FReeper Foxhole - Military Related News in Review - May 5, 2003

various

[snippy_about_it]

Dear Lord,

There's a young man far from home,
called to serve his nation in time of war;
sent to defend our freedom
on some distant foreign shore.

We pray You keep him safe,
we pray You keep him strong,
we pray You send him safely home ...
for he's been away so long.

There's a young woman far from home,
serving her nation with pride.
Her step is strong, her step is sure,
there is courage in every stride.
We pray You keep her safe,
we pray You keep her strong,
we pray You send her safely home ...
for she's been away too long.

Bless those who await their safe return.
Bless those who mourn the lost.
Bless those who serve this country well,
no matter what the cost.

Author Unknown

.

FReepers from the The Foxhole
join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time.

.

...................................................................................... ...........................................

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

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.

We hope to provide an ongoing source of information about issues and problems that are specific to Veterans and resources that are available to Veterans and their families.

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.

To read previous Foxhole threads or
to add the Foxhole to your sidebar,
click on the books below.

Resource Links For Veterans

Click on the pix

President Bush Announces (Major) Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended

President George W. Bush on Thursday announced to the Nation that major combat operations in Iraq have ended, and our coalition is now engaged in securing and reconstructing that country. President Bush spoke from the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln. Full Story

Watch it all over again by selecting the video link.
Or see the still photographs again

~

USS Abraham Lincoln comes home

Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, Calif. (May 2, 2003) -- Sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) man the rails as the ship pulls into NAS North Island, during their port visit to off-load the ship’s Air Wing.

Lincoln and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) are returning from a 10-month deployment to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operation Iraqi Freedom is the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein.
U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Lewis Hunsaker.

Cool Pic of the week - Clic on it

~

Benning soldier finds 'shining gem' in Iraq
(Soldier's act brings sight to girl blinded in attack in Iraq)

BAGHDAD, IRAQ – James Mattwig hoped there would be a happy ending to the story of the injured Iraqi girl he'd tried to help, and Saturday he found the answer.

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Army staff sergeant met Aya, a 3-year-old Iraqi girl with a patch over her left eye. Mattwig was told that an artillery round had landed outside her family's home, shattering windows and sending a shard of glass into her eye.

A local doctor had told her she was permanently blinded. That wasn't good enough for Mattwig, 31, a D-Troop scout with the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. He assembled a medical team the next day, Easter Sunday, and returned to her house.

Aya was taken to a U.S. Army hospital, and that was the last Mattwig heard of Aya.

Until Saturday.

Once again, Mattwig assembled a convoy to Aya's home in downtown Baghdad.

They arrived outside Aya's home almost as celebrities; neighbors gathered around the two Humvees as soon as they stopped.

Mattwig popped his head over the metal gate outside Aya's house. A member of one of the five families living there saw him, grinned and disappeared inside the small flat.

Moments later, Aya Nahi and her smiling mother, Akhlas, emerged from behind the gate. Aya's eye remained nearly closed, but Akhlas delivered some good news.

"They fixed her in American hospital," Akhlas Nahi said. "She's not blind anymore."

She told Mattwig that he had to visit again because she was making him a gift. "Something to remember," she said. link to story

~

DoD Sets Up Office to Help Lure Job Applicants
05-01-2003
Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department, which employs more than 700,000 civilians in more than 900 occupations, has set up a new office to help lure job applicants to the federal workforce.

The Defense Application Assistance Office was established this year to help those seeking government positions, such as help with the tedious application process, said John Moseley, deputy director for program support at DoD's Civilian Personnel Management Service.

"What we're trying to overcome is that the application process is long, complex and people don't want to deal with it," said Moseley, a 30-year federal employee. "In the past it's been a very arduous task."

Moseley said the assistance office also works to connect DoD recruiters and applicants. "The way our application process is now, someone fills out a stack of papers, ships them off to some unknown location, and they may or may not ever hear what happened," he explained.

"We're going to change that. We're going to streamline the application process. We're going to stay in touch with the applicant," he added. "We're going to provide personalized service to people who have questions about this mystery." Full story

~

May 9th is Military Spouse Appreciation Day

This year Military Spouse Appreciation Day will be celebrated on 9 May.

President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Military Spouse Appreciation Day on 17 April 1984.

The official celebration has been designated as the Friday before Mother's Day.

Appreciation Memo release from Army

Appreciation Memo release from Marines

Appreciation Memo release from Navy (bottom of page)

[SAMWolf]

WOW! Does she look great or what!! Thanks for the great picture.

[SAMWolf]

Nice butterfiles Feather.

[snippy_about_it]

Congratulations on re-enlisting. Wow, that's wonderful! Thank you.


Can't say as I blame Mrs. Cut for not coming to Maine in FEBRUARY! lol.

Thanks for remembering all of us while you're so busy. We think of you often you know. :)

[SAMWolf]

Thanks much Long Cut. I knew if anyone had the answer, you would.

[SAMWolf]

Oh, I forgot to mention...I re-enlisted on Friday. Signed on for another three-year hitch.

Congratulations Long Cut! Thanks for your service, past and future.

[Long Cut]

Thank you, Snip. I appreciate it, I truly do.

"Can't say as I blame Mrs. Cut for not coming to Maine in FEBRUARY! lol"

Well, I HOPE she does...to meet my returning flight!

When I got back from my last deployment, we were not yet married, but we were engaged. I came bounding down the ladder in flightsuit and gear, she met me halfway across the ramp! I must have spun her around fifteen times. Too bad nobody snapped a picture, though.

Back then, only a few family and friends met returning P-3 crews. Since 9-11, however, it's gotten a LOT better whenever ANY unit comes home.

Hell, my first two deployments, NO ONE met me when i got back. I just grabbed my seabags and checked into the barracks.

[snippy_about_it]

Well then I hope she does, but dang...Maine in February. Now that's true love. :)

[Long Cut]

Hey, at least she was born and raised there! I myself am from warmer climes, and I had to spend a winter in ICELAND, of all places.

How'd you like to see 70-m.p.h. winds and -30 degree temperatures, with NO SUN, for a month or so? BRRRRrrrr...

[snippy_about_it]

No thanks. I can't stand the Ohio weather, next to no sun for months in the winter and cold for six months or more by my standards. What am I doing here. lol.

You take care and be glad you'll at least be home for the birth of Mini. I'll add you to my prayer list of specific folks I'd like the Lord to watch over for me.

But we'll see you around before you leave, knowing you'll be busy with Mom and the baby. Just check in now and again.

[SAMWolf]

Don't pay the ransom, I escaped.

Sorry about my absence, had computer problems this moring and finally got everything reinstalled

[snippy_about_it]

I thought you were unloading groceries again. lol.

I am somewhat concerned about all these computer problems we've all been having. Hmmm. Where's Phil?

[Light Speed]

Congrats on the Ord Modd ...at least you will not have the Chi Coms nearby to crash into you : )

[Johnny Gage]

Can I politely ask what is meant by your graphic?

I take offense that you imply that the President of the United States is an "infidel"

[Johnny Gage]

See post #120 please.

[SAMWolf]

Our Military Today
Mine Sweepers

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Nick Urena, 21, an engineman from Brooklyn, N.Y., and Petty Officer 3rd Class Christina Sebren, 20, a boatswain's mate from Galveston, Texas, are stationed aboard the USS Kingfisher, which is an Osprey Class coastal mine hunter. The "Minesweepers" as they are known, are small ships with a big responsibility. These ships are mine hunter-killers, capable of finding, classifying and destroying moored and bottom mines. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Chris Desmond


Petty Officer 2nd Class Mario Adame, 22, a Navy mineman from Tucson, Ariz., is an instructor at the Mine Warfare Training Center. Adame trains students on the operation and maintenance of the AN/SLQ-48 Mine Neutralization System. Adame is shown here demonstrating a repair on an umbilical cable. The remotely operated submersible is used to detect and neutralize mines in waters up to 2,000 feet. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographers Mate Chris Desmond


Chief Petty Officer Kevin Spurling, a Navy mineman, reviews the controls on a sonar consol with Seamen Carrie Reidinger and Loren Hord, both are students at the Mine Warfare Training Center Class "A" school. Students here complete 15 weeks of basic operation and maintenance training on various aspects of mine warfare systems. They also receive additional cross-training in firefighting, deck seamanship, navigation, and small arms due to the small crews embarked aboard the minesweeper fleet of ships. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographers Mate Chris Desmond


Petty Officer 1st Class Jayson Calton, 30, a Navy mineman from Booneville, Miss., prepares to lower an AN/SLQ-48 Mine Neutralization System in the training pool at the Mine Warfare Training Center. Students get the experience operating the remotely operated submersible during their course of instruction. The remotely operated submersible is used to detect and neutralize mines in waters up to 2000 feet. U.S. Navy Photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Chris Desmond


Petty Officer 2nd Class Christine Beal, 24, from Franklin, Maine and her instructor, Petty Officer 2nd Class Mario Adame, both Navy minemen, observe an AN/SLQ-48 Mine Neutralization System submerge in the training pool at the Mine Warfare Training Center. Students get experience operating the remotely operated submersible during their course of instruction. Franklin will report aboard the USS Kingfisher after completing this advanced training on the $2 million system. The remotely operated submersible is used to detect and neutralize mines in waters up to 2,000 feet. U.S. Navy Photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Chris Desmond


Seaman Casey Kilgos, a 20-year-old Navy mineman at Mobile Mine Assembly Unit 15 at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas, performs maintenance on an MK-74 Versatile Exercise Mine. These devices are used to simulate the physical characteristics of various mine warfare systems and to collect data on vessels that cross over them. U.S. Navy Photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Chris Desmond


Seaman Casey Kilgos, 20, from Fort Bragg, Calif., and Petty Officer 3rd Class Charles Morales, 24, a Navy mineman from El Paso, Texas, perform maintenance on an MK-74 Versatile Exercise Mine at the Mobile Mine Assembly Unit Fifteen aboard Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas. These inert devices are used to simulate the physical characteristics of floating contact mine warfare systems. MOMAU 15 is currently in the process of relocating to Naval Station Ingleside, Texas. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Chris Desmond


Standing before a stock of MK-6 training mines, is Petty Officer 3rd Class Justin Stordahl, 22, a Navy mineman from Cloverdale, Calif., who is stationed at Mobile Mine Assembly Unit 15 aboard Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas. These inert devices are used to simulate the physical characteristics of floating contact mine warfare systems. MOMAU 15 is currently in the process of relocating to Naval Station Ingleside, Texas. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Chris Desmond

[Soaring Feather]

Great photos SAM, thanks so much.

[PhilDragoo]

Navy One lands with GWB aboard.

It's a brave new world:

We are flipping off France,
saying Auf Wiedersehen to the Germans,
nyet to Pooty-Poot,
And, "Go ahead, make my day," to Syria.

Lockheed Martin P - 3C Orion

Samolot typu P3 Orion w locie nad wybrze¿em

Schemat Oriona

Samolot typu P3C Update III w locie nad morzem

Orion w locie ponad chmurami. Widoczne "¿¹d³o" urz¹dzenia MAD

Orion odpali³ "salwê" cieplnych celów pozornych (flar)

Samolot typu P - 3C Update III AIP odpala pocisk AGM - 65 Maverick

Widoczne pod skrzyd³ami i kad³ubem Oriona pociski AGM - 84 Harpoon i otwarty luk bombowy

I go outside in the clear New Mexico night; Orion has the watch. Knowledge is power--ask any surviving Republican Guard.

[WSGilcrest]

I'm sorry. You didn't get the joke either. Oh well.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Johnny, just noticed that sticker.

[SAMWolf]

Evening PhilDragoo.

Nice pics of the P3.

I vactioned on Whidbey Island last year and we watched the P3's taking off and landing the whole week we were there.