FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Hollywood Heroes Part 3 ~ June 24, 2013

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 ~

Hollywood Part 3
 

           

This Hollywood hero may not be news to you, but it's always good to honor them!  The Hollywood "heroes" of today don't hold a candle to this one.

Jimmy Stewart

James Stewart wanted his war heroics kept a secret following WWII, but the truth is that he was one of it's great heroes.

One of the first Hollywood celebrities to be drafted into the United States Army, Jimmy was initially rejected for failing to meet the minimum height/weight ratio requirements (he was ten pounds under weight). He could have avoided war service with his dignity preserved, but instead set about getting up to the 148 pounds required of him by going on a high fat diet. On his second attempt to enlist (in the Army Air Corps) he just scraped through.

Enlisted as a private he began pilot training in the USAAC. It was during this time that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, bringing the US into the war. Continuing his training, he earned a commission as a second lieutenant in January of 1942.

Already a skilled pilot before the war, Jimmy was posted as an instructor pilot at various air bases within the US and used in a propaganda film to encourage Air Force recruitment and keep public morale high. The military, fearful of losing a major celebrity in action, wanted to keep him safe and sound in the United States, but this was not enough for Stewart. He wanted to serve in Europe.

Frustrated and concerned that he would be kept 'behind the lines' for the rest of the war, he appealed to his commander, who cooperated with his wishes, and in August of 1943 reassigned him to a unit which was shortly to be sent into action overseas. The unit was the 445th Bombardment Group. Arriving at their base in Norfolk England in December of 1943, the 445th immediately began combat operations flying missions over Germany. It was during this stage of his service that Stewart, as a result of bravery and intelligence in battle, was promoted to the rank of Major. In March of 1944 he was transferred as group operations officer to the 453rd Bombardment Group, and during this time he flew as command pilot in the groups lead B-24 plane on several missions deep into Nazi-occupied Europe.

In July of 1944, after flying 20 highly dangerous combat missions (note that this was the officially recorded number - he often instructed his personnel not to record his missions), having survived a major air battle with the Luftwaffe and a near fatal crash landing, James Stewart was made Chief of Staff of the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing of the Eighth Air Force, thus finally, to the Armies relief, removing him from direct combat.

By the end of the war he had achieved the rank of Colonel, had received the Distinguished Flying Cross for actions in combat TWICE, had been awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Air Force, and also received the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters.

Remaining an active member of the US Air Force Reserve after the war, he retired in May of 1968 with the rank of Brigadier General.

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! 

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

((((HUGS))))

[SandRat]

This story tells of the actions, the way they should be, always.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Hope you had a restful weekend.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Mac!!

[luvie]

In honor of the beautiful full moon outside!
This "Super Moon" is also called the
Strawberry Moon

Grover Washington Jr~Strawberry Moon

Foreigner~Girl On The Moon.wma

Gary Morris~Lasso The Moon

Steve Oliver~Shadow Of The Moon

Suzanne Ciani~Full Moon Sonata

[Kathy in Alaska]

DeaconBenjamin!!

[ConorMacNessa]

It went quite well, thank you! We didn't get out there until after 2:00 in the afternoon. Daniel did major work pulling up all the thistles that have grown up in the back garden. John-Man also did yeoman work clearing out weeds, moving our firewood to a new site, and pulling out about fifteen years worth of old pots and seed trays for recycling .

One of John-Man's friends, Jean-Michel, helped in the effort as well.

Much remains to be done - my roses are in sad condition - I fear some will have to be retired. The Back Garden is becoming an array of Hostas, Lilies, Daylilies and Sedum. I may put a few Roses in next year - it's a little late in the season to do so now.

This morning, the Back Garden was a jumble - this evening, it's a Garden again.



"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[luvie]

That is the Hollywood hero that I always remember! I wonder
why they haven’t done a movie about him? Or have they and I
missed it?...hm....

Thanks, Galz, for this great series! :)

[ConorMacNessa]

Outstanding quote from Chris Kyle, Mountainlion!

Sorely missed! We need men (and women) of his sterling quality in the struggle that confronts us now!



"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Kartographer!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...you and Linda able to get out today? Too hot? A bike ride?

[left that other site]

We went for a r-i-d-e in the C-A-R.

Can’t say it in front of her...she gets too excited!

[ConorMacNessa]

Sorry I've been slow on the uptake here this evening - I've been smiting the iniquitous on the Baltimore Sun chat forum. I posted a fairly lengthy epistle on our Constitutional Rights and their cultural antecedents. No coherent response up to this time. I doubt there will ever be - there will just be some nit-picking about some irrelevancy. The Obamites are content to run over the cliff like a torrent of lemmings.

I promise no more political rants this evening.



"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Sand...((HUGS))

You are so very right, This story tells of the actions, the way they should be, always.

[darkwing104]

Air Force Bump!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Luv...sure hope the clouds stay away tonight.

Sunset...11:43pm

Hope you had some relax or nap time today.

[luvie]

Hope so, too, so you can see that magnificent moon!

I had a great day...that DID include a nap! :)

Hope you got to rest today, also!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Congratulations to all of you for a job well done.

Hurrah for a lovely “new” garden.

[SandRat]

Good evening, Kathy...((HUGS))

[ConorMacNessa]

Welcome To All Who Enter This Canteen, To Our Serving Military, To Our Veterans, To All Military Families, To Our FRiends and To Our Allies!



Missing Man Setting

"The Empty Chair"

By Captain Carroll "Lex" Lefon, USN (RET), on December 21st, 2004

"In the wardroom onboard the aircraft carrier from which I recently debarked was a small, round table, with single chair. No one ever sat there, and the reasons, both for the table being there, and for the fact that the chair was always empty, will tell the reader a little bit about who we are as a culture. The wardroom, of course, is where the officers will dine; morning, noon and evening. It is not only a place to eat – it is also a kind of oasis from the sometimes dreary, often difficult exigencies of the service. A place of social discourse, of momentary relief from the burdens of the day. The only things explicitly forbidden by inviolable tradition in the wardroom are the wearing of a cover or sword by an officer not actually on watch, or conversation which touches upon politics or religion. But aboard ships which observe the custom, another implicit taboo concerns the empty chair: No matter how crowded the room, no matter who is waiting to be seated, that chair is never moved, never taken.

The table is by the main entrance to the wardroom. You will see it when you enter, and you will see it when you leave. It draws your eyes because it is meant to. And because it draws your eyes it draws your thoughts. And though it will be there every day for as long as you are at sea, you will look at it every time and your eyes will momentarily grow distant as you think for a moment. As you quietly give thanks.

AS YOU REMEMBER.

The small, round table is covered with a gold linen tablecloth. A single place setting rests there, of fine bone china. A wineglass stands upon the table, inverted, empty. On the dinner plate is a pinch of salt. On the bread plate is a slice of lemon. Besides the plate lies a bible. There is a small vase with a single red rose upon the table. Around the vase is wound a yellow ribbon. There is the empty chair.

We will remember because over the course of our careers, we will have had the opportunity to enjoy many a formal evening of dinner and dancing in the fine company of those with whom we have the honor to serve, and their lovely ladies. And as the night wears on, our faces will in time become flushed with pleasure of each other’s company, with the exertions on the dance floor, with the effects of our libations. But while the feast is still at its best, order will be called to the room – we will be asked to raise our glasses to the empty table, and we will be asked to remember:

The table is round to show our everlasting concern for those who are missing. The single setting reminds us that every one of them went to their fates alone, that every life was unique.

The tablecloth is gold symbolizing the purity of their motives when they answered the call to duty.

The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing, and their loved ones who kept the faith.

The yellow ribbon around the vase symbolizes our continued determination to remember them.

The slice of lemon reminds us of the bitterness of their fate.
The salt symbolizes the tears shed by those who loved them.
The bible represents the faith that sustained them.
The glass is inverted — they cannot share in the toast.
The chair is empty — they are not here. They are missing.

And we will remember, and we will raise our glasses to those who went before us, and who gave all that they had for us. And a part of the flush in our faces will pale as we remember that nothing worth having ever came without a cost. We will remember that many of our brothers and sisters have paid that cost in blood. We will remember that the reckoning is not over.

We many of us will settle with our families into our holiday season, our Christmas season for those who celebrate it, content in our fortune and prosperity. We will meet old friends with smiles and laughter. We will meet our members of our family with hugs. We will eat well, and exchange gifts and raise our glasses to the year passed in gratitude, and to the year to come with hope. We will sleep the sleep of the protected, secure in our homes, secure in our homeland.

But for many families, there will be an empty chair at the table this year. A place that is not filled.

WE SHOULD REMEMBER."

Thanks To Alfa6 For Finding Capt. Lefon's Chronicle Of "The Empty Chair."

Robert Schumann – “Traumerei”
(Click)
Never Forget The Brave Men And Women Who Gave Their Lives To Secure Our Freedom!!

"Riamh nár dhruid ó sbairn lann!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)