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]

[Billie]

It's Thursday, but it seems like only yesterday. Don't ask why you get today's thread so early. :)

'Morning....no one's here......ARE THEY?

[Billie]

On this in 1999, Triple C became a FReeper. :)

Happy Fourth Anniversary, CounterCounterCulture!

[.45MAN]

Goor morning Billie, boy you are up early!! Another Great post by John, always the best..

[Billie]

Oh my gosh! You get up EARLY! I'm not up early actually - I'm up very late. :)

[CounterCounterCulture]

Happy Freeperversary to meeeeeeeeeeee... ;-)

[Billie]

God Bless Our Military

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

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Daisyscarlett; Dansangel; Dutchess; Mama_Bear; and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~

We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.

Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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

OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland......son-in-law weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep...................son Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................activve duty G'nad....................active duty LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear...........nephew gator girl............husband severa................husband MozartLover...........nephew LBGA........................son SpookBrat...........nephew Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Diver Dave................niece deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons Consort...........2 daughters Darheel..................niece dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn...............2 sons

[Billie]

Do we need champagne? :)

[.45MAN]

Yup! 3 AM is usually my geting up time, It's nice and quiet and I can prepare mentally for the rest of the day, when there is no peace and quiet..

[Billie]

What time does Dansy usually get up (when she's not posting the thread), and do you have coffee ready for her? :)

[.45MAN]

Ha! she get's up about 4:45 and with no coffee, I have already had two Mugs and will be on my third here in a couple of minutes, and I have already checked my e-mail at work, so I know what to expect...

[Billie]

Well, I'm going to let you drink your third cup of coffee and mull over your day. Going to bed here now (at 2:30 my time). Give Dansy a hug for me when she wakes up. 'nite. ;)

[Billie]

Thanks, John - this was another really good one, and Dutchess, I enjoyed doing this one! See you later this morning, you two. :)

I was determined to find a picture of that Iraqi woman that Capt. Carter rescued. :)

[CounterCounterCulture]

Do we need champagne? :)

I suppose that's better than having some fava beans and a nice chianti...I'll never take up that offer again. ;-)

[DoughtyOne]

Special Edition Victory Series Production

The rescue of POW Private First Class Jessica Lynch has captured the attention of our nation.
This Victory Series submission is dedicated to her.

American POW Leaves Iraq After Rescue
inspiring details of the Private First Class Jessica Lynch story

By DOUG MELLGREN, Associated Press Writer

Excerpted to details about Private First Class Jessica Lynch, future recipient of the Purple Heart and possibly other medals as well.

NASIRIYAH, Iraq - An American flag folded across her chest, Pfc. Jessica Lynch left Iraq on a stretcher Wednesday April 2, 2003, after U.S. commandos, acting on a CIA tip, rescued the prisoner of war.

Lynch, a 19-year-old Army supply clerk, arrived at a U.S. air base in southwestern Germany on a C-17 transport plane late Wednesday for treatment at a U.S. military medical center.

"She's real spirited, she hasn't eaten in eight days and she's hungry," her father, Greg Lynch, said. "She wants some food."

U.S. officials in Kuwait said earlier she had two broken legs, a broken arm and at least one gunshot wound (see below for discrepancy).

Lynch was captured by the Iraqis more than a week ago after her maintenance unit made a wrong turn and was ambushed in Nasiriyah.

Following an intelligence tip about Lynch's whereabouts, U.S. special operations forces made their way behind Iraqi lines and seized Lynch from the Saddam Hospital under cover of darkness late Tuesday, American officials said.

The 507th was attacked March 23 during some of the earliest fighting in Nasiriyah, where Saddam's Fedayeen loyalists and other Iraqi fighters are said to have dressed as civilians and ambushed Americans.

Lynch fought fiercely and shot several enemy soldiers during the ambush. She fired her weapon after she had several gunshot wounds (see above for discrepancy) and kept firing until she ran out of ammunition, The Washington Post reported in Thursday's editions.

She watched several soldiers in her unit die and was stabbed when Iraqi forces closed in on her position, The Post quoted U.S. officials as saying.

An Iraqi pharmacist who works at Saddam Hospital told Britain's Sky television that he treated Lynch for leg injuries but that she was otherwise healthy. But he added, "every day I saw her crying about wanting to go home."

The pharmacist, who gave his name only as Imad, said Lynch knew the U.S. troops were on the other side of the Euphrates River and "she kept wondering if the American Army were coming to save her."

Kudos to Private First Class Jessica Lynch, for her courage under fire.

Home grown, from the heartland of the United States!

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Billie.

[Pippin]

Good Morning, D1!

PFC Jessica Lynch: My new hero!

[Pippin]

HOWDY, AERONAUT!

[Pippin]

Good Morning, CCC!

Happy FReeper Anniversary!

[Pippin]

Good Morning, .45MAN!