Memorial Day - William Shone Williams

Like millions of others all over the world, the First World War  would have a lasting impact on the Williams family. This picture is of my paternal Grandfather, William Shone Williams, in North Carolina, just prior to shipping out for France. Growing up in the 1950's and 1960's, my family never talked much about my Grandfather's experience in the War. As a matter of fact, I never even met the man. He passed away about 8 years before I made my entrance into the world. So, naturally, I have been fascinated by him my entire life.

Two years ago I began looking into his wartime service to see where he went when he joined the Army and the 27th Division in the spring of 1917. The story is still missing several pieces but this is a brief account of what I have discovered so far by using photos provided to me by my favorite Aunt Gloria.


He was in the 27th Division of the NY 107th US Infantry, under the command of Major General John F. O'Ryan. This was their insignia, composed of the letters NY in an arched fashion to closely resemble the constellation Orion, a play on the major's last name. It's handle also points to the brightest star in the sky, Sirius. They became known as the "Orion Division."

The 27th trained at Camp Wadsworth in South Carolina through the winter of 1917-18. While there they published a weekly paper called "The Gas Attack" and later this name was changed to "The Gas Attack of the NY Division". The first issue was published in November of 1917 and the last was on May 4th, 1918 as they were about to transfer to Norfolk. Another issue was put out in France at Christmastime 1918, after the war was over. Another was issued right before the Division came home to a huge parade in NY in March 1919.

In Spartanburg there were two colleges and the one most favored for dances etc was the Converse College for Girls. There are quite a few photos on line of soldiers on leave in Spartanburg during that time. I keep looking for my Grandfather.

This is a photo of Major General John F. O'Ryan. He is shown standing on a snow bank at Camp Wadsworth. My Grandfather must have recognized him and took the photo. They were at Spartanburg from Nov 1917 through May 4th 1918 when they shifted to Norfolk for deployment to England.

Interesting side note; Spartanburg was the only place in South Carolina that did not welcome the Northern Divisions. (See the NY Times Article dated August 31st, 1917.) It concerns the Mayor of Spartanburg and his venomous attack upon the presence of "Yankee" troops. Apparently, there was also an African-American Division there at the same time. Captain N.B. Marshall, an African American of the NY Bar Association was called a "dirty nigger" and thrown from a street car in one instance. When Frank De Broit, an African-American private, attempted to buy a newspaper in a hotel lobby, with the permission of his Lt., a man named Europe, he was knocked to the ground by the hotel clerk. About fifty members of the NY 27th Division jumped in, hell bent on murdering the hotel clerk when they heard the command, ""Attention!" called out by Lt. Europe, who then ordered the men to cease their action and file out peacefully two by two.(He was, apparently, an early version of Martin Luther King.)

Major O'Ryan wrote a book about the whole experience, from Spartanburg to France and then coming home again in 1919. It's called "The Story of the 27th Division" and can be found online and read for free. You can even download it as a PDF file. http://www.archive.org/details/storyof27thdivis02oryauoft

Once in England they trained jointly with the British troops and appear to have crossed the Channel at Dover to France and marched down South towards Paris. On the way he would have taken the photo of the "Ponts de la Soissons" which is the Bridge at Soissons. From there they would likely have gone on South to Paris to group up before starting the final offensive of the war, referred to as the Muese-Argonne campaign and included the Second Battle of Verdun. Verdun is on the west bank of the Muese River. This is where he allegedly stole the keys to the city and a mandolin, which my step-mother, Alice, still has in her kitchen. The campaign lasted from September 1, 1918 through November 11th when the Armistice was called.

On Sept 29, 1918 the 27th Division, under command of Maj. General O'Ryan, along with the 30th Division, and the British units (under command of General Haig) jointly "cracked" the St. Quentin Tunnel Complex which ran parallel to the Hindenburg Line for a distance of about 4 miles North to South, and was used for resupply of the German forces there.

Forming a "pincher" and advancing eastward, the combined forces broke through the Hindenburg Line, which the combined French and British forces had been unable to do for 3 years. The 27th crossed through Guillemont and Quennemont Farms just West of the line. There were 227 officers and men of the 27th killed that day and another 688 wounded.

This means that they likely did not go to Paris upon arrival "in country", but rather, that after they cross trained with the British they headed to St. Quentin, which is North of both Paris and Verdun.

After the action at St. Quentin they continued on with the British 4th Army under the command of Major Rawlinson through most of October on their way to the Selle River south of the fighting at LeCateau.From there they would have moved on to the Second Battle of Verdun. He was wounded by artillery sometime during all of this, as a result of which he had a metal plate in his head for the rest of his life. He was also gassed. I am still, at this writing, trying to find out where and when he was wounded. It would appear, by the mere existence of the photographs, that he was wounded late in the war, most likely right before the Armistice in November. After Verdun, the 27th "hunkered down" through March of 1919, when they were sent home.

This is a photo of the entire 27th Division taken in March of 1919, composed of all 10,000 officers and enlisted men just prior to leaving France. My Grandfather is most likely in this photo, but it's kind of like "Where's Waldo." And war is like that, millions of men, whose names often go unrecorded in the greater annals of history, do the heavy fighting, and pay the heavy price, while the select few garner the recognition of their sacrifices.

When he returned from the "Great War", as it was referred to at the time, he went on to become a Police Officer in New York City. When he died, at the all too young age of 43 years old, leaving a wife and 5 children behind, he became a belated casualty of that war.

The Silent Guns

Cannons; old and silent; 

just as they should be,

pointed only at the sky,

for old folks memories.

Or pounded into plowshares,

as foretold in days of yore;

relics of a remedy 

we don't use anymore.

The flashing of exploding shells,

the whistles and the thuds,

have all been replaced by fireworks;

the only tragedies being the duds.

Ah! If dreams were but reality,

and it were up to me?

There'd be no guns pointed at them,

and none pointed back at we!

Photo by Tina Weil Lampropoulos

The Mystery of History

The mystery of history;
the Who, the How, the Why;
the mistakes they made so long ago
are hard to rectify.

One side claims it went this way,
the other side disagrees.
And when the dust has settled down,
it sets on you and me.

I hate yours and you hate mine,
on this we both agree.
But I don't think it's worth killing for,
and I hope that you wouldn't kill me!

The mystery of history;
the Who, the How, and Why;
the mistakes they made so long ago,
are enough to make you cry.....

Photo by Wm. S. Williams
PFC August 1918
Hindenburg Line - St. Quentin

"The Hill" with Sean Connery and Michael Redgrave (1965)

In 1965 Sean Connery took a gamble and walked away from the Bond film series; and we have been reaping the rewards of that decision ever since. In this 1965 movie; based loosely upon the Greek Myth about Sisyphus; he plays a soldier who is punished by his superiors in much the same way as the Gods punished Sisyphus, by being given a futile and impossible task, which he must perform over and over again.

In Albert Camus' “The Myth of Sisyphus”, the author draws the conclusion that although Sisyphus has no hopes, no future and no chance at even succeeding at his task; “The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.” I don’t wish to sound pompous; or even to overreach in my status as a mere blogger; but such reasoning smacks of the “Albrecht Mach Frei” sign above the entrance to Auschwitz. “Work will set you free”; tell that to all those who died there while struggling to survive.

A more realistic portrayal of what happens to human beings when confronted with hopelessness is contained in the script of this film; which was taken from the book by Ray Rigby from a play he co-wrote with R.S. Allen. Undoubtedly they read Sisyphus, and they too must have had their doubts. It all depends on how you interpret this film.

The film takes place in a military prison in the Libyan desert; sometime around World War Two. Any prisoners who violate the rules are forced to tackle the “Hill”; which is a mass of scrap iron, stone and sand; all piled into the shape of a pyramid. Prisoners are forced to run double-time over the hill wearing all their gear. They must do this endlessly; until they drop; as they always do. It’s inevitable.

The movie is stark; there is no music; and in a film about World War Two, not a shot is fired. Yet this is a violent film. The prisoners are composed of a group of misfits; commanded by a sadistic Commandant; played by Harry Andrews. Sergeant-Major Wilson is a rigid, unmoving man. He revels in the “discipline” he metes out and the power which it gives him over the prisoners under his charge. He’s evil in the worst sort of way; not entirely by desire; but rather by order. He was told to do this; so it must be right.

The prisoners consist of not only British soldiers; but also all of the different colors and nationalities who were then under the Royal yoke as colonists.

Sean Connery plays Joe Roberts; an officer imprisoned for having defied a stupid order which would have resulted in the loss of his men; only to lose them anyway. Talk about futility!  In the camp he is the main witness in a trial against a sadistic officer; Staff Sergeant Williams, played by Ian Hendry; whose action have resulted in the death of a man.

Ossie Davis plays Jacko King; a Caribbean prisoner who comes to realize that his white superiors are mad and loathsome, and not worth the respect they demand. He finds the whole system to be absurd; just as Sisyphus may have felt about his punishment.

Alfred Lynch plays George Stevens; a man who lives only for his wife’s letters; and is despised by Sgt. Williams for it. When he uses the Hill to kill him Connery realizes something he has known all along; that the Devil hides in the Truth. He sees his lack of redress against the rules as his authority to be insubordinate. As a matter of fact, he sees it as his Duty.

With a cast including such notables as Roy Kinnear; who plays Monty Bartlett; Jack Watson as Jock McGrath; and Sir Michael Redgrave as the unnamed Medical Officer; this film has a well-seasoned cast of performers who make every scene hurt.

As an indictment of ruthless rigidity, it stands the test of time. As a commentary on our own contemporary world, it also fits the bill nicely. Complacency; or inertia, in the face of evil and overwhelming odds; is not laudable. While it may be unavoidable in order to survive, the question then becomes one of what you are willing to accept. For every person, that answer will be different.

"The Second Coming" by Wm. Butler Yeats (1919)

Every artist interprets events differently. In the First World War two poets went to battle. They both wrote poems which would stand the test of time. Both poems grew out of the same horrors, and yet both perceived their experiences in such different ways. Here we will examine just two; which have both become emblematic of that conflict; the War to End All Wars.

The first one is by W.B. Yeats. He wrote the classic poem “The Second Coming” while still in France in 1919. The horrors of what he has seen and experienced are compared to the end of time as envisioned in the Bible. It is a stark and dreary assessment of what man hopes for as a result of war; yet he is resigned to a fate which he hopes will bring him rebirth.

THE SECOND COMING

Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;

Surely the Second Coming is at hand.

The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out

When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi

Troubles my sight: a waste of desert sand;

A shape with lion body and the head of a man,

A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,

Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it

Wind shadows of the indignant desert birds.

The darkness drops again but now I know

That twenty centuries of stony sleep

Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,

And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,

Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

This second poem is much simpler in construction, as well as message. Joyce Kilmer served with the NY Regiment in the same war. He, too came away with a sense of rebirth and a belief in a better world. But the difference in the two poems and their outlooks is astonishing. You all know this one. It’s from 1^st grade.

Trees

I think that I shall never see

a poem lovely as a tree.

 A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed

against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

and lifts her leafy arms to pray;

 A tree that may in summer wear

a nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

who intimately lives with rain.

 Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

"I Am an African" - Dumi Senda (2011)

Poetry is the balm which holds our souls together in times of trial. No poet captures that spirit as beautifully as Dumi Senda, who wrote this piece about returning to Africa, and the land of his birth. The video above was posted by Mr. Duma, and I believe that is his voice reading his own work, capturing every nuance of the words. The African experience of Diaspora parallels that of the Jewish people, and the poetry which comes from both of these experiences illustrate the passion, and sorrow, of two vastly different people; in separate places, and separate times; turning to the soothing resilience of poetry to make it through their ordeals.

This is the 2nd poem by Dumi Senda which I have posted on Rooftop Reviews. The words to this poem are reprinted below. Note how Mr. Senda uses sound and voices to help convey the sense of what Africa is; a collection of people, all with the same wants and needs for the basic necessities of life.

And here is that other poem "I Am Coming Home". It reflects the Jewish Diasporo more directly than "I Am an African"; which is a statement of identity. In "Coming Home" the poet reflects more on the hopes and dreams of returning to his native land; much in the way the refugees returned to Palestine at the close of the Second World War.

Mr. Senda has said of that poem; "This is a poem I have performed at many events over the years. I always find that a lot of people relate with the words, emotions and the story the poem carries and conveys. It’s a story that has told itself in millions of us, especially Africans in the 20th century with the emergence of the so-called diaspora generation. And one theme that runs common in many a sub theme is that of returning home one day or at least dreaming to!"

Here is that poem;

I AM AN AFRICAN

Now then

Do you see, now and then?

The furrows of history's whip

On my skin

And what I am to this pain attribute?

Do you heed the harrowing cries?

Of generations wallowing

Not only my being

But my seed that rebukes?

When you peek at the clouds

Are they dark enough to mirror my face?

Is there a silver line on the heaped cloud's edge?

Mocking like clowns at a fete my fate?

I am an African

Listen to the wind whistle the confirmation

And lithe trees like servants bowing before the Kings

Listen to the sounds of the seas 

Do you hear them hissing?

Listen to the valleys and the gullies

And the orchestral cricket in the night 

That will not be denied a say

I am an African

When you look at me

Why do you despair?

I'm the wave at sea drifting free

The menace in a lion's roar 

Thunder when lightning strikes

Spine of the earth's core

I'm the prance in a Zulu dance

Yes the dabble in dabbling sharks

I am African, no denying it

Ask the slow moving turtle ever so polite

Ask the leaping Nile ever so proud

Ask the trumpety moving mound, the breeze, the lion

And yes the land we ply on

Ask it in Swahili or Kinubi for 

I am in every language

I am an African.

For more about Mr. Senda, and his poetry, please visit his website at;

http://home.dumisenda.com/

Veteran's Day - This Little Pin

A very “Happy Veterans Day” to all who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States; whether in times of War, or in times of Peace. There are no "good" wars. But there are "just" wars, in which man is pitted against his fellows for a legitimate cause; although usually by others who seem to never have to serve.

This is my Discharge Pin. It represents not only the 4 years that it took me to earn, but all of the sacrifices made by the many; over the years; in defense of something greater than themselves. Today is their day and this is their pin. I am just privileged enough to be able to wear it.

The 15 Most Decisive Battles of the World

There is a book which called “The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World: from Marathon to Waterloo” by Sir Edward Shepherd Creasy; which I have not read; referenced in the Merle Miller oral biography of Harry Truman, “Plain Speaking”. The book comes up when a friend of the former President recounts the 15 books which Truman recommended to him when the friend asked about how he should go about becoming better-rounded. And; as with most things connected to Truman; I was immediately interested in it. That was over 20 years ago and I still haven’t read it. It was written in 1851.

The other day I was thinking about the book and what it might hold within that would be applicable to today’s world. So, I went to Wikipedia for a brief summary of the book and the list of the battles themselves. As a result I feel as if I have been deprived of an education; in that I haven’t even heard of a good third of these battles, and certainly none of them were taught in high school. And yet, looking over the list and the attendant causes of these major events in history, I can easily see that war; at least the reasons behind them; have not really changed much over the thousands of years that they have been waged.

Mostly the battles were the result of tribal differences, land rights, religion and family squabbles gone way out of control. From the Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC; which was primarily a war about the Persian subjugation of the entire known world; to our own Second World War; global domination has been a recurrent theme. So have family squabbles; as evidenced by the Battle of the Metaurus in 207 BC between Rome and Carthage, which were both controlled by 2 families who could not settle their differences. We had World War One, a conflict in which all the crowned heads of Europe were cousins.

If you want something more contemporary; let’s say the attempted Conquest of the Western World by Islam; then just look to the Battle of Tours in 732 AD. Sometimes referred to as the Battle of Poitiers, this was the final battle of the crusade in which Charles Martel blocked the Arab Conquest of Western Europe. That struggle has been reignited in recent years.

And, if you’re in the mood for a good Siege; along the lines of Savannah in the American Civil War; or even a relatively minor one; then the Siege of Syracuse in 413 BC will surely fit the bill.

In short, there would be much to be learned from reading this book. But the details are not as important as the overall pattern which emerges from the subject. Namely; that wars are fought over, and about, fairly predictable things; such as global power; religion; and even trade issues. The importance of knowing this cannot be understated.

Here is a link to the Wikipedia article about the book I have not read. There are more links there to take you on a journey that will make you understand that the more things change, the more they remain the same.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fifteen_Decisive_Battles_of_the_World

And here are the Battles which are listed by Sir Edward Shepherd Creasy in this book I haven’t read.

1.The Battle of Marathon

490 BC Excerpt

2.Defeat of the Athenians at Syracuse 413 BC

3.The Battle of Gaugamela 331 BC

4.The Battle of the Metaurus 207 BC

5.Victory of Arminius over the Roman Legions under Varus AD 9

6.The Battle of Châlons AD 451

7.The Battle of Tours AD 732

8.The Battle of Hastings AD 1066

9.Joan of Arc's Victory over the English at Orléans AD 1429

10.Defeat of the Spanish Armada AD 1588

11.The Battle of Blenheim, AD 1704

12.The Battle of Pultowa AD 1709

13.Victory of the Americans over Burgoyne at Saratoga AD 1781

14.The Battle of Valmy AD 1792

15.The Battle of Waterloo AD 1815

The painting at the top  is “Archimedes Directing the Defenses of Syracuse” by Thomas Ralph Spence and was painted in 1895.

"I Am Malala" by Malala Yousafzai (2013)

What a remarkable book this is! I was expecting; and not looking forward to; a lengthy tome about Malala Yousafzai’s shooting at the hands of the Taliban in Pakistan. Her crime was two- fold; she was a woman, and she wanted to be educated. There are very few people who haven’t heard of this brave young woman with the idealistic father. Her accomplishments in the area of Women’s Rights are already legendary, and she is just barely 18 years old.

What makes this book a standout is that she has written a seamless history of contemporary Pakistan; from its birth as a nation in 1947; through the troubled early years, and the turmoil which has made Pakistan an ally of both the Eastern and Western powers at various times since. Even more remarkable about it all is that she seems to grasp the significance of that history as it relates to the Pakistan in which she was raised. How many Americans, of any age, can make that claim about our own nation?

After a few pages at the beginning, in which she describes the immediate event of being shot on a bus coming home from school, she moves backward in time, describing both her parent’s history as well as the political strife in which they were born. She examines how those times shaped both her parents in different ways.

Her father became an outspoken advocate of education for both boys and girls; which put him in the crosshairs of radical Islamists early on. Her mother, on the other hand, became more concerned with not rocking the boat and keeping all around her happy.

After a few false starts in opening a school in the Swat Valley; that area on the Pakistan/Afghan border which became a hotbed of violence during the American-Iraq War after 9/11; her father manages to found a school which eventually had 3 buildings and 100 students; both boys and girls. He teaches them in a secular way; everything from science to mathematics and even literature. He firmly believes that the future well-being of any society lies in the education of its youngest members.

Malala begins to fall in step with her father from an early age; delighting in pleasing him by winning contests in school for speaking in public. Ate age 11 she was already speaking on issues such as the right of girls to receive an education. By age 12 she was questioning why women were considered to be less than equal to men. She was already disputing the claims of Radical Islamists that the Quran mandated such treatment.

Encouraged by her father she began to amass a collection of prizes; some even monetary; for her work. This was all happening as the war in Iraq was heating up and spilling over to Pakistan, where the Taliban were hiding from our forces in Afghanistan. As the war progressed the Taliban were making more and more incursions into the Swat Valley, disrupting life there. This is the same area as the one where the Taliban were blowing up the ancient statues of Buddha. Malala used to play amongst those statues; a fact which served to make more real something which, for most people, had only been an abstract item in the press. That perception changes when you hear how it affected someone else’s life, especially a child’s.

The author vividly recounts the confusion attendant to living in Pakistan at the time after 9/11. As the Taliban ramped up their efforts against the “Great Satan” of the United States, they used religion as a means to extract money from the Pakistani people. Often these contributions took the form of women donating their precious wedding bangles. Those pieces of gold became bullets used in battles from which many of their own men never returned while fighting Jihad.

Malala was 16 when she was shot. Her story might have ended that day with her death. The fact that it didn’t has a lot to do with politics, as well as people who were committed to not letting this young woman die. She became a symbol of the contempt in which most of the world holds the Taliban.

Her description of life in England, where she was relocated for medical reasons, is interesting in that with all that has happened to her at such a young age, she still wants to go home. She still wants to fight for justice for her fellow Pakistani’s and women in particular. She still considers herself a good Muslim and wants to help Islamic people everywhere reclaim their religion from the fanatics who have; for the most part; hijacked it. 

This is a remarkable book written by a remarkable young woman, caught up in extraordinary circumstances. And, more than that, it is the story of the triumph of the human spirit over the forces of darkness; which would swallow us whole if we let them.

"Into the White" with Stig Henrik Hoff, David Kross and Lachlan Nieboer (2012)

On April 27, 1940 two enemy planes; one British, one German; fought in the skies over Norway. They shot one another down and crash landed miles from anywhere. The Germans left their plane and spent the night in the snow. The British spent the night in their plane. What happened next is one of the most extraordinary set of events to arise out of the Second World War.

Within days of the shoot down, the two crews; 3 Germans and 2 Englishmen; find themselves vying for control of the same rustic hunting cabin. They must come to terms with one another and learn to work as a team or they will die. It’s that simple. Florian Lukas is convincing as the German Lieutenant Horst Schopis, and Lachlan Nieboer is equally effective as RAF Captain Charles P. Davenport. The two struggle at first to keep their respective subordinates in line, while struggling with their own doubts and fears.

 

At first tempers flare and the men all struggle for control of the 3 weapons which the German flyers possess. The balance of power shifts back and forth in this amazing and true story. The Germans have the upper hand at first, but as the captors they must provide for the captives. This grows old fast. And when the guns change hands the British flyers find that they cannot care for their captives as well as the Germans had cared for them; albeit unwillingly at first.

Soon, reality sets in and the men realize that they must discard their petty differences or they will never make it until the spring thaw. At this point they begin to understand the futility of the war they have been fighting and even contemplate remaining where they are for the duration.

When the Norwegian Patrol gets word that someone is living at the cabin they set off to capture the men; whom they believe to be German. When they find the two enemies living in harmony they are incensed. While they understand that the Germans had the guns they cannot understand why the British did not kill them when the guns changed hands. It appears that the British are going to be charged with collaborating with the enemy.

The Germans are led away to a POW camp for the duration, while the 2 RAF flyers are returned to duty, where they are shot down and imprisoned for the rest of the war. In 1977 Captain Davenport of the RAF called Lt. Schopis and invited him to London where the 2 former enemies finally became friends.

This movie is a real statement about war and human nature. Tersely directed so that you feel every moment of the cold and indecision, the film invites you to think about the difference between blind duties and simple humanity. That is a bold statement in and of itself.

"Peace On Earth" - A Hugh Harman Cartoon (1939)

I have run this one before, so excuse me while I do it again. The message is that important. Consider that this cartoon was released while Europe was already at war, and our country was soon to be drawn in. You would think, that after such a horrible war, we would have learned something. But, we didn't.

I love the simple wisdom of this cartoon as these little critters question why they are celebrating; and when they realize what the mistakes of the past were, they set about to make a better world.

Yet, as of this writing there are conflicts raging in about half of the world. Think about that. We don't have big wars anymore; the costs associated with them are too large. The insurance companies don't allow it. So, we find out of the way places with no real infrastructure; discounting the people of course; and lay waste to it in what we call limited engagements; as if they are matinee shows to be caught before they leave town.

We humans find more and more imaginative terms, with each generation, in order to justify killing without calling it war. In the end the little critters like these will inherit what we leave of the earth after we lay waste to it. And when I really think about it; I'd rather be with them.

"Roosevelt's Centurions" by Joseph E. Persico (2013)

Of all the biographical compilations I have ever read, this one is the most personable and informative. Combining history with the biographies of the men who made it, author Joseph Persico creates a clear and vivid portrait of the group of extraordinary men who literally saved the world for Democracy.

At the same time he delivers an accurate and lively history of the war itself, introducing each character as they enter they enter the narrative and then giving you the back story on each. And what stories they are!

Filled with anecdotes, interlaced with the actual events, many of these stories have been ignored by other authors who were focusing more on the history of the war, rather than the personalities of the men who waged it. Looking at history in this manner is a breath of fresh air. I love history in any form, but when it is presented in this way, that history springs to life.

From the affable “Hap” Arnold, who was quite a pioneer in his own way; to the gruff Admiral King, the highly organized General Eisenhower, the extremely competent General Marshall; and President Roosevelt; along with Winston Churchill; the author displays each in all their glory.

Winston Churchill is particularly interesting. The man drank like a fish, and his brief relationship with White House Butler Alonzo Fields, just days after Pearl Harbor, will make you laugh out loud. Churchill was quite a character.

Roosevelt is portrayed as highly intelligent and in command at all times, in spite of his illness. His ability to switch gears from the stress of the war and still retain his composure was astonishing. He had definite ideas about how the war should be prosecuted, but was wise enough to back down when necessary. The insights into his illness and his strategy are of paramount interest to anyone interested in the full story of the war.

The decision to concentrate on a policy of “Europe First” didn’t sit too well with the American public, who were still reeling from the attack on Pearl Harbor. That outrage gave way to the Doolittle Raids.

The planning of the first strikes on Japan with the Doolittle Raids is a fascinating story all on its own. In order to let our pilots fly in the Chinese Air Force as the Flying Tigers, the pilots had to resign their American commissions and then be employed as Mercenaries at $600 per month plus $500 for each Japanese plane destroyed. Major Chennault was in charge. This was a bit of a stretch for the United States, which at the time, was still neutral.

The preparations for the Normandy Invasion, including the wrangling between the British and the Americans about which was the more important task; invading North Africa, or rushing the Invasion at Normandy, are explored extensively. The thinking and rationale for the landings is laid bare, making the reader feel like part of the decision making process.

The major events in all the Theaters of Operations; as well as the men who planned and executed them; are extensively covered with some surprising facts of which most readers will be previously unaware. I know I was.

The “dance” with Russia and Molotov’s visit to the White House; with the Soviet representatives locking their rooms and sleeping with pistols beneath their pillows; will have you wondering just what the Secret Service was thinking by allowing the weapons to be openly carried in the White House.

How Eisenhower became the war’s architect is also of interest. He was primarily the best logistical commander in history, using his will and knowledge of history to make the most of all the assets available to him and our Allies to achieve victory.

From the days leading up to Pearl Harbor, to the peace which followed the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; and the beginnings of the Cold War; you will find no better account of the men; and some remarkable women; who were able to lead our nation, and the world, through one of the darkest times in our collective histories.

Director Tom Hooper, who made the epic mini-series from David McCullough’s book on John Adams, should take note of this book. Filled with the many rich and varied characters who played such a part in winning the war, this could just be another blockbuster.

"The Hunley" with Armand Assante and Donald Sutherland (1999)

When Sue and I moved to North Carolina in 1998, plans for raising the CSS Hunley were already underway. The submarine had been located and marked; all that was left was to raise her; which required both great planning and funding. Both were secured and the Hunley was raised and reconstructed over something like a 5 year period. It was a fascinating process, involving many people; among them author Clive Cussler, who helped finance the effort to raise the sunken vessel.

The movie, which came out in the midst of the real life drama, was one I skipped at the time, opting for the newspaper articles and films on TV to tell me the story of the CSS Hunley, the first sub-surface vessel to successfully sink a surface vessel. Though it ended in disaster, it marked a new era in warfare, and raised the question of just what is moral, or not, in wartime.

But the real meat of this film lies in the performances by Armand Assante, as the beleaguered Lt. Dixon, who must get his vision operable by a certain date for the equally beleaguered General Beauregard, played with style by Donald Sutherland. His haste will be Lt. Dixon’s undoing as he sets out with a crew of nine; some from as far away as Ireland; to do the impossible. The men know that he has lost a crew previously while testing the vessel, but elect to take on the risk for a cause which they believe is  on the verge of dying, but worth dying for. To die with that era seems fitting to them.

Very terse writing, and equally compelling performances by both Armand Assante and Donald Sutherland, make the script by  John Gray, of his story, which was co-written with John Fasano, come to life. Directed by Mr. Gray, he had the films structure clearly in mind prior to filming it, and so it has a feeling of continuity often lacking in other docu-dramas. Great story, if you have never heard about the Hunley, this film is a great place to get started.

Election Day - "For What It's Worth"

Today is Election Day and I truly hope that you will all get out and vote. Every 4 years you are told that “this is the most important election in a lifetime.” I got news for you; they’re all important. Even if you don’t like the candidates for the highest offices, at least make your choices known on the local level. And, when the day is done, and the votes all counted, let’s try to act like civilized people and accept the new President; from whatever party prevails; and unite as Americans to get something done in the next four years. This bickering along party lines has got to stop in order for the country to move forward. That means we have to respect the system and the outcome of the election.

There is much work to be done, and flapping jaws won’t cut it. Vote, and then let your Congressional Representatives and Senators know what you expect of them, regardless of who wins the Presidential race.

I have always loved the sound of this song, as well as the message it carries. The video; courtesy of You Tube; is from the Hollywood Palace TV show in 1967.

Surrender at Yorktown - 1781

Unlike Vietnam; where we won just about every battle, but lost the war; the American Revolution was the complete opposite. We managed to lose almost every battle, and still win the War for Independence. There is a lesson in that. When people fight; on their own soil; for their own freedom; it is virtually impossible to beat them.

John Trumbull’s painting “Surrender at Yorktown” epitomizes the strength inherent in a just cause. Had the Americans lost the war, England would have faced a hostile colony for centuries; much in the same way that Indo-China was a “thorn in the side” to the Koreans, French and eventually the Americans who tried to rule it. But that’s another discussion.

The subject of this post is the surrender of the British at Yorktown in 1781. In spite of a lack of adequate provisions, George Washington was able to lead the Continental Army to a decisive victory over the British forces for the simple reason that they were fighting on “home turf”, for their families as well as their own futures.

In September, Lord Cornwallis had been reinforced with about 7,000 new troops in a last ditch effort to stamp out the revolutionaries. He took these troops to Yorktown, where he established a fort, hoping for relief from the British Navy, which never arrived.  Washington deployed more troops and artillery, with the result that by October; with the help of the French fleet, under the command of Admiral Compte de Grasse; Cornwallis found himself caught between the land forces of the Continental Army, and the French Navy; which had come to our aid through the efforts of Benjamin Franklin in Paris. Those vessels repelled the British fleet, keeping them from rescuing Lord Cornwallis and his men. With all hope of escape gone, he had no choice but to surrender.

The British, and the Germans fighting with them, were eventually forced from their fort under threat of further bombardment, and instructed to bring their colors with them. The British military band played "The World Turned Upside Down"; a popular song of the era; as a way of displaying their disbelief in their loss to the colonies. Cornwallis elected to remain indoors, rather than face his adversary in defeat. Even his second in command, General O’Hara, tried to surrender to the French rather than to the Americans, but he was rebuffed in this effort, leaving him no choice but to surrender to the Continental Army, thus recognizing the new nation it represented. This was the reason which compelled General Washington in his decision to have General O’Hara surrender his sword to General Lincoln instead of himself. He was merely returning the snub by Cornwallis.

So, the painting of the surrender is not exactly what many Americans think of it as being. That is not General Washington mounted on his horse accepting the sword of surrender. It is, rather, General Benjamin Lincoln who is extending his right hand toward that sword, which is not carried by Lord Cornwallis, but is borne by General O’Hara instead.

Depicted in Trumball’s painting, the British troops are in a line which extends into the background. The troops on the left are the French officers, mustered under the banner of the Bourbon family. To the right are the American officers with the flag of their new republic. In that group are the Marquis de Lafayette and Colonel Jonathan Trumbull, who is the brother of the artist who captured it all on canvas. General Washington is in the background, astride a brown horse, keeping an ever watchful eye on the events, just as he had guided the colonies to victory over the course of the war.

But, in spite of these proceedings, the war did not come to a formal end until sometime later, when the British and Americans signed the Treaty of Paris in 1783. The painting itself was not completed until 1820 and hangs in the Rotunda of the capitol in Washington, D.C. today.

"12 O'Clock High" with Gregory Peck (1949)

When I was kid my parents were good friends with a couple named Ruth and Terry Vine. Terry had been a tail gunner aboard a B-17 bomber in the Second World War, which elevated him to a status usually reserved for the Gods. He was a real live combat veteran. He still had his leather flight jacket hanging in the garage, twenty years after his last bombing run. He didn’t speak much about the war, except to tell me how it was okay to be scared sometimes, as he was in the tail section of the B-17, where there was no room to wear a parachute.

This film, “12 O’clock High”, was released in 1949, and garnered an Academy Award Nomination for Gregory Peck as Best Actor. In addition, it is also one of the earliest movies to realistically deal with the issue of combat fatigue, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as we now call it. Up until that point; with the exception of “All Quiet on the Western Front”; most war movies were blood and guts stories about the glory of war. In this film, writers Sy Bartlett and Beirne, who also did the screenplay, dispel that notion. In that sense, this is a very important film.

Gregory Peck plays the seemingly unfeeling General Frank Savage, who has been assigned to a bomber squadron flying out of England. The squadron has become a joke, with more men on the sick list than flying missions. General Savage has been sent to turn the squadron around. He finds them to be the victims of low morale, and sets upon a course to re-invigorate the squadron. His initial efforts are considered too tough and unfeeling by his assistant, Lt. Gately, played by Hugh Marlowe. Lt. Gately feels that the men have been pushed beyond their limit, and like most of the squadron, has become a hard drinker. This puts him at odds with the General, who insist that everyone fly if they are physically capable of doing so. He is not concerned with morale; only results.

As the story unfolds, and the losses in the squadron mount, two things become abundantly clear; as the men get stronger and more confident, the weight of command begins to take its toll on the General, who feels each loss deeply, while struggling to maintain his sense of command.

A brilliantly conceived and filmed story of the men who flew the bombing runs which enabled us to win the war in Europe, this film goes further than any other film of the time in assessing the damage done not only to the enemy, but to our side as well. This is a gripping film about the price of war, and the limitations of the ordinary men who are called upon to fight it.

" Indomitable Will" by Mark K. Updegrove (2012)

This is an unusual biography in that it is more of a “talking” history of the man by the people who knew him best. The book is written by Mark Updegrove; who is the Director of the LBJ Library and Museum in Austin, Texas; so you do have to take that into account. It is, however, very candid on most subjects. In some ways, as in LBJ’s relationship with his wife, there is new material here that is of great interest in understanding a man who may have been one of our country’s most complex Presidents.

As with any biography, particular attention should always be paid to the author, as well as any relationship he may have with his subject. That said, I did find this to be a pretty fair portrait of President Johnson; unflinching in any credit due him for things both good and bad during his time in office.

As I said earlier, one of the more interesting parts of this book dealt with LBJ’s relationship with his wife Lady Bird; born Claudia Alta Taylor; and her behind the scenes support of her husband as President. Although aware of his philandering nature, she was secure enough on her own to simply disregard it. And, at the same time she would critique his speeches and act as a sounding board for him during his 5 years in the White House. Mr. Updegrove does a wonderful job of giving her credit for her efforts. He paints a new portrait; more accurate than any previous; of Lady Bird as she really was.

Some of the behind the scenes maneuvering by both the Soviets and the Americans on the eve of the Israeli 6 Day War in 1967 were of special interest. The Soviets, after having instigated the whole thing with Syria and Egypt to make war on Israel, realized that the situation was moving too quickly and attempted to put a stop to it. The Americans, on their side, wanted Israel to wait and be attacked, thus taking the high road. Instead, Israel, acting unilaterally, pre-empted the attack by Syria, Egypt and Jordan with an attack of her own, slicing through the opposing armies and capturing the West Bank, Golan Heights and Jerusalem in the process. These territories are still in dispute today, with Israel having held them as an example of the consequences of being attacked by her neighbors.

If you’ve ever seen the “Andy Griffith Show” where the Soviet and American negotiators meet in Sheriff Taylor’s kitchen for a summit, you will enjoy the account of the “Glassboro Summit”, in which the President met with Premier Kosygin in the living room of Glassboro State College President Dr. Robinson’s home in New Jersey. The setting was similar to the way it was portrayed on the “Andy Griffith Show”, worn furniture and all. In this atmosphere, the two world leaders were able to bond over talk of their grandchildren; Johnson had just become a grandfather; much as Jimmy Carter and Anwar Sadat would later do at Camp David.

The book is basically an oral biography in that most of it is taken up by the quotes of the people involved in the incidents the author writes about. When he writes about a typical cabinet meeting, it is done with quotes by the people who were there, and who have gone on record with these recollections. This gives the book a sense of immediacy, as if you are being spoken to by the participants, rather than just reading about distant events. Harry Truman was portrayed in just such a way by Merle Miller in “Plain Speaking”, which is still one of my favorite Presidential autobiographies.

President Johnson was not the greatest foreign policy leader we have ever had, but domestically he was the most far reaching. His completion of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; which began with President Kennedy; would have been enough for one administration to tackle, but Johnson went further, giving the law its teeth with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. That legislation went beyond mere words; it ensured that there would be no more obstacles for blacks to overcome in order to vote. That act did more to help change the politics of this country than anything since Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. It empowered a whole demographic to exercise their rights for the first time.

Under Johnson’s Presidency, and with his instigation, the minimum wage rose from $1.25 per hour to $1.60 per hour, a 28% increase for the lowest paid of Americans. While walking through the White House and seeing a group of tourists in the hall, he was asked about that increase. His response was eloquent; he told the visitors that the law was for “that little charwoman who scrubs the floor at that hotel”, and “the waitress that’s got three kids at home, that goes in there in the morning before daylight to be ready to serve coffee when they drop in at six o’clock, and usually stays until dark.”

It is easy to remember President Johnson for the Vietnam War, social disorder here at home, and a myriad of other problems. This book focuses more on some of the better things which grew from that Presidency. Sometimes, when we look back, it is easiest to remember the turmoil. But, it is also equally important to remember the steps which were taken in the right direction, if only to inspire the leaders of the present and future to further heights.

"Peace On Earth" (1939)

Okay, getting back, as promised, to some seasonal cartoons, this one was released around the time that Germany invaded Poland, which marked the beginning of World War Two. The memory of the First World War was still fresh in everyone's minds in 1939, and this cartoon carried a very clear message about the ravages of war and the associated consequences. Beautiful animation, and clear, crisp sound quality make this cartoon a real pleasure to watch. From it's opening number, "Peace On Earth", this is a perfect cartoon for the season. Grab the grandkids for this one!

"Atlantic" by Simon Winchester

There are so many books written about the sea, and for the most part, they are very entertaining. However, they usually confine themselves to one topic; either a ship's voyage, a discovery, a wreck, a storm, and even the occasional mutiny. But this book has it all.

The author, Simon Winchester, author of about 20 books, ranging from travel to history, has outdone himself with this all encompassing tome to the world's most well traveled ocean. His love of the sea began in earnest at age 18, in 1963, when he booked passage from Liverpool aboard the Empress of Britain, bound for Montreal.

From the formation of the oceans and the first voyages upon them, the author carefully delves into all the major aspects of the history of the Atlantic. The Vikings conquest of Northern Europe, and the battle for control of the continent during the Crusades is well documented and lively. The interplay between the politics of the Mediterranean Sea, with it's marauding pirates on the ocean, and bandits on the land trade routes, blocked access to the Far East, and lent a new urgency to explore the vast Atlantic Ocean as an alternative.

Further exploring the history of European expansion, the author takes us on the voyages to the New World, the conquests of South America, and the attendant decimation of the native popoulation. The first slave ships of the 16th Century, were mostly comprised of native prisoners taken from South America by the Spanish. Later, the French and English, and even the newly founded American colonies, would occupy themselves with the importation of slaves from Africa to work the plantations of the South. The last slave to have come over on an American slave ship was Cudjoe Lewis, who died at age 94 in 1935, living just outside Mobile, Alabama. He had been taken from his native Benin in about 1858.

One of the most unusual slave stories involves James Riley, a farmer's son from Connecticut, who set out on the brig Commerce from Hartford in 1815. They were off to North Africa, looking for slaves. But, as luck would have it, the shearers became the shorn. The Commerce ran aground in a fog, and Mr. Riley was captured, along with his crew and, you guessed it, they were enslaved by a group of Sahara nomads. His ordeal lasted 2 years and came to an end only after he managed to slip a note to the British Consul in Essaouira. Ransom was arranged in the amount of $920 and two double barreled shotguns in order to secure the release of Mr. Riley and his crew. Upon his return home Mr. Riley penned "An Authentic Narrative of the Loss of the American Brig Commerce", which sold over a million copies. The book is back in print today under the title "Sufferings in Africa." Abraham Lincoln described it as having more influence upon him than any other book, save for the Bible and "Pilgrim's Progress."

The author also explores the ocean currents and their effects upon trade and travel. The progress made by technology is also addressed in this sweeping history of the Atlantic Ocean. The triumphs and tragedies, the joys and sorrrows, the mysteries of forgotten ships; are all gathered in this one remarkable collection that will keep you reading past bedtime. And even then, when you do fall asleep, you will probably dream of the sea.

"The Wind That Shakes The Barley" with Cillian Murphy, Liam Cunningham and Padraic Gelaney

This was a hard film to watch. Taking place in Ireland at the time of the "troubles" in 1920, the film takes a hard and uncomfortable look at the violence and hatred, on both sides, in a struggle that would last for another 80 years. To this day there are still issues that threaten the peace. I could delve into the history of the conflict, but that would take days. And in the end my conclusion of whom is right, or wrong, would make no difference. So, I will confine myself to the movie.

Filmed in Ireland, in the towns Ballyvorney, Bandon, Coolea and Timoleague, all in County Cork, places the action right where it happened, lending a reality to the film that could never be achieved in a studio. The early morning fogs, the damp weather, all serve to make the viewer uncomfortable, which is just what Director Ken Loach had in mind when he made this film. This is not "A Quiet Man."

Damien O'Donovan, played by Cillian Murphy, is a young doctor on his way to London and a job in a hospital there. His brother, Ted, played by Padraic Delaney, is a leader in the local IRA militia. The two brothers are on opposite sides of the fence about the British occupation. While Damien feels that there is nothing to be done, save submit, his brother Teddy is busy organizing, and fighting, for Independence.

After a hurling match the brothers return home, only to be rousted by the British Black and Tans, who beat his friend Michael to death after he refuses a strip search. Still determined to leave Ireland he prepares to board the train to London. But an incident at the station, where the engineer refuses to transport the British soldiers, resulting in a brutal beating of the train's elderly conductor, changes his mind. He returns home and joins his brother in the fight for Independence.

Staging raids on the local British arsenal gains them a supply of arms, and the wrath of the British, as they search, house by house, for the culprits. When they find no men at home, they burn the houses down. When the women won't answer questions, they are beaten, and their hair is shorn and ripped from their heads.

After being captured themselves, the brothers are tortured, just as the Anglo-Irish Treaty is about to be signed. This treaty would only make Ireland a Domain of Great Britian. As the Irish Free State becomes the law of the land, some of the old militia, including Teddy, join up with the new, British backed, Irish Army. This only infuriates Damien. After all, he gave up his career to bring forth a free Republic, not a vassal state of the British.

At this point Damien begins his own war against the new Irish Army, directly fighting against his brother. When he is captured in a raid and sentenced to the firing squad, Teddy pleads with him to reveal the names and locations of the IRA members and their weapons caches. Damien, who never wanted to be in this struggle to begin with, refuses. He writes a farewell letter to his lover, Sinead, played by Orla Fitzgerald, stating his undying love for her and letting her know that he faces death unafraid. He is then placed in front of the firing squad, and Teddy, fighting back tears, gives the order to fire, killing his own brother. When Teddy informs Sinead of Damiens death she physically attacks him, and bans him from her life forever, underscoring the deep divisions that the "struggles" have caused.

At 121 minutes, the film can feel a bit long, but the acting and direction carry the day, as the viewer is compelled to see how this all ends. And when it does, you are find yourself painfully aware of the fact that this struggle continued for another 80 years, tearing families apart. A stunning portait of a very dark era in the history of both England and Ireland, Ken Loach has given us a truly realistic and disturbing picture of the darker side of human nature.