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

[Kathy in Alaska]

Nodding off? I understand that. I'm off in 20 minutes. Good night and sleep well, radu. God bless you good for all the support you give your guys and gals, and the Canteen.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, AP, for the pillow for our Military, their families, and our allies.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I'd never seen one of "those" in action before. It sure looked wonderful hauling "him" down this morning. Splat!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good night and sleep well Radix. God bless you good, and God bless and watch over 2LT RJR. Thank you both for your service to our country.

2LT RJR

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thank you, Lowell Green! Thanks, cote, that was nice to hear.

[Kathy in Alaska]

"The only thing we have in common is that we are both yellow".

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oh no, Seven, how sad for those kids and their parents. May they rest in peace.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hi Tom and Lily!! Thank you so much for dropping by today to help honor our troops, celebrate the beginnings of freedom for the Iraqis, and offering a prayer for the safety of all our military men and women. Over 60? Too hot! LOL! Stay safe you two.

[EternalVigilance]

The Flower Grew in the Dark

How can it be?
From under the snow
The flowers emerge
And begin to grow

How can it be?
The seed that dies
Goes into the ground
Only to arise

How can the humble
The meek and the lost
Find redemption again?
Only at great cost

How can a people
Break the tyrant's chain?
If the strong will help them
They can rise again

Miracles happen
Every single day
If we will only work
If we will only pray

EV

[Kathy in Alaska]

"So don't let up on the prayer support
Don't leave them hanging or stop just short
Pray them through until they come back
Our God can supply anything they lack "

We will not leave them hanging. God bless them all for helping to keep America free, while they free Iraq.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Chapped tulips: Winter has one last surprise for tulips at Hershey Gardens in Hershey, Pa.

"How can it be?
From under the snow
The flowers emerge
And begin to grow"

[Kathy in Alaska]

Not all Iraqi advances are rebuffed: British soldier Samantha Sheppard of the 2nd Light Tank Regiment accepts a flower while patrolling east Basra, Iraq.

[Radix]

We have had a great day Kathy.

May there be many more.

[snippy_about_it]

Yellow... Ha. It's in the mail!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And to end my day on a light note, before I crash face first into my keyboard (Don't tell radu):

My dog ate the cutlery: Yep, Jake the Staffordshire bull terrier mix has a taste for fine British steel, as this x-ray reveals in Merseyside, England. Jake's owners became concerned when the puppy wouldn't curl up and took him to the vet. Surgery to remove the knife was performed immediately.

Looks delicious, but, oh, what a tummy ache: Post-op Jake, fully recovered, eyes the not-easily-digested knife held by his owner, John Mallett of Liverpool, England.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Time for bed. God Bless all our troops, their families, our veterans and our Canadian, Israeli, Great Britain, Australian, Poland, New Zealand and Taiwanese allies. We pray for your safe and soon return. Thank you for doing the jobs you do to keep this UNITED STATES OF AMERICA safe. We love all of you.

Thank you Lurker, Toby, Tom Cat, Kyle, Joe, Jake, the Z-Tar, Sneakers, Scully and the Pirates, Brook, Leatherneck Rangler Jody, Cory, Jimmy, Winky, Chez, Martin, John, David C, Parker, Michael, Smitty, David, and Carol for being part of our family. Thank you to all who enter the Canteen. Salute!

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you
The love of God enfold you
The power of God protect you
The presence of God watch over you
Wherever you are, God is,
And all is well.
Amen.

And thanks to Scully and the Pirates, TSgt Munnell, Peter and Greg for your support.

[beachn4fun]

Ms. Feather, I wouldn't talk about "dang pingers" on this site. It is a FAMILY site after all. Little "eyes" might be listening....

;-()

[beachn4fun]

sorry.... wouldn't should be shouldn't

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

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