USO Canteen FReeper Style....FReeper FRiday ....GATOR NAVY ......August 23,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

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If you know a Veteran, someone in your family,
friend of the family, neighbor, who served their
country, take a brief moment of your day to thank them.
Thank them for the sacrifice they made
for the better good of their country.

We at Free Republic, and the USO Canteen FReeper Style,
are thankful for every service member
in our military, who has served our great nation.

So, to the men and women who answered the call,
in both times of war and peace, thank you.

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Message from Snow Bunny to all those who visit the Canteen.

This is how I think of the USO Canteen Freeper Style.
It is like a cottage down a road,
a place where a weary veteran can spend the night.

Since it opened, it is magical how so many
Freepers who post here, feel it too.
It has been so dear how the Freepers
kept making it a cottage - a home-type of place
that had a huge living room
for them to visit in and a dance floor, a library, etc.

Many Veterans have written to me,
saying that the Canteen is like home
to them for the first time since they served.

This is your Canteen -
a respite from our busy
and sometimes troubling world.
Make yourself at home.

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The USO Canteen Honors FReepers
who have served, or are now serving their country.

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You may have a loved one who has served in the past.
We at the FReeper USO Canteen would like to honor each and every one.

Thank You GATOR NAVY for Serving our Country

Because 5 of 6 ships I have been on have been amphibious ships,
or "gators".

Also, my job is navigation, or a 'gator.

I am a Chief Petty Officer and just went
over 20 years service this March.

My ships have been :
USS CROMMELIN (FFG-37) plankowner
USS BRISTOL COUNTY (LST-1198)
USS ST LOUIS (LKA-116)
USS SAN BERNARDINO (LST-1189) decomm crew
USS DUBUQUE (LPD-8)
USS JUNEAU (LPD-10)

I have been stationed in Japan since 1990.
I am currently on shore duty near Tokyo,Japan/

Prior to this tour all my Japan time was in Sasebo, on Kyushu.

I have been happily married for over 9 years to my lovely wife Atsuko.

We have two sons, Takezo, age 7, and Shuzo, age 5.

Here is my son Takezo

Here is my son Shuzo

Although I read FR daily, I don't usually log on unless I want to
reply to a thread. But I will always get back to you (ask Snow Bunny)
sooner or later if you send something my way.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Meekie,good morning. I am off to bed very soon. hahaha

[JohnHuang2]

=^)

[MeekOneGOP]

Hey, FRiend! I was going to post the big Laredo flag but the picture won't post now. I finally figured out how to uplink pics on my AT&T, thanks to SamWolf. Any way I could persuade you to put it up long enough for me to upload it on my computer? (BIG smile here)........

This flag (in Laredo, Texas) was completed Sunday May 26,
2002, just in time for Memorial Day. It is the tallest flagpole
in the United States. It is 308 feet tall, weighs 52 tons, and
flies a 100-foot by 50-foot flag. It cost $300,000, which was
paid for by The Laredo National Bank.

[Snow Bunny]

oh wow HI there. Good to see you!!!

giggle yesssss it sure is Football season. Yipeeeee!!!!!

I hope I see you later. I am going to sleep now, actually I think I am typing this in my sleep.. hahahaa

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Bunny.

[larryjohnson]

Good mornin from the comments section in Maine. 55 and sunny. I seem to be getting up with the sun and staying up later. Wif is planning som kind of beach picnic late this afternoon. So I will have to be a nice host.

[piasa]

Link to send e-mail to a specific ship

[piasa]

USS Shreveport

[larryjohnson]

Hey Navy. Now I know what a gator is.Thanks for your Service to our Country. Come to the USO when you can. Most of the fun seems to be on Japan time. What a beautiful family you have!...

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Larry

[piasa]

[larryjohnson]

Good mornin,For...

[piasa]

This Bud's for you... and for the Gator Fleet.

[Jen]

Gator Navy - thank you for allowing us to honor you today! You deserve our recognition for helping to defend our country for 20+ years! I salute you and thank you for your contribution to our nation's defense. Thank you also to your beautiful family!

~~~~~SALUTE~~~~~

Jen

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Special Dedication to our Military Members
who are Working to Protect and Defend our Country
and Especially to an Active Duty Hero - Gator Navy!

"Hero" by Mariah Carey

MIDI version

MP3 version

[piasa]

Uh, never mind... too early in the morning for that.

:-D

[RaceBannon]

Gator Navy...ahhh, the memories of those small ships bouncing inthe Atlantic and Western Pacific... Here is the Lamoure County, LST 1194, September 1978, off Denmark, heading in to Eschburg for Northern Wedding/Bold Guard 78. I was attached to MASS-1 then.

[RaceBannon]

OOPS, Wrong description!!! That is off the Shetland Islands inside a landing craft. We were hitting the beach on the URA Firth, a nice day for September I guess, we were so glad to get off the boat and on land, whether dry or not. Funny thing, after 24 hours in that peat bog in 50 degree rain and fog, we were so glad to be back on the boat!! The seas were kind of rough there, we were all standing ashore, when one of us noticed we all were swaying back and forth like we were on the ship! It was hilarious! Ok, HERE is the pic of us off Denmark. This is a normal scene off the bow in the North Atlantic. You literally have to put somethign under your tray inthe chow hall or else your tray will slide off the table, just like in the cartoons!

[RaceBannon]

And by the way, a BUMP to you, Gator Navy! When in doubt, empty the magazine!! Thanks for still being there while the rest of us got out!

[Pippin]

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY!

[Jen]