FReeper Canteen ~ Guest Military Chaplain ~ FEB 08 2004

Naval Air Station Oceana ^ | Chaplain Robert Humble

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Welcome to
The FReeper Canteen

Today's Spiritual Journey takes us to the

Naval Air Station Oceana

---

Click on graphic to link to the original sermon.

 

NEW LIFE

Cecil B. De Mille, the great producer of epic movies, tells a story of fishing with his grandfather when he was just a young boy. The two had spent all afternoon together in a rowboat and the young boy was restless. He leaned over the side of the boat to look into the water and watch the water beetles playing.

As he looked, one of the water beetles crawled up on an oar. When it got halfway up it attached the talons of its legs to the oar and died.

The boy's curiosity was aroused, and he awoke his grandfather from his fishing nap to show him the beetle. After discussing the ways of nature, the two went back to fishing.

Three hours later, the boy looked back at the dead beetle. It had dried up, and its shell had begun to crack open. Something had begun to emerge from the opening. It was a beautiful dragonfly.

The boy and his grandfather stared in awe. The dragonfly moved its wings slowly at first. Then it began to hover gracefully over the water where the other water beetles were still swimming.

The boy took his finger and nudged the dried-out shell of the beetle, which looked like an empty tomb. And he understood Easter for the first time.

God transforms and makes new. The grace that renews the world and cares for each living thing can renew us as well. All we need to do is ask. Those who turn to him will never be disappointed.

Chaplain Robert Humble

[SevenofNine]

Well Geraldo on his show tonight has exclusive he claim talk to Jacko during the week claim that Jacko is tired and he is angry how could he tell Geraldo

I don't see no red of anger on him he too white

Did he throw f-bomb during the interview

COME ON this is Jacko we talking about

He claim that Bank of America is thisss close of taking Jacko to court over default loan and guess what brother Tito Jackson did to Nation of Islam bodyguard

He got in fist fight with them

TITO kick the dudes a**

COOL rack ittt

Also report off Aussie Sunday Telegraph Anglican Church in Austrila want change mass from Sunday to perahps mid week think that more people would go to church during weekdays preferely evening

Also another report off Ananova site some Cathoic priest in New Zealand got busted for growing Mary Jane in church grounds

You know Mary Jane Hippie lettuce

Cali grass or Cali weed

[SevenofNine]

Breaking item off Kydto news wire report that Japan has ban US poultry import into country fear of Bird flu

Also NY Daily news reporting that internet infamous video skank Paris Hilton going sue her ex-boyfriend and the company peddling the net for invasion of privacy

[Old Sarge]

Seven, I swear some nights, I need a linguist to read your posts! (G)

But, barring that, you're never anything less than informative. {smooch}

I just put the troops to bed. They've earned their case of Bud Light tonight. They worked hard to learn a few new tricks from the old dogs today.

Remind me, one day, to tell you all the classy nicknames we have, and I'll tell you all the wild and wacky stories of the Kentucky Guard, from our point of view.

For tonight, we had a very interesting barracks chat. Involving Constitutional law, the Libertarian perspective, why to love or hate GWB, who can beat She Who Must Not Be Named in 2008, and all other sorts of frivolity that soldiers discuss amongst themnselves.

Gods, but I love these kids.

I'll see y'all tomorrow, sometime, after coffee and waffles.

SARGE

[herewego]

God Bless you all, wish I could write better to say what I wanna say but the feelings and intent are there.

[windchime]

Bump!

[StarCMC]

Today's Medal of Honor Recipients

BONDSTEEL, JAMES LEROY

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 2d Battalion, 2d Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. 

Place and date: An Loc Province, Republic of Vietnam, 24 May 1969. 

Entered service at: Detroit, Mich. 

Born: 18 July 1947, Jackson, Mich. 

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 

S/Sgt. Bondsteel distinguished himself while serving as a platoon sergeant with Company A, near the village of Lang Sau. Company A was directed to assist a friendly unit which was endangered by intense fire from a North Vietnamese Battalion located in a heavily fortified base camp. S/Sgt. Bondsteel quickly organized the men of his platoon into effective combat teams and spearheaded the attack by destroying 4 enemy occupied bunkers. He then raced some 200 meters under heavy enemy fire to reach an adjoining platoon which had begun to falter. After rallying this unit and assisting their wounded, S/Sgt. Bondsteel returned to his own sector with critically needed munitions. Without pausing he moved to the forefront and destroyed 4 enemy occupied bunkers and a machine gun which had threatened his advancing platoon. Although painfully wounded by an enemy grenade, S/Sgt. Bondsteel refused medical attention and continued his assault by neutralizing 2 more enemy bunkers nearby. While searching one of these emplacements S/Sgt. Bondsteel narrowly escaped death when an enemy soldier detonated a grenade at close range. Shortly thereafter, he ran to the aid of a severely wounded officer and struck down an enemy soldier who was threatening the officer's life. S/Sgt. Bondsteel then continued to rally his men and led them through the entrenched enemy until his company was relieved. His exemplary leadership and great personal courage throughout the 4-hour battle ensured the success of his own and nearby units, and resulted in the saving of numerous lives of his fellow soldiers. By individual acts of bravery he destroyed 10 enemy bunkers and accounted for a large toll of the enemy, including 2 key enemy commanders. His extraordinary heroism at the risk of his life was in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

BOWEN, HAMMETT L., JR.

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, 2d Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. 

Place and date: Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 27 June 1969. 

Entered service at: Jacksonville, Fla. 

Born: 30 November 1947, Lagrange, Ga. 

Citation: S/Sgt. Bowen distinguished himself while serving as a platoon sergeant during combat operations in Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam. 

S/Sgt. Bowen's platoon was advancing on a reconnaissance mission into enemy controlled terrain when it came under the withering crossfire of small arms and grenades from an enemy ambush force. S/Sgt. Bowen placed heavy suppressive fire on the enemy positions and ordered his men to fall back. As the platoon was moving back, an enemy grenade was thrown amid S/Sgt. Bowen and 3 of his men. Sensing the danger to his comrades, S/Sgt. Bowen shouted a warning to his men and hurled himself on the grenade, absorbing the explosion with his body while saving the lives of his fellow soldiers. S/Sgt. Bowen's extraordinary courage and concern for his men at the cost of his life served as an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of the military service and the U.S. Army.

"If there be any glory in war, let it rest on the shoulders of men like these" -- Audie Murphy

Thank you to all the soldiers, sailors, coast guardsmen, marines and airmen just "doing their duty" today.  You are my heroes and I pray for God's blessings on you today.  You will not be forgotten.

 

[StarCMC]

WOW Tonk - that's gorgeous. I'm a sucker for purple! :o)

[Old Sarge]

So, are these young men (and women?) just getting their start in the Guard? Do you do any of the "teaching"? What kind of weather are they drilling in?

One at a time!!!

Only a few of these kids are just starting out. Most of my guys are young bucks of a few seasons - as opposed to the old farts like me.

Oh yeah, I do a LOT of the teaching. A few of the guys do the sneaking-thru-the-bushes training; I do the outthink-the-bad-guys part. Brainiac, that's me...

We had them out in winter weather today; snowfall, wind chill, just like our brothers in Big Army.

And shazam, we got two girls in the company, too! High-school age, just starting out, never been to Basic or AIT yet. We used them as decoys, for the interrogators to play with; gave them lines to memorize, so they could spout them back at the spooks, giving them stuff to work with. EVERYBODY got into the act.

[Old Sarge]

STAR!!!

You're still up?!?

I thought I was the only one! Geez!

[Old Sarge]

Mine!

[StarCMC]

Did I read that you have a son currently deploying?

[Old Sarge]

Goodnight, Feathers. I'll see you tomorrow (at a saner time...)

[StarCMC]

Sorry I missed you today!

HUGS!

(Remind me to tell you all about the concert I attended tonight -- good stuff!! But it's too late to do it now!)

[StarCMC]

Well lookie here ! I DIDN'T miss you! LOL!!

[Old Sarge]

Naw, the barracks party only just broke up. I'm the only one not snoring yet!

You're up quite late, I see...

[StarCMC]

You better hit the rack, soldier, or you're gonna be a hurting puppy tomorrow!! It's almost 2am your time! Yikes! I hope I don't fall asleep at church tomorrow! LOL!!

[Old Sarge]

We'll do fine. Our guys are pooped puppies, from the ordeal the Old Guys put them thru today.

That and a case of Bud Light at the drill hall, as a reward...

Ah, these kids, can't hold their liquor. Can't run with the old dogs in some ways...

[Fawnn]

Old Sarge!!! #50!!!

[Old Sarge]

{{{{{{{{{{{{{AUNTIE!!!}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[StarCMC]

Ok, since you're HERE I'll tell you (and all) about the concert...

Took my dad to the Gaither's Homecoming Friends show for his birthday. Lots of INCREDIBLE southern gospel and bluegrass style music during the first segment...which ended with a great sone by the Gaither Vocal Band (4 part men's harmony) singing "Let Freedom Ring!" (Not the country song.) THEN, to open the last half, they sang (and had the entire audience singing along too) "This Land Is YOur Land" and "God Bless The USA" Imagine roughly 12-15,000 people singing those at the top of their lungs. Sheesh -- it was AWESOME!!! Gave me chills and I had to fight back tears.

And so when I got home I had to unwind a little. But now I've GOTTA get to bed or I will be PAYING for it tomorrow!