Friday

                           Musings and History

Quote of the day:

“Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires and a touch that never hurts.”

                                           Charles Dickens

I read about the number of people injured on the job, some fatally. I also read how much construction firms in the US hate the people from OSHA which tries to guarantee the safety of the workers. That reminded me of an engineering job I was on early in my career. It was a polyester plant to be built in Mexico. Polyester is originally a solid pellet that is heated and melted into a thick liquid and sent to the molds of different things. The piping that is used to transport the polyester is called “jacketed” pipe. This means that there is a pipe within a pipe. The polyester is in the inner pipe and a chemical called Dowtherm is in the larger pipe and heated to 600 degrees by a boiler to keep the polyester from becoming solid before reaching the molds. This chemical will not boil or foam making it ideal for this purpose, the downside is that the fumes are a carcinogen. The Dowtherm return piping to the boiler is under great scrutiny because of this. I was designing the return piping on one segment of the plant and was called in to a meeting along with several others. We were told that instead of designing the entire return piping system we were to tap the Dowtherm pipe after the appropriate length of pipe run and put in a valve. But we were told that the valve had to be at least a meter off the floor of the building. We were confused until we received an explanation. To save money the client was not going to have the return piping, he was going to have people put buckets under the valve and physically carry the Dowtherm (about 400 degrees and the fumes a carcinogen) to the boiler and pour it back in for reheating. They needed a meter under the valve to get the bucket under it. I think the client eventually changed their feeble minds and return piping was designed, but it goes to show you what corporate America's minds were capable of...and still are. How many lives would it have cost and who would have spoken for those Latino laborers had they followed through with that insane plan?

                 This Date in History July 21

1861 On this date the first major battle of the War of Northern Aggression (The American Civil War) was fought at a railroad junction near the Virginia town of Manassas which was about 22 miles west of Washington, DC. The Union army had sent General Irvin McDowell and a force of 34,000 ill-trained and ill-equipped militiamen to seek out and subdue a Confederate army known to be nearby. As the Union army was heading toward Manassas civilians fell in line and followed them to watch the Rebs get spanked. The Confederates were led by CSA General P.T.G Beauregard (former superintendent at West Point as was R. E. Lee) commanding a force of 20,000 who were joined by CSA General Joseph Johnston and a force of 9,000 brought in by railroad shortly before the battle. At the outset the Union forces were able to drive back the right flank of the Confederates but Beauregard establish a line of defense on Henry House Hill with a unit of Virginia infantry led by CSA General Thomas J. Jackson anchoring the right flank. The Union army attacked Jackson’s unit and were repulsed several times, Jackson’s men just could not be dislodged. It was at this action that General Jackson gained the nickname of “Stonewall”. Finally the Confederates counter-attacked and the great majority of the Union army broke and ran back toward Washington and literally ran over the civilians watching the action. Before this battle the Union army and politicians thought the Confederates would be easily defeated with a minimum loss of life. After this battle the Union army suffered 3,000 casualties, the Confederates 2,000 both sides realized it was going to be long and bloody conflict.

                                   Medal of Honor

                              BORDELON, WILLIAM JAMES

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 25 December 1920, San Antonio, Texas.

Citation:

For valorous and gallant conduct above and beyond the call of duty as a member of an assault engineer platoon of the 1st Battalion, 18th Marines, tactically attached to the 2d Marine Division, in action against the Japanese-held atoll of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands on 20 November 1943. Landing in the assault waves under withering enemy fire which killed all but 4 of the men in his tractor, S/Sgt. Bordelon hurriedly made demolition charges and personally put 2 pillboxes out of action. Hit by enemy machinegun fire just as a charge exploded in his hand while assaulting a third position, he courageously remained in action and, although out of demolition, provided himself with a rifle and furnished fire coverage for a group of men scaling the seawall. Disregarding his own serious condition, he unhesitatingly went to the aid of one of his demolition men, wounded and calling for help in the water, rescuing this man and another who had been hit by enemy fire while attempting to make the rescue. Still refusing first aid for himself, he again made up demolition charges and single-handedly assaulted a fourth Japanese machinegun position but was instantly killed when caught in a final burst of fire from the enemy. S/Sgt. Bordelon's great personal valor during a critical phase of securing the limited beachhead was a contributing factor in the ultimate occupation of the island, and his heroic determination throughout 3 days of violent battle reflects the highest credit upon the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

                                          Medal of Honor

                                       INOUYE, DANIEL K.

Second Lieutenant Daniel K. Inouye distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 21 April 1945, in the vicinity of San Terenzo, Italy. While attacking a defended ridge guarding an important road junction, Second Lieutenant Inouye skillfully directed his platoon through a hail of automatic weapon and small arms fire, in a swift enveloping movement that resulted in the capture of an artillery and mortar post and brought his men to within 40 yards of the hostile force. Emplaced in bunkers and rock formations, the enemy halted the advance with crossfire from three machine guns. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Second Lieutenant Inouye crawled up the treacherous slope to within five yards of the nearest machine gun and hurled two grenades, destroying the emplacement. Before the enemy could retaliate, he stood up and neutralized a second machine gun nest. Although wounded by a sniper's bullet, he continued to engage other hostile positions at close range until an exploding grenade shattered his right arm. Despite the intense pain, he refused evacuation and continued to direct his platoon until enemy resistance was broken and his men were again deployed in defensive positions. In the attack, 25 enemy soldiers were killed and eight others captured. By his gallant, aggressive tactics and by his indomitable leadership, Second Lieutenant Inouye enabled his platoon to advance through formidable resistance, and was instrumental in the capture of the ridge. Second Lieutenant Inouye's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

Lieutenant Inouye was of Japanese ancestry and his parents were interred during the war. He was born in Hawaii and after the war he became a well respected United States Senator.

                     Thanks for listening   I can hardly wait until tomorrow