To All
. Good Thursday morning May 14. We are overcast until around 9 and cool with a high of 74 We are forecast to get clear skies for the rest of the week. I hope that your week is going well. The mod to the gazebo is going well. My son is doing ok in the middle east with his A-10 squadron. My wife has more appointments coming up. My foot doctor was working on my feet and toes yesterday and noticed something about my feet and got out his tool to check the blood flow and told me that I have Aphib. I had notice that my circulation in my lower legs was a problem and stopped wearing long socks and more sandals so now I know why. I hope that you all are doing well. I am looking forward to dragging my flight gear to the USS Midway for Memorial Day to stand by the F-8 Crusader for the day. Always a fun time.
Regards,
Skip
HAGD
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
This is a great way to start your day
Thanks to Todd S. ...
The Blue Angels - "The Best Pilots of the Navy!" Official Featurette (2024)
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp5F2UFsiFc>
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
This day in Naval and Marine Corps History (thanks to NHHC)
Go here to see the director’s corner for all 97 H-Grams
Here is a link to the NHHC website: https://www.history.navy.mil/
May 14
1800: The frigate USS Essex, commanded by Capt. Edward Preble, arrives in Batavia, Java, to escort United States merchant ships. During her journey, she is the first U.S. Navy warship to cross the Equator and the first U.S. man-of-war to double the Cape of Good Hope.
1801 Tripoli declares war on the United States for not increasing the annual tribute paid as protection money to prevent raids on its ships. Within less than a week, a squadron under Commodore Richard Dale, sets sail to protect American interests and arrives July 1 at Gibraltar.
1836 Congress authorizes the U.S. Exploring Expedition to conduct an exploration of the Pacific Ocean and South Seas, making the first major US scientific expedition overseas. Lt. Charles Wilkes, USN, leads the expedition to survey South America, Antarctica, the Far East, and the North Pacific.
1845 - First U.S. warship visits Vietnam. While anchored in Danang for reprovisioning, CAPT John Percival commanding USS Constitution, conducts a show of force against Vietnamese authorities in an effort to obtain the release of a French priest held prisoner by Emperor of Annam at Hue.
1919 The Marine detachment from USS Arizona guards the U.S. consulate at Constantinople, Turkey, during the Greek occupation of the city.
1944 USS Bonefish (SS 223) attacks a Japanese convoy bound for Sibitu Passage, Borneo, and sinks Japanese destroyer Inazuma near TawiTawi, east of Borneo and survives counter-attacks by Japanese destroyer Hibiki. Also on this date, USS Aspro (SS 309) and USS Bowfin (SS 287) attack a Japanese convoy and sinks cargo ship BisanMaru.
1945 German submarine (U 858) arrives at Cape May, Del., after surrendering at sea four days earlier. USS Pillsbury (DE 133) and USS Pope (DE 134) arrive later that day, take over the boat, place a USN crew on board, and remove 1/2 of her crew including three of her four officers. (U 858) is later scuttled off the coast of New England during torpedo trials.
1975 - Marines recapture Mayaguez, go ashore on Koh Tang Island and release the crew.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Today in World History: May 14
1264 King Henry III is captured by his brother-in-law, Simon de Montfort, at the Battle of Lewes.
1509 At the Battle of Agnadello, the French defeat the Venitians in Northern Italy.
1610 French King Henri IV (Henri de Navarre) is assassinated by François Ravaillac, a fanatical monk.
1796 English physician Edward Jenner gives the first successful smallpox vaccination.
1804 Explorer William Clark sets off from St. Louis, Missouri.
1853 Gail Borden applies for a patent for condensed milk.
1863 Union General Nathanial Banks heads towards Port Hudson along the Mississippi River.
1897 Guglielmo Marconi sends the first communication by wireless telegraph.
1897 "Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Phillip Sousa is performed for the first time in Philadelphia.
1935 A plebiscite in the Philippines ratifies an independence agreement.
1940 Holland surrenders to Germany.
1942 The British Army, in retreat from Burma, reaches India.
1948 Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion establishes the State of Israel.
1961 A bus carrying black and white civil rights activists is bombed and burned in Alabama.
1969 Three companies of the 101st Airborne Division fail to push North Vietnamese forces off Hill 937 in South Vietnam.
1973 The U.S. space station Skylab is launched.
1991 In South Africa, Winnie Mandela is sentenced to six years in prison for her part in the kidnapping and beating of three black youths and the death of a fourth.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
May 14
Hello All,
Thanks to Dan Heller and the Bear
Links to all content can now be found right on the homepage http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com. If you scroll down from the banner and featured content you will find "Today in Rolling Thunder Remembered History" which highlights events in the Vietnam war that occurred on the date the page is visited. Below that are links to browse or search all content. You may search by keyword(s), date, or date range.
An item of importance is the recent incorporation of Task Force Omega (TFO) MIA summaries. There is a link on the homepage and you can also visit directly via https://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/task-force-omega/. There are 60 summaries posted thus far, with about 940 to go (not a typo—TFO has over 1,000 individual case files).
If you have any questions or comments about RTR/TFO, or have a question on my book, you may e-mail me directly at acrossthewing@protonmail.com. Thank you Dan
Thanks to Micro
To remind folks that these are from the Vietnam Air Losses site that Micro put together. You click on the url below and get what happened each day to the crew of the aircraft. ……Skip
For Wednesday May 14..
May 14: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=1757
This following work accounts for every fixed wing loss of the Vietnam War and you can use it to read more about the losses in The Bear’s Daily account. Even better it allows you to add your updated information to the work to update for history…skip
Vietnam Air Losses Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady’s work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
This is a list of all Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Listed by last name and has other info https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/KIAINDEX.HTM
MOAA - Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Service members Killed in the Vietnam War
(This site was sent by a friend . The site works, find anyone you knew in “search" feature. https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/ )
Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Service members Killed in the Vietnam War
By: Kipp Hanley
AUGUST 15, 2022
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
. Thanks to History Facts
The Oregon Trail wagons weren’t for passengers.
U.S. HISTORY
I t’s often thought that the Oregon Trail was made easier by the covered wagons that have become synonymous with the grueling journey, but that’s only partially true. Those wagons weren’t actually for people, who walked most or all of the trail’s 2,000 miles from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon. They were for the supplies that hopeful settlers deemed necessary for the trek, pulled by mules and oxen. Indeed, people who were ferried by wagons had a habit of falling out, as the vehicles didn’t have springs and thus bounced around a lot; some folks were even run over by other wagons or trampled by beasts of burden after falling. As for those walking, many of the children didn’t have shoes.
So while we often romanticize that months-long journey as being emblematic of the “American Dream” and westward expansion, it was above all else a brutal quest that many did not survive. Contrary to popular belief, however, that has little to do with Indigenous peoples. Tribes such as the Pawnee and Shoshone were more likely to be trail guides or trading partners than hostile combatants, and fatigue and disease caused the vast majority of settlers’ deaths. When they circled the wagons at night, it wasn’t to keep Indigenous peoples out — it was to keep animals in.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
From the archives
Thanks to Dr. Rich
Paul,
Going through flight training, I thought “buying the farm” meant crashing into one and forcing the government to reimburse the farmer.
Thanks, these truly are great!
Bruddah
Great Trivia
'A SHOT OF WHISKEY' - In the old west a .45 cartridge for a six-gun cost 12 cents, so did a glass of whiskey. If a cowhand was low on cash, he would often give the bartender a cartridge in exchange for a drink. This became known as a "shot" of whiskey.
BUYING THE FARM - This is synonymous with dying. During WW1 soldiers were given life insurance policies worth $5,000. This was about the price of an average farm so if you died you "bought the farm" for your survivors.
IRON CLAD CONTRACT - This came about from the ironclad ships of the Civil War. It meant something so strong it could not be broken.
RIFF RAFF - The Mississippi River was the main way of travelling from north to south. Riverboats carried passengers and freight but they were expensive so most people used rafts. Everything had the right of way over rafts which were considered cheap. The steering oar on the rafts was called a "riff" and this transposed into riff-raff, meaning low class.
COBWEB - The Old English word for “spider" was "cob".
SHIP STATE ROOMS - Travelling by steamboat was considered the height of comfort. Passenger cabins on the boats were not numbered. Instead they were named after states. To this day cabins on ships are called state rooms.
SLEEP TIGHT- Early beds were made with a wooden frame. Ropes were tied across the frame in a crisscross pattern. A straw mattress was then put on top of the ropes. Over time the ropes stretched, causing the bed to sag. The owner would then tighten the ropes to get a better night’s sleep.
SHOWBOAT - These were floating theatres built on a barge that was pushed by a steamboat. These played small towns along the Mississippi River. Unlike the boat shown in the movie "Showboat", these did not have an engine. They were gaudy and attention grabbing which is why we say someone who is being the life of the party is “showboating".
OVER A BARREL - In the days before CPR, a drowning victim would be placed face down over a barrel and the barrel would be rolled back and forth in an effort to empty the lungs of water. It was rarely effective. If you are over a barrel, you are in deep trouble.
BARGE IN - Heavy freight was moved along the Mississippi in large barges pushed by steamboats. These were hard to control and would sometimes swing into piers or other boats. People would say they "barged in".
HOGWASH - Steamboats carried both people and animals. Since pigs smelled so bad they would be washed before being put on board. The mud and other filth that was washed off were considered useless “hog wash".
CURFEW - The word "curfew" comes from the French phrase "couvre-feu", which means "cover the fire". It was used to describe the time of blowing out all lamps and candles. It was later adopted into Middle English as “curfeu" which later became the modern "curfew". In the early American colonies homes had no real fireplaces so a fire was built in the center of the room. In order to make sure a fire did not get out of control during the night it was required that, by an agreed upon time, all fires would be covered with a clay pot called-a “curfew".
BARRELS OF OIL - When the first oil wells were drilled, there was no provision for storing the liquid so they used water barrels. That is why, to this day, we speak of barrels of oil rather than gallons.
HOT OFF THE PRESS - As the paper goes through the rotary printing press friction causes it to heat up Therefore, if you grab the paper right off the press, it’s hot. The expression means to get immediate information.
There, don't you feel smarter now?
Betcha Didn’t Know ...
The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as a substitute for Blood plasma.
****************************** ****************************** ***************
No piece of paper can be folded in half more than seven (7) times.
Oh, go ahead.. I'll wait...
I once watched a TV show of a group of college students try this out on the floor of an old aircraft hanger and they could not do it…….skip
****************************** ****************************** ****************
Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes or shark attacks.
(So, watch your Ass)
****************************** ****************************** ************
You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television
****************************** ****************************** **************
Oak trees do not produce acorns until they are fifty (50) years of age, or older.
****************************** ****************************** ****************
The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley's gum.
****************************** ****************************** *************
The King of Hearts is the only king WITHOUT A MUSTACHE
****************************** ****************************** ***************
American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one (1) olive From each salad served in first-class.
****************************** ****************************** **************
Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise (Since Venus is normally associated with women, what does this tell you?) (Those women are going in the 'right' direction...?)
****************************** ****************************** *********
Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.
****************************** ****************************** ***********
Most dust particles in your house are made from DEAD SKIN!
****************************** ****************************** ************ ****
The first owner of the Marlboro Company died of lung cancer.
So did the first 'Marlboro Man'.
****************************** ****************************** ***************
Walt Disney was afraid OF MICE!
****************************** ****************************** **************
PEARLS DISSOLVE IN VINEGAR!
****************************** ****************************** *********
The ten most valuable brand names on earth: Apple, Coca Cola, Google, IBM, Microsoft, GE, McDonalds, Samsung, Intel, and Toyota, in that order.
****************************** ****************************** ************
A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.
****************************** ****************************** ************
Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least six (6) feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush.
(I keep my toothbrush in the living room now!)
****************************** *********************
Turtles can breathe through their butts (I know some people like that; don't YOU?)
****************************** ****************************** *******
Remember, knowledge is everything, so pass it on.....
AND go move your toothbrush!
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Thanks to Nice News
If we told you that you only have 15 days to finish up that passion project you’ve been putting off, would it motivate you to finally do it? That’s the idea behind Release Day, an initiative encouraging people to put more time into their personal creative projects. “Procrastination. Perfectionism. Fear of rejection. There are many reasons why the work we care the most about never sees the light of day. But one of the biggest is the lack of a deadline,” the website reads. So Release Day created a deadline — May 29 — for people all over the world to share their creations. Learn how to participate.
________________________________________
Why Not? A Case for Celebrating Half-Birthdays
shironagasukujira—iStock/Getty Images Plus
Who said half-birthdays were just for 6-month-olds? In our book, making it another half-year around the sun is significant enough to celebrate at any age, and it seems like a lot of the internet agrees. Myriad videos on social media offer half-birthday inspo, with the occasion marked by half cakes, cards, and candles. Plus, plenty of restaurants and stores use the midway point to shell out some fun freebies and discounts.
Of course, some half-birthdays are objectively big milestones — 15-and-a-half-year-olds, for example, can get a learner’s permit to drive in California. But why not celebrate the other ones too? Content creator Lorraine C. Ladish told The Guardian she used her 59-and-a-half birthday as an opportunity to “squeeze every second, every month, out of my late 50s” (and treat herself to a new jacket).
Another half-birthday enthusiast, Candice Meyer, said she celebrates the milestone in her family by giving her kids a candle and a dessert. “I wanted a way to slow things down and give them a moment that felt just theirs, without all the logistics that come with a full birthday,” she said, adding, “I do love the idea of it as a reset moment for anyone. A little midpoint pause to reflect and celebrate where you are.”
The Cool Knit Polo Built for the Summer Heat
Looking stylish and feeling comfortable in the summer heat are two goals that can feel impossible to achieve together. Enter: Collars & Co.’s short sleeve knit polos.
These shirts, crafted from premium cotton, silk, and linen blends, are just the right kind of effortless. Tailored for a clean, polished look that stays comfortable all day and inspired by the Italian coast, it’s the kind of piece that works everywhere the summer takes you.
Get Your New Shirt
Health
________________________________________
PCOS Gets a Name Change to Better Capture the Full Scope of the Condition
Keeproll/iStock
PCOS is now PMOS — or in full, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome. The name change, announced Tuesday in The Lancet, is the result of a global consensus based on input from 14,360 women with the condition and 56 academic, clinical, and patient organizations.
The condition, which affects 5-6 million women in the U.S., was renamed from polycystic ovary syndrome to more accurately describe it, improve diagnosis, and reduce stigma. According to the new Lancet paper, as many as 70% of cases remain undiagnosed, a problem the authors partially attribute to the fact that “the broad clinical features of the condition are not captured in its current name.”
“The new name really better reflects the fact that people with PMOS oftentimes have metabolic disturbances or changes in their metabolic health, like increased risk of Type 2 diabetes due to insulin resistance and increased risk of obesity,” Basma Faris, an OB-GYN who was not involved in the paper, told ABC News. “It’s also reflecting that there are multiple different hormones involved, not just the ovarian hormones, so hopefully this is going to allow the medical community [to] really view PMOS as the multi-system chronic condition that it actually is.”
Environment
________________________________________
New PBS Show Shares the Awe-Inspiring Power of Nature With Preschoolers
The Jim Henson Company
She’s Roxy, an extroverted hedgehog from Kansas who wears hot pink and plays guitar. He’s Ronald, a city pig from Washington, D.C., who’s experiencing the great outdoors for the first time. Together, they’re the stars of a new children’s special from PBS Kids and the Jim Henson Company called Wowsabout. (The name combines “wow” with the Australian Aboriginal term “walkabout.”)
Shot on location in California’s Sequoia National Park, Wowsabout covers nature, music, and friendship to inspire “children to notice awe in everyday moments, from the sound of birdsong to clouds drifting across the sky,” per a press release. There’s some science behind the tale, too — the story is rooted in a curriculum developed by Dacher Keltner, a psychologist who writes about eight sources of awe, all of which can be found on Roxy and Ronald’s adventure.
Wowsabout is also part of a larger celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, shining a light on beautiful places in America. “PBS Kids is uniquely positioned to share content that reflects the lives of our young audience, while also introducing them to the wide array of places and stories from across our country,” said Sara DeWitt, senior vice president and general manager for PBS Kids and Education.
While it’s currently a standalone special, it may be the start of more awe-based content on the network, per The New York Times. You can watch it now on YouTube or at PBS Kids.
In Other News
________________________________________
1. Forever chemicals have dropped significantly in Canadian seabird eggs, a sign regulations are working (read more)
2. A food critic scoured the Big Apple to find the 100 best restaurants in New York
3. After portraying a soccer player on Ted Lasso, Cristo Fernández signed an IRL contract to play for a pro club
4. California tribes may soon have a say in state land management for the first time in more than a century
5. Mel Brooks is donating his personal archives to the National Comedy Center ahead of his 100th birthday
Inspiring Story
________________________________________
A dream come true at 72
Later this month, 72-year-old Dawn Zuidgeest-Craft is set to graduate from medical school — and in July, she’ll begin a three-year residency at a Michigan hospital. The mom of four (including ABC meteorologist Ginger Zee) decided to pursue her dream of going to med school after watching her husband narrowly survive a brain hemorrhage. “It hit me like, ‘Oh, my God, this life is short,’” she said.
Photo of the Day
________________________________________
Edinburgh Zoo
Dear baby sloth, you are already a pioneer! On Monday, the cutie above became the first baby sloth ever born in Scotland — and the Edinburgh Zoo named him Atty in honor of Sir David Attenborough.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
A few bits from the Flyover
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026
Good Morning! On this day in 1607, about 100 English colonists arrived on the James River in Virginia to establish Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. They traveled from England on the ships Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery.
Won't you be my neighbor? For a growing number of Americans, the answer is "no, thanks." A new study finds neighborly chatter has dropped sharply over the past decade, especially among young adults. Read more below, and tell us how often you talk to the folks next door in today's poll.
Scientists say one small part of the brain holds the key to memory, navigation, and long-term cognitive health, yet many Americans unknowingly let it weaken. The good news? A few surprisingly enjoyable activities may help protect your brain before real decline begins. Tune in to The Flyover Podcast as Ayla Brown shares three simple habits researchers say could help keep your brain sharper for years to come. Listen here.
Today’s sponsor, Immersed, is giving investors a final chance to buy pre-IPO shares at $0.72 before the company behind a leading VR productivity platform and the upcoming Visor headset heads toward a planned NASDAQ debut under ticker $IMRS.
Trump Lands in China for Xi Summit
President Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for his first visit to China as president since 2017, kicking off high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on trade, AI, rare earths, fentanyl, Taiwan, and the Iran war.
He brought a billionaire entourage. Elon Musk, Nvidia's Jensen Huang, and Apple's Tim Cook are among the CEOs accompanying Trump, part of a push to win Chinese orders of American planes, soybeans, and beef.
Xi skipped the tarmac welcome, but protocol experts called it an upgrade from 2017. Vice President Han Zheng greeted Trump alongside a military band, an honor guard, and 300 flag-waving Chinese youths.
. This Day in U S Military History…….May 14
1804 – One year after the United States doubled its territory with the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark expedition leaves St. Louis, Missouri, on a mission to explore the Northwest from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Even before the U.S. government concluded purchase negotiations with France, President Thomas Jefferson commissioned his private secretary Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, an army captain, to lead an expedition into what is now the U.S. Northwest. On May 14, the “Corps of Discovery”—featuring approximately 45 men (although only an approximate 33 men would make the full journey)—left St. Louis for the American interior. The expedition traveled up the Missouri River in a 55-foot long keelboat and two smaller boats. In November, Toussaint Charbonneau, a French-Canadian fur trader accompanied by his young Native American wife Sacagawea, joined the expedition as an interpreter. The group wintered in present-day North Dakota before crossing into present-day Montana, where they first saw the Rocky Mountains. On the other side of the Continental Divide, they were met by Sacagawea’s tribe, the Shoshone Indians, who sold them horses for their journey down through the Bitterroot Mountains. After passing through the dangerous rapids of the Clearwater and Snake rivers in canoes, the explorers reached the calm of the Columbia River, which led them to the sea. On November 8, 1805, the expedition arrived at the Pacific Ocean, the first European explorers to do so by an overland route from the east. After pausing there for the winter, the explorers began their long journey back to St. Louis. On September 23, 1806, after almost two and a half years, the expedition returned to the city, bringing back a wealth of information about the largely unexplored region, as well as valuable U.S. claims to Oregon Territory.
1836 – The Treaties of Velasco were two documents signed at Velasco, Texas (now Surfside Beach, Texas) between Antonio López de Santa Anna of Mexico and the Republic of Texas, in the aftermath of the Battle of San Jacinto (April 21, 1836). The signatories were Interim President David G. Burnet for Texas and General Santa Anna for Mexico. The treaties were intended, on the part of the Texans, to provide a conclusion of hostilities between the two belligerents and offer the first steps toward the official recognition of the breakaway Republic’s independence. It set the southern boundary of Texas at the Rio Grande, including the Nueces Strip. Santa Anna signed both a public treaty and a secret treaty, but neither treaty was ratified by the Mexican government because he had signed the documents under coercion as a prisoner. Mexico claimed Texas was a breakaway province, but was too weak to attempt another invasion.
1944 – The attacks by forces of the US 5th Army continue. The French Expeditionary Corps advances into the Ausente Valley, capturing Ausonia, and continue to advance over the Aurunci Mountains toward the next German defensive line, which is not occupied in strength at this time. The US 2nd Corps makes progress against the defending German 94th Division.
1945 – US Army announced the discovery of millions of dollars worth of art looted by the Nazis from all over Europe well as 100 tons of gold bars and currency hidden in a salt mine located on the Losa Plateau in Austria. Meanwhile, the concentration camp at Ebensee is liberated and described as “more horrible than Buchenwald.”
1945 – On Luzon, units of the US 25th Division, part of US 1st Corps, advance north of the Balete Pass. Elements of the US 43rd Division, part of US 11th Corps, reach the Ipoh dam, which has been fortified by the Japanese.
1945 – Elements of Florida’s 124th Infantry, 31st Infantry Division (AL, FL, LA, MS) repel several Japanese “banzi” suicidal attacks. The 31st Division, nicknamed “Dixie” first entered combat in World War II when, in March 1944, it took part in the fighting in New Guinea. Elements of it made an assault landing on near Aitape causing a diversion of Japanese defenders while the main portion of the division landed at Maffin Bay almost unopposed. The 31st then moved to secure Morotai Island, cutting off 40,000 enemy soldiers based on Halmahera Island from reinforcements and supply from the Philippines. By the time the 31st landed on Mindanao it was a veteran division and proved its metal when it captured a Japanese airfield at Valencia, which led to the banzi attacks as fanatical Japanese soldiers tried in vain to recapture it. The men of the ‘Dixie Division’ were still fighting in the mountains of the island when the war ended in August 1945. During the course of the war the division suffered 414 men killed in action with another 1,400 wounded and it had one member awarded the Medal of Honor.
1973 – Skylab, America’s first space station, is successfully launched into an orbit around the earth. Eleven days later, U.S. astronauts Charles Conrad, Joseph Kerwin, and Paul Weitz made a rendezvous with Skylab, repairing a jammed solar panel and conducting scientific experiments during their 28-day stay aboard the space station. The first manned Skylab mission came two years after the Soviet Union launched Salynut, the world’s first space station, into orbit around the earth. However, unlike the ill-fated Salynut, which was plagued with problems, the American space station was a great success, safely housing three separate three-man crews for extended periods of time and exceeding pre-mission plans for scientific study. Originally the spent third stage of a Saturn 5 moon rocket, the cylinder space station was 118 feet tall, weighed 77 tons, and carried the most varied assortment of experimental equipment ever assembled in a single spacecraft to that date. The crews of Skylab spent more than 700 hours observing the sun and brought home more than 175,000 solar pictures. They also provided important information about the biological effects of living in space for prolonged periods of time. Five years after the last Skylab mission, the space station’s orbit began to deteriorate faster than expected, owing to unexpectedly high sunspot activity. On July 11, 1979, the parts of the space station that did not burn up in the atmosphere came crashing down on Australia and into the Indian Ocean. No one was injured.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
JORDAN, GEORGE
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company K, 9th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Fort Tularosa, N. Mex., 14 May 1880; at Carrizo Canyon, N. Mex., 12 August 1881. Entered service at: Nashville, Tenn. Birth: Williamson County, Tenn. Date of issue: 7 May 1890. Citation: While commanding a detachment of 25 men at Fort Tularosa, N. Mex., repulsed a force of more than 100 Indians. At Carrizo Canyon, N . Mex., while commanding the right of a detachment of 19 men, on 12 August 1881, he stubbornly held his ground in an extremely exposed position and gallantly forced back a much superior number of the enemy, preventing them from surrounding the command.
*DIAMOND, JAMES H.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company D, 21st Infantry, 24th Infantry Division. Place and date: Mintal, Mindanao, Philippine Islands, 8-14 May 1945. Entered service at: Gulfport, Miss. Birth: New Orleans, La. G.O. No.: 23, 6 March 1946. Citation: As a member of the machinegun section, he displayed extreme gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty . When a Japanese sniper rose from his foxhole to throw a grenade into their midst, this valiant soldier charged and killed the enemy with a burst from his submachine gun; then, by delivering sustained fire from his personal arm and simultaneously directing the fire of 105mm. and .50 caliber weapons upon the enemy pillboxes immobilizing this and another machinegun section, he enabled them to put their guns into action. When 2 infantry companies established a bridgehead, he voluntarily assisted in evacuating the wounded under heavy fire; and then, securing an abandoned vehicle, transported casualties to the rear through mortar and artillery fire so intense as to render the vehicle inoperative and despite the fact he was suffering from a painful wound. The following day he again volunteered, this time for the hazardous job of repairing a bridge under heavy enemy fire. On 14 May 1945, when leading a patrol to evacuate casualties from his battalion, which was cut off, he ran through a virtual hail of Japanese fire to secure an abandoned machine gun. Though mortally wounded as he reached the gun, he succeeded in drawing sufficient fire upon himself so that the remaining members of the patrol could reach safety. Pfc. Diamond’s indomitable spirit, constant disregard of danger, and eagerness to assist his comrades, will ever remain a symbol of selflessness and heroic sacrifice to those for whom he gave his life.
.
*HAUGE, LOUIS JAMES, JR.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 12 December 1924, Ada, Minn. Accredited to: Minnesota. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as leader of a machinegun squad serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryukyu Chain on 14 May 1945. Alert and aggressive during a determined assault against a strongly fortified Japanese hill position, Cpl. Hauge boldly took the initiative when his company’s left flank was pinned down under a heavy machinegun and mortar barrage with resultant severe casualties and, quickly locating the 2 machineguns which were delivering the uninterrupted stream of enfilade fire, ordered his squad to maintain a covering barrage as he rushed across an exposed area toward the furiously blazing enemy weapons. Although painfully wounded as he charged the first machinegun, he launched a vigorous single-handed grenade attack, destroyed the entire hostile gun position and moved relentlessly forward toward the other emplacement despite his wounds and the increasingly heavy Japanese fire. Undaunted by the savage opposition, he again hurled his deadly grenades with unerring aim and succeeded in demolishing the second enemy gun before he fell under the slashing fury of Japanese sniper fire. By his ready grasp of the critical situation and his heroic 1-man assault tactics, Cpl. Hauge had eliminated 2 strategically placed enemy weapons, thereby releasing the besieged troops from an overwhelming volume of hostile fire and enabling his company to advance. His indomitable fighting spirit and decisive valor in the face of almost certain death reflect the highest credit upon Cpl. Hauge and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
*WAUGH, ROBERT T.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 339th Infantry, 85th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Tremensucli, Italy, 11-14 May 1944. Entered service at: Augusta, Maine. Birth: Ashton, R.I. G.O. No.: 79, 4 October 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy. In the course of an attack upon an enemy-held hill on 11 May, 1st Lt. Waugh personally reconnoitered a heavily mined area before entering it with his platoon. Directing his men to deliver fire on 6 bunkers guarding this hill, 1st Lt. Waugh advanced alone against them, reached the first bunker, threw phosphorus grenades into it and as the defenders emerged, killed them with a burst from his tommy gun. He repeated this process on the 5 remaining bunkers, killing or capturing the occupants. On the morning of 14 May, 1st Lt. Waugh ordered his platoon to lay a base of fire on 2 enemy pillboxes located on a knoll which commanded the only trail up the hill. He then ran to the first pillbox, threw several grenades into it, drove the defenders into the open, and killed them. The second pillbox was next taken by this intrepid officer by similar methods. The fearless actions of 1st Lt. Waugh broke the Gustav Line at that point, neutralizing 6 bunkers and 2 pillboxes and he was personally responsible for the death of 30 of the enemy and the capture of 25 others. He was later killed in action in Itri, Italy, while leading his platoon in an attack.
*FOUS, JAMES W.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company E, 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Place and date: Kien Hoa Province, Republic of Vietnam, 14 May 1968. Entered service at: Omaha, Nebr. Born: 14 October 1946, Omaha, Nebr. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Fous distinguished himself at the risk of his life while serving as a rifleman with Company E. Pfc. Fous was participating in a reconnaissance-in-force mission when his unit formed its perimeter defense for the night. Pfc. Fous, together with 3 other American soldiers, occupied a position in a thickly vegetated area facing a woodline. Pfc. Fous detected 3 Viet Cong maneuvering toward his position and, after alerting the other men, directed accurate fire upon the enemy soldiers, silencing 2 of them. The third Viet Cong soldier managed to escape in the thick vegetation after throwing a hand grenade into Pfc. Fous’ position. Without hesitation, Pfc. Fous shouted a warning to his comrades and leaped upon the lethal explosive, absorbing the blast with his body to save the lives of the 3 men in the area at the sacrifice of his life. Pfc. Fous’ extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army
McCLEERY, FINNIS D.
Rank and organization: platoon Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th U.S. Infantry. place and date: Quang Tin province, Republic of Vietnam, 14 May 1968. Entered service at: San Angelo, Tex. Born: 25 December 1927, Stephenville, Tex. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. P/Sgt. McCleery, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while serving as platoon leader of the 1st platoon of Company A. A combined force was assigned the mission of assaulting a reinforced company of North Vietnamese Army regulars, well entrenched on Hill 352, 17 miles west of Tam Ky. As P/Sgt. McCleery led his men up the hill and across an open area to close with the enemy, his platoon and other friendly elements were pinned down by tremendously heavy fire coming from the fortified enemy positions. Realizing the severe damage that the enemy could inflict on the combined force in the event that their attack was completely halted, P/Sgt. McCleery rose from his sheltered position and began a 1-man assault on the bunker complex. With extraordinary courage, he moved across 60 meters of open ground as bullets struck all around him and rockets and grenades literally exploded at his feet. As he came within 30 meters of the key enemy bunker, P/Sgt. McCleery began firing furiously from the hip and throwing hand grenades. At this point in his assault, he was painfully wounded by shrapnel, but, with complete disregard for his wound, he continued his advance on the key bunker and killed all of its occupants. Having successfully and single-handedly breached the enemy perimeter, he climbed to the top of the bunker he had just captured and, in full view of the enemy, shouted encouragement to his men to follow his assault. As the friendly forces moved forward, P/Sgt. McCleery began a lateral assault on the enemy bunker line. He continued to expose himself to the intense enemy fire as he moved from bunker to bunker, destroying each in turn. He was wounded a second time by shrapnel as he destroyed and routed the enemy from the hill. P/Sgt. McCleery is personally credited with eliminating several key enemy positions and inspiring the assault that resulted in gaining control of Hill 352. His extraordinary heroism at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, was in keeping with the highest standards of the military service, and reflects great credit on him, the Americal Division, and the U.S. Army.
*SHEA, DANIEL JOHN
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. Place and date: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 14 May 1969. Entered service at: New Haven, Conn. Born: 29 January 1947, Norwalk, Conn. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Shea, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, distinguished himself while serving as a medical aidman with Company C, 3d Battalion, during a combat patrol mission. As the lead platoon of the company was crossing a rice paddy, a large enemy force in ambush positions opened fire with mortars, grenades and automatic weapons. Under heavy crossfire from 3 sides, the platoon withdrew to a small island in the paddy to establish a defensive perimeter. Pfc. Shea, seeing that a number of his comrades had fallen in the initial hail of fire, dashed from the defensive position to assist the wounded. With complete disregard for his safety and braving the intense hostile fire sweeping the open rice paddy, Pfc. Shea made 4 trips to tend wounded soldiers and to carry them to the safety of the platoon position. Seeing a fifth wounded comrade directly in front of one of the enemy strong points, Pfc. Shea ran to his assistance. As he reached the wounded man, Pfc. Shea was grievously wounded. Disregarding his welfare, Pfc. Shea tended his wounded comrade and began to move him back to the safety of the defensive perimeter. As he neared the platoon position, Pfc. Shea was mortally wounded by a burst of enemy fire. By his heroic actions Pfc. Shea saved the lives of several of his fellow soldiers. Pfc. Shea’s gallantry in action at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR MAY 14 THANKS TO HAROLD “PHIL” MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
May 14
1908: First airplane passenger flight in history took place at Kitty Hawk as the Wrights prepared to deliver their "Flyer" to the US government. Wilbur Wright piloted the machine and Charles Furnas, an employee, flew as passenger. (4) (21)
1923: The Army accepted the first PW-8 prototype. It evolved into the Curtiss Hawk series of biplane pursuit aircraft. The “W” designated water-cooled engine. (21)
1951: In a 1,000-pound Piper Pacer, Max Conrad set an unofficial nonstop transcontinental record for a light plane of 23 hours 4 minutes 21 seconds. (24)The ANG’s 116 FBW received a warning order to prepare for a move to Europe to help shore up NATO against a possible attack by the Soviet Union. (McLearn, Republic F-84 Photo Chronicle, p 114.)
1963: The USAF's X-21A, a twin-jet laminar flow control aircraft, flew successfully for the first time with its slit wing mechanism in operation.
1969: Operation COMBAT MOSQUITO. USAF Southern Command personnel began a massive campaign to combat an encephalitis epidemic in Ecuador. Two C-141s flew 50 tons of pesticide there, where two UC-123s then sprayed the country’s coastal marshes. The operation, involving the USAF, State Department, and Public Health officials, successfully eradicated 95 percent of the area’s mosquitoes. (16) (21)
1970: The SECDEF ordered a halt to defoliation operations flown by the 12 SOS and its UC-123K aircraft at Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam. This order ended the application of Agent Orange on Vietnam’s jungles. (17)
1973: From Kennedy Space Center, a two-stage Saturn V launched Skylab 1 into orbit, where its two Solar Array System wings failed to deploy. The Skylab was America's first manned orbiting space station.
1974: The USAF/Northrop F-5F two-place fighter made its roll out at Hawthorne.
1979: The last ANG C-121 type aircraft, an EC-121 “Coronet Solo” operated by the193d Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (Pennsylvania), retired from service and flown to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. (Francillon, United States Air National Guard, p. 190)
1984: The 375 AAW accepted its first C-12F Huron, a militarized version of Beechcraft Super King B200C, for operational support airlift missions. The USAF ordered 40 C-12Fs as replacements for the T-39 Sabreliner. (18) (26)
2000: Boeing’s RS-68 rocket engine completed a major milestone with a 160-second burn at 100 percent power during Air Force Research Laboratory tests at Edwards AFB. The liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen engine was being developed for the Delta IV family of launch vehicles. (3)
2001: The Boeing RS-68 rocket engine surpassed its previous records with a test run of 210 seconds at the Air Force Research Laboratory’s ground test facility at Edwards AFB. (3)
2002: Twelve C-17 Globemaster IIIs from Charleston AFB launched shortly after daybreak to fly the largest C-17 formation in history. Aircrews assigned to the 437 AW and 315 AW (AFRC) flew the multi-ship formation over downtown Charleston, the Ashley River, and Charleston AFB to train for their strategic brigade airdrop mission. (22) An F-15E successfully attacked five targets with JDAMs on a single sortie. The F-15 released the JDAMs from 25,000 feet while flying at Mach .80. (30)
2003: AMC began the “Baghdad Express,” a daily C-141 resupply mission from Ramstein AB to Baghdad IAP, Iraq. Two C-141s and two active-duty aircrews from the 305 AMW at McGuire AFB, N. J., and one aircrew from McGuire’s 514 AMW (Reserve-Associate) were staged at Ramstein to fly the missions. (22)
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SkipsList" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to skipslist+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/skipslist/CACTjsm3WP%3D_OemOv7c2Vr11w3qL02ZRj_tiFpkCnVjE4QrvATA%40mail.gmail.com.
