A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....01-26-04.... Military Monday

Billie, The Mayor

[The Mayor]

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.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and 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 could no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I had been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that didn'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 we've created a place for just that. This is a friendly room in JimRob's house where FReeper FRiends can gather every day and just say hello if that's all they want to do.

There's more of course. We sometimes feature different FReepers, with a little background information on who they are and what makes them who they are, along with a few photos you might not have seen on other threads; sometimes others write an essay for us to post as the feature for the day; sometimes our presentation is a human interest story found elsewhere that you might not have read; sometimes special holiday threads; but whatever the topic of the day, it is always with FR's Finest in mind and that is YOU!

If you would like to be featured, or would like to see someone else featured, please send me a private FR mail.

Every Monday we will post the photos of FR's Military Personnel that I have collected and put into groups; these will be available to view through a link the remainder of the week - every day just a click away. :)   If you would like to add a photo of yourself or a loved one in the military, past or present, please let me know; I will hold it until I have enough for a new group.

Thank you, and please have fun with us...every day! ~ Billie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank You For Serving Our Country!

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

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

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.

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

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.

TOP: Mo1's dad; BuffyT's Uncle (right, w/ her dad & grandmother); Armymarinemom's 3 sons.
MIDDLE: ru4Liberty's dad; SheLion's husband, MaineRebel; wirestripper.
BOTTOM: fivetoes; bigghurtt; hurricane; ladtx' dad; Pippin's brother.




                     

THE WEEKEND THREAD 01-24,25-04 Week in Review

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

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact dansangel or .45Man
at
danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

[GailA]

Sun is now out and I went to grocery store in my shirt sleeves..short sleeves at that, It's 62.

[Mama_Bear]

Thank you for the post today, Billie and Rus. Wishing all a wonderful day!

[The Mayor]

I really like that.!

Ain't no question, God knows where I/we live..

[Pippin]

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY!

[dansangel]

Thank you (((((Rus))))) for bringing us Military Monday once again. It is so important to remember, pray for and honor our troops who are working so hard to keep us free.

Dear Father, please place Your bloodline of protection around our wonderful troops and bless our military members past and present. Hold them in Your loving hands and protect them the way that they protect us with their selfless acts. Bless their families and grant them peace during their time of worry and stress. We ask this in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

((((((((Hugs)))))))) to everyone and a special healing ((((((HUG)))))) to my special fuzzy brothah.

[dansangel]

((((((((((Pipster)))))))))

Was just about to shut down and head on home. Hoping this finds you doing well.

Will try to log back on later.

[Pippin]

((((dansy)))!

[Billie]

Good afternoon, Finest FRiends, and thank you for another Military Monday, Rus. I will post the Military Prayer List after this.

Thank you to all our fine men and women in the Armed Forces. You are the very best!

[Billie]

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; Mama_Bear; Dansangel; Dutchess; Aquamarine; and/or deadhead, 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.

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

OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Diver Dave.......niece, 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 katykelly............................son The Mayor........................niece LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew Dubya............................nephew StarCMC......................brother kimmie7.....................brother ValerieUSA..................2 sons TexKat................son, step-son Spruce.....................daughter Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................active duty LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty thumperusn.............active duty

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear.........2 nephews gator girl............husband severa.......husband, brother Hostel..................cousin MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA........................son cookcounty..............son SpookBrat...........nephew Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Tiffee4Bob.......boyfriend deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons Rose in RoseBear.cousin's hubby Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel..................niece Donaeus...............nephew dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn...............2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.................son Atomic Conspiracy..half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...nephew Atomic Conspiracy...niece Sunflowergal.......grandson visualops..cousin,adopted Marine

[knighthawk]

Bump (because it's not too busy here)

[LadyX]

No - the cat did not eat the mouse, preventing me from posting all day..:))

Woke to a strange-for-southwest-South-Carolina scene of ice-coated trees and wires! It had rained yesterday and through the night, and created ice and icicles everywhere, although the roads were fine...just wet.

The rain resumed most of the day, however, and for most of the day there was lightning! on and off!
It kept striking transformers all over, blipping off the power and tripping the shriek of the smoke alarm...poor Binky was terrified, and kept running under my bed to hide - would come out and then have to flee again and again.

Needless to say, I had to give up on Freeping, losing two attempts at posting, as well as my source for news. Even the cable television was off for a couple of hours.

Of all days, my daughter and her husband in icy Columbia are in the process of moving; first my 21-year old granddaughter and 18-year old grandson to an apartment there; and tomorrow, the rest of the household (daughter, 13, and son, 5) and belongings upstate. Bill received a promotion, necessitating this change.

It was a strange day indeed, with lightning accompanying the ice storm...the ice did not melt until about an hour ago.

[Aeronaut]

Good evening Mr Mayor and everyone. Boy, am I late. Guess I didn't act on my morning ping.

[LadyX]

A U.S. soldier gives gifts to local children during a medical
assistance visit to a small village outside Riyad, Iraq, Jan. 6, 2003.
U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jeffrey A. Wolfe

[LadyX]

Coalition members unpack boxes of medication in
a temporary medical clinic set up in a small Iraqi primary school
during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Dec. 30, 2003.
U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jeffrey A. Wolfe

[LadyX]

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. John Bernier meets with village elders
at Jangadam Village, Afghanistan, during the 455th Expeditionary Operations
Group's delivery of humanitarian supplies Dec. 31.
Bernier is the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing flight safety officer.
U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brian Davidson

[LadyX]

Platoon’s lone female takes seat of honor
January 26, 2004

Spc. Billie Grimes

Just last month, Spc. Billie Grimes was jumping into a Humvee seconds after a grenade explosion battered the vehicle inside one of Baghdad’s most dangerous neighborhoods, rendering medical aid to two Soldiers and two civilian journalists.

Grimes, a medic riding in another Humvee behind the attacked vehicle, is credited with saving the life of Time Magazine reporter Michael Weisskopf, whose hand was blown off by the grenade. She also treated photographer James Nachtwey, Pfc. Jim Beverly and Pvt. Orion Jenks – all of whom suffered serious shrapnel wounds.

A couple weeks after that Dec. 10 attack, Grimes turned up on the cover of Time Magazine with two sergeants from her unit, Survey Platoon – also known as the Tomb Raiders – of Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment of the 1st Armored Division. The three represent the magazine’s choice for 2003’s Person of the Year – the American Soldier.

Last week, Grimes got to hear President George W. Bush deliver the annual State of the Union address live and in person. She and her Time cover mates, Sgts. Ronald Buxton and Marquette Whiteside, were invited to sit in the first lady’s box for the live event. The next day, the trio headed for New York City for a public relations tour.

Grimes, 26, had no idea she was on the magazine cover when she left Iraq for R&R leave Dec. 23. She was waiting for her flight from Kuwait when a stranger recognized her, showing her the cover. The publicity since then has been a bit overwhelming.

“I didn’t realize how much of an impact it would have,’’ she said, admitting she dodged the media as much as possible while heading home to family in Lebanon, Ind. “I got clobbered immediately (with media attention).’’

She said she’s proud and honored, nonetheless, to represent her fellow service members.

[Aquamarine]

Stopping in to say hello to some of the Finest people on the Net!
The ice actually missed us here in the mountains but I hear the next system coming thru tonight may get us.

[Aquamarine]

Great posts Lady! These brave soldiers never cease to amaze me! :)

[The Mayor]

Thank you for those great pics, God Bless them all they are doing one hell of a good job.

I'm down in my workshop finishing doors. I'll be back later.. I hope..

[LadyX]

Here is a real Can-Do Attitude Story:

Pys-Ops NCO rescues Iraqi civilians
January 21, 2004

Sgt. 1st Class William "Bud" McLeroy

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Army News Service, Jan. 21, 2004)-– Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class William “Bud” McLeroy has a leg up on his fellow soldiers. Actually he has two.

The psychological operations detachment non-commissioned officer, who lost a leg a decade ago during an off-road car race accident, has been recommended to receive the Bronze Star with valor device and Purple Heart for his actions and injuries as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

While assigned to the 315th Psychological Operations Battalion, an Upland, Calif.-based Army Reserve unit, in Baghdad, McLeroy and his unit were responsible for distributing vital safety information to the battle-ravaged capital shortly following combat operations. When two Iraqi civilians were shot in the street, McLeroy helped drag the men to safety through a web of concertina wire and a barrage of heavy gunfire. McLeroy sustained abdomen and back wounds during the incident.

Today, McLeroy recovers from his wounds at Fort Bragg where he is an instructor at the JFK Special Warfare Center and School.

“I have not seen anyone who’s gone through what he’s gone through and maintained such a positive outlook,” commented Sgt. 1st Class Rodd Coker, a senior instructor at the school. “Even though he’s recovering from his wounds from Iraq, he volunteered to come work for us. They offered him the opportunity to go home and recover, but he didn’t feel like he would be doing his part. That’s one of the outstanding things about him.”

McLeroy had his leg amputated below the knee following an incident in 1993 when his stopped racing car was hit at more than 90 miles per hour, sending the California reservist more than 60 feet, crushing his right leg. After two months he returned to work as a firefighter and in 1995 received the OK from doctors to return to his reserve unit.