USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Guest Military Chaplain Service and Sunday Liberty ~ August 3 2003

Guest Military Chaplin and FRiends of the Canteen

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

	Welcome to The USO Canteen FReeper Style

Today's Spiritual Journey takes us to:

Marine Corps Air Station
Miramar, California

Click the pic to visit MCAS

 

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing are dedicated to supporting West Coast Marine aviation missions, Marine Aircraft Group 46, and other Naval aviation support units as designated by the Commandant of the Marine Corps in coordination with the Chief of Naval Operations.

This is done through the combined efforts of more than 11,000 servicemembers doing jobs that range from cooks and mechanics to air traffic controllers and photographers.  Regardless of job description, each Marine is an essential piece in the what makes up Miramar and keeps the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing combat-ready. 

Miramar's location is strategically and logistically advantageous because of the proximity to deploying Navy ships, supported ground combat troops and aviation training areas over the ocean and in the desert.  Together with Camp Pendleton and the local Navy installations, San Diego boasts the largest concentration of Naval forces in the world.

Home of The Third Marine Aircraft Wing

click the pic to visit the 3d MAW

More than 150 years ago, MCAS Miramar was part of an enormous ranchero owned by Don Santiago Anguello, the former Mexican Army commandante of San Diego’s presidio.  In 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico and eventually annexed the territories of California and New Mexico.

Miramar’s military roots started in 1917, when the Army purchased the Miramar area and established Camp Kearny.  Construction costs totaled $1.25 million, but few permanent structures were built.  Most of Camp Kearny’s soldiers lived in tents, as more than 65,000 men trooped through the camp on their way to World War I battlegrounds.  After the war, the camp was used as a demobilization center, and in 1920, it ceased to function as a military base and languished for 12 years.

The Navy’s occupation of the area began in earnest in 1932, when the largest aircraft in the world came to Camp Kearny.  A mooring mast was built at the camp for the dirigibles USS Akron and USS Macon. Both aircraft crashed as sea, and within only a few years, Camp Kearny was quiet once again.

The Navy retained control of the area for several years but did not actively employ its services.  When World War II began in Europe, the U.S. military began a precautionary buildup.  Runways were constructed at the camp in 1940 and were put to heavy use when America entered the war in 1941.

During the 1940s, both the Navy and the Marine Corps occupied Miramar.  After World War II, all military facilities were combined and the base was redesignated Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.  This lasted just 13 months, however, when the Marines moved to El Toro in 1947.  Miramar was then redesignated a Naval Auxiliary Air Station.  Only half of Miramar’s facilities were put to use, and the station literally began to deteriorate.  Many buildings were sold as scrap during this period.

Throughout its already illustrious history, Miramar had prepared and supported carrier groups and squadrons during World War II and the Korean War, but it was during the Vietnam War that Miramar met its greatest challenge — to train fighter air crews in air combat maneuvering and fleet air defense.  This mission was accomplished through the creation of Top Gun, a graduated-level training school for fighter air crews.  The school garnered fame throughout the military for its success.  The movie “Top Gun” starring Tom Cruise, with portions of the movie filmed aboard the air station, brought worldwide fame to “Fightertown, USA.”

In 1993, a Base Realignment and Closure committee decision recommended that Naval Air Station Miramar be redesignated as a Marine Corps Air Station.  The realignment involved relocating all Navy’s F-14 Tomcat and E-2 Hawkeye squadrons.  Top Gun and the last F-14 squadron left the air station in 1996 to make way for Marines from MCAS El Toro and Marine Corps Air Facility Tustin.

The first Marine squadrons, support units and their F/A-18 Hornets began making the move from MCAS El Toro in August 1994. On Oct. 1, 1997, Miramar once again became a Marine Corps Air Station as the Marines landed back home after a 50-year absence.  The final chapter in the transition process was etched July 2, 1999, with the closing ceremony for MCAS El Toro and MCAF Tustin.  This historic event marked an end to a 52-year presence in Orange County and signified the final step in a move that spanned nearly five years.

With the move complete, all of Miramar’s fixed-wing F/A-18 and KC-130 Hercules squadrons, as well as its CH-46E Sea Knight and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters, are in place.  Additionally, the support commands Marine Wing Support Group 37 and Marine Air Control Group 38 have been established.  These achievements, combined with the near completion of approximately $400 million in construction, means that MCAS Miramar has taken its long-awaited, rightful place as the home of the Marine Corps’ West Coast air power.

The air station covers more than 23,000 acres

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Click the pic to visit the Station Chapel

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Build Wisely, Don’t Ever Give-up!

A carpenter was ready to retire and told his employer. The housing contractor was sorry to see him go and asked if he would build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter reluctantly agreed, and in time it was evident his heart wasn’t in his work. He resorted to sloppy workmanship, using short cuts, and even inferior materials. When he completed the house, his boss handed him the keys. “This is your new house,” he said, “It’s my humble gift to you for all your hard work over the years!” Surprised and shamefully so, the carpenter thought, if he had only known, he would have done such a better job. Now he’s stuck with a shoddy house of his own making.

So it is with some of us. We build our lives haphazardly, willing to put less than our best. Then in shock we look at our poorly constructed situation finding ourselves living in a house we have built with our own two hands. If only we had realized it, we could have done such a better job.

We’re all carpenters in a way. Each day of our lives we hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Don’t be distracted! We must continue to build wisely; our life is the only house we will ever personally build. Even if we live it for only one day, each day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. Our life today is the result of our attitude and past decisions. Our life tomorrow will be the result of our attitude and the choices we make today. Don’t give-up on yourself; continue to build your life wisely!

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[M0sby]

Hi Brad's Gramma,
Did you see my pictures???

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Real Time Radar provided by www.flightarrivals.com

[M0sby]

YOU'RE THE BEST!!! I WILL PASS ON EVERYONE'S MESSAGES!!!
Thanks to your family too!!


I'm just so excited to have posted pictures and "STUFF"!!!

HOORAY! FOR THE CANTEEN!!!!!!!!!!

[MoJo2001]

Mess? I've never heard of such a thing. Is it fun? If so, I wanna know how to do it. I've never done anything fun in my life. You know Ma! She's a bulldog with huge fangs! LOL! (Shhhh! Don't tell her!)

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

MSgt. Edwards

SALUTE

Thank You for your service to our country.

M0sby

Thank you for being a military wife.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thank you so much, Sherry, for sharing Dan with all of us. Thank you, Dan, for your service to our country. And thank you M0sby and your kids for your service as a Marine family.

Hi Dan!! Thanks to you and all your fellow Marines for your part in helping to keep our great America free and safe. God bless you for the job you have done, and are still doing, in freeing the Iraqis and teaching them what freedom means. THANK YOU!!!

[M0sby]

THANK YOU!!!!
I will pass it on!!!

[M0sby]

Thank you..
you night owls...
Neato graphic type things...that is WAY beyond me... but I pasted them into the e-mail that I am sending to Dan and they are still there... will they still be there when he gets it??

[MoJo2001]

I'm so excited for you. What a great way to end the night in the Canteen for me.

We do threads everyday in hopes of inspiring, entertaining, and relaxing our troops and their families. To see pictures of our brave heroes, just reinforces the importance of the need to continue to help them any way we can. It is a pleasure knowing that you are sitting at your computer excited at seeing the picture of the man that you love and having the opportunity to share it with the world. Technology is wonderful. The pictures should be a comfort and a reminder that your husband is a hero to many people that don't know anything about him except he wears the uniform of the United States military. What an awesome legacy and mark on the world. You both should be extremely proud.

The life of a military family is hard, but getting to share this moment with you is such an honor. You didn't have to do it, but you did. For that, please know that I'm deeply touched and moved. A humbling and inspiring experience indeed. Thank you!

[SevenofNine]

Yeah Kathy it is breaking off brit FT

Rack itt well according to report Americans are going way that we weren't diss in the war

Austrila and New Zealand

BTW I went to England ONCE RACK ITTTTTTT


Well Wash Post might have nice little exclusive here report that Colin Powell is plan leave State dept in 2005 and report is Condi Rice might get the gig

[Fawnn]

Please send MSgt. Edwards my thanks for his service to our country!

God Bless America! And, God bless fine men like your husband!

[MoJo2001]

My last post was for you! Good night, Diva!! Sweet and happy dreams to you!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good night and sweet dreams, ms feather. God bless you good for helping provide a home away from home for our troops.

[Fawnn]

Thank you for being a military wife.

(Oops! And what Tonk said, too!)

Fawnndly,
Pam

[M0sby]

You make me sniffly! I really do love technology! I get to look at him EVERYDAY!

Good night to you too!
I appreciate all your words and thought and the CANTEEN!!!
Sleep well and thanks again!
M0sby

[M0sby]

I will pass it on!!!
Thanks to you!
I appreciate your words!!!
:-)

[Brad’s Gramma]

Dearest MSgt. Edwards:

There are NO words that I can form to tell you how I feel about your sacrificing what you do, daily, for this country. I have a small grandson who means more than the world to me and men like you are making his world a safer place to live in. For that I humbly and deeply thank you.

I also thank you all for helping liberate the people of Iraq. When I see pictures of the children running up to our servicemen, SMILING AND LAUGHING, it makes me SO proud of you all.

I'd love to be able to talk to you, one on one. I'd love to hear all the stories you have to tell about Kuwait and your service.

Please know that we here on Free Republic are taking very very good care of your wife. We are an email, or in some cases, a phone call away should she ever need help.

On a personal note, since I started showing my Brad the pictures of Kuwait, Iraq, etc., he's LOVED the pictures of the camels. There's a picture posted here with camels...but, uh, there's a truck that appears to be STUCK in the sand. Is that true? HOW am I going to explain that one to him??? LOL!!!

Thank you again!!! May God richly bless you for all you're doing.

Brad's Gramma

[M0sby]

over here....

[M0sby]

Thanks Gramma,
You make me happy!
What a lovely letter~
You are a lovely person!!!
Sherry E.

[Brad’s Gramma]

You have freepmail. :-)