TheList 5594

The List 5594     TGB

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Good Monday Morning 25 January.

I hope that you all are had a great weekend. I apologize for Numbering Saturday and Sunday with 5592. I blame it on my COVED shot.

 

Regards,

Skip

 

This Day In Naval History

 

Jan. 25

1941—The keel to USS Wisconsin (BB 64) is laid. Commissioned in April 1944, she serves during the later stages of World War II in the Pacific. She is now a museum battleship stationed in Norfolk, VA.

1943—USS Shad (SS 235) encounters German blockade runners transporting ore in the Bay of Biscay. Shad fires on Nordfels, but the torpedo fails to explode, and Nordfels returns to Bilbao, Spain.

1945—USS McLanahan (DD 615) shells the German command post on the Italian Rivera and silences the shore battery.

1945—USS Silversides (SS 236), despite the presence of auxiliary submarine chasers, sinks the Japanese army cargo ship Malay Maru off Kuro Jima.

1952—High speed transport ship Wantuck (APD 125) under CTF 95 OpControl, lands South Korean troops at night for demolition raid on enemy rail line, tunnels and bridges east coast of Korea.

1963—The 1st Seabee Technical Assistance Team arrives in Vietnam. By the end of 1964, 14 teams are operating or have completed their six

 

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Thanks to CHINFO

 

Executive Summary:

•           China conducted a show of force over the Taiwan Strait this weekend, while Theodore Roosevelt carrier Strike Group entered the South China Sea to conduct routine operations.

•           National and trade press reported on Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's first actions as SECDEF following his confirmation, which include a review of sexual assault and harassment across the services.

•           Local press reported on the home port shift of several amphibious ships from Mayport to Norfolk, as well as several destroyers to Mayport.

 

This day in History

 

January 25

1533		Henry VIII marries Anne Boleyn.
1787		Small farmers in Springfield, Massachusetts led by Daniel Shays, revolt against tax laws. Federal troops break up the protesters of what becomes known as Shay's Rebellion.
1846		The dreaded Corn Laws, which taxed imported oats, wheat and barley, are repealed by the British Parliament.
1904		Two-hundred coal miners are trapped in their Pennsylvania mine after an explosion.
1915		Alexander Graham Bell in New York and Thomas Watson in San Francisco make a record telephone transmission.
1918		Austria and Germany reject U.S. peace proposals.
1919		The League of Nations plan is adopted by the Allies.
1929		Members of the New York Stock Exchange ask for an additional 275 seats.
1930		New York police rout a Communist rally at the Town Hall.
1943		The last German airfield in Stalingrad is captured by the Red Army.
1949		Axis Sally, who broadcasted Nazi propaganda to U.S. troops in Europe, stands trial in the United States for war crimes.
1951		The U.S. Eighth Army in Korea launches Operation Thunderbolt, a counter attack to push the Chinese Army north of the Han River.
1955		Columbia University scientists develop an atomic clock that is accurate to within one second in 300 years.
1956		Khrushchev says that he believes that Eisenhower is sincere in his efforts to abolish war.
1959		American Airlines begins its first coast-to-coast flight service on a Boeing 707.
1972		Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to U.S. Congress, announces candidacy for president.
1972		Nixon airs the eight-point peace plan for Vietnam, asking for POW release in return for withdrawal.
1984		President Reagan endorses the development of the first U.S. permanently-manned space station.

 

1905

January 25

World's largest diamond found

 

On January 25, 1905, at the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa, a 3,106-carat diamond is discovered during a routine inspection by the mine's superintendent. Weighing 1.33 pounds, and christened the "Cullinan," it was the largest diamond ever found.

Frederick Wells was 18 feet below the earth's surface when he spotted a flash of starlight embedded in the wall just above him. His discovery was presented that same afternoon to Sir Thomas Cullinan, who owned the mine. Cullinan then sold the diamond to the Transvaal provincial government, which presented the stone to Britain's King Edward VII as a birthday gift. Worried that the diamond might be stolen in transit from Africa to London, Edward arranged to send a phony diamond aboard a steamer ship loaded with detectives as a diversionary tactic. While the decoy slowly made its way from Africa on the ship, the Cullinan was sent to England in a plain box.

Edward entrusted the cutting of the Cullinan to Joseph Asscher, head of the Asscher Diamond Company of Amsterdam. Asscher, who had cut the famous Excelsior Diamond, a 971-carat diamond found in 1893, studied the stone for six months before attempting the cut. On his first attempt, the steel blade broke, with no effect on the diamond. On the second attempt, the diamond shattered exactly as planned; Asscher then fainted from nervous exhaustion.

The Cullinan was later cut into nine large stones and about 100 smaller ones, valued at millions of dollars all told. The largest stone is called the "Star of Africa I," or "Cullinan I," and at 530 carats, it is the largest-cut fine-quality colorless diamond in the world. The second largest stone, the "Star of Africa II" or "Cullinan II," is 317 carats. Both of these stones, as well as the "Cullinan III," are on display in the Tower of London with Britain's other crown jewels; the Cullinan I is mounted in the British Sovereign's Royal Scepter, while the Cullinan II sits in the Imperial State Crown.

 

 

 

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Thanks to Don…..Something to get the blood running

 

Fast Fun

 

https://www.facebook.com/hangardois/videos/250713095822813/

 

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Thanks to Steve and Mud

 

Funny one, but EEEW.

Steve

 

    I like a dude who knows how to improvise.  😁

 

S/F,

 

- Mud

The Spoon    

 

A lesson on how consultants can make a difference in an organization. Very impressive!

 

Last week, we took some friends to a new restaurant, 'Steve's Place,' and noticed that the waiter who took our order carried a spoon in his shirt pocket.     It seemed a little strange. 

When the busboy brought our water and utensils, I observed that he also had a spoon in his shirt pocket.    Then I looked around and saw that all the staff had spoons in their pockets. When the waiter came back to serve our soup I inquired, 'Why the spoon?'   

'Well,' he explained, 'the restaurant's owner hired Andersen Consulting to revamp all of our processes.  After several months of analysis, they concluded that the spoon was the most frequently  dropped utensil.  It represents a drop frequency of approximately 3 spoons per table per hour.   

'If our personnel are better prepared, we can reduce the number of trips back to the kitchen and save 15 man-hours per shift.'  

As luck would have it, I dropped my spoon and he replaced it with his spare. 'I'll get another spoon next time I go to the kitchen instead of making an extra trip to get it right now.' I was impressed.  

I also noticed that there was a string hanging out of the waiter's fly.  

Looking around, I saw that all of the waiters had the same string hanging from their flies. So, before he walked off, I asked the waiter, 'Excuse me, but can you tell me why you have that string right there?'  

'Oh, certainly!' Then he lowered his voice.  'Not everyone is so observant.  That consulting firm I mentioned also learned that we can save time in the restroom.   By tying this string to the tip of our you-know-what, we can pull it out without touching it and eliminate the need to wash our hands, shortening the time spent in the restroom by 76.39%.   

I asked quietly, 'After you get it out, how do you put it back?'  

'Well,' he whispered, 'I don't know about the others, but I use the spoon.'

 

 

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Thanks to Al

 

Monday Morning Humor--Birthday

 

This week, I turn 75 so I'm choosing inputs from friends that relate to aging…

 

 

Submitted by Dave Harris:

 

Thoughts…

        As you get older, you've got to stay positive.  For example, the other day I fell down the stairs.  Instead of getting upset, I just thought, "Wow, that's the fastest I've moved in years!"

        You know you're getting old when 'friends with benefits' means having someone who can drive at night.

        I never use turn signals when driving…it's nobody else's business where I'm going.

        The leading cause for injury in old men is them thinking they are still young men.

        Don't worry about getting older.  You're still gonna do dumb stuff…only slower.

        One minute you're 21, staying up all night drinking beer, eating pizza, and doing sketchy stuff just for fun.  THEN…in a blink of an eye, you're old, drinking water, eating kale, and you can't do any sketchy stuff because you pulled a muscle putting on your socks.

        The world needs more tackle boxes and less Xboxes.

        Aren't you thankful that your childhood happened before technology took over?

        I survived:  spankings, led paint, rusty playgrounds, second-hand smoke, toy guns, no seatbelts, no helmets, and drinking from the hose.

        My curfew was lightning bugs.  My parents didn't call my cell, they yelled my name.  I played outside, not online.  If I didn't eat what mom cooked, I didn't eat.

        My parents spanked me as a child.  As a result, I now suffer from a psychological condition known as 'respect for others.'

        Do you remember when all the stores were closed on Sunday?

        Do you remember when TV stations played the National Anthem every night?

        Remember the days of eating lunch at the Woolworth's lunch counter?

        Does anybody else remember hearing, "Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about"?

        I remember PLAYING…it required no batteries, no electricity, and was done outside.  And the only birds were in the trees, and they were not Angry Birds.

 

 

 

Submitted by Dean Laird:

 

Philosophy for Old Age at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOzNbgxekxo

 

 

 

Submitted by Rick Hein:

 

More thoughts…

        You come from dust and you will return to dust.  That's why I don't dust.  It could be someone I know.

        One minute you're young and fun.  And the next, you're turning down the stereo in your car to see better.

        One day, you'll be able to tell your grandkids, "I survived the Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 2020."

        There's nothing scarier than that split second when you lose your balance in the shower and you think, "They are going to find me naked!"

        You're not fat…you're just easier to see.

        Not in jail, not in a mental hospital, not in a grave—I say I'm having a very good day.

        I started out with nothing…I still have most of it.

        This 'killing them with kindness' is taking way longer than I expected.

        It isn't the 'ups and downs' that make life difficult; it's the jerks.

        When I was a boy, I was always told that anybody could become President…I'm beginning to believe it.

 

 

 

Submitted by Bob King:

 

Growing up in the 50s…

Long ago and far away, in a land that time forgot,

Before the days of Dylan, or the dawn of Camelot.

There lived a race of innocents, and they were you and me,

For Ike was in the White House in that land where we were born,

Where navels were for oranges, and Peyton Place was porn.

We longed for love and romance, and waited for our Prince,

Eddie Fisher married Liz, and no one's seen him since.

We danced to 'Little Darlin,' and sang to 'Stagger Lee'

And cried for Buddy Holly in the Land That Made Me, Me.

Only girls wore earrings then, and three was one too many,

And only boys wore flat-top cuts, except for Jean McKinney.

And only in our wildest dreams did we expect to see

A boy named George with Lipstick, in the Land That Made Me, Me.

We fell for Frankie Avalon, Annette was oh, so nice,

And when they made a movie, they never made it twice.

We didn't have a Star Trek Five, or Psycho Two and Three,

Or Rocky-Rambo Twenty in the Land That Made Me, Me.

Miss Kitty had a heart of gold, and Chester had a limp,

And Reagan was a Democrat whose co-star was a chimp.

We had a Mr. Wizard, but not a Mr. T,

And Oprah couldn't talk yet, in the Land That Made Me, Me.

We had our share of heroes; we never thought they'd go,

At least not Bobby Darin, or Marilyn Monroe.

For youth was still eternal, and life was yet to be,

And Elvis was forever in the Land That Made Me, Me.

We'd never seen the rock band that was Grateful to be Dead,

And Airplanes weren't named Jefferson, and Zeppelins were not Led.

And Beatles lived in gardens then, and Monkees lived in trees,

Madonna was Mary in the Land That Made Me, Me.

We'd never heard of microwaves, or telephones in cars,

And babies might be bottle-fed, but they were not grown in jars.

And pumping iron got wrinkles out, and 'gay' meant fancy-free,

And dorms were never co-ed in the Land That Made Me, Me.

We hadn't seen enough of jets to talk about the lag,

And microchips were what was left at the bottom of the bag.

And hardware was a box of nails, and bytes came from a flea,

And rocket ships were fiction in the Land That Made Me, Me.

T-Birds came with portholes, and side shows came with freaks,

And bathing suits came big enough to cover both your cheeks.

And Coke came just in bottles, and skirts below the knee,

And Castro came to power near the Land That Made Me, Me.

We had no Crest with Fluoride; we had no Hill Street Blues,

We had no patterned pantyhose or Lipton herbal tea

Or prime-time ads for those dysfunctions in the Land That Made Me, Me.

There were no golden arches, no Perrier to chill,

And fish were not called Wanda, and cats were not called Bill

And middle-aged was 35 and old was forty-three,

And ancient were our parents in the Land That Made Me, Me.

But all things have a season, or so we've heard them say,

And now instead of Maybelline we swear by Retin-A.

They send us invitations to join AARP,

We've come a long way, baby, from the Land That Made Me, Me.

So now we face a brave new world in slightly larger jeans,

And wonder why they're using smaller print in magazines.

And we tell our children's children of the way it used to be,

Long ago and far away in the Land That Made Me, Me.

 

 

 

Submitted by Colleen Grosso:

 

Even more thoughts…

        I don't always go the extra mile, but when I do it's because I missed my exit.

        Most people don't think I'm as old as I am until they hear me stand up.

        I'm so old that:  I've dialed a rotary phone (that didn't have an answering machine); recorded a song that I love off a transistor radio onto a tape recorder; watched a black-and-white TV (with less than 10 channels) that had foil on the rabbit-ear antennae; taken a long walk without counting the steps; and eaten food that I didn't take pictures of.

        I wanna be 14 again and ruin my life differently.  I have new ideas.

        I really don't mind getting older, but my body is taking it badly.

        Getting older is just one body part after another saying, "Ha Ha, you think that's bad?  Watch this."

        My mind is like my internet browser—19 tabs open, three of them are frozen, and I have no idea where the music is coming from.

        I miss the 90s, when bread was still good for you, and no one knew what kale was.

        If you see me talking to myself, I'm having a staff meeting.

        Do you ever get up in the morning, look at yourself in the mirror, and think, "That can't be accurate."?

        As I watch this generation try to rewrite history, one thing I'm sure of…it will be misspelled and have no punctuation.

 

 

Submitted by John Hudson:

 

No nursing home for me. I'll be checking into a MARRIOTT!  With the average cost for nursing home care being $275.00 per day, there is a better way when we get old and too feeble.

I've already checked on reservations at The Fairfield.

        For a combined long term stay discount and senior discount, it's $79.00 per night.

        Breakfast is included, and

        Some have happy hours in the afternoon.

        That leaves $196.00 a day for lunch and dinner in any restaurant we want, or room service, laundry, gratuities and special TV movies.

        Plus, they provide a spa, swimming pool, a workout room, a lounge and washer dryer, etc.

        Most have free toothpaste and razors, and all have free shampoo and soap.

        $10 worth of tips a day you'll have the entire staff scrambling to help you.

        They treat you like a customer, not a patient.

        There's a city bus stop out front, and seniors ride free.

        The handicap bus will also pick you up

        To meet other nice people, call a church bus on Sundays.

        For a change of scenery, take the airport shuttle bus and eat at one of the nice restaurants there.

        While you're at the airport, fly somewhere.

        Otherwise, the cash keeps building up.

     It takes months to get into decent nursing homes. Marriott will take your reservation today.

And you're not stuck in one place forever—you can move from Marriott to Marriott, or even from city to city. 

        Want to see Hawaii? They have Courtyard there too.

        TV broken? Light bulbs need changing? Need a mattress replaced? No problem. They fix everything, and apologize for the inconvenience.

        The Marriott has a night security person and daily room service.

        The maid checks to see if you are ok. If not, they'll call an ambulance…or the undertaker.

        If you fall and break a hip, Medicare will pay for the hip, and Marriott will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life.

And no worries about visits from family.

        They will always be glad to find you, and probably check in for a few days mini vacation.

        The grand-kids can use the pool.

        What more could I ask for?

 So, when I reach that golden age, I'll face it with a grin.

 

AIDS WARNING!

Senior citizens are the nation's leading carriers of AIDS!

Hearing Aids

Band Aids

Roll Aids

Walking Aids

Medical Aids

Government Aids

Most of all, Monetary Aid to their kids!

Not forgetting HIV (Hair is Vanishing)

 

 

Have a great week,

Al

 

 

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Thanks to Carl

 

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2021/01/no_author/can-you-believe-this-a-real-medical-breakthrough-in-an-era-of-fake-news/

 

Can You Believe This? A Real Medical Breakthrough in An Era Of Fake News!

By Bill Sardi

January 25, 2021

 

 

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This Day in U S Military History

 

1915 – The inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, inaugurated transcontinental telephone service in the United States. Bell placed the first ceremonial cross-continental call from New York to his old colleague Thomas Watson in San Francisco.

 

1940– The ocean station program was formally established on 25 January 1940 under order from President Franklin Roosevelt. The Coast Guard, in cooperation with the U. S. Weather Service, were given responsibility for its establishment and operation. The program was first known as the Atlantic Weather Observation Service and later became known (and "beloved') by thousands of Coast Guardsmen who served after World War II as the "Ocean Station" program. Cutters were dispatched for 30-day patrols to transmit weather observations and serve as a SAR standby for transoceanic aircraft. The program ended in the 1970s.

 

1945 – Iwo Jima is bombarded by the battleship Indiana and a force of cruisers and destroyers. There are also air attacks by B-24 and B-29 bombers. This is the first step in the preparation for the US landings in February.
1949 – Axis Sally, who broadcast Nazi propaganda to U.S. troops in Europe, stands trial in the United States for war crimes. Out of the 12 Americans indicted for treason following World War II, all but five were radio broadcasters. One of the most notorious to be convicted was Mildred Gillars, or "Axis Sally" as she was known to the GI's who heard her Radio Berlin broadcasts. A graduate of Hunter College in New York, Gillars went to France to study music in 1929 after failing as an actress. By 1934 she was in Germany, where she fell for former Hunter professor Max Otto Koischewitz. Koischewitz became Radio Berlin's Program Director, and GIllars became his star propaganda broadcaster. Typically, she did a DJ program — breaking up the music with anti-semetic raps. "Damn Roosevelt! Damn Churchill!" went one of her tirades. "Damn all Jews who made this war possible. I love America, but I do not love Roosevelt and all his kike boyfriends." "Axis Sally" also liked to air messages from American POWs. Telling the POWs she visited that she was a Red Cross representative, she enticed them to send happy messages to suggest that living under the Nazis, even in POW camps, was a good thing. Once on the air, she would intercut POWs messages with propaganda, despite having promised the prisoners not to do so. Despite all her other antics, "Axis Sally" was convicted on the basis of just one broadcast, a radio drama called "Vision of Invasion" that – on the eve of D-Day – sought to scare GI's out of invading occupied Europe. In the play, the mother of an Ohio soldier sees her son in a dream. He tells her that he's already dead, his ship having been destroyed mid-invasion by Germans. GI's can be heard sobbing and shrieking in the background, and the effect of the broadcast is said to have been chilling. Gillars tried several tactics in court, but ultimately claimed, unsuccessfully, that her love for Koischewitz had motivated her. Her lawyers argued that Koischewitz had a Svengali-like grip over her; she was his puppet.

 

1952 – During the third largest aerial victory of the Korean War, F-86s shot down 10 MiG-15s and damaged three others without suffering any losses.

 

1995 – Russia's early-warning defense radar detects an unexpected missile launch near Norway, and Russian military command estimates the missile to be only minutes from impact on Moscow. Moments later, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, his defense minister, and his chief of staff were informed of the missile launch. The nuclear command systems switched to combat mode, and the nuclear suitcases carried by Yeltsin and his top commander were activated for the first time in the history of the Soviet-made weapons system. Five minutes after the launch detection, Russian command determined that the missile's impact point would be outside Russia's borders. Three more minutes passed, and Yeltsin was informed that the launching was likely not part of a surprise nuclear strike by Western nuclear submarines. These conclusions came minutes before Yeltsin and his commanders should have ordered a nuclear response based on standard launch on warning protocols. Later, it was revealed that the missile, launched from Spitzbergen, Norway, was actually carrying instruments for scientific measurements. Nine days before, Norway had notified 35 countries, including Russia, of the exact details of the planned launch. The Russian Defense Ministry had received Norway's announcement but had neglected to inform the on-duty personnel at the early-warning center of the imminent launch. The event raised serious concerns about the quality of the former Soviet Union's nuclear systems.

 

2012 – Two U.S. Navy Seal teams raided a compound 12 miles north of Adow, Somalia, freeing two hostages while killing nine pirates and capturing five others.

 

Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day

 

BEHNE, FREDERICK
Rank and organization: Fireman First Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 3 October 1873, Lodi, N.J. Accredited to: New Jersey. G.O. No.: 182, 20 March 1905. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Iowa, 25 January 1905. Following the blowing out of the manhole plate of boiler D of that vessel, Behne displayed extraordinary heroism in the resulting action.

BEHNKE, HEINRICH
Rank and organization: Seaman First Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 10 April 1882, Germany. Accredited to: Washington, D.C. G.O. No.: 182, 20 March 1905. Citation: While serving aboard the U.S.S. Iowa, Behnke displayed extraordinary heroism at the time of the blowing out of the manhole plate of boiler D on board that vessel, 25 January 1905.

BRESNAHAN, PATRICK FRANCIS
Rank and organization: Watertender, U.S. Navy. Born: 1 May 1872, Peabody, Mass. Accredited to: Vermont. G.O. No.: 182, 20 March 1905. Citation: Serving on board the U.S.S. Iowa for extraordinary heroism at the time of the blowing out of the manhole plate of boiler D on board that vessel, 25 January 1905.

CORAHORGI, DEMETRI
Rank and organization: Fireman First Class, U.S. Navy. Place and date: Aboard U.S.S. Iowa, 25 January 1905. Entered service at: New York. Born: 3 January 1880, Trieste, Austria. G.O. No.: 182, 20 March 1905. Citation: Serving on board the U.S.S. Iowa for extraordinary heroism at the time of the blowing out of the manhole plate of boiler D on board that vessel, 25 January 1905.

FLOYD, EDWARD
Rank and organization: Boilermaker, U.S. Navy. Born: 21 February 1850, Ireland. Accredited to: South Carolina. G.O. No.: 182, 20 March 1905. Citation: Serving on board the U.S.S. Iowa, for extraordinary heroism at the time of the blowing out of the manhole plate of boiler D on board that vessel, 25 January 1905.

JOHANNESSEN, JOHANNES J.
Rank and organization: Chief Watertender, U.S. Navy. Born: 13 May 1872, Bodo, Norway. Enlisted at: Yokohama, Japan. G.O. No.: 182, 20 March 1905. Citation: Serving on board the U.S.S. Iowa, for extraordinary heroism at the time of the blowing out of the manhole plate of boiler D on board that vessel, 25 January 1905.

KLEIN, ROBERT
Rank and organization: Chief Carpenter's Mate, U.S. Navy. Born: 11 November 1884, Gerdonen, Germany. Enlisted at: Marseilles, France. G.O. No.: 173, 6 October 1904. Citation: Serving on board the U.S.S. Raleigh, for heroism in rescuing shipmates overcome in double bottoms by fumes of turpentine, 25 January 1904.

*VALDEZ, JOSE F.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Rosenkrantz, France, 25 January 1945. Entered service at: Pleasant Grove, Utah. Birth: Governador, N. Mex. G. O. No.: 16, 8 February 1946. Citation: He was on outpost duty with 5 others when the enemy counterattacked with overwhelming strength. From his position near some woods 500 yards beyond the American lines he observed a hostile tank about 75 yards away, and raked it with automatic rifle fire until it withdrew. Soon afterward he saw 3 Germans stealthily approaching through the woods. Scorning cover as the enemy soldiers opened up with heavy automatic weapons fire from a range of 30 yards, he engaged in a fire fight with the attackers until he had killed all 3. The enemy quickly launched an attack with 2 full companies of infantrymen, blasting the patrol with murderous concentrations of automatic and rifle fire and beginning an encircling movement which forced the patrol leader to order a withdrawal. Despite the terrible odds, Pfc. Valdez immediately volunteered to cover the maneuver, and as the patrol 1 by 1 plunged through a hail of bullets toward the American lines, he fired burst after burst into the swarming enemy. Three of his companions were wounded in their dash for safety and he was struck by a bullet that entered his stomach and, passing through his body, emerged from his back. Overcoming agonizing pain, he regained control of himself and resumed his firing position, delivering a protective screen of bullets until all others of the patrol were safe. By field telephone he called for artillery and mortar fire on the Germans and corrected the range until he had shells falling within 50 yards of his position. For 15 minutes he refused to be dislodged by more than 200 of the enemy; then, seeing that the barrage had broken the counter attack, he dragged himself back to his own lines. He died later as a result of his wounds. Through his valiant, intrepid stand and at the cost of his own life, Pfc. Valdez made it possible for his comrades to escape, and was directly responsible for repulsing an attack by vastly superior enemy forces.

*MILLER, ROBERT J.
Organization: U.S. Army, Company: Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3312, Division: Special Operations Task Force 33, Born: 14 October 1983, Departed: Yes, Entered Service At: Oviedo, Florida, G.O. Number: , Date of Issue: 10/06/2010, Accredited To: Florida, Place / Date: Konar Province, Afghanistan, 25 January 2008. Citation: Robert J. Miller distinguished himself by extraordinary acts of heroism while serving as the Weapons Sergeant in Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3312, Special Operations Task Force-33, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan during combat operations against an armed enemy in Konar Province, Afghanistan on January 25, 2008. While conducting a combat reconnaissance patrol through the Gowardesh Valley, Staff Sergeant Miller and his small element of U.S. and Afghan National Army soldiers engaged a force of 15 to 20 insurgents occupying prepared fighting positions. Staff Sergeant Miller initiated the assault by engaging the enemy positions with his vehicle's turret-mounted Mark-19 40 millimeter automatic grenade launcher while simultaneously providing detailed descriptions of the enemy positions to his command, enabling effective, accurate close air support. Following the engagement, Staff Sergeant Miller led a small squad forward to conduct a battle damage assessment. As the group neared the small, steep, narrow valley that the enemy had inhabited, a large, well-coordinated insurgent force initiated a near ambush, assaulting from elevated positions with ample cover. Exposed and with little available cover, the patrol was totally vulnerable to enemy rocket propelled grenades and automatic weapon fire. As point man, Staff Sergeant Miller was at the front of the patrol, cut off from supporting elements, and less than 20 meters from enemy forces. Nonetheless, with total disregard for his own safety, he called for his men to quickly move back to covered positions as he charged the enemy over exposed ground and under overwhelming enemy fire in order to provide protective fire for his team. While maneuvering to engage the enemy, Staff Sergeant Miller was shot in his upper torso. Ignoring the wound, he continued to push the fight, moving to draw fire from over one hundred enemy fighters upon himself. He then again charged forward through an open area in order to allow his teammates to safely reach cover. After killing at least 10 insurgents, wounding dozens more, and repeatedly exposing himself to withering enemy fire while moving from position to position, Staff Sergeant Miller was mortally wounded by enemy fire. His extraordinary valor ultimately saved the lives of seven members of his own team and 15 Afghanistan National Army soldiers. Staff Sergeant Miller's heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty, and at the cost of his own life, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

 

 

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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for January 25, 2021 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY

 

25 January

1912: Lt Henry H. Arnold flew a Wright plane to an altitude record of 4,764 feet in a 59-minute flight over the Army Aviation School at Augusta, Ga. (24)

1951: KOREAN WAR. Far East Air Forces replaced its Combat Cargo Command with the 315th Air Division (AD) (Combat Cargo). The division received its administrative and logistical support directly from Far East Air Forces. By this date, Combat Cargo had flown 32,362 sorties to deliver 130,170 tons of supplies, deliver 155,294 passengers, and evacuate 72,960 casualties. (28)

1952: KOREAN WAR. A helicopter rescued a downed airman, near the coastline of the Yellow Sea, while F-84s strafed enemy troops in the area. Escorting F-86s destroyed three MiG-15s during the pick-up. In other air-to-air combat, UN jets destroyed six and damaged four communist aircraft. (28)

1957: A B-47 set an unofficial cross-country speed record, flying 2,700 miles from Riverside, Calif., to Boston, Mass., in 3 hours 47 minutes. (24) The Douglas Aircraft Company successfully launched its Thor Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile for the first time. (12) The Lockheed YC121F, a special Superconstellation, set a transcontinental speed record for propeller-driven aircraft by flying from Long Beach, Calif., to Andrews AFB, Md., in 4 hours 43 minutes. (24)

1959: American Airlines used Boeing 707s to inaugurate a regular jet passenger service across the U. S. The 4-hour, 3-minute flight from Los Angeles, Calif., to New York, N. Y. also represented a record time for passenger service. (5)

1960: An Army MIM-23 Hawk missile shot down a MGR-1 Honest John surface-to-surface missile in the first known kill of a ballistic missile by an anti-aircraft missile. (16) (24)

1964: Echo II, a balloon-type passive communications satellite, launched as the first cooperative space experiment between the U. S. and the Soviet Union. (5)

1988: Through 28 January, two C-5 Galaxies flew 102 tons of medical supplies from a private donor to Manila in response to a request from the Philippine government. (16)

1990: In a ceremony at Beale AFB, Calif., the Strategic Air Command retired Lockheed's SR-71 Blackbird from active service. The SR-71 aircrews flew more than 65 million miles at speeds above Mach 2 (more than half above Mach 3) on high altitude reconnaissance missions. (16)

1994: A Titan II booster launched Clementine I, a space probe, to the moon. This mission was the first American lunar effort since Apollo 17 in 1972. (16) (26)

2000: The Air Combat Command Commander, Gen Ralph E. Eberhart, dedicated the first Block D upgraded B-1s at Dyess AFB, Tex. (AFNEWS Article 000140, 2 Feb 00)

2002: After cancelling the X-33 orbital launcher program, the National Air and Space Administration ferried the unfinished X-33 vehicle from Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif., to the X-33 launch facility near Haystack Butte at Edwards AFB, Calif., for indefinite storage. (3)

 

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World News for 25 January thanks to Military Periscope

 

USA—Air Force Academy Beefs Up Its Space Curriculum Space News | 01/25/2021 The Air Force Academy has been strengthening its space offerings in support of the new Space Force, reports Space News. Around 116 members of the class of approximately 1,000 are expected to earn billets in the Space Force this year, Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Richard Clark said on Jan. 21. There are more volunteers to join the Space Force than available slots, he noted. This is the second year that Air Force Academy graduates can elect to serve in the Space Force. Eighty-six graduates joined the new service last year. The Air Force Academy is working to become a space academy by expanding the space curriculum, including increased technical offerings, such as the construction and operation of satellites. Other areas of space education include space law, strategy and operations. 

 

USA—Engine Failure, Crew Error Led To E-11A Crash, Finds Probe Air Combat Command (Usaf) | 01/25/2021 A U.S. Air Force communications aircraft that went down in Afghanistan last year crashed after crew to responded incorrectly to an engine failure, reports Air Combat Command. The E-11A aircraft, equipped with the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) system, assigned to the 430th Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, crashed on Jan. 27, 2020, killing both pilots. An Air Force investigation determined that the crash occurred after a fan blade in the aircraft's left engine broke free, shutting it down, the command said in a release on Jan. 21. The aircrew then responded incorrectly by shutting down the E-11A's right engine, creating a dual engine-out emergency. The aircraft had enough airspeed and altitude to glide to several airfields in range, including Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shank, which was 28 nautical miles (45 km) from its location. The aircrew unsuccessfully attempted to restart the right engine, but in so doing flew out of range of all the nearby airfields. The crew then attempted to glide toward FOB Sharana, but lacked the altitude and airspeed to do so, forcing them to attempt to land in a field about 21 nm short of the base. The aircraft was destroyed in the crash landing and both pilots killed. 

 

USA—Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Operates In S. China Sea U.S. Navy | 01/25/2021 The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group is operating in the South China Sea, reports the U.S. Navy. On Saturday, strike group entered the South China Sea for routine operations, the service said in a release. In addition to the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, the force includes the cruiser Bunker Hill and the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers Russell and John Finn. The group is on a scheduled deployment with the 7th Fleet, with the goal of ensuring freedom of navigation, building relationships with maritime partner forces and conducting a wide range of operations. The strike group is expected to conduct fixed- and rotary-wing flight drills, maritime strike exercises and coordinated tactical training with air and surface units. On Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry criticized U.S. activities in the region, reported Reuters. The U.S. "frequently sends aircraft and vessels into the South China Sea to flex its muscles," which is not conducive to peace or stability, said a ministry spokesman. 

 

USA—Verification Testing Resumes For Army FMTV A2 Trucks Defense News | 01/25/2021 The Army has resumed product verification testing for the latest variant of its Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle (FMTV) trucks, reports Defense News. The service paused the trials of the FMTV A2 in May 2020 after several issues were discovered. At the time, the new vehicle had completed 50,000 miles of a 170,000-mile endurance test. There were problems with the suspension, sensors and hydraulic systems; coolant and engine leaks; stuck doors; and false warning codes on the drive display units. Manufacturer Oshkosh Defense has implemented fixes, such as software upgrades to automate suspension leveling and a tandem high-pressure gas pump for faster suspension height adjustment. The false warning codes were eliminated through software changes. A new hose material and more robust clamps were integrated to address coolant and engine leaks, while a new door handle for "ease of articulation" was installed. Oshkosh has conducted 19,000 miles of contractor-funded shakedown testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., since November. Those trials involve 13 vehicles across six FMTV A2 variants. Three of the variants, totaling seven vehicles, have finished the effort with positive results, allowing product verification testing to resume on Jan. 11. Shakedown testing for the remaining variants is expected to be completed by March. No further schedule or budget issues are anticipated due to the identified problems, and the program is on track to begin full operational test and evaluation in January 2022, said Army program officials. 

 

Spain—Defense Chief Quits Follows Reports He Obtained COVID-19 Shot Out-Of-Turn El Pais | 01/25/2021 Spain's chief of defense staff has resigned following allegations that he used his position to skip the line to receive the novel coronavirus vaccine, reports El Pais (Madrid). On Saturday, Gen. Miguel Angel Villarroya resigned in a letter to Defense Minister Margarita Robles. She has accepted his resignation, reported Agence France-Presse. In his letter, he defended his decision to distribute the vaccine to himself and his subordinates as necessary to protect the military's chain of command. The defense ministry's vaccination plan called for military healthcare personnel to receive the vaccine first, followed by those who will be deployed abroad before moving to personnel in vital positions. Sources from the defense staff told El Pais that the military chiefs were vaccinated after the specified groups and that the generals had been prioritized due to their age. Separately, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska fired a lieutenant colonel of the Civil Guard who had received the vaccine ahead of anyone else in the service. 

 

Russia—More Than 3,000 Arrested At Rallies Backing Navalny British Broadcasting Corp. | 01/25/2021 Russian authorities have arrested more than 3,000 people during protests in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, reports BBC News. On Saturday, demonstrations took place in more than 100 cities across Russia, including major cities like Moscow, St. Petersburg and Vladivostok. More than 40,000 people joined a rally in Moscow, reported Reuters. Officials promised a strong response to the protests in support of Navalny, who was arrested upon his return to Russia on Jan. 17 after spending five months in Germany recovering after being poisoned by the Soviet-era nerve agent novichok. Videos showed police running into crowds to attack protestors. A Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman accused the U.S. Embassy in Moscow of stoking dissent by publishing information on the rallies, reported the Tass news agency. The U.S. Embassy statement warned U.S. citizens to avoid those locations. At least 3,100 people were arrested during the rallies, including 1,200 in Moscow, according to OVD Info, an independent non-governmental organization. 

 

China—Survey Ship Observed Operating In Indian Ocean The Print | 01/25/2021 A Chinese government survey vessel spotted operating without its positioning beacon near Indonesia has now been observed in the eastern Indian Ocean, reports the Print (New Delhi). The Xiang Yang Hong 03 was located while sailing in a search pattern west of the island of Sumatra using satellite and open source intelligence, the website reported on Jan. 22. The ship was observed running dark in Indonesian territorial waters the week before. Beijing is suspected of deploying underwater gliders to map the seabed of the Indian Ocean from the Xiang Yang Hong 03 and similar vessels. Survey ships typically gather current, bathymetry and salinity information that can be used by naval planners to help submarines navigate and avoid detection. The data can also be used for civilian purposes. 

 

Taiwan—Air Force Awards 1st Contract To New F-16 Maintenance Center Taipei Times | 01/25/2021 The Taiwanese air force has awarded an initial contract to a new maintenance center for F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft, reports the Taipei Times. The Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. signed a US$82.12 million contract with the air force command headquarters on Jan. 8 for the maintenance and repair of the service's F-16s through the end of 2025, said an unnamed military source. The F-16 center opened in August 2020 as part of Taiwanese efforts to develop its domestic defense industry and connect it with the international community. The center is focused on servicing Taiwan's F-16 fleet, despite initial ambitions to make it a regional maintenance and repair hub. 

 

Taiwan—More Than 2 Dozen Chinese Military Aircraft Enter ADIZ Taiwan News | 01/25/2021 More than two dozen Chinese military aircraft conducted operations within Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over the weekend, reports the Taiwan News. On Saturday, four J-16 fighters, eight H-6K bombers and a Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft entered the southwestern portion of the ADIZ, according to the ministry of defense. On Sunday, two Su-30 fighters, four J-16s, six J-10 fighters, two Y-8 ASW planes and a Y-8 reconnaissance aircraft operated in the southwest part of the ADIZ. This was the largest number of Chinese aircraft to enter the ADIZ on a single day this year. Taiwan issued radio warnings, tracked the aircraft with air defense missile systems and scrambled fighters to intercept them. The U.S. State Dept. said it was monitoring the situation with concern, reported Reuters. The flights were likely intended to test the Biden administration's resolve to respond to such provocations, said analysts. China increased its operations around Taiwan in 2020, with 1,710 air sorties and 1,029 maritime incursions reported, according to the South China Morning Post. 

 

Australia—Defense Minister Announces Major Investment In Naval Weapons Australian Dept. Of Defense | 01/25/2021 Australian Defense Minister Linda Reynolds has announced a major program to develop new guided weapons for the navy, reports the Australian Dept. of Defense. The Aus$1 billion (US$770 million) project covers long-range anti-ship missiles, extended-range surface-to-air missiles, advanced lightweight torpedoes and maritime land strike capabilities, the department said in a Monday release. Plans call for ranges of more than 230 miles (370 km) for anti-ship and anti-aircraft weapons and 930 miles (1,500 km) for the maritime land strike missile. Reynolds emphasized that the investment would ensure Australia's sovereign defense capacity and was not directed at any particular nation. Separately, the defense minister announced that the decision had been made to evaluate a variant of Australia's new offshore patrol vessels for mine warfare missions. Reynolds also said that the government was committed to building new hydrographic survey ships. 

 

Burma—Deal Inked With Russia For Air Defense Systems, Radars, UAVs Tass | 01/25/2021 Burma has formalized a contract with Russia for various military equipment during a visit by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, reports Russia's Tass news agency. The contract covers Pantsyr-S1 air-defense systems, Orlan-10E UAVs and unidentified radars, the news agency said on Jan. 22. The value of the deals was not made public. These are the first orders for these systems by Burma, which operates a large amount of Russian military equipment, including MiG-29 fighters; Yak-130 trainer jets; Mi-24 and Mi-35P attack helicopters; Pechora-2M air defense systems; and various radars, armored vehicles and artillery. Burma also has placed an order for six Su-30SME fighters, some of which have already been delivered, said Tass. Russia and Burma have strengthened their military relationship over the past five years. Cooperation has included Burmese delegations at the international army games and combat training exercises, including the 2020 Kavkaz exercise, and a 2018 agreement covering procedures for Russian naval vessels to visit Burmese ports. 

 

India—Troops Brawl With Chinese Forces On Border In Sikkim State British Broadcasting Corp. | 01/25/2021 Indian troops have skirmished with Chinese forces along India's northeastern border, reports BBC News. On Jan. 20, a Chinese patrol attempted to enter Indian territory in Naku La in northern Sikkim state, which is sandwiched between Nepal and Bhutan, according to an Indian military statement. Some reports indicated that the combatants used sticks and stones, but no gunshots were fired. In 1996, the neighbors signed an agreement prohibiting the use of guns and explosives along the Line of Actual Control. The Chinese patrol was pushed back. India Today reported that about 20 Chinese soldiers were injured in the confrontation. Both sides brought reinforcements to the area following the fight, reported the Times of India. The state-run Global Times (Beijing) denied the reports of a confrontation between Chinese and Indian troops. 

 

Western Sahara—Polisario Attacks Moroccan Buffer Zone On Border With Mauritania Agence France-Presse | 01/25/2021 Militants in the disputed Western Sahara launched rockets at the Guerguerat buffer zone in the southwestern part of the region, reports Agence France-Presse. The Polisario Front launched four rockets toward the buffer zone in Guerguerat, on the border with Mauritania, the militant group said on Sunday via its Sahara Press Service. The group also claimed attacks along a sand berm wall that separates Moroccan-held portions of the territory from those held by the militants. A Moroccan official confirmed that some attacks had been reported in the area but said they had not affected road traffic. Moroccan forces launched a military operation in the area on Nov. 13 after a group of militants blocked the road to Mauritania. 

 

Ethiopia—U.N. Warns Of Sexual Violence In Tigray Conflict U.N. Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict | 01/25/2021 The U.N. special representative of the secretary-general on sexual violence in conflict has warned that there have been serious allegations of sexual violence during the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region. Reported incidents include women being forced by military elements to exchange sex for basic commodities; sexual violence against women and girls in refugee camps; and individuals being forced to rape members of their own family under threat of imminent violence, Pramila Patten said in a Jan. 21 release. Medical centers are also seeing indicators of increased sexual violence including growing demand for emergency contraception and testing for sexually transmitted infections. Patten called for independent human-rights monitors to be granted immediate unconditional and sustained access to the Tigray region, including internally displaced person (IDP) and refugee camps where there have been reports of violence. She also urged the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan groups to take a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual violence crimes.  

 

Mali—30 Militants Die In Assault On Army Positions Agence France-Presse | 01/25/2021 Around 30 militants have been killed in a coordinated attack on two Malian army posts not far from the border with Burkina Faso, reports Agence France-Presse. Early Sunday morning, militants launched near-simultaneous attacks on army positions near the villages of Boulkessy and Mondoro, the Malian military said. The fighting lasted for about an hour, with six Malian soldiers killed and 18 injured. Around 40 motorcycles and various military equipment was captured from the militants, the army said. Coordination with and quick reaction by the French Barkhane forces resulted in the deaths of about 30 militants, said the military. A Malian source said that the French provided air support following the ambush. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks.  

 

Central African Republic—State Of Emergency Declared As Rebel Groups Surround Bangui British Broadcasting Corp. | 01/25/2021 The Central African Republic government has declared a state of emergency after rebels surrounded the capital, Bangui, reports BBC News. On Jan. 21, a presidential spokesman announced that a state of emergency would enter force at midnight on Jan. 22 and run for 15 days, reported Al Jazeera (Qatar). Under the state of emergency, soldiers will be allowed to make arrests without going through prosecutors. The rebels launched their offensive at the end of December in an attempt to overturn the re-election of President Faustin Archange Touadera. U.N. envoy to the C.A.R. Mankeur Ndiaye warned the Security Council that the conflict could represent a serious security and peacebuilding setback and asked it to increase the number of peacekeepers and extend the mandate of a contingent of Rwandan troops. The peacekeeping force must be expanded by 3,000 troops backed up by attack helicopters and special operations forces, Ndiaye said. The U.N. currently has 12,000 peacekeepers in the C.A.R. 

 

Central African Republic—State Of Emergency Declared As Rebel Groups Surround Bangui British Broadcasting Corp. | 01/25/2021 The Central African Republic government has declared a state of emergency after rebels surrounded the capital, Bangui, reports BBC News. On Jan. 21, a presidential spokesman announced that a state of emergency would enter force at midnight on Jan. 22 and run for 15 days, reported Al Jazeera (Qatar). Under the state of emergency, soldiers will be allowed to make arrests without going through prosecutors. The rebels launched their offensive at the end of December in an attempt to overturn the re-election of President Faustin Archange Touadera. U.N. envoy to the C.A.R. Mankeur Ndiaye warned the Security Council that the conflict could represent a serious security and peacebuilding setback and asked it to increase the number of peacekeepers and extend the mandate of a contingent of Rwandan troops. The peacekeeping force must be expanded by 3,000 troops backed up by attack helicopters and special operations forces, Ndiaye said. The U.N. currently has 12,000 peacekeepers in the C.A.R. 

 

 

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