USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ TRIBUTE TO THE USS TARAWA (LHA-1)& FReeper Brian Wells ~ January 20 2003

January 20, 2003 | snippy about it

[LaDivaLoca]

To my fellow Canteeners, our Military, Vets, Allies, Volunteers and your families:

[snippy_about_it]

You've got freepmail.

[LaDivaLoca]

[snippy_about_it]

Thank you crazy diva! :)

[Kathy in Alaska]

USS Tarawa sailors reenlist, pay Tribute at USS Arizona Memorial

Story by JO2 Crystal King, USS Tarawa public affairs

Onboard USS Tarawa -- During the early morning of June 26, Sailors from USS Tarawa (LHA-1) spoke in hushed tones and walked slowly in their freshly pressed white uniforms through the chamber of the USS Arizona Memorial. Some had come to reenlist, some had come to administer the enlistment oath, but all had come to pay their respects to fallen shipmates from a different time and to remember a tumultuous part of Navy history.

On Dec. 7, 1941, more than 1,100 Sailors died on board USS Arizona (BB-39) during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Most of those Sailors are still entombed inside the ship.

"As the first one into the memorial, I thought of what a hellish nightmare they had to endure," said Chief Petty Officer Robert Klinehoffer. "This was more than a reenlistment ceremony for me. It was a chance to let every one of them know they haven't been forgotten, and that what they fought for then is still what we fight to preserve today."

Another reenlistee, Petty Officer First Class James Price, said, "It was amazing to see that after 60 years the ship's oil tanks are still leaking, leaving small slicks on the surface of the water."

The six who took the oath in front of the wall bearing the names of the ARIZONA Sailors were among a total of 18 who reenlisted there or on the Battleship USS Missouri (BB-63) during TARAWA's port visit to Pearl Harbor. The San Diego-based amphibious assault ship made the port visit June 24-28 during its participation in the major multinational exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2002.

"The ARIZONA memorial and the natural beauty of Pearl Harbor make this a very popular site for our reenlistments," said Petty Officer First Class Pamela Jensen, a TARAWA command career counselor and prior re-enlistee at the USS Arizona Memorial. "Being here makes me realize our place in the big scheme of things."

"This is a very humbling place," said Senior Chief Brian Wells, reflecting on his reenlistment and visit. "My reenlistment was important, but I could have done it anywhere. I did it here to pay respect to my shipmates."

[snippy_about_it]

That was priceless...and may a tropical breeze blow our way.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

[LaDivaLoca]

for putting up this awesome thread and thank you to all who have served and are currently serving in our Military.

From a very grateful American,

Diva

[snippy_about_it]

Thank you Kathy, and thank you for keeping up with the thread today as usual, back to work tomorrow so no daytime posting for me.

Thanks to our other Brian standing watch for the homeland, Tonk.

It was a good day today. Next post, Doha Qatar, I have an address thanks to another freeper and as soon as I get some time I will put something together.

Now lets not forget to get those care packages on their way to the Tarawa!

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the thread today.

[snippy_about_it]

You go girl. Good find!

[TEXOKIE]

Hi Ms Diva! What's shakin? Good to see you!!!

[conqueror]

I spent 3 years on the USS Tarawa (CVS-40) way back in the 50s. Ended my career as an FTCS in 1979.
Wish you all the best and believe it or not, there are a lot of us old farts who wish we could be there with you serving under our great President Bush. Let me know if there is anything I can do for any of you back here in San Diego.

[TEXOKIE]

"Tex, I can see the gears turning in your head, plotting..."

BWAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ms, Kathy, you have freepmail!

[LaDivaLoca]

Sheila,

It is truly an honor to make your acquaintance! I shall keep Brian and your family in my prayers.

I hope you will drop by theCanteen more often and join in the fun.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Thanks to everyone who contributed to the thread today."

I'm trying to catch up on the thread.
I wish you could see the smile on my face.
It does my heart and soul good seeing our military
getting the support they need and deserve.
Thank You again for todays thread.

[LaDivaLoca]

LOL!!! I'm sorry for laughing - I'm sure it wasn't funny when you were trying to eat the soap....uh...I mean the cookies. But you do have a very good point there! LOL! This reminds me of my cousin who has a habit of washing grapes with SOAP! Well, one time she did not rinse the grapes very well and her sister gave some to her boyfriend. Bubbles started coming out of his mouth! I didn't think her sister thought it was funny either. You can still rinse soap from the grapes but I doubt that will work with the cookies.

[LaDivaLoca]

Here is some transportation for the Dudes!

WOW! Is that your batmobile?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Ya done good, snippy. Thank you so much. Lots of info about the USS Tarawa and an address and no cookies and soap together and Brian got to come by and we got to meet his Mom. God bless our troops and keep them safe!! I just turned the page, so I don't know if we have an answer already because I'm way behind. I hope we get a list of specific "stuff" that Brian and his buddies would like to get.

[LaDivaLoca]

Can I also get one of those Terrorist Hunting permits even if I don't live in Texas?

Diva

[Kathy in Alaska]

Back atcha.