The FReeper Foxhole Celebrates Veterans Day - November 11th, 2003

various

[snippy_about_it]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


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U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

Our Mission:

The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.

The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer.

If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions.

We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.

To read previous Foxhole threads or
to add the Foxhole to your sidebar,
click on the books below.

Veterans Day



To our veterans - Thank You


Veterans Day

A day set aside to honor our country's living veterans. At the Foxhole honoring veterans is a major part of our mission.

Whereas we will not forget those who died or our POW/MIAs, and course those who are currently serving, today we specifically honor those men and women living among us who have served our country in times past, our living veterans.

Especially here at the Foxhole we are blessed to have veterans as part of our Foxhole family both as readers and contributors.


We would like to welcome all our veterans to the Foxhole on this very special day as we attempt to honor you and thank you for your service to our country. Freedom is not free and our debt to you and those gone before you can never fully be paid. May God richly bless you all. Welcome home and we will never forget.

It matters not where, when or how your served; here at home or in a foreign land, in the air, at sea or on land; in peacetime or in war, on the battefield or behind a desk; on supply lines; as an engineer, a mechanic, an infantrymen, a cook or medic. You chose to volunteer or fullfilled your duty by the draft and served America and we are forever grateful. Every job is important as they all support each other and the cause of freedom.

Some sacrifices are greater, yes, and some service more dangerous than others, yet all service is sacrifice by the troop and their family and we highly respect that service. Some gave all, all gave some.

Thank you all - from SAM and snippy




"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman." --Thomas Paine, Founding Father



"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their Nation."
--George Washington


"Let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain."
--Dwight D. Eisenhower


"We must not forget the past. We must not forget those who sacrificed, but we must also remember the reason for their sacrifice. They died so tyranny would die. They died to create a better world for those of us who followed them. Their sacrifice was not in vain."
--Secretary of State Colin Powell as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, observing the 50th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1991.


"America was founded on the principles of liberty, opportunity, and justice for all, and on Veterans Day we recognize the men and women of our Armed Forces who have valiantly defended these values throughout our Nation's history.

These remarkable individuals have helped to make our Nation secure and to advance the cause of freedom worldwide. By answering the call of duty and risking their lives to protect their fellow countrymen, these patriots have inspired our Nation with their courage, compassion, and dedication.

Our proud veterans have also helped to shape the American character. They have given us an extraordinary legacy of patriotism and honor, and their service represents the highest form of citizenship."
--George W. Bush


Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty.

--- Department of Veterans Affairs







It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the courts
who has given us the right to keep and bear arms.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the VETERAN, who salutes the Flag,



and serves under the flag.


ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD,
AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT
SHINE UPON THEM.
(CholeraJoe provided the above graphic - Thank you CJ)








I brought this next poster over from a Veterans Day thread SAM posted last year. I think it best represents the Foxhole's year-round effort in honoring our veterans by the history we bring to our readers.

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FReeper Foxhole Armed Services Links

[Darksheare]

The dreaded Mk17 promask with the almost impossible to change cheek filter.

[PsyOp]

"Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be." - The Bible, Old Testament, Deuteronomy 33:25.

Photo taken at the General Patton Museum east Indio, California, in the Cuyumaca Pass.

[SAMWolf]

Among those in Uniform the American Soldier stands out as unique. Without detracting a bit from those who endured long periods at sea or faced the challenges in the air, I would argue vigorously that the soldier, on the ground, face-to-face with the Warsaw Pact soldier just across the border, occupies a special place in the pantheon of heroes.

For something like sixteen thousand days and nights young American soldiers have stood in rain and snow, heat and cold, looking across borders at those who would reduce or destroy freedom--rather than bring its blessings to others. They looked and they did not blink. - General Jack N. Merritt, 1990.

Thanks Psyop I like this quote

[PsyOp]

Great! Thanks PsyOp. Got one without the mask?

These days, I look better with the mask on. ;-]

[SAMWolf]

I sure hope that Poland stays out of the EU. You fought so long and hard to get your Freedom, I would hate to see it thrown away. Remember what happened the last time Poland had anything to do with france.

[SAMWolf]

You had to carry the hog!

[snippy_about_it]

LOL. Well, without a picture to prove it we'll have to take your word for it. ;)

I kinda doubt it though, your eyes can't be that big!

[SAMWolf]

Your're welcome Snippy, just adding to your wonderful tribute today.

[SAMWolf]

It's good to see that some of the children still understand what Veterans Day is all about.

[snippy_about_it]

Thank you SAM, now don't get me blushing too with the rest of you. ;)

[PsyOp]

The dreaded Mk17 promask with the almost impossible to change cheek filter.

My daughter is NBC NCO for an intel unit in the First Cav (going to Iraq in Jan). I sent her that pic and she has it framed in her office. She gets lots of comments about it as people either remember it (the mask), as you do, or want to know whose wearing the antique.

She also uses the pic as a training aid on how NOT to wear a MOP suit. ;-]

[SAMWolf]

with the almost impossible to change cheek filter

OH Man! I hated to change those filters!

[snippy_about_it]

You should be proud. I'm glad you are.

[SAMWolf]

The old M4 Ronson Sherman. Thanks Psyop

[snippy_about_it]

You must be very proud of your daughter. May God keep her safe.

[SAMWolf]

LOL! I set my wifes' cell phone to play "Dixie" but she keeps setting it back.

[Darksheare]

My Basic and AIT unit had one of those.
We used the Mk40's, with the fun to dent canister threads, and had the interesting time of being shown how to change the cheek filters.
I never could get it to go right.

My Drillsar used the Mk17, he preferred it.
Not sure why, he never elaborated.

But I do remember seeing the antique when I got to my home unit.
THEY had one sitting in the NBC room archived away like a bad dream.
My unit used the training MOPP suits as foul weather gear on cold evenings at Drum. More than once we went to MOPP4 just to blunt the cold.
*ugh*
I can think of only one other place where it could be 90 during the day and -15 at night.
Fort Sill.

[Light Speed]

Hi Sam

A Family picture of a different kind.
USS Isherwood DD-520...so named after Rear Admiral Benjamin Isherwood Civil war.

From WW-2,Korean War..to stopping Communist China with the 7th Fleet off Taiwan...the ole Girl brought many Blue Jackets home.

Ie Shima/Okinawa 1945

[PsyOp]

You had to carry the hog!

Yep. I volunteered to. Others hated it, but I loved it. Plus I could field strip and clean it faster than an M-16 with a can of Berryman's.

My philosophy was to get behind the biggest gun available.