A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....04-06-06....JohnHuang2's ~ My Two Cents

JohnHuang2, Billie | April 3, 2003 (original) | JohnHuang2

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

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We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, Mama_Bear, GodBlessUSA ~

What our fighting men and women
are really all about

by JohnHuang2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pfc. Jessica Lynch

For the New York Times, which has fed America a steady diet of defeatist news about the war, the news of Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch's daring rescue from captivity was not exactly welcome news.

"Coalition forces have conducted a successful rescue mission," CENTCOM's Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks announced Tuesday night. "The soldier has been returned to a coalition-controlled area."

Heroism -- our men and women in uniform embody it. Every one of them. They're America's finest.

Mettle, courage, sacrifice -- for U.S. soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen, these are defining traits, not just words. They live by them.

Defending freedom isn't just a job. It's who they are. Patriotism, loyalty, devotion -- these are things they personify.

In combat, through fire and water, they boldly march up and look death in the face defiantly, again and again.

Unflinching and dauntless, against even the terrible perils of battle, our fighting men and women selflessly risk all, a glaring reminder that freedom isn't free.

Many paid the ultimate sacrifice for liberties we enjoy.

On a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach, the tombs of 9,000 U.S. soldiers, killed during the D-Day Allied advance almost 50 years ago, is testament to the price of freedom, a cost real men were willing to pay.

Today, across Iraq, untold acts of valor and courage, too many to mention, help free millions from the clutches of brutal tyranny, Saddam Hussein's.

America's finest are at it again.

We hear and read a lot about the fearsome power of B-2 bombers rumbling in the skies over Baghdad, the technical marvel of M-1 Abrams tanks pounding Iraq's best fighters to pulp, the mind-numbing accuracy of precision-guided Tomahawk cruise missiles. But the deadliest, most lethal fighting force in history is more than just tanks and planes and missiles and bullets.

Our military might is about men, not metal. It's about people not plans.

Gallantry, spirit and valor -- not blueprints -- are what win wars in the real world.

Perseverance and fortitude -- not timetables and expectations -- decides success on the field of battle.

But our military is more than that.

Take this AP wire story by Chris Tomlinson about a 32-year-old Army Ranger and his men:

"'We've got to get her off that bridge,' he said. Capt. Chris Carter winced at the risks his men would have to take. Engaged in a lightning-fast raid for this Euphrates River town, they were battling for a bridge when -- through the smoke -- they saw the elderly woman.

"She had tried to race across the bridge when the Americans arrived, but was caught in the crossfire.

"At first, peering through their rifle scopes, they thought she was dead, like the man sprawled in the dust nearby. But then, during breaks in the gunfire that whizzed over her head, she sat up and waved for help.

"Carter...ordered his Bradley armored vehicle to pull forward while he and two men ran behind it. They took cover behind the bridge's iron beams.

"Carter tossed a smoke grenade for more cover and approached the woman, who was crying and pointing toward a wound on her hip. She wore the black chador, common among older women in the countryside. The blood soaked through the fabric, streaking the pavement around her.

"Medics placed the woman on a stretcher and into an ambulance; Carter stood by, providing cover with his M16A4 rifle. Then she was gone, and Monday's battle for this town of 80,000, 50 miles south of Baghdad, raged on."

Amazing, isn't it? Risking it all to save the life of an elderly woman the Captain and his men had never met, in the midst of battle, amid deadly danger.

But Capt. Carter's isn't just an isolated case.

The mercy and heroism, courage and compassion exemplified in his story is what our fighting and men and women are all about.

God bless our President,
God bless our troops,
God bless the United States of America!

My two cents..

03-28-06 ~ Hall of Fame #15

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 03-03-06 Military Monday 003-04-06 A Little Pet Humor 03-05-06 Katherine Harris ~ Happy Birthday!

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Majie Purple]

"...you weren't here three years ago, so it's new to you. :)"
That it is! I read the entire Thread today before posting that's the only way I knew t'was a repeat re: my earlier post...I know you get that... but this is for future readers to be able to connect the dots between the posts.:)

[Majie Purple]

Thanks for the flag after flag after flag...pic ping Meg, Hugs!

[MEG33]

It was a ping to an honoring of our fallen warriors, with an article linked.

[Majie Purple]

"It was a ping to an honoring of our fallen warriors, with an article linked."

I realize that...again,thanks for adding me to your pic ping list :)Have a nice day!

[Majie Purple]

Flying my proud & happy to be a Christian American flag here today!

[LadyX]

Please join me in offering protective prayer for my stepdaughter, Cheryl, in the southern part of Missouri.
She again today is right in the path of a monster storm system with more tornadoes possible, like the hail and devastation a week ago.

Added to that, she tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m.(their time) will be undergoing surgery - a laminectomy - her third spinal surgery, unrelated to the first two.
We called her last night, and she described that after her first surgery, the unrelenting pain was so intense she screamed 19 hours without ceasing, and had to be put in a separate section of the hospital so other patients would not be upset.

She nontheless is relatively unafraid, and will be with her mother until she recovers and can go home (another town).
She is 46, never married, works in real estate, and is just having her first small home built - completion projected next month.

=====================

Father, I ask You be with Cheryl throughout her ordeals, giving her strength and comfort, and cessation of the pain she has so long had. Give her caregivers all the skills necessary to fix the problems, without complications this time.

We come before You with open hearts,
like these innocent ones - - asking You as as The Great Physician, and God of Love, to put Your hand on all things pertaining to her life.

Thank You, Lord...
Amen

[MEG33]

Amen..Prayers going up for your stepdaughter Cheryl's safety in the storms and for successful, pain relieving surgery.

May God give the doctors wisdom and great skill when they operate. May she be given comfort and strength for the ordeal ahead and may she be complication free.May all who love her be comforted.

[Diver Dave]

...Added to that, she tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m.(their time) will be undergoing surgery - a laminectomy - her third spinal surgery, unrelated to the first two. We called her last night, and she described that after her first surgery, the unrelenting pain was so intense she screamed 19 hours without ceasing, ...

Joining you in Prayers offered up for Cheryl, Maggie.

After my third one, when the doc came in afterwards, tears began to well up - tears of gratitude to her for the relief from the pain I'd been experiencing.

Dealing now with a repeat of problems in a different location. :(

[MEG33]

I am sorry you are hurting!

[freema]

amen

[LadyX]

I keep you in prayer, Dave - often during the "Fourth Watch," when I many nights am awake, and go over my *Laundry List* of those who need His Touch..:))

, of course, is the time of the night when Jesus prayed, the only one awake, in the Garden of Gethsemane...

It is an excellent time to talk with Him...

[Just mythoughts]

Prayers sent. Looks like most of US in the middle of the country are anticipating the prospects of yet another round of storms.

[LadyX]

The weather patterns across the nation have indeed been sinister...
In my west side section of South Carolina, we have a rain deficit, but it didn't stop full Spring glory!

[Majie Purple]

Yeah what Meg said...re: prayer for Cheryl. It's all there & it's all good!
In Jesus' Care.

[Just mythoughts]

Yes it certainly has been sinister. As of right now it looks as though we will be spared the real violent stuff tonight, although an all clear has not been issued.

I am hoping nothing more than rain, if anything has to happen, even though my garden is plenty wet. My snow peas are popping through the surface and my strawberries are starting to bloom. I have a few potato leaves showing but I need a dry spell to put out anything more.

[LadyX]

Your agreeing in prayer for Cheryl is so very much appreciated.

[MEG33]

*Thinking of You*
Kitty Mittens

[MEG33]

It is a good you told us about Cheryl's surgery. (((Hugs)))

[JulieRNR21]

My prayers are with Cheryl......Blessings, Julie

Father, I ask You be with Cheryl throughout her ordeals, giving her strength and comfort, and cessation of the pain she has so long had. Give her caregivers all the skills necessary to fix the problems, without complications this time.

We come before You with open hearts,
like these innocent ones - - asking You as as The Great Physician, and God of Love, to put Your hand on all things pertaining to her life.

[LadyX]

Oh, yes - we think of Kitty Mittens every day,
and pray for her restoration to perfect health.
She, hopefully, should be back in touch soon.

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