FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Gordon Douglas Yntema ~ August 6, 2012

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans 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 ~

Gordon Douglas Yntema
Information from here.

           

Gordon Douglas Yntema (June 26, 1945 – January 18, 1968) 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 the Vietnam War.

Yntema joined the Army from Detroit, Michigan in 1964, and by January 16, 1968 was serving as a Sergeant in Company D of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). On that day, near Thong Binh in the Republic of Vietnam, Yntema and the two platoons of irregulars he was with were involved in a heavy firefight with the Viet Cong. After the group's Vietnamese commander was wounded, Yntema led the force for the remainder of the two-day battle as ammunition dwindled and losses mounted. With his position about to be overrun, he refused to abandon his wounded comrades and instead fought to the death.

Yntema, aged 22 at his death, was buried in Pilgrim Home Cemetery, Holland, Michigan. He and his wife Peggy had three daughters, Elizabeth, Jane and Julie.

The enlisted club at Fort Bragg, NC is named in his honor.

Sergeant Yntema's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life and above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Yntema, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while assigned to Detachment A-431, Company D. As part of a larger force of civilian irregulars from Camp Cai Cai, he accompanied 2 platoons to a blocking position east of the village of Thong Binh, where they became heavily engaged in a small-arms fire fight with the Viet Cong. Assuming control of the force when the Vietnamese commander was seriously wounded, he advanced his troops to within 50 meters of the enemy bunkers. After a fierce 30 minute fire fight, the enemy forced Sgt. Yntema to withdraw his men to a trench in order to afford them protection and still perform their assigned blocking mission. Under cover of machinegun fire, approximately 1 company of Viet Cong maneuvered into a position which pinned down the friendly platoons from 3 sides. A dwindling ammunition supply, coupled with a Viet Cong mortar barrage which inflicted heavy losses on the exposed friendly troops, caused many of the irregulars to withdraw. Seriously wounded and ordered to withdraw himself, Sgt. Yntema refused to leave his fallen comrades. Under withering small arms and machinegun fire, he carried the wounded Vietnamese commander and a mortally wounded American Special Forces advisor to a small gully 50 meters away in order to shield them from the enemy fire. Sgt. Yntema then continued to repulse the attacking Viet Cong attempting to overrun his position until, out of ammunition and surrounded, he was offered the opportunity to surrender. Refusing, Sgt. Yntema stood his ground, using his rifle as a club to fight the approximately 15 Viet Cong attempting his capture. His resistance was so fierce that the Viet Cong were forced to shoot in order to overcome him. Sgt. Yntema's personal bravery in the face of insurmountable odds and supreme self-sacrifice were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect the utmost credit upon himself, the 1st Special Forces, and the U.S. Army.

Please remember, the Canteen is family friendly and we exist to support and honor our troops and their families, as well as our Allies Troops and theirs.  Thank you to every Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine and Coast Guardsman out there for doing what you do to keep us safe.  We are ever in your debt.  And thank you, too, to the families and friends who support them.  God bless our troops.

[E.G.C.]

Monday Morning Coffee Bump.

[Kathy in Alaska]

God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.

Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning to everyone at the Canteen. It's already 78º here this morning.

[tomkow6]

 

 

 

 

 Good morning,

EVERYBODY!

GOOD

MORNING

TROOPS!

 

Cubs

43 WINS

63  LOSSES

 

 

There are two rules for success:

1.) Don't tell all you know.  
 

 

[left that other site]

Thank You!
When I awakened at 6:00AM, it was POURING Rain. I attempted to walk Linda, but it was too nasty out and we went right back inside.

I then made coffee, had breakfast, watched the news and awaited a slight break in the weather. Then we went out again and she did all her business, and we got home before the skies opened up again.

Now, we all know that doggies are creatures of habit, and such a radical break in Linda’s routine (walk first, THEN breakfast!), combined with her terror of thunder and lightening, might have caused her to have a little “accident”. But it DIDN’T happen!

She is SUCH a GOOD GIRL!!!!!!

:-)

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, Tomkow6.

((HUGS))Good morning, Beach, LUV W.

How's it going?

[luvie]

Noooo...don't tell me it's really MOANday!
It's toooo soon, Early Birds!
At least it's supposed to be cooler
...99 instead of 105 or higher! :)
I'm more than ready for fall!
hope y'all have a GREAT day!
(((hugs)))

[PROCON]

Morning Beachie!!

Working only today, taking a week off to play with son-boy; last time off for awhile..sigh.

Hot here over the weekend, 102 on Saturday! Back into the 80's this week which is fine with me!

Boy, I need more coffee, so I'm outta here...

Have a cooldocious day!

[PROCON]

Mine!

[PROCON]

Mine!

[luvie]

Now?

[luvie]

Now?

[luvie]

:P

LOL!

[tomkow6]

HAPPY MONDAY, Edward!

It cooled off here yesterday, but back up to the 90's by tomorrow.

You & Bo staying out of those wildfires?

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning LUV and (((HUGS))). We should stay under 100 today. There were a few showers in our area yesterday and more in the forecast for this PM.

[E.G.C.]

Oh yeah. Most if not all the wildfires are up in North-Central and Northeastern Oklahoma. Thoughts and prayers for those affected.

[SandRat]

Good mornin’, Kathy...((HUGS))...TIVO is back alive.

No muggings Sunday.

Got a real good bit of rain and thunder in the afternoon.

[beachn4fun]

Nooooooooooooooo!!!!

Oh well, dang-a-lang

wake up #50

[beachn4fun]

NOT!

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, Canteen.

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.
KUDOS and thank you go out to Gordon D. Yntema for his service and sacrifice.

DC Metroland weather report

~ Today...Cloudy.
Showers likely late this morning...
Then a chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon.
Highs in the upper 80s. West winds around 5 mph.
Chance of rain 70 percent.

~ Tonight...Mostly cloudy.
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening.
Lows in the lower 70s. South winds around 5 mph.
Chance of rain 20 percent.

Sorry I'm late. Have some work to catch up on
and with FR and fotki both having a tendency to be a tad slow
I had to choose work.
Peeking in while eating lunch
but still not finished with the task.

But please stay right where you are.
Chat up the military or a family member.
No need to fret...you know I'll be back!

The FR Canteen is

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

REMEMBER THEM

ADAMS, STEVEN HAROLD
10/18/1966
North Vietnam
Lost over the water body
adjacent to the country indicated

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.