A Few of FR's Finest

Free Republic | Veteran's Day - November 11, 2001 | By Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest
We Salute You
and All Veterans and Active Service Men/Women

When Snow Bunny and I first opened the doors of the Freeper USO Canteen on October 7th, the response from all of you was overwhelming, and one of the suggestions we had came from Freeper, RightOnline. He asked why we didn't call for Freepers to submit their real photos in uniform and picture them at the Canteen. We did just that, and would like to share the photos and information we received since our request. I would like to thank 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub for his help in publicizing the "vet photo drive", and Snow Bunny for her help in soliciting and collecting information so that I could sort and put together this collection, but most of all I'd like to thank ALL of you who have served or are serving our country. You have given so much to make America a better place. Even though the following information and photographs represent only a portion of Free Republic, my thanks go to those who so graciously responded to our call.

bosniajmc: U.S. Army, active CPT, TF 1-155 IN(M) JMC/IO;   AFVetGal: U.S. Air Force, '75-'95, Public Affairs Ofc - Desert Storm;   Archy: U.S. Army 1966-'70; late '70's-early '80's Dept of Army civilian employee, traded to Navy to work with Marines. 1992 til July, 2001 - U.S. Air Force - Lieutenant; July, 2001 to present Army, assigned with a reserve mobilization/training unit - Battalion Staff Officer.    A Navy Vet: U.S. Navy, '76-'86, USS New Orleans LPH-11 '76-'79 (the New Orleans is to be berthed next to the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA as a naval museum), USS Barbey FF1088 '83-'86;   4TheFlag: U.S. Army, '71-'74;   Aeronaut: U.S. Navy, '65-'69;   68 Grunt: 1st Marine Div, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, India Company, third platoon '68-'69. In '68 the battalion was known as "The Suicide Battalion".   xinga: photo 1986 B-52/G 1983-88 EWO;    codger: Photo Viet Nam 1966, Major, commanding 2nd Platoon, 48th Assault Helicopter Co - the "Blue Stars";   AAABest: Desert Shield/Storm 3/24 INF;   Clinton's A Liar: U.S.A.R. '91-'99 353rd PSYOP CO (R&A);   Duke809: 314 Tac Airlift Wing '73-'75; 724th TASS, a FAC unit in West Germany '75-'77; 111th TAC Fighter Wing, PA Air Guard '81-'89;   dcwusmc: U.S. Marine Corp. retired.

Logos served in the United States Army from 1962-83.   SwedeGirl's husband was a 1st Lieutenant in the photo above, serving in Viet Nam 1/9 CAV Huey Lift Pilot 1969-70.   Neil E. Wright's photo was taken in 1977 at CTF 72/ComPatWingsWestpac, Kamiseya, JA. He was in the Navy.   FallGuy, Snow Bunny's husband, also served in the Navy on the USS KULA GULF.   1John submitted his photo in uniform and asked us to "guess the year" it was taken; hopefully he will provide that information since no one guessed correctly!   Sneakypete's photo was taken after he returned from a mission in Laos, Viet Nam in 1969.   T'wit's photo in uniform was taken during the famed "Berlin Crisis" of 1960.   COB1 sent his photo from his first liberty out of Boot Camp.   LadyX was a Marine in the Korean Conflict. She was a Classroom Subjects Instructor for women recruits at Parris Island.   Dick Bachert submitted this photo from the U.S.A.F. when he was 24 years old.   68-69TonkinGulfYatchClubU.S. Navy GMG3, '66-69, USS Corry DD817.   YankeeinSC, husband of Commonsense, is a Viet Nam Air Force veteran. His photo was taken on the recent Freeper Cruise.   Delta 21 is currently serving in the U.S. Navy, going on 20 years.   JoeSixPack1 is retired from the U.S.M.C.

mc5cents: Photo was taken in Saigon, 1965;   Norb2569:U.S. Marines '70-'92 Gunnery Sgt.;   LBGA's son, Tyler: Active, Blackhawk Repair Specialist & Crew Chief, Korea; recently accepted to 160th Task Force, training to drop Delta Force units; Van Jenerette: U.S. Army;   Jim Robinson: Photo 1968. U.S. Navy. '65-'66 Higbee (DD806); '66-'68 USS Hull (DD945); '68-'69 Wiltsie (DD716);   K Jenerette: U.S. Army;   davidosborne: active USAR, Balkans; Ft. Bragg NC Airborne '94-2000;  The KG9 Kid:U.S. Marine Corp., photo 1987 at Boot Camp;   gwmoore:U.S. Navy '66-'72, RadioMan 2nd Class, Viet Nam 1970 (Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club), USS America (CVA-66). Currently Search & Rescue Pilot with Civil Air Patrol.   Equality7-2521: U.S. Navy '87-'92 Aviation Electronic Technician 2nd Class assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 5, deployed onboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69);   SAMWolf:U.S. Army 1969-'71, Viet Nam/Germany.

porgygirl: Submarine Force 1955-1969;   Phil V.: RA 19849878 SP5 1965-1968;   MudPuppy: U.S.Marine Corp. 1982-'93 Sgt., Presently working as a government contractor on a marine base.   NorCoGOP: U.S. Navy;   RaceBannon: U.S.M.C. '77-'81 MOS7242 Cherry Point '78-'79; Kaneohe Bay '79-'81; deployed off Iran in '80 by Jimmy Carter for the Hostage Rescue Attempt.   OneidaM: U.S. Army 1977-1987;   rdb3: 82nd Airborne @ Ft. Bragg, NC;    JWTexian: U.S. Navy '68-'71, USS Independence (CVA-62) ABE-3;   USMC Vet: U. S. Marine Corp.;   The Mayor: U.S. Army '76-'79. Ft. Devens, MA; Assigned to Military Intelligence School. Photo taken 1976 in Basic training;   Vineyard: U.S. Navy 1974-80. U.S. Navy Reserves 80-present. Captain;   rhododogma:Navy GMG 1, SEAL Team 2, BUD/S class 150, Operation Just Cause, Operation Desert Shield. aka Dave Rogers,currently running as a Republican Candidate for Congress, District 1, Rhode Island.

spectre: Lackland AFB basic training (photo taken in TI's ofc, wearing TI's hat!);   RightOnline: '77 Grad USAF Academy; '78-'84 flew KC-135 air re-fueling tankers for Strategic Air Command (Castle AFB, CA and Dyess AFB, TX. 917th AREFS);   SERE_Doc: U.S. Navy Corpsman - Guatemala SA;  Tet68: RVN VMA-223, VMA-314 '66-'68 - Viet Nam. Plane Captain A-4 Sky Hawk Ground Attach Aircraft; '68 Lance Cpl;   Future Snake Eater: (RightOnline's son) Army National Guard, NC; Bradley Fighting Vehicle drive in a Mobile infantry unit. Army ROTC at NCSU - will receive his commission as an Army officer in about a year and a half. He aims for Special Forces;  RightOnline'sWife: U.S.A.F. 7 years, Staff Sgt.; air traffic controller for AF;   CIApilot: "Dear Talibunnies, Do not underestimate the power of America's 'PMS' patriots." Captain DC3, B-727, B-757. Previously: Air America and Torrejon AFB, Madrid, Spain '66-'69;   clamper1797: U.S. Navy '72-'73, Viet Nam; AME-3 VA-93 CVA41 Member Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club;   usmcobra: U.S.M.C. Photo was taken in 1985;   onedoug: 1/1 CAV, Americal I Corps RVN 1968-69;   Diver Dave: U.S. Navy '63-'67 SFP2 (DV) (Pipefitter 2nd Class Diver) USS Piedmont (AD-17) (Destroyer Tender) Home port: San Diego; WESTPAC Tours: 3 ('64, '65, '67);   Joe 6-pack: U.S. Army 1991-2000.

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I heard from many others who didn't send a photo, but I'd like to include a bit of information they shared with me. An especially poignant note came from Dick Bachert, who wrote: "Just wanted to remember at least one of the guys with whom I served at Belvoir and who would be a Freeper today -- but can't -- because his name graces that Wall in DC.  Andy Shimp from Skokie, Illinois, died in Vietnam toward the end of that miserable travesty. One of the nicest guys I've ever known."

But for the tragic accident that took his life on the night of October 3, 2001, CHIEF negotiator would be among those veteran Marines pictured above. Instead, CHIEF, we know you're looking down from a higher place, and we salute you.


CIApilot sent the picture at left of her uncle and had this to say: "My uncle Harry Kennedy, 2nd from left, standing. 8th AF, 94th Bobm Group, 333rd Sq., B-17 Heavy Bombers 'Jimbo's Circus.' He passed away recently, but would have liked to be included in the Freeper USO Canteen. He loved to fly."

CIA, this one's for your uncle, God rest his soul.

I wonder how many FReepers have served in more than one war. I know one very special Veteran who's been at FR almost from the beginning. Invictus, you were there for us in World War II, and again in Korea, as a Chaplain, when your country needed you. Oh, the stories you can tell. Thank you for serving, and please come back to FR. We miss you.

Mark 17: U.S.A.F. '67-'87 M Sgt. 1877th Communications Squadron, Bien Hoa Air Base RVN 14;  gcraig: U.S. Navy - USS Midway & USS Nimitz - Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Now Air Nat'l Guard, NC 19 yrs service;   91B: NCAR NG;   AlGone2001: U.S.A.F. '83-'84 Lackland AFB, TX basic training; '84-'86 Spangdahlem AB, Germany 2137 ISS; '86-'89 Robins AFB, GA 5th Combat Communications Group; '89-'96 Georgia Air National Guard;   LiteKeeper: '66 2nd LT - Field Artillery. Viet Nam '67-'69 1st Lt & CPT in country. 199th Lt Inf Bde & II FFORV-Artillery. 2 bronze stars for Valor; Purple Heart; 5 Air Medals. 1970 transfer to Military Intelligence CA Army Nat'l Guard (Field Artillery) '72-'85; Active '85-'95 Chaplain (Major);   Pumba: U.S. Army vet - Bosnia. About to go active Navy.   Little Bill: 1965-68 - 2 tours with the 25th. First 6 mo w/ MACV, radio humper;   pcpa: 15B40 (Sgt. Missles) 1st Battalion 68th Field Artillery Schwabish Hall, Germany '68-'70;   HillarysGateCult: U.S.A.F. Lackland AFB, Tx Basic Training. '79-'80 Lowry AFB, Colorado Aircraft Armaments Systems Specialist 4623 OJ FB-111. '80-'82 Plattsburgh AFB, NY, '82-'87 Anderson AFB, Germany; '87-'88 Edwards AFB, Calif; '92-'98 Contractor/instructor - Royal Saudi Air Force;   Don Paul Jones: MP & U.S. Army Airborne School (Class 40-86);   SurferDoc: U.S. Army and Nat'l Guard '64-'70;  connectthedots: U.S. Army '75-'79 Ft. Lewis, WA;   rangerx: U.S.M.A. '78; 82nd Abn Div '79-'80; 1/75th Ranger Bn '80-'82; 24th Infantry Div '82-'84; 11th Armored Cav '86-'88; JFK Special Warfare Center SERE Instructor '88-'90; XVIII Airborne Corp Arty '90-'92;   Taxman: U.S. Navy/ U.S.N.R. '63-'91 Naval Aviator, Tailhooker;   brityank: U.S.N.R. '61-'63. FT 'A' School, Great Lakes, Ill '63; U.S. Navy '63-'67 USS Mt. McKinley (AGC-7) Portsmouth, VA Drydock to Gitmoto San Dieto '63-'64; USS Princeton (LPH-5), Long Beach, CA to WestPac '64-'67;   dakine: U.S.A.F. 19 years - still active;   g'nad: active duty, U.S.M.C.;   cmotormac44: 1944 Veteran;   JohnD9207: Sgt. U.S. Army (retired);   SC Swamp Fox: U.S. Navy '83-'93 USS Saratoga (CV-60)   razorback-bert: U.S. Army '68-'69;   HEFFERNAN 2: U.S.M.C. - Viet Nam;   Vermonter: FTG2, 1968-69 USS Robert H. McCard DD822;   fnord: U.S.M.C. 1975-1979.   Mustang: U.S. Navy LCDR;  Vets_Husband_and_Wife: Both served during Viet Nam. I linked their profile page and urge to to read it.

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Finally, I asked Snow Bunny to join me in this tribute. There is no FReeper who loves our men and women of the military more than she does, nor does more for them than she does, and without her, there would be no FReeper USO Canteen.

*****************************************
Veterans' Day
11th Hour, 11th Day, 11th Month

Please take a few moments from your busy day to pause, reflect, and thank those who have served our country. Please show respect and honor to those who answered the call to serve their country. Tell your children about Veterans. Pass on a legacy of trust, integrity, honor, faith, and determination. Patriotism lives on!

We remember all those who have died for flag and country, duty and honor, truth and justice. For those left behind, we have not forgotten you.

On this Veteran's Day, from the bottom of our hearts and the depth of our soul, Thank you Veteran, welcome home, job well done, we are so very proud of you!
~~~Snow Bunny

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In closing, I offer this link to a thread I found on the forum. It was posted on January 22nd of this year: Thank you, Veterans.....May I Salute You?
~~~Billie

[Billie]

Hi, Norb - I've been very quiet on the thread, just reading and loving every word all of you have written, and I have every intention of getting around to thanking all of you privately or here with a post. I felt it would save room if I just let you all have your say. Thank you, Norb, for your service. I thank every one of you again, and wish you a wonderful parade tomorrow.

[Diver Dave]

I humbly concede.

[mafree]

God bless all veterans and a special tribute to my father and two uncles who all served in the Korean War. All three now rest in veterans graves.

Also a special "shout-out" to my brother who served in the Army Reserve and to my foster brother who served in the Marines and the Army.

Special salute to all FReepers who are veterans.

Thanks for serving and may God bless you all.

[Delta-Boudreaux]

Veteran's Day bump.

[Snow Bunny]

Sleep well my friend. ((( hug )))

[FReethesheeples]

;^)

Kudos & FReeregards,

[Norb2569]

I just printed this for my elderly WWII veteran neighbor, who still calls today "Armistice Day." He is very pleased to learn that FR is such a patriotic forum, "stocked with veterans, or 'true Americans'" as he refers to you all.

That was a WONDERFUL GESTURE! I am sure it really touched his heart.

I am gonna take a hint fom you and do the same for my neighbor!!

HEY FREEPERS, FOLLOW ONYX'S LEAD!

Semper Fi,
Norb

[mafree]

I forgot to especially thank Billie for the fantastic work done on the photo display and I wanted to thank Snow Bunny for her super spirit toward our Armed Forces. God bless both of you great ladies!

[CARepubGal]

Thank you Billie!

On behalf of my immigrant grandpa (US Army, WW1), my two uncles (Navy and Army Air Corps WW2), cousin USMC Vietnam and cousin USAF reserve 2001. Thanks Freeper Vets for all you have done! May G-d bless and keep all of you current and former service people.

Freegards from the Left Coast,

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you. Billie did such a beautiful job getting all the photo's together. It is so great to have you hear and I thank you so much for your kindess and support .

[Leroy S. Mort]

Yeh, I was gonna tell him what a cutie he is; but I didn't want him to get the big head. ;>)

That pic was before a dissolute life made me the Sean Connery lookalike I am today. LOL

[onyx]

Thanks Norb. My neighbor is now thinking about getting a computer so that he can join FR! I'm busy coping some of your profiles for him. Enjoy your parade tomorrow. You're a hero, all vets are.

[Mark17]

Thanks for serving and may God bless you all.

Thank you kindly.

[RightOnline]

"tonycavanagh should be credited too, as he is a member of the British military.

Not just American Freepers who are fighting for liberty, you know! ;)"

Absolutely, Ivan.

Tony............you da man. Don't you think for a SECOND that we forget who our friends are........and I mean our true friends. You've put it on the line for Queen and Country.......but also for Freedom. Your brethren in arms from the UK are out there with our folks in uniform as of this writing, and they'll come through exactly as they always have: with dedication, spirit, unflagging commitment to victory........and honor.

Thanks for "being there". Proud to have you with us.

[RightOnline]

"I'm proud to be counted among all the REAL vets that are on this site. I don't feel I measure up to any of 'em yet."

OK, you two........listen up. You HAVE stepped up. No, you haven't gone "active" yet, but both of you have made commitments and are willing to put your lives on the line for your Country. FSE, you've raised your right hand already and have sworn to "defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic", have gone through Army Basic Training, and have been serving with the Army National Guard for a couple of years (and still do) even before you accept the honor of a commission shortly. Guys, neither of you did these things lightly......

.......and you both (and others like you) deserve to be recognized on this thread.

[RightOnline]

Y'all really want to get an even bigger lump in the throat..............click on the links in my reply #143; the "Salute to FReeper Veterans: Check In!" threads from the last couple of years. Some of 'em will floor you. God bless.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Cool! I've wanted to see a pic of you from your CamouflageChick^TM days. ;)

[The KG9 Kid]

Heheh... Yeah, I saw your picture. Didn't know 'till last night that I was in it too.

:]

Semper Fi!

[ST.LOUIE1]

I humbly concede.

"Humbly"? I don't think so. LOL

BTW...I want to thank you, and all the other vets for your service to our great country.

Your very special, and America loves you.