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.

[ConorMacNessa]

May they rest in eternal Peace!

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Gidday, Kiwi....how are things in Kiwi land? Winter settling in? You ready for patrol Friday night?

[BIGLOOK]

To the Merchant Marine!

Aloha Night Owl!

A fitting tribute to kick off Fleet Week!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ms b...((HUGS))...how was your day? I’m ready to split for home. Be back shortly.

[ConorMacNessa]

Aloha, Biglook! How goes it with you?

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[ConorMacNessa]

Good eventide, Lady Ms. B.!

*BOW*

How fare thee this eventide?

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[luvie]

Thanks for all your wonderful reminders that freedom is NOT free!

God bless the troops...and God bless you!

[yorkie]

Thank you for the ping, Luv.

May SGT CARLIE M LEE III and SSGT ESAU I D HERNANDEZ find their final solitude, in The Everlasting Arms. They gave their all for our freedom.

This song was for Sgt. Lee, III, and for SSGT. Hernandez - but after listening to it, and weeping - I think it was meant for us all:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO8uyHtOAHo - Gaither - Leaning on The Everlasting Arms

[ConorMacNessa]

WELCOME HOME AND REST WELL, BROTHERS!

Taps

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[SandRat]

50

[GulfWar1Vet]

Amen. Thank you for your kind words.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

*HUG*
Busy!
I hate housework!
Been spring cleaning and such.
Safe drive home, Ma!

[luvie]

Amen, Yorkie!

We all must lean on those Everlasting Arms!

Thanks for that beautiful song!

[yorkie]

Thank you Conor. So much.

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha Doc!

At 0430, awoke to whining and drivel on the news that lasted way longer than I thought bearable. No way to start the day.

But then a brave man stepped up, faced down the whiner and changed the day's course.... and discourse, for which I'm grateful.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

*curtsy*
Good evening Sir Conor.
I am alright, thankee.
How is thy back, this eventide?

[SandRat]

EQUINE HONORS - U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Possum and Sgt. Brent Miller, left, and Master Sgt. Houdini and Sgt. Brian Forward stand during a horse retirement ceremony at Turkey Creek Ranch on Fort Carson, Colo., May 11, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Rick Emert

[yorkie]

You are welcome, Luv. The song is so upbeat (Gaither), but while listening to it, I was overcome with a feeling that I cannot describe - and not to sound negative, I will stop there. Hugs

[writer33]

For the troops to enjoy:

Remember The Alamo!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

RIP S/Sgt. Esau I. Delapena Hernandez KIA 15may2009.
May God welcome you home.