To All
Good Monday Morning June 26, 2023.
I hope that you all had a great weekend.
Regards,
Skip
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On This Day in Naval and Marine Corps History
June 26
1945 USS Bears (DD 654), USS John Hood (DD 655), USS Jarvis (DD 799), and USS Porter (DD 800) sink three Japanese auxiliary submarine chasers and a guardboat and damage a fourth auxiliary submarine chaser south of Okekotan, Kurils.
1945 USS Parche (SS 384) attacks a Japanese convoy and sinks gunboat Kamitsu Maru and freighter Eikan Maru seven miles of Todo Saki, southern Honshu.
1950 After North Korean invaded South Korea, USS Mansfield (DD 728) and USS De Haven (DD 727) evacuates 700 Americans and friendly foreign nationals from Inchon, Korea.
1962 U.S. Naval Facility, Cape Hatteras, N.C., makes the first Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) detection of a Soviet diesel submarine…And as we know from the recent news on the missing sub it is still working
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Today in World History June 26
363 Roman Emperor Julian dies, ending the Pagan Revival.
1096 Peter the Hermit's crusaders force their way across Sava, Hungary.
1243 The Seljuk Turkish army in Asia Minor is wiped out by the Mongols.
1541 Former followers murder Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish Conqueror of Peru.
1794 The French defeat an Austrian army at the Battle of Fleurus.
1804 The Lewis and Clark Expedition reaches the mouth of the Kansas River after completing a westward trek of nearly 400 river miles.
1844 Julia Gardiner and President John Tyler are married in New York City.
1862 General Robert E. Lee attacks George McClellan's line at Mechanicsville during the Seven Days' campaign.
1863 Jubal Early and his Confederate forces move into Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
1900 The United States announces it will send troops to fight against the Boxer Rebellion in China.
1907 Russia's nobility demands drastic measures be taken against revolutionaries.
1908 Shah Muhammad Ali's forces squelch the reform elements of Parliament in Persia.
1916 Russian General Aleksei Brusilov renews his offensive against the Germans.
1917 General Pershing arrives in France with the American Expeditionary Force.
1918 The Germans begin firing their huge 420 mm howitzer, "Big Bertha," at Paris.
1926 A memorial to the first U.S. troops in France is unveiled at St. Nazaire.
1924 After eight years of occupation, American troops leave the Dominican Republic.
1942 The Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter flies for the first time.
1945 The U.N. Charter is signed by 50 nations in San Francisco, California.
1951 The Soviet Union proposes a cease-fire in the Korean War.
1961 A Kuwaiti vote opposes Iraq's annexation plans.
1963 President John Kennedy announces "Ich bin ein Berliner" at the Berlin Wall.
1971 The U.S. Justice Department issues a warrant for Daniel Ellsberg, accusing him of giving away the Pentagon Papers.
1975 Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is convicted of election fraud.
1993 Roy Campanella, legendary catcher for the Negro Leagues and the Los Angeles Dodgers, dies.
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear … Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post
Skip… For The List for Monday, 26 June 2023… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 26 June 1968…
Robert Pape: "Bombing to Win"… "Rolling Thunder failed, Linebacker I/II succeeded…"
https://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/rolling-thunder-remembered-26-june-1968-north-vietnam-was-not-coerced/
Skip… it has been five years since you ran this story…
Might want to run it again… It's a goodun… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
https://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/28-june-2018-burial-at-sea/
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.
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Thanks to Barrel
Implosions
Here is one explanation of what happens when a vessel, like the mini-sub Titan, under great pressure implodes. When a submarine hull collapses at depth, it moves inward at about 1,500 miles per hour or 2,200 feet per second. A modern nuclear submarine's hull radius is about 20 feet, so the time required for complete collapse is 20/2,200 seconds = about 1 millisecond. A mini-sub's radius is much smaller. A human brain responds instinctually to stimulus at about 25 milliseconds. Human rational response, that is, sense → reason → act, is at best 150 milliseconds. The air inside a sub has a fairly-high concentration of hydrocarbon vapors. When the hull collapses, it behaves like a very large piston in a very large diesel engine (no spark plugs). The air auto-ignites and an explosion follows the initial rapid implosion. Biological large blobs of fat (humans) incinerate and are turned to ash quicker than you can blink your eye. As tragic as their deaths are, the souls onboard Titan likely would not have sensed their demise coming and, therefore, would not have suffered. May they rest in peace.
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Thanks to Mud
Happy Birthday Chesty wherever you are.
S/F,
- Mud
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Thanks to Carl
Brings back some great memories.
Mine's Bigger Than Yours
The modern V8 engine experienced explosive growth from 1955 to 1963 - not just in sales volume, but in displacement. Among the low-priced brands (Chevrolet, Ford and Plymouth), who had the biggest? That depends on the year (charted above), as things never stayed static for very long during that exciting time in the auto industry. While displacement jumped 160 percent, horsepower grew even more. Pontiac, as GM's performance brand, is included for comparison even though their prices were several hundred dollars above the others.
By Philip Doucet
As if on steroids, America's new, affordable overhead-valve (OHV) V8 engines grew from 265 to 427 cubic inches in less than a decade. Not only was that amazingly quick, but a lot of fun for drivers piloting their new powerhouses ever faster down the country's brand new interstate highway system. In this article, we'll take a look at the phenomenal growth of the modern V8 during its early years, focusing on standard full-size cars from Chevrolet, Ford and Plymouth. Those, along with Pontiacs, are the vehicles that were racing in NASCAR and on drag strips across America, hoping to win and drive customers to their dealers' showrooms.
But wait a minute, you say? Cadillac introduced the first modern OHV engine in 1949 with 331 cubic inches (ci), the same year Oldsmobile came out with their 304. Chrysler debuted their famous Hemi at 331 ci in 1951. By 1955, Packard beat all those with its 354. All true, but bragging rights for having the biggest V8 was going to cost you serious money with those brands - such cars were out of reach for the average American, although hot rodders grabbed what they could from junkyards for little money. It would be up to mass-market leaders Ford, Chevrolet and Plymouth to make big cubes affordable to everyone. (We haven't included American Motors in this article because, while they did have competitive V8s available in the mid-to-late 1950s, they stayed on the sidelines while the horsepower race heated up.)
Surprise! Were you expecting to see Chevrolet's revolutionary 1955 small block here? It's not because, at 265 ci, it fell just a hair short of Ford's 272 ci Y-block, pictured above in a 1955 Fairlane Crown Victoria. More importantly, Ford would bump that to 312 ci the following year while Chevy would always be a step behind except for 1961 - '62.
The Quest for Cubic Inches
One often hears reference to the "horsepower wars" of the late 1950s and 1960s. While fans of performance like to quote horsepower figures, the reality in the car market of the era was, as had always been the case from the invention of the automobile, an engine's displacement was more important to most buyers than its actual power output. While many cars have worn (and continue to do so) badges prominently proclaiming their engine displacement, how many have had horsepower figures similarly displayed (if you know of any, please tell us)? Granted, once you had opted for the biggest V8, there were usually options to tempt you, such as upgrading from a 2-barrel to a 4-barrel carburetor, or high-compression versions rather than one that could run on regular-grade gasoline. Those often included hotter camshafts, helping to boost power output. But even if you had the lowliest version, at least you still had bragging rights as having the biggest V8 that was offered.
Emblems announcing underhood content were even popular in the 1920s, as on this 1929 Cadillac. The following year, Cadillac would introduce a V16, and then a V12 in 1931. Prominent emblems for each saved one the trouble of lifting those heavy center-hinged hoods to see what resided inside, and what the owner was able to afford. In 1932, Cadillac V8s started around $3,000. Every extra 4 cylinders added about $700 (more than the cost of Ford's new V8 models), so close to $4,000 for a V12 and $5,000 for the V16s, which were also larger cars.
Ford beat Chevrolet to market with an OHV V8, offering the 239 ci Y-block in its 1954 models. They must have known Chevrolet's plans to introduce a new V8 at 265 ci for 1955 and immediately bored and stroked the 239 up to 272 ci in order to have a bigger displacement. (A 292 was available in the Thunderbird, but that was a premium-priced car.) While Chevy's top offering was rated at 180 hp, Ford's 272 bested that by an additional 2 hp - anything to one-up the competition. Rival Plymouth also offered their first V8 in 1955's models. The 277 ci "A-series" engine, a mere 5 cubic inches bigger than Ford's, was also rated 5 horsepower higher at 187.
Ford vs Chevy vs Plymouth, Round One
Which was better in '55 - Ford's 272 or Chevy's 265? Thanks to its thin-wall casting, stamped steel ball-and-stud rocker arms, hollow pushrods and other unique features, Chevy's "small block," as it would come to be known, weighed a good 100 pounds less than the Ford and quickly garnered a following among performance enthusiasts. However, the Y-block engines in Fords and Mercurys were dominating NASCAR. On the downside, Ford's Y-block would get a reputation for upper-end lubrication problems, while the Chevy had some initial production hiccups and quality problems. Long term, though, the Chevy vastly outlived the Ford as it could eventually be enlarged to 400 ci while Ford's Y-block topped out at 312. Ford would need to create a whole new family of small block V8s, aka the "Windsors," for their 1962 models. Meanwhile, the small-block Chevy quickly grew in popularity to the point nothing else would ever catch it.
What about Plymouth? Prior to 1955's attractive new models, the brand had a rather stodgy image that would take a couple years to turn around. Buick's sales outpaced Plymouth in 1955 and 1956 to take over third spot in total car sales, but Plymouth would regain the spot from 1957 - 1960, perhaps as much due to those outrageous fins as what was under the hood. Though a competent engine, the A-series, which grew to 318 cubic inches by 1957, suffered the same fate as Ford's small block and was limited to a maximum 326 ci. Chrysler's LA series ("Light A" due to its lighter weight), introduced for 1964, would carry the Pentastar torch to the early 1990s in such memorable displacements as 318, 340 and 360 cubic inches.
The 1958 Chevrolet Impala was a big car, so it needed that new 348-cubic-inch big-block to move it. Note the three wingnuts on the air cleaner - this 348 is packing three 2-barrels to make it, with 280 hp, the quickest of them all. Improvements would boost that setup to 335 hp by 1960.
Arrival of the Big Blocks
The Big Three automakers were perfectly in sync for 1958, all introducing new big-block V8s: Ford's FE-series (debuting at 352 ci), Chevrolet's W-series (at 348 ci) and Chrysler's B-series (at 350 ci for Plymouth). Not wanting to be in last place as with their small-block debut, Chevrolet took top horsepower honors at 315, with Plymouth second at 305, and Ford last at 300. While Plymouth upped the ante for 1959 and 1960, offering 361 and 383 cubic inch versions of their B-series engine, Ford and Chevy held firm with their 352 and 348, with horsepower increasing to 335 for the Chevy and 360 for the Ford, though it should be noted that 360 figure was a super rare option intended to make Ford competitive in racing. In reality, almost all 352s were delivered with 300 or fewer horses, the same as it had been in 1958.
While Chevrolet's 348 may have offered, at least on paper, 5 more horses than Plymouth's 383, the latter's Sonoramic Commando ram induction system offered a much more impressive sight under the hood, as in this 1960 Plymouth Fury.
Ford vs Chevy vs Plymouth, Round Two
Ford was sitting out the racing scene from 1958 to 1960 on account of the American Automobile Association's (AMA) ban on automakers' direct involvement in racing of any kind. Chevrolet didn't make the performance crowd happy with its new big block, which not only weighed about 125 pounds more than the small-block, but lacked high-rpm power as it was intended to power light trucks as well as full-size cars. Some commented that perhaps Chevrolet had copied Ford in taking the AMA anti-racing edict a little too seriously. Chrysler, being 3rd among the Big Three, did not feel so constrained and quickly set about enlarging their new big block. By 1960, helped by an additional 35 cubic inches and the tuned ram induction system, a Plymouth's 383 cranked out 330 hp (only 5 less than Chevy's 348) and a remarkable 460 lbs-ft of torque at 2,800 rpm. Chevy's 348 could only manage 362 lb-ft at a much higher 3,600 rpm. More torque offers better acceleration, so you can guess who won that contest!
Chevrolet's legendary 409 first appeared in 1961 sporting 360 horsepower. It reached its peak in 1963 - '64 offering 425 hp courtesy of a dual-quad intake, 11.0:1 compression and solid lifters. Shown above installed in a 1964 Impala SS, if you look closely you'll spot the tiny yellow decal on the air cleaner announcing 425 hp.
Chevrolet seriously upped its game for the 1961 model year, adding a whopping 61 cubic inches to the 348 to produce the 409 and, in the process, creating the stuff of legend with even the Beach Boys singing its praises - "She's real fine my 409." Not to be left behind, Plymouth's 383 B-series made way for the RB-series ("Raised Block") at 413 ci for 1961, which continued to offer the unique ram induction system.
Ford somehow missed the mark for 1961, enlarging their 352 to a mere 390, being the only one not to break the 400-cubic-inch mark. That not only left them in third place in the "whose is bigger" contest, but also on America's drag strips. Drag racing was fast becoming one of the country's most popular motorsports, given how easy it was to build a strip (or use an old airport) compared to what was needed for an oval track. The strips attracted all the local gearheads, and winning brands quickly gained a reputation that turned into sales. Meanwhile, Chevrolet with their 409, and Plymouth with a 413, won the race for capturing the hearts and minds of those who wanted the fastest street machines.
It wasn't until the 1960s, when everyone offered a big-block V8, that it became necessary to announce exactly how far up the cubic-inch ladder one had climbed. Having finally broken the 400-cubic-inch barrier for 1962, Ford created one of the more attractive emblems for its "Thunderbird" V8, available in any full-size Ford but oddly not in a Thunderbird, which continued using the 390. It's shown above on a 1962 Galaxie 500.
How Much Bigger Can We Go?
Quickly realizing their mistake, Ford bored out the 390 to 406 cubic inches for 1962. Though we're not specifically covering them here, Pontiac was starting to clean up at the drags in 1962 with their 421 installed in lightweight Catalinas. Now that everyone was about even in the displacement race, what was next? Who would make the next big jump, perhaps to something over 450 cubic inches? Would we ever hit 500? As it turned out, no one (at least in this price class - Cadillac was the only one to ever do so, for 1970.). Thanks for putting an abrupt stop to ever-larger displacements goes to, of all people, NASCAR who, taking note of the rapid increase in power outputs, decided to limit engine displacement to 7 liters (427 cubic inches) for the 1963 season. That would turn out to be a short-lived band-aid when Chrysler dropped the 426 Hemi on them in 1964, but that's a story for another day.
The Magic Numbers - 426 and 427
Given the new NASCAR regulation, it didn't take long for all three automakers to respond. Ford once again increased the bore on the 406 to get 425.98 cubic inches, a 426 which it decided to advertise as the legal limit - "427." Halfway through the model year, the Galaxie 500 received a new fastback ("Sports Hardtop") design. With improved high-speed aerodynamics, Ford's 427-equipped Galaxies won the 1963 NASCAR Championship. Out on the streets, nearly 5,000 Galaxies were sold with the 427, most of the 410-hp variety, but some with the dual-quad "R-code" option rated at 425 hp. Ford was back in the game, both on the tracks and out in the streets.
Was this the hottest production car for 1963? Ford's Galaxie may have had the hottest engine, but 2 tons was still a lot of weight to haul around.
Chevrolet promptly enlarged their 409 to 427, debuting the engine at the 1963 Daytona 500. Though it's said to have made more horsepower than the Ford, nearly all failed either in practice, qualifying, or the 500-mile race itself. None were ever offered to the public, and a 427 wasn't available in Chevrolets until 1966. That 427 would be a new design, called the Mark IV, that started life as the very popular 396. Until then, Chevy performance fans had to make do with the 409 (though the high-compression, dual-quad version was rated at 425 hp) or the 396 introduced for 1965.
Not to be left behind, Chrysler bored out their 413 to 426 cubic inches for 1963. With an actual displacement of 425.6 ci, they correctly chose to call it a "426," thereby differentiating it from Ford and Chevy's big blocks - something that would turn out to be a great move from a marketing standpoint. The iconic 426 Hemi, introduced for racing duty in 1964 but not available to the public until 1966, would use the identical 4.25-inch bore and 3.75-inch stroke as the 426-ci wedge engine. Plymouths could be optioned with the wedge-style 426 from 1963 through 1965, and the ram induction system was available through 1964.
And the Winner Is...
By the end of our story here in 1964, John Z. DeLorean at Pontiac had taken, and won, a big gamble by offering their 389 - a decent-sized block by any standards, even if not the biggest - in their newly-redesigned intermediate-size Tempest, creating the GTO and marking the start of the muscle car era. After that, the full-size models of the past quickly fell behind the new, lighter, mid-sized fighters for who was quickest on the street and the strips. But if size is what mattered most to you, a new-car buyer in 1964, you were on your way to your local Ford dealer, who could hook you up with 427 cubic inches having 410 ("Thunderbird 4V") or 425 ("Thunderbird 8V") horsepower. Plymouth was a close second with their "Commando 426," though rated at only 365 hp. As a Belvedere, though, with its 116-inch wheelbase carrying only 3,600 pounds was much lighter than a 4,000 pound Galaxie 500 riding on 119 inches, the Plymouth was very competitive.
For 1964, Ford was selling "Total Performance." For 1964, at least, they were able to deliver on that promise.
No, we didn't forget about Chevrolet fans. You guys could order your 1964 Biscayne (at 3,700 a few pounds lighter than a Bel Air or Impala) with a 425-hp 409 packing 11.0:1 compression and dual quads and go out and probably beat both the Fords and the Plymouths. But you certainly wouldn't be able to say "Mine's bigger than yours!"
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This still works great
Thanks to Carl….A combat nap is a great way to get a burst of energy (OOPS, my secret routine is revealed!)
https://hotair.com/archives/2019/06/27/naps-are-good-for-you-helathy-habit/
FANtastic News: Naps Make You Smarter, Nicer ANDREW MALCOLMPosted at 2:41 pm on June 27, 2019 Finally, a scientific explanation for how some of us of a certain age have gotten so much smarter than others over the years.
Naps.
Some wise cultures around the world with high noontime temperatures have midday breaks for a whole hour or two called siestas, which is Spanish for "four commutes a day."
When many Americans were younger, naps were punishment or an enforced rest to allow a presiding adult to grab some ZZZ's too. Decades later, naps have become like delightful little vacations.
Now, it turns out, naps are not only restorative, especially if you haven't slept well at night. But they also improve mood (check), physical performance (meh), even the ability to learn (check) and enhanced memory (can't remember).
This all sounds so good that it might not be totally true. But we're going with select health literature that says it is.
Most Americans employers have this crazy notion that they're paying to work, not sleep. So, you're supposed to power through those dozey times after lunch when the eyelids have a lazy mind of their own.
Unfortunately, studies have shown that short naps like 10 minutes are the best for maximum benefit and least wake-up fog. Some of us do not mind such half-awake moments. They remind of a Saturday morning which by the way is now only two days away.
One study a few years ago found:
The benefits of brief (5-15 min) naps are almost immediate after the nap and last a limited period (1-3h).
Longer naps (> 30 min) can produce impairment from sleep inertia for a short period after waking but then produce improved cognitive performance for a longer period (up to many hours).
The time of day that seems to produce the most benefits is early afternoons.
And another key factor is that nap benefits increase most when they become regular events, as in a habit at roughly the same time of day. The body gets into its own rest rhythm.
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Thanks to Dennis. This story was in the list a couple of years ago but it is worth the repeat.
Saga of the Pacific Clipper
The Accidental Round-the-World Flight of the Pacific Clipper
This is a great read
A REALLY SUSPENSEFUL read of about 20 minutes. Spare the time! You'll be glad you did. the "California Clipper" was the first commercial aircraft to circumnavigate the globe. The risks they had to take were unprecedented to avoid destruction by the Japanese after war was declared on Dec 5th. What started as a routine shuttle between San Francisco and Auckland, New Zealand (and back across the Pacific to S.F.) turned out to be a trip around the world to New York by returning home from the OPPOSITE DIRECTION to avoid Pacific hostile Jap fighters.
Dennis
Written by John Bull, Writer and Historian - Aug 11, 2014 This Plane Accidentally Flew Around the World After Pearl Harbor, the crew of Pan Am flight 18602 was forced to do the impossible
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This day in US Military History
June 26
1917 – During World War I, the first 14,000 U.S. infantry troops land in France at the port of Saint Nazaire. The landing site had been kept secret because of the menace of German submarines, but by the time the Americans had lined up to take their first salute on French soil, an enthusiastic crowd had gathered to welcome them. However, the "Doughboys," as the British referred to the green American troops, were untrained, ill-equipped, and far from ready for the difficulties of fighting along the Western Front. One of U.S. General John J. Pershing's first duties as commander of the American Expeditionary Force was to set up training camps in France and establish communication and supply networks. Four months later, on October 21, the first Americans entered combat when units from the U.S. Army's First Division were assigned to Allied trenches in the Luneville sector near Nancy, France. Each American unit was attached to a corresponding French unit. Two days later, Corporal Robert Bralet of the Sixth Artillery became the first U.S. soldier to fire a shot in the war when he discharged a French 75mm gun into a German trench a half mile away. On November 2, Corporal James Gresham and privates Thomas Enright and Merle Hay of the 16th Infantry became the first American soldiers to die when Germans raided their trenches near Bathelemont, France. After four years of bloody stalemate along the Western Front, the entrance of America's well-supplied forces into the conflict was a major turning point in the war. When the war finally ended on November 11, 1918, more than two million American soldiers had served on the battlefields of Western Europe, and more than 50,000 of these men had lost their lives.
1944 – Coast Guard LCDR Quentin R. Walsh and his small commando/reconnaissance unit forced the surrender of Fort du Homet, a Nazi stronghold at Cherbourg, France, and captured 300 German soldiers and liberated 50 U.S. paratroopers who had been captured on D-Day. For his heroic actions Walsh was awarded the Navy Cross.
1948 – In response to the Soviet blockade of land routes into West Berlin, the United States begins a massive airlift of food, water, and medicine to the citizens of the besieged city. For nearly a year, supplies from American planes sustained the over 2 million people in West Berlin. On June 24, 1948, the Soviet Union blocked all road and rail travel to and from West Berlin, which was located within the Soviet zone of occupation in Germany. The Soviet action was in response to the refusal of American and British officials to allow Russia more say in the economic future of Germany. The U.S. government was shocked by the provocative Soviet move, and some in President Harry S. Truman's administration called for a direct military response. Truman, however, did not want to cause World War III. Instead, he ordered a massive airlift of supplies into West Berlin. On June 26, 1948, the first planes took off from bases in England and western Germany and landed in West Berlin. It was a daunting logistical task to provide food, clothing, water, medicine, and other necessities of life for the over 2 million fearful citizens of the city. For nearly a year, American planes landed around the clock. Over 200,000 planes carried in more than one-and-a-half million tons of supplies. The Soviets persisted with the blockade until May 1949. By then, however, it was apparent to everyone concerned that the blockade had been a diplomatic fiasco for the Russians. Around the world, the Soviets were portrayed as international bullies, holding men, women, and children hostage in West Berlin and threatening them with starvation. The unbelievably successful American airlift also backfired against the Russians by highlighting the technological superiority of the United States. By the time the Soviets ended the blockade, West Germany had become a separate and independent nation and the Russian failure was complete.
1950 – Far East Air Forces cargo planes began the evacuation of 700 U.S. State Department and Korean Military Advisory Group employees and their families. FEAF also sent ten F-51 Mustang fighters to the ROK forces.
1951 – The Soviet Union proposed a cease-fire in the Korean War.
1959 – In a ceremony presided over by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Queen Elizabeth II, the St. Lawrence Seaway is officially opened, creating a navigational channel from the Atlantic Ocean to all the Great Lakes. The seaway, made up of a system of canals, locks, and dredged waterways, extends a distance of nearly 2,500 miles, from the Atlantic Ocean through the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Duluth, Minnesota, on Lake Superior. Work on the massive project was initiated by a joint U.S.-Canadian commission in 1954, and five years later, in April 1959, the icebreaker D'Iberville began the first transit of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Since its official opening, more than two billion tons of cargo, with an estimated worth of more than $300 billion, have moved along its canals and channels. Twenty-eight Naval vessels sail from Atlantic to Great Lakes, arrive to mark the formal opening of Saint Lawrence Seaway to seagoing ships.
1962 – NAVFAC Cape Hatteras makes first Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) detection of a Soviet diesel submarine.
1973 – Navy Task Force 78 completes minesweeping of North Vietnamese ports.
1992 – Navy Secretary H. Lawrence Garrett III resigned, accepting responsibility for a "leadership failure" that resulted in the Tailhook sex-abuse scandal.
Thanks to Dan and the one below appears to be yet another. In response to Dan's note we started Identifying these men by looking at the time and place of the action. Generally all of them took place in the Italian campaign and there are a lot of them.
Skip,
I don't know where you get the list of people who earned the Medal of Honor, each day, but here is a question. The summary format on "The List" for each person who earned the Medal of Honor is the same, except for those who are Japanese-American. For everyone else, the unit of assignment is given, such as "Company, Battalion, Division, etc. However, the unit of assignment, for those with Japanese-American names, is never given. I have noticed this in dozens of "The List", including todays "List".
Almost all of the Japanese-Americans who served in WWII, were assigned to the 442nd Infantry, a Hawaiian military unit which is now part of the Hawaiian National Guard, and which served in Italy and Southeastern Europe during WWII. They became the most decorated military unit in the U.S. Army during WWII, and served while many had members of their families who were held at Internment Facilities (such as Manzanar, in California). Almost all were "Nisei", or second generation, Hawaiian residents (decades before Hawaii became a state).
I know their history, because I served with many "Nisei" and "Sansei" (3rd generation) in Hawaii, in 1968, and then with a "Sansei", in 1972-73. In 1968, at the peak of our involvement in Vietnam, and because of civilian antipathy towards everything military, the U.S. government elected to mobilize the Hawaiian National Guard, as a test case to deploy the reserve forces in Vietnam. They chose the Hawaiian National Guard because there was nowhere else in the country where the military had greater support by the general civilian population, than in Hawaii.
If anyone doubts their valor, let them visit the military museum at Ft. DeRussey, HI, in the heart of Wakiki Beach.
Excuse my diatribe, but they deserve to have their unit of assignment identified in "The List", so that everyone recognizes their unit of assignment, and the role that unit played in WWII.
Dan
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
*MURANAGA, KIYOSHI K.
Private First Class Kiyoshi K. Muranaga distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 26 June 1944, near Suvereto, Italy. Private First Class Muranaga's company encountered a strong enemy force in commanding positions and with superior firepower. An enemy 88mm self-propelled gun opened direct fire on the company, causing the men to disperse and seek cover. Private First Class Muranaga's mortar squad was ordered to action, but the terrain made it impossible to set up their weapons. The squad leader, realizing the vulnerability of the mortar position, moved his men away from the gun to positions of relative safety. Because of the heavy casualties being inflicted on his company, Private First Class Muranaga, who served as a gunner, attempted to neutralize the 88mm weapon alone. Voluntarily remaining at his gun position, Private First Class Muranaga manned the mortar himself and opened fire on the enemy gun at a range of approximately 400 yards. With his third round, he was able to correct his fire so that the shell landed directly in front of the enemy gun. Meanwhile, the enemy crew, immediately aware of the source of mortar fire, turned their 88mm weapon directly on Private First Class Muranaga's position. Before Private First Class Muranaga could fire a fourth round, an 88mm shell scored a direct hit on his position, killing him instantly. Because of the accuracy of Private First Class Muranaga's previous fire, the enemy soldiers decided not to risk further exposure and immediately abandoned their position. Private First Class Muranaga's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
WILLIAMS, JOHN
Rank and organization: Captain of the Maintop, U.S. Navy. Born: 1828, New Orleans, La. Accredited to: Louisiana. G.O. No.: 11, 3 April 1863. Citation: Serving as captain of the maintop of the U.S.S. Pawnee in the attack upon Mathias Point, 26 June 1861, Williams told his men, while lying off in the boat, that every man must die on his thwart sooner than leave a man behind. Although wounded by a musket ball in the thigh he retained the charge of his boat; and when the staff was shot away, held the stump in his hand, with the flag, until alongside the Freeborn.
CALLEN, THOMAS J.
Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 7th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date. At Little Big Horn, Mont., 25-26 June 1876. Entered service at: Boston, Mass. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 24 October 1896. Citatlon: Volunteered and succeeded in obtaining water for the wounded of the command; also displayed conspicuously good conduct in assistlng to drive away the Indians.
GOLDIN, THEODORE W.
Rank and organization: Private, Troop G, 7th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Little Big Horn, Mont., 26 June 1876. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Born: 25 July 1855, Avon, Rock County, Wis. Date of issue: 21 December 1895. Citation: One of a party of volunteers who, under a heavy fire from the Indians, went for and brought water to the wounded .
GREAVES, CLINTON
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company C, 9th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Florida Mountains, N. Mex., 24 January 1877. Entered service at: Prince Georges County, Md. Birth: Madison County, Va. Date of issue: 26 June 1879. Citation: While part of a small detachment to persuade a band of renegade Apache Indians to surrender, his group was surrounded. Cpl. Greaves in the center of the savage hand-to-hand fighting, managed to shoot and bash a gap through the swarming Apaches, permitting his companions to break free .
SCOTT, GEORGE D.
Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 7th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Little Big Horn, Mont., 25-26 June 1876. Entered service at: Mt. Vernon, Ky. Birth: Lancaster County, Ky. Date of issue: 5 October 1878. Citation: Voluntarily brought water to the wounded under fire.
STIVERS, THOMAS W.
Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 7th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Little Big Horn, Mont., 25-26 June 1876. Entered service at: Mt. Vernon, Ky. Birth: Madison County, Ky. Date of issue: 5 October 1878. Citation: Voluntarily brought water to the wounded under fire.
WELCH, CHARLES H.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company D, 7th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Little Big Horn, Mont., 25-26 June 1876. Entered service at: Ft. Snelling, Minn. Birth: New York, N.Y. Date of issue 5 October 1878. Citation: Voluntarily brought water to the wounded under fire.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for June 26
FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR June 26 THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
26 June
1909: Glenn H. Curtiss flew his first Curtiss airplane in exhibitions at the Aeronautical Society's meet at Morris Park aerodrome. These were the first flights over New York City. (24)
1942: The F6F Hellcat first flew.
1944 – Coast Guard LCDR Quentin R. Walsh and his small commando/reconnaissance unit forced the surrender of Fort du Homet, a Nazi stronghold at Cherbourg, France, and captured 300 German soldiers and liberated 50 U.S. paratroopers who had been captured on D-Day. For his heroic actions Walsh was awarded the Navy Cross.
1945: B-29s started nighttime raids on Japanese oil refineries. (20)
1946: The Aeronautical Board agreed that the US AAF and US Navy would use the knot and nautical mile as standard aeronautical units of speed and distance. (20)
1948: KEY EVENT--Operation VITTLES. An airlift began with C-47s in response to the blockade of Berlin. At Furstenfeldbruck, Germany, SAC had a 30l BG squadron with B-29s in place for training. SAC also ordered two other 30lst squadrons to Furstenfeldbruck along with the 28 BG from Rapid City AFB and 307 BG from MacDill AFB to England for alert duty. (1) (2) The 7 BG at Carswell AFB received SAC's first B-36A Peacemaker (44-92004). With its 160- foot length and 230-foot wingspan, the six-engine Peacemaker was the world's largest warplane. The bomber had an intercontinental capability. (1) (12) (21)
1950: President Truman ordered the USAF and US Navy to aid South Korea, which had been invaded by the North Korean Communist forces. The 68th Fighter All-Weather Squadron flew F-82 Twin Mustangs to provide cover for a Norwegian ship evacuating US citizens from Seoul, Korea, by sea. SB-17 planes then covered the ship's movement from Inchon to Japan. In continued preparation for air evacuation of US citizens from Korea, FEAF traded C-54s for C-47s from all over the Far East to permit operations on smaller airfields. (21) (28)
1954: Operation WOUNDED WARRIOR. Through 17 July, airlift aircraft from FEAF and MATS carried 509 French Foreign Legion veterans from Saigon, Vietnam, to Paris, France, and Oran, Algeria, by way of Tokyo and Westover AFB, Mass. The 14,000-mile airlift had to follow an eastern route for political reasons. (18)
1956: An aircraft flew the first mission in the CARTRAC air traffic control tests conducted at Shaw AFB. This test continued through 15 December.
1957: TAC's first WB-66 weather reconnaissance aircraft arrived for duty with the 9th Reconnaissance Squadron, 363d TRW, at Shaw AFB.
1962: At Vandenberg AFB, a 389 SMS crew of Francis E. Warren AFB successfully launched an Atlas D in the first test of the Army's Nike-Zeus interceptor. The interception failed. (6)
1963: A Thor-Delta rocket launched NASA's SYNCOM II communications satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral. Five hours later, an apogee kick motor fired to place the satellite into a synchronus orbit. (16)
1964: Through 24 July, C-130s delivered over 950 tons of food to remote areas in Pakistan in affected by flooding. (18)
1971: The last F-100 unit in Southeast Asia, the 35 TFW at Phan Rang AB in S. Vietnam, ceased operations. (17)
1972: The Air Force unveiled the F-15 superiority fighter in ceremonies at the McDonnell Douglas facility in St. Louis. (30)
1983: Through 1 July, three USAF C-130s moved 170 tons of food, medicine, and other relief supplies to help victims of a flood in northwestern Peru. (16)
1994: A 60 AW C-5 from Travis AFB flew a 34-ton Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine to Chernobyl, Ukraine. There, medical specialists used the machine to treat victims of the 1986 nuclear reactor meltdown. (16)
2001: Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld proposed a one-third cut in USAF's fleet of 93 B-1B bombers. Under that initiative, which surprised Congress and the National Guard Bureau, the ANG B-1B units in Georgia and Kansas would lose their B-1s and unit funding by 1 October 2001. (32)
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Thanks to Brett
STRATFOR
THE WEEKLY RUNDOWN
RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL SHAPE THE COMING WEEK
KEY DEVELOPMENTS WE'RE TRACKING
Guatemala holds general elections. Guatemalans vote June 25 for president, vice president, all 160 seats of Congress, and mayors and councilors for all of the country's 340 municipalities. Given that more than 20 candidates are seeking the presidency, a run-off vote will almost certainly occur Aug. 20, as polling indicates no presidential candidate is likely to achieve enough votes to win outright. The election comes amid yearslong reversals in the country's fight against corruption, with the government of outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei facing repeated corruption allegations. Although the top three candidates — Sandra Torres, Zury Rios and Edmond Mulet — represent a range of political beliefs, all are entrenched political elites, making it unlikely that Guatemala's next president will take significant steps to combat corruption.
Pakistan's IMF bailout program expires. Pakistan's $6 billion International Monetary Fund bailout package originally signed in 2019 is set to expire June 30, heightening the risk that Pakistan will default if it fails to unlock the bailout's final tranche amid dwindling foreign exchange reserves. Pakistani officials have in recent weeks intensified efforts to secure the final $1.1 billion tranche of the bailout package. While the IMF recently said it remains willing to work with Pakistan's government, IMF officials also recently criticized Pakistan's budget, casting doubt on Pakistan's prospects. Without an IMF bailout unlocking funds from other lenders, Pakistan's financing options beyond June have been assessed by ratings agency Moody's as "highly uncertain," increasing risks of a default — and of consequent shortages of essential goods and ensuing unrest.
Saudi Arabia tries to re-capture pre-pandemic Hajj numbers. With the Hajj beginning June 23, Riyadh is trying to lure back the 2.4 million pilgrims who visited in 2019 after years of pandemic-era restrictions. While officials estimate Saudi Arabia may only reach 2 million pilgrims this year, that would still be an improvement over 2022, when only 1 million visited. Even as the pandemic eases, inflation, global macroeconomic uncertainty and increasingly high temperatures amid climate change may deter pilgrims from returning quickly, and might dash Saudi Arabia's goal of bringing some 30 million pilgrims annually for both Hajj and Umrah as part of its Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy. Fewer pilgrims than expected will deter foreign investors from investing in Saudi Arabia's tourism sector, leaving its development — and possible losses — to state-backed funds like the Public Investment Fund.
Vietnam's premier visits China. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on June 25-28 will visit Beijing as the USS Ronald Reagan makes a rare port call to Vietnam through June 30. The visit comes following the latest episode in the disputed South China Sea, in which Vietnamese vessels trailed a Chinese survey ship and its armed escort within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone for weeks. The South China Sea issue will be discussed, but progress is unlikely. Instead, the main purpose of the Vietnamese visit is to balance outreach to the United States and its partners with engagement with China and Russia. Vietnam's flurry of moves could also represent preparation for a potential July visit to Washington by Vietnamese Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong.
MOST READ ANALYSIS FROM THE WEEK
Mexico and Brazil: What Lies Ahead for Latin America's Largest Economies
While Brazil and Mexico have proven financially resilient in the face of tighter global financial conditions, insufficient structural reforms in both countries and global economic fragmentation will stymy their economic growth in the coming years. However, compared with Brazil, Mexico is poised to fare better for the remainder of the decade thanks to its stronger economic fundamentals and closer trade ties with the United States. Mexico has been able to avoid a major financial crisis for nearly 30 years, while Brazil hasn't experienced a major crisis since 2002. This is owed to the fact that both countries benefit from solid external debt positions and manageable external financing requirements, while limited foreign-currency mismatches enable them to adjust to external financing through currency depreciation rather than precipitous and often financially damaging currency devaluations. Indeed, while the Mexican and Brazilian economies experienced downturns in the wake of the 2008-09 global financial crisis, as well as during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21, the countries avoided broader financial instability. Both economies will again prove resilient in the current context of China's ongoing economic weakness, high U.S. and EU interest rates, and the global economy's increasing fragmentation. But while the countries may avoid financial destabilization in the years ahead, Brazil and Mexico's economic growth will remain low due to external headwinds and a lack of domestic reforms.
Will Ireland Join NATO?
Despite an ongoing debate, Ireland is unlikely to join NATO anytime soon, but the country will probably adjust its security doctrine to bring it closer to the alliance and improve its protection from Russia's unconventional aggression. On June 22, Ireland began a four-day public consultation to review the country's foreign, security and defense policies, including the specific question of NATO membership. The Consultative Forum includes academics, researchers, politicians, representatives from EU member states, and members of the general public. Once the debate is over, the forum will issue a report for Ireland's foreign ministry, which will then decide whether to make recommendations to the broader Irish government.
What to Watch For as India's Modi Visits the U.S.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official state visit to the United States will likely see the announcement of multiple agreements that will strengthen India's domestic defense industry and bolster U.S.-India defense ties. Modi is currently in the United States for his first official state visit to the country, following high-level but non-official state visits in prior years. The June 21-24 trip will only be the third official state visit ever by an Indian prime minister, and the first since former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's official state visit in November 2009. After attending a June 21 commemoration of International Yoga Day at the United Nations in New York, Modi landed in Washington this afternoon, where tomorrow he'll address a joint session of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate (making him the first Indian prime minister to have given two speeches to U.S. Congress) and attend an official state dinner. During his visit, Modi is also expected to attend a private meeting in Washington, D.C., with the CEOs of the United States' top 20 companies; a luncheon at the Department of State hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken; and a June 23 dinner reception with members of the Indian diaspora community at the Ronald Reagan Building. Thousands of Indian Americans are reportedly expected to travel to Washington to welcome Modi and participate in various related events.
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