FReeper Canteen - Tunes For The Troops

To: Kathy in Alaska; laurenmarlowe; BIGLOOK; alfa6; EsmeraldaA; SandRat; mylife; TMSuchman; PROCON; ...

Capt. Joseph J. McCarthy, USMCR (MOH)

From Today in U.S. Military History:

21 February 1945 – Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, Japan

Citation: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of a rifle company attached to the 2d Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 21 February 1945. Determined to break through the enemy’s cross-island defenses, Capt. McCarthy acted on his own initiative when his company advance was held up by uninterrupted Japanese rifle, machinegun, and high-velocity 47mm. fire during the approach to Motoyama Airfield No. 2. Quickly organizing a demolitions and flamethrower team to accompany his picked rifle squad, he fearlessly led the way across 75 yards of fire-swept ground, charged a heavily fortified pillbox on the ridge of the front and, personally hurling hand grenades into the emplacement as he directed the combined operations of his small assault group, completely destroyed the hostile installation. Spotting 2 Japanese soldiers attempting an escape from the shattered pillbox, he boldly stood upright in full view of the enemy and dispatched both troops before advancing to a second emplacement under greatly intensified fire and then blasted the strong fortifications with a well-planned demolitions attack. Subsequently entering the ruins, he found a Japanese taking aim at 1 of our men and, with alert presence of mind, jumped the enemy, disarmed and shot him with his own weapon. Then, intent on smashing through the narrow breach, he rallied the remainder of his company and pressed a full attack with furious aggressiveness until he had neutralized all resistance and captured the ridge. An inspiring leader and indomitable fighter, Capt. McCarthy consistently disregarded all personal danger during the fierce conflict and, by his brilliant professional skill, daring tactics, and tenacious perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds, contributed materially to the success of his division’s operations against this savagely defended outpost of the Japanese Empire. His cool decision and outstanding valor reflect the highest credit upon Capt. McCarthy and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service."

"Riamh nár dhruid ó sbairn lann!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

41 posted on 02/21/2014 7:08:58 PM PST by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 <center> <tab - St. Mlichael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)

To: AZamericonnie; All

For those of you playing along at home, a couple of weeks ago I featured John Mayall. Among the players who drifted through his Bluesbreakers are a few of the performers I'm featuring this weekend. Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Peter Green were all Bluesbreakers alumni and the trio formed their own unit in 1967. Tonight I feature Fleetwood Mac, named for drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie. The band was founded by guitarist Peter Green who used his Bluesbreakers bandmates names to label and brand the group and for a while at least with Jeremy Spencer and Danny Kirwan they were one of England's premier blues acts until Green left to pursue a solo career.

Kirwan and Spencer shared guitar duties for awhile and John's then-wife, Christine came aboard on keyboards and vocals. Fleetwood then invited American guitarist Bob Welch to join the band without an audition to give them better exposure in the US and with Green's heavy blues format fading, the band became more pop oriented under Welch's direction. The Kirwan / Welch era established the band on the world's music charts and led to big success. Kirwan and Welch didn't always see eye-to-eye and it eventually led to the end of that period, but, they always held high respect for each other as well as being devotes of Peter Green.

Danny Kirwan left the band in 1972 due to artistic differences and an admitted alcohol problem leaving Bob Welch in the driver's seat as lead guitarist and principal songwriter, but in 1974, Bob introduced the band to guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and vocalist Stevie Nicks, both accomplished songwriters and as Welch departed for his own solo career, Fleetwood Mac began it's third, final and most successful incarnation with the newcomers. Over the years musicians the likes of Bob Weston, Dave Walker, Billy Burnette, Rick Vito, Bekka Bramlett and Dave Mason have come and gone, but the Buckingham/Nicks/Fleetwood/McVie core has remained through the turbulence of divorce, affairs and sometimes excessive drug use and infighting.

Recently I haven't been able to help noticing a resurgence in interest in the band. Most notable was an episode of "The Americans" late last season which heavily featured Fleetwood Mac songs. The show is about Soviet sleeper agents living as a family in the US during the Cold War and Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk" brought the 80's back vividly as the spies went about their covert deeds. Then came a new season of "American Horror Story" called "Coven" about a tribe of witches living in a New Orleans "finishing school". One of the witches who bears an uncanny resemblance to a young Stevie Nicks was enchanted by Stevie's music and for several weeks there was a steady diet of Stevie songs in the soundtrack. Eventfully the aging White witch herself made cameo appearances joining the all-star cast which includes Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett (as voodoo queen Marie Laveau). The most recent episode featured Stevie singing "The Seven Wonders" - which turns out to be the initiation ritual for the young witches in training. But no more spoilers! Lets get rockin' as I spin songs from 5 decades of Fleetwood Mac.

Big Love
~ Fleetwood Mac ~

42 posted on 02/21/2014 7:09:07 PM PST by Drumbo ("Democracy can withstand anything but democrats." - Jubal Harshaw (Robert A. Heinlein))

Diane also scored with Kiss Me, Sailor from the spring of '64. It got up to #29 on the Billboard Hot 100.

43 posted on 02/21/2014 7:19:11 PM PST by Fiji Hill

To: AZamericonnie; All

44 posted on 02/21/2014 7:20:04 PM PST by Drumbo ("Democracy can withstand anything but democrats." - Jubal Harshaw (Robert A. Heinlein))

To: Kathy in Alaska; laurenmarlowe; BIGLOOK; alfa6; EsmeraldaA; SandRat; mylife; TMSuchman; PROCON; ...

Welcome To All Who Enter This Canteen, To Our Serving Military, To Our Veterans, To All Military Families, To Our FRiends and To Our Allies!

Missing Man Setting

"The Empty Chair"

By Captain Carroll "Lex" Lefon, USN (RET), on December 21st, 2004

"In the wardroom onboard the aircraft carrier from which I recently debarked was a small, round table, with single chair. No one ever sat there, and the reasons, both for the table being there, and for the fact that the chair was always empty, will tell the reader a little bit about who we are as a culture. The wardroom, of course, is where the officers will dine; morning, noon and evening. It is not only a place to eat – it is also a kind of oasis from the sometimes dreary, often difficult exigencies of the service. A place of social discourse, of momentary relief from the burdens of the day. The only things explicitly forbidden by inviolable tradition in the wardroom are the wearing of a cover or sword by an officer not actually on watch, or conversation which touches upon politics or religion. But aboard ships which observe the custom, another implicit taboo concerns the empty chair: No matter how crowded the room, no matter who is waiting to be seated, that chair is never moved, never taken.

The table is by the main entrance to the wardroom. You will see it when you enter, and you will see it when you leave. It draws your eyes because it is meant to. And because it draws your eyes it draws your thoughts. And though it will be there every day for as long as you are at sea, you will look at it every time and your eyes will momentarily grow distant as you think for a moment. As you quietly give thanks.

AS YOU REMEMBER.

The small, round table is covered with a gold linen tablecloth. A single place setting rests there, of fine bone china. A wineglass stands upon the table, inverted, empty. On the dinner plate is a pinch of salt. On the bread plate is a slice of lemon. Besides the plate lies a bible. There is a small vase with a single red rose upon the table. Around the vase is wound a yellow ribbon. There is the empty chair.

We will remember because over the course of our careers, we will have had the opportunity to enjoy many a formal evening of dinner and dancing in the fine company of those with whom we have the honor to serve, and their lovely ladies. And as the night wears on, our faces will in time become flushed with pleasure of each other’s company, with the exertions on the dance floor, with the effects of our libations. But while the feast is still at its best, order will be called to the room – we will be asked to raise our glasses to the empty table, and we will be asked to remember:

The table is round to show our everlasting concern for those who are missing. The single setting reminds us that every one of them went to their fates alone, that every life was unique.

The tablecloth is gold symbolizing the purity of their motives when they answered the call to duty.

The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing, and their loved ones who kept the faith.

The yellow ribbon around the vase symbolizes our continued determination to remember them.

The slice of lemon reminds us of the bitterness of their fate.
The salt symbolizes the tears shed by those who loved them.
The bible represents the faith that sustained them.
The glass is inverted — they cannot share in the toast.
The chair is empty — they are not here. They are missing.

And we will remember, and we will raise our glasses to those who went before us, and who gave all that they had for us. And a part of the flush in our faces will pale as we remember that nothing worth having ever came without a cost. We will remember that many of our brothers and sisters have paid that cost in blood. We will remember that the reckoning is not over.

We many of us will settle with our families into our holiday season, our Christmas season for those who celebrate it, content in our fortune and prosperity. We will meet old friends with smiles and laughter. We will meet our members of our family with hugs. We will eat well, and exchange gifts and raise our glasses to the year passed in gratitude, and to the year to come with hope. We will sleep the sleep of the protected, secure in our homes, secure in our homeland.

But for many families, there will be an empty chair at the table this year. A place that is not filled.

WE SHOULD REMEMBER."

Many Thanks To Alfa6 For Finding Capt. Lefon's Chronicle Of "The Empty Chair."

"Träumerei"
Robert Schumann
(Click)

Never Forget The Brave Men And Women Who Gave Their Lives To Secure Our Freedom!!

45 posted on 02/21/2014 7:24:55 PM PST by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 <center> <tab - St. Mlichael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)

To: AZamericonnie; All

46 posted on 02/21/2014 7:27:22 PM PST by Drumbo ("Democracy can withstand anything but democrats." - Jubal Harshaw (Robert A. Heinlein))

To: AZamericonnie; Kathy in Alaska; LUV W; HiJinx

This is comming soonbr>

47 posted on 02/21/2014 7:29:18 PM PST by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)

To: AZamericonnie; All

48 posted on 02/21/2014 7:29:46 PM PST by Drumbo ("Democracy can withstand anything but democrats." - Jubal Harshaw (Robert A. Heinlein))

Ugh! Glad I don’t have to deal with it! LOL!

49 posted on 02/21/2014 7:30:42 PM PST by luvie (All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!)

50 posted on 02/21/2014 7:32:03 PM PST by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)

To: AZamericonnie; All

51 posted on 02/21/2014 7:34:43 PM PST by Drumbo ("Democracy can withstand anything but democrats." - Jubal Harshaw (Robert A. Heinlein))

To: AZamericonnie; ConorMacNessa; Drumbo; Kathy in Alaska; LUV W; MS.BEHAVIN; left that other site

ROCKUMENTARY: FEBRUARY 22, 1964

#8 – The Rivieras: “California Sun”

The owner of the label was Mo Levy, the man credited for being the inspiration for the character Heschie from “The Sopranos”. Youse know what I mean.

The Rivieras: “California Sun”

52 posted on 02/21/2014 7:35:11 PM PST by Publius ("Who is John Galt?" by Billthedrill and Publius now available at Amazon.)

Good evening, Pro...((HUGS))...the weekend got here.

We have some good snow now. The local ski lifts are quite happy.

53 posted on 02/21/2014 7:35:30 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))

To: Kathy in Alaska

Good evening, Kathy!

*HUGS*

I am feeling better, thanks very much! The antibiotic I'm on now - Cefdenir - is doing a great job! The coughing jags are over and I'm finally able to get a deep, full draught of air.

I'm ready for the Weekend!

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

O stranger, tell the Lacedaemonians that we lie here, obedient to their command.

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

54 posted on 02/21/2014 7:39:32 PM PST by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 <center> <tab - St. Mlichael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)

February 22, 1964 was part of a three-day weekend due to Washington’s Birthday. We spent much of Monday, February 24 at Sears & Roebuck in Buena Park, Calif., where the top of our 1956 Buick Roadmaster convertible was being repaired. The weather was warm and sunny, much like it was today.

The Buick was a beautiful car with a powerful motor. It also had power windows. However, it also had a lot of bugs including a malfunctioning speedometer. I wanted to keep it, but we sold it for less than $200 in the spring of 1966.

55 posted on 02/21/2014 7:40:55 PM PST by Fiji Hill

To: AZamericonnie; All

56 posted on 02/21/2014 7:42:33 PM PST by Drumbo ("Democracy can withstand anything but democrats." - Jubal Harshaw (Robert A. Heinlein))

The Riverside Freeway was only 6 lanes in those days.

57 posted on 02/21/2014 7:43:06 PM PST by Publius ("Who is John Galt?" by Billthedrill and Publius now available at Amazon.)

To: AZamericonnie; All

58 posted on 02/21/2014 7:48:09 PM PST by Drumbo ("Democracy can withstand anything but democrats." - Jubal Harshaw (Robert A. Heinlein))

To: AZamericonnie

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

Bolt On Blake

February 22, 2014

Read: Hebrews 10:19-25

Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. —Hebrews 10:24

Bible in a Year:
Numbers 4-6; Mark 4:1-20

Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake of Jamaica made history when they finished first and second respectively in both the men’s 100-meter and 200-meter race in the 2012 London Olympics. Despite their rivalry on the track, Bolt paid tribute to Blake as a training partner: “Over the years, Yohan has made me a better athlete. He really pushed me and kept me on my toes.” It’s clear that the two spurred each other on to greatness on the track.

As believers in Christ, we have the privilege and responsibility of encouraging one another in our faith. The writer of Hebrews said, “Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” (Heb. 10:24).

The church is not just an institution or a mere social club. It is where we, who have been brought near to God and washed from sin, can help one another grow in Christlikeness. The purpose of meeting together as a corporate body is to exhort and encourage one another (vv.19-25).

No believer can function alone. To live as our Lord Jesus wants us to, we need the community of believers. As you meet with other believers, think of who you can come alongside and encourage by your words and actions to be more like the Christ we love and serve.

Before our Father’s throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
Our comforts and our cares. —Fawcett

A healthy church is the best witness to a hurting world.

59 posted on 02/21/2014 7:50:01 PM PST by The Mayor (Honesty means never having to look over your shoulder.)

Good evening, Maestro! Another outstanding Rockumentary!

22 February 1964 - I was a Junior at Taipei American High School and lived north of Taipei in the Village of Shant-ze-hou, Yangmingshan - referred to by us as "Grass Mountain."

A seminal influence on me in my formative days. And I remember vividly the first three entries in tonight's Rockumentary.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

O stranger, tell the Lacedaemonians that we lie here, obedient to their command.

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

60 posted on 02/21/2014 7:50:12 PM PST by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 <center> <tab - St. Mlichael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)

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