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Posted on 09/20/2004 8:10:50 PM PDT by SAMWolf
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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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DIVIDED GERMANY  Three and a half million Berliners live deep inside Soviet lines. The Nazis' once-proud capital, reduced to a pile of rubble by Allied anger, is down to its bare essentials. CURRENCY REFORM In June 1948, an announcement by the Western Allies brings a crisis to Berlin. They establish a currency reform meant to wipe out the German black market and further tie the vulnerable German economy to the West. The Soviets are not told and are infuriated by the action. Moscow says Berlin is located in the Soviet zone and therefore "economically forms part of it."  Sir Brian Robertson (Great Britian), Pierre Koenig (france), Lucius D. Clay (USA). Sir Brian Robertson, the British military governor in Berlin, along with his U.S. counterpart, Gen. Lucius Clay, respond by introducing a special version of a new German currency, the deutschmark, stamped with a "B" for Berlin. AIRLIFT On Thursday, June 24, 1948, West Berlin wakes to find itself under a Soviet blockade -- and in the midst of the first major confrontation of the Cold War. The Western Allies impose a counter-blockade on the Soviet zone. The Soviets hope to starve the West out of Berlin.  The West had been through a similar short-term Soviet blockade of Berlin two months earlier -- and had responded with an airlift using air corridors set up in a 1945 agreement with the Soviets. Now, new plans are drawn up -- for long-term replenishment of West Berlin from the air. NEW ALLIES The Berlin airlift brings a new mindset to the Western Allies, who start thinking of West Germany as an ally, rather than an occupied territory. In West Berlin, the airlift brings people sustenance and hope. In one memorable instance, the airlift -- in the form of American pilot Gail Halvorsen -- rains candy on West Berlin's desperate children.  In 1948, Halvorsen’s bunk was a factory for miniature parachutes weighted with chocolate bars. He became known as the 'Candy Bomber,' 'Uncle Wobbly-Wings' and 'Der Schokoladen Flieger' ('Chocolate Pilot'). (U.S. Air Force photo) As it becomes evident that the Soviets are not going to back down from their blockade, the Western Allies consider how to expand their airlift operations. Larger cargo planes are brought in, as well as bombers with cargo capacity. WEST-EAST  Berliners are still free to move around their city, despite the Soviet blockade. While West Berlin is suffering through shortages of electricity and other essentials, the eastern sector offers a relatively normal lifestyle. Politically, however, the city is on edge.  Soviet troops harass West Berliners who go to the eastern zone. And in September, a communist attempt to take over the city council sparks mass protests -- which end in violence. BLOCKADE ENDS The Soviet Union ends its blockade of Berlin on May 12, 1949. A month earlier, at the airlift's peak, Western cargo planes were landing at one of Berlin's three airports at a rate of one every 62 seconds. By the time the airlift ended, more than 275,000 flights had carried 2.3 million tons of supplies to Berlin -- an effort that went down in history as an aviation and logistical feat.  At least 79 people, including 31 Americans, 39 British and nine Germans, had lost their lives, mostly in plane crashes. But the confrontation proved to be only the opening act in the decades-long Cold War.
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Filthy rich capitalists bump!
Hi miss Feather
Cool beans! My uncle was on the Yorktown in the early 60's
A great uncle of mine worked for Westinghouse, and was somehow involved in the development of the Nautilus.
I also remember reading about Ronald Reagan's role in stopping a communist takeover of the Screen Actors Guild, after they'd already pulled off coups in some of the trade unions. As I recall Reagan, Bill Holden and other anti-communists had some hairy moments facing the commies down.
Of course, the left conveniently forgets that McCarthy and the government did absolutely nothing about the commies other than hold hearings, and prosecute a few spies. The "blacklist" was done by the studios because they rightly judged the public wouldn't want to watch commie propaganda movies, something modern Hollywood has forgotten. The strongest measure Congress passed against the communists was a registration law that never went into effect because it bounced around in the courts so long.
Today's classic warship, USS Incredible (AM-249)
Admirable class minesweeper
Displacement. 530 t.
Lenght. 184'6"
Beam. 33'
Draft. 9'9"
Speed. 15 k.
Complement. 104
Armament. 1 3"; 4 40mm; 6 20mm; 2 .50 cal.; 1 Hedgehog; 4 Y-gun depth charge projectors; 2 depth charge tracks.
USS Incredible (AM-249) was launched 21 November 1943 by Savannah Machine & Foundry Co., Savannah, Ga.; sponsored by Mrs. Herbert Hezlep; and commissioned 17 April 1944, Lt. R. N. Ekland, USNR, in command.
After shakedown along the East Coast and in the Caribbean, Incredible departed Norfolk 24 July, escorting a convoy to North Africa for the invasion of southern France, the Allies landing 15 August. She carried out her sweeping duties very effectively, sometimes without destroyer cover. On 10 September Incredible and her group gallantly repelled an attack of 12 human torpedoes, 2 of which she destroyed. She continued her minesweeping duties off southern France until 18 January 1945 when she sailed for a special mission to Russia and the Black Sea. Incredible performed sweeping duties out of Sevastopol, Russia, then served as air-sea rescue patrol ship in the Black Sea until resuming to Palermo, Sicily, 20 February.
Incredible returned to Norfolk 5 May; and, after overhaul, departed 23 July for duty in the Pacific. She arrived Pearl Harbor 8 days after the fighting stopped via the Canal Zone and San Diego. The minesweeper sailed from Pearl Harbor 31 August for Operation "Skagway", clearing the minefields in the East China Sea-Ryukyus area. This important duty lasted until 17 February 1946 when she returned to San Pedro, Calif. She remained there until she decommissioned at Puget Sound 6 November, joining the Reserve Fleet. From 28 November 1947 to 28 September 1949 Incredible was "In Service, out of commission", based at Yokosuka, Japan.
In June 1950 when the Communists again tested the will of the free world by attacking South Korea, President Truman readily accepted the challenge and immediately ordered American forces into the area to drive the enemy back and establish peace in Korea. Incredible recommissioned 14 August 1950 at Yokosuka and departed 18 September for minesweeping and patrol duties in the Pusan area. While on patrol in mine-infested waters, on 12 October she rescued 27 survivors from USS Pirate (AM-275) which had struck a mine. Delivering her passengers to safety, she continued her operations in the battle zone, sweeping harbors and serving on patrol and escort duty. Returning to Yokosuka, Incredible sailed for Long Beach, arriving 4 August 1951.
The minesweeper operated along the West Coast and out of Pearl Harbor until 6 August 1953 when she sailed for the Far East. For the remainder of the year she operated out of Japan and on patrol along the coast of Korea. Incredible returned to Long Beach 11 March 1954 and decommissioned there 21 September, again joining the Reserve Fleet. Reclassified MSF-249, 7 February 1955, Incredible remained in the Long Beach Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet until she was struck from the Navy List 1 December 1959. She was sold for scrap 8 August 1960 to National Metal and Steel Corp.
Incredible received two battle stars for World War II service and four for Korean service.
So much of our history has been written with spin, mostly leftist spin. It's sad how many Americans know so little about the truth.
In our dreams!
Nice looking First Couple. Far cry from the wannabees!
Good afternoon Mayor.
Good afternoon Gail. We took a picture of a coffee cup that reminded us of Darksheare's brew while we were heading up to Antietam. Can't post it until we get home but it's great!
Starting to warm up here in Virginia and Maryland. Nice weather, clear and sunny skies.
I'm trying to make the most of it. :-)
Evening Mayor.
That's a big affirmative!! you have an idea, do you?
Evening GailA.
Miss your graphics. Get your computer pretty much back up to speed?
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