A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....04-21-03...A Nose for Danger

04-21-03 | Story from People Magazine

[Billie]

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.

                     

A Nose for Danger
A springer spaniel with an unusual gift, Buster
helps British troops sniff out explosives in Iraq

"He should get a medal for being out here," says Morgan of canine comrade Buster.
~ from People Magazine, 4/21/03

Sure, little Emma Morgan misses her soldier-dad, Danny, who is serving in Iraq with Britan's Royal Army. But there's someone whose absence seems to sting even more - Buster, the family's springer spaniel, an explosive-sniffer extraordinaire who works as Sergeant Morgan's canine partner. Since the pair left their home in Aldershot, England, in February, 5-year-old Emma "has sent maybe two letters to me and at least 10 to Buster," says Morgan, 37. "She draws him pictures of him at home having picnics with the family."

Iraq isn't exactly proving to be a picnic for anybody. But 5 1/2-year-old Buster has definitely made plenty of new friends thanks to his role in a raid on a suspected terrorist hideout April 1. Although British troops had come up empty in their sweep of the home, Buster quickly gave Sergeant Morgan the signal that he smelled weapons. Behind a wardrobe, soldiers found a piece of tin covering a hole - and in it a huge cache of arms and drugs. "It's brilliant, wasn't it?" says Morgan's wife, Nikki, 32, of the find, which led to the arrest of 16 suspected terrorists. "I'm really proud of them both."

It's no accident that Buster - who was rescued from a shelter about three years ago and teamed up with Morgan in Northern Ireland - beame the first sniffer sent to Iraq. (Two other canines will soon join him.) During a previous tour in Kosovo, "soldiers would always ask for him, even if there were several dogs to choose from," says Warrant Officer Dave Franklin. "He's definitely seen more action than the majority of our soldiers."

On his current hitch Buster prefers to sleep next to his "dad," although he has his own kennel that can be fitted with a special protective cover and respirator in the event of a chemical attack. The kennel also offers protection from sandstorms - or overly zealous petting. In fact, Buster seems to have experienced only one real hardship so far in the Iraqi desert: "He misses trees," says Morgan. "It's the simple pleasures."

THE WEEKEND'S THREAD 04-18,19,20-03 Stations of the Cross

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[dutchess]

Billie...again really enjoyed today...Yes I do love canine stories (wink wink)

Daisy and Lori...Wow...looks like we all got here at the same time. Since you're both here...I need to check out for awhile...need to get Wednesday ready...am tied up tomorrow night! Have A GOOD evening lovely sistahs....

Free...loved the story of your niece and the easter eggs LOL! Sounds like you had a wonderful day

Dansy...so are you totally chocolate buzzed?????

Louie...what a cute graphic you did for us yesterday :o)

(((((((louie)))))))

[daisyscarlett]

Reese's peanut buttercup eggs is the only candy that the Easter Bunny dropped off at our house-can't beat 'em...and they are small so if you just eat one....(yeah right)...hee hee

[SassyMom]

Hi Daisy! I hope all is well with you! Things here are great! It's really good to see you, have a great afternoon!

[daisyscarlett]

What a sweet graphic Wolfie made for us for Easter...I luv it and how dear of him to take the time to make it for us. I don't mind being the chubby one at all-Wolfie knows I am a good sport....

[daisyscarlett]

It does seem like we are all here at once, or were for a few moments anyway.

Glad you both had a nice Easter Sunday....am still in awe of the great thread over the weekend and all the nice FReepers who came and posted words and graphics and music...It was special....

[deadhead]

Hi Billie, so glad you liked the White House State Easter eggs. Dutchess did an awesome job on the Easter thread, it was beautiful. And all the contributions by Freepers Finest was wonderful.

Colleen

[Mama_Bear]

(((((((((hugs))))))))))) to you both! Seems like I am rarely here when anyone else is........so it's nice to actually get to hug you in real time. :-)

[daisyscarlett]

The President had a great weekend in Texas, didn't he. They loved him at Ft. Hood. One of the POWs sisters was on FOX and she was so thrilled to get to meet him...she said she told him she appreciated him both for the job he is doing as President and for the kind of man he is and he told her that the prayers of the nation had lifted him up....

Back to the D.C. salt mines for him and his special friends, Spot and Barney...

U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) follows his dog Spot, while carrying his other dog Barney off Marine One, in Waco, Texas, April 21, 2003, as he prepared to return to Washington DC aboard Air Force One. Over the Easter weekend Bush welcomed home two freed Iraq (news - web sites) POWs David Williams and Ronald Young during a chapel service at Fort Hood, Texas.

[daisyscarlett]

Thanks for reminding us about Easter Monday and the Emmaus story. And what is this about you being down to one good eye? Somehow I missed that...know about your arm but did not know about your eye....

[daisyscarlett]

Glad to hear that things are great in Texas....Did little Kolbe Jacob and his sisters have a fun Easter?

[LadyX]

And all the ships at sea - -

Now hear this!
Now hear this!!

LadyX proudly announces an addition to the Military Prayer Reminder Box....
You might remember when I suggested creating one, my grandson was just finishing his 4 1/2 years with the Air Force. He worked in Communications at Tampa under General Tommy Franks.

In a call this weekend from his Dad - my son, Kevin - he related B.J. had tried a position with a communications firm in Puerto Rico, but decided it was not his cup of tea.

Wanting to complete his college education, he decided to reenlist in the Air Force and is awaiting his assignment as we speak.
I therefore request grandson of LadyX be added to our roster.

My father was in the Army Air Corps in World War I, by the way, based at Kelly Field in Texas.
He instructed pilots on the engines of airplanes, and after the war sometimes flew with a friend in Forida who delivered the U.S. Air Mail.
His route included Daytona Beach, Florida and they would actually land the planes on Daytona Beach itself at low tide!

Just a little bit of history - - -

(Thanks, Daddy - watch over B.J., will you?)

[GailA]

Rocky has discovered the floor fan....he likes it to blow his ears back.

[Mama_Bear]

I therefore request grandson of LadyX be added to our roster.

I will do that. :-)

[GailA]

Rocky is coal black..and a minature.

[deadhead]

"(Thanks, Daddy - watch over B.J., will you?)"

So sweet LadyX, smiling. Will keep B.J. in my Prayers. My cousin's specialty in the Marine's is communications. Up until last week, we didn't know exactly where he was, his unit is classified. Well, just as we all suspected, he is in Baghdad. In a letter he wrote to his folks a few weeks ago, he said "sorry I haven't written, but I have been a little busy" A little busy, LOL! Nice to read about your Dad's military history.

[LadyX]

Alll right, you two.
Gonna drag outta me another sad, sad story....

In Fairbanks, my husband working in Security, we 'somehow' sometimes ended up with doggies from the Base Pound.

One was a beautiful black and white Springer Spaniel with sad countenance I named 'Troubles' - 'cause he had had so many.

A few months later, he dashed in front of a car, was severely injured, and had to be put down.
The good guys don't always win - - -
and NO! Billie, I won't repeat this day the tragic tale of the demise of Nuff Kitty...:>(

[LadyX]

No big deal, daisy - was merely assaulted by a - yes - a CHRISTMAS CARD!!
LOL

Was dressed to go for physical therapy on Thursday and tidied up, putting something on a high shelf...dislodged an open box of leftover Christmas cards, and one struck the cornea of my right eye -

I now look something like this:

[LadyX]

So glad there is good news about him, deadhead!
He's going to have one heckuva "What I Did Over Spring Vacation" story to tell his folks...:))

[Pippin]

Hi, FTH!

Sounds like you all had a fun time! :O)

[jwfiv]

Miss Daisy , sorry, yes, the quiche is gone, but I do just happen to have an extra yummy banana split ready for you...)