A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....08-18-03....Military Monday

Billie

[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.

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.




                     

THE WEEKEND THREAD 08-16,17-03 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

[dutchess]

You have freepmail

[MeekOneGOP]

Hmmmm ?? Strange. Dutchess told me the same thing earlier.
I can see it fine. I'm really confused.
Here is the URL, can you see it this way ? ...

http://mrgrumman.home.comcast.net/TexasTrialLiarsAssoc.JPG

I you can't, do you have any ideas why I can see the pic
and the URL and ya'll can't ?? :O(

[JustAmy]

Hi Meekie ....
I can see the picture you posted and can also view it thru this URL. Not sure why others can't.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thank you, Amy ! I thought I was going nuts for a bit there.

Well, actually I still could be I guess, lol ! Thanks !!

[LadyX]

REALITY CHECK for Meekie - -

Graphic Displayed Fine - Link Worked Fine !!

One of Life's Big Mysteries..:))

(I have Internet Explorer - Windows XP)

[JustAmy]

"(I have Internet Explorer - Windows XP)"

Dittos!

[Dubya]

Retired Combat Cameraman Calls Photographing Three Wars 'A Beautiful Job'
By Rudi Williams
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2002 – Being a combat photographer in three wars was "a beautiful job," said Peter Ruplenas. "It was dangerous as all hell, but we were too busy to be scared."

Ruplenas started honing his photography skills with 8th Army Air Corps during World War II. In September 1950, he photographed the Inchon landing and didn't leave the Korean War zone until May 1951. After assignments at several posts in the years that followed, he became a combat cameraman with the Department of the Army's special photo office from 1966 to 1968.

A special photo team from that office did 90-day temporary duty assignments in Vietnam, he noted. "I was 48 years old – the old man, except for the colonel, who was older than me," said Ruplenas.

The 84-year-old survivor of three wars was in Washington July 27 for the Defense Department's recognition of the 50th anniversary of the armistice that brought about a cease-fire to the Korean War. He also witnessed the dedication and unveiling of a U.S. postage stamp honoring the Korean War Veterans Memorial and those who fought and died in the "forgotten war."

"I just came to see if I could find any old friends," said Ruplenas, a resident of Gerrardstown, W.Va. "I found many of them who were in the same outfit with me. I didn't know them and they didn't know me, but it was like a reunion to see guys that went through such a helluva war together.

"I was living in Florida when the memorial was dedicated in 1995 and didn't make the trip here for the ceremony," he noted. "But I read articles about it and said, 'It's about time.'"

Ruplenas said he resents the fact that some young Americans are growing up unaware of what happened in Korea. "They don't realize that if it wasn't for the Americans and all the other allies, Korea would be strictly communist now and maybe Japan might have been hit," said the aging combat veteran.

Ruplenas joined the Army about six months before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and retired as a sergeant first class in 1970.

After the war started, Ruplenas' outfit moved to Dover, Del., and then to Miami, where they flew on B-18 bombers on anti-sub patrol. They trained on B-24 bombers at Davis- Monthan Field, near Tucson, Ariz., before flying to England around April 1944 to hook up with the 8th Army Air Corps.

Ruplenas recounted how he got his Purple Heart in Korea. He said that one day, while taking pictures with a buddy, he saw three infantrymen pinned down behind a rice paddy dike by enemy fire. "So we ran up and started talking to them and one of the guys said the enemy was up there, but we can't see where he was," Ruplenas said.

"So being stupid, I told my buddy to mind the cameras. I used to run track and field, long distance, so I zigzagged about 50 yards and ducked down in the rice paddy. I put both hands up in the air, raised my head and looked left to right, and they shot at me. I ducked down and crawled a few feet, the other way. The last time I was up, my right hand was slow coming down, so I got hit right in the palm.

"I was trying to find out where that S.O.B was so the infantry could shoot mortars or some heavy firepower at him," Ruplenas said.

[Dubya]

High resolution photo.

[Dubya]

Service Members Urged to Attend to Legal Affairs Long Before Deployment
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2003 – American service members have deployed to locales across the globe for months at a time since the advent of the war against global terrorism.

Therefore, it's important military members vigilantly ensure a constant state of legal readiness, Capt. Brian K. Keller, a Marine Corps lawyer, asserted during an interview with American Forces Press Service.

Keller is the officer in charge of the Marine legal assistance office at Henderson Hall, Va. He maintained that service members should "take some time," long before a deployment becomes a possibility, to consult a military attorney for evaluation of their legal readiness, including the usual suspects -- wills and powers of attorney -– but also the laundry list of other issues.

Military legal assistance attorneys can help service members complete that list, but once deployment comes into view, Keller noted, it often is too late to attend to the myriad of appointments, paperwork and actions needed to ensure legal readiness.

The military provides free legal assistance to service members and their dependents, Keller pointed out. Legal assistance attorneys handle traditional transactions like arranging wills and powers of attorney. They can also counsel service members on a wide range of topics, including insurance matters, consumer and civil law issues, court hearings and child-support obligations.

Powers of attorney, Keller noted, are powerful legal documents that authorize a designated representative to conduct specific transactions in the name of the absentee.

Yet, a general power of attorney without limits, he cautioned, may give holders "unlimited powers to do whatever they wanted to with your assets."

Depending on the situation, authorizing general powers of attorney can "be a terrible thing to do," Keller pointed out. Instances of misuse of powers of attorney, he noted, have been known to occur during and after deployments. Therefore, he recommended that powers of attorney should be limited "to about a one-year time span," and should be given sparingly and only to trustworthy and financially responsible individuals.

When deployed overseas, Keller noted that service members would find it's difficult to revoke powers of attorney. To effectively revoke powers of attorney, he explained, "You not only have to give the revocation to the holder," but also to anyone that may rely on the power of attorney such as businesses, banks or mortgage lenders.

To mitigate possible misuse of powers of attorney, Keller said it's a good idea "to have a special power of attorney that's limited to a certain amount of time" and that spells out exactly what the holder is authorized to do.

For example, he noted, powers of attorney can be written to only authorize the issuance of checks in specific amounts and to pay specific bills.

A will, Keller noted, is another important legal document that service members should periodically review and update as needed, typically due to circumstances such as new members to the family, divorce, changes in assets and other factors.

Divorced or separated service members with child support payments or other financial obligations should ensure that such monies continue to be provided to the appropriate agency or person, to include during periods of deployment, he added.

If child support obligations will become exceedingly financially burdensome or impossible to meet during deployment, service members must request a decrease of the court-ordered amount well before deployment, Keller pointed out. Waiting too long, he noted, may waive any possibility of a decrease.

All in all, keeping up with legal affairs – especially before being deployed – benefits both individual service members and military readiness, Keller emphasized.

Service members with their legal affairs in disarray and hard pressed to effectively tackle those problems often become overwhelmed and consequently "can't do their jobs appropriately," Keller noted.

And in the long run "they'll incur more financial damage," Keller pointed out, "if they don't set up preventative (legal) measures beforehand."

The need for service members to attend to legal readiness issues is no less important than carrying the proper homeowner's or automobile insurance policies, Keller said.

Because "there's no way the military can verify each service member's legal readiness," he pointed out, "the onus of (legal) preparedness" falls on the individual (service member) and his or her family.

[LadyX]

Wonderful photograph, Dubya. Thank you for the link!

What a lifetime he has had.....

[Dubya]

He is really something. God bless him.

[Calpernia]

[Calpernia]

Welcome home! How is your father? That was wonderful how you guys gave him tasks to focus on, ie., driving the boat and 'fixing' stuff.

Hope you had a lot of relaxation too.

Look forward to being questioned by Gizmo.

[Calpernia]

Hiya Billie!

(Shhh about blackout! So far so good)

[WVNan]

Haven't been able to catch up with you today dear Sistah, so I'll leave this for you.

<---Click

[lonestar]

Is that bird dancing?

Weinie

[LadyX]

Beautiful rendition, Nan!

Whadareya tryin' to do - tell everyone I am guilty of Sistah Neglect?!!
We just traded 143 notes!
LOLOL

Long day, and time to work my way to bed...

Night, All - -

[Calpernia]

You up for some dancing weinie??

[MeekOneGOP]

Thank you ! On that note, I'm going to call it a night.

G'night, LadyX ! G'night all !

[Billie]

Hey, Billie. Well, a bit crude but the best I could do with MS Paint and then PhotoDeluxe ...

<IMG height=100 src="http:// mrgrumman.home.comcast.net/TexasTrialLiarsAssoc.JPG" width=368>

Mystery solved, guys. :) The graphic in post #8 opened fine - it was the original and had Trial LAWYERS in it - the graphic in post #21 did NOT open because there was a space after the // and before mrgrumman.home.comcast.net in the img src command, thus making the command void as there was no url styled that way. The later link worked fine, because it was typed correctly. The image in Post #21 had the name Lawyers changed to Liars, which I could see when I right-clicked for properties, and saw the error.