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.

[luvie]

An uplifting feeling, perhaps? That’s what I felt! :D

[MS.BEHAVIN]

RIP Sgt. Carlie M. Lee, III, USA - KIA 15may2009.
May God welcome you home.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I’m home safe and sound....much traffic, and a stretch at a standstill.....nothing to indicate an accident or anything.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Sand....

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Hmmm..
Mebbe somebody broke down or sumtin’.
Glad you are home safe, Ma.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mac, and thanks.....

[Kathy in Alaska]

Aloha, Hawaii, and thanks......

[DieHard the Hunter]

Gidday Kathy! We’re sliding into winter here: it’s chilly (but not by Alaskan standards!) but not wet. Sorta dry-cold. I’m getting ready for Patrol, but first I have to escort my 90 yr old Father-in-Law into town.

He’s still quite active — got a full driver’s license with no restrictions — and his mind is as sharp as a tack. Physically in great shape: better shape than me. But he’s 90 and thus “elderly” and a target for robbery/assault/mugging &tc. (That happens too often here in New Zealand).

So whenever I’m around I go out with him as a “deterrent”. He calls me his “minder” and is amused by it all.

[Kathy in Alaska]

090520-N-8907D-269 NEW YORK (May 20, 2009) The guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) transits the Hudson River during the Parade of Ships as part of Fleet Week New York City 2009. Approximately 3,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsman will participate in the 22nd commemoration of Fleet Week New York. This event will provide the citizens of New York City and surrounding tri-state area an opportunity to meet service members and also see the latest capabilities of today's maritime services. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David Danals/Released)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Nana Hope, for today's Pledge. Thanks, AfghanMan and Penguin Girl, for your service to America.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good on ya, DieHard....your FIL is a lucky man to have you as his minder. I’ll bet you have a good time when you venture to town.

[DieHard the Hunter]

(grin!) I enjoy time with my Father-in-Law. Normally we finish up whatever business has taken him to town with a cuppa tea in a cafe somewhere.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thanks for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy. (& Gut Shabbes!)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Gut Shabbes, Mooch...how are you this fine evening? Will you be seeing any of Fleet Week?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Mayor.....

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening/morning, TS...school must be awfully close to being done for the year. Have you started getting the pool ready?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, AZ, and thanks for the red, white, and blue tribute. Hope your day went well, and it’s not too, too hot.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, jessdunto....very nice Memorial Day card.

[MoochPooch]

Saw some of Fleet Week tonight, while dining alfresco with a friend of mine. A whole bunch of sailors walked by. It was awesome.