Copied this from a post on Wild Bill's forum. Sounds great!

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This sounds great. Unfortunately, I'll be traveling for a wedding this weekend. But I hope others here will have a chance to attend. Dale Dye and R. Lee Ermey are among the attractions.

A Letter from The President and Founder

Dear Friends,

What are you planning to do this Memorial Day Weekend? If you support American soldiers, and you love to watch great films, there really is only one answer: The First Annual GI Film Festival, to be held May 25-28, 2007 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC.

The GI Film Festival is unique among the more than 950 film festivals held in the United States each year because it focuses specifically on honoring American soldiers. Some of the films screened will be fan favorites. Others will be screened for the very first time. All will in some way express the courage and selflessness of American soldiers and the value of their important work.

The Festival Director and Co-founder, my wife Laura, and I would like to share with you a sneak peek at some of the events and activities we have planned for this Memorial Day Weekend:*

“Fan Favorite†film screenings presented by award-winning Hollywood directors Ron Maxwell (Gettysburg) and John Dahl (The Great Raid).

World premier film screenings featuring the work of promising new filmmakers.

Panel discussions featuring soldiers, journalists, authors, and filmmakers.

A special awards ceremony, including the presentation of the “GI Spirit Award,†given to the actor/producer/director who best embodies the spirit of the GI in their creative work.

A VIP cocktail reception including top military brass, filmmakers, Hollywood executives, and other opinion leaders from Washington DC .

A three-day exhibit where you can learn about military veterans organizations and buy your official GI Film festival gear.

We realize, of course, there are many events and activities competing for your attention Memorial Day Weekend. But where else will you be able to interact with top military brass and Hollywood celebrities in one place?

We sincerely hope you will join us Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-28, 2007, in Washington DC, for the First Annual GI Film Festival. Take this opportunity to watch some amazing films, new and old, while honoring American soldiers at the same time. We promise you this will be an unforgettable event.

Received this email this morning from someone new. Hey any of you good-looking engineers, can you answer her question? I can't!

Hello Marion,

My father served with the 121st Engineer Combat Battalion during WWII. The unit's Morning Reports frequently speak about them making "chess paling" after they had arrived at the German border. I assume this is a type of fencing, but I would like to know how it was constructed and the type of wire used. Can you help me?

Kay

Larry sent me this link today. The site has hundreds of great photos, but he wanted me to see this one in particular.

Engineers in Salerno - LST 1 unloading

http://www.ww2db.com/photo.php

Attached Files

  EngineersSalerno.jpg (Size: 88.62 KB / Downloads: 0)

The 393 Preservation Association in Muskegon, Michigan is restoring a Landing Ship Tank, and opening it in May for tours. The ship won battle stars for the occupation of Sicily, the invasion of Salerno, and the D-day invasion at Normandy

USS LST 393 is located at the Mart Dock, on the Muskegon Lake waterfront , just off Shoreline Drive in the heart of downtown Muskegon, Michigan.

LST 393.org

The USS LST 393 was launched in Newport News, Virginia on November 11, 1942. Immediately after sea trials, she went to work in the defense of her country in Europe. Over nine thousand soldiers made their way to the front aboard LST 393, as well as 3, 248 vehicles. She also carried over five thousand prisoners and, during her service, logged 51, 817 nautical miles. The LST 393 made 75 voyages to foreign shores on three continents, including 30 round trips to the beaches of Normandy. She won battle stars for her service in the occupation of Sicily, the invasion of Salerno, and the D-day invasion at Normandy and was decommissioned in 1946.

Another restored LST that served at Sicly, Salerno, & Normandy is LST 325 in Evansville, IN.

LST 325

An interesting day in history because it involves around Iraq!

1941 : Hitler backs Rashid Ali in his fight against Britain

On this day in 1941, Adolf Hitler sends two bombers to Iraq to support Rashid Ali al-Gailani in his revolt against Britain, which is trying to enforce a previously agreed upon Anglo-Iraqi alliance.

At the start of the war, Iraqi Prime Minister General Nuri as-Said severed ties with Germany and signed a cooperation pact with Great Britain. In April 1941, the Said government was overthrown by Ali, an anti-British general, who proceeded to cut off the British oil pipeline to the Mediterranean. Britain fought back by landing a brigade on the Persian Gulf, successfully fending off 9,000 Iraqi troops. Ali retaliated by sealing off the British airbase at Habbaniya. Hitler, elated at the grief the British enemy was enduring in the Middle East, began sending arms, via Syria, as well as military experts to aid Ali in his revolt.

On May 12, Hitler sent Major Axel von Blomberg, an air force officer who was to act as a liaison between Iraq and Germany to Iraq, along with the two bombers. Blomberg arrived in the middle of an air battle between Iraqi and British fighters and was shot dead by a stray British bullet. By the end of the month, Iraq had surrendered, and Britain re-established the terms of the original 1930 cooperation pact. A pro-British government formed, with a cabinet led by former Prime Minister Said. Iraq went on to become a valuable resource for British and American forces in the region and in January 1942 became the first independent Muslim state to declare war on the Axis powers.