law came over to look at my pc to see what kind of modem to get for it. But foud out that my pc was a victim of Isobel! UGH!

I didn't realize my pc was a goner because I had never turned it on since July when the modem went out. I guess when we had that power outage due to the hurricane was when the pc went. Now I have to work on getting a new computer!

RATS!!!!!!

[JustAmy]

Good Morning, Billie!!

Thanks for Military Monday!

Here is a message for the war protestors.

[JustAmy]

Good Morning, Ladtx.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

God Bless and Comfort the families of these seven brave young men!

[Pippin]

HEE! HEE! HEE!