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Posted on 09/19/2004 7:44:37 PM PDT by SAMWolf
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 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. 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. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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REVOLUTION  Lenin Russia's treaty with Germany ends fighting on the Eastern Front. But from 1918 to 1920, civil war rages in Russia -- with the anti-communist forces receiving support from the West and elsewhere as part of an unsuccessful attempt to oust the Bolsheviks. Following Lenin's death in 1924, Joseph Stalin rapidly rises to power. By the 1930s, Stalin's "Great Purge" is under way. Millions are arrested, and many are executed or sent to prison camps, as Stalin tightens his grip on the nation. DEPRESSION At the end of the 1920s, the Great Depression plunges much of the world into economic hard times. In the West, there is growing support for the Soviet Union -- where socialism offers an alternative to the harsh realities of capitalism. Around the same time, Stalin begins the first of the Soviet Union's five-year plans for economic development. Many in the United States and elsewhere chose to ignore reports of the widespread calamities caused by Stalin's policies of collectivization.  In the United States, President Roosevelt promises a New Deal, a series of sweeping reforms. And among those policy changes, the United States recognizes the Soviet Union. American politics also shifts to the left during the Depression, especially as the trend toward fascism grows in Europe. WARTIME ALLIANCES Despite European attempts at appeasing Hitler, Nazi Germany continues its war preparations. Stalin, in an attempt to buy time for the Soviet Union, signs a non-aggression pact with Berlin on August 23, 1939.  German troops storm into Poland just over a week later, starting World War II. Soviet forces take over the Baltic states and invade Finland. Stalin's treaty serves to keep Moscow out of the greater war, while the Nazis conquer much of Western Europe. But Hitler's appetite for territory isn't sated. The Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, "Operation Barbarossa," takes the Soviet military by surprise.  After months of retreats and millions of casualties, the Red Army begins to beat back the German forces. The costly Soviet victory during the Battle of Stalingrad in 1943 ends the German advance and signals the beginning of the end for the Nazis. SUMMITS In 1943, the leaders of Britain, the Soviet Union and the United States gather in Tehran, Iran, where they agree to work toward the defeat of Nazi Germany. They also begin to map out the future of post-war Europe.  The so-called "Big Three" meet again in February 1945 in Yalta, a town on the Black Sea and a resort for Russia's former czars. While in Yalta, Joseph Stalin, now marshal of the Soviet Union, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt consider the fate of Poland, which is already occupied by the Soviets. Yalta ends with Britain and the United States securing Stalin's agreement that the Soviets will attack Japan once Germany is defeated. Victory over the Nazis, meanwhile, is fast becoming reality. Soviet and U.S. troops meet on the Elbe River in April 1945, effectively cutting Germany in two.  Roosevelt dies soon after the Yalta summit, just weeks before V-E Day. Vice President Harry S. Truman then assumes the presidency and represents the United States at the first post-war "Big Three" meeting -- which takes place in Potsdam, just outside Berlin. But there are already signs that the wartime alliance between the West and the Soviets is quickly unraveling. HIROSHIMA/NAGASAKI The Potsdam conference ends on August 2, 1945. Four days later, the United States drops an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. A second atomic device is dropped on the port city of Nagasaki three days after Hiroshima. Japan soon surrenders, ending World War II.  But the world has entered the Nuclear Age, a time of unprecedented danger. And that nuclear threat would overshadow all the future Cold War confrontations to come.
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HUZZAH!!
Yesterday, digging in the garage, I found two prints of her I bought when I visited in 1999. One is a sail plan, the other is a painting. I'll try to post some pics soon.
Hi miss Feather. It's ONLY supposed to be in the 80's here today.
Thanks Matthew, I've never seen these images before.
Great. Look forward to them.
Back tonight....maybe remember it's monday and that's always an....adventure.
"Hiya miss Wise. How's Middle Earth today?"
Well, another freeper just called me a "wag" and I have no idea what it means. Does't sound nice, though.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1221387/posts?page=194#194
I can't make heads or tails of the context.
Maybe he can't spell Hobbit. :^)
LOL
Have you heard, CBS has admitted they cannot prove the documents are real!!Big news on John Gibson FOXNEWS now.
Great post Matt, thank you so much. I'm making my way through the music. Will check out the links as well.
DOH!
Sweating at CBS!!!!! WOO HOO!
Today's classic warship, USS Oyster Bay (AGP-6)
Barnegat class torpedo boat tender
Displacement. 1,766 t.
Lenght. 311'8"
Beam. 41'1"
Draft. 13'6"
Speed. 20 k.
Complement. 215
Armament. 1 5"; 1 quad 40mm; 2 dual 40mm; 4 dual 20mm
USS Oyster Bay (AGP-6) was laid down as AVP-28, a small seaplane tender, on 17 April 1942 at Lake Washington Shipyard, Houghton, Wash. launched 7 September 1942; sponsored by Mrs. William K. Harrill; Reclassified AGP-6 on 1 May 1943, converted to a PT boat tender and commissioned 17 November 1943, Lt. Comdr. W. W. Holroyd, USNR, in command.
Oyster Bay departed Seattle 7 December for shakedown at San Diego, and got underway from San Diego 2 January 1944 steaming to Brisbane enroute to Milne Bay for tender operations. Oyster Bay serviced 2 squadrons of motor torpedo boats from 28 February and, on 9 March, got underway escorting 15 PT boats to Seeadler Harbor, Admiralty Islands.
The spring was an active one for Oyster Bay. On 14 March she bombarded the enemy shore installations on Pityilu Island for the Army; on the 20th she was underway for Langemak, New Guinea, with 42 wounded soldiers for evacuation to Base Hospital, Finsehhafen. After returning to Seeadler Harbor on the 31st, she bombarded Ndrilo Island to the east of Seeadler Harbor preparatory to the landing there by Army ground forces.
Oyster Bays hifted to Dreger Harbor 19 April. Allied forces moved on Aitape the 22nd, and on the 24th, two days after D-day, Oyster Bay departed for the area with 15 PT boats. Japanese planes attacked the convoy on the 27th, but, while 1 boat was hit, Oyster Bay escaped damage. In May, the ship proceeded to Hollandia, an area of heated Allied action. Air raid alerts were frequent, but no attacks ensued.
Oyster Bay got underway to Wakde Island 5 June with 2 squadrons of PT boats. After Allied forces had invaded this island to capture a major Japanese air base 17 May, the Japanese continued to hammer away at the newly acquired airstrip. Later in June, Oyster Baybombarded shore installations on the Wieki River and at Samar Village, preparatory to Army attacks.
Leaving Mios Woendi Island 12 July, the ship reported to Brisbane for availability. A R.A.F. plane struck the top of the ship's mast, carried away her antennae and damaged her navigation lights 22 July, but hasty repairs permitted Oyster Bay to depart for Mios Woendi 16 August.
The tender then steamed on to Morotai, needed as a staging area for the Philippine campaign. As the beaches were assaulted in October, Oyster Bay set out for Leyte Gulf. The enemy planes let loose but U.S. Navy planes and anti aircraft fire took a heavy toll.
In November, Oyster Bay went to general quarters 221 times, but was not attacked. She shifted to San Juanico Straits the 21st and three days later, while taking on gas, the ship was attacked by two Kates that were driven off by heavy AA fire. Two Zekes dived on the ship the 26th, but intense AA fire splashed both.
In January 1945, Oyster Bay got underway for Hollandia then returned to Leyte Gulf for tender operations 8 February. Departing for the invasion of Zamboanga 6 March she arrived two days before D-day and remained with the bombardment group until the landings. Oyster Bay next rendezvoused with PT boats in Sarangani Bay, Mindoro 24 April and supported them during night raids against the Japanese positions in Davao Gulf. In May, Oyster Bay reported to Leyte Gulf, thence steaming to Samar. She departed 18 May for Tawi Tawi, where she continued tender operations until she returned to Guinan Harbor 6 August.
The ship turned homeward 10 November and steamed into San Francisco Bay the 29th. Decommissioning 26 March 1946, the ship was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 12 April 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission 12 August 1946. The ship returned to the Navy 3 January 1949 was re-designated AVP-28, 16 March 1949, and was berthed at Stockton, where she remained in the Pacific Reserve Fleet until 1957.
She was transferred to the Government of Italy 23 October 1957. She became the Italian special forces tender Pietro Cauezzale (A-5301). She served in the Italian Navy for over 35 years, finally being decommissioned in October 1993 and scrapped in February 1996.
Oyster Bayreceived 5 battle stars for World War II service.
Good Evening Mayor.
Evening alfa6.
Finished our first day of class today and met all the "home office" staff. Got a lot of good info and had a lot of questions answered. Weather has turned gorgeous. :-)
Evening PE.
Love those old patriotic posters. :-)
Hey Samwise!
LOL! Don't pay the ransom, we escaped!! :-)
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