Daily history

Good morning,


I have included a Congressional Medal of Honor citation to the end of this lesson, lest we forget.

Quote of the day:

"Your friend is someone that knows all there is know about you, and still likes you."

                                  Elbert Hubard

The weather is crisp with the morning temps in the low to mid 50's and the afternoon in the mid to high 70's The wind is from the Northeast at about 7 MPH. It is a typical Autumn day here in paradise.

I think we are seeing a backlash with the new governors of Virginia and New Jersey being Republicans in states that are mostly Democrat. About this time next year I think we will see the control of the House of Representative returned to the Republicans and a balance returned to the Legislative branch. This will expel Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House and Harry Reid, Chris Dodd and several other disturbed members will be dethroned from their power bases. But I fear it may be too late.

As you may or may not know the term of the Governor of South Carolina is limited. Governor Sanford's term expires about a year from now and there has been five Democrats and five Republicans that have announced their candidacy for Governor. If I judge the people in Palmetto state correctly the Democrats should go to the house and forget about being elected. Again, I think it is a backlash against the Obama administration for the wanton spending that represents a cross that our great-great grandchildren will bear.

The Travelers Rest, South Carolina police department were called about a man that had called the national suicide hotline. Police Captain John Gardner answered the call. He went into the house and found 55 year old Jeffery Simpson sitting in a Lazy-Boy holding a pistol to his head. Simpson was ranting and raving asking he cops to kill him, he also would occasionally point the gun in Gardner's direction. Gardner did not kill him but he did the next best thing. He shot the gun out of Simpson's hand with a shotgun from about 6 feet away. Simpson was taken to the hospital for a small scratch on his gun hand. That took some good shooting, y'all. The cops probably have 00 buckshot in their shotguns. If it is a 12 gauge there are only 9 pellets about 1/4 inch in diameter in the shell. To be able to hit pistol and not take Simpson's hand off was a phenomenal shot. Depending on the choke of the shotgun, the spread pattern probably would be no larger that 4 inches at a range of six feet.

My daughter sent me an article from a California newspaper. It seems that an interim minister went to a Presbyterian church that was on its last legs and he knew that an infusion of interest was needed and soon. So the minister decided to allow the parishioners to bring their family dogs to the services with them. Doggie beds and snack were provided. They even has a 30 minute session just for the dogs saying prayers and blessing the canines. They hinted at the dogs may have a soul of sorts. At the risk of hurting dog lovers, I personally believe that the do not have a soul of any kind. The do not have the option to make choices and cannot do abstract reasoning. I like dogs myself but offering prayers and blessings is miles over the top.

A few months ago the INS raided a chicken processing plant near Greenville, South Carolina looking for illegal aliens. They rounded up about 350 Hispanics and every one of them was indeed illegal. A federal charge was brought against the plant manager and the director of Human Resources for knowingly hiring illegals. These people were looking at hard time. Nearly all the illegals were deported. The parent company of the plant and the Feds came to an agreement whereby the company would pay a fine of about $1.2 million and set up a hiring practice using I-9 procedures. This system will be the same system used by the Federal Government hiring processes. It is nearly foolproof.

A couple of days ago I was sitting at the bar of my favorite watering hole and a couple came in and sat beside me. I normally know everyone that goes in there but I did not know this couple and I introduced myself. The man hesitated for a minute and then with a heavy northern accent he said "Why is everybody down here trying to bust my balls?" I asked him what he meant and he said "Everybody wants to know my name, my wife's name, where I am from, where I am staying, and stuff like that putting pressure on me." I asked him why he thought the people were asking those questions and he said "Because they want to find something to give me s--t about or run a scam on me." I told him that they were just trying to find common ground to start a friendly conversation. There was a long pause and he said "That never crossed my mind". I told him that as long as he had that much paranoia he would never fit in that it would be best if he got his young ass back north of I-40. He said "But I like it here." I said that the people he met come with the territory and got up and moved. Later on his wife came over and apologized. She said that they were from Connecticut and are not used to polite people. I had forgotten why I swore to never cross I-40 headed north again, now I remember. Hey Ed B. down in Mount Pleasant, you are the exception.

Good news:

On Tuesday afternoon the US Navy warship U.S.S. New York completed its voyage from its construction docks in New Orleans to New York harbor. The ship is docked adjacent to the 9/11 site in Manhattan. Before docking the USS New York delivered a 21 gun salute in honor of those killed in the the attack on the Twin Towers. Let me tell you, when this girl speaks a 21 gun salute, people listen. In reponse the New York firefighters and police responded with a 21 gun salute of their own. By the way, nearly 8 tons of steel from the Twin Towers was melted down and recast as support members in the bow of the USS New York. The ship also had the images of the Twin Towers permanently etched into the stern. The ship will be officially commisioned on November 7. After that it will lay at rest for a week of visitors and then she will go on line as a tool of war for the United States of America. She has a crew of 380 and has room and provisions for 800 combat Marines. I think y'all can figure out what the vessel will be used for.

This date in history November 5

1775    On this day General George Washington issues a statement condemning some of his troops who were planning to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day. Guy Fawkes Day is an English celebration for the capture of Guy Fawkes who schemed to blow up the Parliament building in London. He wanted to kill the king, James I who was a protestant, in the hopes that James’ daughter Elizabeth, a Roman Catholic, would take over the reins of England. In the celebration effigies of the Pope are burned and essentially a condemnation of the Catholics in general. Washington condemned this action not out of conscience, but because he was trying to get some of the French Canadians to join the Continental army and they were all Catholic. The celebration never materialized out of respect for George, but the animosity remained.

1930    United States author Sinclair Lewis receives the Nobel Prize for literature and he was the first American to receive this prize. Lewis was a cantankerous sort. In 1926 he had refused the Pulitzer Prize for his book “Arrowsmith” but decided to accept the Nobel Prize. He also gave us “Main Street”, “Babbitt” and “Elmer Gantry”. Every time I hear the words Elmer Gantry an image of Burt Lancaster with hair just a’ flying and bible in hand flashes across my mind. What a great performance. I miss him.

1961    A group of cave explorers find a sack full of bones in South Wales which solved 43 year old mystery. It seems that chorus girl Mamie Savant married George Shotten and they moved to a remote house on a cliff over looking the sea. Evidently it was not a happy marriage because one day neither George nor Mamie could be found anywhere. The authorities finally ran George down and come to find out that he had been married to another woman for years and was living with her when he was caught. When he was confronted he denied ever being married to Mamie but that was easily shot down. But they could not find hide nor hair of Mamie. So George was tried and convicted of bigamy and served 18 months. In addition to the bones the spelunkers found a gold wedding band and a black comb that was known to be Mamie’s. The bones were reassembled and it was determined that it was the bones of a 26 year old female about 5’-4” tall. That described Mamie but it was too late because George died in 1958 three years before the discovery of the bones.

1862    United States President A. Lincoln relieves General George B. McClellan from command of the Army of the Potomac. After the disastrous ass-kicking the Army of the Potomac received at the hand of CSA General Robert E, Lee at 1st Manassas, Lincoln appointed McClellan to whip the Army of the Potomac into shape. McClellan was a superb organizer/trainer and did indeed whip the army into shape. He organized the command structure, divided the army into manageable units and trained the troops to a razor sharp readiness. He then took that army of over 100,000 by boat to the end of the James River peninsula southwest of Richmond and began a march on that city. Everything went fine until he met CSA General Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia and received a series of ass-kickings. After this he goes back to the end of the peninsula and takes his young ass out of there. What pissed Lincoln off was that he camped out for six weeks before departing the peninsula. McClellan was always timid and shy in a combat situation and believed that he was always outnumbered which was never the case. His next faux pas was at the Battle of Antietam when his army drove Lee and the Confederates out of Maryland back across the Potomac into Virginia and did not pursue and destroy them. He chose to camp out again for several weeks while all the time Lincoln is burning up the telegraph wires telling him to get off his ass and do something. McClellan ignored Lincoln and indeed held him with distain and was vocal about it. Finally, McClellan got the army on its feet and they head for the Potomac River, however it took nine days for McClellan to get his troops across and that was the final straw. Lincoln called McClellan to Washington and sent US General Ambrose Burnsides to replace him. Burnsides knew that Lincoln wanted an aggressive commander so he immediately heads out to find Bobby Lee and his army of rebels. He finds them at a place called Marye’s Heights near Fredericksburg and promptly has his ass kicked at the cost of a terrible slaughter of the Army of the Potomac, but that is another story.

1862    Earlier the Santee Sioux of Minnesota had been promised they would be fed by the US Government in return for them going to a reservation. Well, the corrupt Government officials would not release the food unless they were paid their usual bribes. The Sioux were on the edge of starvation and the launched a series of raids led by Little Wolf on the farms of the honkies up and down the Minnesota River. They were finally subdued and 300 are sentenced to hang. A. Lincoln intervenes and finally the list is whittled down to 38. Before a cheering throng of Minnesotans all 38 were hanged simultaneously. What we have here is a group of men whose wives and children are starving because of corrupt politicians and because they revolt, they are hanged. What the hell is up with that?

Births and deaths:

1892    US newsman Lowell Thomas is born. He said “Once you reach the age of 80 everything you see reminds you of something else.” I am getting there myself. Say, that reminds me….

1939    US entrepreneur John Sculley is born. He said “If we had not had the man on the moon there would not be a Silicon Valley today.” He is right. It was the space program where computers were required and developed much to our benefits all.

1935    US writer Edwin Robinson dies. He said “There is a good deal to live for, but a man has to go through a lot of hell to figure that out.” And so do a lot of women.

Famous quotes:

“Familiarity breeds contempt….and children.” Mark Twain

“Denial is not a river in Egypt” Mark Twain

“Age is an issue of mind over matter, if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” Mark Twain



The President of the United States

in the name of The Congress

takes pleasure in presenting the

Medal of Honor

to

KANE, JOHN R.

(Air Mission)

Rank and organization: Colonel, U.S. Army Air Corps, 9th Air Force. Place and date: Ploetsi Raid, Rumania, 1 August 1943. Entered service at: Shreveport, La. Birth: McGregor, Tex. G.O. No: 54, 9 August 1943.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry in action and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 1 August 1943. On this date he led the third element of heavy bombardment aircraft in a mass low-level bombing attack against the vitally important enemy target of the Ploesti oil refineries. En route to the target, which necessitated a round-trip flight of over 2,400 miles, Col. Kane's element became separated from the leading portion of the massed formation in avoiding dense and dangerous cumulous cloud conditions over mountainous terrain. Rather than turn back from such a vital mission he elected to proceed to his target. Upon arrival at the target area it was discovered that another group had apparently missed its target and had previously attacked and damaged the target assigned to Col. Kane's element. Despite the thoroughly warned defenses, the intensive antiaircraft fire, enemy fighter airplanes, extreme hazards on a low-level attack of exploding delayed action bombs from the previous element, of oil fires and explosions and dense smoke over the target area, Col. Kane elected to lead his formation into the attack. By his gallant courage, brilliant leadership, and superior flying skill, he and the formation under his command successfully attacked this vast refinery so essential to our enemies' war effort. Through his conspicuous gallantry in this most hazardous action against the enemy, and by his intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, Col. Kane personally contributed vitally to the success of this daring mission and thereby rendered most distinguished service in the furtherance of the defeat of our enemies.

Thanks for listening I can hardly wait until tomorrow