Posted on 05/10/2005 6:20:44 PM PDT by Graybeard58
I just returned from Texas today, where I had the distinct honor of visiting with "WNeighbor"
While there I presented her with a plaque honoring her and her contributions to the troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
It consists of a slab of marble with an inscribed bronze plaque (As pictured) From my son Steve ("smaagee") He "borrowed" the marble from the wall of Saadam's palace in Tikrit on the day Saadam was captured.
He shipped it home via the U.S. mail hidden in some books. The slab had survived 2,000 pound bombs but the postal service managed to damage about a fourth of it. What he was able to salvage he had cut in three pieces and inscribed to "300winmag", "HairOfTheDog" and "WNeighbor"
My wife was in Texas on business so I joined her there and it was just a few miles to "WNeighbor's" so I was able to deliver it in person.
I will never forget the contributions made by the three mentioned F.R. members to my son and members of the 724th Transportation Company and from many others at F.R.
I am sorry I wasn't able to deliver in person to Washington and Michigan but my heart was there.
Please remember Matt Maupin, a member of the 724th and the only U.S. Soldier in this war listed as P.O.W./M.I.A.
Thanks ladies! Great big hugs to you two for helping with all the troop support that we did. I am extremely humbled by this plaque. I *KNOW* that I could not have done this without *all* the wonderful donations from everyone! And you all know what a blessing it was to me to be able to send those packages. They blessed me through a very difficult part of my life.
This plaque means a great deal to me because it not only reminds me of the troops we supported, but the folks who were supporting me through that time! Thanks. :-)
Yes I am Snippy!
During the time that we were doing some massive (to me) troop support in the Hobbit Hole, I was really blessed to be the person responsible for taking donations from about 25 people, shopping for goodies, packing and mailing off the goodies. With my son-in-law in Iraq, both my daughters and the grandkids in Germany, and just after losing my beloved Grama, I really needed to have *something* to do. The folks in the Hobbit Hole trusted me enough to send me a few thousand dollars over the course of about a year to do this. I was blessed in a very big way just to be able to send the gifts for troops. And now, I have been blessed by this young man who put his life on the line for us.
The POW/MIA Matt Maupin was in Steve's group. He was one of the recipients to enjoy our goodies as I understand it. Over the course of the project, I came to feel very close to those soldiers and this young man is very special in my prayers. I wonder if it would be out-of-line to ask if we could feature him in the Foxhole one day? He and his family can use lots of our prayers.
Outstanding effort sir....
Never out of line to ask for a thread honoring our military, it's what we do everyday. Freepmail on the way.
Your brother is the one on top:
Saddam's Hometown Palace to Transfer to Iraqis
In what's being regarded as a highly symbolic development in Iraq, coalition forces will turn over former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's palace in Tikrit to the new Iraqi government during Nov. 22 ceremonies. The sprawling palace complex in Saddam's hometown, 90 miles north of Baghdad, is the largest and most elaborate of his presidential sites, a senior military official in Iraq said today on background.
The U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division initially secured the complex in 2003, dubbing it Camp Iron Horse. The camp served as the division's headquarters when its members captured Saddam in December 2003, explained Army Lt. Col. Barry Venable, a Pentagon spokesman.
The 1st Infantry Division renamed the camp Forward Operating Base Danger when it assumed authority for the camp in 2004.
Ping 48
:)
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