FReeper Canteen ~ National Maritime Day & Memorial Day Weekend ~ 22 May 09

Serving The Best Troops And Veterans In The World. | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ National Maritime Day and Memorial Day Weekend ~

STEAMSHIP SAVANNAH - 1819

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Canteen Mission Statement

Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), established in 1943, is operated by the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The mission of the Academy, located on 82-waterfront acres 20 miles from New York City, is to educate and graduate officers and leaders of honor and integrity to serve in America's merchant marine, maritime and intermodal transportation industries, and the Armed Forces.

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US MERCHANT MARINE IN VIETNAM

Army In February 1951 the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) aircraft carrier Windham Bay, was the first large ship to navigate the Long Tam River since 1925. While the ship was docked at Saigon (French Indochina) 17 hand grenades were tossed at the ship by terrorists.

The Military Sea Transportation Service was established in 1949 to provide sea transportation to the military as a successor to the Army Transportation Service. MSTS operated a fleet of ships and had charter agreements with commercial shipping firms. MSTS was succeeded by Military Sealift Command.

In 1954, after the partitioning of Vietnam, MSTS evacuated Vietnamese refugees from North to South Vietnam. USNS Howze was one of many MSTS ships involved in "Passage to Freedom" bringing 300,000 refugees and 200,000 tons of Cargo from North Vietnam. [Your webmistress arrived in the United States in 1949 on the USAT General R. L. Howze as a refugee of World War II.]

The Military Sea Transportation Service had the job of bringing war supplies to Vietnam -- 10,000 miles from the Pacific coast. MSTS had four separate customers to serve: the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. MSTS ships were staffed by "civilian" crews, but carried 95% of the supplies used by our Armed Forces in Vietnam including bombs and ammunition into combat zones under fire. Crew members were given Navy grades and rank identification in event of enemy capture. During Vietnam, MSTS first utilized roll-on/roll-off ships and container ships which speeded loading and unloading.

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United States Army

United States Navy

United States Marine Corps

United States Air Force

United States Coast Guard

US MERCHANT MARINE IN WORLD WAR II

One way to understand the Second World War is to appreciate the critical role of merchant shipping... the availability or non-availability of merchant shipping determined what the Allies could or could not do militarily.... when sinkings of Allied merchant vessels exceeded production, when slow turnarounds, convoy delays, roundabout routing, and long voyages taxed transport severely, or when the cross-Channel invasion planned for 1942 had to be postponed for many months for reasons which included insufficient shipping.

Had these ships not been produced, the war would have been in all likelihood prolonged many months, if not years. Some argue the Allies would have lost as there would not have existed the means to carry the personnel, supplies, and equipment needed by the combined Allies to defeat the Axis powers. [It took 7 to 15 tons of supplies to support one soldier for one year.] The U.S. wartime merchant fleet. . . constituted one of the most significant contributions made by any nation to the eventual winning of the Second World War.

In the final assessment, the huge US merchant fleet... provided critical logistical support to the war effort.

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Where The Stars & Stripes and The Eagles Fly

She Wore A Yellow Ribbon

There’s A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere

Ragged Old Flag

Battle Hymn of The Republic

PATRIOT SUPPORT

Motorcyclists from the Patriot Guard Riders show their support to troops at the Warrior's Weekend in Port O'Connor, Texas, May 17, 2009. Locals treated wounded soldiers and veterans to free fishing at the event. U.S.Army photo by Sgt. Stephen Decatur

RAVEN WINGS

U.S. Senior Airman Branden Boyher launches an RQ-11B Raven small unmanned aircraft system on Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq, May 20, 2009. Boyher is a member of a four-person team that initiated and oversaw the launch of one of six Ravens assigned to Kirkuk. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Eunique Stevens

Please remember that The Canteen is here to support
and entertain our troops and veterans and their families,
and is family friendly.

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning to everyone at the Canteen.
Happy Memorial Day weekend to everyone!

[PROCON]

Hi Ma (((HUGS))) !!

I wish you a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend, not much happening on my end other than relaxation.

I remember Obama spoke last year to a group of veterans on Memorial Day and said something like "we're here today to honor America's fallen veterans, many of whom are in today's audience"....

LOL!!!

[MEG33]

Groan..
I can’t bear to listen to him this year..I’ll watch it all and mute him.

[unique]

[blackie]

Thanks Kathy!

{{HUGS}}

[Kathy in Alaska]

I'll have to see this one at home...

But...good morning, u...((HUGS))...and mrs u...((HUGS))

Thanks for being such a cheerleader for our troops!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Trying this again....good morning/afternoon, Pro...((HUGS))...a nice quiet weekend planned here. Monday a Memorial Day gathering at the park strip, then in to work (no one but me and no phones).

I do remember yet another gaffe. TOTUS must not have been there.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, retired curmudgeon...((HUGS))...are you having nice weather? Been out on the bike? Hinting at rain here Saturday...of course, it’s the weekend.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oh no, Meg...((HUGS))...neck pain is not fun, nor is being tired. Hope you, all of you, feels better soon.

[blackie]

Good morning, Kathy...{{HUGS}}..it’s in thew 60’s with clear skies. No bike riding yet, I just got off of 20 days of 1000 MG of Cipro @ day and it has left me a little weak.

I’ll be riding very soon. ;)

[Kathy in Alaska]

wh!!

Thanks, unique, for the woohoo guys!

Sand.....#50!!
TS.....#100!!

[unique]

[AZamericonnie]

Happy Birthday M0sby & many happy returns of the day! *hugs*

[SandRat]

M0sby & many happy returns of the day!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Happy Birthday, M0sby!!

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[MEG33]

Thank you, Kathy..I don’t feel like “me”..To cheer me up 4 raccoons came at once tonight..LOL

[M0sby]

Oh and Kathy...da do run run run da do run run!!!
THANK YOU!

[Kathy in Alaska]

M0sby...((HUGS))...hope you had a wonderful birthday. You are most welcome.

[Kathy in Alaska]

It is no fun not feeling well, regardless the problem.

A regular family visit....how cool!

[M0sby]

Thank you!
It was a MEMORABLE WEEK LONG birthday celebration! I’m sure my husband will be happy to see tomorrow arrive! :-)
GOod NIGHT :-)