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

[dansangel]

BUT IT'S STILL MONDAY, GACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My sentiments, exactly (((((((dixie sass)))))))) - and to make it worse, I'm a prisoner at w-o-r-k.

Off to the salt mines! :-)

[Pippin]

MONDAY!

It's my second Sunday! LOL!

[dixie sass]

Oh good grief, you're right and if I don't get up and get some things done, when my company gets here... Well, you know. Coffee, first though!

[Pippin]

COFFEE! YES!

Where's Carl?

Hey Meekie!

[dixie sass]

Lol, dansangel. I remember those days - would you believe fondly?

[Iowa Granny]

Great story about Buster. Thanks for bringing it to us. I pass this way a couple of times a day, but seldom post. Thank you for all you do.

[Pippin]

Gota go!

Im\'m lookg for a place to get my hair cut and I nwant to investigat an apartment complex in Glen Burnie.

"SEEYA" All later!

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Monday !

61 degrees and headin' for around 78 today . . .

Have a cup while you FReep !

For those who prefer hot chocolate.....

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Billie.

[MeekOneGOP]

There ya go - #28 ! :O)

[dixie sass]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, thank you! Hello my name is Dixie Sass and I'm a chocoholic...

I'm try to stay away from, sigh, made it for 2 days now - deprevation...

More coffee.

note to self: Peanut butter is not a good substitute for chocolate. Keep looking. Out of peanut butter, put on shopping list.

[MeekOneGOP]

Hello my name is Dixie Sass and I'm a chocoholic...

LOL ! Join the club. :O)

[jwfiv]

Can't help but grin from ear to ear reading your delightful thread today, Billie...thank you. I hope your weekend was restful, wonderful and just perfect.

Good morning to all our Hostess babes, and to all Freepers...it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

[FreeTheHostages]

It was very nice. Quiet, religious for the most part. Then an Epicurean feast of roast lamb last night.

My 10-month old nephew got ahold of a chocolate bunny despite or perhaps because 4 adults were looking after him together and no one had primary responsibility to make sure that didn't happen. He downed a 10-oz bunny and promptly threw it up. He was happy about having eaten it and was kinda excited by the commotion surrounding him throwing it up and altogether seemed to have a lovely time.

My three-year old niece painted Easter eggs with me, diplomatically suggesting that perhaps I should use more paint, Aunt Nancy, since some white still remained on my finished eggs. I told her with equal politeness that I liked my egges with a little white. She then moved quickly, grabbing a big paintbrush filled with pink paint and as she jabbed my eggs with it, she said cheerfully, "Here, Aunt Nancy, I'll show you!" It was very funny. Just LOOKING at my eggs, you could tell what happened to them and see the story.

[Billie]

Ok, T Man, I'm ready for you! Yep! I goofed again! Copied a bad command (with two slashes instead of one) for "This Weekend's Thread", thereby making the link void. Asked the Moderator to fix it (AGAIN!), and I just checked and found not one slash, but THREE!, so if it shows it's "edited" again, well even moderators can make mistakes occasionally. :)

[Billie]

Morning, Miss Pip. Yep! The gang's all here. :)

[Billie]

Morning, Free. Hope your Easter weekend was special. Sweet calendar page again. :)

[Billie]

Pssssst! It's Monday, dixie. :) But it's going to be okay. Only 4 more days until Friday. Take a deep breath. :)

[Billie]

ROFL, that dog has a banana clip in his mouth!

That's what that is?! I had no idea! Morning, DogGone!

[dixie sass]

Didja take pictures of the eggs? How about the Easter egg tree?