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

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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.

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

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]

Dansy, I'm going to take my back-pain and lay it down. I can hardly get out of the chair and walk. You guys send up some healing prayers. I don't have time to be down in the back. God love you all, and God bless all those who have served and sacrificed for America past and present.

[JustAmy]

"So, I wanna know am I a first generation American on my mom's side or sixth generation American? "

Beats me but probably both.
Since I had relatives marry relatives during the early 1800's, Family Tree Maker says my son is my son and also my cousin (can't remember how many times removed.)! LOL

[dansangel]

Well, SOME of us retain it better than others of us. I'm not saying which one of me that is.

LOL! Ever the ambassador, you are! :-)

Reluctantly, I am going to "back away form the computer" and have a little down time before turning in for the night. Another work day (ugh!) is looming large on the horizon.

Mega (((((((HUGS)))))))) to all of you for making this a great Memorial Day on the Finest. Please keep our military close to your hearts and on your lips as you go about your day-to-day duties.

[Pippin]

Unfortunately my sound doesn't work.

I know, I know!

I need a new computer so I can listen to what y'all post. I'm working on that. I need to save up so I can get that new computer.

[dansangel]

You and Jack are in my prayers, as always. Healing ((((hugs)))) to you for your back pain. I hope you are well again, soon!

[Pippin]

LOL!

[Pippin]

Good night, Nan and Dansy!

Keeping you and Jack in my prayers, Nan.

[LadyX]

"There's a patriotic fervor in this country now that I've never seen"

Just a little bit ahead of you, Nan and I remember WWII vividly, TC, when you were still a toddler, and this actually cannot hold a candle to how it was then.

Just about everyone had a relative or neighbor or friend in service, blue flags in windows everywhere, proudly displayed.
The print media and radio were our main sources of limited information. Mail, the only direct contact with the military abroad, was heavily censored, any sensitive information/location/etc. blacked out by hands through which they had to pass.

Our daily life was geared toward the 'War Effort' - in second grade when Pear Harbor happened, we lined up every week to purchase war stamps for a dime each to paste in our war bond books.
Everyone collected scrap metal and old paper and turned it in to be recycled for, again, the War Effort, by which our lives were ruled.
Production plants and shipyards abounded all over the nation.

We lived with rationed goods, every civilian man, woman and child issued them for things like sugar and coffee and shoes - only 4 pairs per year per person allowed, so the miitary could have boots.

If you were near a base, you invited men to dinner or an evening with a family, or holidays, etc.

After enduring the harsh and disgraceful mindset of much of America during the Nam period, this day and time is heartening indeed....

NEVER AGAIN will our heroes have to slink home
is our cry - - -

[Pippin]

hi, LadyX!

[Dubya]

I hope you get one soon.

I need to get some work done on mine tomorrow. Email quit working.

[Dubya]

Everyone collected scrap metal and old paper and turned it in to be recycled

They put my picture on the front page of the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram news paper for bring in the most. :^)

[Pippin]

Thanks, I hope so too. and I hope you can get you e-mil problem fixed.

[Dubya]

We also had Victory gardens to help out with food for people who needed it and save food for the Military.

[Dubya]

Thanks I really need it for Real Estate.

[Pippin]

YUCK! I gotta leave now and get to bed, gotta get up early to get to work tomorrow. Everyone have a good night and God bless you all!

[LadyX]

"They put my picture on the front page of the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram news paper for bring in the most. :^)"

Should have known you were a celebrity, Dubya!
Yes - every child planted the Victory Garden, no matter how small, letting us be a part of it all.

Imagine you had the honor of being the one who added the yellow color to the yucky oleomargarine, as I did.
We were fortunate, though, in having a neighbor 3 miles down the road who made her own butter. That darned cow produced so much milk, we neighbors just had to stop by and take that butter off her hands, rather than letting it go to waste.
The dish beside it on the table was 'just for decoration'..:))

[LadyX]

Good night, Miss ClaraSuzanne - sleep well.....

[JustAmy]

I remember when my father was called for the draft during WWII. He failed the physical and he had 3 children so he did not serve.

I remember soldiers and sailors everywhere we went. It was definitely a time of patriotism. I am ashamed of the way our troops were treated after VietNam.

I have a couple of my pictures from last year if you want to steal them, Cowboy!





That is probably all you can manage for now. Hope Jim took more pictures today. It was a beautiful sight to see so many large flags flapping in the breeze.

[TexasCowboy]

"It was a beautiful sight to see so many large flags flapping in the breeze."

Yep, and that always makes a lump in my throat!
Thanks for the pics!

[shaggy eel]

I'll have to figure out a way to tolerate such a long plane trip. I hear it's something like 20 hours. The longest I was ever on a plane was on a trip to Hawaii 15 years ago. I thought I would go crazy! I'm not one to sit still for very long.

,,, AKL to LAX is twelve hours. I do customs and immigration then a flight to ORD is less than five hours. These days there's eight or so movies and a myriad of in flight CDs to select from. In days gone by, once they'd fed you and the only movie had run out, to relieve boredom I resorted to terrorist action. Instead of yelling "is there a doctor on board?", I'd yell "is there a democrat on board?" If you get bored, that line is sure to guarantee a fun ride and time passes a lot quicker.