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Posted on 11/11/2003 3:31:06 AM PST by snippy_about_it
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| 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.
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 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   who has given us freedom of religion. who has given us the right to keep and bear arms. who has given us freedom of the press. who has given us freedom of speech. who has given us freedom to assemble. who has given us the right to a fair trial. Who has given us the right to vote.   AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.         |
Actually, there were some Marines in my class at Ft. Knox. They were good people, although they did seem to think the Corps tended to underutilize armor.
BTW, what is that contraption they're riding in?
M 42 Duster....Anything that would get ya down route 9 quickly.
3rd Marine spent alot of time around Khe Sahn..Rockpile to the Ashua complex..
Grunts would rather be on a firebase hill top..than on route 9....scarry road indeed.
Pix: http://www.mindspring.com/~bfalcon/M42.htm
Interesting.
From the stories I've heard, Route 9 was not the place to be.
Matt, thank you so much for the report on his funeral. The prayer said over the coffin is heart wrenching.
INTO LAOS: Dewey Canyon II. A powerful, densely packed saga of the neglected 60-day non-stop armor & infantry battle near Khe Sahn which claimed over 1,700 US/ARVN KIA, 6,500 WIA & 650 MIA.
INTO LAOS: Dewey - Canyon II / Lam Son 719 by Keith William Nolan. Vietnam 1971: America’s last major campaign and the most ambitious Allied operation of the war with over 100 helicopters destroyed and over 600 damaged. Nolan puts you in the middle of the action as the NVA fight back to save the Ho Chi Minh Trail the borders of Laos and South Vietnam. A powerful, densely packed saga of the neglected 60-day non-stop armor and infantry battle near Route 9, Khe Sahn and Lang Vei which claimed over 1,700 US/ARVN KIA, 6,500 WIA & 650 US/ARVN MIA. 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (1/5th Mech) • 101st Airborne • RAKKASANS • 17th Air Cav • 2/94 Artillery • XXIV Corps Artillery • 223rd Combat Aviation Battalion • 158th Aviation • Americal Division • 8th Transportation Group • 45th Engineer Group • 7th Air Force • 504th Military Police Battalion. 383 pages. Maps. Original hardcover editions published 1986.
This book tells it raw...
Troop on R and R in the rear..fragging officers....racial problems.
yet on the line..all was put aside..except .. some officers still found *things happening to them until they eventually got wounded .
155mm Sheridans ..logger up for the night..waiting for Charlie and his RPG teams.
ARVN Generals ..sitting with a mechanized division..hundreds of yards from a fire base..which ARVN are on..and getting over-run..slaughtered..as some escape on helo skids.
Having a smoke..watching some other commander buy the farm.
The Bravery of the U.S. Helo crews...and yes..some ARVN units fought bravely..to the last man..and did not run.
One of the best reads on Vietnam ..from 1971..when things were beginning to fall apart.
Colonel Wolodyjowski, they burn our churches, slaughter our people, and you stay silent... oh, Colonel, wake up! Soldier! Stand up and fight before they change our churches into mosques! Stand up and fight before they wipe the Christ out of our souls.
Looks like some things haven't changed since the 1600's.
It's good to hear that the Poles were out celebrating their Independence in such style, I hope they continue to do so and to remember how hard it was to obtain their freedom.
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