The FReeper Foxhole Remembers William Churchill Houston - Warrior Wednesday - Feb. 12th, 200

http://users.rcn.com/gvalis/ggv/battles/houston.html ^ | Glenn Valis

[SAMWolf]

Thanks DD. We love getting the feedback and suggestions.

[GailA]

Today's graphic

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning GailA.

[SAMWolf]

[Victoria Delsoul]

Howe sent troops south to take on Washington in Trenton. The American troops sidestepped the British forces in Trenton, instead battling them in Princeton. The Battle of Princeton fought on Jan 3, 1776 was won by the Americans at the last moment, forcing the British to withdraw to New Brunswick.

[SAMWolf]

Evening Victoria. I see you found another Picture I didn't.

[The Real Deal]

SAM, thanks for another great post to the FReeper Foxhole. I really like the pictures of our troops in action. They are all doing a fine job, under hard conditions. I couldn't be more proud of them. I pray that God keeps them safe and see's them on the way home soon. I thank them for their service to our country. I also thank all the Vet's for everything they have done. I also want to welcome the new FReepers to the FReeper Foxhole, and Free Republic in general. I was going to post this earlier, but the server must a quit working.

[The Real Deal]

Hi Dave, how's the world been treating you?

[Alberta's Child]

Great post, Sam! This area of New Jersey just happens to be my "back yard" -- In fact, this evening I drove past some of the landmarks identified in your post.

[The Real Deal]

Hi Victoria, that's a great picture of General Washington leading his troops. Thanks for posting it.

[The Real Deal]

Hi Victoria, that's a great picture of General Washington leading his troops. Thanks for posting it.

[Coleus]

NJ History Ping!!

[SAMWolf]

Evening Real Deal. FR been up and down this evening. Thanks for taking the time to look up the Foxhole without being able to see the pinglist.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the compliment.

Evening AC. I imagine they're all in built up areas now.

[SAMWolf]

I usually post the "Current News" pictures at the Canteen.

Do you want to see them posted here?

[Alberta's Child]

Yes, most of these areas are built up. But New Jersey is a pretty amazing place, considering most of northern New Jersey is a suburb of New York and most of southern New Jersey is a suburb of Philadelphia. You can drive almost anywhere between New York and Philadelphia and come across well-preserved historic buildings from that era. Old country inns where George Washington once stayed, old farm houses that were part of the estates of some signatores of the Declaration of Independence, modern back-country roads that are marked with signs identifying them as "Washington's Route to Trenton, 1777"), etc.

[SAMWolf]

The only part of New Jersy I've seen was Fort Dix and McGuire Air Force base back in th early 70's.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Tech. Sgt. Paul Posti Sr.'s .38-claliber Smith and
Wesson revolver and leather bomber jacket will
soon be on display at the Air Force Museum at
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (Photo by
Staff Sgt. Cortchie Welch)

High-res version of this photo

Family donates historic revolver to museum

by Staff Sgt. Cortchie Welch 369th Recruiting Squadron Public Affairs

02/12/03 - LOS ANGELES (AFPN) -- A .38-caliber Smith and Wesson service revolver used by a World War II hero to shoot down a German attack plane will soon be on display at the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

The family of retired Air Force Tech. Sgt. Paul Posti Sr., who died in December at age 89, donated the weapon to the museum during a tribute to the hero in Santa Monica on Feb. 4. His leather bomber jacket was also donated to the museum.

As a B-17 Flying Fortress tailgunner, Posti shot down a German Messerschmidt ME-109 with his revolver in 1942.

Officials disputed the achievement until a few days later when Capt. Clark Gable presented proof of the kill. Gable, who left his movie career to become an aerial photographer with the U.S. Army Air Force, took Posti into a darkroom and ran off a strip of movie film. The captain had operated a gun camera aboard another bomber during the mission and filmed the German plane in its death dive.

The kill was the only feat of its kind in World War II and has not been repeated since. The achievement helped the Boston native earn a Silver Star, the nation's third-highest decoration for heroism.

Donating the historical items to the museum was a long-time dream for Posti.

Posti "said on many occasions that he wanted the gun and jacket to be donated to the museum for everyone to see after he passed away, instead of being tucked away in the corner of the closet," said his wife, Irene. "In my heart, I know he's celebrating this occasion."

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for a great story. I have never heard of this one before. I wish they'd explained how he shot the plane down.

[Alberta's Child]

They're both down in central New Jersey. Kind of that "No Man's Land" between New York and Philadelphia.