Army Times Photos: Faces of Valor (An FR Holiday Tribute to our Armed Forces)

Army Times ^ | 12/16/03

[Wolfstar]

Thanks for pinging your list, mhking. Lot's of American kids from all races and backgrounds out there on the front lines for us. Got to let them know we love them all.

[jtill]

What a wonderful collection of pictures and poetry. It all makes me teary, but ever so grateful and thankful for the fantastic men and women that serve in the military of our country.

Kay, thanks for the ping.

[happygrl]

May God bless and preserve our men and women who serve on the frontlines to protect us and prevent war from coming to our homeland.

May God comfort those families who enter this season with a heart full of grief and sorrow for the one who won't be coming home.

[Wolfstar]

Wonderful sentiments, Samwise. Maybe some of the FReepers with loved ones in the service will email this thread to them. I'm sure your thoughts will touch some of our brave young men and women serving on our behalf.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

God bless every one of you who serve our country, who protect our freedoms, and make our hearts swell with pride.

We know some have given the ultimate sacrifice, and we will not forget those men and women.

We will take our freedoms seriously , and whenever we look to the Stars and Stripes, we will remember that it is the solider who gives us our freedoms, it is the solider who carries the weight of sacrifice in our names, and for our benefit.

Thank you ,and may God make his face to shine upon you and your families, all of the days of you lives.

[Fintan]

WELL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wolfstar]

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers for our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guard, and CIA field agents. I'm sure all of the love, hope, and blessings expressed on this thread will go from us, to God, to them.

[Wolfstar]

I'm reminded that every once in awhile, civilians are forced by circumstance to become front-line soldiers. Let's never forget the brave passengers on Flight 93 who gave their lives winning our first victory in the war against radical Islamist terrorism.

[blackie]

Faces of Valor ~ Bump!

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Yes, thank you for reminding me. I am ashamed I forgot them. Of course I think about tall of the families who lost loved one on 9/11 and at the hands of terrorists. May god hold them all.

[glock rocks]

This is awesome. Thanks for the heads-up!

[Wolfstar]

No need to be ashamed. When we think of the Armed Forces, we don't normally think "civilian."

[Wolfstar]

BTW, I heard that Robin Williams is or recently was over in Iraq entertaining the troops.

[fso301]

I know good practices save lives and injury. But it's Christmas. Let's cut them a little slack, OK?

Ok. I was just being pickey. Many other possibilities. I wasn't there when the photo was snapped. I'll just assume the soldiers had just begun digging in when a camera crew arrived and requested permission from the commander to take pictures. Since the battery was in a region of Iraq considered quiet for some time, the commander allowed the distraction and upon photographers request, several crewmembers posed as if relaxing.

Shortly thereafter, the camera crew left and the gun crew resumed digging in for the night.

[Wolfstar]

Grin — that's the spirit!

[Bethbg79]

Ping!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Great photos, and great post, Sam. Thank you both.

[WaterDragon]

Neato! Thanks!

[M Kehoe]

Good work. Thanks.

5.56mm

[RedlegCPT]

They are called hasty fighting positions, you dig them upon occupation of a postion. The longer you stay the more you dig, since they were on a 21 day offensive battle that is about all you are going to dig. It takes quite some time to dig an armpit deep hole (about 8 hrs min), when you only stop for about 6 hrs and you might be able to get 3-4 hrs sleep you did a hasty.