The FReeper Foxhole - Military Related News in Review - July 7th, 2003

various

[SAMWolf]

Looks like they ripped off the tail design from our F4 Phantom.

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks Johnny, I didn't know Mitsubishi made planes!

[SAMWolf]

Mitsubishi - The people who brought you Pearl Harbor



Having taken six torpedo hits and two bomb strikes in the first wave attack on Battleship Row, the West Virginia is ablaze, her bows already low in the water and decks awash. Ignoring the risk, crews push the Navy tug Hoga alongside with fire-fighting equipment and to pick up survivors. Overhead, Mitsubishi Zeroes swoop through the smoke, aiming the second wave attack at installations on Pearl Harbor’s Ford Island, to complete one of history’s most devastating unprovoked declarations of war. Signed by eight survivors of the Dec.7th. attack.

[snippy_about_it]

uh-oh.

:(

I didn't know they made the Zeroes.

Well, I came here to learn and I guess that's what I'm doing. Thank you.

[SAMWolf]

I guess they don't really advertise that fact too much.

[Soaring Feather]

Good Day Everyone!
I'm late, I'm late!

Have a Great Day!

[TheGrimReaper]

I just rec'd this via e-mail [original source unknown]; perhaps you've seen it already...even so, it's worth a repeat:

-----------

I want to tell you of an experience I had last night flying home from Atlanta. The pilot came on the intercom and went through the usual announcements telling us that "we're just east of Montgomery cruising at 28,000 feet" and "you've picked a beautiful night for flying, just look at the gorgeous Southern sunset out of the right side of the plane."

He then, however, said this: "Please bear with me as I deviate from the script, but I want you all to know that simply by coincidence you have been granted both the privilege and honor of escorting the body of Army PFC Howard Johnson, Jr., tonight. PFC Johnson (of the 507th Maintenance Co.) was killed in Iraq defending the freedoms we all enjoy, and fighting to extend those freedoms to the people of Iraq. We are also accompanied by PFC Johnson's cousin, Marine Major Talley, who has been chosen by the family to escort PFC Johnson home (to Mobile, Ala.). Semper Fi."

The plane quickly became very quiet, but soon erupted in thunderous applause that lasted for several minutes.

It was quite moving, to say the least, as I sat there thinking about what the pilot had said. And visualizing PFC Johnson's dead body riding below me in the belly of that plane, I noticed a couple of things. Two rows in front of me sat a father holding his daughter, an infant, and they were practicing "ma-ma" and in the row behind me was another young boy, probably 2 or so, learning to count to 10.

Now obviously both are too young to realize we're at war, or that one of our dead was with us, but it made me think, and this is the point.

These warriors, mostly young, all volunteers, every day are prepared to give their lives for our future, for a safer, more secure future for people they don't even know, all based on the principle that fighting and dying for this country is worth it.

The flight ended with all of us deplaning only to line the windows of the gate house to watch PFC Johnson's body draped in the American flag, be rolled out of the plane and into a waiting hearse that was surrounded by his family members.

Please pray that our soldiers' sight is acute, their aim is true and that as many come home as God can spare.

When you go home,tell them of us, and say--
'For your tomorrow, we gave our today'.-Epitaph on Second Infantry Division Memorial, Kohima, Burma, 1944

"Hate war. Love the American warrior".-Lieutenant General Harold "Hal" Moore, U.S. Army, Retired

[snippy_about_it]

Thank you for your post at the Foxhole today. It's very touching story.

I never thought I'd be speaking to the GrimReaper before my time. Kinda scary.

A belated Happy Birthday to you, too. I'm only one day late!

[Darksheare]

Thanks.
He's one of those guys that will try to help anyone, friend or foe.
And with the hired insurgents in Iraq, that can be trouble.

I will relay it to him and his family.

[TheGrimReaper]

Thank you.
"One day late" is well within my acceptable limits for such greetings.

[SAMWolf]

Hi Feather

[SAMWolf]

"Hate war. Love the American warrior".-Lieutenant General Harold "Hal" Moore, U.S. Army, Retired

Thanks for sharing this with us TheGrimReaper.

[manna]

Present!

[snippy_about_it]

Yes you are late. Afternoon feather.

[snippy_about_it]

:)

[SAMWolf]

A toddler waves her flag during the U.S. Navy Concert band's performance on the national mall in Washington, D.C. during the Independence Day celebration. U.S. Navy Photograph by Chief Photographer's Mate Chris Desmond

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks SAM, I would have liked to see that concert.

[aomagrat]

Today's classic warship, USS Portsmouth (CL-102)

Cleveland class light cruiser
Displacement: 10,000 t.
Length: 610’1”
Beam: 66’6”
Draft: 20’
Speed: 33 k.
Complement: 992
Armament: 12 6”; 12 5”; 16 40mm; 10 20mm

The USS PORTSMOUTH (CL-102) was laid down by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Va., 28 June 1943; launched 20 September 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Marian M. Dale and Mrs. Sarah B. Leigh; and commissioned 25 June 1945, Capt. Heber B. Brumbaugh in command.

Following shakedown off Cuba, PORTSMOUTH, based at Norfolk, was employed with the Operational Development Force until the spring of 1946. In May, she departed on a goodwill cruise to Africa and after visiting Capetown, Lagos, Freetown, Monrovia, Dakar, and Casablanca, steamed into the Mediterranean for calls at Naples, and Palermo before heading home.

On 25 November, PORTSMOUTH got underway to return to the Mediterranean. Arriving at Naples 7 December, she shifted around the peninsula to Trieste at the end of the month and until February 1947 cruised in the politically turbulent Adriatic. The following month she returned for another two weeks at Trieste and in April she sailed for the United States. The following November she again steamed east to the Mediterranean, returning to the east coast for overhaul at Boston 11 March 1948.

On completion of overhaul she resumed type exercises off the eastern seaboard and conducted Naval Reserve training cruises to the Caribbean. On 9 March 1949, she entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for inactivation overhaul. Decommissioning 15 June 1949, she joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.

Stricken from the Navy Register on 15 January 1971, PORTSMOUTH was sold for scrap on 21 March 1974.

[SAMWolf]

Welcome back aomagrat!

We missed our daily dose of "Classic Warships"

[snippy_about_it]

Welcome back aomagrat! Hope your 'vacation' on the left coast was enjoyable.

Good to see you and thank you for the history of the USS Portsmouth.