A Few Of FR's Finest....Every Day....05-26-03....Memorial Day - Remembering SSGT. Richard A. Fitts

dansangel

[dansangel]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, daisyscarlett, dansangel, dutchess, Mama_Bear

Memorial Day

~Remember~

Today as we celebrate Memorial Day
It is important to remember.....
Remember that the day is more than hot dogs and hamburgers
More than picnics and fishing
More than boating and baseball
More than just a day off from work.....
Memorial Day is to remember those that served
Those that sacrificed
Those that suffered
Those that gave all
So that we may live free.


Let us all remember and give thanks.

~dansangel~

Staff Sergeant Richard A. Fitts

I wore this man's MIA bracelet while attending high school back in 1972-73. A similar faded and folded picture accompanied it, giving the man a face that I could carry in my heart. Last year during Memorial Day weekend, a fellow FReeper kindly posted the URL to the "Virtual Wall." Although the bracelet was long gone, misplaced in one of the many moves I have experienced over the past three decades, I never forgot the name that was engraved on the stainless steel: Staff Sergeant Richard A. Fitts.

I followed the posted link to the Virtual Wall and proceeded to look for that brave soldier's name. My heart skipped a beat as I found it. Then, reality sunk in. His name was listed among the killed in action. Feelings of grief for a man I never knew but carried in my heart all these years, overcame me.

Further research on my part yielded the following synopsis (taken from the Massachusetts POW/MIA website):

SSgt. Richard A. Fitts was born on February 23, 1946 in Weymouth, Mass. He entered the Army in January,1966. In Vietnam, Fitts was part of Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observation Group (MACV-SOG) which was a joint service high command unconventional warfare task force engaged in highly classified operations throughout Southeast Asia. The 5th Special Forces channeled personnel into MACV-SOG (though it was not a Special Forces group) through Special Operations Augmentation (SOA) which provided their "cover" while under secret orders to MACV- SOG. These teams performed deep penetration missions of strategic reconnaissance and interdiction missions in Laos and Cambodia which were called, depending on the country and time frame, "Shining Brass" or "Prairie Fire" missions. On November 30, 1968, Sgt. Richard A. Fitts, Sgt. Arthur E. Bader, Cpl. Gary R. LaBohn, SSgt. Klaus D. Scholz, Maj. Samuel K. Toomey, Cpl. Michael H. Mein, 1Lt. Raymond C. Stacks were passengers aboard a Vietnamese Air Force CH34 helicopter (serial #14-4653) as their team was being transported to their reconnaissance mission area in Laos. Details of their mission was classified at that time, and remains classified in early 1990. However, information received from some of the family members indicates that the mission was related to disarming an enemy munitions store.

The helicopter was flying at 4,000 feet when it was struck by 37mm anti-aircraft fire,went into a spin, crashed in a mass of flames and exploded. The helicopter crashed about 10 miles northwest of Khe Sanh, just into Laos east of Tchepone. The crash site is in heavy jungle, near a stream. From the time the aircraft was hit until the time it impacted out of view, the helicopter was under observation and no one was seen to leave the aircraft during its descent. No ground search was initiated because the location was in a denied area. Later visual search indicated that the pilot's hatch was open, and his helmet was seen 25-30 feet from the helicopter, but no survivors or bodies were seen. All the personnel aboard the aircraft, however, were not declared dead, but were declared Missing in Action, which was procedure when no proof of death existed.

When the war ended, and 591 Americans were releaesed from prison camps in Southeast Asia, not one man who had been held in Laos was released. Although the Pathet Lao stated publicly that they held "tens of tens" of Americans, no negotiations occurred which would free them at that time, nor have any occurred since.

In March 1988, the area in which the helicopter crashed was excavated by a joint Lao/ US technical team. Human remains consisting of 17 teeth and 145 bone fragments, none measuring over two inches, were recovered. The remains were returned to the U.S. Army Central Identification (CIL) in Hawaii.

On January 3, 1990, it was announced that the remains of Richard Fitts had been positively identified from the material recovered at the crash site. That identification was determined by the government's conclusion that two of the 17 teeth belonged to Fitts. Fitts' parents, after having an independent analysis conducted on the teeth, felt assured that the teeth belonged to their son, and subsequently buried them in Boston, Massachusetts. The remaining 15 teeth and 145 bone fragments were said to be unidentifiable.

Barely a month later, on February 8, 1990, the Department of Defense announced that the remainder of the crew had been positively identified and would be buried, along with the Vietnamese crew, in a mass grave in Arlington National Cemetery. Fitts' name was included on that tombstone along with the other Americans because the Pentagon believed some of the bone fragments belonged to Fitts. Thus, even though the remains were scientifically unidentifiable, the cases were closed on these individuals.

Critics of the U.S. Government's identification of the entire crew of the helicopter point to a similar incident some years ago. In 1968, unidentifiable remains attributed to a group of U.S. Marines killed near Khe Sanh on February 25, 1968 were buried in a mass grave in St. Louis. One of the deceased was identified as being Marine Sgt. Ronald Ridgeway.

Five years later, Ridgeway was released from a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp, giving rise to considerable speculation as to the validity of the positive identification of the other remains buried in St. Louis.

There are still over 2300 Americans who remain prisoner, missing, or otherwise unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. Nearly 600 of them were lost in Laos. The U.S. Government, by early 1990, had received nearly 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing in Southeast Aisa. Many authorities believe there are hundreds of Americans still alive today, held captive.

In recent years, the numbers of remains returned from Vietnam and excavated in Laos has increased dramatically. Government strategists happily point to this as "progress" on the POW/MIA issue, although most of these remains are still unidentified. Indeed, many families, having had independent studies of the remains to assure accurate identi- fication, now have answers to long-awaited concerns about their loved ones. However, when remains are positively identified, the U.S. Government closes the books and the search for that missing man ends. Can we afford to close the books on an American who may be alive waiting for his country to bring him home?

How many will serve in the next war knowing they may be abandoned?

How many, indeed?

Each person reading this today, Memorial Day 2003, must make a vow:

Never must we ever allow another member of our military to serve his or her country, preserving our freedom, in the fear that they will be forgotten.

May God Bless our military members abundantly, and may He place His bloodline of protection around each and every one.

Thank-you...*ALL* of you, who haved selflessly served your country, past and present.

We Will Never Forget!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 05-24, 05-25-03 ... The Week In Review

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

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God Bless Our Military

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Daisyscarlett; Dansangel; Dutchess; Mama_Bear; and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~

We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.

Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland......son-in-law weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep...................son Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................active duty LadyX....................grandson LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty The Mayor................niece fawn796..................nephew

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear...........nephew gator girl............husband severa................husband MozartLover...........nephew LBGA........................son SpookBrat...........nephew Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Diver Dave................niece deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons Consort...........2 daughters Darheel..................niece dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn.............2 sons kneezles...........son MozartLover...........son

[WVNan]

Hi dansy. You have Freepmail.

[dansangel]

FReepmail back at ya! ((((((((WVNan)))))))

[deadhead]

NEVER FORGET: Veterans (left to right) Louis Vecchione, Albert Sharp and Martin Gibson honor their fallen comrades at the Long Island National Cemetary in Farmingdale yesterday.

(05/24/03) FARMINGDALE - On this Memorial Day weekend, Long Island's youngsters are showing they understand the real meaning of the holiday.

Dozens paid tribute to our nation's fallen soldiers at Pinelawn and Calverton national cemeteries.

Boy scouts bearing American flags came by the dozens to the cemeteries. Despite the rain on Saturday, youngsters with troops from across the Island respectfully placed 323,000 flags on the hallowed ground of Pinelawn, and 170,000 more flags at Calverton.

They say every flag marks a promise to always remember, and never forget our nation's soldiers.

Kudos to those wonderful volunteers who place American flags at the graves of our heroes. I went to the Memorial Day Parade today, but it was cancelled due to the rain. So, I continued on to the Long Island National Cemetary (Pinelawn) to pay respects to my Dad. It really touches the heart seeing all those flags.

Colleen

[TexasCowboy]

THANK YOU!

[LadyX]

Thank you, dansy, for your moving tribute this Day of Remembrace and Gratitude, and for all who participated in the observance.
I waited to reply until I reached the end of the thread to add my respects.

Watching the President at Arlington Cemetery was so moving, his sincerity obvious - no line of veterans deliberately doing an about face and standing at parade rest to show their feelings for 'his predecessor' I saw one year on Veterans Day.

If you missed it, look for a replay of when he was moving from placing the wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown to go to the platform for his speech. A nearby lone voice came from the crowd, with "God bless you, Mr. President," and he stopped briefly to quietly reply, "Thank you."

It doesn't get much better in America than in these days of God-guided leadership!

In another way, it has been a most difficult day. Writing recently a friend of 54 years (our birthdays two weeks apart) not hearing from him in about two, when we got together in Augusta with him and his wife, a response was in my morning mail.

"My Gwen died on March 30, 2003. Kari lost her son in the fifth month of pregnancy on March 29, 2003, the day before Gwen died. Convince me that either of those events was God's will for the betterment of the Universe. It won't be easy to do."

J

Kari is his step-daughter, who became his daughter at age 9. His only child, a son, died of cancer one year ago, the day after his birthday.
It will be a while before I can make a reply to him, asking God for meaningful words...

[dansangel]

They say every flag marks a promise to always remember, and never forget our nation's soldiers.

Oh my word - that's absolutely wonderful what the Long Island Boy Scouts did!

Thank-you for sharing that inspirational story with us!

[LadyX]

Thank you for sharing that, Mama_Bear, and God bless....

[LadyX]

Thanks, jw - glad you're out there near enough to keep an eye on our Marines at Camp Pendleton!!

[WVNan]

Prayers for your friend, Maggie. Yes, it is difficult to find convincing words of God's grace when one is hurting so much. Just assure him of your sympathy and concern for his well-being. It's too soon for him to be reminded that we all die. God chooses our time, not to punish anyone, but to fulfill the larger plan that we cannot see. In many ways it is a sad day for a lot of people.

[WVNan]

Dansy, I sent the picture, I hope.

[LadyX]

In the spirit of nicmarlo and Meekie and JustAmy, 'sharing' gifs - I 'lifted' one from you a while back..:))

Okay - it was "The Watch," but you removed it from my grasp?!!!
Unimaginable!! Unfair!!
LOL

[dansangel]

It will be a while before I can make a reply to him, asking God for meaningful words...

When someone challenges God's intentions when a heart-breaking loss is at hand, it is truly nearly impossible to find the right words. I find comfort in scripture:

8Romans:28 - "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose."

((((((LadyX)))))))))

[MeekOneGOP]

You're welcomed. Thank you.

[deadhead]

I am so sorry to hear of your friends loss. Prayers for your friend. Gwen will be guiding her grandson in heaven. Oh, this is so sad. God Bless All

[LadyX]

Always there when we need you, aren't you, Sistah?
The words will come, somehow.....
I can only imagine how heavily you have to lean on the Lord to find them for all those you must comfort.

{{{ for Nan }}}

[MeekOneGOP]

:O)

[dansangel]

WVNan sent this picture for all of you to see. Along with it she sends this narrative:

"This is the headstone for John A. Stone, F Company, 33rd Ohio Regiment. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was WVNan's husband's great-grandfather. Memorial Day was first instituted to honor the Civil War soldiers."

Thank-you, ((((((Nan))))))) for sharing this!

[dansangel]

Thank-you for posting that, (((((((((Cobbie)))))))

We shall NEVER FORGET!!!

[WVNan]

I woke up this morning with you on my mind dear Sistah.

[LadyX]

Thank you so much for your replies.
Jerry and I were part of an inseparable group in Melbourne High School, dansy, and in Sunday School.
You remember it, now an Art Museum "on the city's Western border" was our school song!!

The rest of you, that was blocks from downtown at the time, serving half of all of Brevard County, where Cape Canaveral and The Space Center is - now a gigantic, unrecognizable area..:))