USO Canteen FReeper Style....Thursday....April 25,2002

Graphics and Layout by Billie and Written by Snow Bunny and a Thank you to Mama_Bear Today!

[Snow Bunny]

Anchors Aweigh

I am the American Sailor

Hear my voice, America! Though I speak through the mist of 200 years, my shout for freedom will echo through liberty's halls for many centuries to come. Hear me speak, for my words are of truth and justice, and the rights of man. For those ideals I have spilled my blood upon the world's troubled waters. Listen well, for my time is eternal - yours is but a moment.

I am the spirit of heroes past and future. I am the American Sailor. I was born upon the icy shores at Plymouth, rocked upon the waves of the Atlantic, and nursed in the wilderness of Virginia. I cut my teeth on New England codfish, and I was clothed in southern cotton. I built muscle at the halyards of New Bedford whalers, and I gained my sea legs high atop mizzen of Yankee clipper ships.

Yes, I am the American Sailor, one of the greatest seamen the world has ever known. The sea is my home and my words are tempered by the sound of paddle wheels on the Mississippi and the song of whales off Greenland's barren shore. My eyes have grown dim from the glare of sunshine on blue water, and my heart is full of star-strewn nights under the Southern Cross.

My hands are raw from winter storms while sailing down round the Horn, and they are blistered from the heat of cannon broadside while defending our nation. I am the American Sailor, and I have seen the sunset of a thousand distant, lonely lands. I am the American Sailor. It was I who stood tall beside John Paul Jones as he shouted, "I have not yet begun to fight!" I fought upon the Lake Erie with Perry, and I rode with Stephen Decatur into Tripoli harbor to burn Philadelphia.

I met Guerriere aboard Constitution, and I was lashed to the mast with Admiral Farragut at Mobile Bay. I have heard the clang of Confederate shot against the sides of Monitor. I have suffered the cold with Peary at the North Pole, and I responded when Dewey said, "You may fire when ready Gridley," at Manila Bay. It was I who transported supplies through submarine infested waters when our soldier's were called "over there." I was there as Admiral Byrd crossed the South Pole. It was I who went down with the Arizona at Pearl Harbor, who supported our troops at Inchon, and patrolled dark deadly waters of the Mekong Delta.

I am the American Sailor and I wear many faces. I am a pilot soaring across God's blue canopy and I am a Seabee atop a dusty bulldozer in the South Pacific. I am a corpsman nursing the wounded in the jungle, and I am a torpedoman in the Nautilus deep beneath the North Pole. I am hard and I am strong.

But it was my eyes that filled with tears when my brother went down with the Thresher, and it was my heart that rejoiced when Commander Shepherd rocketed into orbit above the earth. It was I who languished in a Viet Cong prison camp, and it was I who walked upon the moon. It was I who saved the Stark and the Samuel B. Roberts in the mine infested waters of the Persian Gulf. It was I who pulled my brothers from the smoke filled compartments of the Bonefish and wept when my shipmates died on the Iowa and White Plains. When called again, I was there, on the tip of the spear for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

I am the American Sailor. I am woman, I am man, I am white and black, yellow, red and brown. I am Jew, Muslim, Christian and Buddhist. I am Irish, Filipino, African, French, Chinese, and Indian. And my standard is the outstretched hand of Liberty. Today, I serve around the world, on land, in air, on and under the sea. I serve proudly, at peace once again, but with the fervent prayer that I need not be called again.

Tell your children of me. Tell them of my sacrifice, and how my spirit soars above their country. I have spread the mantle of my nation over the ocean and I will guard her forever. I am her heritage and yours.

I AM THE AMERICAN SAILOR
Author unknown.


In Loving Memory
CDR. Clyde D. Killion, USN
YO1 L. H. Nash, USN

[MistyCA]

LMAO! I loved Popeye! This is great. My dad and brother were Sailors!

[MistyCA]

Good morning Mama Bear! Thanks for the ping and I am so glad to see Bunny used your profile for the inspiration of this thread! Not only is that a great honor to your men who served in the Navy, but it also brings my own dad to mind...and my brother. So Thanks so much for adding your profile to FR! :)

[Victoria Delsoul]

Good afternoon, everyone! Another beautiful thread, Bunny. Thank you!

BOATS

He was one hell of a sailor
A Boatswains Mate all the way through
Crossed hooks on the sleeve of his jumper
The job real men chose to do

In a storm with all hatches battened
He was topside to see all was secure
He double checked all the tie downs
Then again, just to make sure
You might say he had just one failing
He really like wearing his whites

He was one sharp looking sailor
On a liberty, and seeing the sights
But at sea when we sailed into battle
Dungarees is what we all wore
And if you were killed in the battle
You'd never wear whites anymore

In this case we made an exception
When his life was ended one day
We made sure he was properly dressed
He was special, what more can you say
The crew all stood by the railing
And the Skipper had a few words to say

We saluted and stood at attention
When his body was tilted away
No more G.G.'s he would answer
No more bloody battles and fights
But when "Boats" left us forever
By God, he was wearing his whites

-- LCDR Bob Prinselaar

[MeekOneGOP]

Alright! My uncle and cousin were Navy too! I don't know when or if they're gonna have Air Force Day (my Dad was career Air Force....hint!....hint! :O) ), but I can't wait for that so I can post something from "No Time for Sergeants!" :O)

[Snow Bunny]

We all Love you Mama_Bear.

(((((( hug )))))))

Thank you for being in our lives and touching our hearts in so many ways.

God bless you and your family always.

[ST.LOUIE1]

But then, when I went on to read the sweet things you said about me,

Bunny knows a *sweet* bear when she sees one.

You, Diver, JimRob and all the rest who give of their time deserve many kudos.

You're all special, fuzzy. : )

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"The parrot was saying, "By God, when I say fall out in dress whites, I don't mean khakis!"

I can't stop laughing! THANKS!!!!

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Billie, I LOVE that picture of you !!!

You read my mind Billie. I tried so hard to try and figure out how to just get that ONE picture from the Canteen opening we have that you made. And I am so stupid with stuff like that and couldn't do it.

I wanted to put that picture of you at the opening today where I have my doll and signature. Right next to it.

So a BIG thank you for posting it .I LOVE it, you look so cute.

Now I will save this one since you seperated it for me. hahahaa...Gosh you know so much about computers and graphics and how to do things.

Have a fantastic day !

[Snow Bunny]

LOL.....Sam I love the US Navy Oath of Enlistment.And how true too! hahaahahhaa

Also the teddybear is so precious, gosh I love Teddybears. Mine are all anxious about their deployment and relocation to Oregon. heh heh

Thank you again soooo much.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Jim Robinson's US Navy Service:

US Navy: Enlisted 1965 - 1969, Honorable Discharge

Rating: Third Class Petty Officer, Interior Communications Electrician. Was eligible for promotion to Second Class Petty Officer, but elected not to extend enlistment.

Sea Duty: USS Higbee (DD806), USS Hull (DD945), USS Wiltsie (DD716). Home ports: Long Beach; San Diego; Mare Island; Yokosuka, Japan; Subic Bay, Philippines. Other Ports of call: Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Chilung (Keelung), Midway, Guam, Pearl Harbor, Bremerton, WA

Action: Cruised to WestPac, in 1965 - 1966, and 1967 - 1968, aboard the destroyers Higbee and Hull, engaged enemy off the coast of Vietnam while delivering Naval gunfire support to forces ashore.

Awards: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation

"On 19 January 1968 the veteran destroyer [USS Hull DD945] began her third and most recent Vietnam deployment. Conducting shore bombardment missions along the south coast and in the Demilitarized Zone, Hull poured over 25,000 rounds of five-inch ammunition into enemy strongholds and destroyed or damaged over 220 structures and bunkers. On seven occasions North Vietnamese gunners in the DMZ took her under fire, but in each instance she managed to escape damage while directing a barrage of her own fire at the attacking batteries. As a result of her performance during this deployment, the ship was awarded the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation."

[Snow Bunny]

OH Sassy, I love the Navy bear, what a cutie he is.

[Teacup]

Hi everyone. I see the USS Cole is back home. Welcome back, USS Cole.

[Snow Bunny]

HI IG, thank you soooo much for the delicious breakfast.I really appreciate it!!

Hope you have a fabulous day IG.

(( hug )))

[whoever]

Thanks very much, Snow Bunny. Wonderful thread well done.

GO NAVY!!

[lodwick]

VietNam - Bobbie the WeatherGirl

[Teacup]

The USS Cole is pushed to the pier as it returns to the Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va., Thursday April 25, 2002. The USS Cole returned to its home port a year and a half after a bomb ripped it open and killed 17 of its sailors in Yemen.

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you BIS!

Whispering......( I love that you are married to a Marine, and appreciate you stopping in to say hi to the Navy) heh heh......

FallGuy is Navy and always says it is ok that I LOVE the Marines and Army so much! He always kids me about it.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Please report in Sandy. It's Navy Day at the USO Canteen!
Thank You for your service to our country.

[Snow Bunny]

Tonkin, what a great post. Thank you sooooo much!

(((( hug ))))

[Pippin]

Sassy! How are you? How's your day so far? I love the Navy theme, my bro-in-law was in the Navy. Say "Hi" to Kneezles. SeeYa later when we can have a bit of fun with those "BAD BOYS".hehehe