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

[Mama_Bear]

Good morning Pippin! Happy day to you!

.........

[grantswank]

hello, pippin.

so good to see you today.

have a wonderful weekend.

yes yes yes.

romans 8:28

<//><

[grantswank]

US TROOPS IMPRESS RUSSIAN LEADERS!!


If you’re an alcoholic, you stand a good chance. Sign up.

Have a chronic disease? Sign up.

Drug addict? Sign up.

To fill up its draft numbers, the Soviet ministry of defense is willing to
enlist alcoholics, the unhealthy and drug addicts.

The ministry is “desperate,” according to the TIMES OF LONDON. Their stats
are dropping, alarmingly so. The Russian army is in big time trouble.

To resurrect a sort of militia, the Soviet central agency is looking at
former Soviet republics for male bodies. The Russians promise high pay (?),
free education and the status symbol of a Russian citizenship paper.

So there.

As the army disintegrates daily, realism dictates that up to 50,000
conscripts desert each year. Thousands more “dodge the call-up.” Part of
the fear is the knowledge that they will be bullied into pulp as well as
living in poverty conditions.

And so it is that the Russians are content to take on heroin addicts,
drunks and those with known illnesses.

Sergie Ivanov, the Defense Minister, expects that the Commonwealth of
Independent States – that loose-hanging network of former republics – will
come up with a better soldier who, for exemplary behavior, will receive
Russian citizenship after three years’ commitment.

Now that the three-week win war is over in Iraq, the Russian generals are
frankly “in shock” due to witnessing the military expertise of the United
States and its coalition partners. In other words, Russians have been quite
impressed. No wonder Putin thereby puts on his snoot act lately; cover-up
persona of sorts?

Russian military leaders hope that they will come upon five million troops
arriving from Ukraine, Moldova and Armenia as well as Tajikistan. This
should, they say, equip the Russians with what they are advertising as “the
very best.”

Time will tell.

At present, conscripts realize that they will be subjected to bullying in
the well-known dedovshchina system. And what is that? It is the program to
demolish a soldier’s self-esteem by humiliating him to the nth degree – all
for the end purpose of forcing him into mannequin obedience.

It is known fact that Russian youths will go to any length to avoid the
dedovshchina. One fellow even feigned mental illness, was committed, and
endured intolerable conditions – all with the intent of not having to serve
as a solider in the Russian machine.

In the two Chechen conflicts of the past ten years, thousands upon
thousands simply walked into the firing line with practically no training.
Presently 80 per cent of the troops there are on contract; however, not all
believe in the contracts’ reliabilities.

“You cannot make a contract soldier obey orders. If there is another
Chernobyl and we have to send in the army, do you think contract soldiers
will agree to do it?” Dmitri Mitrofinov, a Duma deputy, asked the media.
“No, we must keep the draft system, but think of ways to make it more
attractive, so the young take pride in their country.”

In the meantime, any out there who wish to sail abroad, sign up and do your
bit for the Russian brigade?

[Aquamarine]

Thanks for the info on our sea warriors! It seemed fitting that dolphins were an ally of ours in this war...they always were the good guys of the sea. :)

[Mama_Bear]

Thank you so much!

[Mama_Bear]

It seemed fitting that dolphins were an ally of ours in this war...they always were the good guys of the sea. :)

Morning, Aqua.....yes, and I was pleased to find that in my research I didn't come across a single case where these beautiful mammals were being handled with anything other than tender loving care. The Peta people are aghast, of course, that they are being used in a war zone.....but I did not see any accusations of any cases of neglect or mistreatment. I'm sure if they knew of any, we would know about it.

Since the dolphins are not on a leash, they could swim away and never return if they wanted. In fact, I didn't include it in the post, but Tacoma did just that....he went AWOL for three days. But he did return. Dolphin are territorial and his handlers think that possibly some Iraqi dolphins chased him away........either that, or he just decided to go out reconnoitering on his own for awhile. LOL.

[Mama_Bear]

[ST.LOUIE1]

Morning, fuzzy!

I'm glad you're giving these guys the credit they deserve. Very interesting. : )

wolfie(((((((((Lori)))))))))wolfie. : )

[ST.LOUIE1]

I love animal stories.

Great! I'll tell you all about wolfie - over a bottle of champagne some night. LOL

wolfie(((((dansy)))))wolfie

[daisyscarlett]

What a delightful and beautiful thread! Dolphins are very special - and I loved the Tacoma story...

Here are some dolphins "playing" at LaJolla Shores near San Diego...this is common site there...

[ST.LOUIE1]

Let's play some marbles, Sis! : )

[daisyscarlett]

Champagne, can I join you two...Love champagne as long as it is not French, of course...LOL....

Morning to wolfie and dansy...

[Mama_Bear]

'Morning, sweet wolfie. :-)

((((((((((((Louie)))))))))))))

[jwfiv]

Such an inspiring start to our day...thank you, Mama_Bear...Very informative.

America is soooooo wonderful, even Flipper is on our side.

Hey, Freepers, it's Friday and...SURF'S UP!

[Diver Dave]

KEWL, Mama Bear. Dolphins were incorporated into the US Navy 1st class diver logo long ago.

First Class divers in my era were trained using mixed gases (helium/oxygen) for deeper dives. We 2nd class divers just used normal air (nitrogen/oxygen) and our logo was the diving helmet without the dolphins.

Salute to Navy Divers and their mates.

[Mama_Bear]

What a delightful and beautiful thread!

Thank you. I enjoyed putting it together.

Dolphins are very special

Yes, they are. I think they are natural clowns too. Each time we have left Puerto Vallarta a school of dolphins has escorted the ship out of the harbor. I know they think they are cute. They jump and cavort in the wake like they KNOW they are entertaining us! Sometimes three or four will jump in unison, like they are performing a choreographed dance. It is beautiful to watch.

[ST.LOUIE1]

Champagne, can I join you two....

Of course! The more pretty women the merrier, wolfie always sez. : )

...Love champagne as long as it is not French, of course...LOL....

LOL Not to worry, we may switch to beer.

Morning to wolfie...

Morning, pretty Daisy. : )

[ST.LOUIE1]

'Morning, sweet wolfie. :-)
((((((((((((Louie)))))))))))))

You sure know how to start wolfie's day off just right, fuzzbo. : )

[ST.LOUIE1]

((((((( Pippin )))))))

Morning, doll. : )

[Mama_Bear]

You sure know how to start wolfie's day off just right, fuzzbo. : )

Fuzzbo? LOL!!! You're so cute! Thanks. :-)

I was going to take off for awhile, but with comments like that from you, I think I might just stay around. ;-)