FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Herschel F. Briles ~ February 20, 2012

Serving The Best Troops In The World !! | StarCMC

[Kathy in Alaska]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

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!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Herschel F. Briles

Story from this website.

           

Herschel F. Briles (February 7, 1914 – July 17, 1994) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

Briles joined the Army from Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and by November 20, 1944 was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company C, 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion. On that day, near Scherpenseel, Germany, he left cover to rescue the wounded crew of a burning tank destroyer and extinguish the vehicle's flames. The next day, he single-handedly forced the surrender of fifty-five German soldiers and again left cover to reach a burning tank destroyer, rescue its crew, and put out the flames. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor ten months later, on September 10, 1945.

Briles reached the rank of first sergeant before leaving the Army.

He died at age 80 and was buried in Waveland Cemetery, Prairie City, Iowa.

Briles' official Medal of Honor citation reads:

    He was leading a platoon of destroyers across an exposed slope near Scherpenseel, Germany, on 20 November 1944, when they came under heavy enemy artillery fire. A direct hit was scored on 1 of the vehicles, killing 1 man, seriously wounding 2 others, and setting the destroyer afire. With a comrade, S/Sgt. Briles left the cover of his own armor and raced across ground raked by artillery and small-arms fire to the rescue of the men in the shattered destroyer. Without hesitation, he lowered himself into the burning turret, removed the wounded and then extinguished the fire. From a position he assumed the next morning, he observed hostile infantrymen advancing. With his machinegun, he poured such deadly fire into the enemy ranks that an entire pocket of 55 Germans surrendered, clearing the way for a junction between American units which had been held up for 2 days. Later that day, when another of his destroyers was hit by a concealed enemy tank, he again left protection to give assistance. With the help of another soldier, he evacuated two wounded under heavy fire and, returning to the burning vehicle, braved death from exploding ammunition to put out the flames. By his heroic initiative and complete disregard for personal safety, S/Sgt. Briles was largely responsible for causing heavy enemy casualties, forcing the surrender of 55 Germans, making possible the salvage of our vehicles, and saving the lives of wounded comrades.

Thank you sir, for your service and sacrifice for our country!

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha again Night Owl! ((HUGS))

No visitors, no fishing and very little sun today. Last night thunder and lightning followed by rain throughout the day. Chilly all day long.....so I called back to the mainland, that's where I've been all afternoon.

I'd had a big agenda planned for Monday morning with my son, lots of places to go but then perusing the calendar, I discovered that it's Presidents Day.....and most of our agenda has been canceled.

Now it' raining again....before I even get started.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Mac, for the Missing Man Setting as we remember those who have given their all that we may gather safe and secure.

[Kathy in Alaska]

That’s right...Presidents’ Day. Changes some of my lunch time errands. I think I better “let my fingers do the walking” before I leave the office. Maybe everything has to wait til Tuesday.

Can you, or do you want to, do any of your agenda?
Hope all your mainlanders are well.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Did my bi monthly shopping trip today. Finishing coupons & list. Saved $136 today.

Knowing how much you like shopping, did the "Ts" help out?

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning/afternoon/evening/night Troops, wherever you are.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep all of us free and safe.

Thanks, unique, for the pastries.

Coffee is always on........

How about a donut?

Cookies?

Veggies?

Sandwich?

[BIGLOOK]

Hope all your mainlanders are well.

Well.....Aunt Gloria just turned 87 and chatters away like a teenager. She's a joy.

My agenda will have to wait till Tuesday.

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning's thread, Star. How's it going?

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning to everyone at the Canteen.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, Everyone.

Good morning to our

Military, our Allies, and their families.
THANK YOU for all you do.

Thank you, Star, for preparing the Canteen for today’s activities.

Major KUDOS to Herschel F Briles
R I P
Job well done.

DC Metroland weather report

~ Today...Partly cloudy skies.
High 52F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.

~ Tonight...Mainly clear.
Low 31F. Winds light and variable.

We got only a dusting of snow here at the Beachy homestead.
By the end of the week we'll be in the 60s.
Then another drop in temps by the weekend, I think.
Crazy but spring is not far off.

Home today.
Got a few things to do but it's going a relaxing day, I hope.

After a brief scan of the posts,
I see we've lost more heroes.
I'll have to address those before leaving for the day.

HAPPY PRESIDENTS DAY

Time for me to make my rounds.
But, please stay right where you are.
Take a break.
Cruise the Canteen.
Shoot the breeze.
...I'll be bock!

Now remember, the Canteen is

So, come on in
and sit for a while.
There's always plenty of coffee, tea,
pancakes, conversation, silliness,
and plain old BS

REMEMBER THEM

DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and

our allied military and the family members of the above.

Honoring those who have served before.

[left that other site]

I FReeped, practiced, did some listings on eBay, and Played with Linda!

Of course, I have to work today, so I am making up for it! LOL!

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning beachy and (((HUGS))).

[beachn4fun]

R I P
Pfc. Cesar Cortez, USA,
5th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment,
11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade,
32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command,
Died Bahrain 11Feb2012

[beachn4fun]

R I P
Cpl. Osbrany Montes De Oca, USMC,
2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment,
2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force,
KIA Afghanistan 10Feb2012

[beachn4fun]

R I P
HM/3 (FMF) Kyler L. Estrada, USN,
11th Marine Expeditionary Unit,
Died Djibouti 14Feb2012

[beachn4fun]

R I P
Sr. Airman Ryan Tomlin, RAF,
2 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment,
No. 3 RAF Force Protection Wing,
KIA Afghanistan 13Feb2012

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, dear ((HUGS))

Howz things in Texas? Did you get more rain?

[luvie]

No nap...and no rain. Had to work and we had bright sunshine.

Supposed to be extremely windy today, so we’ll no doubt see some sand blowing. Lovely. NOT!

[Arrowhead1952]

We had three inches of much needed rain total last Friday. After that, we have had a couple of cooler days.