A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....01-10-03....SISTAHS..Nothin' Could be Finah

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. I can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. 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 can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn'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, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

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

We now have eleven groups of veterans/active military; we will post each group of three or four twice a week, with thumbnail/links of the remaining seven or eight groups on each thread. Click on any of the thumbnails below to see the group full-size.

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

GROUP 2A: TOP: Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet MIDDLE: 4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga BOTTOM: Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

GROUP 3A: TOP: mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette MIDDLE: Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid BOTTOM: gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

GROUP 4A: TOP: porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP MIDDLE: RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian BOTTOM: USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

GROUP 9A: 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.

GROUP 10A: TOP: dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7, AlasBabylon. BOTTOM: Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad, Aomagrat.

GROUP 11A: 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.

This will be my final posting of helicopter pilots who were killed in Vietnam, until the current state of affairs is resolved. My son's bomber squadron will be deploying very soon, if the news sources are to be believed. He says that he can't tell us anything, but they are getting ready. My other son's unit has sent an advance party to make ready their arrival. With their deployment, plus the 3rd ID and the Marines in the news this morning, the time has come to give our men our undivided attention and prayers. Thanks for all your support in what has become a history lesson for me in honoring these men. I'm not going anywhere I will still be here every day, maybe I can add a little from the "front" as it comes to me.

In memory of my fellow Vietnam helicopter pilots who were killed in that war the following were lost on JAN 10. God bless them all.

1968 WO1 Paul L. Berry (USAR) -- HHC 2 BDE 1 CAV, Age 21, Melbourne, Florida
1968 CW2 William R. Hartwell (USAR) -- 128 AHC, Age 23, Indianapolis, Indiana
1968 WO1 Douglas J. Lemaire (USAR) -- HHC 2 BDE 1 CAV, Age 24, Taunton, Massachusetts
1969 MAJ William W. Ford (USAR) -- US Army, Age 41, Knoxville, Tennessee
1970 CPT Herbert C. Crosby (USAR) -- 71 AHC, Age 27, Ft Sill, Oklahoma
1970 CW3 George A. Howes (USAR) -- 71 AHC, Age 28, Knox, Indiana

The remains of CPT Crosby and CW3 Howes have never been recovered.

Memorial to CW2 William R. Hartwell by a friend of his sister.

I didn't remember what month it was when my best friend Linda's brother died. But I do remember this. It was a cloudy day and we played catch with the kickball. I guess it must have been volleyball season. Linda was in 8th grade and I was in 7th. We had finished throwing the ball and Linda went home. After dinner my mom received a phone call from a friend of the Hartwell family. She told us that Billy had died and that Linda wanted to come over to my house. This kind lady drove Linda over to where she could get individual attention at a tragic time for all - her parents, her sister, and brothers. Poor little (Michael, I think) came running out telling her that Billy was dead. She told him it was not funny and to stop saying things like that. He was right. Linda spent the night with us. My mom was pregnant with her sixth child. She had some sleeping pills the doctor had given her. (Imagine that?) She broke one in half and gave it to Linda. Then what she did still brings tears to my eyes today. She held this teenage child in her lap and rocked her in my grandmother's rocker. I remember Linda crying and my mom comforting her. She fell asleep and my mom put her into my bed that I shared with my sister. I was excused from 7th grade class to attend the funeral with the 8th grade class. I remember her sister Joan visiting the nuns during this time. I couldn't imagine having the nuns as friends and sources of comfort. I remember Linda had another older brother who was serving in Korea at the time, I think. Memories from this era can blur with time, but this memory will stay with me forever. My older brother served in Viet Nam and received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He died in a drowning accident in 1995. He survived two tours of Viet Nam, but drowned in a kayaking accident. I remember Linda telling me to write him, because I could lose him too.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE BLADE

SCOUTS OUT!

Dear Half-Sisters,

Well, you are all making a terrible mistake. I’m definitely as mischievous as my photograph suggests. But I’ll do my best to behave. Dutchess looks so much more lady-like and dignified! A Brit who posts here once referred to my posts as “Plug-N-Play” humor. Hmmmm.

Dear Finest Community,

NO WAY am I giving out gifts in the near future! That was just a scam to get this gig. I’ll do contest threads in December again, but in the interim it’s my intention to be thoroughly boring. You know, “filler profiles” of people you’ve never met and wouldn’t want to, the more obscure types here: linguists, archeologists, things like that, some liberal/RINO invaders if I can find them. The good news is that Billie will be doing the graphics, so no matter what I type, it will at least *look* interesting. But you’re going to need a LOT of that FF coffee to keep awake and read my stuff.

Oh, and no going and complimenting my thread – I’m completely insensitive to your opinions on my brilliant work. There was way too much “that looks nice FTH” or “that is funny FTH” in December. OF COURSE it was funny. Don’t bother me with the obvious.

Sigh – I can see I’m going to be nothing but trouble. I have a bad feeling about this. Why just yesterday I had a post of mine removed by an Admin Moderator on another thread (at my request!) for being too emphatic. (No really I did!) So if you see me on another thread doing heavy political battle and you say, “Hmmm, that doesn’t sound like her,” it’s not that I’m two-faced. It just ‘cause I’m *trying* to behave here even though that might not be my natural proclivity.

JustAmy, Julie, and Aquamarine: you guys do the cutest posts so I’m determined to have you guys win some contests next December. The fix is in.

St.Louie1, I understand that it’s de rigueur for hostesses! So here goes!! {{{{LOUIE}}} :)

Lodwick, if I use any words wrongly thusly, I do expect you to tell me.

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