USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Dear Soldier: You don't know me, but... ~ October 6 2003

Canteen Co-Captain LindaSOG and A Grateful American

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday...
Thank the Veterans who served in
The United States Armed Forces.

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Dear Soldier:

You don’t know me, but I know you.  You were the boy next door, the kid who delivered my paper, the skinny girl in my daughter’s gymnastics class.  You played ball with my son and worked summers at my favorite burger joint.  We have probably never met, but I know you.

	You are a brother, sister, favorite niece or nephew, and someone’s best friend.  You are the child of parents who love you more than they can explain, feel pride words can’t carry, and bear a weight of worry they never dreamed possible.

There are probably a thousand things you’d rather be doing than what is before you now or what may be asked of you soon.  Combat is always possible when one wears the uniform, yet you donned it with full knowledge of the risks.  Not everyone would do it; I, for instance, did not.  Perhaps I’d make a different choice today but this time the decision was yours.  You chose to serve.

The type of people we consider heroes is kind of odd when you think about it:  athletes chasing records, movie stars and musicians, some of whom likely adorn posters in your old room back home.  Yet these folks rarely sacrifice more than time and effort, pursuing ambitions that profit only themselves.    There’s nothing wrong with that in itself; it’s what most of us do in some form or another.  It’s just not the stuff of heroes.   You, on the other hand, hazard your life for a wage that has many military families on food stamps.  You wager it for an ideal and a way of life, not wealth or fame.  If the chips fall wrong, the price you pay is for others.

Who’s the hero?  We’ll probably never know your name; I suspect you don’t care.  My own children are just short of military age but I have raised them to do what is right because it is right, not for gain, glory, or even gratitude.  If these things come, so much the better.  If not, your success is no less because personal reward wasn’t the object in the first place.

	Despite a few noisy voices, history shows the price of freedom is nothing less than blood.  It is not bought so much as leased, a fact some have forgotten after years of relative peace and the increasingly unrestrained license that has come to pass for liberty.  I admit some of us thought your generation might be the first to lose sight of that altogether.  We were wrong, and I’m glad.

I’d have written sooner but I’ve been pretty busy. If that sounds shallow, I suppose it is.  At least it finally occurred to me I have the luxury of busyness with career and family because you and hundreds of thousands like you are willing suit up, ship out, and take your chances.  Seeing your young face on television, a face I have seen at the playground and on the high school volleyball team and in the grocery store, drives home how very much you have on the line.  The least I can do is drop a note to say thanks.

	I do know you, and I know your family.  I know how anxious they are and how much they want for your future.  I understand how tremendously proud they are.  The rest of us are too, even if we’re too wrapped up enjoying the freedoms you protect to remember to say it.

Please look after yourself and be as careful as you can.  I will be praying for you and your family.  We all want you home safe.    A Grateful American

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

U.S. and coalition forces take part in the Bagram 10 Miler Oct. 6, 2003. U.S. Army photo

Bagram 10 Miler Brings Coalition Forces Together

By U.S. Army Spc. Kelly Hunt / 4 th Public Affairs Detachment

BAGRAM, Afghanistan , Oct. 6, 2003 — Coalition troops and civilians supporting Operation Enduring Freedom joined forces to compete side-by-side during the Bagram Army 10 Miler run, cheering each other on from the start to the finish of the race as the runners made their way over the dusty course.

For most, the thrill of the race was running alongside people who share the ambition and pride that comes from serving in the fight for freedom. Placing in the top of their division was just an added bonus.

“Where you finish in the race makes it nicer, if you're in the top five or 10, but really it's just good to run with a lot of other folks,” said Air Force Capt. Gordon Birdsall, Combined Joint Task Force 180, Air Component Coordination Element, who took second place in the Men's Master's Division. This was Birdsall's first 10 miler competition in more than 15 years.

Others supported Birdsall's thoughts saying that it wasn't really about placing, but more about the drive of competing with fellow troops and supporters.

It's great just to be out here with all of these people, said 1 st Lt. Laura McManus, Combined Joint Task Force 180, CJ-7, who finished first in the Women's Open Division. “(It's about) the feeling that you get with other runners; the feeling you get afterwards.”

Even after breaking through the finish line, participants caught their breath and offered their support to the others runners nearing the end point of the race.

“When you finish, it's nice to cheer on the other folks that are coming in right behind you,” said Birdsall.

The Bagram Army 10 Miler was open to all supporters of Operation Enduring Freedom and attracted more than 400 participants. The race was designed to keep the competitive spirit alive here in Bagram and offer troops a little time way from their missions, said Sgt. Maj. Sonny Mitchell, event coordinator, CJTF-180.

“We wanted to do something that they're doing in the United States that everybody can identify with,” he said.

The rest of the story

[Radix]

 

A soldier yells at demonstrators who were part of the hundreds of former Iraqi soldiers demanding redundancy pay Sunday in Baghdad, Iraq.

 

The new  Baghdad street choir led by an American tenor practices for an upcoming concert.

 

 

 

A soldier yells at demonstrators in Baghdad when hundreds of ex-Iraqi soldiers demanding redundancy pay protested Sunday.

 

An Iraqi  trembles as the traditional Baghdad "Halloween story time in the street" progresses.

 

The Americans naturally told the most very best frighterning stories.

 

 

 

A soldier pins down an unruly Iraqi protester during the demonstration of former Iraqi soldiers in Baghdad.

 

"OK  OK, how about two out of  three falls?"

 

 

 

A soldier keeps watch from an overpass Sunday as tension rises during a protest in Baghdad.

 

Our Troops endure difficulties which we often do not consider.

 

 

 

A soldier tries to deal with demonstrators in Baghdad on Sunday.

 

 

 

An Iraqi school girl hands a flower to L. Paul Bremer, Iraq’s U.S. civilian administrator, as he tours the Rafah al Assasiya school for girls in Baghdad on Monday. Second from left is Iraqi Minister of Education Dr. Ala’din Alwan and second from right is Dr. Ayad Alawi, president of Iraq’s Governing Council.

 

Anothe image that was rejected for publication by the New York Times, et al.

 

 

 

Iraqi men and children watch as a soldier from Bravo Company, 2-502 Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, walks past them during a Sunday night patrol mission in Mosul, Iraq.

 

The new Nebudcadnezzar Mall is expected to someday be sprawling, and have a real tile floor.

 

 

 

A soldier from the 4th Infantry Division cries during a memorial service for command Sgt. Maj. James Blankenbecler.

 

Sgt. Maj. James Blankenbecler was killed Oct. 1 in a roadside bomb attack.

 

 

 

A soldier with the 4th Infantry Division salutes a portrait of command Sgt. Maj. James Blankenbecler during a memorial service in Tikrit.

 

 

 

Gunnery Sgt. Clifford Meyers, with 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines, hugs his wife, Danielle, on Sept. 27 at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans, after returning from Iraq.

 

 

 

Marine Cpl. E. J. Daigle, with 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines, is greeted Sept. 27 by his fiancée, Kim, at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base. Cpl. Daigle was in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since April 21.

 

 

 

Seven-year-old Katie and her three-year-old sister Eva, from Ponchatoula, La., wait at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base on Sept. 27 with a sign for their father, Staff Sgt. Phillip Bougere, who is attached to 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines, and has been in Iraq since April.

 

 

 

Air Force Academy mascot Aurora the Falcon waits for the start of the Air Force/Navy game Saturday.

 

 

Another day at the office for our Troops.

[MoJo2001]

Good Afternoon Troops and Canteen!


Dear Soldier,

You don't know me, but that's okay. You won't lose any sleep over it.

First, let me just confess that I'm the "leak" at the White House. Of course, I thought they said "White Castles" and assumed that they were referring to that White House. So?? Blame me. Okay?

Despite media reports, I never did a lap dance on Ben Affleck's lap. It was a choice between going to Dairy Queen or doing that. It was a toughie, but I chose the Peanut Buster Parfait over Ben. Tough luck dude!

While I'm at it, I've never been groped by Arnie. Why? I prefer Sailors over actors.  I don't think it would have been out of line for any of these women claiming they were groped to have slapped him upside the head. He would have deserved it. That's for sure.

It looks like the United Nations is getting ready to condemn Israel over it's retaliation for the horrific bombing this past weekend. Syria definitely deserved what it got, but that's not the point to the United Nations. If you can name an organization that has more anti-semitic people, I'll bow to you. Until then, the United Nations wins this hands down.

Did I mention that I saw a whole lot of Air Force guys running this morning on base? It didn't do as much as say watching Marines running, but it was a beautiful sight. Since I'm not one of those type of females that grovels over stuff like that, I must tell you that they are definitely physically fit.

It must be an election year because the homeless statistics are out and people are HORRIFIED. Amazing that they are never horrified the other 3 years.

Elton John thinks that Dennis Miller is a "menace". Well, I think that's rich coming from a guy who spent 1 million dollars to have dinner with Bill Clinton. I'm smelling the irony somewhere here.

Madonna is now an author. How exciting is that? The last time she did a "book" it was a very naughty picture book about something. Hehehe! Anyways, she's now trying to reach out to little kids. Please! She's done enough to destroy good quality TV as the next celebrity and now she wants to reach out to one of my kids. She can call me and I'll tell her where she can reach. Hehe!

Oh!! Tomorrow is a beautiful day! The California Recall will finally go to the voting booth. Don't be surprised to see dead people voting. The drama is almost over. Or it's just beginning. Either way, the election season is only going to get worse from here until next year.

Outside of that, nothing much going on here at home. As a matter of fact, it's business as usual.

Stay safe and come home as soon as possible. We will keep the lights on for you. And of course, a nice hug and warm meal will be waiting for you. We promise that Ma won't be cooking it. Auntie Fawnn might!

Oh! No! You won't have to buy a Burka.
 

[tomkow6]

Hi,Sis!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

spaghetti project done!
Beware of cats who walk behind the tv and play with wires! LOL

[Argh]

Lovely, thanks Tonk!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

The Thanks belong to M1911A1

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thanks, "Grateful American", Linda and Tonkin!

 

We KNOW our troops are doing an awesome job in Iraq and Afghanistan and around the world.

 

Thank you, troops, for defending our freedom and showing the whole world the real, the possible, the best of America!!! They weren't calling for the UN to come save them in Liberia. They wanted the U.S. Military!

 

I know it's early for dinner on the West Coast and Siberia where Kathy lives, but I found a few old dishes in the file cabinet and heard that someone skipped dinner.  (Calorie free, but hunted down and posted with love, lol!) 

 

 

Or, if you'd prefer a cheeseburger, beer and a hot fudge sundae....

 

        

Off to play.....

Thanks, good* Canteen crew!!!

*knows the meaning of "is" and "good", Fawnn. (^;

 

[Argh]

Terrific message, M1911A1!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I'm listening to my Coast Guard Brothers from Coos Bay
and a Coast Guard Helicopter resucing a boat on my scanner.
I know who the coxswain on the 47' boat by his voice.
On Thur I'll be entering part of the data from this search and resuce case.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Coast Guard Helicopter circling around disabled boat.
47' Coast Guard boat about 3 miles away.
Disabled boat taking on water
(from radio traffic between helicopter and 47' boat)

[Kathy in Alaska]

spaghetti project done!

So, does everything you unplugged, now work after being (probably) rerouted and replugged? TV, computer, satellite, etc. Is it all kitty proofed? Or has run-a-muck learned, "No"!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

all spaghetti project stuff working
next mini project is getting vcr set up
(it was unplugged ! )
kinda, sort a kitty proofed for now

[Kathy in Alaska]

Frantically waving! Me! Me! Hot fudge sundae, please. Perfect "under-the-weather" food. Thanks muchly, Rags!! And thanks for being the keeper of the "good news"; most appreciated.

[Soaring Feather]

Thanks so much for your wonderful letter.

Also, Thank You for your service to our great nation.

[Soaring Feather]

Bump to the top!!

Thanks Tonkin.

[Soaring Feather]

First, let me just confess that I'm the "leak" at the White House. Of course, I thought they said "White Castles" and assumed that they were referring to that White House. So?? Blame me. Okay?ROTFLMAO!!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

From the men in the Military and the Canteen

[Bethbg79]

Hi Tonkin!

That sunset is beautiful!