Posted on 12/06/2002 12:33:24 PM PST by Jen
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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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.
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Veterans History Project 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.
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Best 8 years of my life,well except for the last 1, when I asked my CO "do you want me to work the rest of the day, or not?".A senior NCOIC of the base MP squadron had major heartburn about my dependent husband's long hair.It made no difference to him that said husband was a vet, and a Civil Service employee.It just really chaffed him that we lived next door in essential personnel housing above what my rank would normally command.Long ugly story of abuse of authority, but I did manage to "retire" him and the base commander, who supported his outragious activities, on my way out.;^)
I would have done my 20, but I was burned out by fighting abusive ROAD jerks,in addition to being NCOIC of a squadron manned at 25% level.
Funniest story:Prior to celebrating my wedding anniversity,I made every concievable arrangement to be taken off the emergency duty roster, as I fully intended on being "unfit" for duty for 36 hours.NOGO.
I was paged at the NCO club.Picture this scenario:I am dressed in a cocktail gown, fully made up in an off-duty little black dress,3" spike heels,perfumed, special occasion make-up, no relation to 35/10, and have consumed 4 White Russians.
An incident has occurred requiring one of my specialty to report to a SAC B52 alert Command Center.My OIC was MIA, and I am ordered to report to duty.If I respond either way, I am subject to dereliction of duty charges, and a quick trip to Leavenworth.Since I knew all the applicable regs, I insisted that only a General Officer could authorise my entering the SAC secure command post under these circumstances,and (hehehe) only the Base Commander (the one being retired because he abused his authority), could escort me past the security guards.(I already knew it was a "routine emergency" technical violation vs actual)
They woke up the one star,who woke up and the sent the base CO to pick me up and escort me to the place I was ordered to enter, I fiddled with my stuff for 15 minutes, and the base CO silently drove me back to the NCO club.
The staff on CP duty knew my situation, and in addition to the whistles and catcalls, I received a standing ovation.The MP at the door kept it open just long enough for the Base CO to hear it.
All of this was "peacetime" crap, and I pray our wartime servicemembers have been briefed on the definition of "fragging".
I'm so glad to see you all here. I love the thread, Jen. Misty, and Sam you are doing a fabulous job.
Hey Souris, where are ya??? Life isn't the same without you!
Spooky, Sassy, Kneezles, 4theflag and Gooberdoll, here is a song for you.
Congrats on this new thread....a great idea!
Great music tonight!
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