A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....03-31-03 - A Salute to our Military

Billie and Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest.....
......Every Day

FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues; salute and support our military and our leaders;  tell a few jokes;  learn a new word;  write poetry;  pray for those in need;  and congratulate those who are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   I can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. The forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest November 11, 2001

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

TOP: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete
MIDDLE:  T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
BOTTOM:  YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet
MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga
BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette
MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid
BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP
MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian
BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

We now have eleven groups of veterans/active military; we will post each group of three or four twice a week, with thumbnail/links of the remaining seven or eight groups on each thread. Click on any of the thumbnails below to see the group full-size.

         

GROUP 5A: TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68. MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797. BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack.

GROUP 6A: TOP:  g'nad, AgThorn's son Justin, SLB, AgThorn's son Brett. MIDDLE:  fish70, razorback-bert, CheneyChick, Leroy S Mort, Mark17. BOTTOM:  Terry's Take, Taxman, DinkyDau.

GROUP 7A: TOP:  ValerieUSA's son Grant, SK1Thurman, kd5cts, RangerVetNam, dansangel and .45man's son-in-law Tony.BOTTOM:  rangerX, Old China Hand, Trish, Howlin's dad, Mustang.

GROUP 8A: TOP: ohioWfan's son, MamaBear's father-in-law, MamaBear's dad, ladtx. MIDDLE:  The Mayor's niece, M.Kehoe, Beach_Babe's son-in-law. BOTTOM:  deadhead's dad, HiJinx, Severa's hubby, viligantcitizen's granddad.

      

GROUP 9A: TOP: Q6-God, Scan59, Mama Bear and JKPhoto's son, ofMagog. MIDDLE:  Big'ol_freeper, JustAmy's great uncle, Prodigal Son. BOTTOM:  JustAmy's husband, JustAmy's brother-in-law, JustAmy's brother.

GROUP 10A: TOP: dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7, AlasBabylon. BOTTOM:  Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad, Aomagrat.

GROUP 11A: TOP: ladtx #2 son; DiverDave's twin Don; petuniasevan and husband poorman; Mustard; ladtx #1 son. BOTTOM: AlamoGirl's brother Floyd; AG's dad; AG's brother Jim (inset); WVNan's husband; ladtx' Aunt Eva.

                     

***USN SPECIAL OPERATIONS***

ANCHORS AWEIGH my boy, Anchors Aweigh,
Farewell to foreign shores,
We sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay.
Through our last night on shore, Drink to the foam,
Until we meet once more,
Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.

The Mediterranean Sea (Mar. 27, 2003

The "Air Boss" observes flight operations from primary flight control as an S-3B Viking of the "Checkmates" of Sea Control Squadron Two Two (VS-22) launches from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). The "Boss," the Air Department Head on a carrier, oversees all aircraft operations on the flight deck, the hangar, and the operations of the various maintenance shops. Truman and Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3) are supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Ryan O'Connor.

"I am the American Sailor"



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Thank you to the men and women of the United States Navy. God bless and keep you. We await your safe return. Salute!

***USAF SPECIAL OPERATIONS***

Off we go INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! (Give 'er the gun now!)
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one helluva roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey!
Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!

B-2 Spirit Bomber

The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. A dramatic leap forward in technology, the bomber represents a major milestone in the U.S. bomber modernization program. The B-2 brings massive firepower to bear, in a short time, anywhere on the globe through previously impenetrable defenses. Along with the B-52 and B-1B, the B-2 provides the penetrating flexibility and effectiveness inherent in manned bombers. Its low-observable, or "stealth," characteristics give it the unique ability to penetrate an enemy's most sophisticated defenses and threaten its most valued, and heavily defended, targets.

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Flags keep family close.....

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- With three American flags on board his F-15E Strike Eagle, Lt. Col. Matt Meloy prepares for a mission March 16 at a forward-deployed location in Southwest Asia. Two flags in the front of the canopy represent his two kids and he carries one for his wife. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. D. Myles Cullen)

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The U.S. Air Force is an important component of the coalition military force being assembled in the Gulf region. All U.S. Air Force assets in the region are organized under the 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force commanded by Lt. Gen. T. Michael Moseley.

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Thank you to the men and women of the United States Air Force. We are praying for your safe return. Salute!

***AMRY SPECIAL OPERATIONS***

Over hill, over dale, as we hit the dusty trail,
and THE CASSIONS GO ROLLING ALONG.
In and out, hear them shout,
Counter march and right about,
And the Caissons go rolling along.

A soldier of U.S. Army 173rd Airborne guards the Harir airfield, 45 miles northeast of the Kurdish city of Irbil, after the group opened a new northern front on Thursday. The U.S. military parachuted about 1,000 troops into the Kurdish-held area of Iraq in a dramatic nighttime operation.

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Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) in firing positions during an enemy approach on their position at Objective Rams, in Southern Iraq, March 24, 2003. Joint Combat Camera Center photo by Sgt. Igor Paustovski, U.S.Army

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NAJAF, IRAQ (Army News Service, March 27, 2003) -- After a push deep into Iraq, the 3rd Infantry Division (Mech.) consolidated its forces northwest of Najaf March 25, about 60 miles from Baghdad, expecting a final assault on Republican Guard units ringing the capital.

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The Army Airborne Special Forces motto:
"De Oppresso Liber -
To Liberate the Oppressed"

The Special Forces Creed
The Special Forces Prayer


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Men and women of the United States Army, we salute you. God bless and keep you safe.

***USMC SPECIAL OPERATIONS***

From the HALLS OF MONTEZUMA
to the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of UNITED STATES MARINES.

The Marine Corps is a maritime force and is expeditionary in nature. In fact, the Marine Corps' history and legacy is a landing force from the sea. Today, Marines continue to be trained and equipped to come from the sea and fight America's battles. The unit in the Marine Corps specifically groomed for the contingency battles of the future is the Marine Expeditionary Unit or MEU.

A MEU is based on Naval vessels and is normally built around a reinforced battalion, a composite aircraft squadron, and by a MEU Service Support group totaling about 2,000 personnel in all.

Commanded by a colonel, the MEU is employed to fulfill routine forward deployments with fleets in the Mediterranean, the Western Pacific, and periodically, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

The MEU's very existence is vital because with the decline of American bases abroad, it's possible that the only U. S. forces available to respond to worldwide crisis quickly will be the Marines.

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MARINE COMBAT HEADQUARTERS, Southern Iraq(March 22, 2003) -- First Marine Expeditionary Force's headquarters element and other command and control assets convoyed across the Kuwait-Iraq border and headed north March 22. In just about the middle of nowhere, Marines have stood up a forward operating base from which they are now running the Corps' portion of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

God bless "the few, the proud" of the United States Marine Corps. Thank you for your service. Salute!

We're always ready for the call,
We place our trust in Thee.
Through howling gale and shot and shell,
To win our victory.
"SEMPER PARATUS" is our guide,
Our pledge, our motto, too.
We're "Always Ready," do or die!
Aye! Coast Guard, we fight for you.

Dateline - March 4, 2003 North Arabian Gulf....Coast Guard Port Security Units maintain security on oil terminals. Coast Guard personnel from Port Security Unit 313, from Tacoma, Washington, discuss security strategy onboard the Mina al Bakr oil terminal.

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"We’ve activated nearly half of our selected reserves in support of Operations Neptune Shield, Liberty Shield and Iraqi Freedom . And our Auxiliary continues to provide an awesome presence throughout our Coast Guard—truly a model American volunteer organization.

I salute every member of our Coast Guard for the sacrifice, selfless courage, and professionalism that have been so clearly evident throughout the past year, and especially during the past week. Our thoughts and our prayers are with those who remain in harm’s way, and whose inspiring service compels me to say that I have never been more proud to wear the uniform of our great nation."
........Admiral Thomas H. Collins - March 26, 2003.

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We salute the men and women of the United States Coast Guard. Thank you for your service. God bless and keep you.

[ST.LOUIE1]

Hi, 45Man!

Hope you're feeling better. : )

[Mama_Bear]

Thanks for posting the link to Nan's rally.

Nan, I just got back from your rally thread. Enjoyed the pictures........(I see you posted them yourself this time. I knew you could do it.) ;-)

Thank you for all you do. BEEP BEEP!!

[ST.LOUIE1]

Hey Peter... Here's your pink slip...

Funny!

[Mama_Bear]

Good morning, jw.

...somehow, this thread is just what I needed to see to start my day just right

Always happy to oblige. ;-)

Have a nice Monday and a great week in this, the greatest country in the world!

[JulieRNR21]

Dear LadyX....came across this bit of humor in an article about a Rally to Support Our Troops held in Mashpee, MA last Saturday and naturally thought of you!

Excerpt: Carpenter injected a little humor with a joke about which branch of the armed services was the best, ending with a punch-line where St. Peter reads a message from God to vets at the pearly gates.

"The law above says: All vets go to heaven because you've served your time in hell," Carpenter said. "All of the services are equally good ... signed God, USMC."

[Mama_Bear]

Hi Aqua, I'm sitting here tapping my toe to that midi......that's a nice medley of service songs. Thank you.

[Mama_Bear]

Thanks for coming by and helping us salute our military. I am so proud of them and their Commander-in-Chief.

[Mama_Bear]

I'm so proud to call you "sistah"!

Awwwwww.......you're so sweet. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Thank you so much for your work on this thread.

You're welcome. It was a labor of love. I am thankful for this place in cyberspace where we can all come and join hearts and hands in prayer and wave our flags in support of our military. I wish every one of them could know how proud we are of them.

[FreeTheHostages]

Hello!! :) Isn't the news about Arnett great? Here's a little quote from Arnett in the upcoming issue of TV guide, per FOXNEWS and the AP:

In the April 5 issue of TV Guide, Arnett said he felt he had found redemption reporting on the current war.

"I was furious with (CNN founder) Ted Turner and (then-CNN chairman) Tom Johnson when they threw me to the wolves after I made them billions risking my life to cover the first Gulf War," Arnett told TV Guide.

"Now (Turner and Johnson) are gone, the Iraqis have thrown the CNN crew out of Baghdad, and I'm still here," he said. "Any satisfaction in that? Ha, ha, ha, ha."

He said the Iraqis allowed him to stay in Baghdad because they respect him and "see me as a fellow warrior."

[Mama_Bear]

Thanks so much for your kind words, daisy. Many hours went into this, but it truly was a labor of love. I completely immersed myself into it, even ignoring my pings and mail this weekend. LOL.

There are hundreds of great military websites with so much information - I could have gone on and on with more links and quotes and pictures. Finally had to force myself to stop......it was getting too long, and I was running out of time. :-)

Like most all of us here, I'm happy to do whatever I can to inspire pride in our military and show our troops how much we love them.

[FreeTheHostages]

We have -- gasp -- Ann Coulter!! She's doing to speak at a rally in DC on April 12th per www.citizensunited.org

Now, the support our troops rally isn't be thrown by the DC Chapter, it's an outside group, but you want to be that every Republican male in a 100-mile radius comes to the rally?

[FreeTheHostages]

LOL, catch this fact from the FOXNEWS article on Arnett:

In the April 5 issue of TV Guide, Arnett said he felt he had found redemption reporting on the current war.

"I was furious with (CNN founder) Ted Turner and (then-CNN chairman) Tom Johnson when they threw me to the wolves after I made them billions risking my life to cover the first Gulf War," Arnett told TV Guide.

"Now (Turner and Johnson) are gone, the Iraqis have thrown the CNN crew out of Baghdad, and I'm still here," he said. "Any satisfaction in that? Ha, ha, ha, ha."

He said the Iraqis allowed him to stay in Baghdad because they respect him and "see me as a fellow warrior."

A FELLOW WARRIOR!! THIS GUY IS NUTS, NUTS, NUTSS!!! Ok, this line here wasn't in the FOXnews piece. But he actually SAID fellow warrior.

[FreeTheHostages]

The colors are just wonderful. I find myself taking in the thread in snippets, service-by-service, today.

[azGOPgal]

What a beautiful salute to our military men and women of past and present. May God bring them all safely home.

[Mama_Bear]

I just visited the Barbara Niven site......thanks for the link, Meek. I hope everyone will post their links to patriotic military sites that they find on the internet. Can't have too many of them. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

I meant to tell you, I like that graphic you posted. In all my travels to military sites around the internet this weekend I didn't come across that one.

[JustAmy]

God Bless and Protect our Military!

[Mama_Bear]

What an * OUTSTANDING * presentation, Lori!! We can only imagine the time and effort that went into it to make it so very special.

Awwww.......thanks so much.

It is a great debt that we owe those who have taken that military oath......and I thank every one of them, past and present. Where would we be without them? It doesn't bare thinking about.....(although I wish the "peace" protestors would put a little effort into pondering that question. Not that I think it would enlighten them much.....they are clueless - not to mention, irrelevant, angry, bitter, anti-American leeches and malcontents).

[humblegunner]

Thank you! Your service is appreciated.

You are the best Lady Marine I know!