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Posted on 03/25/2005 9:43:51 PM 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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 World War II During World War II, the Bath Iron Works achieved production miracles unmatched by any other shipyard in the country. by Dale P. Harper On the banks of the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, 12 miles from the sea, is the shipyard known as the Bath Iron Works, where USS Laffey (DD 724) was built. In more than 100 years of business, the yard has built many different types of vessels, but it has gained and maintained its reputation as a builder of destroyers for the United States Navy. During World War II, the Bath Iron Works achieved production miracles unmatched by any other shipyard in the country. Soon after France fell to the German onslaught in June 1940, Navy Secretary Frank Knox sent telegrams to the heads of many American shipyards, directing them to take immediate steps to expand their facilities in preparation for a forthcoming enlarged shipbuilding program. "Speed is of essence," the telegrams stated.  Bath Iron Works President William S. "Pete" Newell began his expansion plans immediately. Land adjacent to the north end of the shipyard was purchased from the Maine Central Railroad to accommodate the addition of two more building ways, enabling the yard to have eight ships under construction at one time. Since no more space was available in Bath, land was purchased in East Brunswick, 3 1/2 miles away, and a prefabrication plant was built there. Whole sections of ships were assembled in East Brunswick and hauled to the Bath yard. Seventy percent of the planned expansion had been completed and paid for by the company before a contract came through that authorized payment and reimbursement by the U.S. Navy. By December 1940, the Maine shipyard was prepared for the challenges that lay ahead. Most other shipyards had waited for Navy contracts and funds before beginning expansion, so they lagged far behind.  When the United States entered the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Bath Iron Works began to build destroyers. Various problems arose as the shipbuilding process was accelerated. By 1943, 12,000 employees, including 1,600 women, were working in three shifts around the clock. The city of Bath could not supply all the workers needed, and they could not be brought in from out of state because of a severe housing shortage. Therefore, workers were recruited from 94 Maine communities within a 60-mile radius of the shipyard. Because gasoline was rationed, the personnel department organized a ride-sharing program that resulted in 9,500 workers being transported in 2,200 cars, averaging more than four persons per car. Other workers were brought in on buses that had been leased from the Navy under a plan authorized by an act of Congress. Since many shipbuilders were being drafted or volunteering for military service, the personnel department recruited women and provided a nursery to care for their children. Every problem the company encountered was solved or overcome, and the resulting production efforts sometimes bordered on the fantastic. In peacetime, it took 700 days for the Bath Iron Works to build a destroyer, but during the war that time was cut to 210 days. A ship was launched every 17 days and was then moved to the outfitting dock for completion. In December 1942, temperatures dropped as low as 30 degrees below zero and averaged 10 below zero for a week. The Bath Iron Works' absentee rate was a mere 3 percent, however, and the safety record was the best of any shipyard in the country. Management rewarded good attendance records by allowing employees to ride on a destroyer when it was delivered to the Boston Naval Shipyard, where it officially accepted by the Navy and commissioned. Every employee could be proud of the Maine shipyard's record during the war years. From Pearl Harbor to the war's end, 82 destroyers were built and delivered--about 25 percent of all destroyers built for the Navy during the war. During the same period, Japanese shipyards built only 63 destroyers. The Bath Iron Works alone outproduced the Japanese empire. Bath Iron Works was a major WWII shipbuilder, building almost 100 ships, almost all of them destroyers. It continues in operation today. Bath Iron Works Record of WWII Shipbuilding      |
More proof. :-)
Hi miss Feather
Afternoon Mayor.
I never have been very good at "forgive and forget"
Howdy ma'am
Free Dixie!!
I have neither anymore. ;-(
Afternoon Victoria.
Been raining all day here. :-(
She does indeed. Hopefully Grandma will bring her camera tomorrow, so we can share.
Afternoon PE.
Nice! :-)
We've had rain all ay so far and tyhey're predicting it all next week.
Chief assistant scrounger Mr. 6 found this one.
Hiya Sam
It's not easy is it..
Nimoy, Leonard The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins
http://www.miserablemelodies.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/miserabl/list.cgi?actors
Scroll down....if you dare
Like nothing you've ever heard.
I must share
Meat Gone Bad
as set to "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music
Lyrics by David Wininger, 1999
Maggots on burgers and rats in the deli
Salmon that smells like armpit of yeti
Trichina worms contracted by dad
This is what happens when meat has gone bad
Flies: Buzz Buzz Buzz (repeat four times)
Grey-colored cold cuts and green-tinted sausage
Roast beef and corned beef and rump-roast with ruffage
Natural casings cleaned just a tad
This is what happens when meat has gone bad
Flies: Buzz Buzz Buzz (repeat four times)
Grade H pork gristle that's thrown in a bin
Tapeworms that stay down my throat and intestine
Pasty brown bratwurst that drips as if sad
This is what happens when meat has gone bad
When Sinclair writes, when the flies swarm, when the cow goes mad,
I simply remember Spam's ingredients, (Chorus drops out) and then I don't feel so bad...
Ok I'm sick, but I hurt myself laughing
Hugs back atcha!
We're rearranging the store a little today. We have quite a downpour so it gives us time to redecorate. Moving seed has worn me out!
Thanks alfa6. I don't think we'll turn a profit until after Christmas. By then everyone should know we're here and we should be smart enough by then to know what sells in our area and how much stock to carry. Not only is this a great place to by your birding stuff and seed but it's becoming a place folks can buy uncommon gifts. That's a good thing!
This is quite a learning experience and we are learning quickly.
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