To All
. Good Saturday morning May 2. We are overcast and cool this morning and it is supposed to stay that way most of the day with temps getting to 76 around 2. Remember it is Mother’s day tomorrow. Forget at your own peril.
. Regards,
Skip
HAGD
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
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/
This day in Naval and Marine Corps History May 2
1863 During the Civil War, the steam screw sloop Sacramento, commanded by Captain Charles S. Boggs, seizes the British blockade-runner Wanderer off Murrells Inlet, N.C.
1896 A landing party of 15 Marines and 19 Seaman from USS Alert arrive at Corinto, Nicaragua, to protect American lives and property during a period of political unrest.
1942 USS Drum (SS 228) sinks Japanese seaplane carrier, and USS Trout (SS 202) sinks a Japanese freighter off the southeast coast of Honshu.
1945 USS Springer (SS 414) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese frigate in the Yellow Sea and then sinks a Japanese coastal defense ship the next day.
1945 Hospital Apprentice Robert E. Bush administers aid to a wounded Marine officer and fires back at the Japanese at the same time, earning the Medal of Honor.
1992 USS Anzio (CG 68) is commissioned at her homeport of Norfolk, Va. The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser is named for the Italian allied amphibious assault in May 1944 during World War II.
2011 President Barack Obama announces Navy SEALs raided Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and killed America's most wanted terrorist during Operation Neptune Spear.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Today in World History May 2
1670 The Hudson Bay Company is founded.
1598 Henry IV signs Treaty of Vervins, ending Spain's interference in France.
1748 Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle ends the War of Devolution in France.
1776 France and Spain agree to donate arms to American rebels fighting the British.
1797 A mutiny in the British navy spreads from Spithead to the rest of the fleet.
1798 The black General Toussaint Louverture forces British troops to agree to evacuate the port of Santo Domingo.
1808 The citizens of Madrid rise up against Napoleon.
1813 Napoleon defeats a Russian and Prussian army at Grossgorschen.
1863 Stonewall Jackson smashes Joseph Hooker's flank at Chancellorsville, Virginia.
1865 President Andrew Johnson offers a $100,000 reward for the capture of the Confederate President
1885 King Leopold II of Belgium establishes the Congo Free State.
1890 The Territory of Oklahoma is created.
1919 The first U.S. air passenger service starts.
1923 Lieutenants Oakley Kelly and John Macready take off from New York for the West Coast on what will become the first successful nonstop transcontinental flight.
1941 Hostilities break out between British forces in Iraq and that country's pro-German faction.
1942 Admiral Chester J. Nimitz, convinced that the Japanese will attack Midway Island, visits the island to review its readiness.
1945 Russian forces take Berlin after 12 days of fierce house-to-house fighting.
1946 Prisoners revolt at California's Alcatraz prison.
1968 The U.S. Army attacks Nhi Ha in South Vietnam and begins a fourteen-day battle to wrestle it away from Vietnamese Communists.
1970 Student anti-war protesters at Ohio's Kent State University burn down the campus ROTC building. The National Guard takes control of campus.
1933 The modern legend of the Loch Ness Monster is born when a sighting makes local news on May 2, 1933. The newspaper Inverness Courier relates an account of a local couple who claim to have seen “an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface.” The story of the “monster” (a moniker chosen by the Courier editor) becomes a media phenomenon, with London newspapers sending correspondents to Scotland and a circus offering a 20,000 pound sterling reward for capture of the beast.
After the April 1933 sighting was reported in the newspaper on May 2, interest steadily grew, especially after another couple claimed to have seen the animal on land.
Amateur investigators have for decades kept an almost constant vigil, and in the 1960s several British universities launched sonar expeditions to the lake. Nothing conclusive was found, but in each expedition the sonar operators detected some type of large, moving underwater objects. In 1975, another expedition combined sonar and underwater photography in Loch Ness. A photo resulted that, after enhancement, appeared to show what vaguely resembled the giant flipper of an aquatic animal.
Further sonar expeditions in the 1980s and 1990s resulted in more inconclusive readings. Revelations in 1994 that the famous 1934 photo was a complete hoax has only slightly dampened the enthusiasm of tourists and investigators for the legendary beast of Loch Ness
.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
May 2
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 Friday May 2. ..
May 2: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=2858
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
. NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
To all,
From the archives since today is Brother and Sisters Day…Thanks to Al
Monday Morning humor On Saturday Brothers and sisters
Now would be a good excuse to call your brother or sister if you have not done so for a while,….skip
Good Morning to my sisters Wendy and Jill……..from skip
From Al’s archives
Brothers and Sisters Day is observed on May 2,. It is a day in which siblings cherish one another. Of course, there may be times you don't like to talk to your brother or sister, but this day should not be one of them. Go visit them and give them a hug, or at least give them a call to let them know how important they are to you. Imagine how your life would be without them. If you don't have siblings, just act like a brother or sister by being nice to someone you like. Maybe you even have a friend who's like a brother or sister to you.
Today’s truism--If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
Best friends are the siblings God forgot to give us.
Older siblings—The only people who will pick on you for their own entertainment and beat up anyone else who tries.
Mom always said she didn't have a favorite child, which was tough because I don't have any brothers or sisters.
Brother/Sister Property Rules
If I like it, it’s mine.
If I’m holding it, it’s mine.
If I can take it from you, it’s mine.
If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.
If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours anyway.
If it just looks like mine, it’s mine.
If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.
If it’s broken, it’s yours.
Five-year-old Jimmy was playing with his little sister, one-year-old Jenny, in the playroom while their mother was in the kitchen. Hearing screams, she ran into the playroom and saw Jenny with a handful of Jimmy's hair, yanking away.
She separated the two, and Jimmy was yelling "Spank her! Spank her!"
"It's not her fault, son," their mom said. "She doesn't understand that it hurts when she pulls your hair."
The mom walked back into the kitchen, but 30 seconds later she heard screams again. She ran back into the playroom to see Jenny in tears.
"What happened?" she demanded.
"Not much," Jimmy said. "Only now she understands."
Submitted by Kelly Dodson and Rick Hein:
Two young boys walk into a pharmacy one day, pick out a box of Tampax and proceed to the checkout counter. The man at the counter asks the older boy, "Son, how old are you?"
“Eight," the boy replies.
The man continues, "Do you know what these are used for?"
“Not exactly," the boy says. "But they aren't for me. They're for him. He's my brother. He's four. We saw on TV that if you use these you would be able to swim and ride a bike. Right now he can't do either one."
Submitted by Chuck Kincade:
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the Fourth Commandment to "Honor" thy father and thy mother,” she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"
Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shalt not kill."
TEACHER: "Desmond, your composition on "My Dog" is exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy his?"
DESMOND: "No, teacher, it's the same dog!"
Submitted by Mary Fisher:
Dear God,
My brothers told me about being born but it doesn't sound right. They are just kidding, aren't they?
Signed, Marsha
Submitted by Skip Leonard:
Mary was having a tough day and had stretched herself out on the couch to do a bit of what she thought to be well-deserved complaining and self- pitying.
She moaned to her mom and brother, "Nobody loves me ... the whole world hates me!"
Her brother, busily occupied playing a game, hardly looked up at her and passed on this encouraging word: "That's not true, Mary. Some people don't even know you."
A new law recently passed in Arkansas: When a couple gets divorced, they're still brother and sister.
Submitted by Bill Quintero:
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare &serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.
I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her."
As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away".
Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.
Have a great week,
Al
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Another from the archives
Double Ugly Medevac
On the morning of December 22nd, 1986; Fargo North Dakota; a four month old named Michael McCann passed away. His parents Steven and Karen McCann, overwhelmed by their own loss, made the remarkably courageous decision, to pass a gift of life to another infant.
Unknown to them at the time, across the continental divide, lay five month old Andrew De La Pena, an infant who’s prognosis was poor, was in urgent of a heart transplant, as he lay in his bed at the Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California
At 11:45 PM, Michael's tiny heart was recovered, and the transplant window countdown began. The transplant team had only four hours to get the young donors heart over 1800 miles to the West coast if they had any chance of saving five month old Andrew’s fragile life
Rushing against the clock, a medivac Lear Jet was quickly fuelled, whilst its crew prepared to receive the infants heart. The ambulance raced up to the aircraft on the ramp, package was transferred, and the exit quickly closed against the cold December air. The Lear’s crew immediately began start up procedures for an expedited departure…but unfortunately one engine failed to start, forcing the medvac crew to shut down, knowing full well, they could not complete their mission...and as the sound of the jets whine diminished, so did, any hope for the young infant in California.
All efforts had been made, and all alternatives had been discussed, there were simply no other options at that point. The distance was too great, and time too short. There was no hope.
One of the members of the transplant team, on a literal wing and a prayer, picked up the phone, and reached out to then Governor George Sinner for help…
and help is what they got!
Across the ramp, unseen in the darkness, sat the North Dakota Air National Guard 24 Hour Alert F-4 Phantom IIs.
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber, notoriously referred to, as the worlds largest distributor of MiG parts. Holder of 15 world records for in-flight performance, including an absolute speed record, and an absolute altitude record.
Carrying the nicknames of Old Smokey, The Rhino, Louisville Slugger, Lead Sled, The Hammer, and most graciously the Double Ugly, considered to be the triumph of thrust over aerodynamics...and loved by all. With her top speed of over two times the speed of sound ( Mach 2.22) powered by two engines capable of producing seventeen thousand eight hundred pounds of thrust with afterburners.
30 seconds after being contacted by Governor Sinner, Major General Alexander P. Macdonald, N.D. Adjutant General took to action, and the National Guard pilot on duty’s telephone rang. 1st Lieutenant Robert J. Becklund raced towards his fully fuelled and awaiting Phantom with maps in tow, and a small red and white cooler in hand. There would be no GIB(Guy In Back) on this night flight, 1st Lieutenant Buckland would be riding solo on this winter cross country.
Engines quickly spooled up, the Phantom rolled out under darkness for the runway. Then, Ol'Smokey the medevac, with afterburners selected, lit the night sky, with thunderous report, shaking nearby buildings as she announced her departure westbound for California, as only a Phantom could.
Pushing though the night air on her uniquely medical mission, the fearsome looking craft, normally tasked with ruling the skies, was engaging a new adversary...Time. A mission was one no-one had foreseen, and “Phailure" was not an option.
As the sun broke over the Californain skies, the Phantom had already touched down, the transplant completed, and thankfully, young 5 month old Andrew De La Pena was on the way to recovery, all very much to the delight of his mother, Debrah.
That tiny infant named Andrew, is now in his twenties. and the young 1st Lieutenant Phantom Driver, is now Colonel Becklund, commander, 119th Wing, North Dakota Air National Guard.
.
and as for the Phantom, although she carries no markings to proudly display the victorious nature of this medical mission, like any great aircraft, Ol'Smokey was quietly rolled back into her hanger, doors closed, silently adding another notch, albeit an unusual one, to her countless successes over many glorious years of service.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Thanks to Interesting Facts
"Titanic" was the first movie in which two actors earned Oscar nominations for playing the same character.
The 1997 movie Titanic set a lot of records, both at the box office and at the Academy Awards. And while most viewers remember its wins for Best Picture and Director, one tidbit is less well known: It’s the first movie for which two actors received Oscar nominations for playing the same character. Kate Winslet received a Best Actress nod for her performance as Rose DeWitt Bukater aboard the doomed ship in 1912, while Gloria Stuart was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for playing Rose in the late 20th century.
Though neither Winslet nor Stuart won, the film itself took home 11 statuettes — a record shared by Ben-Hur and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. (Winslet went on to win an Oscar for her performance in 2008’s The Reader, while co-star Leonardo DiCaprio eventually won for 2015’s The Revenant.) The two-nods-one-character rarity was repeated in 2001, once again involving Winslet, when both she and Dame Judi Dench received Oscar nominations for playing novelist Iris Murdoch in the aptly named Iris. It also occurred in 2022, when Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley were both nominated for playing the same character in The Lost Daughter. And though it happened in different movies — namely The Godfather and The Godfather Part II — Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro accomplished a similar feat by both winning Oscars for playing crime boss Vito Corleone, aka the Godfather himself.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
.I remember watching a special on the History channel on this one…skip
Thanks to History Facts
King Richard III’s grave was discovered underneath a parking lot.
Many English monarchs are buried inside ornate tombs located at sites of great reverence. The same can’t be said for Richard III, whose long-lost remains were found and excavated underneath a parking lot in Leicester, England. Richard III served as king of England from 1483 until he was slain at the Battle of Bosworth Field on August 22, 1485. After the battle, his remains were brought to a nearby friary in Leicester that was operated by the Franciscans. He was buried inside, but the building was torn down in 1538. Centuries of new construction thereafter transformed the city’s layout, and the exact location of Richard III’s grave was lost in the annals of time.
In 1975, a researcher named Audrey Strange published an article theorizing that Richard III could be buried under a parking lot used by the Leicester City Council. In 2012, a team of researchers at the University of Leicester took it upon themselves to find the monarch’s body once and for all, honing in on that very car park. After just six hours of digging, the king’s remains were uncovered, though it took five months of further analysis to confirm the bones belonged to Richard III. The grave they discovered was oddly short in length, with Richard’s head and torso crammed in tightly at one end. There was also no evidence of a shroud or any personal ornaments, suggesting the king had been hastily buried without fanfare. In 2015, Richard III’s remains were finally reinterred at Leicester Cathedral.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Thanks to Nice News
Back in the day a combat nap could do wonders for getting you in good shape for a night flight off the boat after a long day....skip
Health
________________________________________
How Sleep May “Clean” the Brain and Lower Disease Risk
PM Images—DigitalVision/Getty Images
When we go to sleep, a cleansing mechanism in the brain wakes up — and it may reduce our long-term disease risk. Researchers out of Finland’s University of Oulu have developed a new method for non-invasively measuring the process our brains use to “clean” themselves, capturing the internal maintenance activities that spring into action when we doze off.
The mechanism is powered by different types of pulsations that displace blood and cerebrospinal fluid, preventing harmful substances from accumulating. In two studies, scientists used a five-minute ultrafast magnetic resonance imaging scan to evaluate these pulsations and found that two types sped up when participants slept, helping clear waste associated with diseases like Alzheimer’s.
They also found that the brain’s order of operations shifted during slumber: Instead of neural activity taking precedence, like it does when we’re awake, processes formed more of an interdependent network. Looking to the future, the team is working on new methods of increasing fluid circulation, which decreases as we age. For now, though, the studies underscore the importance of sleep for long-term health.
“Sleep is not a passive state, but an active period of restoration, one that depends on the coordination of systems often overlooked,” William A. Haseltine, a scientist who was not involved in the studies, wrote in a piece for Psychology Today about the research, adding, “Protecting sleep may be one of the most effective ways to support neurological health and reduce the risk of disease over time
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Some bits from 1440
Good morning, it's Saturday, May 2, and a key legal deadline for Congress to decide whether to continue or end military operations in Iran came and went.
Also in today's Digest: the Oscars tackle AI in film (Quick Hits), what our readers admire about their mothers (Humankindness), and Pluto might be a planet again (Etc.), and much more.
One Big Headline
War Powers Showdown
Yesterday marked 60 days since President Donald Trump notified Congress of military action in Iran—a deadline many lawmakers and legal experts say requires him to either end the operation or secure explicit congressional approval.
The War Powers Resolution—which says Congress must approve hostilities that continue beyond 60 days—was enacted in the aftermath of the Vietnam War to reaffirm the legislative branch's exclusive constitutional power to declare war (watch 101). While Trump could seek one 30-day extension to withdraw forces, he has not done so. Instead, his administration argues the ongoing ceasefire pauses or stops the 60-day clock. Republicans have largely deferred to Trump; Congress went into recess Thursday after Senate Republicans rejected a Democrat-led effort to force the withdrawal of US forces from Iran for the sixth time.
Presidents have largely sidestepped the War Powers Act since its passage over five decades ago, including Bill Clinton during a 78-day bombing campaign in Kosovo and Barack Obama during a 222-day UN and NATO operation in Libya.
In partnership with honeycomb
This Toilet Paper Just Might Save the World
Every 24 hours, 27,000 trees are cut down … just to make toilet paper. We think that’s far too many, and honeycomb agrees, which is why they created luxury 3-ply made from bamboo. It feels just like regular high-end toilet paper, but doesn’t harm trees.
You might be wondering: why bamboo? It grows insanely fast—nearly 100x faster than the average tree—making it a sustainable option to save forests. Bamboo also has uniquely short fibers, which are perfect for creating soft toilet tissue you can feel good about. It’s biodegradable, 100% plastic-free, and honeycomb delivers straight to you.
Quick Hits
Jury convicts ex-Florida congressman of secretly lobbying for Venezuela.
Former US Representative David Rivera (R, FL-25) faces roughly 10 years in prison after being convicted of conspiracy and five other crimes yesterday. Rivera, who served in Congress from 2011 to 2013, was covertly hired by Venezuela's state-run oil company for $50M to convince the first Trump administration to ease sanctions. The five-week trial included testimony against Rivera from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had been a longtime friend.
Mexico City is quickly sinking, according to NASA satellite imagery.
Mexico's capital city is sinking by nearly 10 inches every year—a shift so dramatic it's visible from space. NASA says the city has subsided more than 39 feet in less than a century. The city was built on an ancient lake bed, and decades of intensive groundwater pumping to supply its roughly 22 million residents have caused the underlying aquifer to collapse.
Pentagon inks AI deals with several tech giants.
OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Microsoft, and Amazon are among the top AI firms whose systems the US military will now use for classified work. The Pentagon yesterday touted the deals as a step toward making the military an "AI-first fighting force." Anthropic, which the government labeled a supply chain risk earlier this year over reservations about AI use in warfare, was notably excluded from the list.
Worldwide May Day protests call for higher wages, better working conditions.
Activists held rallies yesterday in cities on every continent except Antarctica to call for better working conditions and higher wages as incomes largely stagnate and the cost of living rises. Many demonstrations in the US and elsewhere also condemned the war in Iran, which has driven up oil prices and, in turn, fueled inflation.
Also known as International Workers' Day, May 1 is a public holiday in over 160 countries.
Oscars organization tackles eligibility rules for films that use AI.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences yesterday released new rules for the 2027 Academy Awards, requiring humans to be at the center of creative processes. Only performances by humans will be considered for acting awards, and only human-authored scripts can receive screenplay awards. Separately, the rules expand eligibility for international films as membership has become more diverse.
Trump threatens EU with higher tariffs on cars and trucks.
President Donald Trump yesterday said he will raise tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union from 15% to 25% next week. He is accusing the EU of not complying with a trade deal negotiated in July that incentivizes European automakers—such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW—to move production to the US. The levies will not apply to European cars made in the US.
Sportscaster Dick Vitale continues raising funds for pediatric cancer despite facing his fifth cancer diagnosis; his foundation has raised over $100M in 20 years. (More)
Humankind(ness)
Dear readers— In honor of Mother's Day, we're pausing our usual act of kindness stories this month to share a sampling of submissions about mothers.
"My mother modeled the idea of celebrating everyday joys. Anything that could be close to construed as a holiday was an occasion for a card from her with a tiny little note in her tiny little handwriting. Her ability to observe and celebrate the little moments in life brought great joy and was a wonderful model of creating happiness for those around her, which fed her own joy and contentment with life. My memory of her caring and kindness will forever be with me."
— Martha A.B. in Edmore, Michigan
"My mother was heading to GW Hospital to give birth. She had blood dripping down her legs, and yet stopped to braid my hair. She sat on the edge of the tub in her bathroom and patiently did my hair with love and patience. I have never forgotten her act of selflessness."
— Nancy K. in Vero Beach, Florida
"In 1959, my parents married. My mother was only 16 and was prohibited from attending high school and obtaining a diploma. Fast-forward 20 years, when I was graduating in 1980, she valiantly completed her GED diploma so we could attend nursing school together. As we were retiring from our 30-year nursing careers, my daughter (and her future husband) graduated from the same nursing school! Three generations of nursing service—all from the grit and determination of my mother."
— Tarri V. in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
"One thing I’ve learned about being a mom is that it’s more about presence than anything else. It’s not about doing things right or better. It’s not about knowing all the answers. It’s not about wishing we could have bought our kids all the cool stuff, or wishing we’d done things differently. It’s about showing up as we are today, in this moment, and being with our kids fully. It’s not about wanting to change anything; it’s just about being 'here' now."
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
This Day in U S Military History…….May 2
1942 – The Japanese begin the concentration of forces for what will become the battle of the Coral Sea. Their objective is to occupy Port Moresby. Admiral Takagi commands a covering force including the aircraft carriers Zuikaku and Shokaku. Admiral Goto commands the naval support force for the landing, including the carrier Shoho and four heavy cruisers. Admiral Inouye is in command of the main invasion force concentrated at Rabaul. American code breaking allows Admiral Nimitz to concentrate Allied forces to oppose the Japanese forces. Initially these forces include only Admiral Fletcher’s Task Force 17 with the carrier Yorktown. Later Task Force 11 (Admiral Fitch) with the aircraft carrier Lexington and Task force 44 (Admiral Crace) with Australian and American cruisers.
1945 – At noon the German surrender becomes effective. The long, difficult and controversial campaign in Italy is over. Allied forces reach Trieste, Milan and Turin during the course of the day, while others are advancing north toward Brenner Pass where they will link up with US 7th Army forces from the north. Approximately 1 million German soldiers lay down their arms as the terms of the German unconditional surrender, signed at Caserta on April 29, come into effect. Many Germans surrender to Japanese soldiers-Japanese Americans. Among the American tank crews that entered the northern Italian town of Biella was an all-Nisei (second-generation) infantry battalion, composed of Japanese Americans from Hawaii. Early that same day, Russian Marshal Georgi K. Zhukov accepts the surrender of the German capital. The Red Army takes 134,000 German soldiers prisoner.
2000 – President Bill Clinton announces that accurate GPS access would no longer be restricted to the United States military.
2011 – Osama bin Laden, the founder and head of the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda, was killed in Pakistan shortly after 1:00 am PKT (20:00 UTC, May 1) by U.S. Navy SEALs of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group (also known as DEVGRU or SEAL Team Six). The operation, code-named Operation Neptune Spear, was carried out in a Central Intelligence Agency-led operation. In addition to DEVGRU, participating units included the U.S. Army Special Operations Command’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) and CIA operatives. The raid on bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, was launched from Afghanistan. After the raid, U.S. forces took bin Laden’s body to Afghanistan for identification, then buried it at sea within 24 hours of his death. The United States had direct evidence that Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha, knew of bin Laden’s presence in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Al-Qaeda confirmed the death on May 6 with posts made on militant websites, vowing to avenge the killing.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
These are some of the most heroic that I have seen together in one day….skip
BUSH, ROBERT EUGENE
Rank and organization: Hospital Apprentice First Class, U.S. Naval Reserve, serving as Medical Corpsman with a rifle company, 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Place and date: Okinawa Jima, Ryukyu Islands, 2 May 1945. Entered service at: Washington. Born: 4 October 1926, Tacoma, Wash. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Medical Corpsman with a rifle company, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Jima, Ryukyu Islands, 2 May 1945. Fearlessly braving the fury of artillery, mortar, and machinegun fire from strongly entrenched hostile positions, Bush constantly and unhesitatingly moved from 1 casualty to another to attend the wounded falling under the enemy’s murderous barrages. As the attack passed over a ridge top, Bush was advancing to administer blood plasma to a marine officer Iying wounded on the skyline when the Japanese launched a savage counterattack. In this perilously exposed position, he resolutely maintained the flow of life-giving plasma. With the bottle held high in 1 hand, Bush drew his pistol with the other and fired into the enemy’s ranks until his ammunition was expended. Quickly seizing a discarded carbine, he trained his fire on the Japanese charging pointblank over the hill, accounting for 6 of the enemy despite his own serious wounds and the loss of 1 eye suffered during his desperate battle in defense of the helpless man. With the hostile force finally routed, he calmly disregarded his own critical condition to complete his mission, valiantly refusing medical treatment for himself until his officer patient had been evacuated, and collapsing only after attempting to walk to the battle aid station. His daring initiative, great personal valor, and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice in service of others reflect great credit upon Bush and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
*FOSTER, WILLIAM ADELBERT
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 17 February 1915, Cleveland, Ohio. Accredited to: Ohio. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifleman with the 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryukyu Chain 2 May 1945. Dug in with another marine on the point of the perimeter defense after waging a furious assault against a strongly fortified Japanese position, Pfc. Foster and his comrade engaged in a fierce hand grenade duel with infiltrating enemy soldiers. Suddenly an enemy grenade landed beyond reach in the foxhole. Instantly diving on the deadly missile, Pfc. Foster absorbed the exploding charge in his own body, thereby protecting the other marine from serious injury. Although mortally wounded as a result of his heroic action, he quickly rallied, handed his own remaining 2 grenades to his comrade and said, “Make them count.” Stouthearted and indomitable, he had unhesitatingly relinquished his own chance of survival that his fellow marine might carry on the relentless fight against a fanatic enemy, and his dauntless determination, cool decision and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon Pfc. Foster and upon the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
BENAVIDEZ, ROY P.
Rank and Organization: Master Sergeant, Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group, Republic of Vietnam. Place and Date: West of Loc Ninh on 2 May 1968. Entered Service at: Houston, Texas June 1955. Date and Place of Birth: 5 August 1935, DeWitt County, Cuero, Texas. Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Roy P. Benavidez United States Army, who distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions on 2 May 1968 while assigned to Detachment B56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 2 May 1968, a 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team was inserted by helicopters in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam to gather intelligence information about confirmed large-scale enemy activity. This area was controlled and routinely patrolled by the North Vietnamese Army. After a short period of time on the ground, the team met heavy enemy resistance, and requested emergency extraction. Three helicopters attempted extraction, but were unable to land due to intense enemy small arms and anti-aircraft fire. Sergeant Benavidez was at the Forward Operating Base in Loc Ninh monitoring the operation by radio when these helicopters returned to off-load wounded crewmembers and to assess aircraft damage. Sergeant Benavidez voluntarily boarded a returning aircraft to assist in another extraction attempt. Realizing that all the team members were either dead or wounded and unable to move to the pickup zone, he directed the aircraft to a nearby clearing where he jumped from the hovering helicopter, and ran approximately 75 meters under withering small arms fire to the crippled team. Prior to reaching the team’s position he was wounded in his right leg, face, and head. Despite these painful injuries, he took charge, repositioning the team members and directing their fire to facilitate the landing of an extraction aircraft, and the loading of wounded and dead team members. He then threw smoke canisters to direct the aircraft to the team’s position. Despite his severe wounds and under intense enemy fire, he carried and dragged half of the wounded team members to the awaiting aircraft. He then provided protective fire by running alongside the aircraft as it moved to pick up the remaining team members. As the enemy’s fire intensified, he hurried to recover the body and classified documents on the dead team leader. When he reached the leader’s body, Sergeant Benavidez was severely wounded by small arms fire in the abdomen and grenade fragments in his back. At nearly the same moment, the aircraft pilot was mortally wounded, and his helicopter crashed. Although in extremely critical condition due to his multiple wounds, Sergeant Benavidez secured the classified documents and made his way back to the wreckage, where he aided the wounded out of the overturned aircraft, and gathered the stunned survivors into a defensive perimeter. Under increasing enemy automatic weapons and grenade fire, he moved around the perimeter distributing water and ammunition to his weary men, reinstilling in them a will to live and fight. Facing a buildup of enemy opposition with a beleaguered team, Sergeant Benavidez mustered his strength, began calling in tactical air strikes and directed the fire from supporting gunships to suppress the enemy’s fire and so permit another extraction attempt. He was wounded again in his thigh by small arms fire while administering first aid to a wounded team member just before another extraction helicopter was able to land. His indomitable spirit kept him going as he began to ferry his comrades to the craft. On his second trip with the wounded, he was clubbed from additional wounds to his head and arms before killing his adversary. He then continued under devastating fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter. Upon reaching the aircraft, he spotted and killed two enemy soldiers who were rushing the craft from an angle that prevented the aircraft door gunner from firing upon them. With little strength remaining, he made one last trip to the perimeter to ensure that all classified material had been collected or destroyed, and to bring in the remaining wounded. Only then, in extremely serious condition from numerous wounds and loss of blood, did he allow himself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft. Sergeant Benavidez’ gallant choice to join voluntarily his comrades who were in critical straits, to expose himself constantly to withering enemy fire, and his refusal to be stopped despite numerous severe wounds, saved the lives of at least eight men. His fearless personal leadership, tenacious devotion to duty, and extremely valorous actions in the face of overwhelming odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him and the United States Army.
KELLER, LEONARD B.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 3d Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. place and date: Ap Bac Zone, Republic of Vietnam, 2 May 1967. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Born: 25 February 1947, Rockford, Ill. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sweeping through an area where an enemy ambush had occurred earlier, Sgt. Keller’s unit suddenly came under Intense automatic weapons and small-arms fire from a number of enemy bunkers and numerous snipers in nearby trees. Sgt. Keller quickly moved to a position where he could fire at a bunker from which automatic fire was received, killing 1 Viet Cong who attempted to escape. Leaping to the top of a dike, he and a comrade charged the enemy bunkers, dangerously exposing themselves to the enemy fire. Armed with a light machine gun, Sgt. Keller and his comrade began a systematic assault on the enemy bunkers. While Sgt. Keller neutralized the fire from the first bunker with his machine gun, the other soldier threw in a hand grenade killing its occupant. Then he and the other soldier charged a second bunker, killing its occupant. A third bunker contained an automatic rifleman who had pinned down much of the friendly platoon. Again, with utter disregard for the fire directed to them, the 2 men charged, killing the enemy within. Continuing their attack, Sgt. Keller and his comrade assaulted 4 more bunkers, killing the enemy within. During their furious assault, Sgt. Keller and his comrade had been almost continuously exposed to intense sniper fire as the enemy desperately sought to stop their attack. The ferocity of their assault had carried the soldiers beyond the line of bunkers into the treeline, forcing snipers to flee. The 2 men gave immediate chase, driving the enemy away from the friendly unit. When his ammunition was exhausted, Sgt. Keller returned to the platoon to assist in the evacuation of the wounded. The 2-man assault had driven an enemy platoon from a well prepared position, accounted for numerous enemy dead, and prevented further friendly casualties. Sgt. Keller’s selfless heroism and indomitable fighting spirit saved the lives of many of his comrades and inflicted serious damage on the enemy. His acts were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
LIVINGSTON, JAMES E.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, Company E, 2d Battalion, 4th Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade. place and date: Dai Do, Republic of Vietnam, 2 May 1968. Entered service at: McRae, Ga. Born: 12 January 1940, Towns, Telfair County, Ga. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Commanding Officer, Company E, in action against enemy forces. Company E launched a determined assault on the heavily fortified village of Dai Do, which had been seized by the enemy on the preceding evening isolating a marine company from the remainder of the battalion. Skillfully employing screening agents, Capt. Livingston maneuvered his men to assault positions across 500 meters of dangerous open rice paddy while under intense enemy fire. Ignoring hostile rounds impacting near him, he fearlessly led his men in a savage assault against enemy emplacements within the village. While adjusting supporting arms fire, Capt. Livingston moved to the points of heaviest resistance, shouting words of encouragement to his marines, directing their fire, and spurring the dwindling momentum of the attack on repeated occasions. Although twice painfully wounded by grenade fragments, he refused medical treatment and courageously led his men in the destruction of over 100 mutually supporting bunkers, driving the remaining enemy from their positions, and relieving the pressure on the stranded marine company. As the 2 companies consolidated positions and evacuated casualties, a third company passed through the friendly lines launching an assault on the adjacent village of Dinh To, only to be halted by a furious counterattack of an enemy battalion. Swiftly assessing the situation and disregarding the heavy volume of enemy fire, Capt. Livingston boldly maneuvered the remaining effective men of his company forward, joined forces with the heavily engaged marines, and halted the enemy’s counterattack Wounded a third time and unable to walk, he steadfastly remained in the dangerously exposed area, deploying his men to more tenable positions and supervising the evacuation of casualties. Only when assured of the safety of his men did he allow himself to be evacuated. Capt. Livingston’s gallant actions uphold the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.
VARGAS, M. SANDO, JR.
Rank and organization: Major (then Capt.), U.S. Marine Corps, Company G, 2d Battalion, 4th Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade. Place and date: Dai Do, Republic of Vietnam, 30 April to 2 May 1968. Entered service at: Winslow, Ariz. Born: 29 July 1940, Winslow, Ariz. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as commanding officer, Company G, in action against enemy forces from 30 April to 2 May 1968. On 1 May 1968, though suffering from wounds he had incurred while relocating his unit under heavy enemy fire the preceding day, Maj. Vargas combined Company G with two other companies and led his men in an attack on the fortified village of Dai Do. Exercising expert leadership, he maneuvered his marines across 700 meters of open rice paddy while under intense enemy mortar, rocket and artillery fire and obtained a foothold in 2 hedgerows on the enemy perimeter, only to have elements of his company become pinned down by the intense enemy fire. Leading his reserve platoon to the aid of his beleaguered men, Maj. Vargas inspired his men to renew their relentless advance, while destroying a number of enemy bunkers. Again wounded by grenade fragments, he refused aid as he moved about the hazardous area reorganizing his unit into a strong defense perimeter at the edge of the village. Shortly after the objective was secured the enemy commenced a series of counterattacks and probes which lasted throughout the night but were unsuccessful as the gallant defenders of Company G stood firm in their hard-won enclave. Reinforced the following morning, the marines launched a renewed assault through Dai Do on the village of Dinh To, to which the enemy retaliated with a massive counterattack resulting in hand-to-hand combat. Maj. Vargas remained in the open, encouraging and rendering assistance to his marines when he was hit for the third time in the 3-day battle. Observing his battalion commander sustain a serious wound, he disregarded his excruciating pain, crossed the fire-swept area and carried his commander to a covered position, then resumed supervising and encouraging his men while simultaneously assisting in organizing the battalion’s perimeter defense. His gallant actions uphold the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.
He now lives in Poway..Skip
WRIGHT, RAYMOND R.
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 3d Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Place and date: Ap Bac Zone, Republic of Vietnam, 2 May 1967. Entered service at: Moriah, N.Y. Born: 5 December 1945, Moriah, N.Y. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While serving as a rifleman with Company A, Sp4c. Wright distinguished himself during a combat patrol in an area where an enemy ambush had occurred earlier. Sp4c. Wright’s unit suddenly came under intense automatic weapons and small-arms fire from an enemy bunker system protected by numerous snipers in nearby trees. Despite the heavy enemy fire, Sp4c. Wright and another soldier leaped to the top of a dike to assault the position. Armed with a rifle and several grenades, he and his comrade exposed themselves to intense fire from the bunkers as they charged the nearest one. Sp4c. Wright raced to the bunker, threw in a grenade, killing its occupant. The 2 soldiers then ran through a hail of fire to the second bunker. While his comrade covered him with his machinegun, Sp4c. Wright charged the bunker and succeeded in killing its occupant with a grenade. A third bunker contained an automatic rifleman who had pinned down much of the friendly platoon. While his comrade again covered him with machinegun fire, Sp4c. Wright charged in and killed the enemy rifleman with a grenade. The 2 soldiers worked their way through the remaining bunkers, knocking out 4 of them. Throughout their furious assault, Sp4c. Wright and his comrade had been almost continuously exposed to intense sniper fire from the treeline as the enemy desperately sought to stop their attack. Overcoming stubborn resistance from the bunker system, the men advanced into the treeline forcing the snipers to retreat, giving immediate chase, and driving the enemy away from the friendly unit so that it advanced across the open area without further casualty. When his ammunition was exhausted, Sp4c. Wright returned to his unit to assist in the evacuation of the wounded. This 2-man assault had driven an enemy platoon from a well prepared position, accounted for numerous enemy casualties, and averted further friendly casualties. Sp4c. Wright’s extraordinary heroism, courage, and indomitable fighting spirit saved the lives of many of his comrades and inflicted serious damage on the enemy. His acts were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for May 2, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD “PHIL” MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
2 May
1918: Lt Col Henry J. Damm and Maj Oscar Brindley were killed while testing a DH-4 at Dayton. (24)
1923: MACKAY TROPHY/DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS. After adding extra fuel tanks to their Fokker T2 Liberty 400, Lts Oakley G. Kelly and John A. Macready flew the first nonstop transcontinental flight from New York to San Diego, flying the 2,520 miles in 26 hours 50 minutes 3 seconds. (9) (18)
1948: The Navy successfully tested a submarine capable of firing guided missiles. (16) (24)
1957: The USAF accepted its first F-101A Voodoo. (12)
1963: Jacqueline Cochran flew a Lockheed TF-104G near Edwards AFB to a world speed record for women of 1,203.94 MPH over a closed 100-kilometer course.
1965: Early Bird satellite went into operation as a public communications facility by shuttling TV programs across the North Atlantic. The Oklahoma ANG’s “Talking Bird” C-97 Command Post flew to the Caribbean to support US forces in the Dominican Republic. (See Operation POWER PACK) (16)
1970: Ground fire in Cambodia claimed an F-4, the first PACAF aircraft to be lost in combat operations in that country. (17)
1971: At Lancaster, Calif., Lois Elmstrom flew a Piccard Balloon to a FAI duration record of 2 hours 6 minutes 10 seconds for balloons, subclasses AX-3 and AX-4 (400-900 cubic meters). (9)
1975: The Navy selected the Northrop and McDonnell-Douglas team to develop the twin-engine F-18 air combat fighter. (12)
1977: 1Lt Christine E. Schott became the first woman undergraduate pilot student to solo in the T-38 Talon. (16) (26)
1979: Through 3 May, two E-3A Sentry aircraft flew the first AWACS training mission over the Central Region of Europe. (16) (26)
1981: Davis-Monthan AFB received TAC's first OA-37 Dragonfly. It replaced the O-2A in the forward air control role. (11) In a first, an airborne laser destroyed an aerial target, when the Airborne Laser Laboratory, a modified KC-135 aircraft armed with a carbon dioxide laser, shot down a drone over White Sands Missile Range. (21)
1988: Col Phillip J. Ford, the 384th Bomb Wing Commander, and Lt Gen Ellie G. “Buck” Shuler, Jr., the Eighth Air Force Commander, flew the last B-1B from the Rockwell International plant to McConnell AFB. (http://www.sr-71.org/aircraft/b-1.php)
1999: Operation ALLIED FORCE. Serbian ground forces shot down an F-16 over Yugoslavia. It was the second and last US aircraft lost in the operation. An MH-60 helicopter rescued the pilot. (21) An AFFTC aircrew from Edwards flew an NC-130J loaded with Red Cross supplies to Sofia, Bulgaria in support of Operation ALLIED FORCE. (3)
2002: An AFFTC B-1B dropped three different weapons (a MK-82, a MK-84, and a CBU-89) on a single pass. The B-1B released the bombs from separate bomb bays to strike individual targets that were 10,000 feet apart. AFFTC conducted this Air Force “first” as part of the B-1 Block E Computer Upgrade Test Program at Edwards AFB. (3)
2004: The 164 AW (Tennessee ANG) in Memphis phased out the last C-141 (tail no. 60157) from the ANG inventory. The then unit converted to C-5s. (32)
2006: The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate at Edwards AFB conducted the first full-scale test of Thiokol’s new solid-propellant motor for ICBMs. It was similar in size and weight to the Minuteman III first stage motor, but used advanced case, propellant, and thrust vector technologies. The new engine produced over 282,000 pounds of thrust, compared to Minuteman motor’s 202,000 pounds. (3)
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
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/CACTjsm314UHvYUiMvT5hHnnxGmXBct0z2Qp1pwUQ3fbJxw%3DK-w%40mail.gmail.com.
