yikes. Didn't realize life had gotten so busy that I was unable to post here for a month. Sorry. But here is a little something, regarding the recent death of the brilliant Sir John Keegan, which I only learned about tonight.
I wrote this as a post on Facebook, but here's a version for anyone that stumbles on this blog and doesn't know me:
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Here's another bit about Keegan. This one gives a better feel for what he wrote about.
The story that most sticks in my mind was from something I read-"The Face of Battle", perhaps, though I think not- in which he tells of visiting a (The?) royal museum of military medicine.
At any rate, he toured it with the physician who was the director. Keegan casually mentioned at one point that in the days of Waterloo and other battles of the era, a common wound was for a soldier to be hit with fragments of bone and teeth from the men next to him- a danger quite possible in the days when large, soft lead rounds whacked into men who were standing shoulder to shoulder and nearly front to back.
To his surprise, the director was unaware of that factoid, and apparently was quite skeptical. Though given Keegan's expertise (this was after "Battle" was released) I don't know why he would have been. Sir John made us all aware of what it was like to stand in the ranks at Agincourt or Waterloo, where one would have no idea what was happening mere yards away... Even as the tide of history ebbed and flowed.
RIP Sir John. Wish I had made more effort to read your work at the Telegraph.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Big July 5 Event
Do you know what gigantically, colossally, massively important event happened on this date in 1937?
Yes, you're correct. Hormel Meats introduced Spam.
Now go have a spamwich, babies!
Sent from my iPhone
Yes, you're correct. Hormel Meats introduced Spam.
Now go have a spamwich, babies!
Sent from my iPhone
Monday, June 25, 2012
A crappy day for one family
Just noticed that today is Little Bighorn Day. In the space of an hour or so, Custer and his battalion got whacked by the Indians. Nobody is too sure what happened, other than his subordinates disobeying their orders, his force being badly outnumbered- in part because all the Indians left Reno and Benteen (almost literally) alone to concentrate on Custer's detachment, and there have even been allegations that the Indians had more advanced weaponry (some of them) than the cavalry.
All that being said, on top of inflicting a resounding defeat on the Seventh Cavalry, here is a list of the Custer portion of the casualty rolls:
George
Tom
Boston
James C. Calhoun- brother in law of George, Tom, and Boston Custer.
Reminds me of a story from "The Twentieth Maine", by Pullen. As the regiment was marching towards Little Round Top and glory, Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, Lieutenant Tom Chamberlain, and brother John- a volunteer nurse- were riding abreast at the head of the Regiment when a shell flew past, a few feet ahead of them. Joshua ( or Lawrence, as he was generally known) commented that another shot like that might make it "a hard day for mother". So he sent John ahead to find a place for the wounded, and Tom to the rear to make sure the regiment was keeping in good order.
Alas, the Custers probably would have preferred to die together, than to do do something so silly- besides, with their record of deeds from the Civil War, who knows if they even thought they could be killed.
Sadly, they could. And it was indeed a hard day for mother.
All that being said, on top of inflicting a resounding defeat on the Seventh Cavalry, here is a list of the Custer portion of the casualty rolls:
George
Tom
Boston
James C. Calhoun- brother in law of George, Tom, and Boston Custer.
Reminds me of a story from "The Twentieth Maine", by Pullen. As the regiment was marching towards Little Round Top and glory, Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, Lieutenant Tom Chamberlain, and brother John- a volunteer nurse- were riding abreast at the head of the Regiment when a shell flew past, a few feet ahead of them. Joshua ( or Lawrence, as he was generally known) commented that another shot like that might make it "a hard day for mother". So he sent John ahead to find a place for the wounded, and Tom to the rear to make sure the regiment was keeping in good order.
Alas, the Custers probably would have preferred to die together, than to do do something so silly- besides, with their record of deeds from the Civil War, who knows if they even thought they could be killed.
Sadly, they could. And it was indeed a hard day for mother.
Friday, June 22, 2012
A quick birthday note
Happy birthday to Tom Dula, or as he's generally known, Tom Dioley. Hang down your head and all that. Poor boy, you're bound to die!
The recently departed Doc Watson did his usual terrific job with that ballad. Even more interesting is his introduction of it on a live album. Apparently, Doc's grandmother (maybe great grannie) helped nurse Ann Foster Mellon on her deathbed, and was there when she asked for the sheriff to speak privately with her just before dying. She is also said to have heard the flames of hell as she laid there.
Anyhow, that's all I have time for. Hope you enjoyed it!
Sent from my iPhone
The recently departed Doc Watson did his usual terrific job with that ballad. Even more interesting is his introduction of it on a live album. Apparently, Doc's grandmother (maybe great grannie) helped nurse Ann Foster Mellon on her deathbed, and was there when she asked for the sheriff to speak privately with her just before dying. She is also said to have heard the flames of hell as she laid there.
Anyhow, that's all I have time for. Hope you enjoyed it!
Sent from my iPhone
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
June 19 Deaths
First on our list is Nathaniel Greene, who was more or less Washington's right hand man during the Revolution. He was given command of the Southern Theater in 1780, after Congress decided that maybe their choice, Horatio Gates, was an incompetent putz. Given that he had just gotten his army destroyed at Camden, it was nice of Congress to recognize that fact. At any rate, Greene was ultimately successful with his odd strategy, which he described as "we fight, get beat, rise, and fight again". Hey... it worked! At any rate, he died in 1786, which left his widow Kitty Greene a nice long time to pursue her hobby of sex with numerous men (allegedly). Not that his status as dead or alive had ever really limited her ability to enjoy her hobby even before that (allegedly). In fact, there are even hints that she-ahem- served Washington quite well herself, albeit in a different fashion than her husband.
Allegedly.
In 1937, we lost J.M. Barrie. He's the creator of Peter Pan. (Allegedly). (Not really. That fact is undisputed).
In 1953, the Rosenbergs went to the electric chair. They spied for the Soviet Union, and were sentenced to death for committing espionage in favor of the USSR. Allegedly. (again, not really allegedly. It's pretty well proven beyond dispute, so if someone tells you they were framed, tell them to go read an actual history book, and not a bit of leftist propaganda). Not wishing them an RIP, more of a RIH, or "rot in Hell".
Peter Townshend died in 1995. I know what you're thinking- "but that would
make Daltrey the only surviving member of The Who!" (which would be news to Kenny Jones, if he's still alive). But relax- it was "only" Pete Townshend the WWII fighter ace, and Equerry to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. Whatever the hell an equerry is.
And again, that's about it. Later.
Allegedly.
In 1937, we lost J.M. Barrie. He's the creator of Peter Pan. (Allegedly). (Not really. That fact is undisputed).
In 1953, the Rosenbergs went to the electric chair. They spied for the Soviet Union, and were sentenced to death for committing espionage in favor of the USSR. Allegedly. (again, not really allegedly. It's pretty well proven beyond dispute, so if someone tells you they were framed, tell them to go read an actual history book, and not a bit of leftist propaganda). Not wishing them an RIP, more of a RIH, or "rot in Hell".
Peter Townshend died in 1995. I know what you're thinking- "but that would
make Daltrey the only surviving member of The Who!" (which would be news to Kenny Jones, if he's still alive). But relax- it was "only" Pete Townshend the WWII fighter ace, and Equerry to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. Whatever the hell an equerry is.
And again, that's about it. Later.
Happy June 19 Birthdays
We start off with a double. Happy bday to to both James I of England, and James VI of Scotland, both born on this date in 1566. In the same bed, I'm told. To the same mother. Whoa, that's really weird!
Happy 1897 birthday to Moses Harry Horwitz, or as some know him, Moe Howard. Yup, the leader of the Stooges. Older brother Shemp and younger brother Jerome joined him at various times, along with otherwise unconnected Larry Fine.
Hum a chorus of "Auld Lang Syne" to commemorate the 1902 birth of Guy Lombardo, if you please.
Or you could play it on the mandolin (or guitar) to celebrate 1914 birthday boy Lester Flatt.
Hot Mess Paula Abdul turns 50 today! Easy on the eyes, but madder than a hatter! Or just a little too fond of her chemical and liquid refreshments. (Allegedly).
Eh, the rest of the list is pretty dull, so we'll end it there.
Happy 1897 birthday to Moses Harry Horwitz, or as some know him, Moe Howard. Yup, the leader of the Stooges. Older brother Shemp and younger brother Jerome joined him at various times, along with otherwise unconnected Larry Fine.
Hum a chorus of "Auld Lang Syne" to commemorate the 1902 birth of Guy Lombardo, if you please.
Or you could play it on the mandolin (or guitar) to celebrate 1914 birthday boy Lester Flatt.
Hot Mess Paula Abdul turns 50 today! Easy on the eyes, but madder than a hatter! Or just a little too fond of her chemical and liquid refreshments. (Allegedly).
Eh, the rest of the list is pretty dull, so we'll end it there.
Big June 19 Stuff!
It's the beginning of the American Pastime today. On June 19, 1846, in Hoboken New Joisey, the New York Baseball Club met the Knickerbockers in a game of "baseball", under the auspices of Mr. Alexander Cartwright himself, creator of the rules. The NYBC beat the Knicks 23-1. General Abner Doubleday was nowhere to be seen. But then, this being 15 years before the Civil War, he wasn't a general yet either. Maybe that's the problem...
Jumping to 1944, it's day one of The Battle of The Philippine Sea, as the Japanese call it. The Americans call it "The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot", which gives you a pretty good idea of how the battle went. It was the last stand of the Japanese Navy, in a sense; as they objectively had a chance. If sending your outnumbered, less well trained and inexperienced aviators out to do battle with more pilots, better trained, and with more experience, and oh by the way vastly superior aircraft is an objective chance. At any rate, by the end of the battle on June 20, the Imperial Japanese Navy was short three carriers, at least 550 aircraft, and most of the pilots. 350 or more planes were lost by the Japanese on June 19, Day One. In fairness, they did damage one US ship, and shot down a whole 30 US fighters. Turkey Shoot indeed.
Oh, and by the end of this first day, US submarines had also damaged or destroyed two enemy carriers. In one instance, while her planes were in the air. Oops.
Day Two would see a 550 plane raid launched by the Americans, against a foe who could now muster less than 50 planes for defense. Two Japanese fuel oilers and a carrier were sunk, and two more carriers and a battleship were damaged. Again, the Good Guys lost 20 planes. By the time they started to return to the carriers, the US planes were low on fuel, and it was dark. Want to know how confident the navy was? Admiral Marc Mitscher, commander of the carrier forces, took a calculated risk and turned on the lights of the ships to guide the planes home. Saved a LOT of men's lives that night, though the recovery operations on the carriers were chaotic to say the least. About 80 planes crashed, though most of the crews were rescued by the fleet. Planes could be easily replaced. Pilots would be a bit more problematic, so the US was happy to have that outcome.
So how bad was it? The once feared Japanese Carrier Fleet was wrecked. They went into the battle with about 400 aircraft for their carriers, and came out with about 35. A few months later, in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Japanese used their carriers as a decoy force, as they were no longer capable of any real mission. (they succeeded in that mission, which is a whole different story).
Switching gears, in 1978 a comic strip debuted, featuring a lasagna loving cat. It's sadly still going, though I don't know who reads it anymore. It's been rehashing the same jokes for about 20 years, which haven't been funny for about 22 years. Meanwhile, Bloom County, Peanuts, John Darling, Travels With Farley, and Calvin and Hobbes are all just a memory.
There's no justice in the world, I guess.
And on that depressing note, we end.
Jumping to 1944, it's day one of The Battle of The Philippine Sea, as the Japanese call it. The Americans call it "The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot", which gives you a pretty good idea of how the battle went. It was the last stand of the Japanese Navy, in a sense; as they objectively had a chance. If sending your outnumbered, less well trained and inexperienced aviators out to do battle with more pilots, better trained, and with more experience, and oh by the way vastly superior aircraft is an objective chance. At any rate, by the end of the battle on June 20, the Imperial Japanese Navy was short three carriers, at least 550 aircraft, and most of the pilots. 350 or more planes were lost by the Japanese on June 19, Day One. In fairness, they did damage one US ship, and shot down a whole 30 US fighters. Turkey Shoot indeed.
Oh, and by the end of this first day, US submarines had also damaged or destroyed two enemy carriers. In one instance, while her planes were in the air. Oops.
Day Two would see a 550 plane raid launched by the Americans, against a foe who could now muster less than 50 planes for defense. Two Japanese fuel oilers and a carrier were sunk, and two more carriers and a battleship were damaged. Again, the Good Guys lost 20 planes. By the time they started to return to the carriers, the US planes were low on fuel, and it was dark. Want to know how confident the navy was? Admiral Marc Mitscher, commander of the carrier forces, took a calculated risk and turned on the lights of the ships to guide the planes home. Saved a LOT of men's lives that night, though the recovery operations on the carriers were chaotic to say the least. About 80 planes crashed, though most of the crews were rescued by the fleet. Planes could be easily replaced. Pilots would be a bit more problematic, so the US was happy to have that outcome.
So how bad was it? The once feared Japanese Carrier Fleet was wrecked. They went into the battle with about 400 aircraft for their carriers, and came out with about 35. A few months later, in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Japanese used their carriers as a decoy force, as they were no longer capable of any real mission. (they succeeded in that mission, which is a whole different story).
Switching gears, in 1978 a comic strip debuted, featuring a lasagna loving cat. It's sadly still going, though I don't know who reads it anymore. It's been rehashing the same jokes for about 20 years, which haven't been funny for about 22 years. Meanwhile, Bloom County, Peanuts, John Darling, Travels With Farley, and Calvin and Hobbes are all just a memory.
There's no justice in the world, I guess.
And on that depressing note, we end.
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