Free Republic

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of 30 servicemembers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. The following sailors assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit were killed: Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall, 32, of Shreveport, La., Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, Calif., Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff, 34, of Green Forest, Ark., Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare...

The Real Revo has put up a video showing the difference between the reactions of the Marines at Camp Lejeune to George W. Bush and Barack H. Obama. ~~~~ Several like videos at the site link.

Remember Me By Salena Zito Time punishes war. The war in Iraq is no exception; as each moment passes, public resolve, politics and passion erode its mission. Collectively, many Americans tend to remember the mistakes and politics that led us there, rather than the faces of the men and women who serve and defend us. Seven months ago, Lizzie Palmer, a young lady from Columbus, Ohio, barely over the threshold of childhood, felt compelled to do her part to remind people of those faces. The result is a stunning video that was showcased on Chris Wallace's Fox News Sunday last...

Remembering 911 6th Year AnniversaryWE WILL NEVER FORGET On Tuesday 9/11/2007 is the Sixth Anniversary that our country was savagely attacked the united hearts of our nation cried out in pain.. Here are a few pix that I chose out of the more than 500 I have on file. Feel free to post your pix, your memories, where you were and what you were doing “that day” and perhaps how this has impacted your life. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Freepers who died on 911 FReepers Barbara Olson (BKO) and John Moran...

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon said Wednesday that it has created a website to help veterans who face difficulty returning to jobs or finding new ones after deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Michael Dominguez, principal deputy undersecretary of Defense, said the program, dubbed TurboTAP, seeks to improve on the Transition Assistance Program by letting National Guard and Reserve members get job data, build a resume online and do a job search, all in one place. Veterans also can access "helpful checklists" regarding key things they should be doing after leaving the military and get direct e-mail access to Labor Department career...

Post pics,news,speeches on the Gathering of Eagles - These Colors Don't Run, Pro Troop Rally

Al Qaeda in Iraq Crumbling: al Masri on the run Coalition forces in Iraq have delivered a series of stunning blows to al Qaeda in Iraq in the last 48 hours. A key aide to Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the man who replaced Abu Musab al Zarqawi as the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, has been captured south of Baghdad. As A.J. Strata notes, the trail to the al Qaeda leader is fresh: the captured aide admitted to meeting with al Masri yesterday. Since Taji is north of Baghdad, these two al Qaeda IED cell leaders captured by the U.S....

ATTENTION FREEPEERS You are all cordially invited to a Cyber Party to celebrate the 20 day Homecoming of PFC Robert Pinnell to begin Monday, November 6 at 6pm. Festivities will commence at the Sacramento Metro Airport, and continue wherever you are. All those who would like to personally welcome home our hero are invited to the airport. Please arrive no later than 5:30pm and bring your American Flag and/or welcome home banner.

* Kristinn Taylor's Audio Report from Iraq - CLICK HERE TO LISTENKristinn's Written Dispatch from Monday, November 6, 2006: The families had an incredible day in Iraq today! In the morning, they met with American troops stationed outside Erbil. It was a very emotional meeting. One soldier is from the same town as one of our parents. Another mother arranged for the Gold Star flag to be delivered to the family of a soldier from one of the units stationed up here who was recently killed in action. The families presented the troops with a banner signed by Americans back...

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world. A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in...

Feel the love, and the love of country, in this one: Jara sang (1000+ posts) Fri May-26-06 04:50 PM Original messageSo, we are on the eve of yet another nationalist holiday. Is it fascism yet? Before anybody jumps on me for NOT "supporting the troops". I would just like to say that I don't think wars of aggression, bombing and murdering civilians, and imperialist dogma is particularly worthy of a holiday.

  FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENTShowing 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. That's right - the Canteen mission Support the troops and all they do They've given up so much All for me and you There are so many here Who keep the aim sure and true They support the troops And have lots of fun too We dance and play And spin on our toes A turn of phrase A joke or some prose All for the troops Who visit...

Corpus, Christi, Texas (April 27, 2006) - Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Juan M. Rubio, of San Angelo, Texas, was awarded the Silver Star Medal for conspicuous gallantry against the enemy on Jan. 1, 2005, while serving as a Marine platoon corpsman in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Medical Corps, Commander, Navy Medicine East and Commander, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Va., Rear Adm. Thomas R. Cullison, left, made the presentation in front of the Naval Hospital on board Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. U.S. Navy photo by Mr. Bill W. Love (RELEASED)

You may remember a few months back around Novemeber, I was going to join the Marines. I finally told my parents and they freaked but they comprmised. I talked to both the Marines and Army I felt the Army gave me the best opportunity to serve my country in the way I want.I joined the Delay Entry Program in which I was able to move up a rank before going to boot camp. I'll be a signal support specialist, I leave two weeks after my graduation for boot camp. I look forward to serving in Iraq or Afghanistan that's why...

Sorry it has been five months since my last update, but then, we have been busy. Let me give you the bottom-line up front (BLUF), and then catch you up on things. Feel free to forward this to whomever, since we still can’t seem to get the press to tell folks what is going on. This is how the fight is going from my foxhole, and it is much more than the bombings, US casualties, and rumors of civil war the press seems to be focused on.

  Welcome To the Canteen Cook-Off Shake Rattle and Roll Jerry Lee Lewis Chubby Checker Bill Haley Come on, Mojo! Quit slacking and participate, will ya? (Talk about a slacker!) Ahem! Now where were we? Oh Yeah! This is a fun, friendly cooking contest open to anyone who would like to participate! There will be prizes! Imagine dat! First, second and third prizes, and honorable mention! The prizes are cookbooks from Ms. B's extensive collection! First prize: Patti Labelle's Lite Cuisine Second prize: Greatest ever Thai Recipes Third Prize: An appetite for Passion Honorable mention: Pizza by James McNair...

Speaking live in front of 9000 people!

A Marine who's planning to marry a Texan got an early Christmas present: A fellow shopper picked up the tab for a $3,000 diamond engagement ring after the two struck up a conversation in a jewelry store. The 54-year-old Dallas woman who paid for the 1-carat, princess cut diamond ring wants to remain anonymous, Helzberg Diamonds spokeswoman Stacey McBride told The Associated Press on Friday. The woman's father was in the military, her brother was a Marine who died in Vietnam and her nephew just got back from Iraq, McBride said. Marine James Lynaugh, 28, of Patuxent River, Md., was...

Mideast edition, Monday, December 12, 2005 U.S., Afghan and coalition troops are helping groups of Afghan Muslims to complete the hajj, the annual religious pilgrimage to Mecca. Last week, some 150 Afghans flew from Kandahar Airfield to Saudi Arabia, with a little assistance from the troops. Making the hajj at least once in a lifetime is one of the pillars of Islam. More than 4 million Muslims from throughout the world are expected to participate in the hajj this year. In recent years, the sheer number of pilgrims has led to stampedes and other accidents in which hundreds have been...

HADITHA, Iraq (Sept. 19, 2005) -- Two Marines from 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment prove that being a part of the Corp is literally a brotherhood. Corporals Willie O. Watkins, 23, and Clifton C. Watkins, 22, are brothers from McComb, Miss., spent their childhood growing up together and are now deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. “Growing up we did everything together,” said Willie. “We lived together until after high school when went to college. This is the first time in almost five years we lived this close and I have missed it.” After graduating South Pike High School...