[Snow Bunny]

. . . Tribute To HEROES . While the dogtag is used to provide information on an individual serviceman, I also believe that the chain which holds them represents a connection to all servicemen, no matter where you served, how you served or when you served. . The Minuteman in 1776 has a connection to the soldier fighting in Afghanistan today. That connection is every individual who has ever served in the United States Military. Each of us represents a link in the chain that connects that Minuteman of over 200 years ago to the soldier in Afghanistan today. SAMWolf . . Tribute to Vietnam Veterans Please click on picture. . The great intangible of America's wars beyond logistics, beyond strategy, beyond wonder weapons and Generals, is the spiritual force of its fighting men and women - and that is the force that the USO so serves. . Free Republic....Click for Donations . Partners . .To Jim Robinson, Founder of FRee Republic and Navy Veteran Thank you, from all those who frequent the FReeper Canteen .

[Snow Bunny]

The Purpose of the USO Canteen FReeper Style

Recognizing the cost of Freedom is what the Canteen is all about

I want to take you to a place , the weather is hot, beyond hot and sticky too .It is like wearing a scuba suit and pouring hot caro syrup down inside of it. You give up wiping the sweat off your face and arms because it does not do any good.You learn to own it, the heat and humidity, the stickiness. Own it and become it. Then it is bearable......almost.

A boy really but a man because of the war is laying in a hospital in a bed . Not a hospital like we know, this is make shift . He has his right leg gone, pieces of it left in the jungle. His other leg missing just above the knee. His right hand gone as well. His shoulder a huge chunk gone so even with bandages the deformity is obvious. His face, he may have been a great looking heartthrob in the past, maybe a girl kissed his tender cheek on a date and his soft lips lingering for just one more kiss at the door. But now it was like mashed potatoes. The only thing noticeable ........his eyes. The thousand yard stare was there, but behind them the clear sharp sight of what had happened. And the doubt of what his future held for him if any.

You take his one hand left and sit for hours, just being. Trying to let him know you care. The touch is all the words that need to be said. Then you start to hum a song softly and the hand in yours tightens a little for approval. Then the words of the song , and ever so gently you sing, music from your heart right into his.

He is a Hero just as the soldier at the desk at the base is a hero . All willing to serve their country and keep their land the land of the free.

Maybe both of these heroes, the wounded and the soldier at the desk had a chance to smile today or yesterday or laugh right out loud and for just a moment in time forget they were far from their loved ones, forget they were not watching a ballgame in their home or the comfort of their own bed. Maybe chuckling at the dolls and volcano and the tanks and Sam on Milk Carton, or Misty with the Beverly hillbillies, Magoo and Tomkow and Jinxie with their jokes, the 666 and one of us upside down......maybe that is their last belly laugh, maybe it is what makes the difference for them that moment in time.

[tomkow6]

Good morning, Snow!

Good morning, EVERYBODY!

[tomkow6]

Today's FEEBLE attempt at humor:

A couple just started their Lamaze class and they were
given an activity requiring the husband to wear a bag of
sand -- to give him an idea of what it feels like to be
pregnant. The husband stood up and shrugged saying,
"This doesn't feel so bad."

The Lamaze instructor then dropped a pen and asked the
husband to pick it up.

"You want me to pick up the pen as if I were pregnant,
the way my wife would do it?" the husband asked.

"Exactly," replied the instructor.

To the delight of the other husbands, he turned to his wife
and said, "Honey, pick up that pen for me."

[texson66]

Here's a salute to a great Airman:

General Daniel 'Chappie' James, Jr.

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody !!

Have a cup while you FReep !

For those who prefer hot chocolate.....

Turn your speakers up, then
Click on the pic, lol !

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

You will stay right where you are on the thread.

Please take a moment and Thank a Service Man or Woman.
Just Click on the graphic to send an e-mail.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Today's transportation for you and the Girlz.

[deadhead]

GOD BLESS THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN

Have a wonderful day All

[Militiaman7]

Saluting: Tuskegee Airmen

[Valin]

From the Minnesota wing Commemorative Air Force


Since 1988, the Minnesota Wing has been the custodian of an extremely rare (one of four left in existence) P-51C Mustang. The aircraft has had a long and varied career, facing many challenges to its very survival, much less ever again being flyable, during it's many years since it was manufactured. The story of this aircraft is rich and detailed and continuing to be documented. Presented here is only a very brief overview of the story surrounding what is now known as "Tuskegee Airmen."



P-51C-5 S/N 42-103645

Manufactured by North American Aviation in Dallas, Texas, this aircraft was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps on April 7, 1944.
The aircraft was first assigned to the 341st AAF Base Unit (Third Air Force) at Pinelle AAF, Florida. In December, 1944 it was transferred to the 378th AAF Base at Venice AAF, Florida. Finally, in June, 1945, the aircraft was moved to the 339th AAF Base Unit at Thomasville AAF, Georgia. The aircraft served as a trainer at each of these locations.

With the cessation of hostilities in August of 1945, 42-103645 wasa declared surplus and dropped from the inventory in October, 1945. Her final flight before a 56 year slumber, was to Montana State College in Bozeman, Montana where she was utilitized in the education of aspiring aviation students.

The tranquility of campus life came to an abrupt end when, in order to expedite its next move, for some obscure reason, the wings were sawed off! After the wings were cosmetically reattached by welding, the future Red Tail Project was destined to serve out its remaining days as a building ornament for a local VFW.

For more (or to help, this sort of thing costs MONEY / subtle hint)
http://www.cafsmw.org/smw-aircraft/Mustang.html

[SAMWolf]

Tuskegee Airmen



The "Tuskegee Airmen" flew P-51 Mustangs to an unparalleled record in Southerm Europe during World War II. These men fought all odds -on both sides- to prove that honor and valor are truly color blind. 1944.

Combat Record through June 9, 1945:
Numbers are Destroyed Damaged TOTAL

Aircraft (aerial) 111 25 136
Aircraft (ground) 150 123 273
Barges & Boats 16 24 40
Box Cars & Other Rolling Stock 58 561 619
Buildings & Factories 0 23 23
Gun Emplacements 3 0 3
Destroyers 1 0 1
Horse Drawn Vehicles 15 100 115
Motor Transports 6 81 87
Power Transformers 3 2 5
Locomotives 57 69 126
Radar Installations 1 8 9
Tanks on Flat Cars 0 7 7
Oil & Ammunition Dumps 2 0 2

Total Combat Missions:

Total Missions 12th Air Force 1,267
Total Missions 15th Air Force 311
Total Sorties 12th Air Force 6,381
Total Sorties 15th Air Force 9,152
Grand Total Missions 1,578
Grand Total Sorties 15,533
Total Number of Pilots Sent Overseas 450
Total Number of Pilots Graduated at Tuskegee 992
TOTAL KILLED IN ACTION 66

Awards:

Legion of Merit 1
Silver Star 1
Soldier Medal 2
Purple Heart 8
Distinguished Flying Cross 95
Bronze Star 14
Air Medal and Clusters 744
Final total of Distinguished Flying Crosses awarded to Negro pilots estimated at 150

[Mr_Magoo]

Air Power

NORTH AMERICAN B-45C "TORNADO"

The B-45 was the first American four-engine jet bomber to fly and the first USAF jet bomber to go into production. Work on the design of the "Tornado" began during WW II and the first B-45 made its initial flight on March 17, 1947. B-45s remained in USAF operational use from 1948 until 1958.

North American built a total of 142 B-45s including 10 long-range B-45Cs with wingtip fuel tanks and 33 RB-45s configured for high altitude photo reconnaissance. Some RB-45Cs flew combat missions during the Korean War.

In 1952, using in-flight refueling, two RB-45Cs made the first nonstop trans-Pacific flight by multi-engine jet bombers. In flying the 3,640 miles from Alaska to Japan in 9 hours and 50 minutes, one of the pilots won the Mackay Trophy for the most meritorious flight of that year.

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 89 ft.
Length: 75 ft. 4 in.
Height: 25 ft. 2 in.
Weight: 110,000 lbs. max.
Armament: Two .50-cal. machine guns in the tail; 22,000 lbs. of bombs
Engines: Four General Electric J47s of 6,000 lbs. thrust ea.
Cost: $1,081,000

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 570 mph.
Cruising speed: 500 mph.
Range: 1000 miles
Service Ceiling: 37,550 ft.

[Radix]

I recently watched that movie about the Tuskagee Airmen. I think that it was on The History Channel. During the breaks they had two of the men who were part of the group on the set answering questions. I was getting tingly just listening to them talk.
This is a great topic that you have focused on today!

On the other hand, Why should today be different?

Thank You.

[AnnaZ]

 

 

It looks like this author, Mr. Stanley Weisleder, will be a guest on Unspun on Nov. 12, which will be our Veteran's Day special.

[radu]

Good afternoon everybody! I hope y'all are enjoying today's thread as much as I am.

Good day to our service men and women past and present, and our allies. Thank You can never be said enough for all you do and have done in the continuing fight for Freedom.

Thank you, Snow Bunny, for honoring the Tuskegee Airmen. There were so many brave men and women during WWII and ALL deserve respect and recognition, but the Tuskegee Airmen had a lot of obstacles to overcome. They did this in outstanding fashion and went on to become well-respected by all. The History Channel has shown a wonderful documentary about these fine folks and I have to admit, my eyes got a bit teary when I watched it.

[zip]

Snow Bunny, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HONORING THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN. They were heroes in the true sense of the word. They more than "paid their dues" in protecting our country without the thanks given to others. A lot of Americans knew nothing about them until the movie was released telling of their sacrifices and heroism.

THANK YOU TO ALL MILITARY, PAST AND PRESENT, AND THEIR FAMILIES.

[tmprincesa]

Thank you for the good thread today. I may not be able to read everything, but I do read the opening post every day. Back to my studies.

SOUTHWEST ASIA (ACCNS) -- Staff Sgt. Robert Tomlin, a dog handler with the 30th Security Forces Squadron, poses with Dar-Garo on an aircraft ramp at a deployed location in Southwest Asia. Tomlin and other members of the squadron, based at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., are assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron as part of Joint Task Force Southwest Asia. Dar-Garo is a 3-year-old Belgian shepherd trained to help protect deployed people. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dawn L. Collazo)

[American Preservative]

Thread-you-might-be-interested-in-ping. : )

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.