Yesterday 37 servicemen were killed in the crash of a Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter (almost certainly the MH-47G Special Operations version) in Afghanistan. The majority of them were from the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group, commonly known today as DEVGRU and formerly as SEAL Team 6. Others included several US Army helicopter crew… Continue reading Hail and farewell
Tag: In Memoriam
The bloodiest day in the history of British arms
Ninety-five years ago today, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) mounted its first major offensive during World War I. The so-called “First Day on the Somme” would become the bloodiest day in the history of British arms. According to the history books, the BEF suffered 57,470 casualties, 19,240 of them fatal (i.e. killed in action, or… Continue reading The bloodiest day in the history of British arms
“Push the button, Max!”
I’m sorry to see that the actor Peter Falk died today. He was 83 years old. Mr. Falk will probably be best remembered for portraying the TV detective Columbo, but I’ll always remember him with a happy smile for his hilarious performance as Maximilian Meen, or just plain ‘Max!’, the bumbling, inept sidekick to Jack… Continue reading “Push the button, Max!”
The Cold War heated up, 63 years ago today
On June 24th, 1948, Soviet occupying forces in Germany closed all land access routes to the Western sectors of Berlin, which was surrounded by the Soviet zone of occupation after World War II. The Berlin Blockade had begun. Within days, the Western Allies would begin an airlift to bring in the supplies the city needed.… Continue reading The Cold War heated up, 63 years ago today
Mexico’s always been hard on (some) visitors
One hundred and forty-four years ago today, Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico was executed by his subjects. He’d been installed in 1864 by local monarchists and the French emperor, Napoleon III, whose troops had conquered Mexico. Somewhat to his astonishment, locals who preferred democracy objected to his taking power. (Let me rephrase that . .… Continue reading Mexico’s always been hard on (some) visitors
Memorial Day: They also served
On Memorial Day the USA honors its veterans, present and past, and remembers their service with gratitude. We’re used to thinking of ‘veterans’ as being specifically members of the uniformed armed services; but there are others who may also qualify, depending on how strictly one applies one’s criteria. Vintage Wings of Canada tells the story… Continue reading Memorial Day: They also served
In Memoriam: HMS Hood
On May 24th, 1941, the battlecruiser HMS Hood, the pride of the Royal Navy, sailing in company with the brand-new battleship HMS Prince of Wales, encountered the German battleship Bismarck and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen in the Denmark Strait. HMS Hood in 1932 A shell from Bismarck struck Hood between her first and second… Continue reading In Memoriam: HMS Hood
My heroes
Brigid put up a very well-written post today, which she titled “Big Damn Heroes“. It started me thinking, and remembering. Several sad thoughts and a few tears later, I’ll try to add my $0.02 worth to the discussion. It’s not going to be easy to put it into words, because the faces of my dead… Continue reading My heroes
A loss . . . and a laugh
I note that the inventor of the teleprompter, Hubert J. “Hub” Schlafly Jr., died last week at the age of 91. Inevitably, one of the more famous users of his invention has received mention in this regard. The blog “A Trainwreck In Maxwell” notes: “Obama reported to be speechless.” Peter
Chernobyl, USSR: April 26th, 1986
Twenty-five years ago, on April 26th, 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster occurred in what is today the Ukraine, but was then the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Caused by incompetent operation and a test gone horribly wrong, it killed relatively few people immediately, but is forecast to cause several thousand premature deaths over time (although… Continue reading Chernobyl, USSR: April 26th, 1986