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

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:  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

[Aquamarine]

I've been following your lead Lady, you've made several awesome posts today. :)

Here comes the thunder boomers...seeking shelter!

[LadyX]

"Hope you have a nice weekend (-:)"

Need to turn that around to apply to you, Colleen!

Having earned my Time Off, I am retired, so every day is weekend for me!

The very first thing I did, resting upon my laurels, was toss out any kind of s-c-h-e-d-u-l-e, living by them so many years.....

Totally indulge myself by usually staying up until 0100 to even 0300 - wakin' when I wanna !!, but usually @ 0830.

No apologies; I earned it all those years rising at 0450 and getting to bed after midnight, news hound that I am. Didn't want to miss anything.

Then came the computer - the Internet - and Free Republic, and I am living life to the max!

I intend to enjoy it- - -

[Dubya]

LOL.
Creative Duelling

In bygone days, a thin man insulted a large man. The large man
challenged his tormentor to a duel with pistols.

On the day of the duel a debate ensued about the unfair advantage held
by the thin man because he was a much smaller target. Finally the thin
man came up with a solution.

"Let the outline of my figure be chalked upon your body," he said to his
opponent, "and any shots of mine that hit outside the chalk lines, we
won't count."

[Budge]

Wonderful salute!

[LadyX]

Love that Creative 'Solution' !!!!!

Thanks, Dubya - - -

[Inspectorette]

God has brought this young man home - he will dwell in the House of the Lord forever, and we here on earth are the less for his loss.

Bless this pilot who shared with the passengers that they were being so honored to escort PFC Johnson home.

[LadyX]

Agreeing with all you said, Inspectorette.
I only wish this had been the attitude during the Vietnam Conflict, when so many of those in the military and their families were absolutely vilified.
I spent one of those years alone with three children with no support, even from the military families around me, and felt vulnerable driving in town with a base decal.

My husband was a forerunner of Air Force Special Forces over there, risking his life every single day. When he landed in San Francisco, about a hundred such warriors - 'Home' at last! - there was a contingent of college babies on hand to welcome them with shouts of "BABY KILLER" and the like - and one gal spit on him.

Still having a jungle mindset, he 'saw' an enemy and reacted without hesitation - snapped her arm.
Without a word, the warriors dragged a goodly number of them into the restroom, Airport Security watching to see that no one interfered with them.

Lessons in "Thou Shalt Not Spit in Public 101" were administered and the men emerged, police flashing thumbs up signals.

The next insult was he learned the admonishment "it would be better if you did not travel in uniform on your flights home" so the public would not be offended was truly meant.

Having to wear it to get a Military Standby Rate to go all the way across the country, he on the two flights was ORDERED by the stewardesses to sit in the very back seat of the plane - again, to not offend the sensibilities of the civilians.

After meeting every plane from Dallas all day long, the last flight from there came - again, didn't see him, heart sinking.
Then the last stewardess debarked - and at the tail end, my warrior hero.
That still generates great sadness and anger, all these years later.

God Bless those who returned from Desert Storm to a ticker tape parade, and insisted the Nam vets be included in the honor and FINALLY be welcomed home by America.

That is why I am so adamant today's military be supported, and it is wonderful to see the many on Free Republic with the same mission in life...... I so appreciate all the Freepers who actively support our troops today, and thank each and every one of you.

[Dubya]

A SAD TIME IN OUR HISTORY.

[Dubya]

I believe that with a place like FR and the internet we can get together and keep things like that from happing again.

Back then there were more who supported our fighting men and women than those who didn't. We just did not have any way to get together and have our say.

Hollywood and the news people beat us to death then.

They can't do that anymore.

[Dubya]

Compare the Brave Entertainers of 1943 with Today's Bunch

The Entertainers of 2003 have been in all of the news media lately. it seems News Paper, Television and Radio has been more than ready to put them and their message before the public. I would like to remind the people of what the entertainers of 1943 were doing, (60 years ago). Most of these brave men have since passed on:


Alec Guinness (Star Wars) operated a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day.

James Doohan ("Scotty" on Star Trek) landed in Normandy with the U.S. Army on D-Day.

Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape) really was a R.A.F. pilot who was shot down, held prisoner and tortured by the Germans.

David Niven was a Sandhurst graduate and Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy.

James Stewart flew 20 missions as a B-24 pilot in Europe.

Clark Gable (Mega-Movie Star when war broke out) was a waist gunner flying missions on a B-17 in Europe.

Charlton Heston was an Army Air Corps Sergeant in Kodiak.

Earnest Borgnine was a U.S. Navy Gunners Mate 1935-1945.

Charles Durning was a U.S. Army Ranger at Normandy.

Charles Bronson was a tail gunner in the Army Air Corps.

George C. Scott was a U.S. Marine.

Eddie Albert (Green Acres TV) was awarded a Bronze Star for his heroic action as a U.S. Naval officer aiding Marines at the horrific battle on the island of Tarawa in the Pacific Nov.1943.

Brian Keith served as a Marine rear gunner in several actions against the Japanese on Rabal in the Pacific.

Lee Marvin was a marine on Saipan when he was wounded.

John Russell was a Marine on Guadalcanal.

Robert Ryan was a U.S. Marine who served with the O.S.S. in Yugoslavia.

Tyrone Power (an established movie star when Pearl Harbor was bombed) joined the Marines, was a pilot flying supplies into, and wounded Marines out of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Audie Murphy, little guy from Texas, Most Decorated serviceman of WWII.

[JulieRNR21]

God Bless those who returned from Desert Storm to a ticker tape parade, and insisted the Nam vets be included in the honor and FINALLY be welcomed home by America.

I recall that happening! At the present time the Vietnam Veterans are espeically active in the Rallies to Support those fighting the War on Terror.

A group of Nam Knights are riding their motorcyles to the Venice FL Rally this Sunday. More details here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/899867/posts

[Dubya]

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS RALLY in VENICE FL SUNDAY,4/27/03 (Nam Knights Motorcycles riding to the Rally)

Thanks for the heads up.

[Pippin]

Chickens?

Why is everybody talking about chickens?

Even on the Dose they're talking about chickens!

The creatures breed like, like

DEMOCRATS!

LOL!

[Pippin]

Hi, Sassy!

you still here?

Hi, LOUIE!

[Pippin]

Hi, Dubya!

HUH! The first time in a week I get to stay online late and everyone's gone!

[Pippin]

MY! MY! MY!

this sure is one empty place!

I even hear an ECHO!

ECHO! ECHO! ECHO!

[Pippin]

Hey guys!

wanna skate down this big ole empty echoey hall?

[JulieRNR21]

Thanks for posting the link.

[Pippin]

Hello!

in a monotone

It's 11:06 am EDT

do you know where your freepers are?

[Pippin]

ah, I mean 11:07PM edt!