A Few of FR's Finest...Every Day...04-03-03..What our fighting men and women are really all about

JohnHuang2; Billie | "My Two Cents' Essay by JohnHuang2

[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.   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: 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

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 5A: TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68. MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797. BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack.

GROUP 6A: 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.

GROUP 7A: 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.

GROUP 8A: 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.

      

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.

                     

What our fighting men and women
are really all about

by JohnHuang2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pfc. Jessica Lynch

For the New York Times, which has fed America a steady diet of defeatist news about the war, the news of Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch's daring rescue from captivity was not exactly welcome news.

"Coalition forces have conducted a successful rescue mission," CENTCOM's Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks announced Tuesday night. "The soldier has been returned to a coalition-controlled area."

Heroism.

Our men and women in uniform embody it. Every one of them.

They're America's finest.

Mettle, courage, sacrifice -- for U.S. soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen, these are defining traits, not just words.

They live by them. Defending freedom isn't just a job. It's who they are. Patriotism, loyalty, devotion -- these are things they personify.

In combat, through fire and water, they boldly march up and look death in the face defiantly, again and again.

Unflinching and dauntless, against even the terrible perils of battle, our fighting men and women selflessly risk all, a glaring reminder that freedom isn't free.

Many paid the ultimate sacrifice for liberties we enjoy.

On a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach, the tombs of 9,000 U.S. soldiers, killed during the D-Day Allied advance almost 50 years ago, is testament to the price of freedom, a cost real men were willing to pay.

Today, across Iraq, untold acts of valor and courage, too many to mention, help free millions from the clutches of brutal tyranny, Saddam Hussein's.

America's finest are at it again.

We hear and read a lot about the fearsome power of B-2 bombers rumbling in the skies over Baghdad, the technical marvel of M-1 Abrams tanks pounding Iraq's best fighters to pulp, the mind-numbing accuracy of precision-guided Tomahawk cruise missiles. But the deadliest, most lethal fighting force in history is more than just tanks and planes and missiles and bullets.

Our military might is about men, not metal. It's about people not plans.

Gallantry, spirit and valor -- not blueprints -- are what win wars in the real world.

Perseverance and fortitude -- not timetables and expectations -- decides success on the field of battle.

But our military is more than that.

Take this AP wire story by Chris Tomlinson about a 32-year-old Army Ranger and his men:

"'We've got to get her off that bridge,' he said. Capt. Chris Carter winced at the risks his men would have to take. Engaged in a lightning-fast raid for this Euphrates River town, they were battling for a bridge when -- through the smoke -- they saw the elderly woman.

"She had tried to race across the bridge when the Americans arrived, but was caught in the crossfire.

"At first, peering through their rifle scopes, they thought she was dead, like the man sprawled in the dust nearby. But then, during breaks in the gunfire that whizzed over her head, she sat up and waved for help.

"Carter...ordered his Bradley armored vehicle to pull forward while he and two men ran behind it. They took cover behind the bridge's iron beams.

"Carter tossed a smoke grenade for more cover and approached the woman, who was crying and pointing toward a wound on her hip. She wore the black chador, common among older women in the countryside. The blood soaked through the fabric, streaking the pavement around her.

"Medics placed the woman on a stretcher and into an ambulance; Carter stood by, providing cover with his M16A4 rifle. Then she was gone, and Monday's battle for this town of 80,000, 50 miles south of Baghdad, raged on."

Amazing, isn't it? Risking it all to save the life of an elderly woman the Captain and his men had never met, in the midst of battle, amid deadly danger.

But Capt. Carter's isn't just an isolated case.

The mercy and heroism, courage and compassion exemplified in his story is what our fighting and men and women are all about.

God bless our President,
God bless our troops,
God bless the United States of America!

My two cents..

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 03-31-03 Salute to Military 04-01-03 LadTx Essay 04-02-03 Tatze

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

[Billie]

Hi, Lori. Happy Thursday - have you finished your MIL errands and running around already? :)

[Billie]

Hey, dixie! Great to see you! Do you do all that kerchooing this time of the year, too?

[Mama_Bear]

Hi, Lori. Happy Thursday - have you finished your MIL errands and running around already? :)

No, just home for an hour or so. This morning we made the rounds of the the doctor, the grocery store and to get her glasses adjusted. After all that, she was too tired to go to lunch like we usually do, so I will be taking her out to dinner tonight instead. (Since jk teaches on Thursday nights, it is a good time for us girls to go out.) :-)

BTW, I don't think I thanked you for posting the weekend thread......thank you, I do appreciate it. I will take care of posting the thread this weekend. I think we may be going out of town. If so, I won't be able to be around after I post it. At least I will open the doors and say hello to everyone.

Got to run. See you tomorrow.

[Dubya]

LOL.

[LadyX]

The Marine Corps cadence calling is our equivalent of a mother's lullaby - right, Dubya?!!...:))

Last April, I bought 3 cadence tapes in the Gift Shop at Parris Island...was I bad or what?!

[LadyX]

Regarding the cadence tapes:

It's amazing how much housework you can get finished listening to them!

You want to clean 'Double Time' and do it doubly well..:))

[GailA]

You, me and Rocket are glad I'm better. Only a tad of discomfort where the tooth was removed. Noting a dose of tylenol won't fix.

[GailA]

That Eagle sure is AWESOME. Just like our Military and our President.

[WVNan]

Hello Billie and All. Everyone probably thinks I've fallen into a hole somewhere. I've really missed you guys, but sometimes my work becomes overwhelming, and this has been one of those times. Plus taking on the extra project of Rally for America and the spin-off from it, Stand for the Troops. Going to the fitness center 3 mornings a week and walking 9 miles a week is also taking up a lot of time. Those are times that I was spending here at the Finest.

Isn't it great news about our Jessica? She has done herself and her country proud. I have mentioned elsewhere that she is the embodiment of the character and heart of the people who built this country, and which still exists out in fly-over country, especially in West Virginia. The people in these hills are a rugged and proud people. The best in my book. What do you want to bet that Jessica was hunting deer before she was ten years old? I know the boys and girls around here are hunters. Anyway, Jessica has her education paid for now. God bless her and the heros who rescued her. BTW, a great 2 cents worth.

[Billie]

Nan!!! I really miss you. : (

Yes, wonderful news about Jessica - what relief her family and friends must be feeling. You're really on an exercise program, aren't you? Good for you! Is this 'your' program, or your husband's? :) And is he walking with you?

I'm REALLY glad to see you, and glad that I can say hello tonight!

[WVNan]

A winner as usual Mr. H2. We are seeing America at her best in these young people. God bless them all.

[WVNan]

Oh, I'm so glad you're still here Billie. I feel so isolated lately, not getting to chat with my Finest friends. Yes and yes. I am exercising and have lost 13 lbs so far. And yes, Jack is also doing exercise, but his is controlled in the heart rehab section. He is also getting rehab for his frozen shoulder, and it's better. He's going to have to have a defibulator put in in May. He had a big heart flutter last week during his exercise and the monitor caught it. She sent him directly to his cardiologist. As for me, I'm just walking and going through all the various machines for arms, tummy and back. I'm getting stronger, but man was I ever out of shape. It's going to take a while LOL.

[SpookBrat]

Yes! :) John always makes me want to say Yes! He is a great articulator. Is that a word? It's too late. I'm tired. LOL

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

I wasn't up at 2am CT,.. but here is a bump anyway. :o)

FRegards, Vets

[Billie]

I guess you're just going to have to give up sleep so we can still have you here. :)

Seriously, I know you probably are feeling lots better, too, aren't you? Exercise (I do hate it!) does have its rewards in the way you feel though - not to mention shedding a few pounds - 13! That's great!

[WVNan]

Calling Maggie. I just checked out the e-mails you sent. I loved the flash movie and will forward it on to other friends. The flower flag was the third time someone has sent it. Some of these things go around the world I think. I miss ya girl.

[JustAmy]

"they have been powerful this week, haven't they?"

I haven't posted a lot but I so enjoy going thru the threads even if it is 10 or 20 posts at a time.

JustFrank has a joke and has been bugging me for the key to the wood shed so he could sneak in some computer time. I told him maybe this week-end. LOL

[Billie]

It's a real word. :)

[WVNan]

Oh I do feel much better. I was beginning to have some serious aches and pains and knew that the only cure was exercise. I will feel better and perform better as well. My memory might even improve, but I'm not holding my breath.

[JustAmy]

RE: The flower flag in post #170, I have been trying to find a way to get away for a week-end so we could see them live!