USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Pancakes on Wednesday ~ 30 July 2003

Canteen FRiends ~ Radix

[Kathy in Alaska]

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you
The love of God enfold you
The power of God protect you
The presence of God watch over you
Wherever you are,God is,
And all is well.
Amen.

Bless This House

Bless this house O Lord we pray;
Make it safe by night and day;
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
Keeping want and trouble out:
Bless the roof and chimneys tall,
Let thy peace lie over all;
Bless this door, that it may prove
ever open to joy and love.


Bless these windows shining bright,
Letting in God's heav'nly light;
Bless the hearth a'blazing there,
with smoke ascending like a prayer;
Bless the folk who dwell within,
keep them pure and free from sin;
Bless us all that we may be
Fit O Lord to dwell with thee;
Bless us all that one day we
May dwell O Lord with thee.

(Click on praying hands above, or on banner at the top to hear the music)

[MoJo2001]

Good morning, minor! It's great to see you!! I hope you have a wonderful day!

[MoJo2001]

Thank you for the history, Valin!

[MoJo2001]

God Bless you and your family! Thank you for the service and sacrifice that your family gives on behalf of America. Prayers sent for their safe return.

[MoJo2001]

Good morning, Diva! Nobody loved Bentfeather more than Barry. That's for sure!! *HUGS*

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, E! The street is just barely wet this am, so there must have been a smattering of rain last night. Fairbanks, 375 miles north, has had flooding from so much rain. GRRRRRR! I hope the heat isn't getting you.

[HiJinx]

Good Morning, Canteeners! Today's virtual tour of Arizona gives the boys in blue among us, those glorious young men and their flying machines, a chance to see what is for many of them familiar territory - the Barry M. Goldwater Range.

The Barry M. Goldwater Range is operated by the 56th Fighter Wing Range Management Office, Airspace and Range Operations office. The Barry M. Goldwater Range (formerly the Luke Air Force Range) is located in southwest Arizona. It serves the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Marine Corps as an armament and high-hazard testing area and a training area for aerial gunnery, rocketry, electronic warfare, and tactical maneuvering and air support. The Goldwater Range has generally served these and similar purposes since 1941, when it was established to train U.S. Army Air Corps pilots for World War II. Changing capabilities have been significant: military aircraft in World War II could shoot down enemy aircraft from a distance of about 600 feet, while today's aircraft can engage and shoot down an enemy from as far as 25 miles.

About 95% of all fighter pilots in the Persian Gulf war trained on the BMGR. Notably, 50 percent of the F-16, most of the F-15, 100 percent of the F-15E, and 100 percent of the A/OA-10 aircrews that fought in the Gulf War were trained on the BMGR as students. Most of the F/A-18 and AV-8B aircrews from the Navy and Marine Corps were also trained on the BMGR.

The Devil's Road as it exists today

In 1849 through the 1850s the Mexican travelers bestowed the name "El Camino del Diablo" on the route. Hundreds or perhaps thousands traveled the Camino during these years in search of gold and new lives in California. Some historians estimate that 400 people died of thirst during this era. At one time, at least 50 graves from the period could be identified at Tinajas Altas. Others, often marked by stones and crosses, are still scattered along the route. Although travelers along the Camino were less susceptible to Apache raids than travelers on more northerly routes, this was a dangerous period even along the Camino. Apaches, Mexican bandits, and Hia C'ed O'odham all raided travelers and made movement along the Camino an even riskier business than it already was.

A WW II-era AT-6 gunnery pass at a towed target

World War II exploded Phoenix into a military encampment. The mild climate and vast tracts of uninhabited and undeveloped lands were tailor-made for many types of military training. Almost overnight, Phoenix became a center for military activities and the agricultural and resort town of 65,000 residents shuddered under the onslaught of tens of thousands of soldiers sent to Arizona for training.

In addition to the soldiers stationed at desert training camps, thousands of fliers trained in the clear, desert skies of central and southern Arizona. Private contract flying schools began primary flight training at Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport in 1939, Thunderbird Field in Glendale in 1940, Falcon Field in Mesa in 1941, and Thunderbird Field II north of Scottsdale in 1942. The Army Air Force contracted with Del Webb to build Luke Field in 1941, and Williams Field in 1942.

Desert Storm required training in mountainous/desert terrain ~ BMGR was the ideal site.

Every year, an estimated 45,000 pilots from all the bases use the range for bombing and aerial gunnery practice. Those bases include Luke Air Force Base west of Glendale; Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson; the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma; Silverbell Army Heliport in Phoenix; North Island Naval Air Facility in San Diego; Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego; Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, Calif.; and El Centro (Calif.) Naval Air Facility.

[SouthernHawk]

Good Morning Mojo! May your day be bright and beautiful!

(The mail box is still empty!)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning Troops, families, veterans, Israeli, British, Australian, Polish, and Italian allies (and everybody else). Thank you for taking such good care of the USA.

Today in Anchorage, Alaska:

Sunrise 5:25am
Sunset 10:45pm

Hi 63°F
Lo 51°F

Rain, then a few showers Right, and I should believe you today?

Actual yesterday in Anchorage:

Hi 67°F
Lo 52°F

State Hi 73°F Annette
State Lo 34°F Barrow

[SouthernHawk]

Good Morning Kathy! Wishing you a wonderful day!

How much rain did you get? How's that new system?

[MoJo2001]

Wow! You get your mail early!! I have to wait until 3 to get mine. UGH! Well, it will be there because I insured that baby. So? If they lose it, the USPS will be dishing moolah to Mojo. LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Gotta go in early to finish checks. Be back shortly.

[MoJo2001]

Good morning, Jinxie!! Wow! Beautiful scenery pictures everyday. That's absolutely awesome!

[SouthernHawk]

Your right about her being busy. Maybe she can fly by this evening.

[MoJo2001]

Well, please let her know that we miss her!! If she's busy, I can certainly understand. We just miss our LadyHawk. That's all!!

[MoJo2001]

I'll be back later!! I've gotta get a few things done before it hits noon!! LOL! *HUGS* Be good everyone! You know I will be. Hehehe!

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Wednesday !!

82 degrees as I post this, headin' for around 98 today. Possible Thunderstorms . . .

Have a cup while you FReep !

For those who prefer hot chocolate.....

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, MoJo. How are things?

The heat hasn't been too unbearable today. It's cloudy and there some rain moving this way. So it's good deal.:-D

[SouthernHawk]

I will do what I can to get to swing through!

[MoJo2001]

Okay!