FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Herschel F Briles ~ 02 November 2020

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[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!

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

November 2

God Hears Everything

Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 27–29
• Titus 3

Let it be known today that you are God.

1 Kings 18:36

One of the longest-recorded postal delays in history lasted eighty-nine years. In 2008 a homeowner in the UK received an invitation to a party originally mailed in 1919 to a former resident of her address. The note was placed in her mailbox via the Royal Mail, but the reason behind its long delay remains a mystery.

Even the best human efforts at communication sometimes let us down, but Scripture makes clear that God never fails to hear His faithful people. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah demonstrated the striking contrast between the pagan god Baal and Jehovah God. In a showdown to demonstrate who the true God was, after Baal’s prophets had prayed for hours, Elijah taunted them: “Shout louder! . . . Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened” (v. 27). Then Elijah prayed for Jehovah to answer so that His people might return to faith, and God’s power was clearly displayed.

While our prayers may not always be answered as immediately as Elijah’s was, we can be assured that God hears them (Psalm 34:17). The Bible reminds us that He treasures our prayers so much that He keeps them before Him in “golden bowls,” like precious incense (Revelation 5:8). God will answer every prayer in His own perfect wisdom and way. There are no lost letters in heaven.

By:  James Banks Reflect & Pray

What does it mean to you that God cares enough to listen to your prayers? How will you thank Him for His faithfulness to hear you today?

Father, how amazing You are to always hear my prayers! I praise You because my prayers are precious to You.

[lightman]

Today is All Saints’ Day and tomorrow is All Souls’

Thanks for reminding us of the “great cloud of witnesses”!

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Hope you are rested and ready to take on the new week and VOTE!!

I’m voting on Tuesday as my house backs up to a school yard and that is my voting place.

[SkyDancer]

~ Good Evening ~

~ Hai - Leaving Monday For Routes. ~

~ Good Evening ~

~ Welcome To My World ~

I’m Down There Somewhere

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, lightman, and happy All Saints’ Day.

Have you voted early? Voting Tuesday?

[lightman]

Voted early by mail and PA Department of State website indicates ballot received. My county has pledged to begin actual scanning of VBM at 8 PM Tuesday, not one minute before!

[Biggirl]

Hi Kathy! Happy for the clock changes so I can sleep.

[Biggirl]

Happy All Saints Day.

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Herschel F Briles ~

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Janey...((HUGS))...WOOHOO, off to the wild blue yonder.

Where are you headed this trip? Furlough over?

[PROCON]

Incredible story, thanks for honoring tonight’s Hero Kathy!

[mountainlion]

Halloween was on a blue moon this year. I think they said that it will be something like 800 years before that happens again.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[SkyDancer]

Hai Kathy!! (((HUGS))) Ya, furlough over and heading out to Denver for overnight then off to Chicago, Atlanta, normal stuff, etc.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good for you! I sure hope all those that voted early followed up like you did...very important.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Biggirl...that hour was nice, wasn’t it...

And happy All Saints’ Day to you as well.

[lightman]

Checked the PA DOS site every day!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...a hero indeed.

Did you vote early? Voting on Tuesday?

[PROCON]

Hi Kathy.

Washington state has had vote by mail for 20 years and it's still a complete disaster. When democrats run the state, 'things' happen.