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Cheers erupted inside Tampa International Airport on Sunday as 22-year-old Marine Corporal Mike Nicholson arrived home. Nicholson was on foot patrol in Afghanistan when he lost both legs and part of his left arm in an I.E.D. explosion July 6, 2011. He has been recovering at Bethesda Naval Hospital for months and is now using two prosthetic legs. "It makes it all real, but also makes me really proud that he survived it," Nicholson’s uncle, Jim Hall, said. "He's toughed it out. He’s had great support in Bethesda. I can't say enough about the support here, from the church, to...

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!   For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.   Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!     ~ Hall of Heroes ~Herschel F. Briles Story from this website.             Herschel F. Briles (February 7, 1914 – July 17, 1994) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II. Briles joined the Army from Fort Des...

Peter van Uhm: Why I chose a gunPeter van Uhm is the Netherlands’ chief of defense, but that does not mean he is pro-war. At TEDxAmsterdam he explains how his career is one shaped by a love of peace, not a desire for bloodshed -- and why we need armies if we want peace. General Peter van Uhm is the Chief of the Netherlands Defence staff. He has had an outstanding career over four decades in the Dutch military. In the Netherlands, he is know from his personal tragedy. On 18 April 2008, one day after Van Uhm was appointed...

        WHAT KIND OF MODEL ARE YOU? In the early 1700s, two men developed distinct reputations for themselves....one was Jonathon Edwards, a man of integrity, refinement, and character; the other was Max Duke, a well-known criminal. During the last 200 years, their descendants have been traced. In Jonathon Edward's line of descendants, there are 18 college presidents, 200 preachers, 60 prominent leaders, 90 physicians, 32 authors, 65 professors and 300 farmers. On the other hand, Max Duke's descendants include 90 prostitutes, 100 criminals, 145 confirmed drunkards, 300 delinquents and 285 who contracted various social diseases. The...

For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. (Psalm 48:14)

Proposed changes include: -- Increasing enrollment fees for retirees under age 65 in the TRICARE Prime health plan, using a tiered approach based on retired pay that requires senior-grade retirees with higher retired pay to pay more and junior-grade retirees less; -- Establishing a new enrollment fee and increasing deductibles for the TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra plans; -- Establishing a new, tiered enrollment fee for the TRICARE-for-Life program for retirees 65 and older; -- Increasing pharmacy co-pays while offering incentive costs for use of mail order delivery and generic medicines; -- Indexing fees, deductibles, pharmacy co-pays, and catastrophic caps...

“But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute. Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, And from the traps of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I escape safely.” ~ Psalm 141: 8-10~

   ***** ~ Canteen Music Dedication ~ ***** ~ Support The Artists ~   Support the artists you hear throughout the Canteen! Click on the links below! Keep the music going! ArtistDirect l  Internet Radio l  AOL Music l  Sonique (Lycos) l  Real Radio Live365 l  971TheRiver  l  GotRadio  l  Wherehouse  l  Target  l Shoutcast AFRTS l  VH1 l XM Radio l  BET l  audiophile l  Virgin Radio l  Soma (Alternative) Acaza l AudioRealm l VH1 l  Yahoo! Launch Music l  Radio Disney l  Live-Radio Net ITunes l Amazon l Salsa Radio l MTV l CMT l Ticketmaster l...

When the Air Force Special Operations Command decided to buy 2,861 made-in-China Apple iPad tablet computers in January to provide flight crews with electronic navigation charts and technical manuals, it specified mission security software developed, maintained and updated in Russia. The command followed in the path of Alaska Airlines, which in May 2011 became the first domestic carrier to drop paper charts and manuals in exchange for electronic flight bags. Alaska chose the same software, GoodReader, developed by Moscow-based Good.iware, to display charts in a PDF format on iPads. Delta Air Lines kicked off a test in August for electronic...

SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors dismissed all charges on Friday against an Army Special Forces sergeant who was arrested at a Texas airport on New Year's Eve with 2.5 pounds of the military explosive C-4 in his carry-on luggage.

Two Saturdays, Support the Troops Rally vs a anti-troop protest, two massages, and the moonbat hypocrisy. Seems that the moonbats, aka the Quakers, aka the “quackers”, can’t seem to stay on message or be true to their beliefs. Read on and see the differences between the two weeks. WEEK 315, FEBRUARY 04,2012The 7 patriots this week include Legionnaire Halsey (USMC - Korea), Lurkers Bill and Jim, Cindy_True_Supporter, GunsAreOK, [Mrs] T and myself. A Big THANK YOU to [Mrs] T for faithfully taking picture each week. On cold days she has to keep the camera inside her jacket so the batteries...

    At the FReeper Canteen! C'mon and take a break ! Walk on over to the water cooler and lets chat. Post your thoughts, opinions, news of the day, rantings, ravings, pontificates, hypothesis, hyperboles, your soap box cause, your mantra, your baggage, your garbage, your blogging, your secrets, whatever you feel would make talk around the water cooler real interesting! Please remember that The Canteen is here to support and entertain our troops and veterans and their families, and is family friendly.       FUN FACTS The shortest war on record was fought between Zanzibar and England...

Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words. I enjoy these posters, also known as "memes," and they are just too good not to share.

Pray For Our American Heroes and Our Nation "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."Matthew 6 God Bless America!

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ ISOLATED POST After unloading from several UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, U.S. soldiers make their way to Village Stability Platform Chenar, an isolated post in the Khakrez district, Afghanistan, Jan. 16, 2012. The soldiers are assigned to the 4th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, and 2nd Infantry Division's 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army photo by Spc. April York Canteen Mission Statement Showing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies' militaryand family members of the above.Honoring those who have served before. A MEDAL AT...

The U.S. Navy announced Wednesday morning that it has named one of its new ships after Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta, a San Diego native who died a hero in Iraq in 2004. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced the move, saying a new guided-missile destroyer will be named the USS Rafael Peralta. A Pentagon statement said Mabus named that ship and two other new destroyers after Navy and Marine Corps heroes whose actions occurred during different conflicts but "were united in their uncommon valor." Peralta was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross after using his body to shield fellow Marines from an...

(AP) WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is weighing options for sharp new cuts to the U.S. nuclear force, including a reduction of up to 80 percent in the number of deployed weapons, The Associated Press has learned. Even the most modest option now under consideration would be an historic and politically bold disarmament step in a presidential election year, although the plan is in line with President Barack Obama's 2009 pledge to pursue the elimination of nuclear weapons. No final decision has been made, but the administration is considering at least three options for lower total numbers of deployed strategic...

Retired Rear Admiral George Worthington, former commander of the Naval Special Warfare Command, told The Daily Caller that there are many people more worthy of a ship bearing their name. “Here is the issue. There are a lot of dead Marines out there whose names could go on anything that appears to be an amphibious ship,” he said, explaining that a past recipient of the Medal of Honor, Dakota Meyer, might be a good candidate. Worthington added his email “inbox” has been filled with messages from military friends who are “shocked and angered” by the decision. “We think fallen Marines...

While combat drones are not allowed in the U.S. airspace without a special certificate from the FAA, the military is in a fix over the 7, 500 military drones deployed overseas, that need to be recalled home.... After returning home, the robotic aircraft would be stationed in military bases around the nation for use in emergencies... Last week, Congress approved legislation requiring the FAA to create a plan for wide-scale integration of drones in the national airspace by 2015.

Emmy Award-winning actress Sarah Michelle Gellar will help 40 military moms-to-be experience what many expectant women may take for granted: a baby shower. The moms, whose spouses are deployed members of Naval Base, Ventura County, will be honored during a group baby shower -- Operation Shower -- to be hosted by Gellar on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the Riviera Country Club during the Northern Trust Open golf tournament.

President Barack Obama has proposed a $3.8 trillion budget for fiscal 2013 that aims to slash the deficit by $4 trillion over 10 years but still envisions growth in the government's major health benefit programs. The agency-by-agency breakdown: ------ Agency: Agriculture Spending: $154.7 billion Percentage Change from 2012: 4.8 percent increase Discretionary Spending: $23 billion Highlights: Obama's budget envisions savings of $32 billion over 10 years by cutting some farm subsidies, such as eliminating direct payments, which are made regardless of price and crop yield. Other subsidies are paid only when prices dip or a farmer's revenue drops....

~ Freeper Canteen ~ Canteen Mission StatementShowing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies' militaryand family members of the above.Honoring those who have served before. Today We Want To Know.... What Kind of Valentine Are You? Click here and take the quiz! To share your results, click "Get HTML", then copy and paste the code into a "Reply" box. Have fun! Please remember that The Canteen is here to support and entertain our troops and veterans and their families, and is family friendly.

The Obama administration is weighing options for sharp new cuts to the U.S. nuclear force, including a reduction of up to 80 percent in the number of deployed weapons, The Associated Press has learned.

Bourque Industries today announced that the Company has earned National Institute of Justice (NIJ) certification for its Level III stand-alone Kryron Terminator Armor – under the model designation KT-MIA-II – complying with the most recent and rigorous NIJ Standard-0101.06. NIJ certification is a prerequisite for most US law enforcement agencies when purchasing personal body armor for its officers. This essential government stamp of approval allows Bourque's innovative Kryron Terminator Armor to be marketed and sold to federal law enforcement, state police, sheriff's offices, and municipal police forces across the country. Bourque's Level III armor joins the Level II Ultralight, the...

~The FReeper Canteen Presents~ Happy Valentine's Day! Here's some lovely roses for everyone! And chocolate for all! 110 million roses, the majority red, will be sold and delivered within a three-day time period. About 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged each year. That's the largest seasonal card-sending occasion of the year, next to Christmas. More than 50 percent of cards are sold the week of the holiday, with the largest and most elaborate Valentine cards sold 48 hours before February 14. Conversation Hearts: In 1866, candy manufacturer NECCO made the first "Conversation Hearts" — then called "Motto Hearts."...

It took a medevac unit 59 minutes to get U.S. Army Spec. Chazray Clark to a hospital in southern Afghanistan after receiving a call that a roadside bombing severed three of his limbs. Clark did not survive.

"Yea, Tho I Walk Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I Will Fear No Evil... For Thou Art With Me."Psalm 23:4 "Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare of the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I am trusting Him." (Psalm 91:1-2)

The US Navy has been concerned for some time about the threat of “swarming” boats. This threat is seen as very strong where American warships go through narrow passageways like the Strait of Hormuz, or around important anchorages, as for example near key oil ports. The swarming boat thesis is that terrorist, whether directly or indirectly state sponsored (i.e., Hezbollah, al-Qaeda) will load up a number of small boats with high explosives and drive them toward US warships at relatively high speed. These boats, which just need a couple of high powered outboard motors, can move very fast. Because they...

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces. Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today! ~ Hall of Heroes ~ Mike Colalillo Info from here.             Michael "Mike" Colalillo (December 2, 1925 – December 30, 2011) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II. Colalillo joined the Army from Duluth, Minnesota in February 1944, and by April 7, 1945 was serving as a private first...

While I understand that only a fraction of the population of this nation is directly affected by what you are about to read, I would never-the-less like to remind you that the remainder of the population is affected coincidentally. While the majority of the American population probably never even considered the Armed Forces as a possible career objective, there are those who never considered life without serving their country, in uniform, on a field of combat. Most of these young men and women never take the time to internalize some idealized vision of charging death for God and Country,

        AND THIS TOO SHALL PASS An Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which would be true and appropriate in all times and in all situations. They presented him with the words: ”And this, too, shall pass away.” ~ Abraham Lincoln 30 September 1859 HAPPY 203rd BIRTHDAY, PRESIDENT LINCOLN    

My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. (Jeremiah 2:13)

Jesus said to her, “ I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25,26

Hold the mystery meat: Military mess halls soon will be serving more fruits, vegetables and low-fat dishes under the first program in 20 years to improve nutrition standards across the armed services. First lady Michelle Obama and Pentagon officials announced the effort Thursday during a visit to Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas, where the military has been experimenting with ways to improve the quality and variety of foods served on base. The first lady toured a gleaming cafeteria line, then announced the program in a dining hall filled with service members whose plates were overflowing with salad greens,...

First Lady Michelle Obama leaves Thursday for a three-day, four-state tour to mark the second anniversary of her “Let’s Move!” initiative to get Americans to eat healthier and be more physically fit. The trip is a mix of events and announcements, including one Thursday about a program intended to combat weight gain among members of the military. Mrs. Obama will make the announcement, along with the Department of Defense, at the Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., which has participated in a pilot program for the initiative. The initiative melds Mrs. Obama’s two signature policy goals as first lady –...

Rick Santorum, in an interview with CNN's John King a bit ago, was asked whether he thinks it's a good idea or a bad idea for the Pentagon to relax some of the rules about women taking frontline roles in combat, "perhaps opening the door to a broader role for, ultimately, women in combat." His answer was both praising of women serving the country, and as a part of the armed services, but he went on to explain why he would take issue with women on the front lines. "Look, I want to create every opportunity for women to be...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Hold the mystery meat: Military bases will soon be serving more fruits, vegetables and low-fat dishes under the first program in 20 years to improve nutrition standards across the armed services. First lady Michelle Obama and Pentagon officials planned to announce the effort Thursday during a visit to Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas, where the military has been experimenting with the idea through a pilot program designed to improve the quality and variety of foods served on base. It's not just about giving members of the armed services a more svelte profile.

Pray For Our American Heroes and Our Nation The Whole Armor of God 10. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand...

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ SAFETY FLARES A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter discharges flares during a routine flight operation in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Jan. 5, 2012. The CH-53D crew, assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, uses flares to ensure the safety of the crew onboard and safeguarding the aircraft while in flight during poor visibility weather. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Robert R. Carrasco Canteen Mission Statement Showing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies' militaryand family members of the above.Honoring those who have...

WASHINGTON — "We don't need you, so shut up!" That's the message the Obama administration has sent loud and clear to America's Roman Catholics. And it's a message now being sent to U.S. military chaplains — to the detriment of our armed forces. During World War II, the War Department and the Department of the Navy urged — the operative word is "urged," not "ordered," mind you — U.S. military chaplains to encourage soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardsmen and Marines that God was on our side in the global battle against fascists, Nazis and the godless heathens running rampant across...

Military personnel costs for retirees versus active-duty service members are among the “most politically sensitive” competing interests within the fiscal 2013 Defense Department budget process, according to a new analysis from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. Andrew Krepinevich, CSBA’s president, called personnel costs in the future years’ defense plan “the 600-pound gorilla,” and CSBA senior fellow Todd Harrison urged leaders to address the uncomfortable topic now. http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/02/budget-debate-pits-military-retiree-interests-against-those-active-duty-analysts-warn/41141/

Wisconsin Education Association Trust, a not-for-profit health insurance company created by the state's largest teachers union. The union trust is doing this in a bid to retain its dominant position as the state government's largest health care insurance provider. The funds in question derive from the much-maligned Early Retiree Reinsurance Program. Obamacare created ERRP as a taxpayer-funded subsidy intended to lower the cost of early retiree health care. Instead, the Obama administration has used ERRP funds to give political payback to preferred special interest groups. Top ERRP recipients include the United Auto Workers ($206.8 million), state governments and government unions...

The pilots got word that more than 100 U.S. soldiers were surrounded by enemy fire with no escape in sight. "The only other thing we could've done was just leave, and you know, we don't do that," Baca said. Baca and Swickard got in their helicopters and went in. When they got to the scene, they found bamboo that stretched 25-feet into the air. The pilots were not deterred and used the main rotor blades of their helicopters to cut through the bamboo and went in for a blind landing. "They were kind of talking us in because we couldn't...

Defense officials say as many as 14,000 positions could be opened up, though the restrictions on women serving in infantry combat units will remain in place. The rule change reflects the ongoing reality that in a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, women were already dying in combat with the blurring of the traditional definition of front lines. Nearly 300,000 women have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and 144 of them have died in those conflicts. The rule change is included in a report required by Congress as part of last year’s Defense Authorization Bill that...

After an inquiry by U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., the Pentagon is reversing a decision to limit the Fort Snelling Memorial Rifle Squad’s access to the ceremonial rifles they use for military burials. And to ensure other veterans don’t face similar red tape, Kline also is introducing legislation that will enable the Army to loan or donate excess rifles to eligible organizations – including local chapters of the American Legion and VFW. The move comes after members of the Rifle Squad complained to Kline, a retired Marine Colonel, that the Army wanted to recoup a number of their vintage ceremonial...

    At the FReeper Canteen! C'mon and take a break ! Walk on over to the water cooler and lets chat. Post your thoughts, opinions, news of the day, rantings, ravings, pontificates, hypothesis, hyperboles, your soap box cause, your mantra, your baggage, your garbage, your blogging, your secrets, whatever you feel would make talk around the water cooler real interesting! Please remember that The Canteen is here to support and entertain our troops and veterans and their families, and is family friendly.       Costello: I want to talk about the unemployment rate in America . Abbott:...

As U.S. forces come home from Iraq after nine years at war, the nation is facing professional troops sufficiently bruised and isolated from American society that some defense experts whisper we may need major changes in military education and even a conscription-based national youth service program to reboot our fighting forces. Painful reminders are everywhere of an unpopular U.S. military venture that began with grave strategic miscalculations and is ending with violence and political instability in Iraq. In Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai is openly contemptuous of his U.S. protectors, while Afghan security forces murder allied officers. These U.S. military campaigns have...

Freepers Everywhere! Will you be at CPAC? If so, I hope to meet you! Look for Pamela Geller table and Marinka Peschmann's table in the Exhibit Hall space on the lower level of the Marriott. I will be there and hope to meet you! Pamela Geller's MUST READ book, "Stop The Islamization Of America will be available. http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/atlas-articles/ Marinks Peschmann's MUST READ book, "The Whistleblower" (How the Clinton White HouseStayed in Power to Reemerge in the Obama White House and on the World Stage) will be available too! http://www.marinkapeschmann.com/2012/02/08/in-the-dc-area-come-to-my-book-signing-at-cpac/ Also look for the events on Friday that you won't want...