USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ FlashBack Friday ~ March 14 2003

Friends of The Canteen

[SAMWolf]

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By remembering and paying tribute to the military past of our country,
we are paying tribute to those who are serving our country today.

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General Claire Chennault & "The Flying Tigers"

The Flying Tigers were a group of American fighter pilots that flew for China in the early part of 1942. Led by a controversial American, Colonel Claire Chennault, they were actually called the "American Volunteer Group" (AVG), and achieved good success in their aerial battles against the Japanese.

They were a relatively small group of pilots, and never had more than 100 Curtis Warhawk P-40's (decorated with the famous red shark mouth) available. But at the time they were flying (early 1942), they were the only Americans doing ANYTHING against the Axis. With an American public reeling from Pearl Harbor and anxious to strike back "NOW!" the Flying Tigers were "the only game in town" at that point. Thus they received a lot of favorable press coverage, from reporters anxious to write about the only only Americans doing ANYTHING ANYWHERE against the Japanese.

The Flying Tigers comprised three squadrons:

1st Squadron - "Adam and Eves"
2nd Squadron - "Panda Bears"
3rd Squadron - "Hell's Angels"

The top aces of the Flying Tigers were: David Lee "Tex" Hill, Robert Neale, and Chuck Older. James Howard flew with the AVG; he later earned the Congressional Medal of Honor while flying P-51s for the 354th Fighter Group (Ninth Air Force) in Europe. Pappy Boyington was another Tiger who went on to greater fame; he had a falling out with Chennault, who gave him a Dishonorable Discharge. The mercurial Boyington never forgave him.



"Colonel" Claire Lee Chennault had been in China since the mid-Thirties; he called himself "Colonel," though his highest rank had been Major. An outspoken advocate of "pursuit" (as fighter planes were called then), in an Army Air Force dominated by strategic bomber theorists, he alienated many of his superiors. But in China, equipped with P-40's, he developed the basic fighter tactics that American pilots would use throughout the war. The Japanese planes used over China were much more maneuverable than his Warhawks, whose advantages were: speed in a dive, superior firepower, and better ability to absorb battle damage. Chennault worked out and documented the appropriate tactics that capitalized on the relative strengths of the American fighters: intercept, make a diving pass, avoid dogfighting, and dive away when in trouble. This remained the fundamental U.S. fighter doctrine throughout the Pacific War. My appreciation of the pilot's bravery and Chennault's tactical skills, however, doesn't change my assessment of the unfortunate and perhaps distracting role they played. The Chinese politics and Chinese-American relations at the time were quite complicated. The titular leader of China, Generalissimo Chiang Kai Chek, of the Kuomintang, was engaged in an endless three-way war: his Kuomintang vs. Mao's Communists vs. Japan. And his own power within the Kuomintang was dependent on balancing various warlords, cliques, and factions. Given the understandable problems posed by this situation, he always wanted more and more American aid, which he and his generals then wanted to use against internal enemies as well as Japan, or perhaps, not to use at all, but to hoard as symbols of their power.

General Chennault, got the Generalissimo's ear, and persuaded him that air power could sweep the Japanese from China, almost effortlessly and painlessly, just a few score American B-17 bombers would do the trick. Thus Chiang Kai Chek, General Chennault, Madame Chiang Kai Chek, and the powerful China Lobby used their combined influence with the American government to push Chennault's air power scheme.



Unfortunately, the adressing real issues in Nationalist China -- development of democratic or at least stable institutions, the rooting out of corruption in the Kuomintang, the training and deployment of useful Chinese infantry forces against Japan, improving the life of the ordinary villagers, etc. -- had no priority with the Generalissimo. Chennault's proposals seemed to offer such a promising way out.

The American government had its own problems, and couldn't scrape up the numbers of bombers envisioned. But keeping China in the war against Japan was understood to be in America's strategic interest (even before Pearl Harbor). What could be offered to Chiang was about 100 Curtis P-40 Warhawk fighter planes with volunteer military pilots to fly them. They fought with distinction, largely in the defense of Burma, and were absorbed into the United States Army Air Force's 23rd Fighter Group in July, 1942.

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"A nation that forgets its past has no future."
Sir Winston Churchill

"Those Who Have Long Enjoyed Such Privileges As We Enjoy, Forget In Time that Men Have Died To Win Them."
Franklin D. Roosevelt

[Bethbg79]

oooops!!! make that 200

[tomkow6]

No, you got 200! Mom says you were never too good at math........

[Bethbg79]

LOL That was total coincidence..lol I thought it would be at 198 and I was telling you he was mad because I got 100....I'm a lucky gal!

[Radix]

1879 Albert Einstein Ulm Germany, (E=mc²/Theory of Relativity, Nobel 1921)

 

 

 

E=Energy

 

===

 

m= Matter

 

c= The Speed of Light

 

2 = the Square of C

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relativity and a Tutorial.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Radix]

1879 Albert Einstein Ulm Germany, (E=mc²/Theory of Relativity, Nobel 1921)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ulm Germany is near Neu Ulm.

 

 

I have walked up to the very top of this Cathedral spire!

 

It was a tough walk!

[SAMWolf]

Thank you, Cote.

[Radix]

Did you see Google today, Radix?

 

 

Have you seen my Radixionary today coteblanche?

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the Radixionary:

 

 

 

 

 

One entry found for googol. Main Entry: goo·gol
Pronunciation: 'gü-"gol
Function: noun
Etymology: coined by Milton Sirotta born about 1929 nephew of Edward Kasner died 1955 American mathematician
Date: 1938
: the figure 1 followed by 100 zeroes equal to 10¹⁰⁰

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

U.S. Army Spc. Mark Hawley, 20th Special Forces Group, examines Hafizillah and his 2 year' old son, Hazrutullah, and his 5-year-old daughter, Siamoy, during a Medical Civil Assistance Program in Madr Valley, Afghanistan. They came in complaining of fever, aches and congestion. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Worley B. Smith

Villagers from all around Madr and Kamard Valleys gather outside the gate of Firebase Romero for the first ever Medical and Veterinary Capabilities Program in the region. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Worley B. Smith

An Afghan villager helps prep a goat for vaccination during a recent Veterinary Capabilities Program at Madr Valley, Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Worley B. Smith

Medical Miracles in Madr Valley

By U.S. Army Spc Worley B. Smith
109th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

MADR VALLEY, Afghanistan - The scene outside the front gate of Firebase Romero, Madr Valley was unlike any other before.

“This is the first ever MEDCAP/VETCAP in Madr Valley,” said Spc. Jeremy Thompson, 1st Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group.

Afghan villagers gathered for the first Medical Civil Assistance Program and Veterinary Civil Assistance Program March 12, 2003. The landscape surrounding the firebase was a scene of organized confusion as doctors and medics from Bagram arrived to treat various ailments and conditions of villagers and livestock.

For the past few months Madr Valley has been the base of operations for the 2nd Battalion Afghan National Army. U.S. Special Forces units operating in the area, responsible for training and working with the Afghan National Army contributed to the success of the event.

Eight medial personnel treated villagers and their livestock from as far as 40 kilometers away. Many of the villagers made the arduous journey through the Kamard Valley to Madr by foot while herding their animals, said Thompson.

Lt. Col. Marlyn Goodbary, 403rd Civil Affairs Special Operations Force and Maj. Stephen Goldsmith, 20th Special Forces Group, both veterinarians, spent the three days of the MEDCAP/VETCAP treating an estimated 2,000 heads of livestock ranging from sheep to goats and cows to horses.

“Cattle are slower to vaccinate than other animals,” said Goldsmith.

“Sheep and goats can be vaccinated like an assembly line, while each cow has to be individually restrained,” he added.

“Among the vaccinations administered was anthrax as well as a six-way of clostridials,” Goodbary said.

According to Goldsmith, the vaccinations are primarily to treat spring-time diseases.

“The amount of preparation it takes to put on a MEDCAP or VETCAP in an area is extraordinary, especially if it’s the first ever,” said Maj. Frank DeAngelo, battalion surgeon, 1st Bn., 20th SFG.

“Planning usually begins at least a month out and even then it is dependent on a lot of variables such as weather and operational tempo,” he added. DeAngelo is a thoracic surgeon in New York. His extensive medical knowledge was especially useful during the MEDCAP.

While animals were being treated at one end of the compound people were receiving medical treatment at the other end.

“The majority of the ailments I’ve seen here have been ear, upper respiratory and urinary tract infections,” said Capt. Daniel D. Baird, physician’s assistant, 310th Psychological Operations Company.

“A lot of the females here I have seen have had goiters,” said DeAngelo, “I find the work I do here as a soldier rewarding".

“I have a two-fold mission here. I’m primarily here for humanitarian reasons but also because it makes the area of operation more secure for U.S. forces because the people here know we’re here to help them,” he said. Aside from the host of common ailments, there was the occasional serious injury like that of 19- year-old Eisa who had his thumb bitten by a snake 10 days before the MEDCAP started. “I have a two-fold mission here. I’m primarily here for humanitarian reasons but also because it makes the area of operation more secure for U.S. forces because the people here know we’re here to help them,” he said.

Aside from the host of common ailments, there was the occasional serious injury like that of 19- year-old Eisa who had his thumb bitten by a snake 10 days before the MEDCAP started.

One of the interpreters who came out for the MEDCAP was Najla Farzana. Najla was born in Kandahar and moved to the U.S. when she was young. She has lived in California since, and is now back to help.

“This is the most medical attention a lot of these people have had in their entire life. They are extremely grateful that we are here. Some of the people even want to kiss our hands to thank us. Its unfortunate that we cannot do more for them,” she said.

When the MEDCAP concluded approximately 1,800 people had been treated.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

[SAMWolf]

Great photo. The old and the new.

[grantswank]

AUSSIE FRIES FRENCH


"It doesn't seem to me that France's first priority is to find a peaceful solution" to the Iraqi crisis, he said.

"I think her first priority is to position France vis-a-vis the US and I think that's a pity."

"I regret to say the French are playing a spoiling role."

If US and British troops now massed on Iraq's borders went home, "does anybody really believe the weapons inspectors would then continue to get cooperation from Iraq?" he asked.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard fried the French on Friday. In his right-on attack he laid himself smack alongside the US and Britain.

For that he, while riding through the South Australian capital, Adelaide, got his limo pelted with eggs and tomatoes. Yet he stood his ground in lacing Paris for
maneuvering the Iraq issue into a hassle of verbal upstaging all other nations. He held this puts France in the Iraqi amen corner while scourging the US and Britain as childish brats.

In interviews and a public speech Friday he said that the French stance was unreasonable for it squelched real progress in the Security Council and gave honor to the Iraqi position.

In four months, French President Jacques Chirac will make a visit to Australia. Nevertheless, Howard seemed not to care for principle came first, particularly at this time.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer underlined that the French rejection of the British proposal was “an unreasonable veto.”

[Dubya]

I need some USCG info please. If a guy was in his boat off the coast of Daytona, FL and needed help, is there a phone number to call the Coast Guard using a cell phone? Nothing wrong, just need to know for later time.
Thanks
Dub

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"If a guy was in his boat off the coast of Daytona, FL and needed help, is there a phone number to call the Coast Guard using a cell phone?"

I'll see if I can find a number.
I have taken distress calls from boats on their cell phone.

[snippy_about_it]

John Howard along with Tony Blair have been standing up for us even though it is supposed to be hurting their voting base. God Bless them both!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"If a guy was in his boat off the coast of Daytona, FL and needed help, is there a phone number to call the Coast Guard using a cell phone?"

For maritime emergencies afloat, contact the U.S. Coast Guard via VHF Channel-16.
You can also contact the Coast Guard via cell phone by dialing
*CG (*24) for Cingular Wireless (Bell South) customers,
and *USCG (*8724) for AT&T customers in the following Florida counties:
Volusia, Flagler, Brevard, Clay, Duval, Broward, Palm Beach and Dade.

Coast Guard Station Ponce de Leon Inlet
(386) 428-9085
STAPDLEON@internet.uscg.mil

[Kathy in Alaska]

DELIVERY AT SEA

The USNS Spica steams alongside the USS Harry S. Truman during an underway replenishment. The Truman and Carrier Air Wing 3 are deployed on a six-month cruise in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Second Class John L. Beeman

The flight deck of the USS Harry S. Truman seen through a window of a PUMA helicopter assigned to the USNS Spica during an underway replenishment. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Second Class John L. Beeman

[Soaring Feather]

Let me see, did I wish you a good day today?

[Dubya]

Thanks Tonk. My PC went down. I guess SAtarband loss signal.
Sorry I didn't get back sooner.

Our son and his wife were in their boat a good while back and one of the two engines quit working. The place where they keep their boat would not let them back in.

The boat was disabled and the generator blew a head gasket. They spent a week In international waters with no lights power, etc. before they could get some help.

They made it back to the Marina. But the owner would not let them in.