USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Help Wanted ~ November 19 2002

68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub and FRiends of the Canteen

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"We're ready to shove off."

Standing by in case of trouble!
Bon Voyage! May the winds and seas be calm.

[Dubya]

One American Marine

A large group of Taliban soldiers are moving down a road when they hear a voice call from behind a sand-dune. "One American marine is better than ten Taliban!"

The Taliban commander quickly sends 10 of his best soldiers over the dune whereupon a gun-battle breaks out and continues for a few minutes, then silence.

The voice then calls out "One American marine is better than one hundred Taliban!" Furious, the Taliban commander sends his next best 100 troops over the dune and instantly a huge gunfight commences. After 10 minutes of battle, again silence.

The voice calls out again: "One American marine is better than one thousand Taliban!" The enraged Taliban Commander musters one thousand fighters and sends them across the dune. Cannon, rocket and machine gun fire ring out as a huge battle is fought. Then silence.

Eventually, one wounded Taliban fighter crawls back over the dune and with his dying words tells his commander: "Don't send any more men, its a trap!

There's actually two of them!"

[Kathy in Alaska]

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Tom O'Hara, St. Paul, Minnesota, Corps of Engineers, speaks with students from the Bagram School for Girls as he passes out supplies donated by McNair Elementary School in Fort Bragg, N.C. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Alfredo Jimenez Jr.

Elementary Schools Donate Supplies
By: Spc. Alfredo Jimenez Jr.
28th Public Affairs Detachment

BAGRAM, Afghanistan — Last Saturday a school in Afghanistan received a surprising gift from a couple of schoolhouses five thousand miles away The 450th Civil Affairs Battalion from Riverdale, Md., visited the Bagram School for Girls to present them with supplies donated by McNair Elementary School in Fort Bragg, N.C., and a school in St. Paul, Minn.

“We dropped off school supplies that were donated to (Lt. Gen. Dan McNeil, Combined Joint Task Force - 180 commander) by an elementary school from Fort Bragg,” said Maj. Mark Cepiel, who was in charge of the convoy that visited the site.

“I am here to help deliver the supplies that were sent from Minnesota,” said Lt. Col. Tom O’Hara, a representative of the St. Paul, Minn., Corps of Engineers.

It might have been the best day the school, that teaches first to sixth-grade girls, has had in a couple years, considering its recent despairing history.

The Taliban closed down the school because girls were not allowed to learn, but before that happened it was a very productive education facility.

“I’m very happy the Americans are here,” said Mohmmad Mostafa, a teacher at the school for the last two years. “Because of them we have the freedom to teach these girls all they need to learn for a better tomorrow.”

By accepting the supplies the school can enhance its teaching in math, Dari and Pashtu languages, geography, history, drawing, writing and science.“This was an opportunity to show Afghanistan that the American public is interested in what goes on here,” Cepiel said. “This says that we are fulfilling with the development of the country,” O’Hara said. “Schools are important in the infrastructure of Afghanistan in the long term.”

[Kathy in Alaska]

"Standing by in case of trouble!"

LOL! Tomkow has been begging all day to "steer". This should be interesting.

[Soaring Feather]

Hold on here now, I'm having to jump through hoops to find a band for this cruise!!

This guy has to tossed over the side captain, too, much to drink.
For Pete's sake look who has set up shop in my cabin!!

Okay I'm ready I have found something we can play around with!! Oooooh bentfeather, be careful, LOL

[Kathy in Alaska]

Boy oh boy, Ragtime, I can smell that piping hot pizza from here. Thanks. And I still have my key lime pie for dessert.

[Kathy in Alaska]

"Somehow we survived"

We did manage, didn't we!

[Soaring Feather]

Whoooooohoooo Way to go woman!

[Dubya]

"A Sailor's Tale"
United States Navy

Sailors are truly a breed of their own,
Falling in love with the salted seas,
Riding the waves from port to port,
Keeping America free.

They fight wholeheartedly with a vengeance, Facing their enemies with might, It cannot be counted the battles they've won, The wrongs against us, they've made right.

The sail continues into the deep blue, Even through the roughest of waves, Into oblivion they'll fight alone, In hopes for America to save.

They lay in their racks and dream of home, With the need of dry land under their feet, They kiss the photo of their girl, In earlier wars, they had front row seats.

Sailors man the cannons and shoot to sink, And send their foes, to a watery grave, They've given us their all, for many years, At Pearl Harbor, Old Glory still waves.

Through the centuries, many have died, Giving their lives in complete defense, While also fighting a war with stormy seas, Sailing blindly into fog so dense.

May God bless the men and women at sea.

[Soaring Feather]

I shall not worry with these men on board! We are safe girls, thank you Military for giving protection to the free world! God Bless You all.

[Kathy in Alaska]

ms feather, the entertainment on our cruise was superb. Thanks for the careful preparation and presentation.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thanks for the drinks, LaDivaLoca. An ice cold beer would hit the spot. There's plenty of pizza for all, freshly baked - of course, extra cheese, too (the chef prefers pepperoni)- (^:

Kathy, those northern lights are beautiful. We get phosphorescent seas sometimes, glowing green fishies. Saw them my first week in Florida some (mumblemumble) years ago. Thought it was a regular occurance. Watched a giant, shimmering manta ray swim under the pier. We live in a miraculous world, for sure.

Good night, everyone!

[Soaring Feather]

I want to thank the Academy for this award, I am ever so humbled! Sorry I didn't sing well, I'm a tad wrung out from last night watching the Leonids on NASA TV.

[SevenofNine]

Hey Kathy OH YEAH I Have hear of Barrow AK

That one place in AK I wouldn't want live 6 months of darkness

I don't think so I take Fairbanks, Anchorage not Juneau because of mountaines I be clasphobic



Well latest off Interfax wire is reporting that Russians are still talking those Chechen terroists let folks off tankers

[Dubya]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good night and sleep well, Ragtime. God bless you for your daily support of our troops and helping to make the Canteen a little piece of home for our troops. I don't drink, so I forgot about beer, but I think LaDiva remembered. And here's some more.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Dubya, you keep doing this to me several times a day. Thank you for finding so many things that touch me so deep inside.

"We also support the heroes who have risen and stand behind our nation to support the future of our great nation."

[Kathy in Alaska]

OK, Kid, so I haven't quite caught up yet. I finally made it to the music. Great stuff. You done good! Sleep well. God bless you and thank your hubby for his service to our country. And a *HUG* for you, a Navy wife.

[Dubya]

Thanks for the tissue Kathy.

Good night all.

Bed time in Texas

Thanks to all you guys for such a good job on the USO C.

[LaDivaLoca]

The stories about our troops are great - thank you for sharing them...our military is not only strong but compassionate too! I'm so proud of all of you and it makes me proud to be an American.