[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Originally posted by Kathy in Alaska

God Bless our troops, families, and Canteeners. God Bless our Canadian, Israeli, British, Kiwi, and Aussie
Brothers and Sisters in arms. And for our other Allies that I didn't mention as well.

Please stop in and say a prayer of protection for the military.

7 service people died in the line of duty this past week.



Please Post your holiday graphics, jokes, prayers, stories, music, links etc. for our military lurkers.
Thank You All for your support of the military, their families and veterans.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Tonk. Good morning Chaplain.

"It's that I do have a family. They are more than I have ever had in my whole life. They are all those people who come into this church. They love me."

This is the part that touched me today. It is precisely how I feel with my congregation. Excellent job Chaplain.

[firewalk]

Good morning everyone

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody !!

Have a cup while you FReep !

For those who prefer hot chocolate.....

Eggnog, Anyone?

[SAMWolf]

Two U.S. soldiers from Alpha Company 464 battalion, Second Brigade load ammunition onto M1A1 Abrams on December 15, 2002, in the Kuwaiti desert near the border with Iraq prior to the military exercise. Kuwait is a key U.S. ally in the region and seen as a major launching pad for any attack on Iraq. More than 12,000 U.S. troops are in Kuwait, with many of them taking part in a training exercise in the desert close to the Iraqi border. REUTERS/Peter Andrews

.S. soldiers from Alpha Company 464 battalion, Second Brigade, load ammunition onto an M1A1 Abrams tank in the Kuwaiti desert, near the border with Iraq prior to battle exercise, December 15, 2002. Kuwait is a key U.S. ally in the region and seen as a major launching pad for any attack on Iraq. More than 12,000 U.S. troops are in Kuwait, with many of them taking part in a training exercise in the desert close to the Iraqi border. President George W. Bush's special envoy for 'free Iraqis', Zalmay Khalilzad, said on Sunday Washington did not want a military conflict with Baghdad and urged President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) to comply with United nations resolutions. REUTERS/Peter Andrews

Abram tanks move into position for a large exercise in the Kuwait desert, 20 miles from the western border of Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002.

A soldier from the 3rd Infantry division beckons to a colleague on an Abram tank, as they prepare for a large exercise in the Kuwait desert, 20 miles from the western border of Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002.

Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry division walk across the desert at Camp New York, Kuwait, under the rising sun, as they prepare for a large exercise in the desert, 20 miles from the western border of Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002

Abram tanks move into position for a large exercise in the Kuwait desert, 20 miles from the western border of Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002.

U.S. Marine Corps field radio operator Sgt. Richard Oh, 22, from Baltimore, Md., a member of the Combined/Joint Task Force and Consequence Management, keeps his face warm during a field training exercise near the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2002. Temperatures in Kuwait dropped into the low 40s F (5-6 C) during the night while the task force trained. The exercise tested the task force's response to a simulated chemical attack on the U.S. Embassy as well as their cooperation with Kuwait emergency response forces. (AP Photo/Staff Sgt. Bill Lisbon, U.S. Marine Corps)

Infantry Pvt. John Shuman, 18, from Hoboken, Ga., looks through his binoculars at the start of a large exercise in the Kuwait desert, 20 miles from the western border of Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002. The large exercise is part of the ongoing Operation Desert Spring.

Sgt. Cesar Petriz, left, of Brwnsville, Texas listens as an old Mujahideen fighter narrates his experience in fighting Saturday, Dec. 14, 2002 in Mullah Mohammad Khel village in Afghanistan. The U.S. soldiers visited the site for the construction of deep wells as part of their humanitariaqn aid and reconstruction projects. (AP Photo/Pat Roque)

Sgt. Alain Souvenir, center, of Miami, Florida deflects the ball as an Afghan villager tries to catch it during a friendly volleyball match Saturday, Dec. 14, 2002 in Mullah Muhammad Khel village, Afghanistan

Lance Corporal Alberto Perez is greeted by his daughter Jasmin (5) and son Zackary (2) upon his arrival at Camp Horno on the Camp Pendelton Military Base near Oceanside, California, December 14, 2002. More than 2,200 Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) returned home today after a six-month deployment to the Middle East and the Horn of Africa in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Corporal Seth Edwards gets an extended hug from his wife Angelia upon his return to Camp Horno on the Camp Pendelton base near Oceanside, California, December 14, 2002.

First lieutenant Harry Thompson holds his daughter Cathryn (6) and Son Coby (8) as he is welcomed home by his wife Cynthia upon his arrival at Camp Horno at the Camp Pendleton Base near Oceanside, California, December 14, 2002.

U.S. Marines carry their gear the last few yards to Camp Horno upon their return home to Camp Pendleton Base, near Oceanside, California, December 14, 2002.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Click for current time
in Afghanistan

[Kathy in Alaska]

FREE TED MAHER

Click on Ted for Ted Maher Thread

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Today in Anchorage, Alaska:

Sunrise 10:09am
Sunset 3:40pm

Hi 23F
Lo 9F

Clouds and sun

Actual yesterday in Anchorage:

Hi 26F
Lo 22F

State Hi 53F Annette
State Lo -13F McCarthy

[Kathy in Alaska]

Bless This House sung along with this morning,
twice because I love this song for our troops USO Canteen, and
Prayer of Protection said for all who enter the USO Canteen Freeper Style,
including our troops, our veterans, their families and our allies.
Welcome to all who come to honor our troops and veterans,
for whom this USO Canteen was created.

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.

Wherever you are, God is, and all is well!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Lance Cpl. Daniel T. Yorba (center), a Juneau, Alaska, native, pictured with his combat flying crew Cpl. Eric R. Ricard (left), a White Lake, Mich., native, and Cpl. Chris L. Rounsaville, a Petal, Miss., native, in front of "Smilin Through II", a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). The name and artwork for the helicopter was inspired by Yorba's grandfather Bernardo, a World War II B-17 pilot. Photo by: Sgt. Zachary A. Bathon

Former Army Air-Corps 2nd Lt. Bernardo Yorba (front row, left) is pictured with his combat flying crew from the original "Smiling Through", a B-17 Bomber he flew with 534th squadron, 381st Bomb Group, during World War II. Photo by: Courtesy Photo

Former Army Air-Corps 2nd Lt. Bernardo Yorba, Lance Cpl. Daniel T. Yorba's grandfather, pilots a B-17 Bomber during World War II. Photo by: Courtesy Photo

The artwork on "Smilin Through II", a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, which was inspired by the nose art from Lance Cpl. Daniel T. Yorba's grandfather's B-17 Bomber. Photo by: Sgt. Zachary A. Bathon

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY(December 13, 2002) -- Since the beginning of aviation, art has always played a major role in identifying different aircrafts. Whether it was a painting on the nose of an airplane that reminded the crew of their mothers or girlfriends back home, or a paint scheme that made the entire plane resemble a certain animal, art has always been used to give a certain airplane its own identity. For one lance corporal with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), the artwork on the side of his CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter is a tribute to the man who has been the greatest influence in his life - his grandfather.

But there is more to the story. The painting on the side of Lance Cpl. Daniel T. Yorba's helicopter was designed to resemble the artwork on the B-17 Bomber his grandfather, Former Army Air-Corps 2nd Lt. Bernardo Yorba, flew during World War II.

"I never actually got to see a picture of his artwork, but I designed mine from what he told me about his," said Yorba, a CH-46 crew chief. "What he had was a girl sitting on a (.50 caliber machine gun), so that is what I made, and added some more things that were important to me."

The design, a huge star that features a girl sitting atop a firing .50 cal adorned by the American and Prisoner of War flags with "Smiling Through" across the top was the result of a year and half of planning.

"I wanted to wait until I finally got my own aircraft," said the Juneau, Alaska native. "Once I finally got my name printed on the side of one of our airplanes, I put my artwork on it."

"The name of my airplane is 'Smiling Through', the same name as my grandfather's," said Yorba. "He named his plane that because he said when you are going through the worst of it, you have to keep a positive mental attitude.

He was always positive, even after spending time as a P.O.W."

Yorba said his grandfather was shot down while flying a combat mission over Germany in October 1943.

Bernardo Yorba was not assigned to the group mission that day, but went up as a spare to cover any aborts. Unfortunately, another B-17, "Our Mom" aborted that day due to engine problems, and his grandfather's crew took over their spot. They were to be the only plane shot down that day.

"Even after that, he could still never swear about the Nazis," said Yorba. "That was the kind of man he was, and I have tried to model myself after him."

"He used to tell me stories about flying and that's when I decided to become a crew chief," he said. "I know he was in the Army Air-Corps, but I didn't think the Army would offer me what I wanted, so I joined the Marine Corps."

After going through a long period of schooling, Yorba ended up with HMM-263 just before the unit started the Predeployment Training Program with the 24th MEU (SOC).

Currently, Yorba and "Smiling Through" are in support of Operation Enduring Freedom aboard the USS Nassau (LHA-4). He said his favorite thing from the deployment so far, was extracting some members of the MEU's Reconnaissance and Surveillance Platoon from a mountaintop at sunset during the MEU's recent exercise in Djibouti, Africa.

"I had a lot of fun in Kosovo too, said Yorba. "Giving candy to the children was a blast."

With those memories to look back on and the chance to make a lot more in the future, Yorba said his grandfather would be happy with him.

"Sometimes when I'm flying and really enjoying the view and the experience of flying, I think about my grandfather doing the same thing when he was flying," said Yorba. "I think if he were here right now he would definitely be proud of me."

[blackie]

Sunday Chapel ... Bump!

Be well - Be armed - Be safe - Molon Labe!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Congratulations!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome home from Tuesday. Hope it was better than Monday. A better drive to work; no power outages; no more fence down. *HUG* Nice people on the phone.