USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Post a Holiday Message to the Military ~ December 4 2002

68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub and FRiends of the Canteen

[Soaring Feather]

Me? Wacky? This answer your question?

[Soaring Feather]

A chilly Good Morning Larry!

We are warming up here where I am, further South of you!

Lots of sun, beautiful out!

[Valin]

Kudos to Weimdog for posting this.

[firewalk]

Good morning/afternoon everyone (-:

[SevenofNine]

Good morning Canteen members and Miltary lurkers

Well report off Reuters wire this morning in our time zone reporting that iDF busted American citizen who play both side of the field by supply both Hezollah and Al Quada network with weapons BUSTED ITTT

Also Interfax Russian news wire reporting that wacky Russians busted associate of Chechen warlord who order siege on that Moscow theatre

NICE GOIN GUYS busted by KGB LOL!

[Diver Dave]

R.S.V.P. Very Important! He must know ahead so He can reserve a spot for you at the table

Got my ticket long ago. Thanks for the post.

[tomkow6]

Oh, NOOOOOOOOOOO! You've released several of my "voices"!

[Dubya]

Got my ticket long ago

Good for you Diver Dave. I got one too. Best deal I ever got.

[Soaring Feather]

Oh, NOOOOOOOOOOO! You've released several of my "voices"!

[Dubya]

LOL

[aomagrat]

Today's classic warship, USS Mugford (DD-389)

Bagley class destroyer
Displacement. 1,500
Lenght. 341'8"
Beam. 34'8"
Draft. 9'10"
Speed. 36.5 k.
Complement. 200
Armament
. 4 5", 1 twin 40mm., 4 21" tt.

The USS Mugford was laid down 28 October 1935 by Boston Navy Yard; launched 31 October 1936; sponsored by Miss Madeline Orne; commissioned 16 August 1937, Lt. Comdr. E. W. Young in command.

Joining the Pacific Fleet in late 1937, Mugford conducted local operations along the West Coast and around the Hawaiian Islands, taking time out for periodic overhauls and upkeep. 7 December 1941 found her at Pearl Harbor. When the attack began, Mugford was on standby status and while raising steam to get underway, she downed three planes in 10 minutes with her antiaircraft guns. Within an hour after the attack began, the "little ship" was steaming out of Pearl Harbor firing as she went. Her next major duty was to screen the Wake Island relief force and after completion of this duty served as an escort for convoys traveling between the United States and Australia. She served in this capacity until mid-1942.

On 7 August Mugford was on patrol off Lunga Point, Guadalcanal, when a large Japanese airstrike came in; three near misses and one bomb hit couldn't prevent Mugford from downing two of her attackers, but she suffered eight killed, 17 wounded and 10 missing. Next day she shot down another enemy aircraft in a raid in which she suffered no damage, and rescued two enemy aviators from the water. On the 9th, she sped toward the action of the first Battle of Savo Island, arriving in time to pull 400 survivors of Vincennes (CA-44) and Astoria (CA-34) from the water.

After battle damage repairs at Sydney, from 18 September through December, she operated on patrol in the Coral Sea and along Australia's northern coast. Brisbane was her base for continued patrol, as well as escort missions to Milne Bay, New Guinea, which became her base later in the summer as New Guinea operations took on a faster pace. She joined in the assault on Woodlark Island in July, conducted shore bombardment and patrols in that general area in August, and in September escorted LSTs to the invasion of Lae on the 4th, after which she patrolled off-shore while under enemy air attack. Later that month she conducted pre-invasion bombardment north of Finschafen, off which she served until late in October. [451] On 20 October, she and four companion destroyers were attacked by 60 enemy planes; Mugford suffered no damage.

On 14 and 15 December, she participated in the largest operation yet in the New Guinea campaign, the landings on Arawe, New Britain. Next was the assault on Buna and Cape Gloucester, where on Christmas Day she came under enemy air attack, taking three near misses in a first attack, and shooting down an attacker in a second assault later the same day. One man was killed, six wounded, and the ship riddled with shrapnel with some small holes below the waterline.

After repairs at Milne Bay, Mugford returned to patrol, bombardment, and escort missions for the New Guinea operation, sailing off Saidor. On 10 January 1944 she sailed for Sydney, then returned to New Guinea and escort and patrol duty in Huon Gulf. After escorting three merchantmen from Tulagi to the Union Islands, Mugford arrived Pearl Harbor 24 February to escort Maryland (BB 46) to Puget Sound, before continuing on to Mare Island for overhaul, arriving 5 March.

Mugford returned to Pearl Harbor 10 May for training in preparation for the Marianas operation, for which she staged at Majuro. Screening the fast carriers, she observed the first strike the morning of 11 June, then screened battleships bombarding Saipan and Tinian, firing night harassing missions herself and screening night retirements. She rejoined the carrier screen as word came of the approach of an enemy carrier force, and thus played a role in the epic Battle of the Philippine Sea, when Japanese naval aviation was all but exterminated in a great victory. She continued patrol and escort mission in the Marianas and Marshals as preparations were made to invade Guam, during which action Mugford served as radar picket between Guam and Rota. On 28 August, she sortied with TF 38 for surface bombardment and air strikes on enemy shipping and installations in the Bonins, Yap, and Palau, covering the Palau invasion in September. Early in October, TF 38 struck at Okinawa, and on the return voyage hit at Formosa and Luzon. The enemy mustered as strong an air attack as it could on the 12th and 13th of October, and Mugford shared in downing many of the attackers while protecting the vulnerable carriers.

With the Leyte invasion now underway, TG 38.4, with Mugford, sped to meet the threat posed by major Japanese fleet movements, and on 24 October, planes from the force hit the Japanese center force in the Mindanao Sea, then headed north on receiving reports of a Japanese carrier off northern Luzon. The next day strikes were flown against the Japanese, opening the battle of Cape Engano phase of a great American victory, the battle for Leyte Gulf. Further action came 30 October, when a Japanese airstrike damaged Enterprise (CV-6), Belleau Wood (CVL-24), and Franklin (CV-13). Mugford and other destroyers guarded the damaged ships to safety at Ulithi, repaired their own damage, and returned to patrol duty in Leyte Gulf.

On 5 December, Mugford spotted enemy aircraft attacking amphibious craft passing through her patrol area in Surigao Strait. She sped to protect them, and late in the action was crashed by a "Val" dive bomber. She was badly damaged, and lost eight men killed, 14 wounded. Making temporary repairs, Mugford pulled into San Pedro under her own steam. She was ordered to the United States for permanent repairs at Mare Island 6 January 1945 to 4 March.

Returning to the western Pacific in mid-March, Mugford served as radar picket and on antisubmarine patrol between Ulithi and Saipan until the close of the war. She served in TG 55.7 repatriating Allied prisoners of war from Japan to Okinawa early in September, then screened carriers providing air support for the occupation of the Nagasaki-Sasebo area. She continued on occupation duty until returning to San Diego 19 November. Here she was stripped and prepared for participation in the Bikini atomic tests, during which she decommissioned 29 August 1946. Retained for experiments in decontamination, she was finally sunk off Kwajalein 22 March 1948.

Mugford received seven battle stars for World War II service.

[tomkow6]

A young man fell madly in love with a young woman he had met, and he just couldn't get her out of his mind, but she didn't seem to notice him, so he went to visit the local witches for help. After hearing his problem, the witches confered with one another, then returned to him with a bottle of aspirin.

The elder witch informed him, "You must go to your beloved's home at midnight, and in her yard, dig thirteen holes. Then place one aspirin in each of the thirteen holes, and cover them up with dirt. In one month's time she will love you, and in a year you will marry."

Well, the young man did as he was told, and sure enough, the young woman fell in love with him. A year later they were married, and the young man returned to thank the witches.

"I'm the happiest man alive! But I have to ask....why did that work?"

The Eldest witch stood up tall and straight while the other witches gathered 'round, and she shared the secret wisdom of their Work, "If you must know: Nothing says lovin' like somethin' from the Coven, and pills buried say it best!"

[Kathy in Alaska]

Click for current time
in Afghanistan

[Soaring Feather]

Note to Tomkow:

please go find that hammer and give yourself a few thumps with it???

[Kathy in Alaska]

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you
The love of God enfold you
The power of God protect you
The presence of God watch over you
Wherever you are,God is,
And all is well.
Amen.

.

Bless This House

Bless this house O Lord we pray;


Make it safe by night and day;


Bless these walls so firm and stout,


Keeping want and trouble out:


Bless the roof and chimneys tall,


Let thy peace lie over all;


Bless this door, that it may prove


ever open to joy and love.








Bless these windows shining bright,


Letting in God's heav'nly light;


Bless the hearth a'blazing there,


with smoke ascending like a prayer;


Bless the folk who dwell within,


keep them pure and free from sin;


Bless us all that we may be


Fit O Lord to dwell with thee;


Bless us all that one day we


May dwell O Lord with thee.

.

(Click on praying hands above,
or on banner at the top to hear the music)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Morning Troops, families, veterans, and Canadian and Israeli allies (and everybody else). Thank you for taking such good care of the USA.

Today in Anchorage, Alaska:

Sunrise 9:52am
Sunset 3:46pm

Hi 41F
Lo 32F

Mostly cloudy and mild

Actual yesterday in Anchorage:

Hi 39F
Lo 33F

State Hi 51F Port Alsworth
State Lo -8F Fort Yukon

California: Hi 60s

[freedom9]

One Sunday just as Mass was about to start the Devil rushed
inside the Church doors and screamed' "I'm the Devil." Everyone
paniced and ran from the Church in terror, all but one little
old man sitting all by himself at the front of the Chruch.
HMP! Thought the Devil who does he think he is, and walk up to
the little old man. "Do you know who I am," the devil
demanded. "I sure do," said the man. "Then why aren't you
afraid of me'" said the Devil. The little old man looked up at
the Devil and replied, "Why should I be I've been married to
your sister for 40 years."

'**************************************************************
'**************************************************************
'**************************************************************

A man is walking down the street. The further he gets down the
street he notices little Johnny. Little Johnny is sitting in a
red wagon, wearing a fireman's hat. The wagon is tied to a dog,
by it's b*lls. The man says to little johnny "little Johnny you
could go alot further, if you tied the rope around the dogs neck"
Little Johnny replies "If I did that, I wouldn't have a siren"

'************************************************************
'************************************************************
'************************************************************
Bob and Tom go to the unemployment office one day. After hours of standing in line,
Bob is called in to speak with a social worker.
The social worker asks him "What is your occupation?"
Bob replies "I'm a diesel fitter."
The social worker informs Bob that she just happens to know of a trucking company that is
hiring for this position.
He can start in one week and his salary is $40,000 per year. Ecstatic, he runs out
of her office and tells Tom that the social worker found
him a great job that pays 40 grand a year.
Expecting the best. Tom speaks with the same social worker. "What is your occupation?" she asks.
Tom says "I sew ladies panties for a living." She tells him, "Tom,
I have to tell you that you don't have a high-demand job.
The best I can do is send you to a tailor across town who's looking for an apprentice.
He'll pay you minimum wage and you can probably start in 2
months." Tom looks at her, very confused and says
" How is that possible?? My buddy Bob who worked with me at the factory was just
here before me.
You hooked him up with a job that pays $40,000 a year and you're telling me that
I have to settle for minimum wage??!!! "
Of course," she says. "Bob is a diesel fitter." Tom says, "I know! I sew up the panties
and Bob pulls them over his big head and says, "
Yup. deese'll fit her!!!"

'************************************************************
'************************************************************
'************************************************************

The strong young man at the construction site was bragging that
he could outdo anyone in a feat of strength. He made a special
case of making fun of one of the older workmen. After several
minutes, the older worker had had enough.

"Why don't you put your money where your mouth is," he said. "I
will bet a week's wages that I can haul something in a
wheelbarrow over to that outbuilding that you won't be able to
wheel back."
"You're on, old man," the braggart replied. "Let's see what you
got."
The old man reached out and grabbed the wheelbarrow by the
handles. Then, nodding to the young man, he said with a smile,

"All right. Get in."

'************************************************************
'************************************************************
'************************************************************

The weather was very hot, so this man wanted desperately take a
dive in the nearby lake. He didn't bring his swimming outfit, but
who cared ? He was all alone. So he undressed and got into the
water.
After some delightful minutes of cool swimming, a pair of old
ladies walked onto the shore in his direction. He panicked, got
out of the water and grabbed a bucket, which laid on the sandy
beach. He held the bucket in front of his private parts and
sighed with relief.

The ladies got nearby and looked at him. He felt awkward and
wanted to move. Then one of the ladies said: "You know , I have a
special gift, I can read minds."
"Impossible", said the embarrassed man, "You really know what I
think?"
"Yes", the lady replied, 'I know that you think that the bucket
you're holding has a bottom in it."

[Kathy in Alaska]

Bless This House, hummed along with this morning, twice because I love this song for our USO Canteen, and Prayer of Protection said for all who enter the USO Canteen Freeper Style, including our troops, our veterans, their families and our allies. Welcome to all who come to honor our troops, for whom this USO Canteen was created.

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you
The love of God enfold you
The power of God protect you
The presence of God watch over you
Wherever you are, God is,
And all is well.
Amen.

Wherever you are, God is, And all is well.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Morning, Aeronaut and Otto, thanks for the daily flyover of protection.