Historical
Valor Friday
Brendan O’Connor’s military service is a tad unorthodox. He started as an officer, but became an enlisted man. Reminds me a bit of Michael Novosel. Born in 1960, he came from a line of military men. His father was Mortimer O’Connor, a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point in, Class of 1953. […]
William Penn statue being removed to make park more welcoming and inclusive
The National Park Service has plans to tear down William Penn’s statue in Welcome Park. This park was established as a nod to the 300th anniversary of Pennsylvania’s founding. The park is named after the ship that took William Penn to Pennsylvania. Despite this park’s being dedicated to William Penn’s contributions, his statue, and the […]
Valor Friday
I briefly mentioned Peter Conover Hains last week as we explored men who spent more time in the service than is normal. Hains was the only confirmed American veteran of both the Civil War and World War I, though he didn’t see overseas service in the latter conflict. Canadian John Boucher is said to also […]
Valor Friday
Last week I looked at a few people who had spent the vast majority of their long lives in the service of this country. That led me to the discovery of a few more with exceptionally long times in uniform. The most famous 19th Century American naval officer, which I criminally overlooked last week, was […]
Valor Friday
I talked a while back about French Private Jean Thurel. He was an 18th Century soldier in the French Army, who lived to be 108 years old. He spent more than 75 of his years as a soldier, earning three long service medals (the only man to have done so) and was knighted into the […]
Valor Friday
As yesterday was the anniversary of the day “which will live in infamy,” the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, for this Valor Friday we’ll be revisiting some past articles. Of the men who served at Pearl, I’ve written about; Ensign Joseph Taussig – Officer of the Deck on USS Nevada (BB-36). Earned the Navy Cross […]
Valor Friday
Some figures in military history are truly larger than life. Even when they’re in active service, their legend precedes them. They are the types that those who serve with or under them, wear that closeness as a badge of honor for the rest of their lives. Men such as George Patton, Chesty Puller, Chester Nimitz, […]
Sea levels higher in the 1500s than they are today?
Here is an old article that talked about a shipwreck discovery in the desert. The Bom Jesus departed from Lisbon, Portugal, on March 7, 1533. India was its intended destination. The ship may have hit a rock off the coast of Namibia, tilted, and then capsized closed to the shore. It remained connected with the […]
Recent Comments