USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Wednesday's Warriors ~ April 9 2003

Friends of the Canteen

[SAMWolf]

Dear Lord,

There's a young man far from home,
called to serve his nation in time of war;
sent to defend our freedom
on some distant foreign shore.

We pray You keep him safe,
we pray You keep him strong,
we pray You send him safely home ...
for he's been away so long.

There's a young woman far from home,
serving her nation with pride.
Her step is strong, her step is sure,
there is courage in every stride.
We pray You keep her safe,
we pray You keep her strong,
we pray You send her safely home ...
for she's been away too long.

Bless those who await their safe return.
Bless those who mourn the lost.
Bless those who serve this country well,
no matter what the cost.

Author Unknown

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FReepers from the USO Canteen, The Foxhole, and The Poetry Branch
join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time.

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Welcome to "Warrior Wednesday",
where the USO Canteen profiles a different veteran each week.
The "ordinary" Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine
who participated in the events in our Country's history.
We hope to present events as seen through their eyes.
To give you a glimpse into the life of those
who sacrificed for all of us - Our Veterans.

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A nation that forgets its past has no future."
Sir Winston Churchill

"Those Who Have Long Enjoyed Such Privileges As We
Enjoy, Forget In Time that Men Have Died To Win Them."
Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Pte Leo Kelly:
The Battle of Vimy Ridge

This Wednesday the Canteen honours the soldiers of our neighbor to the North, Canada.

The victory at Vimy Ridge is celebrated as a national coming of age. For the first time Canadians attacked together and triumphed together.

Four Canadians won the Victoria Cross and Major-General Arthur Currie, commander of the 1st Division, was knighted on the battlefield by King George V.

"They fought as Canadians and those who returned brought back with them a pride of nationhood that they had not known before."



Dear Readers,

I first heard of Vimy Ridge and trench warfare as a high school student sitting in Mr. Stephens' history class. We watched movies like “All Quiet on the Western Front” and attended Remembrance Day services. It would not be until years later however that I came to fully understand what it was I was to be “Remembering”. This epiphany came to me in the form of a letter, a lost piece of family history. My maternal grandfather wrote this letter from his hospital bed where he was recovering from wounds sustained in the battle of Vimy Ridge during W.W. I.

Some historians would say the Canadian victory achieved on Vimy Ridge changed the outcome of the war and helped shape the country we live in today. This letter is my grandfather’s, account of the battle.

Heather Reid, Brampton, Ontario , Canada



Pte Leo Kelly, Fulham M. Hospital
London W., 6, H.1.W.

Mr. P.M. Kelly;

Dear Father,

I am writing to you a short story on what took place in the great battle won by the Canadians on Easter Monday on Vimy Ridge.

On the morning of April 9th between the hour of five-thirty or six o’clock was the time selected for the Canadians to make the big drive on the Germans at Vimy Ridge. All day Easter Sunday and all that night the boys worked hard preparing for the awful work which they had before them still they never faltered but I laughed and sang as if nothing was going to happen. We all spent the night in a tunnel about forty feet in the earth. It was the only safe place around Vimy Ridge then for it was about as much a hell hole as one would want to be in.

About three o’clock that morning we had breakfast which was a very good one. It consisted of bacon, bread, butter, tea and oranges, a meal we do not get very often out here. I guess the cooks opened their hearts for once. They knew the boys would have a hard day and that it would be the last meal for quite a few of them. Never the less our Battalion was very fortunate in the line of casualties, which I think was quite light.

After breakfast we got our issue of rum, which was rather small, but we don’t need rum to fight, all we need is grub and cigarettes. Well, Father, it was getting near the time for work. We got the order “ get ready” which we were not long in doing. We had a heavy load to take across. I was in the Machine Gun Section and had to carry ammunition for the gun. We then lined up in the trench, got into position, fixed bayonets; everything was as quiet as a mouse. The Huns knew we were going over but little did they expect us on that morning.

We did not have long to wait. Our engineers blew two mines that ran under the Hun’s front line. This was a signal for the artillery. The explosion was hardly heard when many thousands of guns both large and small opened a terrific barrage on the Hun front line. The boys waited no longer, they went over the top in a moment, making their way bravely across “No Man’s Land” to meet the Germans. To our surprise when we got there we found the line quite empty as the enemy could not stand our terrific artillery fire and fled for shelter to their dugouts and were taken prisoners. The barrage was now playing on the German’s second line, which was our objective, so we pushed over the shell ploughed ground, mud and water to the waist. Men were falling here and there but still the boys kept on.

Our gun crew got scattered. The man who carried the gun and I we were alone and we did not go far when he fell. I turned him over but he did not move. I could not wait so I picked up the gun hoping to get it to the second line safely, for a machine gun is a great weapon against the enemy. It fires six or seven hundred rounds a minute. But luck was against me for I did not go very far when it was smashed to pieces on my shoulder; it had been struck by sniper fire. I was not hurt and I did not mind the gun only I now had no weapon. I had thrown my rifle away when I had picked up the machine gun. All I had was a revolver but it would not work for mud. I reached the second line safely, I seen Jack and Leo McGuire and they were O.K; they said it was great sport.

Well father, I was looking for souvenirs when I got hit with shrapnel in the left hand. One of our officers sent me out to a dressing station, so they kept me going until I finally arrived in a London hospital. It was a beautiful place and the people were so kind especially the young nurses. Well Father, if the town people of Pembroke had seen the Pembroke boys of the 130th battalion (now the 38) go through the Hun that morning they would not say that they were Kitchener’s last hope. There are quite a few Pembroke boys in the 38 Battalion.

Well father, I guess I will ring off, wishing you all had a Merry Easter and eat some eggs for me.

Your loving son,
Leo Kelly

[SAMWolf]

Thanks, Reverend Grant.

[Radix]

You are doing a terrific job with the images Sam, Again!

Thank you.

[beachn4fun]

Good afternoon to you.....

It sure is giving the "quivers" to Iran. Did you catch the blip on FoxNews last night how the govt of Iran is ready to get their country running as a democracy....want help in the democracy process.... and they are certain the U.S. will not turn on them (something to that effect)...?

[Radix]

Lets roll!

 

 

[Samwise]

It sure feels great to be an American today! Great pictures!

[Soaring Feather]

USO CANTEEN FReeper STYLE

TANKS ARE US ON PARADE

USO CANTEEN FReeper STYLE
FIRST EDITION
MORE TO FOLLOW

SECOND PARADE AT 7:00PM
MORE TO FOLLOW

I'm just a little Blonde FReeper you know!!
My boyfriend Barry is coming tonight!!
Whoooooo hoooooooooo

[Radix]

Here is a salute for the Little Radix.

 

 

 

[beachn4fun]

I don't know how anyone can look at these pictures and tell us it WAS ABOUT OIL!

[beachn4fun]

Here's to you Lil Radix........

[GoRepGo]

Pfc. Todd Shaw cares for a puppy that local children threw over a wall into the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)’s temporary headquarters compound inside Karbala, Iraq on Monday

[grantswank]

THIS JUST CAME IN FROM AN IRAQI FRIEND

Read this and rejoice with Jim:

Hi Pastor-

How are you?

I'm doing great this morning/afternoon.

I watched history this morning. I watched the fall of the Saddam regime. This is a great moment in time. I have been waiting for this moment for a long time. I knew this day would come.

God Bless America!!!

Go Bush!!!

Go USA!!!

Go Free Iraq!!!

Proud to be an American,

Jim

Jim is a young businessman who lives in Michigan. He and his family are devout Christians. They once lived under the dreaded dictatorship. Some of their relatives escaped as recently as months ago from Iraq to the United States of America.

Jim and I have communicated frequently since Iraqi Freedom began. He has always kept his faith for if anyone knows what it is like to live under the heel of Saddam Hussein, it is Jim.

And now today! Today he is beside himself with jubilation. His heart is full with thanksgiving to God Almighty. His tongue is full of praise for the United States of America.

One wonders what Daschle and Company think today. What will Walter Cronkite say? And John Kerry and Barbara Streisand and Liz Taylor and Helen Thomas? Will there be mobs rushing the streets in praise of Iraqi Freedom -- in France, Germany, Russia?


I spent some time watching on TV the mammoth Hussein statue come down to the cheers of Iraqis. With me were those who have derided President George W. Bush. They had told me that they just knew that our country would come to ruin because of Mr. Bush. We would all be ready to oust the man because of his policies, particularly his stand in Iraq. On and on they went, knowing full well that I supported the President.

Now as I watched that statue topple, I heard these same people look with excitement at what was happening in Baghdad. Their faces were full. Their smiles were from ear to ear. Their comments, so very interestingly, expressed their amazement at the glowing countenances of Iraqis welcoming the coalition.

Then I thought to myself of how these same people had scowled at me when I mentioned Mr. Bush. They whispered behind my back as to their intense displeasure with the “conservative President.” I held my ground — quietly. There was no need to say any more in defense of Mr. Bush than what I had already said.

But now today I thought to myself, “Is this hypocrisy or what? What is going on here? How can these people be so double-tongued? Just several weeks ago they were ready to shove Bush off our American shores. But now they are praising the work of the US-led coalition.”

Then I thought that no doubt such was taking place throughout the nation — throughout the world. It is fact. It has happened. Those once held in prison camps are liberated. Those who grew up with their mouths clamped shut are now able to speak and shout and sing. Those little children who would have known nothing but more hellish Saddam madness now have a future — freedom.

So those in the USA and around the planet must admit today to the reality of liberty come to Iraq. British Parliament should embrace their Prime Ministry Tony Blair as should every member of the United States Congress embrace President George W. Bush.

These two principled gentlemen held their moral ground. They would not budge in the face of hostile fire. God bless both of them. God reward them with much peace of heart in knowing they defended the defenseless. These two men put down their lives for the imprisoned Iraqis. They, instead of living for opportunistic political gain, lived by what they knew to be right.

So it is that I think again of my friend, Jim, in the Midwest. Tears are streaming down his cheeks. He is embracing his clan. They are dancing around the house. They are overwhelmed by being Americans! They are beside themselves with thanksgiving to God above.

May we rejoice with them. May we stand our principled ground — always. May we sing Hallelujah to the Lord above. May we ever be grateful to the coalition, the governmental leaders and the peoples of this earth who stood alongside what was right.

To quote the US President: “God bless America.”

___________

chap grant

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[Soaring Feather]

My dang pinger is stuck, anyone else having trouble???

[SAMWolf]

Current Military News

US Marine Sgt David Sutherland signs autographs for Iraqis on their 250-denomination dinars notes in Baghdad. Cheering crowds of Iraqis welcomed US marines as their tanks and troops poured into the center of Baghdad and the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein collapsed.(AFP/Karim Sahib)


Iraqi people greet advancing U.S. Marines on the way to the center of Iraqi capital Baghdad on April 9, 2003. A senior U.S. commander said on Wednesday that U.S. forces had secured the center of Baghdad and said the combat phase of the Iraqi war would end in a few days' time, at least in the capital and in southern Iraq. REUTERS/Oleg Popov


An Iraqi woman and child greet advancing U.S. Marines on the way to the center of Iraqi capital Baghdad on April 9, 2003. A senior U.S. commander said on Wednesday that U.S. forces had secured the center of Baghdad and said the combat phase of the Iraqi war would end in a few days' time, at least in the capital and in southern Iraq. REUTERS/Oleg Popov


Iraqi Kurds wave banners and U.S. and British flags in the northern Iraqi town of Dohuk April 9, 2003, to celebrate the arrival of U.S. led coalition forces' in Baghdad. Iraqi Kurds shouted for joy and fired in the air on Wednesday after U.S. forces entered Baghdad. 'It's all over in Baghdad,' said 29-year-old Rafiq Baway, who heard the news on satellite TV in the city of Sulaimaniya. He believed it would lead to the fall of Kirkuk, the northern oil hub where Kurds accuse Saddam of expelling Kurdish inhabitants and replacing them with Arabs. REUTERS/Str


A swastika sign is seen on a defaced ceramic tile portrait of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in Basra.(AFP/Odd Andersen


A U.S. Marine covers the face of a statue of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein with a U.S. flag in Baghdad April 9, 2003.

[SAMWolf]

That's gonna be one of he best cared for dogs in Iraq now.

[SAMWolf]

Yep me too.

[Bethbg79]

Mine is too!

[beachn4fun]

WELL GANG AND TROOPS, it is that time of day. See ya all tomorrow. Miss you.

[grantswank]

yes yes yes. . .

"democracy" "liberty" "freedom"!

what concepts that we have enjoyed in real life and now the iraqis ahve their chance at them as well.

the lord is good.

chap grant

<//><

[grantswank]

thank you thank you thank you for the real life pictures.

may the whole world see them.

may the dictators see them and quake.

may the freedom-loving citizens see them and give the lord thanks for freedom in real life.

chap grant

<//><

[Soaring Feather]

What's Love Got to Do With It????
Saddam thinks they all love him!!
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWW!!!!!