A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....07-22-03....A Few MORE of FR's Finest

Billie

[Billie]

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, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

Please join me as we salute Group 12 of a Few of FR's Finest Military. Some are serving now, some are veterans, some are no longer with us, but all are deserving of our thanks and appreciation.

Top: Mo1's dad; BuffyT's Uncle (right, w/ her dad & grandmother); Armymarinemom's 3 sons.
Middle: ru4Liberty's dad; SheLion's husband, MaineRebel; wirestripper.
Bottom: fivetoes; bigghurtt; hurricane; ladtx' dad; Pippin's brother.

Mo1's dad never liked to talk about his time in the war, but she does know he served with the Army in the 69th Infantry Division in WW II.

BuffyT's uncle, Richard H. Thoos, is still MIA from WWII; his B-17 was shot down over France. The photo below is the crew in front of their flying fortress. Uncle Richard is in the second row, second from left. Another B-17 was nearby when his was shot down. They saw the crew parachuting to safety, but Richard was never found, either dead or alive.

Armymarinemom has much to be proud of, with three sons actively serving in the U.S. Army and U.S.M.C. The photo above with two of her sons is about six years old, and several ranks behind. She is hoping they will all be home for Christmas, so she can have a new formal photo of all three.

Ru4Liberty's father was in the U.S. Army in WWII. The photo was taken at Ft. Crockett in Galveston, Texas.

SheLion's husband, FReeper MaineRebel, passed away last year. He was Active Duty Military for a total of 26 years. He was in the U.S. Army from 1964 - 1968, serving in VietNam from June '66 until July '67 (6BN 27th Artillary). He received two Purple Hearts for injuries sustained while serving in Viet Nam. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1970 and retired in 1992.

Wirestripper enlisted in the Army in November, 1969, on a 3-year commitment. After extensive training in Ft. Belvoir Virginia regarding a new mobile assault bridge that the Army developed for armored units, he landed in West Germany in the fall of 1970. He remained there until his enlistment was up in the fall of 1972. Wirestripper was a proficient marksman, and spent about a year and a half on the 3rd Armored Division Marksmanship team, shooting in National Match Competitions throughout Europe.

Fivetoes joined the US Marine Corps a week after graduation from high school in 1970. He left active duty as a sargeant in 1973, In his words.."One thing that I do not remember is being debriefed when I left the active service of the United States Marine Corps. I took an oath upon entering the service to defend the Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic. I believe that anyone who has taken that oath still has an obligation to live up to it."

Bigghurtt has been in the U.S. Army for the last 5 years, and will soon enter the special forces...he is currently stationed at Ft. Detrick, MD, and has served at Ft. Knox, Ft. Gordon, and in the Republic of Korea.

Hurricane enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1951. He advanced from E-1 to E-7 and then was commissioned in the Warrant Officer Program, where he rose through the ranks to CWO 4 in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps (Seabees). He stayed in the Reserve and retired in 1986. Hurricane's photo is circa 1982.

LadTX' father was in the U.S. Navy, WWII. A military family, Ladtx served in Vietnam, and two of his sons are currently Active Duty.

Pippin's brother served in the U.S.M.C. Pippin is one of our frequent guest writers, and we know how proud she is of her brother.

Today we salute you, one more group of FR's Finest! On Monday, your group will be added to our regular Military Monday tributes. Thank you for serving!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 07-21-03 Military Monday

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

[Billie]

Over here we got a heatwave (still). My brains are frying out.

Hi, knighthawk. You take care of that brain - we can't have it frying. Drink lots of icewater! :)

[dansangel]

Abundant (((((((((((HUGS)))))))))) to all of my Finest Sistahs and to my exceptionally handsome fuzzy brothah:

[[[[[{{{{{(((((Louie_Wolfie_Man)))))}}}}}]]]]]

:-)

Back to training for me....

[Calpernia]

Gooooooood Morning Finest!

click the plane

[Billie]

G'morning! Thank you, ladtx. You and your family are spread around in several of our groups now, I believe. :)

Really appreciate reading the email from Jeff yesterday - it just makes us feel closer to them (all of the men and women who are still there). Hope the rest of your family is doing well - Leila getting excited about a new baby brother or sister?

[Billie]

Especially during these tough times when the democrats are using our men in uniform to harm President Bush.

They are doing that, for sure. Anything, everything, whatever it takes to try and discredit the President. (It's not working, but they keep trying!)

Did you get John's essay in your mail this morning? (or last night) I'll forward to you, if not. ;)

[Billie]

Morning, Sistah Dansy!

My heart swells up with pride whenever I see these wonderful people who have served and are still serving our country.

I know - mine, too. :)

[ladtx]

She knows a new sister is on the way and is really excited about it. She'll be a big help to her Mom. I'll have to post the latest picture of her, she's growing too fast.

[Billie]

Morning, Cal! Thank goodness for 727's! Wonder what the Wright Brothers would think of our 'flying machines' now!

(IconBazaar is stingy with their graphics, but we can copy and paste to see the plane) Cute!

[Billie]

Another little girl! Bet she'll be every bit as pretty as Leila Kay!

[ladtx]

If she takes after her mother and her sister she will be. Here's the latest picture of Leila Kay, a real ham.

[dutchess]

Goodmorning Billie. Loved the way you did the presentation today...especially giving us some background on each of the people. And, as always, the graphics are BEAUTIFUL! Have a great day sistah!

[Calpernia]

You can't see the graphic? (Oh no...not his again!)

Cause it is still showing on my end. Red x syndrome?

[Calpernia]

What a sweetie!!!!

[Calpernia]

My daughter was 'little mom' to her brothers when they were babies. They were 'her' live dolls. It was precious!

Now....she'll knock them upside her head.

[dutchess]

Hi ladtx...what a sweet picture of Leila. No wonder your such a proud grandpa.

Continued prayers for Jeff and all our deployed military men and women. BTW...if you don't mind me asking...what's your take on Liberia??? I just don't know enough to form an opinion, and maybe it's my "tin hat" showing....but considering whose pushing us to go in...I can't help but be a little suspect...

[dutchess]

Hi Cal...will be freepmailing you sometime tonight about a possible visit from "the Giz" :o)

[Calpernia]

'her' = their

[dutchess]

You must be a very proud mama. What goodlooking boys. I'm sure it will be wonderful to think that you might have them all at home this Christmas!

[dutchess]

Have to leave for a meeting but will stop back in later. Have a wonderful day all!

Aqua. Thanks for the pictures...keep them coming!

[ladtx]

I really haven't formed an opinion about Liberia yet. The only thing that I have formed an opinion about is that sending in 41 Marines isn't enough. Either go all the way or stay home. I believe that if anyplace may become a quagmire, Liberia is it. Right now I don't know if we need to be there or not. They are not a threat to national security, so I would have a tendency to let the U.N. handle it without us.