USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth ~ 25 December 2003

Merry Christmas to the HiJinx Family!

...... If so, I've got the Whiskey ready for him!!

Here I AM, Sis!

Good night and sleep well, No. God bless you and your family good, and thanks for helping make the Canteen a safe haven for our troops.

And please tell the 1st LT I said "Merry Christmas" to him & his family!

We are family, there is more, but there is this

I have never known you you to have a problem with redundancy before, and today is no exception.

Merry Christmas Tom, thanks for all that you do in the Canteen. I love you for it.

Read between the lines.

Tina, thank you for the kind words. This isn't the first time I've been away for Christmas, but it's still just as hard as the first time. I hope y'all enjoy the story I'm posting below this. It puts in perspective who the real hero's are in this effort. And it rightly makes what I do look like small potatoes. Enjoy. Merry Christmas everyone.

John

2003: A Season of Valor, Sacrifice - and Many Heroes
Dave Eberhart, NewsMax.com
Monday, Dec. 22, 2003
Profiling just a select few of the bravest of the brave in the War on Terrorism is a vexing project -- until these invariably modest warriors themselves show the way by crediting their remarkable exploits to teamwork and reminding us that all who serve on the frontlines of freedom are our country’s heroes.

Those that get singled out for our nation’s highest military decorations, in large measure, wear that decoration for all who have gone into harm’s way. Ask them, they’ll tell you so.

Remarkably, when NewsMax caught up with a couple of decorated heroes back from the fighting in Iraq, it wasn’t their own war stories that flowed, but the tale of valor of one of their own -- Sergeant First Class Paul Smith, Bravo Company, 11th Engineer Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division, who died heroically leading his troops in battle Friday, April 4, 2003, in Baghdad, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

As NewsMax reported on Oct. 8, 2003, Smith is the first soldier recommended for the Medal of Honor, the country’s highest decoration for valor in combat, since the Global War on Terrorism combat period began.

Staff Sergeant Charles McNally, also of the 11th Engineers, told NewsMax, “I believe in my heart that he deserves and will get the award.” His friend and fellow combat veteran, Sergeant E-5 David S. Spooner said simply, “I agree.”

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, SFC Smith was a platoon sergeant/acting platoon leader in Bravo Company, which was in contact with Saddam’s forces nearly every day.

The drive on Baghdad from the south eventually carried the task force containing Smith’s parent 11th Engineers into Saddam International Airport. By the morning of April 4, the aggressive U.S. force was well inside the airport complex, and a containment pen had to be quickly constructed to secure the enemy prisoners.

There was a tall wall paralleling the north side of the highway servicing the airport -- on the battalion’s flank just behind the front lines. Smith decided to punch a hole in it, so that the inside walls would form two sides of a triangular enclosure, and the open third side could be closed off with rolls of concertina wire.

At Smith’s direction, an armored combat earthmover crashed through the wall and, while wire was being laid across the corner, one of his squad’s two armored vehicles moved toward a gate on the far side of the adjacent courtyard.

The Enemy Masses to Attack

When the driver pushed open the courtyard gate to open a field of fire, he immediately observed up to 100 enemy soldiers massed to attack. The only way out was the hole the engineers had put in the highway wall and the gate that faced the enemy, who began to open up on the U.S. troops with heavy fire --

Enemy soldiers stationed in trees and atop a nearby terrain-commanding tower fired a barrage of rocket-propelled grenades into the U.S ranks. An enemy mortar round hit the engineers’ lead armored vehicle, seriously wounding three soldiers inside.

Dodging fire, Smith helped evacuate them to an aid station, which was also coming under attack. The consummate professional, Smith promptly organized the engineers’ defenses, noting that all that stood between the attacking enemy and the task force’s vulnerable headquarters were about 15 to 20 troops.

A second armored vehicle was hit by an RPG, but was not completely knocked out of action. Simultaneously, enemy soldiers began charging from the courtyard gate or scaling a section of the wall, jumping into the courtyard, which had become a deadly trap.

Smith took personal command of the smoking and damaged second armored personnel carrier, maneuvering the big vehicle into a position where he could bring its heavy .50-caliber machinegun fire to bear on the determined enemy.

Another remarkable soldier on the field that day, First Sergeant Tim Campbell, realized that they had to knock out the Iraqi position in the enemy-held tower. After consulting with Smith, Campbell led two soldiers to take the tower. Armed only with a light machinegun, a rifle and a pistol with one magazine, the small force advanced behind the smoke of the tall grass that had caught fire from exploding ammunition.

Constantly exposed to heavy enemy fire, Smith resolutely stood by his machine gun, yelling for more ammunition three times during the fight. The warrior blasted through 400 rounds before he was struck down and mortally wounded by the withering small arms fire.

According to the citation, his sustained fire killed 20 to 50 Iraqis, allowing American wounded to be evacuated, saving the aid station -- as well as the task force headquarters.

Later, back in the U.S., the senior U.S. commander on the ground in Iraq, Lt. Gen. William S. Wallace, noted Smith’s actions in an emotional speech. Wallace described how Smith told his men, “Every time you hear the .50 caliber go silent, hand me up a can of ammo.”

"The gun went silent three times," recalled Wallace. The fourth time, there was no call for more ammo. Smith had died in the service of his country, personally credited with saving the lives of so many of his comrades.

A much-decorated veteran of the 1991 Persian Gulf War, Smith was a 33-year-old from Tampa, Florida. He left behind a wife, a son and a daughter.

To the Shores of Tripoli and the Purple Heart

No Auld Lang Zyne tribute to the warriors of the War on Terrorism would be complete without a focus on the noblest of fraternities: recipients of the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in battle.

There’s no one best example. Perhaps, however, Navy Capt. Stephen F. McCartney wrote dramatically and best of the Purple Heart.

In his own powerful words, the surgeon describes an early American bloodletting -- from the dangerous vantage point of his surgical hospital at Camp Okinawa, Iraq, a place that sat precariously close to the salient of the U.S. land campaign that hammered forward to liberate Baghdad in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

There, he and other doctors, nurses and corpsmen in “MASH” fashion stood fast under an umbrella of scud missiles to tend to the wounded warriors of the Marine Corps.

On board the first CH-46 helicopter returning from the forward edge of the battle area, Capt. McCartney finds a young USMC officer.

“He is dead. Shot through the abdomen exiting in the lower back…

“It is controlled chaos. Calm determination describes our hospital company. All committed, all somewhat numbed. No one complains -- they just work. They all have the same blank look on their faces. They all remember the young officer. There is no more rationalizing, no more denials ... this is war…

“No one falters. A group of young Marines and a Navy corpsman arrive. All have leg injuries from landmines. The corpsman was blown up running to the aid of one of his injured Marines. Their muscular legs are horrifically deformed and shredded full of holes…

“Under the tent lights the shrapnel glistens and reflects from inside the wounds. The Marines are quiet, answering questions polite and dignified. Even their injuries and pain doesn't keep them from saying, ‘Yes ma'am, no ma'am’ or ‘Yes sir, no sir.’

“A helicopter drops off several USMC ambushed while taking an Iraqi surrender. Nine of their fellow ‘Devil-Dogs’ are dead. An RPG has killed a corpsman from our hospital during battle in Iraq. Many people know him from San Diego. He had two children and a wife. He was twenty-six. Alpha Company begins to hurt…

“A young Marine behind me is being lifted by the stretcher-bearers for a journey to surgery... He looks down from the stretcher at the large puddle of his blood underneath and apologizes to the nurse for leaving a mess behind. He says his mother taught him to always clean up after himself. Looking at his face, it is clear it could not have been all that long ago. He appeared barely 18. I asked myself ‘Where do these young men come from? What makes them able to do this?’

“The incoming patients continued for five to six days…

“One day we all apparently had the same epiphany, and to my knowledge we haven't spoken of the most painful events ever again. There just wasn't anything else to say. Words can't describe the feelings, so it's best to not speak about it anymore. Perhaps later the words will come.”

Heroism in Afghanistan

Right behind the Medal of Honor in order of valor is the Distinguished Service Cross. A Special Forces leader holds the distinction of being awarded the first DSC since Vietnam.

Maj. Mark E. Mitchell, a Special Forces officer, was awarded the coveted and revered DSC for leading a team of 16 American and British soldiers into combat operations against about 500 Taliban and al Qaeda-trained fighters who had taken over a fortress near Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, where they had been imprisoned.

Major Mitchell’s citation states, “His unparalleled courage under fire, decisive leadership and personal sacrifice were directly responsible for the success of the rescue operation and were further instrumental in ensuring the city of Mazar-e-Sharif did not fall back in the hands of the Taliban.”

The Distinguished Service Cross was presented to Mitchell by Gen. Bryan “Doug” Brown, commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, in a ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

Like his Army comrades, above, the Major displayed the unerring modesty of the true hero:

“It is a tremendous honor,” Mitchell said. “But I don’t consider myself a hero. I am not personally convinced that my actions warranted more than a pat on the back. Wearing the Special Forces foreign-service combat patch on my shoulder and serving with the finest soldiers in the world is enough. I was just doing my job and our mission was accomplished.”

Into the Sky

Our nation’s highest aviation award is the Distinguished Flying Cross. This past July Chief Warrant Officer 3 Olin R. Ashworth, an Apache helicopter pilot, was awarded the DFC for intrepid conduct during a dramatic hour and twenty minute-long battle between the 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment and Iraqi forces on the evening of March 23.

Ashworth led his company of war birds into the target area, coming immediately under an intense barrage of enemy ground-fire.

Most helicopters were damaged by the onslaught and some were forced to limp back to base. Although having sustained hits, Ashworth pressed the attack. When his wingman came under heavy machine gun fire, he swooped down into the fray, knocking out the gun positions that had marked his fellow aviator.

Once finally over the target area, his aircraft took a round in the canopy, which sprayed glass into his co-pilot/gunner’s face, blinding him.

Now flying his battered ship solo, Ashworth’s harrowing flight back to base was again interrupted by the enemy. His wingman again received continuous fire from a heavy caliber machine gun position, as well as a fusillade of rocket-propelled-grenades. With his wingman’s guns jammed and most of his rockets already expended, Ashworth again swept in, knocking out the enemy position with rocket fire.

Later when interviewed by a DoD reporter, the modest Ashworth commented only, “It’s a team, whether you’re out there or not. I could tear it [the DFC] up into pieces and give everybody part of it, because everybody was out there covering me.”

Modesty aside, Ashworth is now the warrior with the highest decoration in his unit.

Down, Down the Field, Navy!

Chief Petty Officer Stephen Bass, a Navy SEAL, received the Navy Cross, the sailing service’s and the Marine Corps’ distinctive second-highest award for heroism -- during a rescue mission in Afghanistan.

As part of a U.S. and British special-operations mission to rescue missing Americans, Bass, according to his citation, was “continuously engaged” by small-arms, mortar and rocket-propelled-grenade fire and had to walk through a minefield to reach the Americans.

Bass advanced nearly one-quarter of a mile “under constant enemy fire” in an attempt to find one of the Americans. When he ran low on ammunition, the SEAL used weapons from dead enemy forces to continue his mission, which resulted in the accomplishment of his unit’s mission.

Into the Wild Blue Yonder

Two F-117A Nighthawk pilots from the Air Force’s 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at a forward-deployed desert air base in the Middle East were also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their actions during the opening salvos of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Initiating the air campaign, Lt. Col. David Toomey and Maj. Mark Hoehn flew the first sortie of the war -- a president-approved mission that targeted a senior Iraqi leadership compound in Baghdad where intelligence sources believed Saddam Hussein and other top regime leaders were holed up.

On desperately short notice, the pilots launched the sortie, with minimal planning material available, meeting up with aerial refueling and electronic warfare aircraft on their way to Baghdad.

Maj. Hoehn’s aircraft developed a malfunction during the flight and lost much of his communications ability. Despite the handicap, he drove on with superior airmanship, achieving complete surprise in the heavily defended target area.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Toomey also fought a weapons system malfunction. As the two war-birds entered into the heart of the Iraqi Integrated Air Defense System -- with daylight approaching -- they faced more than fifty strategic surface-to-air missile systems and more than two hundred anti-aircraft artillery sites.

Both pilots penetrated the defenses and placed enhanced precision munitions exactly on target -- within one second of the planned time over target.

Their performance in carrying out the mission was “in the finest traditions of our Air Force.”

My goodness, Jinxie, is Piper one little cutie!! Grampa is not too proud of her, is he? LOL! She's a doll.

Good night, Gulf, and thanks for helping honor our troops. Thank you for your service and Merry Christmas.

I can tell from that picture that you have a great mind!

You must have really good eyesight, if you can see my mind from there!

"Tina, thank you for the kind words."

Audio Reports
from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team

Click on the patch and you can see and hear the voice
of our own txradioguy reporting from somewhere incountry.

Thank you, John, for your service to our country.

MOJO!

I have, indeed heard thy petitions, rendered unto Me with sincere heart and purpose, by means of My Emissary upon Earth, he who is known unto thee as Sarge. As any parent would address their children in love and patience, so shall I, the Lord thy God, deliver unto thee a glimpse unto My infinite mind and purpose.

I don't want to bore you with the usual "Peace On Earth" and that type of nonsense. If you were truly serious about that stuff, you wouldn't have created Michael Moore or Barbra Streisand.

O My child Mojo, peace upon Earth and goodwill toward thy fellow man, is among the most worthy of goals and desires to which one might aspire. The Lord thy God is pleased to find those among Men who aspire to this same goal, and yea, even those who doth scorn thee, and persecute those whom thou holdest dear, even for My name's sake, doth but lend glory unto My name, and unto thy own treasures which art stored up in Heaven. (NOTICE THOU THIS, MOJO: Thy account balance of thy Heavenly Treasures is both rich and great, indeed, save for that incident with thy Sailor several New Year's Eves past, involving the fruit of the vine, and the work of human hands...)

Speaking of which, what do you do when humans aren't doing stupid things? Do you get to sleep at all? Do you snore? If so, does it sound like thunder?

My precious child, when thy fellow Man performs great signs of wisdom and goodness of heart, it is that hour in which The Lord thy God doth take ease, knowing surely that all good things, even unto those things done in My name, proceedeth ultimately from My hands, and work even to the glory of My purpose. For, as on the seventh day the I did rest, even unto this modern day, works of wisdom and mercy doth ease My burden as well.

My Voice is as of thunder in the mountains, the endless Voice of the Sea, and the trembling movement of the earth beneath thy feet. Even as I take My ease, so does My voice echo in these places, the which if listened for, thou mayest still hear.

First question: MoJo got a great Christmas gift this morning. I got a DVD Burner that can do DVD-R (-) & (+)!! Woohoo!! Thanks for reminding the Sailor about it about a month ago. Anyhoo, how come he's playing with it?? He made it an external drive so he could use it as well. He claims that he's "testing" it out for me, but it's been six hours. Honestly! I'm getting ready to go Postal on him if he doesn't give it back.

O Mojo, My child of wonder and delight, it is good to rejoice in the fellowship of the exchange of gifts, at this festive season. Dost thou not trust thy Sailor with thy gift? For in his heart, thy Sailor doth knowest that, once the gift is prepared for thy use, the chance will not come soon again to share, such will be thy steady and faithful use of his gift unto thee. Save thy postal goings for taking letters to thy post office, especially those small gifts which thee shalt send unto My Emissary upon Earth, known unto thee as Sarge, in which thou shalt include Bactine and gauze, at his request...

Second, could you remind my neighbors that it's Christmas and not GHETTO DAY. They are blaring Jay Z's new CD. (Which of course they got from MoJo!) Anyhoo, I've decided to get my revenge by playing some David Allan Coe. Why? BECAUSE I CAN! That's why!

Vengeance is Mine, sayeth The Lord thy God, and thou dost act as but the instrument of My design, My child. When next this assault of discord doth occur, My child, then thou shalt follow this command, and obtain a recording of that ancient music phenomenon known unto thee as "Alvin and the Chipmunks:, and thou shalt proceedeth to blast the windows from out of their sills;

Third, why does my kid keep praying for snow?? We live near the beach. We don't want snow. Please disregard his request. Thank you!

O My sweet child Mojo, patient in maternal instinct and love, canst thou not see the torment of thy child's heart, who dost longeth for the sight and pleasures of the new-fallen snow, and the beauty of the winter season thereof, which but proceedeth from My design for thee? As a token of thy love for thy child, who I am certain is precious also in thy sight (for I, The Lord thy God, am but infallible), thou shalt consult with thy dear FRiend, known unto thee as Katherine, who is also called Ma, she who dwelleth in that far place of frozen air and land known unto thee as Alaska, for the purpose of sending thy son unto her, thereby providing relief for his longing, and relief for thy peace of mind;

Fourth, what's the point of the USPS being open to deliver holiday packages when they still can't seem to deliver them on time?? They want to raise my rates. WHY?

My patient child Mojo, surely thou dost realize that, in this time of trial for those who toil and labor with letters and parcels and goods shipped to far places, to ensurest the safety of not only your goods, but themselves, and you as well, time and care must perforce be taken to be certain of the safety of the contents within, or without, of thy mail. Moreover, these servants of thine, for such they are, also have children and loved ones for whom they must share vigilance for safety. Therefore, render unto Caesar...

Could you send Moses to get Ma outta bed. I know it's hard for her to hear anyone through her snores, but I need her to get outta bed ASAP. Thanks!

My child Mojo, it is a wonder that thou dost know of thy mother's apneatic volume. Knowest thou, that she shall make herself known unto thee at a time of her choosing. Get used to it.

That's it for now, but I reserve the right to ask you more questions today and everyday. Why? BECAUSE I CAN!

My dear child Mojo, image of beauty and grace and island song, which doth but proceedeth from My bountiful hands, never has one of My children had need to reserve time for speaking unto Me. For I am in all places and all things, and shalt find Me wherever thou seekest, yea even unto the furthest places, thou shalt find I have already been there. And I do these things, as a sign unto thee, for the very same reason you claim to speak unto Me. Got it?

And now, Go with My love, My child, to bringeth into fruition My design, that of Peace upon Earth, and good will towards all Men.

Thanks, redrock, for stopping in today. Thank you for your service too, and Merry Christmas.

Good Evening, O Divine One...

GOODNIGHT TROOPS AND CANTEEN

My fat cat is telling me it's time for bed; soooooooo:

Good Night, All!

May God bless all who come to the Canteen.
May God bless & keep safe all our troops & their families!

________________________________

Dear Lord,
There's a young man far from home,
called to serve his nation in time of war;
sent to defend our freedom
on some distant foreign shore.

We pray You keep him safe,
we pray You keep him strong,
we pray You send him safely home ...
for he's been away so long.

There's a young woman far from home,
serving her nation with pride.
Her step is strong, her step is sure,
there is courage in every stride.

We pray You keep her safe,
we pray You keep her strong,
we pray You send her safely home ...
for she's been away too long.

Bless those who await their safe return.
Bless those who mourn the lost.
Bless those who serve this country well,
no matter what the cost.

God, Bless America!

Okay, Tom let her rip!

Good nite. Thanks for all you do in the Canteen.

Bed time?

When the 400th post looms so closely?

Hi Sarge!

Isn't it nice MoJo is back??
:-)

AWESOME POEM!! Thanks for posting!

mine

Yeah that is the ticket.

Thanks for selling Burkas out here.

How are Burka sales going , by the way?