[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Click on the pic and I'll guide you
to the start of today's Sports thread.


From the USO Website
"The USO mission is to provide morale, welfare and recreation-type services
to uniformed military Personnel."
USO CANTEEN FREEPER STYLE MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.
CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREAD.

The USO Canteen FReeper Style does not show any bias
towards any particular faith or political party.

This is the same as the real USO AND Free Republic itself.

From the front page of Free Republic.

"Free Republic is an online gathering place for independent,
grass-roots conservatism on the web."

To our military readers, we remain steadfast in keeping the Canteen doors open.
The Canteen is Free Republics longest running daily thread specifically designed
to provide entertainment and morale support for the military.
The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afganistain.
We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.

To every service man or woman reading this thread.
Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
no matter what your job description
Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.

Click on a service emblem to send an online
Thank You to a service man or woman in any branch.

Army	Navy	Marines	Air Force	Coast Guard

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Tonk and all.

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Tuesday !!

63 degrees as I post this, headin' for around 81 today.

Have a cup while you FReep !

For those who prefer hot chocolate.....

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning Troops, families, veterans, Canadian, Israeli, British, Australian, and Polish allies (and everybody else). Thank you for taking such good care of the USA.

Today in Anchorage, Alaska:

Sunrise 4:43am
Sunset 11:10pm

Hi 58F
Lo 44F

Windy with a shower (very very very windy)

Actual yesterday in Anchorage:

Hi 60F
Lo 48F

State Hi 68F Eielson AFB
State Lo 19F Barrow

[Kathy in Alaska]

Canteen Blessing
for the Troops

May your heart be calm
your voice strong
steady of foot
radiant of smile
confident and willing
knowing you are safe
Blessings upon you...

bentfeather

[blackie]

Sports Day ... Bump!

Be A Sport And Support Our Troops!

[Kathy in Alaska]

NO RATS ALLOWED — Sailors aboard USS Harry S. Truman install a rodent guard on a mooring line. USS Harry S. Truman returned to Naval Station Norfolk May 23 after a six month deployment. The Truman operated in the Mediterranean Sea in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Shawn Eklund

[Kathy in Alaska]

3rd ACR Soldiers Seize Gold

WASHINGTON -- Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, seized a large quantity of what may be gold bars during a routine traffic control vehicle search in Al Qaim May 22, U.S. Central Command officials announced. The bars will be tested to identify their contents.

Soldiers conducted a search of a Mercedes truck driven by two individuals and discovered approximately 2,000 40-pound bars measuring 4" x 5" x 10". The occupants told the soldiers that they had been paid a total of 350,000 Dinars (or $350 U.S.) to pick up the truck in Baghdad and drive it to an unnamed individual in Al Qaim. The two had been told that the bars were bronze.

The bars may have a total worth of $500,000,000, depending on karat weight and purity, officials said. The truck, bars and two individuals are currently in the custody of the 3rd ACR.

Would that these do turn out to be gold!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Barbara Maas, chief executive of Care for the Wild International, feeds a starving camel at a Baghdad petting zoo. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Mark S. Rickert

Lt. Col. Dvis H. Jones, with the 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, waits with a few German Shepherds rescued from the petting zoo. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Mark Rickert

Soldiers Confiscate Neglected Petting Zoo Animals

By U.S. Army Sgt. Mark S. Rickert
372nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The skeletal remains of an old roller coaster totter like a rusty memorial in a Baghdad amusement park. Across from this, the Tilt-A-Whirl spills out into the lawn, with weeds growing through the metal pieces. Painted on the petting zoo entrance, colorful tigers and tropical birds roam freely, and Mickey Mouse waves with childish glee from the sign overhead. It looks like a once-happy place, now there are neglected animals, in the heat, covered with flies.

Soldiers with the 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, in conjunction with the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, seized over 30 animals from Luna Park’s petting zoo in Baghdad earlier in May.

Civil Affairs soldiers pushed for confiscation when they found the petting zoo in extremely poor conditions. The animals were clearly neglected, with filthy cages and forgotten feeding bowls.

“I was shocked when we came the first time,” said Cpt. William Sumner, 354th Civil Affairs Bde. “The animals were starving. The water bowls had dust in them. It really sickened me.”

To strengthen their case, Civil Affairs brought members of WildAid and Care for the Wild, non-profit conservation organizations working with the U.S. military and ORHA to restore the Baghdad Zoo, with them on their second assessment. When the conservationists arrived on scene, they brought urgency to the situation.

“We went to the petting zoo with veterinarians and found the animals ravenous,” said Dr. Barbara Maas, Care for the Wild, Int’l. “We fed them what little food we had, and they went berserk. We also found dead animals in the cages, including a cobra that had starved to death. It takes serious neglect to starve a cobra.”

“ It is a tragic state,” said Stephan Bognae, WildAid. “Animals are in distress. They’re pacing the cages; they are skinny with no nutrients. It is very similar to how we found the Baghdad Zoo—filthy cages, hungry animals. But we have a full staff at the Baghdad Zoo now, and we can take proper care of the animals there.”

Civil Affairs brought the park’s condition to the attention of ORHA and received clearance to confiscate the animals. From Luna Park, the animals were taken across town to the Baghdad Zoo, where the workers can provide better living conditions, as well as food and water.

Civil Affairs and ORHA do not intend to keep the animals at the Baghdad Zoo indefinitely. Once the petting zoo’s owner demonstrates feasible living conditions for the animals, the animals will be returned.

“We told the owner that once he gets his act together and gets the place ‘up to code,’ we will return the animals,” said Lt. Col. David H. Jones, 354th CAB. “Until then, the animals will remain at the Baghdad Zoo.”

“This is the worst animal facility I’ve ever seen in all my years of conservation,” said Baghdad Zoo interim administrator Lawrence Anthony, with the Thula Thula Game Reservation/conservation organization from Zululand, South Africa. “The owner must demonstrate the ability to run the petting zoo before we return the animals.”

[MoJo2001]

I hope you are having a great day today, Mr.Tonkin! Thanks for all you do! *HUGS*

[Radix]

 

 

World War II veteran Harold C. Schultz salutes during a Memorial Day ceremony at the amphitheater in Arlington

 

 

 

N

 

 

Army Humvees make their way through a traffic jam in the Waziriya district of Baghdad, Iraq, on Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

Pfc. Alan Pack uses barbed wire to secure the beach on Monday at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to make a beach landing as they return from a nine-month deployment.

 

 

 

 

A soldier arrives at the scene where an Army Humvee was destroyed in an apparent ambush on the road to Baghdad International Airport on Monday.

 

 

 

 

 

Master Sgt. Dane Snyder, of the 3rd US Infantry Division, Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, salutes during a Memorial Day ceremony at Fredericksburg National Cemetery in Fredericksburg, Va., on Monday.

 

 

 

 

 

Members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit unload equipment on the beach at Camp Lejeune on Monday as they return from a nine-month deployment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soldiers arrive at the scene of a destroyed Humvee near Baghdad. Witnesses said they heard several explosions and gunfire. Four soldiers reportedly were injured in the incident.

 

 

 

 

Coalition Joint Task Force soldiers perform a formation of colors during a transfer of authority ceremony at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, on Tuesday

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Old Glory: World War II veteran Harold C. Schultz salutes the flag as it passes during a Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.

>

The little engine that couldn't: They had to tow Greg Lucas after his mini-Mustang died during the City Blue Ash Memorial Day Parade in Cincinnati

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome home! Only 1 more get-up til helo ops night! Or maybe the Bandon boat? *HUG* How were customers today? Weather forecast? A snack to tide you over.