A Few Of FR's Finest....Every Day....05-26-03....Memorial Day - Remembering SSGT. Richard A. Fitts

dansangel

[dansangel]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and 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....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, daisyscarlett, dansangel, dutchess, Mama_Bear

Memorial Day

~Remember~

Today as we celebrate Memorial Day
It is important to remember.....
Remember that the day is more than hot dogs and hamburgers
More than picnics and fishing
More than boating and baseball
More than just a day off from work.....
Memorial Day is to remember those that served
Those that sacrificed
Those that suffered
Those that gave all
So that we may live free.


Let us all remember and give thanks.

~dansangel~

Staff Sergeant Richard A. Fitts

I wore this man's MIA bracelet while attending high school back in 1972-73. A similar faded and folded picture accompanied it, giving the man a face that I could carry in my heart. Last year during Memorial Day weekend, a fellow FReeper kindly posted the URL to the "Virtual Wall." Although the bracelet was long gone, misplaced in one of the many moves I have experienced over the past three decades, I never forgot the name that was engraved on the stainless steel: Staff Sergeant Richard A. Fitts.

I followed the posted link to the Virtual Wall and proceeded to look for that brave soldier's name. My heart skipped a beat as I found it. Then, reality sunk in. His name was listed among the killed in action. Feelings of grief for a man I never knew but carried in my heart all these years, overcame me.

Further research on my part yielded the following synopsis (taken from the Massachusetts POW/MIA website):

SSgt. Richard A. Fitts was born on February 23, 1946 in Weymouth, Mass. He entered the Army in January,1966. In Vietnam, Fitts was part of Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observation Group (MACV-SOG) which was a joint service high command unconventional warfare task force engaged in highly classified operations throughout Southeast Asia. The 5th Special Forces channeled personnel into MACV-SOG (though it was not a Special Forces group) through Special Operations Augmentation (SOA) which provided their "cover" while under secret orders to MACV- SOG. These teams performed deep penetration missions of strategic reconnaissance and interdiction missions in Laos and Cambodia which were called, depending on the country and time frame, "Shining Brass" or "Prairie Fire" missions. On November 30, 1968, Sgt. Richard A. Fitts, Sgt. Arthur E. Bader, Cpl. Gary R. LaBohn, SSgt. Klaus D. Scholz, Maj. Samuel K. Toomey, Cpl. Michael H. Mein, 1Lt. Raymond C. Stacks were passengers aboard a Vietnamese Air Force CH34 helicopter (serial #14-4653) as their team was being transported to their reconnaissance mission area in Laos. Details of their mission was classified at that time, and remains classified in early 1990. However, information received from some of the family members indicates that the mission was related to disarming an enemy munitions store.

The helicopter was flying at 4,000 feet when it was struck by 37mm anti-aircraft fire,went into a spin, crashed in a mass of flames and exploded. The helicopter crashed about 10 miles northwest of Khe Sanh, just into Laos east of Tchepone. The crash site is in heavy jungle, near a stream. From the time the aircraft was hit until the time it impacted out of view, the helicopter was under observation and no one was seen to leave the aircraft during its descent. No ground search was initiated because the location was in a denied area. Later visual search indicated that the pilot's hatch was open, and his helmet was seen 25-30 feet from the helicopter, but no survivors or bodies were seen. All the personnel aboard the aircraft, however, were not declared dead, but were declared Missing in Action, which was procedure when no proof of death existed.

When the war ended, and 591 Americans were releaesed from prison camps in Southeast Asia, not one man who had been held in Laos was released. Although the Pathet Lao stated publicly that they held "tens of tens" of Americans, no negotiations occurred which would free them at that time, nor have any occurred since.

In March 1988, the area in which the helicopter crashed was excavated by a joint Lao/ US technical team. Human remains consisting of 17 teeth and 145 bone fragments, none measuring over two inches, were recovered. The remains were returned to the U.S. Army Central Identification (CIL) in Hawaii.

On January 3, 1990, it was announced that the remains of Richard Fitts had been positively identified from the material recovered at the crash site. That identification was determined by the government's conclusion that two of the 17 teeth belonged to Fitts. Fitts' parents, after having an independent analysis conducted on the teeth, felt assured that the teeth belonged to their son, and subsequently buried them in Boston, Massachusetts. The remaining 15 teeth and 145 bone fragments were said to be unidentifiable.

Barely a month later, on February 8, 1990, the Department of Defense announced that the remainder of the crew had been positively identified and would be buried, along with the Vietnamese crew, in a mass grave in Arlington National Cemetery. Fitts' name was included on that tombstone along with the other Americans because the Pentagon believed some of the bone fragments belonged to Fitts. Thus, even though the remains were scientifically unidentifiable, the cases were closed on these individuals.

Critics of the U.S. Government's identification of the entire crew of the helicopter point to a similar incident some years ago. In 1968, unidentifiable remains attributed to a group of U.S. Marines killed near Khe Sanh on February 25, 1968 were buried in a mass grave in St. Louis. One of the deceased was identified as being Marine Sgt. Ronald Ridgeway.

Five years later, Ridgeway was released from a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp, giving rise to considerable speculation as to the validity of the positive identification of the other remains buried in St. Louis.

There are still over 2300 Americans who remain prisoner, missing, or otherwise unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. Nearly 600 of them were lost in Laos. The U.S. Government, by early 1990, had received nearly 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing in Southeast Aisa. Many authorities believe there are hundreds of Americans still alive today, held captive.

In recent years, the numbers of remains returned from Vietnam and excavated in Laos has increased dramatically. Government strategists happily point to this as "progress" on the POW/MIA issue, although most of these remains are still unidentified. Indeed, many families, having had independent studies of the remains to assure accurate identi- fication, now have answers to long-awaited concerns about their loved ones. However, when remains are positively identified, the U.S. Government closes the books and the search for that missing man ends. Can we afford to close the books on an American who may be alive waiting for his country to bring him home?

How many will serve in the next war knowing they may be abandoned?

How many, indeed?

Each person reading this today, Memorial Day 2003, must make a vow:

Never must we ever allow another member of our military to serve his or her country, preserving our freedom, in the fear that they will be forgotten.

May God Bless our military members abundantly, and may He place His bloodline of protection around each and every one.

Thank-you...*ALL* of you, who haved selflessly served your country, past and present.

We Will Never Forget!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 05-24, 05-25-03 ... The Week In Review

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 an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

God Bless Our Military

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Daisyscarlett; Dansangel; Dutchess; Mama_Bear; and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~

We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.

Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland......son-in-law weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep...................son Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................active duty LadyX....................grandson LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty The Mayor................niece fawn796..................nephew

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear...........nephew gator girl............husband severa................husband MozartLover...........nephew LBGA........................son SpookBrat...........nephew Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Diver Dave................niece deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons Consort...........2 daughters Darheel..................niece dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn.............2 sons kneezles...........son MozartLover...........son

[AbsolutePower]

Thank you for your support of Active Duty / Reserve and Veterans. I served in Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001-2002.

Semper Fi Always,

Absolute Power
USMC VET

[Dubya]

I know the feeling.
Its hard for me to understand why people tell me thanks.
It was a job that needed to be done and we did it.
I may check on the VA Med. I have never used any of the VA stuff.

[Aquamarine]

Great job on the pictorials Dubya!

Click on the pic

[Pippin]

Yep!

[Pippin]

You rat! LOL!

Good Morning Meekie! :O)

[Dubya]

Thanks.
Great Hymn. God bless our saliors.

[Dubya]

Off to show a house. Back later.
If its not time for the Mount Olivet Cemetery
Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas
to start their program.
I will be going to it about 6PM CST.

[Pippin]

Thank YOU for your service!

It's an honor to be on the same thread with you and all who served thier nation proudly.

[Billie]

That's beautiful, Aqua - I've never heard 'Taps' with an orchestra before. It is probably the saddest, most haunting song in the world, and I've never listened to it without getting teary-eyed.

[dansangel]

I urge you to look into the VA prescription drug program or any other benefits for that matter. My Dad was spending literally hundreds of dollars per month for his meds. His copay now is something like $7.00 per RX. The catch is, you have to see the VA doctors. But, Dad sees them and continues to see his specialists as well.

It would be small thanks for what you've done, Dubya. Please consider using the benefits.

[dansangel]

Thank *you* for your service to our country. It is an honor to be able to say "thank-you" in some small way.

May God Bless you and your loved ones abundantly.

(((((Absolute Power))))))

[dansangel]

Thank-you ((((((((TTM))))))) - for the kind words and the beautiful graphic.

There *is* a heart beneath the "ace reporter" facade! :-)

Just don't tell anyone.

[Diver Dave]

Mornin' and salute for this fine tribute.

Contrary to what Macy's, Sears, & JCPenney would have you believe, Memorial Day is not a day of "Big Savings," it's a day to remember those who gave their lives in the service of this great country.

Thank you for presenting this thread honoring those who served.

[MeekOneGOP]

I'll keep the law and order, Nic !!

[MeekOneGOP]

I've NEVER bought anything of the Dixie Chimps. And plan on never doing so, either. In fact, they're supposed to have their Dallas concert July 6th. I can't think of a MORE PATRIOTIC time of the year to FReep those FREAKS !!

[dansangel]

Contrary to what Macy's, Sears, & JCPenney would have you believe, Memorial Day is not a day of "Big Savings," it's a day to remember those who gave their lives in the service of this great country.

You are so right, (((((((Diver Dave))))))))

That's why we are home and not out keeping the economy afloat. We can do that any old time!

[dansangel]

I'll keep the law and order, Nic !!

Sheesh, Meekie, when did you become such a "kiss-up?"

LOL! :-)

[MeekOneGOP]

Thank you sir !

[MeekOneGOP]

This soldier signed up TODAY to post this for US ! What a guy, huh ???

If you can, please bump his article on this Memorial Day ! Thanks!!

Thank you

Posted on 05/25/2003 12:31 AM CDT by desertdog

I am a soldier in Iraq. I wanted to say thank you to all of the subscribers for helping with troop morale while we are over here. I would like to give a specail thanks to snippyaboutit for sending me goodies and words of encouragement.

SPC Karl Gray

[Mama_Bear]

Good morning, FReepers, FRiends and Finest Sistahs. I love this site on holidays such as this where we can all come together and truly experience the importance of this day.

Dansy, this is a beautiful Memorial Day tribute you have posted. I also had a POWMIA bracelet. I never knew what happened to my military man, or my husband's, until I searched the Virtual Wall. Thank you so much for that link. What a wonderful site that is.

This is what I found......... The name on my bracelet.......Maj. Richard Ayers.....

RICHARD LEE AYERS was born on February 18, 1933 and joined the Armed Forces while in WATERLOO, IA.

He served as a 1323F in the Air Force, 12 TRS TAN SON NHUT AB, and attained the rank of COL/O6.

RICHARD LEE AYERS is listed as Missing in Action.


My husband's bracelet.......Cdr. Kenneth Cameron.....

KENNETH ROBBINS CAMERON was born on August 9, 1928 and joined the Armed Forces while in BERKELEY, CA.

He served as a 1310 in the Navy, and attained the rank of CAPT/O6.

On May 18, 1967, at the age of 38, KENNETH ROBBINS CAMERON perished in the service of our country in North Vietnam, Nz.