USO Canteen FReeper FRiday.......June 21,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

We are honored to introduce to you
G'nad

...."My mom always said she wasn't surprised I wanted to be a Marine...I still love scars and bruises...I acquired quite a collection over the years...

Newly commissioned, boot 2ndLt g'nad......

1stLt and Mrs. g'nad headed for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball. She's my best friend...my reality check...God has blessed me with her.

Above and Below...Desert Storm, cleaned up afterwards ... somewhere in Kuwait.......

Reunion with Mrs. g'nad, this photo ran in the OkiMar Edition of Stars and Stripes.......

On the range at 29 Palms with a buddy, our custom rifles, and M-14s...Life is good!.......

Winter warfare training with some of my Marines at the Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, CA. I'm the one standing far left. This was with 2d Marine Regiment... my best time, and my best Marines.......

The family as of Nov '01. Rebecca, Mrs. g'nad, Jake and me on the beach at Emerald Isle, NC.

I knew I wanted to be a Marine since I was three-years-old. I signed my Delayed Entry Program papers in Oct of my senior year, but in December the Officer Selection Officer (OSO) asked me if I wanted to try for an NROTC Scholarship. I never had any intention of being an officer, and my family was too poor for me to even consider college. I was accepted and attended Iowa State University and OCS, and was commissioned. I owe the Marine Corps a great debt.

. Still on active duty as a Major at Headquarters Marine Corps...my first desk job, and it's killin' me...

Been a lot of places, seen a lot of things... some bad, some good. But I have always served with the finest of men, Marines.

I trust in Jesus as my Lord and Savior...I believe in Duty, Honor, Sacrifice, Integrity...

I believe that there is no substitute for hard work... that pain is a good thing...if no one's shooting at you, there is nothing to stress about...oh yes, and beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy...

Die first, then quit.......

G'nad

Thank you G’nad for serving our country and for sharing with us here at the FReeper USO Canteen. It is an honor and blessing to know you.

[lodwick]

Beyond Terror, a book review

This sounds like a worthy read.

Everyone enjoy the longest day of the year. ;-)

[daisyscarlett]

"I believe in Duty, Honor, Sacrifice, Integrity..."

Your Mom must be very proud of you....Thank you for your service to our country. You have a lovely wife and children, too....God Bless you and them....

[Billie]

I'm so glad to see you featured today, g'friend; nice to see all of these photos here. Especially like the one of you and Mrs g'nad's reunion! Those kind are always the sweetest. :)

Thanks for Your Service, g'nad!

And your family is adorable. Thanks for sharing them with me earlier. Have a great day. : )

[Billie]

Whoo Hoo! Love your new signature - goes well with the crown, doesn't it! : )

[g'nad]

Thanks Jinx! It's a pleasure to serve with and for the likes of you. God bless ya brother!

[Diver Dave]

GREAT profile Snow and g'nad.

Thanks for continuing to serve this Great Country, The Corps, Your Family; and Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

From an old squid, SALUTE!

[Diver Dave]

Thanks for the photo essay, SAM.

In the hustle and bustle of our lives, we need the reminders of 9-11, our troops in harms way, and sadly, the jolt of photos like these, that our men and women are sacrificing their lives for each and everyone of us.

Thanks for the daily reminders you provide.

Salute!

[MeekOneGOP]

This just came in today from the Mornin' News.......

Town to unveil likeness of hero - Audie Murphy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/703740/posts

Excerpt:

The memory of Audie Murphy as a hometown war hero soon won't be the only thing about him that casts a shadow over Greenville.

Starting Saturday, Interstate 30 drivers passing through Greenville will spot a tall, bronze statue of Mr. Murphy, World War II's most decorated combat soldier and a movie star in the '50s and '60s.

The statue of Mr. Murphy who received the Medal of Honor and every decoration for valor the United States offered will be unveiled in a ceremony at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum in Greenville, about 50 miles northeast of Dallas. The ceremony falls on Greenville's Audie Murphy Days, an annual Friday and Saturday celebration of Mr. Murphy's life that is scheduled close to his June 20 birthday.

"There's a patriotic feeling about a young man who did what he did in the war and was fighting for his country," said Leo Hackney, co-chair of Greenville's Sesquicentennial Committee. "It's amazing what he did."

The statue is the belated result of Greenville's sesquicentennial celebration in 2000, when leaders decided they wanted to build a lasting, meaningful symbol of Mr. Murphy and all Hunt County war veterans for generations to come.

"A hundred years from now ... they'll have some replica to look at that represents who came before them," said Jack Finney, co-chair of the Sesquicentennial Committee.

"We want our young people to know that people have sacrificed their lives so that you and I can be here and enjoy liberty."

The 10-foot statue, which rests on a five-foot granite base, depicts an actual war scene in France in 1945, where Mr. Murphy was personally credited with killing or wounding about 50 Germans and stopping an attack by enemy tanks.

Mr. Murphy's figure is hunched over, with his right foot perched on a pile of rocks. The statue will be lighted at night and will be surrounded by three flagpoles bearing an American flag, a Texas flag and possibly a city flag, officials said.

Soon after the statue is unveiled, work will begin on a wall engraved with the names of all Hunt County veterans who died in all wars, said Greenville sculptor Gordon Thomas.

"This statue is supposed to be a tribute and memorial to all of our veterans who have served their country in that capacity," he said.

< -snip- >

He received 33 awards for valor, even earning five decorations by France and Belgium for heroic fighting in nine major campaigns across Europe. When he returned to the United States, Mr. Murphy left for Hollywood and starred in 44 feature films, many of which were westerns. He also wrote poetry, several country songs and the biographical best seller To Hell and Back, published in 1949.

[SAMWolf]

Your Welcome, DD.

It breaks my heart to see those reminders of what our Freedom costs, but it makes it that more precious to me.

[Diver Dave]

Thanks for all the time and effort you put into these daily threads, Snow Bunny. Your efforts and those who help you are appreciated. The welcome home and expressions of gratitude to old vets like myself, the words of encouragement to today's troops are a far cry from what I and several others experienced while traveling about in uniform during the Viet Nam era. Though never spit upon, I did receive a lot of looks of disgust from folks who shook their heads in contempt at those of us in uniform. No reply necessary, I just wanted to say thanks.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Great opening, Bunny! Thanks so much g'nad for your patriotism, and your service to our Country.

God Bless you, and your family.

[ST.LOUIE1]

Cool! : )

[g'nad]

Thank you kindly ma'am. I appreciate the kind words...My mother was horrified when I signed up.

Her:"All Marines do is kill people!"
Me: "Yeah..."

She's cool with it now...;o)

[lodwick]

[g'nad]

Semper Fi, Marine! Your dedication is awesome. Thank you!

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning, Victoria.

Hope you're having a good day today. Nice Marine bear.

[Victoria Delsoul]

This is a Public Service Announcement, hehe.

Good morning, everyone. This is just a reminder that tomorrow I'll be posting music, and if you don't have Real Audio, here is the link to install it. Hope all of you be able to hear it because the music is great. Thanks so much.

LINK.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks Sam. Good morning.

I'm having a great day. How about you?

[daisyscarlett]

Thanks for posting those photos of the funeral of Sgt. First Class Peter P. Tycz. As we know, he left a wife and five young daughters. Very heartbreaking. God Bless him and all of our service men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in this war against terrorism....

[g'nad]

Thanks darlin', good to see you.

And your family is adorable. LOL! I can hear it now:

Me: "Jake, Miss Billie says you're adorable..."
Jake: "Am not!!! yah!...yah! yah! (punching and kicking the air in his best Bruce Lee impersonation...)

Believe it's me now???