Running around today and tomorrow, but I wanted to make a quick couple of observations on June 4. It's a big day in WWII news. In 1940, the Dunkirk Campaign ends, as British ships stop evacuating their troops from France. It's a disaster on the one hand, since the troops leave the shore with little more gear than their clothes, but on the other hand, it's 300,000 more troops than Britain should have had at the end of the French campaign. Thanks to the German halt, which gave them time to pull troops out. So ultimately, it probably saved Britain. Saying that a massive, humiliating defeat is what saved you from overall defeat is an uncertain victory, at best. But in 1940, Britain needed any victory they could get. And it would be a while before they got another.
In 1942, the Battle of Midway began. Speaking of disasters... It literally turned the tide, as Japan lost, in just a few short minutes- about 15, to be more precise- 4 of the 6 carriers that bombed Pearl Harbor. From then on, it was a long road, but Japan's naval commander, Admiral Yamamoto, knew how it would end. In fact, he predicted before the War began that he would run wild for about six months, and then America would get the game in hand. June 7 will be the six month anniversary of the war's beginning, so he's off by a couple days only. From the American side, it's a tribute to the code breakers, the mechanics who fixed a carrier than needed months of repair in a matter of days, and of course the brave men who fought and died.
1944 is a biggie too: In the Atlantic, Captain Daniel Gallery and the USS Guadalcanal task force capture the U-505 at sea. It's the first time in over a hundred years that the US Navy has accomplished that feat. For a time, the men of the force are thrilled, wondering if they'll get prize money- an old naval tradition. Alas, the law permitting that had been repealed some years before. So they had to content themselves with the feat itself. Which they did. It was brave, innovative, and well done. Gallery was an interesting guy, who threw his career away in the infamous "revolt of the Admirals" a mere four or five years later. But he then went on to a terrific writing career. Look for some of his books, and enjoy them. They're a riot!
In one of Gallery's books, he tells of a sailor looking at a news bulletin aboard the Guadalcanal. The man shook his head and commented something to the effect of "look what the Army had to do to top us". What did the Army do? Captured the city of Rome. Big doings! The first "enemy" capital to fall in the War, though Italy had already surrendered. Thankfully, the Germans didn't defend the city. Or destroy it.
For our final, non WWII entry, I would just like to acknowledge a very sad day for American music. It was this date in 2001 that the talented and brilliant musician/songwriter John Hartford left us. He's one of my all-time favorites. You know him mostly because he wrote the classic "Gentle on my Mind", which made him a crap-ton of money, especially after Glen Campbell recorded it. Hartford is also known for being a prominent part of the soundtrack of "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?". It was a nice (almost) finish to a brilliant career. I always thought it was interesting that he died only a few weeks after his close friend Bennie Martin, who appeared with him on many a song, and was beautifully mentioned in Hartford's second best song "Nobody eats at Linebaugh's anymore".
Off to do plenty of exciting things.
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