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USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Military Reaction to the Commander in Chief ~ February 22 2003
Lt. Commander Bill Goss, USN (Ret) ^ | 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub and FRiends of the Canteen

Posted on 02/22/2003 5:19:18 AM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

On Feb 13th, 2003 President George W. Bush gave a speech to the thousands of Sailors
and their families attached to ships homeported at the U.S. Naval Station in Mayport, Florida.
Here are some of their reactions.

"What did you think of your Commander-in-Chief's speech?"

Here's their response:

1. "It was a very good speech. It gave that camaraderie back to us…I think we lost it for a while our ship was getting refurbished. His speech gave us back that 'umph!' we needed. I liked how he said we are going to go kick Saddam's butt. Saddam's been pussyfooting around and the United Nation's told him that he has had his last chance…the people of Iraq aren't the problem, it's their leader and his underlings."

2. "I'm highly encouraged by what the President said. I like how our Commander-in-Chief came down to the 'deck plate level' to talk to us, because we're the ones that have to do his will, and he showed that he cares by coming to see us. He gave us confidence to go do what we've got to do."

3. "He gave a great speech. He said 'thanks' to the troops here; he sent a message to the U.N. and a message to Saddam Hussein. The people onboard my ship are going to be talking about it for days and also reading about it on Military.com. Now we've got to head back to the ship to get it ready…"

4. "The President isn't afraid to say what needs to be said to get the job done. He's not politicking and not mincing words. We don't need that -- we've got way too many serious things going on. We've got countries like France and Germany that want to play games right now and they've a record of doing that, so I'm not surprised. It's good to have a leader that's willing to step up to the plate when we need it most and a speech like this for the 'Blue-shirts' means everything to them because they're getting ready to leave their families for six months and it's great for them to know that their leader is behind them."

5. "The President's speech was very exciting and very emotional. We're very nervous at home wondering about what's going to happen. I think we should stop politicking and go get the job done, so my husband can get back home and let us continue on with our family life." (Quote from the wife of a Navy helicopter pilot.)


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To: MoJo2001; Kathy in Alaska
Oooooh no!! I hate to hear both the kids are sick. I hope it's just a cold and not the flu, at least. Poor things.

And you don't have any grape flavored medicine? You're really in trouble! :-) It won't be long before even threats from Daddy will get them to take the other stuff.
161 posted on 02/23/2003 12:46:39 AM PST by radu (God bless America and watch over our troops!)
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To: MoJo2001; radu; Kathy in Alaska
I can't believe y'all are all still up! Mojo - I remember the days, more often nights, when my kids were really sick. Makes for a very long night, doesn't it?

Radu - I've been missing you for the last couple of days - good to catch you in the Canteen. Have you been well? Kathy - that afternoon nap I indulged in has really confused my biological clock -- I should be sleeping now - I've got three cranky teenagers to hustle into church tomorrow morning. They CLAIM that all they have to do is roll out of bed and throw their clothes on. Yeah, right - the circuits will be blown from the hair styling tools, the hot water heater will spit out ice fragments by the time it's MY turn in there, and theyll be squirming in the pew by 11 o'clock whispering to each other (and everyone else) that it wouldn't hurt anything at all if we just "got an early start" to the restuarant!!

To top it all all, I left my Sunday School Book in my husbands's car - I don't have a CLUE what tomorrow's lesson is. That little fact guarantees that I'll be asked to share what the lesson means to ME {lol}

162 posted on 02/23/2003 12:51:58 AM PST by southerngrit
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To: MoJo2001; Kathy in Alaska
Nothing useful in this weather for us either. LOL! This is insane!!!

The Liberals will never get it through their heads that Global Warming is part of the natural order of things. It's cyclic. Just like Ice Ages. We may be contributing to it a little, I dunno. But it's not our fault it's happening.

I sure don't like this anyway. Neither do the critters. It's hard navigating the yard when there are streams and big puddles where there didn't used to be. Alfalfa and Morgan were perplexed last weekend....and it's worse now.


163 posted on 02/23/2003 12:56:12 AM PST by radu (God bless America and watch over our troops!)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; radu; southerngrit
Oh look! Ma is so darn HTML capable. YOU GO MA!! LOL! (Alright! Alright! I clicked already. No look! Okay? No look)
164 posted on 02/23/2003 12:57:05 AM PST by MoJo2001 (Support Our Troops by living your life to the fullest. Send them your appreciation! Pray for them!)
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To: southerngrit
Diva, I just wanted to tell you that you have such a special and wonderful daughter. Beth is such a ray of sunshine in the Canteen. Thank you for sharing her with the rest of us. I know our troops really appreciate her as much as the rest of us do. *HUGS*
165 posted on 02/23/2003 12:58:12 AM PST by MoJo2001 (Support Our Troops by living your life to the fullest. Send them your appreciation! Pray for them!)
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To: southerngrit
To top it all all, I left my Sunday School Book in my husbands's car - I don't have a CLUE what tomorrow's lesson is. That little fact guarantees that I'll be asked to share what the lesson means to ME {lol}

LOL! Three teens, huh? Could definitely mean cold water for Mom. You, Mom, deserve a medal.

166 posted on 02/23/2003 12:59:22 AM PST by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and our Military Who Protect Her.)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; MoJo2001; bluesagewoman; zip; All
WOWWOWWOWWOW!! LOOK AT THAT!! David and Edward will be tickled to death to see that sign!! If I knew Daniel, I'd send a pic to him too! That's awesome!
167 posted on 02/23/2003 12:59:40 AM PST by radu (God bless America and watch over our troops!)
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To: radu
I have a house filled with grape flavor medicine, juice, and popcicles. So? I should be alright. If not, I'm moving to Mars. My oldest hates grape. So? I must stock ORANGE flavored medicine for him and you know the drama. Goodness. When I was little, I didn't have a choice. I took what I was given and didn't say a word. Why I didn't learn that for my own kids is BEYOND ME! LOL!(Oh! That's right! My parents didn't know what they were doing..that's why I didn't listen. LOL)
168 posted on 02/23/2003 1:00:23 AM PST by MoJo2001 (Support Our Troops by living your life to the fullest. Send them your appreciation! Pray for them!)
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To: southerngrit
Howdy ms. grit!! It's great to see you tonight. This is when I'm usually here anymore. LATE!! My sleep schedule is so backwards and I spend so much time e-mailing overseas, I don't get to be at the Canteen during "normal" hours anymore. LOL!!

I'm very well, thanks. Just scraping the mold off the ol' body occassionally. All this wet weather is taking it's toll. ROTFLOL!

Hope all's well your way. Sounds like the morning may get off to a bumpy start, huh? Murphy's Law will kick in for sure.
169 posted on 02/23/2003 1:04:57 AM PST by radu (God bless America and watch over our troops!)
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To: radu
I see 156 muddy paws.


170 posted on 02/23/2003 1:06:32 AM PST by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and our Military Who Protect Her.)
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To: MoJo2001
Thanks. I really don't know if Beth is making the greater contribution to the Canteen, or if her participation here is having a greater contribution to her well being!! My angel daughter had a terrible summer healthwise, and has been slowly but surely regaining her health ever since. She'd been cooped up in the house with no one but the cartoon channel for company. I told her about this site and she started lurking. After a few weeks she got up the nerve to post once in a while. I showed her where the HTML Sandbox was, and, voila!! she was on her way!!!!

She is a wonderful daughter, with lots of love and happiness and support to share. I thank God that she has found her way here.

Beth is the epitome of the very essence of the American spirit. She gets knocked down, sure...,but she has GRIT, determination and the inner strength to rebound from whatever obstacle she faces and win the fight at the end of the day.

She has been an inspiration to the whole family.

171 posted on 02/23/2003 1:11:21 AM PST by southerngrit
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To: MoJo2001
Oooooh, picky, picky, huh? I wish I'd had the luxury of ANY flavored medicine when I was a kid. Like you, I choked down what was given and gagged my way through it. LOL!

I do hope the kids feel better soon. It's no fun being sick, and definitely not fun for Mommy and Daddy to deal with. :-) Of course Mommies and Daddies don't know what they're're doing...that's why the kids aren't listening. I didn't listen to mine either. LOL!
172 posted on 02/23/2003 1:11:41 AM PST by radu (God bless America and watch over our troops!)
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To: bentfeather

173 posted on 02/23/2003 1:13:41 AM PST by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and our Military Who Protect Her.)
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To: Kathy in Alaska
LOL!!! Yep, all those muddy paw prints AAAAAALL over the house. I've worn out the mop and cleaning rags trying to keep up! I just can't seem to get through their fuzzy little heads,"WIPE YOUR FEET BEFORE YOU COME IN."
174 posted on 02/23/2003 1:15:15 AM PST by radu (God bless America and watch over our troops!)
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To: southerngrit
I'm so glad that Beth decided to join the Canteen. She has been an absolute blessing. I can only hope that she's been able to carry away a feeling of being blessed from the interaction and dedication that she has devoted to making other people's lives a little better. Many of the troops have very little spare time. Between emailing family and friends, we are grateful for the few moments that they can spend with us. Beth is here every morning and is just one of the regulars that are ready to hand out a wonderful smile for all that wander in to look. The weary troops may long for home, but people like Beth keep them more in touch with what's going on. God Bless her and I will pray for good health for her. As for you, I will pray for continued blessing for a woman blessed to have a daughter like Beth.
175 posted on 02/23/2003 1:18:19 AM PST by MoJo2001 (Support Our Troops by living your life to the fullest. Send them your appreciation! Pray for them!)
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To: southerngrit
I really don't know if Beth is making the greater contribution to the Canteen, or if her participation here is having a greater contribution to her well being!!

I little bit of both, it sounds like to me. She's definitely an asset to the Canteen. And if her participation is helping her well being, that's wonderful!

176 posted on 02/23/2003 1:19:38 AM PST by radu (God bless America and watch over our troops!)
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To: radu
My parents are no help whatsoever these days. My kids get on the phone with them and my dad tells them "you make sure your mommy gets you the kind of medicine you want." First, that disturbs me. What kind of person encourages taking medicine. Even if I knew it would make me feel better..I'd fight it. Second, he never gave me that option. He should thank his lucky stars I didn't turn out a serial psycho. LOL~! I guess being a grandparent is defintely better. No rules apply for them.
177 posted on 02/23/2003 1:20:39 AM PST by MoJo2001 (Support Our Troops by living your life to the fullest. Send them your appreciation! Pray for them!)
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To: Kathy in Alaska
Ma! What are you doing?? Honestly, the conversation is moving and you are saying goodnight to Ms. Feather who is having wonderful dreams by now. LOL! Hello?
178 posted on 02/23/2003 1:22:03 AM PST by MoJo2001 (Support Our Troops by living your life to the fullest. Send them your appreciation! Pray for them!)
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To: radu
Maybe this will inspire them.


179 posted on 02/23/2003 1:23:07 AM PST by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and our Military Who Protect Her.)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; radu
Awwww!! My neighbor has two cats. They are real porkers, but they are so adorable. I'm a dog person, but I love those cats. One of them reminds me of Garfield. He's moody, but is always happy to see you when you bring food over. The other reminds me of Heathcliff. Very smooth cat. Kind of sneaky, but smooth.

UGH! I really need some sleep. I've officially went over the looney bin. I'm now comparing my neighbor's cats to two cartoon cats. Woohoo!

180 posted on 02/23/2003 1:25:53 AM PST by MoJo2001 (Support Our Troops by living your life to the fullest. Send them your appreciation! Pray for them!)
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