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A Few of FR's Finest...Every Day...4-25-03....Whiskered Warriors and Flippered Friends
Billie and Mama_Bear

Posted on 04/25/2003 5:44:06 AM PDT by Mama_Bear

Edited on 04/25/2003 7:09:27 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]




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:  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.



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



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.



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



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 1A: TOP: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete MIDDLE:  T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub BOTTOM:  YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1
GROUP 2A: TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc
GROUP 3A: TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf
GROUP 4A: TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma
      

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.




                     











Today's featured "Finest"
in the spotlight are









Some of the most interesting news stories reported during Operation Iraqi Freedom were of the specially trained dolphins helping the Coalition forces locate mines near the port of Umm Qasr.

I thought it appropriate that the dolphins and sea lions deployed with our military receive recognition and official status as "Finest Friends" for their invaluable contribution to the war effort.


The U.S. Navy's Marine Mammal Program boasts a unit of 20 crack sea lions as well as about 70 dolphins specially-trained to defend and protect US sailors and installations from explosive marine attacks.







Meet "K-Dog"


A Navy dolphin, K-Dog, shows Sgt. Andrew Garrett what he's learned as he trains near the USS Gunston Hall, in the Persian Gulf.


In order for President Bush's promise of massive humanitarian aid for the Iraqis to materialize, the port of Umm Qasr in southern Iraq needed to be cleared of mines for safe travel.

And when the harbor, which was mined by the Iraqis to hamper a U.S. invasion, was opened, it was due in no small measure to the efforts of a pair of bottle-nosed Atlantic dolphins; Makai and Tacoma. These mine-sniffing dolphins are part of the U.S. military's Mammal Maritime Unit.

Until the marine mammals arrived, clearing the mines was the job of the British. They located the mines by hand, and many said swimming in the port was like crawling around in mud with your eyes shut.

Though the Navy has been training dolphins for years, this is their first operational deployment. With their natural sonar systems, the dolphins can detect mines even under the most difficult conditions.

The deployment of dolphins and sea lions to a war zone is not without controversy, however these dolphin have been specially taught to avoid touching the mines, which might cause them to explode, said Capt. Mike Tillotson, a Navy bomb disposal expert. He said there is "very little risk to animals in doing this kind of work".



Signalman 2nd Class (DV) Bud Bickford, a mammal handler from Commander Task Unit 55.4.3, brushes the teeth of a bottlenose dolphin, Makai, in the well deck of the dock landing ship Gunston Hall in the Persian Gulf on March 17. "Basically, he’ll work as long as his attitude feels up to it."




Sea Lions play secret
agent overseas...



Meet "Zachary"




While the U.S. Navy has used sea lions for recovery missions for the last 30 years, some of them are now being retrained to not only to detect enemy divers, but to catch them too.

"We train a select small set of sea lions to actually find divers and attach recovery lines to the divers" to allow them to be captured, said Tom LaPuzza who has run the mammal program since its inception in 1960.

"Those are the sea lions that are in Bahrain. This is a new capability that we are demonstrating for the first time," he said adding that if the new recruits did well in their test, they could be used to protect U.S. harbors.

The yelping secret agents are trained to attach a restraint device — a C-shaped, handcuff-like clamp — to the leg of an intruder with their mouths before deploying a floating marker signaling the attacker's position.

These whiskered warriors can swim at 40 kilometers per hour (25 miles per hour) and carry out repeated dives of up to 300 meters (1000 feet).




THIS WEEK'S THREADS
04-21-03 Buster (A Nose for Danger) 04-22-03 daughterofTGSL (Stormy Weather) 04-23-03 cmsgop (Up Close & Personal) 04-24-03 JohnHuang2(John's Two Cents)
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


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: dolphins; freepers; fun; iraqifreedom; military; sealions; surprises; tribute; veterans
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To: Pippin
Hiya Pippin!
141 posted on 04/25/2003 10:57:02 AM PDT by Aeronaut (What an awesome gift He gives!)
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To: Aeronaut
How are you doing?
142 posted on 04/25/2003 10:58:00 AM PDT by Pippin
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To: Aeronaut
Mission accomplished.

Wow.........that was quick! Welcome back! :-)

143 posted on 04/25/2003 10:58:12 AM PDT by Mama_Bear (God Bless America! God Bless our Troops!)
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To: Mama_Bear
that was quick! Welcome back! :-)

I just had to take a couple of engineers to an airport zoning meeting about 100 miles from home base. The meeting only lasted an hour and a half. My kind of Friday!

144 posted on 04/25/2003 11:01:04 AM PDT by Aeronaut (What an awesome gift He gives!)
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To: Pippin
How are you doing?

Bordering on perfect, thanks! You?

145 posted on 04/25/2003 11:01:49 AM PDT by Aeronaut (What an awesome gift He gives!)
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To: Mama_Bear
I just want my graphics to appear when I post them - that's what we're paying for. :-)

That's the bottom line, isn't it! Oh well, hope Craig gets things straightened out. After my little falling out with him last December and then our "making up", things have been relatively smooth.

Except for today. Oh well.

It's Friday, though, isn't it? YAY!!!!!

146 posted on 04/25/2003 11:02:05 AM PDT by dansangel (America - love it, support it, or LEAVE IT!)
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To: LadyX
Afternoon, Ms.Exie! Thought you slipped my eye, eh?

Beauty never slips past der wolfen. : )

147 posted on 04/25/2003 11:03:02 AM PDT by ST.LOUIE1
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To: Aeronaut
Feeling Groovy!
148 posted on 04/25/2003 11:04:05 AM PDT by Pippin
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To: Mama_Bear; Billie
Cute thread, Mama_Bear. It's amazing what these dolphins and sea lions can do.

T Man is gonna love seeing YOUR thread edited by the Admin Moderator, too! :) Welcome to the club!

I'm sure there's a good reason for the AM's edit. Billie, I'm surprised at you for assigning blame so quickly. With MB's history of perfection the least would we could do is give her the benefit of the doubt. Your lack of support is very disappointing. :-)

149 posted on 04/25/2003 11:18:34 AM PDT by The Thin Man
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To: The Thin Man
Hi, (((TTM)))!
150 posted on 04/25/2003 11:19:45 AM PDT by Pippin
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To: The Thin Man; Billie
With MB's history of perfection the least would we could do is give her the benefit of the doubt.

Yeah.......that's right!! Thank you, TMan. :-)

(You two are so cute.)

151 posted on 04/25/2003 11:21:52 AM PDT by Mama_Bear (God Bless America! God Bless our Troops!)
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To: All
Guess it's time for me to log off and go home! WHOO HOO! The Weekend commences!
152 posted on 04/25/2003 11:22:42 AM PDT by Pippin
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To: Pippin
You're slowing down, Pippin. It took a full minute for you to respond to my post. :)

Hope your day's going well.

153 posted on 04/25/2003 11:24:25 AM PDT by The Thin Man
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To: Mama_Bear; Billie
"Thanks. I tried so hard to NEVER have to contact to moderator to correct one of my mistakes. Oh well,........one consolation is, I am with great company. :-)"

Yo, Mama!
We always wondered if ya didn't have just a touch of 'human being' in ya..(:> )

154 posted on 04/25/2003 11:27:40 AM PDT by LadyX (((( Lord - watch over our troops, wherever they are.. ))))
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To: Mama_Bear
I do apologize for Billie. Don't let her critical remarks get you down. :-)
155 posted on 04/25/2003 11:31:35 AM PDT by The Thin Man
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To: ST.LOUIE1
Be still my heart!!
Woofie Toofums has un(sorry - whatever wuz I thinking?!) ad dressing moi !!!
156 posted on 04/25/2003 11:33:07 AM PDT by LadyX (((( Lord - watch over our troops, wherever they are.. ))))
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To: LadyX; ST.LOUIE1
Okay - had "addressing" moi??

had addressed moi..:))

(Had me all flustered, Wolfie - LOL)

157 posted on 04/25/2003 11:38:20 AM PDT by LadyX (((( Lord - watch over our troops, wherever they are.. ))))
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To: LadyX
Yo, Mama! We always wondered if ya didn't have just a touch of 'human being' in ya..(:> )

Hey, I am the 'human-ist' amongst us - unfortunately, just a bit of a perfectionist who hasn't quite reached perfection yet. Sigh. But then, I suppose if I did, it would just make everyone else feel less than perfect.......wouldn't want to do that, so I will keep making mistakes - particularly with my speling, and, punkuation? ;-)

158 posted on 04/25/2003 11:40:02 AM PDT by Mama_Bear (God Bless America! God Bless our Troops!)
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To: The Thin Man
I do apologize for Billie. Don't let her critical remarks get you down. :-)

LOL. Okie dokie,.....I'll try. ;-)

159 posted on 04/25/2003 11:41:51 AM PDT by Mama_Bear (God Bless America! God Bless our Troops!)
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To: LadyX
Okay - had "addressing" moi??
had addressed moi..:))

(Had me all flustered, Wolfie - LOL)

That's ok, Exie, happens to all the ladies. LOL!

160 posted on 04/25/2003 11:47:51 AM PDT by ST.LOUIE1
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