FReeper Canteen ~ Pancakes on Wednesday ~ Dec 15, 2004

Guest Chef Spotsybelle

[Spotsy]

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday...
Thank the Veterans who served in
The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom?
Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

Good Morning Troops, Veterans, Military Families, Allies and FRiends!
Welcome to a special edition of Pancakes. The theme is celebration!
We have so much to celebrate thanks to those who serve and sacrifice.

The chef would like to share a couple of seasonal recipes:
Gingerbread Pancakes and Eggnog Pancakes with Cranberry Sauce.

Today's Birthdays

J. Paul Getty, oil magnate (1892 - 1976)
Don Johnson, actor (1949)

Thought for the Day "If reality wants to get in touch with me, it knows where I am." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Handy Latin Phrases
when describing our troops . . . in Latin:
suaviter in modo, fortiter in re
"gently in manner, strongly in deed"

On this Day in History 1944 General Dwight D. Eisenhower,
future President of the United States,
received his fifth star
Happy Bill of Rights Day!

Click here to read the Bill of Rights and to learn more about
the history of these first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Click here to read President Bush's
2004 Bill of Rights Day Proclamation

The Canteen's very own Beachn4fun conquered her mathematics obstacle course and is set to receive her diploma.

Don't forget the syrup -

~ Happy Hanukkah! ~

[Texas Termite]

Wow.... if that doesn't bring it home, nothing will.

Thank you for sharing that lovely poem with us..

No, we will never forget nor will we ever stop praying for our troops, past and present. "Thank you" to them all.

*TT*, Beth & Nana

[StarCMC]

Sheesh!! You're making me TIRED!!!

[StarCMC]

They're good ball players - if you're related maybe PP can hit them up for donataions! LOL!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

U.S. Army Capt. Mike Cole, the lead adviser for the Company A, 304th Iraqi National Guard Battalion’s Advisory Support Team, talks over the radio to a sergeant from the company during Operations Lion Pride II, Dec. 11, 2004. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Bill Putnam

Iraqi Guard Find Munitions, Four Kidnappers

The successful mission shows the progress the Iraqi National Guard has made in recent months.

By U.S. Army Cpl. Bill Putnam
122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP AL-SAQR, BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 15, 2004 — Soldiers from the 304th Iraqi National Guard Battalion found several weapons and two potential improvised explosive devices during Operation Lion’s Pride II on Dec. 11.

The Iraqi soldiers even stopped the kidnapping of an Iraqi police officer’s son, said Capt. Dan Gelderman, the 5th Brigade Combat Team’s senior adviser to the 304th Iraqi National Guard.

These battalion-sized operations aren’t anything new for the unit, said Capt. Mike Cole, the adviser team leader for Company A, 304th Iraqi National Guard. They unit has run about 10 since June, he said.

The overall search was conducted and led by Iraqi National Guard soldiers. Company A, 304th Iraqi National Guard Battalion, sealed off the area for elements for the 304th’s Headquarters and Delta Companies to search. Previous searches through the area were fruitful. Units have found rockets, mortar tubes and arms caches, Cole said.

“So there was the possibility of them finding at least something because it is such a large area,” Cole said.

Most of the search area was made up of farm fields and date palm groves. But overall the search went quickly.

By 11 a.m., the search had turned up what the Iraqi National Guard told Cole were two rockets. Later it turned out they were just tank rounds.

“It’s not unexpected they’d turn something up,” Cole said.

After running so many missions over the last few months, the Iraqis are now essentially running operations on their own. For example, before a mission now the advisers give the unit’s leadership a quick brief and the Iraqi sergeants and officers take care of briefing their men, said Sgt. Josh Abbatoye, an adviser of Cole’s team.

The rest of the story

[Kathy in Alaska]

So....have you figured out how to be in both rooms at the same time?

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

666

[Old Sarge]

Do You Realize What You've Done?

[Old Sarge]

LISA!!!

Raisins?!? Who eats Raisins?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Merry Christmas, *TT*, Beth, & Nana!!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I took the "hit" so no one else had to.

[LisaMalia]

Hey Sarge, how are you?

Nice picture, very sweet...just like you!

[Diva Betsy Ross]

I found a really good lemony/gingerbread recipe that is kid friendly. Jimmy doesn't like his gingerbread cookies too spicy. We also read the gingerbread baby by Jan Brett. Very cute story. Stephen was cracking up for hours playing with a gingerbread boy cookie...

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, lauren. Did you work hard today?

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Merry Christmas Little one and give your family a kiss from me!

[Old Sarge]

Heh heh... Okay, but YOU have to feed him!

[Old Sarge]

Still here? I hope?

[Kathy in Alaska]

1941 USS Swordfish becomes 1st US sub to sink a Japanese ship

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Oh.. Okay since you asked why I am having a temper tantrum... I will fess up! Stephen the little "angel" was pretending to be asleep... but he was unwrapping the Faux candied Christmas tree lights I have on the tree downstairs. I have a Christmas tree down stairs decorated with Wax popcorn, candies, and polka dot bows. The lights have big plastic covers which look like peppermint candies and they are wrapped with cellophane.

I keep telling him they are not real. You would think after he tries to eat one he would notice they are made out of PLASTIC!

Jimmy never tried to eat my tree! UGH!!!

[Old Sarge]

::blushing:: AW, GEEEE!

[MoJo2001]

I wouldn't hit those two up for donations because I don't know them personally. I'm only comfortable speaking to those cousins and relatives that I've had a long term relationship with.

We're supposed to have another family reunion in a year or so. So? We'll see whether I recognize either of them. I have asked my cousin Joe for some help. He has always been very gracious with his time and support for the family. And maybe he'll take the news back to American Samoa after the football season.