[Billie]

'Morning, Finest FReepers. I wanted to make an announcement about the FReeper Photo Album. Most of you know that our dear FRiend, LBGA, created the album a couple of years ago and has been maintaining it all this time, with the help of FReeper Nick Danger, who hosts the pictures on his server. Recently, LBGA has had a severe setback and is unable to take care of the album for us any longer. Seriously ill, she needs all our prayers, but one of her wishes has been that the Photo Album continue to grow, and she asked two other dear FRiends, Dansangel and .45Man, to take over for her.

A link to the album, and one to .45Man's email address (for sending the photos) will be included in all our threads, beginning with today's. When you contact .45Man, be sure and mention Freeper Photo Album in the subject line so he will know the attachment is okay to download.

To view the Photo Album, click on the graphic below. You might want to bookmark the link - it's kind of fun to put a face to a screenname. :)

To submit your photo, contact danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

[ladtx]

Sorry to hear about LBGA. Prayers on the way.

Since it's Military Monday here's another tribute to some of my fallen comrades, one I knew personally for a very short time.

In memory of my fellow Vietnam helicopter pilots who were killed in that war the following were lost on SEP 22. God bless them all.

1967 MAJ Blackshear M. Bryan Jr. (USA) -- USARV FLT DET, Age 37, Married, Washington, DC
1967 WO1 James T. Donahue Jr. (USAR) -- 188th AHC, Age 22, Single, Des Plaines, Illinois
1969 WO1 Barry K. Alexander (USAR) -- 71st AHC AMERICAL, Age 22, Single, Clemson, South Carolina
1969 WO1 Gary G. Lamb (USAR) -- 336th AHC, Age 21, Married, Beaverton, Oregon
1970 1LT William S. Davis (USMCR) -- HMM-262, Age 24, Married, Alhambra, California
1970 1LT Harold B. Kimbrough (USMCR) -- HMM-262, Age 24, Married, Batesville, Arkansas

In memory of WO1 Gary G. Lamb, 336th Assault Helicopter Company, Gun platoon "Thunderbirds".

One of the "Thunderbirds" as flown by WO1 Lamb.

Accident report detailing the accident that took WO1 Lambs life.

UH-1C 66-15168 was hovering into the gunship rearming area. There was a tailwind - Pilot sitting on left side stated he had run out of aft cyclic. Aircraft got extremely close to another UH-1C that was at flight idle also starting to rearm. Aircraft Commander bottomed pitch to stop aircraft and the main rotor blades of the aircraft (66-15168) struck the main rotor blades of the UH-1C 66-15210. The Aircraft Commander of 66-15210 had unbuckled and was departing his aircraft to supervise rearming as the blades struck causing 66-15210 to lurch up, tail coming right and to roll over on its top right side killing the AC with a fatal head injury. The main transmission mast and rotor system of the hovering aircraft (66-15168) came out and flew approximately ten feet before coming to rest nearly intact. There were no injuries on 66-15168. Both aircraft sustained major damage to main rotor blades, rotor heads, mast, transmission mounts and transmissions. There was no fire. From Army Aircraft Accident Report Check List.

On a personal note, I was in the same unit as WO1 Gary Lamb, he was in our gun platoon, the Thunderbirds. I had only been in country a couple of days when he was killed. I was living on the top floor of a two story barracks we called the "death house" because of it's height and non-sandbagged walls. When the two aircraft collided I was in my room and heard the terrific noise and thought we were under mortar attack. I could hear pieces of the aircraft as they flew past the hooch. A piece of the main rotor blade flew over the hangar, over the "death house", then across the company street and took out the Battalion Commanders air conditioner. Mr. Lamb's death brought home the fact that we were all vulnerable.

SCOUTS OUT!

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Billie.

[dansangel]

Than you dear sistah (((((((Billie))))) for the announcement about the Freeper Photo Album. *Love* the graphic you made for it.

For Military Monday I offer my prayers to Our Lord for His bloodline of protection to be placed around all of our troops. We ask Him to protect them the way that they protect us with their selfless acts. We ask this in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

[The Mayor]

[dansangel]

I posted this on JustAmy's new Poetry Thread and wanted to share it here since it was written for our soldiers:

In Deep

Deep within your eyes,
the chaos of conflict.
Flares of firefights
in endless night darkness.
Fallen enemy, fallen friends.
Mental anguish while life
flashes by on autopilot.
Wind’s sandy kiss on
sunburned flesh.
Hunger aches deep
within your heart.
Reflections of desires
deep within your eyes.
Thousands of miles
distant, yet right here.
I keep you deep
within my eyes.
There you will remain
until you return
my soldier man.

© 2003 dansangel

[FreeTheHostages]

[TheBigB]

I'll have to send my pic in...who's the best at airbrushing? =D

[Aquamarine]

Good Morning to All!

It's so good of Dansangel and Dan to look after the Photo Album now that LBGA is unable to. Will continue to pray for her health.

[ST.LOUIE1]

Good morning, BillieBlue! : )

Thanks fo the info.

And prayers for a lovely lady, LBGA

[Mo1]

Morning Billie ...

[Temple Owl]

Good morning friends. I sincerely pray that my prayers for you will be answered.

[dixie sass]

Good morning and thank you for the heads up!

[dixie sass]

I found our pretty Billie but couldn't find you deadhead. Where are you hiding?

[.45MAN]

Great graphic! Thanks! Just need to find the hat now!!!!

[knighthawk]

Hello! Hope is all well over there!

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Military Monday !!

[Mama_Bear]

Good morning all.

It is wonderful that you are taking over the FReeper Photo Album for LBGA, dan and dansy. Continued prayers are going up for her and her family and friends.

Hugs all around on this beautiful Military Monday.

How are you doing, Cal? I heard the flu grabbed you. Hope you will be up and around and back to your old self real soon.

[LadyX]

Still keeping Lynne in my prayers...may God hold her close to Him - -

[JustAmy]

Prayers still being said for LBGA!!

I will see if I can find a picture.

Billie .... Thank you so very much for keeping the Military before us each week.

[Jen]

Thank you for the ping Billie. Glad to see .45 man and dansangel have stepped forward to continue the FReeper Photo Album while LBGA is ill.