The FReeper Foxhole -

Dec. 6, 2002

[Jen]

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

Our Mission:

The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

We hope to provide an ongoing source of information about issues and problems that are specific to Veterans and resources that are available to Veterans and their families.

In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.

Veterans History Project
Keeps War Memories Alive

There are over 19 million veterans living in the U.S. today. With each is a personal story of battles fought, victories and defeats. Each story, though sometimes heartbreaking, is full of love, dedication and patriotism.

---

War correspondent May Craig
interviews a soldier, ca. 1945.

---

That's how Peter Bartis describes his work with the Veterans History Project. The grassroots effort that began two years ago -- and has now caught fire -- is hoping to keep those memories alive.

Bartis, a senior program officer for the project, said that each day some 1,500 U.S. veterans die -- and with them a treasured part of the nation's past. "These are some of the most amazing stories; when you put them all together you get a story of the nation," he said.

Over the past year alone, the project's staff of 16 has already collected more than 14,000 items, such as letters and other memoirs, and video and audiotape interviews.

"We're all just blown away by these stories," he said. "The information has been very rich, it's been emotional, and it's very heartening to listen to the stories, to learn how and why they (veterans) joined, their war-time experience."

With the idea that future generations could learn from the histories of the nation's veterans, the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, began the effort to collect video and audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials of American war veterans -- men, women, civilians who served in World Wars I and II, and the Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars. The center needs contributions of civilian volunteers, support staff, and war industry workers also.

Bartis said the amount of regular mail and the number of e-mails and phone calls vary from day to day, "but the response to this project has been enormous." "We get to know a lot of these people personally. That's the fun part," he said. Aside from the thousands of items received from everyday Americans each year, Bartis said the project has gained tremendous support from the corporate community as well.

The Veterans History Project's official Web site lists more than 50 national partners and support organizations from every state. The military services contribute through offices such as the Army's U.S. Center of Military History and the Naval and Marine Corps Historical centers, as well as DoD's official committee commemorating the 50th Korean War anniversary. Major national veterans associations are well-represented also.

"This is not our project or the library's project. This is the nation's project," Bartis said. "We want people of all walks of life to feel ownership of this project."

Learn more about the Veterans History Project.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks. They are times to supervise and times to get the job done, if an extra back or set of hands got it done quicker, that was good for the squad.

[ex-snook]

"Sounds like you got caught up in Operation "Nordwind". "

Yep, that's what the Nazis called it. You know history!

[SAMWolf]

We used to piss off our Platoon SGt by yelling "We blow shit up" everytime we fell into formation, we were supposed to yell "High Angle Hell".

[SAMWolf]

I never looked down on anyone for the job they did or where they did it. We all served and did our job, that's what counts.

[error99]

"Ping to the Foxhole!"
- - - - -
Please emove my name from this ping list.
thanks
error99

[SAMWolf]

A favorite of mine. WWII is a favorite subject.

[Darksheare]

Shinseki was having it replace the Bradley.
At least, that's what i last heard him say.
And the LAV has impellers where the Stryker has external fuel tanks.
The Stryker is also built slightly differently, as well as modified hatches. (One exit good enough for emergency evac.. right by the externals. Russians learned this was a bad idea back in Afghanistan.)

Unless they changed the design spec, there was no overhead crew door. Bad idea. If they're going to put external on the darn thing, then they need to ensure that crew evacuation from the burning thing is 'up to snuff'.
The original design had treads like a tank. Like I said earlier in this thread, I watched a Hemmet get stuck in sand while an Abrams rolled on by. Merrily rolled on by.

Anyone rememeber the Sgt. York Air defense Artillery gun?

[sneakers]

Thanks for pinging me AntiJen! Proud of our troops - and proud to support them in whatever whay I can!

[lonestar]

bump

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"68-69Tonkingulfyatchclub is posting the Canteen now.
He's providing a place for active duty personnel and their families to enjoy. "

Non-Sequitur I'll add you to the Canteen ping list.
The Canteen also honors veterans everyday.
Many FReeper veterans have had threads in the Canteen dedicated to just them.
It's great to see another daily thread carry on the tradition of honoring veterans also.

[Darksheare]

*Larf!* *Chuckle!*
I really would have liked to have you in my old unit then.
But I think we both would have been in the pokey for those kinds of antics.

The 'official' drink of My old unit's advance party was the licorice Sambuka in a triple. And they only got that after a good clean run. And once we got back to the 'civilized' areas of Fort Drum.

If they really wanted to go, they'd get a mix of equal parts Stoli vodka, Licorice Sambuka, and Peppermint Schnapps in a triple. God that mix was revolting, but it was called a Brain Eraser. Makes the troubles of the AT go away... as well as everything else too. (ooops.)

Not that I ever had to help carry any of my troops 'home'.

[Jen]

"Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" bump!

Thanks Victoria, you know I love Toby Keith!

[Pippin]

Good luck with the new thread, Jen!

I know it's gonna be great! :^)

God bless you and God bless all our veterans!

[bvw]

SAMWolf ... those history threads are excellent reading, thank you!

[MistyCA]

What an awesome history, Gail! Thanks for sharing it! :)

[MistyCA]

Thanks for coming by, Tonk! We are very proud of your service and accomplishments in the Coast Guard! Thanks so much for your dedication to military issues. :)

[Sabertooth]

Thanks for the ping, Victoria. Great thread, Jen!

[MistyCA]

What an awesome fly-over picture!

[Darksheare]

No, I do not recommened the brain eraser.
I advise a nice hot tea and a good read.
And maybe a good vid game as well. (Half-Life is a good play. Perfectly mindless but with a storyline. In other words, a good game for the "We like loud noises and blasty thingies" crowd.)

[SAMWolf]

I remember the York, couldn't hit squat and mounted on old tank chassis that couldn't keep up with the newer tanks. Piece of crap!