Tag: In Memoriam

On the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, we lose another veteran

  Many of us were enthralled by the 2001 television series “Band of Brothers“, which followed the men of “Easy” Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, through 1944 and 1945 during World War II in Europe.  I still regard it as one of the finest cinematic portrayals of men in combat… Continue reading On the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, we lose another veteran

In Memoriam: F. W. de Klerk, the last leader of apartheid

  It’s with mixed feelings that I read of the death of F. W. de Klerk, last white State President of the apartheid-era Republic of South Africa. F.W. de Klerk, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela and as South Africa’s last apartheid president oversaw the end of the country’s White minority rule,… Continue reading In Memoriam: F. W. de Klerk, the last leader of apartheid

It’s Veterans Day in the USA, but to me it’s much more

  The United States separated its commemoration of living veterans of military service (whom it honors today) from that of those who died serving their country, which it honors on Memorial Day, the last Monday in May.  However, for most of the rest of the former British Empire, December 11th is Armistice Day, the date on… Continue reading It’s Veterans Day in the USA, but to me it’s much more

This funeral will definitely be in good taste

  Food-lovers (particularly dessert-lovers) will be saddened to learn that the inventor of tiramisu has died. Restaurateur Ado Campeol, dubbed “the father of Tiramisu” by Italian media, has died aged 93. Campeol was the owner of Le Beccherie, a restaurant in Treviso in northern Italy where the famous dessert was invented by his wife and… Continue reading This funeral will definitely be in good taste

America has lost one of its most incisive, insightful voices

  Professor Angelo Codevilla, whom we’ve met in these pages many times before, has died of injuries he suffered from a vehicle accident.  He was apparently knocked down by a drunk driver. It may be a measure of the cynicism and suspicion that dominate American politics today that not a few people – including myself… Continue reading America has lost one of its most incisive, insightful voices

True. Damnably true.

  Currently circulating on the Internet (click the image for a larger view): Truer words have never been spoken, particularly given the news that “the Defense Department was aware of the identity of the suicide bomber who struck outside the Kabul Airport in Afghanistan last week, and in fact had a lock on him but… Continue reading True. Damnably true.

Remembering Tim Severin, one of the greatest modern adventurers

  We’ve met Tim Severin in these pages several times before, most recently last November when I excerpted his book “Crusader“, describing how he rode a descendant of medieval war horses across Europe to Jerusalem. He came to widespread attention in the 1970’s with his book “The Brendan Voyage“, describing how he and his crew sewed… Continue reading Remembering Tim Severin, one of the greatest modern adventurers