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A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....06-23-03....Military Monday
Billie

Posted on 06/23/2003 7:12:32 AM PDT by Billie




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.   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 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 could no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I had been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.
Still that didn'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 we've created a place for just that. This is a friendly room in JimRob's house where FReeper FRiends can gather every day and just say hello if that's all they want to do.
There's more of course. We sometimes feature different FReepers, with a little background information on who they are and what makes them who they are, along with a few photos you might not have seen on other threads; sometimes others write an essay for us to post as the feature for the day; sometimes our presentation is a human interest story found elsewhere that you might not have read; sometimes special holiday threads; but whatever the topic of the day, it is always with FR's Finest in mind and that is YOU!
If you would like to be featured, or would like to see someone else featured, please send me a private FR mail.
Every Monday we will post the photos of FR's Military Personnel that I have collected and put into groups; these will be available to view through a link the remainder of the week - every day just a click away. :)   If you would like to add a photo of yourself or a loved one in the military, past or present, please let me know; I will hold it until I have enough for a new group.
Thank you, and please have fun with us...every day! ~ Billie

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

Thank You For Serving Our Country!

TOP: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete
MIDDLE:  T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
BOTTOM:  YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1



TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet
MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga
BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc



TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette
MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid
BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf



TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP
MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian
BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma



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



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.



TOP: dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7, AlasBabylon.
BOTTOM:  Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad, Aomagrat.



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.





                     








THE WEEKEND THREAD

06-21,22-03 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 a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: freepers; fun; michaeldobbs; military; patriotic; surprises; veterans
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To: LadyX
built-in scrub board

ROFL! WASH AND WEAR! <|:)~

121 posted on 06/23/2003 1:39:29 PM PDT by martin_fierro (A v v n c v l v s M a x i m v s)
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To: martin_fierro
I multitask effectively...:))
122 posted on 06/23/2003 1:46:52 PM PDT by LadyX (( Praising Him every day - - ))
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To: jwfiv

GRRRRRRRREAT!


123 posted on 06/23/2003 2:58:53 PM PDT by Pippin ( Bush in '04)
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To: martin_fierro
WELL!

So you won't miss my posts any more I'm gonna have to type

BIGGER!

LOL!

124 posted on 06/23/2003 3:00:29 PM PDT by Pippin ( Bush in '04)
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To: LadyX
Hmmm!

Just like Maryland, it's 94 degrees right now, UGH!

125 posted on 06/23/2003 3:01:57 PM PDT by Pippin ( Bush in '04)
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To: All
JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
A. Lawrence Vaincourt

He was getting old and paunchy an his hair was falling fast;
And he sat around the Legion telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies, they were heroes, everyone.


And tho' sometimes to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer, for old Bill has passed away;
And the world's a little poorer, for a Soldier died today.

He'll not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite, uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
And thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Newspapers tell their life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a simple Soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land,
A person who breaks promises and cons his fellow man;
Or the ordinary fellow, who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country and offers up his life?

It's so easy to forget them, for it was so long ago,
That the "Old Bills" of our country went to battle, but we know.
It was not the politicians, with their compromises and ploys
Who won for us the freedom that our country now enjoys.

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the Soldier's part,
Is to clean up all the troubles that others often start.

If we can not give him honor, while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage, at the ending of his days.
Perhaps a simple notice in a paper that would say,
Our Country is in mourning, "cause a Soldier passed away".
126 posted on 06/23/2003 3:48:09 PM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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To: All
Origin of the Nickname "Leathernecks" for the Marines
It is questionable whether the origin of the term "Leatherneck" can be accepted as a legitimate member of the family of legends. More like a tradition, it is. For there can be no doubt of the origin, considering that U. S. Marines of three generations wore leather collars. It is as obvious as the nickname "Red" for a recruit with carrot-colored hair and freckles.

Now accepted by Webster as a synonym for Marine, the term "Leatherneck" was derived from a leather stock once worn around the neck by both American and British Marines--and soldiers also. Beginning in 1798, "one stock of black leather and clasp" was issued to each U. S. Marine annually.

This stiff leather collar, fastened by two buckles at the back, measured nearly three and a half inches high, and it prevented the neck movement necessary for sighting along a barrel. It supposedly improved military bearing, by forcing the chin high, although General George F. Elliott, recalling its use after the Civil War, said it made the wearers appear "like geese looking for rain."

The stock was dropped as an article of Marine uniform in 1872, after surviving through the uniform changes of 1833, 1839, and 1859. But by then it was a part of American vocabulary, a word preserved, like so many words, beyond its original meaning.

127 posted on 06/23/2003 4:01:34 PM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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To: Pippin
Thanks, Pippin. I think he was always a little embarrassed about his good looks. All my girlfriends had a crush on him!
128 posted on 06/23/2003 4:35:25 PM PDT by ru4liberty (I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow. May His Name ever be praised!)
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To: Aquamarine
You're my new best friend! :-)
129 posted on 06/23/2003 4:39:06 PM PDT by ru4liberty (I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow. May His Name ever be praised!)
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To: Dubya; LadyX; TexasCowboy
Well now, leatherneck. From all the jarheads I've ever met, none of 'em need any artificial doodads to hold their heads high and proud for the service they give and gave to this great country.

Salute, Marine!

I'll run this story past me brudder next month when I see him. :)

130 posted on 06/23/2003 4:43:32 PM PDT by Diver Dave
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To: ru4liberty
I can believe that! :O)
131 posted on 06/23/2003 4:51:17 PM PDT by Pippin ( Bush in '04)
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To: Diver Dave
Thanks Dave.
132 posted on 06/23/2003 4:58:43 PM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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To: LadyX; All
The best show in Washington D.C....
133 posted on 06/23/2003 5:04:02 PM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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To: All
"It's God's job to forgive Osama bin Laden. It is the Marine Corp's job to arrange a face to face meeting."

"Why does the Iraqi navy have glass bottom boats? So they can see their Air Force."

"Why is it twice as easy to train Iraqi Pilots? All you have to do is teach them to takeoff
134 posted on 06/23/2003 5:07:42 PM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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To: All
WAR IN THE PACIFIC

Wake Island, US Navy presence in the Pacific Theater, The invasion of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Iwo Jima

WAKE ISLAND

#Much has been written about the Marine Corps in various Central Pacific actions. There were some desperate actions in which both officers and enlisted Marines performed what appears to have been superhuman feats. The first of these confrontations with the Japanese occurred at Wake Island.

The initial Japanese invasion force consisted of three cruisers, six destroyers, and four transports with 450 special navy troops, commanded by Radm Sadamichi Kajioka.

Four hundred and forty nine Marines, under Major James Devereux held the formidable task of protecting the island. The most important weapons Devereux had was three 5-inch gun batteries.

At daybreak on 11 Dec 1941 Kajioka's force was about four miles off Wake Island following a northerly course when it turned for a run parallel to the south shore of the island and shelled the installation for 45 minutes. Major Devereux's plan was to draw the Japanese fleet in closer to be in range for his 5-inch gun batteries. "Don't fire until you can see the whites of their eyes" Major Devereux was quoted as saying moments before the cruiser Yubari was hit by two direct hits near the waterline by battery A at Peacock Point at a range of 5500 yds. The damage forced the cruiser to retire. At about the same time the destroyer Hayate closed to within 4000 yards. It was caught broadside by a salvo from the two guns of battery L and blew up.

Major Paul Pitman, commander of air detachment VMF-211, sent his four remaining F4F wildcat fighters after the retreating task force. They scored hits on the two light cruisers, Tenyru and Tatsuta. The most devastating blow was delivered by Captain Elrod, whose 100-pound bomb landed on extra depth charges being carried by the destroyer Kisaragi. The entire crew was lost when the destroyer blew up. Kajioka lost two destroyers and 700 Japanese were killed by gunfire or drowned.

The second landing attempt on 23 Dec brought heavy cruisers, more destroyers, and most importantly, two carriers. Also the task force carried 2000 special landing force troops-the Japanese Marines.

Although Japanese forces were eventually able to secure the island it wasn't without heavy losses. Japanese lost more than 1500 dead in the two landings on Wake. American losses mounted to 49 Marines, 3 sailors, and 70 civilians killed in action. Four hundred and seventy officers and enlisted men surrendered on 23 Dec 1941.

135 posted on 06/23/2003 5:13:15 PM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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To: All
Codebreakers lead US Navy to Midway

"A good navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guaranty of peace." Theodore Roosevelt

* When the Japanese strike force departed Hitokappu Bay in the Kuril Islands north of Japan on Nov 26, the US Navy received secret information that the Jap fleet was out to sea. According to Navy Secretary Frank Knox, all indications were that the strike force was heading south toward Malaya and the Dutch East Indies. However, London received information from British recon that the Japanese fleet was possibly sailing east, but did not inform Washington.

After Pearl Harbor a retaliatory attack on Japan was conceived in desperation. President Franklin Roosevelt felt an airstrike against Japan was the best way to bolster American morale. The only realistic option was to attack Japan with Navy carrier-based planes, except that their striking range was too short to return to their carriers. No carrier would chance getting closer than 200 miles as they would be at risk of being attacked by land-based Japanese bombers.

On January 10 1942 a plan was devised to attack Tokyo using modified B-25's loaded onto carriers by crane. After taking off the shortened deck of the carrier proceeding to their target, and after dropping their bombs, they were to attempt to fly to China and land. Fifteen planes crashed, and one landed in Siberia. Eight pilots were captured by the Japanese.

On April 18th the 16 B-25 bombers under the command Of Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle took off from the USS Hornet at a distance of 770 miles(about 220 miles further away than expected due to bad weather) flying low to avoid Japanese radar and struck Tokyo at 12:15pm. Although the attack caused minimal damage, the Japanese were shocked and angered that they failed to defend the homeland of the Emperor.

To retaliate for the raid on their sacred capitol, the outraged Japanese military leaders ordered troops to scour the areas in China where the B-25's crash landed. Any villages found to have aided the Americans were pillaged and torched. An estimated 250,000 Chinese died during these raids.

All eight American flyers were sentenced to death. Three were tortured to death. One died of starvation. Four were commuted to life sentences and were liberated from Chinese prisons in August, 1945.

Even though the planes couldn't land successfully in China and damage to Tokyo was minimal, the mission was a success and a morale booster for all Americans.

Through the efforts of US code breakers, Code name "Magic", Admiral Chester Nimitz was able to decipher Japanese Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto's plans to invade Port Moresby, New Guinea. The ensuing Battle of the Coral Sea in early May, 1942, although not a decisive victory by the US Navy, forced the Japanese assault force to turn back.

Yamamoto also had his eyes set on Midway Island 1100 miles northwest of Pearl Harbor. Nimitz using his most valuable asset, the code breakers learned of the Japanese plans and secretly sent three carriers into battle on June 4th. The Japanese, expecting the American carriers to still be at Pearl Harbor, were caught off guard. Yamamoto failed to ensure that the American carriers were indeed still at Pearl Harbor. Yamamoto also lost three carriers at the Battle of the Coral Sea which were intended to join the Midway Task Force. The result of the carrier vs. carrier battle was a lopsided victory for the US Navy as they sunk all four fleet carriers while losing the USS Yorktown.

The Midway victory turned the tide of naval confrontations in favor of the US Navy, and allowed US naval forces to begin offensive operations in the Pacific.

136 posted on 06/23/2003 5:25:12 PM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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To: Dubya; Diver Dave; jwfiv; martin_fierro
Thank you so much for that link, Dubya.

Dave, you are so right about the pride that alters one's bearing in the Marine Corps. I believe you knew I once headed a Women Marine's Silent Drill Team of eight when I was at Parris Island.

The male Drill Instructor for my Basic Training formed it after I became Permanent Party Personnel in S3, and took us to Savannah and Charleston to perform at the USO's.

Amazing, that when you step on that stage, nothing else exists except the drill and tempo, so focused and geared to the task.
I really enjoyed performaning.

137 posted on 06/23/2003 5:30:51 PM PDT by LadyX (( Praising Him every day - - ))
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To: All

Located on historic Charleston Harbor,
Patriots Point is home to USS YORKTOWN (CV-10), the Fighting Lady.
The first USS YORKTOWN (CV-5) sank at the battle of Midway on June 7, 1942.
Onboard the decks of this famous World War II aircraft carrier, you can relive a momentous time in America's history.
The Fighting Lady contains all the evidence of her past;
one can see, touch, feel and smell the past, where young Americans fought and died to turn the fortunes of war in the Pacific.

138 posted on 06/23/2003 5:33:25 PM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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To: Dubya
WOW! I love that graphic...where do you find those?
139 posted on 06/23/2003 5:49:37 PM PDT by Aquamarine
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To: All

USCGC INGHAM
WHEC-35

The Coast Guard Cutter INGHAM was one of the most decorated vessels in U. S. service, having received 18 ribbons during a career that spanned more than 50 years.

Commissioned in 1936, INGHAM cruised in Alaskan and Pacific waters prior to World War II. During World War II, she participated in 31 convoys including those of the "Bloody Winter" of 1942-43 in the North Atlantic and was credited with the sinking of the Nazi submarine U-626. Read the journal of Ensign Joseph Matte on board INGHAM, while conducting convoy duty in the North Atlantic from 16 February 1942 to 19 April 1943. Well after the war ended, she continued her tradition of valorous service, receiving two Presidential Unit Citations for duty off Vietnam and ending her career with major victories in the "War Against Drugs".

Aboard USCGC INGHAM you can visit exhibits illustrating life aboard a Coast Guard vessel, as well as other historical exhibits and the National Memorial to Coast Guardsmen Lost during World War II and Vietnam.

140 posted on 06/23/2003 5:53:07 PM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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