The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Operation Eagle Claw (4/24/1980) - Apr. 24th, 2003

http://www.afa.org/magazine/jan1999/0199desertone_print.html ^ | Otto Kreisher

[RaceBannon]

Carter's ineptness had nothing to do with the mission failure.

It was pilot error compounded by acts of God. Choices were made where I am grateful that I was not the one making them. I would have done a few things different, but, I was not one of the pilots.

[HiJinx]

Mmmm....lamb, veggies, homemade bread and tea...a veritable feast!!

Story from my wife's coworker, whose daughter is with an MI unit in Iraq now:

It seems that the troops wanted a change in diet, so they sent 'Abdullah' to the market to get food. He came back with a crate of live chickens! Nobody in the unit wanted to wring that many necks (well, maybe Abdullah's, but that's another story) so they have a bunch of chickens running around the camp. CPT Daughter says that now, when the troops want some entertainment, they chase the chickens.

And this, after only 3 weeks of war!

[SAMWolf]

LOL! Yep, definately a little different than going down to the local supermarket Stateside and getting some chickens.

[snippy_about_it]

Good pics Sam.

The 15th MEU are the Marines from the Tarawa Group. :)

FYI-
There is a group of Marines often in the news called Tarawa Task Force but it is the 15th MEU that are the USS Tarawa's Marines.

[SAMWolf]

Too bad none of the Marines in he pictures are your penpals.. :-)

[beachn4fun]

Hi ya SAMWolf..... as I was looking at these photos of the Iraqi children, it struck me that they appear to be all girls. My, my, my..... they seem to have a lot more sense than the boys.... at least they are celebrating; not out protesting (all I see are men in the crowd). Maybe the future of Iraq is in the hands of these young women! No offense to the guys

;->

[SAMWolf]

I hope the women there are now given a chance to particpate in the rebuilding of their country. It'll probably be a hard uphill struggle but for now these girls have a future better than they did a month ago.

[snippy_about_it]

I still like to look at them though. :)

My Tarawa pals are all sailors on board ship, my Marine penpal is with the India Co 3rd/5th and my Army penpal is on his way home. :) Yippee.

[Darksheare]

It could be argued that if Carter hadn't helped topple the Shah, there wouldn't have been eight US dead.

Of course, it's now 20+ years later and it's real easy to second guess soldier's decisions in the field as well.
Some Catch 22, right?

[SAMWolf]

I'll have to keep my eyes open for pics of TARAWA sailors.

[SAMWolf]

Current Military News
336th Fighter Squadron
Comes Home

Capt. Dan King, right, with the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing, greets his son Nate, left, 21-months, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Wednesday, April 23, 2003, after returning from southwest Asia after participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan)


Capt. Fred Atwater, rear, with the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing, greets his wife, Genee, left, son, Freddy, 6, middle, and daughter, Julia, 3, right, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Wednesday, April 23, 2003, after he returned from Southwest Asia after participating in Operation IraqFreedom. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan)


Families wave U.S. flags as members of the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing, arrive in their F-15E Strike Eagles at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Wednesday, April 23, 2003, as they returned from Southwest Asia after participating in Operation Iraq Freedom. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan)


Maj. Al Teeney, right, with the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing, runs to his wife Renee, left, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Wednesday, April 23, 2003. He was returning from Southwest Asia after participating in Operation Iraq Freedom.(AP Photo/Bob Jordan)

[Light Speed]

In 1992 was visiting the Naval base at Norfolk Virginia.
Made a wrong turn....headed down a dead end road,...only to discover a beachfront hotel with offseason rates of $50.00 a night.

Each day was a visual extravaganza....F-14's powering out on full afterburner,maintenence checks from Oceana.

Norfolk was jumping...the Base T.V. channel showed briefings for families concerning an upcomming operation.

Aside from the in and out traffic into Norfolk..were these carrier's and amphibious ships which sat offshore ,requiring a set of binoculars at times to view.
Alot of helo activity out there...

Wandering around on the beach at twighlight one evening got a unique view of several Sea Stallions which swept by bellow 100 ft near the beach.
There was still good light to see..but these helo's were jet black except for some subtle silver markings.
To the locals..all this was the norm..but for me..it was Disneyland.
Discovered the Marine Amphibious base down the coast at "Little Creek" after a short drive,..it to was jumping with activity.

Later on learned the run up activity was for Somalia.

....Would like to go back and visit "Disneyland" again : )

[snippy_about_it]

Do you get tired of me saying these are great! lol.

The reunion pics are a wonderful sight to see.

[Do the Dew]

It's nice to see pictures of our troops coming home!!

[aomagrat]

Today's classic warship, USS Constellation

The first U.S. Navy ship to bear the name Constellation, for the "new constellation of stars" on the American flag, was launched in Baltimore on September 7, 1797. Joshua Humphreys designed the first frigate to be commissioned in the U.S. Navy.

Rating 38 guns, displacing 1,278 tons, with 164-ft. length and 40 ft., 6 in. beam, Constellation combined the firepower of a standard frigate with celerity of a Baltimore Clipper. Capable of cruising at 14 knots, she earned the nickname, "Yankee Racehorse."

In the first test against a foreign foe in the undeclared "Quasi War" with France, Constellation, with Captain Thomas Truxtun commanding, won the first ship vs. ship victory of the U.S. Navy.

On February 5, 1799, Constellation captured the French 36-gun frigate Insurgente off the Island of Nevis in the West Indies. After failing to damage Constellation's rigging, Insurgente closed to grapple. Using superior speed to advantage, Truxton maneuvered ahead and crossed the Frenchman's bow, raking her deck with a murderous broadside. After a half-hour Insurgente struck her colors in surrender. American casualties: two dead, and two wounded. French casualties: 29 dead, 71 wounded.

Off the French base at Guadeloupe Island, Constellation engaged the Vengeance, 52-guns, on February 2, 1800. In a five-hour nighttime slugging match, Constellation suffered 14 dead and 25 wounded. Vengeance, a total wreck in danger of sinking with over twice as many casualties, escaped capture in the darkness.

The frigate Constellation then participated in the campaigns against the Barbary states and Caribbean pirates. During the War of 1812, while blockaded in the Elizabeth River, she participated in the battle of Craney Island, helping to defend Norfolk, Virginia from capture by the British in 1813.

After several overhauls and repairs, time took its toll. In 1853 it was deemed that further renovation was not economically effective, and the frigate Constellation was decommissioned and broken up at the Gosport Navy Yard in Portsmouth, Virginia.

[SAMWolf]

On February 5, 1799, Constellation captured the French 36-gun frigate Insurgente off the Island of Nevis in the West Indies. After failing to damage Constellation's rigging, Insurgente closed to grapple. Using superior speed to advantage, Truxton maneuvered ahead and crossed the Frenchman's bow, raking her deck with a murderous broadside. After a half-hour Insurgente struck her colors in surrender. American casualties: two dead, and two wounded. French casualties: 29 dead, 71 wounded.

Off the French base at Guadeloupe Island, Constellation engaged the Vengeance, 52-guns, on February 2, 1800. In a five-hour nighttime slugging match, Constellation suffered 14 dead and 25 wounded. Vengeance, a total wreck in danger of sinking with over twice as many casualties, escaped capture in the darkness.

I think I'll suggest a new motto for the Navy

The U.S. Navy - Kicking french butt since 1799!

[Jen]

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[M Kehoe]

I'm still pi$$ed off about this.

5.56mm

[SAMWolf]

Afternoon Jen

[SAMWolf]

You and me both. Payback has been a long time coming.