[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Will YOU help make a difference each day in the Canteen?
As we get closer to another phase of the war
our military and their families need our support more than ever.
The Canteen 1st opened on 10/07/01 in response to the begining of the war.
It's up to each one of us to keep the doors of the Canteen open.
Remember the real Hereos and Stars of the Canteen are the military.
Will YOU answer the call and help honor them each day?

USO CANTEEN FREEPER STYLE MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

Please Thank someone in the military for ensuring our Freedom.
Take a moment and Thank a Service Man or Woman.
Just Click on the graphic to SEND a message to someone in the military.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning all.

[Poohbah]

BUMPITY-BUMP-BANG-THUD-CRASH (oops)

The differences between the services:

Tell one NCO from each service to "secure that building."

The sailor will walk through the building, turning off the lights and locking the doors.

The soldier will post sentries at each entrance to the building, with orders to let no one enter unless they had a pass.

The Marine will lead an assault on the building, dig in, and call in preregistered supporting fires.

The airman will take out a three-year lease with an option to buy.

The coastguardsman will tow the building to a safe harbor and give it a courtesy maritime safety inspection.

[Bethbg79]

Good Morning Troops!!!

Good Morning Canteen Crew!!!

[snippy_about_it]

[Mudboy Slim]

Good Mornin', Mr. Tonkin...MUD

[snippy_about_it]

You've got freepmail.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.."IS it SAFE?" = HILLARY on Armed Services Committee..

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=629

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.."WE WERE SOLDIERS".. Forum Index:

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=8

[Kathy in Alaska]

Click for current time
in Afghanistan

[Kathy in Alaska]

Duty ~ Honor ~ Country

Click above to visit "A Day in the Life of President Bush"

[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)

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody !! Happy humpday !

52 as I post this. It was 63 earlier this morning...

Have a cup while you FReep !

For those who prefer hot chocolate.....

[blackie]

Support The Military ... Bump!

Be Ever Vigilant!

Be Well - Be Armed - Be Safe - Molon Labe!

Let's Roll!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning Troops, families, veterans, Canadian, Israeli, Great Britain, Australian, New Zealand, and Taiwanese allies (and everybody else). Thank you for helping to take such good care of the USA.

Today in Anchorage, Alaska:

Sunrise 8:29am
Sunset 5:58pm

Hi 24F
Lo 12F

Clouds and sunshine, but NO SNOW!!!

Actual yesterday in Anchorage:

Hi 26F
Lo 20F

State Hi 46F Annette
State Lo -45F Eagle

[Kathy in Alaska]

Bless This House sung along with this morning,
twice because I love this song for our troops 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 and veterans,
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]

ABOARD THE LINCOLN — A naval aviator assigned to Carrier Air Wing 14 walks past Guided Bomb Unit-16 ordnance located on the ship’s flight deck prior to launch. The USS Abraham Lincoln and Carrier Air Wing 14 are conducting operations in support of Operation Southern Watch. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Tyler Clements

[Kathy in Alaska]

Members of the tener section of the Bagram Base Chapel Babtist choir chime in as the choir director gives them their cue. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Christina Carde

Saturday Night With The Base Chapel Choir

By U.S. Army Pfc. Christina Carde
11th Public Affairs Detachment

BAGRAM, Afghanistan — As soldiers pass by the chapel on their way to the Morale, Welfare and Recreation building Saturday evenings, they may hear the harmonious sounds of the Bagram Base Chapel Baptist Choir echoing in the church hall as they practice for Sunday morning service.

Sgt. Christopher Allen, choir director, Supply Support Activity, 264th Logistical Task Force, Fort Bragg, N.C., said the only qualifications needed to join the choir are the willingness to sing and to have fun.

“I have been singing and playing instruments since I was a child,” said Allen. “However, when I came to Bagram in September of last year, I had no intentions of joining the choir.”

As the weeks went by however, the sounds of the choir singing familiar church songs began to stir up his talent and he decided to attend a rehearsal.

“I started off by singing a solo part,” said Allen. “Then as time progressed, I began to get more involved and started to look for ways to improve the way they sang songs.”

“One rehearsal, the choir was having trouble with a certain song that I knew well,” Allen added. “I briefly took charge of the rehearsal and showed them a way to sing the song that worked.”

Shortly afterwards, it was time for the present choir director to go home and a new director to be chosen.

The members of the church council and choir held nominations and voted for who they thought would be the best person for the job. In the end, Allen was chosen.

“It was a surprise to me,” said Allen. “ I knew that this was God’s will because I went from not wanting to join the choir at all to directing it.”

Allen said one thing he has come to realize as choir director, is it’s not the number of people you have, but their enthusiasm to produce quality sound.

“Since I’ve been director, the choir has ranged from 10 to 30 people,” said Allen. “No matter how many people show up to choir rehearsal, I still do my best to encourage them to extend their voices and harmonize even if they feel they can’t sing. It’s my job to judge the quality of sound and turn it into what it’s supposed to sound like.”

With choir rehearsals Saturdays and Mondays, Allen said his time here has flown by.

“My mission here has become twofold. Once my daily job is done, it’s time to select the material for the weekly rehearsals, go over it and direct it. Before I know it, the day is over.”

Choir rehearsal is held from 1400(Z) to 1500(Z) every Saturday evening. Allen said it’s a good opportunity to try something new.

“Even if troops feel they don’t have a voice, they should still come out and give it a try,” said Allen. “Even if they only come to one rehearsal, I’m still grateful.”

Being deployed can be a difficult time for soldiers especially when they have problems that are out of their hands until they return home. Allen said singing for a while is good way to forget all of that.

“There is passage in the Bible that says ‘Cast all your cares upon Jesus.’ When you have a problem that is out of your hands, giving thanks to God in song and trusting him to take care of your problems is the best way there is to handle any situation.”

[Kathy in Alaska]

Steve Callaghan (right) instructs an Air Force ROTC cadet on how to operate the F/A-22 Raptor flight simulator display at the annual Air Warfare Symposium in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Feb. 14. Callaghan is the Lockheed Martin Navy Joint Strike Fighter programs director. (Photo by 1st Lt. Eric Badger)

F/A-22 undergoes tests, evaluations

by 1st Lt. Eric Badger
45th Space Wing Public Affairs

02/18/03 - LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AFPN) -- Once testing and evaluations are successfully completed on the F/A-22 Raptor, it will make its debut into the Air Force arsenal in 2005 as a replacement for the F-15 Eagle.

This announcement came from Air Force and Lockheed Martin officials during the annual Air Force Association-sponsored Air Warfare Symposium here Feb. 14.

The F/A-22's operational utility is being tested and evaluated at Air Combat Command's 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. It is passing its tests with rave reviews, according to Dr. Marvin R. Sambur, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition in Washington.

"The F/A-22 continues to perform superbly in all flight tests," he said. "So far it has exceeded requirements in all categories."

The F/A-22 possesses a sensor suite that allows the pilot to track, identify and shoot targets without being detected.

It has both air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities, along with improved stealth and supercruise features that allow the aircraft to cruise at supersonic speeds, undetected and without the use of afterburners, during day or night hours.

For the first time, the F/A-22 brings stealth ability into the daytime, said officials.

The new aircraft, complete with increased reliability and maintainability, is an essential asset to the nation's warfighters in this unique time in history, said Maj. Gen. John Corley, mission area director of global power programs for the assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition.

"The F/A-22 does what no other fighter aircraft can do," he said. "An F/A-22 squadron will require less than half as much airlift as an F-15 squadron to deploy. This aircraft provides unprecedented access to enemy areas. Its extensive capabilities will allow our warfighters to dominate future battlefields throughout the 21st century."

The F/A-22 also provides increased maneuverability, lethality and survivability along with Global Positioning System-guided bombs used to penetrate deep into enemy territories, said Corley.

Included in the enhanced technology package, the F/A-22 Raptor has the most complex software ever flown in a fighter aircraft, said Maj. Gen. Doug Pearson, Air Force Flight Test Center commander at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

Upon final buy, it is estimated that the Air Force will receive approximately 276 F/A-22 Raptors.

The first bases to receive the new aircraft include Nellis; Tyndall AFB, Fla.; and Langley AFB, Va., according to Pearson.

"Rest assured the F/A-22 program is the Air Force's and Lockheed Martin's No. 1 priority," said Ralph D. Heath, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company and general manager of the F/A-22 Raptor program. "Together, we are totally committed to the successful completion of this project."

[Kathy in Alaska]

A member of the 416th Engineer Command, checks a shot grouping at Range 33, an M-16 sight-in range. The 416th, an Army Reserve unit from Darien, Ill., was conducting mobilization training at Ft. McCoy. (Photo by Rob Schuette)

Solerno, Afghanistan -- "When we come in here we emphasize that we're here to help them help themselves," said Army Reserve Sgt. John Ammermann. "The biggest thing we reinforce is that the children are their future and education is important." (Photo by Sgt. Edward Zink)

Reserve Soldiers Aid Afghan Hospital"

SOLERNO, Afghanistan -- Officials here are calling it the largest humanitarian mission in this area to date. The originator of the mission is calling it a small step in what he hopes will become a lot more.

A convoy of soldiers from Forward Operating Base Solerno, rolled into Khowst Feb. 8 in a surprise visit to deliver 5,340 humanitarian daily rations as well as 16 boxes of medical supplies, warm clothes and shoes to the Civilian Hospital of Khowst.

Soldiers from the Army Reserve's 450th Civil Affairs, 909th Forward Surgical Team, and the 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment,spent the better part of their day unloading the supplies into the hospital and holding back the throngs of local people who gathered to watch.

The 100-bed hospital was built by the Germans in the 1920’s and provides medical services to the 150,000 Afghans in the Khowst province. It is staffed by seven doctors, two of them female, and all of whom work with the barest of equipment and are rarely paid for their services, said Col. John Wassner, commander of the 909th FST.

Wassner originated the idea for the mission following two prior visits to the hospital. He said his team spoke with Dr. Noor Bashah, the minister of public health in the region and identified some of the needs of the hospital. On his second visit Wassner performed surgery to repair a hernia on an elderly Afghan man.

“I think that primarily our mission over here is to show the Afghan people that we are not the enemy. We are here to help them and make Afghanistan a safer place for them while we are trying to root out the terrorists who have taken up residence here,” said Wassner. “One of the ways I think we can do that is to provide better health care for this country."

The convoy left for the hospital in the early morning hours just as the sun was coming up and was kept secret from the hospital for security reasons. The whole thing came as quite a surprise to the staff and patients.

“We are very happy and desire that every week we have this kind of visit because this way the relationship between us will be further strengthened,” said Dr. Anayetullah, a pediatric doctor at the hospital. “This kind of assistance has a good effect on the treatment of our people and also our people will be assured and certain that the American people really want to help our people in every kind of process.”

The visit to the hospital included another tour of the facilities for Wassner, his newest staff of surgeons and Lt. Col. Richard Clarke, commander of 3rd Bn., 504th PIR.

The clothing and shoes were donated by family members of the 909th FST from Fort Sheridan, Ill., and the food and medical supplies, including two boxes of antibiotics, were coordinated through the civil affairs team, who are involved in every humanitarian mission.

“When we come in here we emphasize … that we’re here to help them help themselves,” said Sgt. John Ammermann, a member of the CA team. “The biggest thing we reinforce is that the children are their future and education is important.”

Wassner said the doctors at the hospital are very eager to learn from American doctors and have accepted medical books and requested other medical supplies and teaching materials. However, he added, current situations in the area make that very hard to do.

“It’s very difficult for us to reach out and provide a helping hand to these people because even though we are here, the enemy is still here also,” said Wassner. “Al-Qaida elements are still just across the border in Pakistan and there are Afghans here who still look at Americans as the enemy and that’s really an unfortunate thing. But, we are making every effort we can and we are starting out with some small steps and I hope that as peace comes to the country we can begin to do a lot more for these unfortunate people.”

[American Preservative]

To our Military -

Thank you for protecting US. Sleep well and safe. May you be protected. May your families' hearts be at ease.