USO Canteen FReeper Style FReeper FRiday Salutes George W.Bush ....November 1,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

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The USO Canteen FReeper Style
Delivering a Touch of Home

Message from Snow Bunny to all those who visit the Canteen.

This is how I think of the USO Canteen Freeper Style.
It is like a cottage down a road,
a place where a weary veteran can spend the night.

Since it opened, it is magical how so many
Freepers who post here, feel it too.
It has been so dear how the Freepers
kept making it a cottage - a home-type of place
that had a huge living room
for them to visit in and a dance floor, a library, etc.

Many Veterans have written to me,
saying that the Canteen is like home
to them for the first time since they served.

This is your Canteen -
a respite from our busy
and sometimes troubling world.
Make yourself at home.

Snow Bunny

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If you know a Veteran, someone in your family,
friend of the family, neighbor, who served their
country, take a brief moment of your day to thank
them.

Thank them for the sacrifice they made
for the better good of their country.  

We at Free Republic, and the USO Canteen FReeper 
Style, are thankful for every service member 
in our military, who has served our great nation.

So, to the men and women who answered the call,
In both times of war and peace, thank you.

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Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae

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The USO Canteen Honors FReepers
who have served, or are now serving their country.

.TODAY'S CANTEEN HONOREE

George W. Bush

You may have a loved one who has served in the past.
We at the FReeper USO Canteen would like to honor each and every one.

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George Walker Bush
President
Commander in Chief

Have you noticed a difference in the salute given by our military men and women as President Bush walks by? Most folks would not notice anything, but military people see it right away. Watch: When President Bush leaves his helicopter or Air Force One, the honor guards salute and face him as he disembarks, then turn their faces towards him as he passes by. They continue to salute his back as he walks away. This kind of salute has not been seen in the previous eight years, though it is customary courtesy to the Commander-in-Chief. You see, soldiers aren't required to turn and face the President as they salute. They are not required to salute his back. They are only required to salute. They can remain face-forward the entire time. And that is what they did during Bill Clinton's entire Presidency. Our soldiers were forced to obey Clinton's orders, but they were not forced to respect him. From their salutes, we can surmise that they did not. Why is such respect afforded to President Bush? He doesn't even know how to bite his lower lip and not get teary-eyed whenever he speaks!

The following incident from Major General Van Antwerp may give us an insight. Gen. Antwerp is president of the Officers' Christian Fellowship. He lost nearly all his staff when the Pentagon was attacked Sept. 11. His executive officer LTC Brian Birdwell was badly burned and in the hospital when President Bush visited him. Our President spent time and prayed with Brian. As he was getting ready to leave, he went to the foot of Brian's bed and saluted. He held his salute until Brian was able to raise his burned and bandaged arm, ever so slowly, in return. The Commander-in-Chief never initiates a salute, except in the case of a Congressional Medal of Honor winner. The injured soldier did not have to return the salute. But he did, out of respect to his President - a Soldiers' President.

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George Walker Bush is George and Barbara Bush's first child. George W., shown here in 1947, was born on July 6, 1946, as his father was finishing his studies at Yale University. George Bush grew up in Midland Texas.

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During the 1950s, fathers had relatively little to do with raising their children. Barbara Bush (right) became the authority figure in the Bush household, taking care of everything from emergency hospital trips to entertaining kids during neighborhood parties at the house.

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In 1961, George W. left the freewheeling Texas lifestyle for puritanical New England, where he followed in his father's footsteps by attending Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass. George W. told during one interview that his father had a "huge influence on my life." That influence continued as the younger Bush followed the pre-determined path set by his father and attended Yale University.

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Former enlisted Air Guardsman George W. Bush (left) has his second lieutenant bars pinned on by his father, George H.W. Bush during a September 1968 commissioning ceremony.

George W. Bush applied to join the Texas Air National Guard on May 27, 1968, less than two weeks before he graduated from Yale University. The country was at war in Vietnam, and at that time, just months after the bloody Tet Offensive, an estimated 100,000 Americans were on waiting lists to join the Guard units across the country. Bush was sworn in on the day he applied. He served as an F-102 pilot for the Texas Air National Guard 1st Lt. George W. Bush flew F-102 Delta Dagger fighter jets from 1970 to 1973 with the 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Ellington Air Force Base, Texas. Anyone who flies in a high performance fighter is putting his A** on the line for country.

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Bush fulfilled two years of active duty and completed pilot training in June 1970. During that time and in the two years that followed, Bush flew the F-102, an interceptor jet equipped with heat-seeking missiles that could shoot down enemy planes. His commanding officers and peers regarded Bush as a competent pilot and enthusiastic Guard member. In March 1970, the Texas Air National Guard issued a press release trumpeting his performance: "Lt. Bush recently became the first Houston pilot to be trained by the 147th [Fighter Group] and to solo in the F-102... Lt. Bush said his father was just as excited and enthusiastic about his solo flight as he was."

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In Bush's evaluation for the period May 1, 1971 through April 30, 1972, then-Colonel Bobby Hodges, his commanding officer, stated, "I have personally observed his participation, and without exception, his performance has been noteworthy." He received a bachelor's degree from Yale University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. Three months after meeting on a date arranged by friends, George W. and Laura Welch (fourth and fifth from left ) married on Nov. 5, 1977. Laura Bush: "In a lot of ways I guess I felt like I'd known him all my life without really having known him that well."

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His worked in the oil and gas business in Midland in 1975, and worked in theenergy industry until 1986. In 1977, George W. Bush startled the political scene when he won the congressional primary against established candidate Jim Reese. After working on his father's successful 1988 presidential campaign, he assembled the group of partners that purchased the Texas Rangers baseball franchise in 1989.

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In 1981, George W. and Laura Bush added to the extended Bush clan when they had twin girls. They were named Barbara and Jenna, after their grandmothers. Over the years, the family retreat on the coast in Kennebunkport, Maine, became a place for the elder Bush to escape from the political landscape of Washington and a place of support for his son, George W., and his family.

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Cowboy George down on the Texas Ranch

Our cowboy and his girl , beautiful Laura

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In January 1995, George W. celebrated his inauguration as governor of Texas with Laura in a parade down Congress Avenue in Austin. In an historic re-election victory, he became the first Texas Governor to be elected to consecutive four-year terms on November 3, 1998, winning 68.6 percent of the vote.

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In 2001 George W. Bush became President of the United States of America.
And Commander in Chief of our wonderful armed forces.

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It’s a family thing, and we are glad.

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A chew toy away from the Presidency…….

Spot , Barney their cat India

President Bush’s Favorites: Color Blue Ice cream Pralines and Cream Pastimes Reading,
jogging, fishing, watching baseball games.

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September 11,2001

Terrorists strike our homeland MURDERING Americans as well as people from many other countries.

A man NOT a draft dodger, a MAN not a wimp strikes back in no uncertain terms.

A MAN to be respected by the entire world. Our Commander In Chief, President Bush.

President George W. Bush gives an emotional speech at the Pentagon
October 11, 2001

"Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated. " "Americans are asking: How will we fight and win this war? We will direct every resource at our command -- every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence, and every necessary weapon of war -- to the disruption and to the defeat of the global terror network" "Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. " "This is not, however, just America's fight. And what is at stake is not just America's freedom. This is the world's fight. This is civilization's fight. This is the fight of all who believe in progress and pluralism, tolerance and freedom. "

"The civilized world is rallying to America's side. They understand that if this terror goes unpunished, their own cities, their own citizens may be next. Terror, unanswered, can not only bring down buildings, it can threaten the stability of legitimate governments. And you know what -- we're not going to allow it." All quotes by President George W. Bush

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His quiet confidence let our enemies know that they made a grave miscalculation.
Now, this same man who practiced his faith through a tough election,
who steeled his convictions even more in a drawn-out Florida battle, and who
never once gave in to the temptation to get in the gutter with his foes,
this same man now lifted the weight of the world and
the responsibility of a generation and put it on his modest shoulders
as though it were another unpleasant duty.

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[SAMWolf]

GW Bush being Commiissioned

[Long Cut]

Good evening, everyone! I posted a pretty decent (If I do say so myself) rant over here, so give it a look if you're so inclined.

I'm still working on my promised Camaro travelogue, stay tuned. BTW, the SS is still running like a champ, and is still difficult to shut down and get out of, it's so much fun. It is truly a gearhead's dream. STILL haven't thought of a name yet, though. Mrs. Cut seems to feel that a Latina name would be appropriate, as the ride is quite curvy and voluptuous, whilst dark and a little (lot) MEAN when agitated. Any suggestions?

Some news to report as well: I now know what my next assignment is! In June of next year, I shall report for duty aboard the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY, a conventional aircraft carrier based in Mayport, Florida. I will be doing a three year tour aboard her, with probably one six-month deployment included.

Yes, sadly, I must for a time leave my beloved ORION behind. I'll miss flying, more than I can say. However, I'll strive to get the most out of my new platform and do my best to enjoy what is sure to be an awesome adventure. It will, if nothing else, be a great career move for me, putting yet another "check in the block" on that list of accomplisments which will, hopefully, make me a Chief Petty Officer someday.

How's everyone here?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oh Colleen, color me green. I wished I could have been there. THANK YOU for sharing these pictures with the troops and us too. I love all the pictures of our Mr President and the First Lady dancing.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Belle? Well, she's very capable (she could probably fly it) - but since that seems to be covered, let's ask her to bring some sweets. She's got chocolate chip cookies and a case of Little Debbies in her trunk. (We call them "Big Debbies" - LOL - luckily for her, she's got a metabolism that can handle it.)

[Kathy in Alaska]

RIP Sgt Foraker

[Kathy in Alaska]

((((((((((HUG)))))))))) THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for sharing. Everybody, GET OUT AND VOTE!! And that includes you, Troops!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"In June of next year, I shall report for duty aboard the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY"

May the seas be calm and the wind at your back Brother.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

No problem, it's good to our military doing good things.

[Soaring Feather]

It's a classy plane so only classy Girlz should be in it like the Canteeners.

Hi Girlz, Are we ready to board the "long horn" plane yet, where's radu? Redhead?MoJo?AntiJen?The other girlz? Have they arrived yet? And Bunny, where's Snow Bunny?

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I'm here, just doing some online work and going up and back.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Stunning pictures, Sam, of the U2. Thank you.

[Dubya]

Pearl Harbor survivor Joe Morgan dies; healed of hatred for the Japanese
By Erin Curry
Oct 31, 2002



No harbor for hatred
Joe Morgan (right) and his son, Robert, shared Joe's story of how God healed his hatred of the Japanese after Pearl Harbor at the Arizona Memorial until the Navy veteran's death Oct. 25.
HONOLULU, Hawaii (BP)--Joe Morgan, a Baptist minister who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor and was known for telling the story of how God healed his hatred of the Japanese, died of congestive heart failure Oct. 25 at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, following a two-week treatment for cellulitis. He was 80.

During retirement, Morgan volunteered weekly for more than 12 years at the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. Every Thursday until two weeks before his death, Morgan told the story of how God had released him from any bitterness and anger he had felt for the Japanese after the attack.

Morgan was on duty on Ford Island in the middle of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, when he heard planes approaching. Once he realized the base was under attack from Japanese forces, he grabbed a machine gun mounted to a plane in a nearby hangar and began firing at enemy aircraft.

While firing, he was gripped by anger at the attackers. Although he did not suffer physical wounds from the battle, he was scarred by a deep hatred for the Japanese people.

The Navy veteran, in his talks at the Pearl Harbor memorial, told of later meeting the Japanese naval commander who had led the attack. The commander had become a Christian after meeting a former prisoner of war who had returned to post-war Japan as a missionary. When he met the Japanese commander, God changed Morgan's heart.

"The anger, hatred and animosity toward this man and his country were gone," Morgan said. "It was not how great of a Christian I was, but how great of a God I had.

"We shook hands not as former enemies but as brothers in Christ," Morgan said at the close of every presentation on the memorial. "We both had received God's mercy and forgiveness. I believe what we experienced is the answer to bringing peace to the world today."

After the war, Morgan enrolled at Oklahoma Baptist University, where he earned a history degree. He then earned a divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

Morgan returned to Hawaii to pastor Wailuku Baptist Church in Maui in 1954. In 1958, he returned to the Navy as a chaplain and served for 10 years, including two tours in Vietnam. He later became pastor of First Baptist Church in Waimanalo before retiring because of health problems.

Morgan's son Robert is also a minister and said his father's story of forgiveness was instrumental in the lives of many people who heard it at the memorial.

"It is a very healing story," he said in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin Oct. 29. "At the memorial, people come and get so angry. His story helps them work through it all the way to the end. There are grown men who have harbored bitterness for a long time. Somehow he reaches them.

"After Sept. 11, we tried to make the connection with the [Pearl Harbor] attack," Morgan said. "We told them, 'We know you feel some of the terrorists are hopeless, but we need to pray for them. Hearts can be changed and enemies can become friends.'"

As Joe Morgan got older and his memory faded, his son would stand with him at the memorial and lead him in an interview format to tell his story.

"As his health and memory got worse and worse, I hesitated to continue taking him to the Arizona Memorial. But he wanted to go so badly," Robert Morgan told Baptist Press. "So the next time we went, I prayed for guidance and assistance from the Holy Spirit. I told the hundreds gathered on the patio to hear him that his memory was getting worse and worse. I said that I may have to tell a good portion of the story for him, but he really wanted to be there to tell them and we would do our best to get the story out completely and correctly.

"As I looked around, many of the crowd had already begun to weep. I knew then we were going to do just fine.

"He gave his last two talks two days before being admitted to the hospital for the last time. They were two of the best presentations we've ever made."

Robert Morgan and his wife, Betty, have produced a video and brochure of Joe Morgan's story, "From Fear to Forgiveness," which can be obtained by writing to them at 1212 Nuuanu Ave., Suite 4008 Honolulu, HI 96817. They have also developed a website at www.joemorgan.org.

Morgan, a native of Tyler, Texas, was preceded in death by his wife, Blanche, and is survived by his sons Harry and Robert, daughter Clarissa Trammell, nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were at Olivet Baptist Church in Honolulu Oct. 26.

[SK1 Thurman]

Thanks for this and the floral arragement. It may help as
my folks told me it was SNOWING in Upstate NY already!!!

Hard to believe but at least Fl. is out of Hurricane season.

Sandy

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Hey, 'Cut!

Darn, I was hoping you would end up on Whidbey! But - sounds like things are working out pretty well for you, so that's great. How does Mrs. Cut feel about your new assignment?

Love your new profile page. I see your dark blue beauty is a new feature. We'll all be looking forward to the travelogue!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Jen couldn't find a pilot. So, unless you can find one of our troops to fly it, we'll have to do the same thing as we did with the hopticopter: Duchess reads the Driver's Manual as we go. BTW, you look stunning! Have you finally gotten any sleep? I crashed onto my keyboard last night.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Whoa, baby - look at you! Is that a gunbelt? ; )

[SAMWolf]

Hi Kathy, those are pretty imppresive pictures.

[Soaring Feather]

Ms Feather, will you be in charge of entertainment? Let me entertain you, and we'll have a real good time, yes?

[Kathy in Alaska]

We do need a co-pilot, or maybe it would behoove us to have 2 "pilots", such as they are. LOL!

[Long Cut]

Thanks, Tonk. Hey, one benefit is that my father (USS ROANOKE, 1948-1952) will have to quit giving me grief about being a "Dry Land Sailor"!