FReeper Canteen ~ Berlin Airlift Part 1: The Beginning ~ December 02, 2013

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC

[Kathy in Alaska]

That which does not kill us only makes us stronger.

That it will. He will lead you.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I know....and I liked it. d:o)

[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]

[Kathy in Alaska]

[luvie]

Gooood evening, Night Owls!
Hope you all had a great holiday weekend!
Great thread, Star!
Can't have enough heroes nowadays!
Everyone have a good week..
..and don't work TOO hard!
((((hugs))))

[rktman]

Your welcome. He and my aunt were both career Army Air Corps/Air Force. My dad was career Navy, I served in the Navy, youngest daughter served in the Navy and oldest grand-daughter is an Iraqi veteran and is still in the Florida National Guard and my niece was career Army. Proud service in our family.

[El Gato]

Thanks so much for posting on this topic. While this is a story us AF ROTC, and I suspect USFA, grads know very well, it’s still nice to see those guys get recognition in a more public forum. They did yeoman duty, above and beyond the call.

[onthegulf]

My husband was in the Berlin Airlift.

[ConorMacNessa]

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR TROOPS AND OUR BELOVED NATION!


TATTOO
(Click)

Must retire for the evening -

For Every Morn' Brings Forth A Noble Chance,
And Every Chance Demands A Noble Knight!

The Bugler, his grim visage replete with an evil sneer,
already mounts the parapet.

Soldiers of the Greatest Generation
Stand The Watch Tonight!



Standing With Them
Old Iron Pants!



Gen. Curtis E. LeMay, USAF

TAPS
U.S. Marine Band
(Click)

"Do poor Tom some charity, whom the foul fiend vexes!"

(King Lear, Act III, Scene iv)



All Gave Some – Some Gave All!!!
(Click)

Good night, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America!

Godspeed our Troops around the Globe – especially those in harm’s way – by virtue of their service and sacrifice we continue to live in Freedom!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

"Riamh nár dhruid ó sbairn lann!"

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)

[El Gato]

On the Thursday before Veteran's Day, I attended a musical salute to Veterans at my 3rd grade granddaughter's school. They sang some difficult numbers and did very well. But then they asked all the veterans to stand. Since I am a Veteran, I stood. The smile on my granddaughter's face made my entire year.

Then on Veteran's day I attended a similar fete at the kindergarten age twin granddaughters' school. Third graders sang, but the K's did a nice choreographic routine with two little American flags each, the most memorable being "Grand Old Flag" and "Proud to be an American, where the twins faces during the "I won't forget the men who died" part were absolutely believable as they went down on one knee and hung their heads slightly, even though i know they were acting, since I'd seen them practice at home.

Before the program I was honored and humbled to meet and salute a WW-II Army Air Corps veteran. He was sharp as a tack, and moving under his own steam, albeit with the aid of a walker or a cane. He told me what kind of unit I was in, Troop transport and glider towing and what his role was.. unit armorer, and secondarily base defense. He told me the NCOs had M1 Carbines and the officer 1911's. I was able to say I have a copy of a 1911, and a real M1 Carbine. Then he told me they had Water Cooled M2 .50 caliber machine guns, dug in around the airfields for base defense. I was able to tell him that the M2 is still in use on tanks, AFVs, and other vehicles, soft and armored. He seemed impressed with that.

But although I didn't doubt him, I had never heard of a water cooled M2 so I googled it. and of course he was right. in fact I found this picture.

Yep, a water cooled .50 dug into a pit just as he described. But this one was in Italy, and I think he was in England and France.

The twins did a repeat performance the next evening. There I met a bunch of vets more or less my age, save one Army guy who was much younger. One my age was a draftee. One of the two Navy guys was on the Enterprise, and seemed to be surprised that I, as a wing wiper, knew she was a unique design, especially in her reactors. The other was an A-3 crewman. That's the Skywarrior and is one big airplane to be launching off a carrier with a catapult, the AF version was the B-66.

The twins were glad grandpa was there, and gave me quick smiles when I stood each time, but nothing like the one their big sister had given me. She had even been present once before, on the 4th of July at a fireworks show, when the veteran's were asked to stand and be recognized, so it's not like it was a suprise. Maybe the ability to brag to her peers? Maybe just a little?

The best part was when a third grader hurried past that WW-II vet, patted him on the shoulder and said "Hi Great Grandpa". He replied, with her name. That's what it's really all about.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Our thanks to all of your family for your service to our country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

God Bless you good, Mac. Good night and rest well.
Thanks for helping honor our troops, past and present.
Thank you for your service to our country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, onthegulf. Our thanks to your husband for his service to our country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Luv....did you have a nice Thanksgiving dinner out?

Did you have to work all weekend?
Lots of folks trying to get ready for Christmas?

[luvie]

I only worked on Friday, thank goodness. Busy will be the norm form now on. A good thing for business!

Saw you have jury duty......ack!

[Kathy in Alaska]

I escaped Monday. My number is 631. They called 1-256 for tomorrow. 1 night down, 4 more call ins to go.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oh my goodness....El Gato, how proud you must be to have met that WWII vet, and a great grandpa too boot, and be able to chat with him about things you both knew about. What memories!

And then the smiles of your granddaughters, knowing that that is "my" grandpa.

Our thanks to all of you for your service to our country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[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?