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.
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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

[dansangel]

(((((((shagy eel))))))

Thank-you so much for sending such warm thoughts from "Down Under." Hoping all is well with you!

[shaggy eel]

,,, all is well thanx Dansy. We're into a mild autumn, with low lake levels. A bit of a concern because we're dependent mainly on hydro-electricity. I'll stock up on candles, just in case [LOL].

[dansangel]

Thank-you for the kind thoughts, Nan. Well, it gives us a new and exciting place to visit, if nothing else!

I flew.

Bless your heart, my palms get sweaty just thinking of that. After flying nearly every year throughout the 80's, I haven't stepped foot in a plane since 1991. Don't know why, but I get paralyzed just thinking about it.

Bad news is, if I want to move back to FL, it probably means flying down for an interview or two. Eek!

[dansangel]

We're into a mild autumn, with low lake levels. A bit of a concern because we're dependent mainly on hydro-electricity.

I hope you get some rain, soon. We have been in Georgia for nearly 5 years and all during that time we were in a drought mode. This year, it has rained tremendously - over 10 inches in May alone - and all of the levels are back up. Hope you have the same fortune!

[JulieRNR21]

The keynote speaker at the Memorial Day Parade & Ceremonies we attended today pointed out that almost every generation of Americans has been called upon to protect our liberty and our Homeland.

And that today's volunteer military are waging a battle unlike any before against an often hidden devious enemy that uses terrorism.

The speaker, a Lady Admiral, who had joined the Navy during the Reagan Administration, added that the enemy hates us because of our Freedom. She was very eloquent and quite impressive.

Over 500 people attended, boys & girls scouts, marching bands, a colonial militia and a color guard from a nearby Air Force Base.

Boy Scouts placed red carnations on the Memorials of those who had made the highest sacrifice to insure our liberty. And while their names were read a bell sounded.

That poem captured the feeling of gratitude, sadness and pride I felt today as I thought of all those over our history who have been willing to give their lives that each of us might live free.

[WVNan]

Hi Amy. Here's a memory.

<--Click here

[WVNan]

Wow! All the way from N.Z. Glad to see you shaggy eel.

[WVNan]

No sweat dansy. Just load up on Valium and you won't feel a thing. LOL

[shaggy eel]

,,, thank you!

[dansangel]

Bless you for sharing that with us, Julie. As Diver Dave stated up above, today is not about sales at the local Malls and chain stores. It is *all* about those that have given so much for our freedom.

We need to keep these feelings of gratitude alive during the rest of the year.

[dansangel]

No sweat dansy. Just load up on Valium and you won't feel a thing. LOL

I thought of that...but if I fly in and out the same day, I don't think I'd make a very good impression during an interview smiling a lot and feeling all warm and fuzzy - lol!!!

[dansangel]

You are most welcome. I hope you'll visit us here at the Finest more often! :-)

[shaggy eel]

,,, I look in on "the Finest" but don't often comment. Memorial Day for you is what ANZAC Day is for Australia and New Zealand. I've been greatly touched by the recognition by some FReepers on April 25 of our day of Rememberance, so I wasn't going to miss out on letting you know that your guys who were down in the Pacific during WWII are often mentioned here in NZ.

I live 50km north of Wellington City on the Kapiti Coast. At a small seaside settlement called Paekakariki, there's a reserve called Queen Elizabeth Park. During WWII that was a major campsite for US Marines. While they were here they built a hospital in a suburb called Silverstream and they built an airport that's still used for mainly recreational purposes - gliding, flight training, vintage aircraft etc. Some of these guys took brides back to the US, some didn't and today we remember those who never made it home. Thank you to them for all they did.

Lest we forget.

[jwfiv]

Thinking on you and your friend, his loss and our great quandry, this Mystery called Life.

Glad you let us know, thank you.

[dansangel]

Thank-you for the history lesson, shaggy eel. Your country is one that I would love to one day visit. The people seem to be so friendly and your countryside is, from what I've seen in photos, just beautiful. Friends of ours visited last year and haven't stopped raving about what a wonderful trip it was.

Mama_Bear is planning to visit Down Under beginning this coming Wednesday. I wonder if her tour includes New Zealand? I envy her!

[TexasCowboy]

Oh, dear Lord, Amy!
That is a beautiful picture!
My eyes got washed a little.....

[shaggy eel]

,,, let me know when you're coming down here and we'll show you around. It's a very small country and there's a lot crammed into it. You're always welcome.

[JustAmy]

Hi Nan

Thank you for posting the Civil War Headstone. If I knew where to find it, I have a picture of my greatgreatgrandfather's headstone. He was a confederate soldier. He is buried in Texas. (heard a rumor that he may have just left and gone home after a few years).Guess he got tired of war.
If we took the time to do the research, we would find so many ancestors who helped to insure our Freedoms.
My GGGGGrandfather died during the Revolution. I have very little info on him. Someday, I'm going to visit VA and NC to see what additional info I may be able to find.

[Pippin]

Howdy all!

I just came back from taking a little break from my computer. Also I had to get ready for work, UHG!

But I remember and thank all those who died giving me the freedom to work and to live were I want to.

Dansy, I was lurking and the posts I read brought tears, Everyone had such moving things to post and I could feel the pride in all who spoke of family mwmbers and friends who have served and given the last full measure of thier devotion.

Nan, My great-great gransfather on my dad's side fought in the Civil War to, he was in a Union company from North Carolina. He died in Tennessee but since he was exicuted (murdered) by Confederate soldiers and dumped in an unmarked grave, he was never found. I saw a picture of him as well as other members of my dad's family. I was surprised to find out that they were Union sympathizers. The area they lived in in North Carolina and Tennessee were heavily Unoin supporters. That's the fun thing about Geneaology, you learn things about history that the text books won't tell you. I ll have to find a way of getting that photograph I spoke of posted here.

[JustAmy]

Thanks Nan .... I haven't heard that for a very long time.