Posted on 02/13/2006 8:35:48 PM PST by alfa6
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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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THE VALENTINE TANK Based on the A10 Cruiser tank, the Valentine was privately designed by the Vickers-Armstrong corporation (hence its lack of an "A" designation) and was submitted to the War Office on February 14, 1938. Like many other projects, the Valentine was rushed into production following the loss of nearly all of Britain's equipment during the evacuation at Dunkirk. Several versions exist concerning the source of the name Valentine. The most popular one says that the design was presented to the War Office at St. Valentine's Day (February 14). Some sources, however, claim that the exact date the design was submitted was February 10. According to other version, the tank was called Valentine in honor of Sir John Valentine Carden, the man who led the development of the A10 and many other Vickers vehicles. Yet another version says that Valentine is an acronym for Vickers-Armstrong Ltd Elswick & Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The War Office was initially deterred by the size of the turret and the crew compartment. However, concerned by the situation in Europe, it finally approved the design in April 1939. The vehicle reached trials in May 1940, which coincided with the loss of nearly all of Britain's equipment during the evacuation at Dunkirk. The trials were successfull and the vehicle was rushed into production as Infantry Tank III Valentine. The Valentine remained in production until April 1944, becoming Britain's most mass produced tank during the war with 6855 units manufactured in the UK (by Vickers, Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage and Wagon and Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon) and further 1420 in Canada. They were the Commonwealth's main export to the Soviet Union under the Lend-lease Act, with 2394 of the British models being sent and 1388 of the Canadian (the remaining 30 were kept for training). The Valentine was Britain's most mass produced tank during the war, having manufactured 6855 and a further 1420 in Canada. They were the Commonwealth's main export to the Soviet Union under the Lend-lease Act, with 2394 of the British models being sent and 1388 of the Canadian (the remaining 30 were kept for training). In Soviet service, they were quite popular due to their small size, reliability, and generally good armour protection. In Soviet service, the Valentine was used from the Battle of Moscow until the end of the war. It was employed mostly on the southern fronts, both because of the proximity to the Persian supply route and in order to avoid using the tank in very cold climate. Although criticized for its speed and its weak gun, the Valentine was liked due to its small size, reliability and generally good armour protection. The Valentine was something of an oddity, having the weight and size of a cruiser tank, but the armour and speed of an infantry tank. Though its armour was still weaker than the Matilda and, due to its weaker engine, it shared the same top speed, its high reliability and lower cost kept it in the war. By 1944, in the European Theater of Operations the Valentine was almost competely replaced in the frontline units by the Churchill and the US-made Sherman. In the Pacific the tank was employed in limited numbers at least until May 1945. There were 12 variants of the Valentine as follows: |
That's quite an accomplishment for a building which wasn't built until 1888. It does claim to have the largest square footage of any state capitol building.
15. Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state.
My stock response. If it's a natural lake, why does it have a man - made dam at the end of it?
Professional sports teams include the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, Houston Astros, Houston Comets, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Texas Rangers.Uhhh . . . hello? The Houston Texans.
And last year, the Saints.
24. The first suspension bridge in the United States was the Waco Bridge. Built in 1870 and still in use today as a pedestrian crossing of the Brazos River.
Not wholly in the US, but "On July 26th 1848, the first Niagara Suspension Bridge was completed. "http://www.niagarafrontier.com/bridges.html#b1
Or you can have the Wheeling suspension bridge, 1849. That should satisfy and scruples.
http://wheeling.weirton.lib.wv.us/landmark/bridges/susp/bridge8.htm
Wait. It doesn't specify cable, does it. They here are some chain candidates from 1801 (Jacob's Creek, PA) and 1807 (Potomic River)
http://www.bridgemeister.com/list.php?type=full&page=1
40. Laredo is the world's largest inland port.
That one isn't passing the smell test. I quickly see that Pittsburgh and St. Louis claim 2nd place. Duluth-Superior claims to be the largest inland port in the world as does Montreal. (So does Atlanta which has neither ships nor barge traffic.)
Here's a link to a USArmy CoE PDF which ranks them as of 2003 http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/ndc/wcsc/pdf/inlandport03f.pdf
1. Huntington (defined as covering 100 miles of the Ohio River plus a couple of side rivers.)
2. St. Louis
3. Pittsburgh
4. Memphis
5. Cincinatti
6. St. Paul
7. Louisville
8. Mt. Vernon, IN
9. Tulsa
10. Gunthersville, AL
11-20: Nashville, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Greenville, MS, Minneapolis, Elvis Stahr Harbor, KY ???, Helena AR, Lake Providence, LA (I doubt that one as well) Rosedale, MS, Knoxville, TN (Getting kind of small.)( Inland Ports are ports that are located on rivers and do not handle deep draft ship traffic. )
In any event, we are down to 20, they are getting small, and Larado hasn't shown up yet. I think it would be safe to call them on this one.
I didn't see the legitimate claim of most counties. (Georgia is second).
Your post reminded me that in addition to the AA baseball team you mentioned, Frisco also has a major league soccer team.
Speaking of AA ball, there are teams in Fort Worth and Midland that I can think of off the top of my head, plus Nolan Ryan owns a team down in either Round Rock or Austin. (Looks like the Round Rock team moved to Corpus). Doesn't San Antonio also have a team? (Just checked - The Missions)
I had always heard that it came from the Spanish-American War.
48. Coca-Cola was first bottle in 1899 at a plant on Patten Parkway in downtown Chattanooga From the Coca Cola web site:
1894
A modest start for a bold idea In a candy store in Vicksburg, Mississippi, brisk sales of the new fountain beverage called Coca-Cola impressed the store's owner, Joseph A. Biedenharn. He began bottling Coca-Cola to sell, using a common glass bottle called a Hutchinson.
http://www2.coca-cola.com/ourcompany/historybottling.html
Unrelated trivia. I don't know if it is still true, but a valuable chunk of downtown Chattanooga used to be owned by the State of Georgia. It was the northern terminus of the state owned Western and Atlantic RR (still owned by the state but leased to CSX).
Y'all have a great week
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Excellent!
March 6, 2006
A Personal Thank You
Read:
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For more than 3 years, our family has traveled the road of sorrow and comfort since the death of our daughter Melissa.
That ministry of comfort is described in 2 Corinthians 1, where Paul wrote, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" (vv.3-4).
Over these years, I have shared with Our Daily Bread readers what we've learned from God and what we've learned about Him. Our family has been touched by the comfort He has brought us through His Word and His people.
When I wrote about God's work of comfort through this tragedy, hundreds upon hundreds of readers sent us letters, e-mails, photos, songs, poems, paintings, and more to express sympathy, love, and appreciation. God brought us comfort, and I shared. God brought others comfort, and they shared. In their love, God's people have shown how His ministry of comfort works. Thank you for caring for us.
If we've been comforted by God, we can have a part in the incredible ministry of comfort to others. Dave Branon
Those who have suffered are best able to help those who are suffering.
Fellow citizens & compatriots --
I am beseiged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna -- I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man -- The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken -- I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls -- I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, & every thing dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch -- The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country --
VICTORY OR DEATH
William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. Comdt.
P.S. The Lord is on our side -- When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn -- We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels & got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves --
Travis
Thanks to: San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau, Rebecca Edinger, Brien Segers, Hill DeWolfe, Cari Murtagh, Eric Gomez, Valorie75, Mary Chastain, pkimbrel
[probably democrats]
Count on it . . . right after Wyoming.
. . . always brings tears to my eyes.
beautiful!
((hugs))
Yep.
Apology, OFF Topic!!!
Please Freeper Fox Holers!
Help Our Canadian Soldiers!!!!!
I sent this on to Prime Minister Harper.
Please Freep Him at E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca
Hi miss Feather.
Lunch minute has come and gone.
Busy, busy. Well, at least the caps lock is not on. LOL
What's Bittygirl learning new these days??
What, not even a mention of Johnson Space Center. gees.
S78-34519 --- A pre-construction view of the site of the Manned Spacecraft Center. The photo shows a medium view of an animal shelter and windmill on acreage designated as the site for construction of NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center.
The little knackster has learned to open(with dad's thumb) a bottle of body lotion and soothe her razor chapped shins. Turn the bathtub water on/off. Climb into and out of said tub.
She like to sit on my desk and turn the desk light on and off, on and off, on and...
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