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.

[rocknotsand]

Ditto

Can't help myself.

The Jeep----America's own true sports car.

The Deuce an' a Half...CCKW (Combat Cargo King of the World).

[SAMWolf]

You're welcome. So you're the one who's been reading them LOL!

[Jen]

You've been removed from the ping list. Feel free to jump in the Foxhole whenever you want to. :-)

Sorry about the double ping today.

[SAMWolf]

Hakf-life is great, you get the add-ons? Fun playing a Marine or Barney!

[MistyCA]

This is a good place to record some of those important memories that you have. We would love to read them. Thanks for posting with us. :)

[MistyCA]

Wonderful post, Victoria! Glad you are here!

[LasVegasMac]

I retired after 20 years and 1 day of service in the Air Force in 1995. If Clintoon had not been CINC, I probably would've stayed in longer.

I retired in July 1995 - for the very same reason. For a very long time, I missed the service in a huge way.

Fortunately, (some would say, unfortunately) I was able to not stray too far from the brothers and sisters in arms. I got hired into two Joint Test programs, now in a third - long one. Absolutely love it - best of both worlds - doing what I like to do and rubbing elbows with the "uniformed ones".

The "Joint" in Joint Test was the cool part. My previous job - many occasions - drank beer with an active Navy O-6 (waived to excede 30 years!) that at one time was the CAG on the USS Enterprise. Currently working for a retired USAF BG.

It don't get any better.

Thank you again for starting the FoxHole.

God Bless, LVM

[MistyCA]

His unit provided security inside the perimeter of the airbase at Bien Hoa, from what I understand. Another unit provided security along the river and outside the perimeter. I am hoping he will post with us on these threads. I think the Airforce called them Air Policemen until right after he left Vietnam. In 67 (I think) they changed the name. I am real bad about recalling the details and he isn't here at the moment so I can ask. :(

[rocknotsand]

What does a war run on?

CCKW-352 crew sort an average daily delivery of 300-900 litres of plasma at a French airstrip. ETO - WW2 European Theatre of Operations.

[Darksheare]

Have Azure Sheep, Sven Co-Op, OpFor, Counter-Strike, Gunman Chronicles, DMC, TFC, Wanted, Redemption.. Even have action HL beta 5.5 but I had to take it off, took up too much space. Even have Scientist Hunt. "They didn't predict everything."

Don't have blue shift yet. But Azure Sheep is a good stand in until I do. (Title seems to be a tongue in cheek reference to the fact that the Barney AI always gets them killed like blue sheep.)

I even MP3'd the soundtracks off of Half-life, OpFor and Gunman. Some of the instrumentals there are great.

[MistyCA]

LOL! Hey....I am a mom and I know what you are saying. My kids call daily to find out this or that. :)

[Darksheare]

Okers. There are somethings I'm gonna have to wait until morning so I don't screw up the details in a brain fog. Considering I'm dragging. It's 21:33 here and time for me to PMCS my eyelids.

I remember being on perimeter watch one night after 24 hour operations and none of us got any sleep.. so I'm watching the ground ripple like water. And then a pair of boots show up. It's our warrant officer, and he's absolutely clean and fresh. I hated him for it. (You never show off the fact that your uniform is clean and pressed to a guy who's been in the field a week.)

And you never brag about having just come back from the barracks shower. That get's you sandbagged.

[red-dawg]

Thanks for the ping.
Very nice.

[TigersEye]

Come and join me in the Foxhole, my darling Thirty! ; )

.30Carbine and I will be holding Veterans and current Servicemen and women especially close in our thoughts and prayers this Holiday Season. May you be safe and know that you are appreciated.
TigersEye

[Sir Gawain]

Nice idea.

[cavtrooper21]

You mean the "outstanding new air-cap weapon system" that was supposed to protect our troops form enemy air attacks? I worked with some troops that had been at Hunter-Ligget when DOD field tested "Pvt" York! The part I remember best was the day the system locked onto a fan on one of the test buildings. From what I hear, it was a A.. & elbows drill to get out of the way! LOL... as long as you were not on the firing pad!!!! ;{)

[cavtrooper21]

Ping. Sir, I think you might enjoy this.
Scouts Out!
CT21

[SAMWolf]

I heard the gunman Chronicles sucked. I have all the Calncy Rogue Spear/Rainbow Six games . Those are great.

[SAMWolf]

Good Night, great talking to you. See yout tomorrow.

[MistyCA]

Oh yes...my brother-in-law was in Bosnia during the Clinton years. I use to give him copies of my Slick Willie magazines until the brass told him that it wasn't a good idea to have that sort of thing around....in other words...don't! But even the brass had the best jokes hidden in their drawers! I don't think there were any real people who supported the idiot Clinton!They knew they were a big target on his hit list. What a rotten joke on society!