To All,
Good Saturday morning December 30. As we pass into another year I hope you all have a great new years eve and that your new year starts off well and remains that way.
The family of Joe Zahalka thanks you all for attending the service and celebration of life yesterday.
It was well done by the National Cemetery and the Officers Club and MCAS MIramar
Regards,
Skip
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History (thanks to NHHC)
Here is a link to the NHHC website: https://www.history.navy.mil/
December 30
1920—USS John D. Ford (DD 228) is commissioned. She serves in both the Atlantic and the Pacific during World War II and receives a Presidential Unit Citation, specifically honoring her "extraordinary heroism in action" during the Java Campaign, Jan. 23 – March 2, 1942 and four battle stars.
1942—USS Greenling (SS 213) attacks a Japanese convoy 180 miles northeast of Manus, Admiralty Islands and sinks Army cargo ship Hiteru Maru and damages cargo ship Ryufuku Maru while USS Thresher (SS 200) sinks the Japanese freighter Haichan Maru west of Mata Siri Island, off the southern tip of Borneo.
1943—USS Bluefish (SS 222) sinks Japanese oiler Ichiyu Maru in the Java Sea.
1944—USS Block Island (CVE 106) is commissioned, serving until decommissioned in 1954. Struck from the Navy list in 1959, ex-Block Island is sold to Kowa Koeki Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Naka, of Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo and scrapped a year later.
1944—USS Razorback (SS 394) attacks a Japanese convoy going from Manila to Takao, about 60 miles southeast of Formosa, and sinks the destroyer Kuretake in the Bashi Channel. The Japanese cargo ships Brazil Maru and Oi Maru are also damaged during this attack.
1959—The first fleet ballistic missile submarine, USS George Washington (SSBN 598), is commissioned.
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Today in World History: December 30
1460 The Duke of York is defeated and killed by Lancastrians at the Battle of Wakefield.
1803 The United States takes possession of the Louisiana area from France at New Orleans with a simple ceremony, the simultaneous lowering and raising of the national flags.
1861 Banks in the United States suspend the practice of redeeming paper money for metal currency, a practice that would continue until 1879.
1862 The draft of the Emancipation Proclamation is finished and circulated among President Abraham Lincoln's cabinet for comment.
1905 Governor Frank Steunenberg of Idaho is killed by an assassin's bomb.
1922 Soviet Russia is renamed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
1932 The Soviet Union bars food handouts for housewives under 36 years of age. They must now work to eat.
1947 Romania's King Michael is forced to abdicate by Soviet-backed Communists. Communists now control all of Eastern Europe.
1965 Ferdinand E. Marcos is sworn in as the Philippine Republic's sixth president.
1972 After two weeks of heavy bombing raids on North Vietnam, President Nixon halts the air offensive and agrees to resume peace negotiations with Hanoi representative Le Duc Tho.
1976 Governor Carey of New York pardons seven inmates, closing the book on the Attica uprising.
2006 Saddam Hussein, former Iraq dictator, is executed by hanging for crimes committed against his own people during his rule.
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OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT Thanks to the Bear
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Skip… For The List for Monday, 25 December 2023 through Sunday, 7 January 2024… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT I (1968-1972)… Weeks 7 & 8…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for December 1968…
Christmas Season 1968: historic events, painful losses and heroic sacrifice…
Thanks to Micro
To remind folks that these are from the Vietnam Air Losses site that Micro put together. You click on the url below and get what happened each day to the crew of the aircraft. ……Skip
From Vietnam Air Losses site for "Saturday 30 December
December 30: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=2792
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.
Vietnam Air Losses
Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
This is a list of all Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Listed by last name and has other info https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/KIAINDEX.HTM
MOAA - Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Servicemembers Killed in the Vietnam War
(This site was sent by a friend last week and I forgot to forward. The site works, find anyone you knew in "search" feature. https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/ )
Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Service members Killed in the Vietnam War
By: Kipp Hanley
AUGUST 15, 2022
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FROM: Joe C.
SUBJ: NAMPOW & WW RR Bill Wilson's Recollections of 29 MARCH 1973
Bill Wilson's remarks bring the Operation Linebacker email series to a fitting close.
This will be one of two messages dealing with the experiences of leaving Hanoi. This key message will be the first. It deals with the recollections of Bill Wilson upon his release from captivity in the Hanoi Hilton following his shoot down and capture 22DEC72 in his F-111A during Operation Linebacker II.
As a part of the conclusion of the LB II series of emails I have included the "Dogpatch" phase.
Bill Wilson's Recollection of 29MAR73
On the 29th of March, I was on the last bus out of the Zoo to be released. Our guards on the bus told us not to make any noise. As we went out the gate there was a fairly large crowd watching our exit and our bus was hit by a rock or two which surprised me. I was looking for bomb damage since I knew that the NVN were claiming lots of collateral damage but it didn't see any. We After we crossed the Paul Doumer bridge and heading for Gia Lam airport, I was looking out the left side of the bus. The road took us right next to the rail road yard that had been the main rail road yard in Hanoi. I knew it was a rail road yard because there were multiple big steam locomotives, the kind that pulled freight cross country, completely turned upside down and others laying on their sides. The area was completely plowed just like a freshly plowed Iowa farm in the spring but not yet harrowed. The area was a real mess. There wasn't a single rail car recognizable although there was also lots of twisted rails at various angle sticking up the into the air. On the right side of the road there were a few strings of bomb craters but absolutely nothing compared the to the accuracy on the rail yard on the left. Amazing bombing from 33,000 feet! I was surprised that the NVN let us see that destruction of a true military target. I was amazed but no one spoke about it on the bus. I guess no one wanted to push it with the NVN most likely because there was still the uncertainty that we would be released today. We were supposed to be released yesterday but there was some problem with the release of our guys in the south. I did not breath easily until the pilot announced that we were out of NVN air space and were being escorted by our fighters then I cheered loudly as did the rest of us.
Bill Wilson recounting the fate of the Jolly Green that tried to rescue him
Here is the info on the HH-53 Jolly Green that almost rescued me on the 27th. It was normally called Jolly 788 but once committed to the rescue the call sign became Jolly 01. (See attached "Pasted Graphic)
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OOOPS
Thanks to Boysie ...and Dr.Rich
Who's Your Daddy?
A very elderly couple is having an elegant dinner to celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary.
The old man leans forward and says softly to his wife; "Dear, there is something that I must ask you. It has always bothered me that our tenth child never quite looked like the rest of our children. Now I want to assure you that these 75 years have been the most wonderful experience I could have ever hoped for, and your answer cannot take that all that away. But, I must know, did he have a different father?"
The wife drops her head, unable to look her husband in the eye, she paused for a moment and then confessed. "Yes, Yes he did."
The old man is very shaken, the reality of what his wife was admitting hit him harder than he had expected.
With a tear in his eye he asks; "Who? Who was he? Who was the father?"
Again the old woman drops her head, saying nothing at first as she tried to muster the courage to tell the truth to her husband. Then, finally, she says, "You."
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From the Archives
I am wading through email and found this one from Barrel
Thanks to Bruddah ....
in War, Good Will toward Men - American Thinker
Date: December 25, 2022 at 8:33:22 AM MST
It was 21 degrees here at Wacahoota Station this Christmas morning, but we were inside enjoying the warmth. December 1944 in Belgium was historically cold and those soldiers had no inside to get warm.
This story gives life to "Peace on Earth towards men of good will."
Merry Christmas from Wacahoota Station 🚂
[Lots of interesting history at the many links in the story]
December 25, 2022
Even in War, Good Will toward Men
By J.B. Shurk
With so much darkness around us today, it is easy to lose hope and faith. To be sure, those who wish us ill take pleasure from our pain. However, it is often when we are nearly broken that God lifts us up and provides us peace. This time of year is filled with those moments. Call them Christmas miracles or answered prayers, but they are real and worth remembering.
One such story that has always stuck with me is that of Fritz Vincken, who was twelve years old and living with his mother, Elisabeth, in a small hunting cabin in the Ardennes Forest during the worst fighting of the Battle of the Bulge. His father had hidden them in the secluded mountain hut across the Belgian border after the family's bakery and home were destroyed during allied bombing in Aachen, Germany. While Fritz's dad baked bread for German soldiers at the front line, Fritz and his mother had little food, except for what they could forage.
On a freezing Christmas Eve night, as they struggled to ignore distant gunfire and prepared a meager meal made from a scrawny rooster and some potatoes, there was a loud knock on the door. Fritz's heart leapt, believing that it was his father finally returning. Instead, it was three Americans from the 121st Infantry, 8th Division — all suffering from frostbite and one seriously injured. "My mother knew the penalty for harboring the enemy," Fritz recalled, "but when she looked into the young Americans' eyes and saw that one was badly hurt, she opened the door and let them in." They added some potatoes to the stew for their tired, hungry guests and attended to the American's gunshot wound the best they could, and because the soldiers spoke no German and the Vinckens spoke no English, they relied on hand signals and broken French for communication.
Then came more pounding from outside. When Elisabeth cautiously opened the hut's door, she found four freezing Wehrmacht soldiers looking for shelter. "I was almost paralyzed with fear," Fritz recounted, "for though I was a child, I knew that harsh law of war: Anyone giving aid and comfort to the enemy would be shot." Had any other person opened the door on that frigid Christmas Eve night in 1944, the killing fields of the Ardennes would almost certainly have claimed more victims. Instead, Elisabeth took control of the situation, wishing the young Germans a "Fröhliche Weihnachten" and inviting them in for food and rest upon two conditions: (1) that they leave their weapons outside and (2) respect her Christmas guests. "She reminded them that it was Christmas Eve and told them sternly there would be no shooting around here." While Fritz "stood and stared in disbelief," the Wehrmacht soldiers complied. She then ran back to the Americans; who had grown nervous, spoke gently in a language they could not understand; and grabbed their weapons, too.
At first the tiny cabin was uncomfortably tense. Then one of the Germans, who had been a medical student, offered to assist the wounded American, noticeably weak from blood loss. The Americans pulled out some coffee grounds and cigarettes from a tattered pack, and one of the other Germans offered some scraps of bread. Fritz added what few ingredients they had to the stew, and his "mother read from the Bible and declared that there would be at least one night of peace in this war."
"Komm, Herr Jesus," she prayed, "and be our guest." "There were tears in her eyes," Fritz remembered, "and as I looked around the table, I saw that the battle-weary soldiers were filled with emotion." After dinner the seven soldiers, who had been bitter enemies just hours before, fell into a deep sleep, side by side. When they woke the next morning, they exchanged Christmas greetings and set to work building a makeshift stretcher from tree branches for the wounded American. The Germans advised the Americans to avoid a town that had been taken over by Nazi forces and gave them a map and compass that would get them back to their friends. Elisabeth returned their weapons and prayed, "May God bless and watch over you." Then the soldiers shook hands and went their separate ways.
For Fritz, his mother had been nothing short of a hero. "The inner strength of a single woman, who, by her wits and intuition, prevented potential bloodshed, taught me the practical meaning of the words: 'Good Will Toward Mankind.'"
Fritz and his parents survived the war, and because the young boy saw those Americans in his shack as "liberators," he eventually immigrated to the United States, became an American citizen, and opened up a German bakery of his own in Honolulu, Hawaii. After telling his story to his new countrymen for years, he eventually submitted details of the miraculous Christmas Eve during the Battle of the Bulge to Readers Digest, and a much larger audience learned of the rare peace shared for a few hours amid the cold, bloody landscape of the Ardennes. In retelling Fritz's experience during a trip to Germany in 1985, President Reagan urged others to do the same, "because none of us can ever hear too much about building peace and reconciliation."
Amazingly, after Unsolved Mysteries produced an episode in the mid-'90s seeking more details about the little known tale, Fritz eventually reunited with two of the American soldiers before they all passed away. They, too, had always told others of their miraculous Christmas Eve in the middle of battle and wondered what had happened to the boy alone with his mother in the woods. Sergeant Ralph Blank told Fritz, "Your mother saved my life," and with that comfort, the young boy turned old man said, "Now I can die in peace. My mother's courage won't be forgotten, and it shows what good will will do."
His mother, Elisabeth, often said over the years until her own passing that "God was at our table" during that freezing night in the forest. And Fritz said that the event so altered his understanding of life that he never stopped thinking of "those seven young soldiers, who met as enemies and parted as friends, right in the middle of the Battle of the Bulge."
Whenever I think of Fritz's story, I am struck by a remarkable truth: it is always the smallest of acts that end up creating ripples large enough to produce meaningful change. At any point on that Christmas Eve in '44 during some of the worst atrocities of the war, any one of those seven soldiers could have acted belligerently out of exhaustion, pain, or haste. A mother and her young son speaking unfamiliar words to foreign soldiers could have inadvertently provoked tragedy. A trio of Wehrmacht soldiers, irate at the sight of their enemies taking refuge far from home, could have chosen the same violence and bloodshed that soaked the earth beyond the cabin's door. Instead, an unarmed woman brought God into her house and invited those who might have done her harm to share the blessings of Jesus's birth. Through her resolve and faith, she secured peace. That heroic act not only convinced combatant soldiers to lay down their weapons, but also inspired her son for the rest of his life. He then told of his mother's courage to countless others who visited his bakery over the next half-century of his life, who, in turn, retold the story and its lesson to countless more. Even the president of the United States in the middle of the Cold War seized upon its importance and shared it with millions of strangers in a quest to transform former enemies into friends.
Faith and small acts of courage do change the world. That is what Christmas reminds us all.
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Thanks to Historical Facts
Why evidence of our ancestors' ancient rituals was destroyed
Magic mushrooms have been used since prehistoric times.
Though research into the therapeutic effects of psilocybin is a relatively modern development, people have experimented with magic mushrooms (fungi with hallucinogenic effects) since the early days of human civilization. Following the discovery of a mural in northern Australia depicting mushroom-like figures and psychedelic drawings, archaeologists surmised that mushrooms likely played a social and cultural role in Sandawe and Bradshaw cultures as far back as 10,000 BCE. Similar mushroom-headed figures have also been found in prehistoric caves in North Africa and Spain. While little is known about these early psychedelic dabblings, the Aztecs' ritual use of magic mushrooms has been well documented. Known in that culture as "teonanacatl," or "flesh of the gods," the fungi were used in religious ceremonies to induce trances, produce visions, and communicate with gods. Magic mushrooms were later outlawed by 16th-century Spanish colonizers, who cited their use as barbaric and anti-Catholic. As a result, the Spanish destroyed all records and evidence of psilocybin (the hallucinogenic chemical found in psilocybe mushrooms), and drove the ritual use of mushrooms underground, where it stayed for centuries.
Related:
By the Numbers
Typical percentage of psilocybin in magic mushrooms today
0.2%-0.4%
Year Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire, was founded
1325
Americans who reportedly used hallucinogens in 2021
7.4 million
Species of magic mushrooms on the planet
180
DID YOU KNOW?
Magic mushrooms were stigmatized because of the hippie movement.
If it weren't for the 1960s "hippie" counterculture, the West's relationship with magic mushrooms might be a lot less controversial today. In 1957, Swiss chemist Albert Hoffmann isolated psilocybin from the fungi and began to use the compound in medical trials — albeit briefly. The early research was promising, but the rampant use of psychedelics within the hippie movement led to federal backlash against the drug in the U.S., discouraging medical studies. Much of the decade's social and political turbulence was attributed to psychedelic drug use, and this fueled the DEA's push to ban the use of magic mushrooms and their hallucinogenic counterparts. As a result, psilocybin was outlawed under the Controlled
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10 Common Things With Uncommon Names you did not know
Published on December 29, 2023
Human language gives us the wonderful ability to name stuff. Calling things by their name allows us to communicate with each other and get our daily tasks done, that's why the lexicon is so important when learning a language.
However, there are some things we see and use every day that often escape our attention. Do you know what to call the little fleshy portion between your nose and your upper lip? And what about those plastic tips at the ends of your shoelaces? Believe it or not, all these things have a name.
Today we're going to tell you about 10 common things with uncommon names .
1
Vibrissae
Whether you're a dog person or a cat person, get ready to be charmed by this term. Vibrissae, the lesser-known name for what we dub as whiskers , grace the faces of nearly all mammals.
But these vibrissae aren't just cute; they play crucial roles in an animal's life, serving as tools for locomotion and exploration. Essentially, they're super-sensors that allow your furry friend to perceive and navigate its surroundings.
There are already too many cats named "Whiskers," so if you want to be truly original, here you have a name for your next pet.
2
Philtrum
We humans have integrated the function performed by whiskers into our brains, specifically the somatosensory cortex.
Now, imagine if you did have whiskers; do you know the name of that part of your face where they would be? When you make a duck face for a selfie , you're not only pouting your lips, you're also moving the philtrum, that space between your nose and upper lip.
The philtrum is different in each person; it is longer in some people and shorter in others. Additionally, the length of the philtrum is significantly increased with age.
Embrace the distinctive charm of your philtrum. After all, it's one of those remarkable details that makes you uniquely you!
NOTE: It is also a very sensitive area for a strike with a ridge hand or a knuckle if you are in trouble...skip
3
Aglets
Mastering the art of tying shoelaces is a childhood milestone that becomes an everyday task as the years go by.
While the act of tying may seem simple, the intricate dance of threading laces through the tiny holes in your new sneakers is a bit more complex. Well, this activity would be a lot more difficult without the aglets, those plastic or metal tips at the end of the laces.
4
Lemniscate
Lemniscate is the technical name for what we know as the infinity symbol . We bet that many people are discovering the true name of their tattoo with this word.
The brilliance of the infinity symbol lies in its accuracy, as it allows you to transit its curve endlessly . It's a visual representation of exploration without limits, capturing the essence of boundless possibilities and perpetual journeys along its attractive form.
5
Punt
If you are one of those who enjoy a good glass of wine , you'll find this information interesting.
Wine bottles usually have this kind of indent at the base, which is known as a punt in the world of winemakers. While skeptics may argue that the purpose of the punt is to create the illusion of more liquid in the bottle, the truth is that a deeper punt usually indicates a higher-quality wine . So next time you go to the supermarket, you know which part of the bottle to check! It might provide a valuable clue!
6
Crapulence
This word may be related to the previous one. Are you familiar with that sick feeling after drinking or eating too much ? If you reached the punt of the bottle yesterday, chances are you're experiencing a touch of crapulence today, which is that unpleasant feeling or discomfort.
Consider it as your body's way of sending you a crystal-clear message: maybe a bit less next time!
7
Petrichor
Forget about unpleasant sensations. Now, we move on to the world of pure joy!
Rain is a divisive topic; some people love it, others hate it. Yet, there's a universal delight that most of us enjoy: the smell that comes from the wet soil after a rainy day . Besides smelling it, you can also name it! That scent is called petrichor, and it's produced by bacteria.
8
Griffonage
This word is borrowed from French and is rightly defined as " careless handwriting ."
Sometimes, reading a doctor's prescription feels like cracking a secret code. But here's the intriguing part: If you show a doctor a prescription written by a colleague, they will probably decipher it perfectly. Perhaps there's a mysterious class on griffonage at medical school.
9
Zarf
Your daily coffee ritual, that symphony of flavor and warmth, wouldn't be complete without this humble hero: the zarf. If you're a coffee lover, you know what we're talking about. That seemingly simple piece of paper or cardboard isn't just an accessory; it's your trusty zarf. It has a very important function: to keep you from burning your hands , ensuring each sip is a blissful, burn-free delight.
10
Tintinnabulation
This funny word represents very well what it stands for: the ringing of bells . The term has its roots in the Latin verb "tintinnare," an onomatopoeic word. Much like "click," "clap," "whisper," and "tinkle," "tintinnare" is an imitation of the sound it represents . Onomatopoeias bring words to life, giving them the power to evoke sensations, emotions, images, and sounds in the minds of those who listen.
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This Day in U S Military History
December 30
1776 – After American success at Trenton on Christmas, General George Washington returned to Trenton, near Assunpink Creek. The victory had changed much of the General's fortunes but he still had a problem. Many of his troops were free to leave at the end of the year. Washington decided to make a personal appeal to his men.
He offered a bounty to any man who would stay another 6 months. After this first appeal, none stepped forward. But one soldier remembered what Washington said next: "My brave fellows, you have done all I asked you to do, and more than could be reasonably expected, but your country is at stake, your wives, your houses, and all that you hold dear. You have worn yourselves out with fatigues and hardships, but we know not how to spare you. If you will consent to stay one month longer, you will render that service to the cause of liberty, and to your country, which you probably never can do under any other circumstance." Men began to step forward. Not everyone stayed, but many did. Only a few stepped out at first, then others. Finally only those to injured fight had not stepped out and new men also joined.
1862 – The U.S.S. Monitor sinks in a storm off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Just nine months earlier, the ship had been part of a revolution in naval warfare when the ironclad dueled to a standstill with the C.S.S. Virginia (Merrimack) off Hampton Roads, Virginia, in one of the most famous naval battles in history–the first time two ironclads faced each other in a naval engagement. After the famous duel, the Monitor provided gun support on the James River for George B. McClellan's Peninsular Campaign. By December 1862, it was clear the Monitor was no longer needed in Virginia, so she was sent to Beaufort, North Carolina, to join a fleet being assembled for an attack on Charleston. The Monitor served well in the sheltered waters of Chesapeake Bay, but the heavy, low-slung ship was a poor craft for the open sea. The U.S.S. Rhode Island towed the ironclad around the rough waters of Cape Hatteras. Since December is a treacherous time for any ship off North Carolina, the decision to move the Monitor seems highly questionable. As the Monitor pitched and swayed in the rough seas, the caulking around the gun turret loosened and water began to leak into the hull. More leaks developed as the journey continued. High seas tossed the craft, causing the ship's flat armor bottom to slap the water. Each roll opened more seams, and by nightfall on December 30, the Monitor was in dire straits. At 8:00 p.m., the Monitor's commander, J.P. Bankhead, signaled the Rhode Island that he wished to abandon ship. The wooden side-wheeler pulled as close as safety allowed to the stricken ironclad, and two lifeboats were lowered to retrieve the crew. Many of the sailors were rescued, but some men were terrified to venture onto the deck in such rough seas. The ironclad's pumps stopped working and the ship sank before 16 crew members could be rescued. Although the Monitor's service was brief, it signaled a new era in naval combat. The Virginia's arrival off Hampton Road terrified the U.S. Navy, but the Monitor leveled the playing field. Both sides had ironclads, and the advantage would go to the side that could build more of them. Northern industry would win that battle for the Union.
1944 – The US 8th Corps (part of US 3rd Army) launches attacks northward, against the German 5th Panzer Army, from a line between Bastogne and St. Hubert with Houffalize as the objective. Meanwhile, elements of German 5th Panzer Army launch another unsuccessful attempt at cutting the American corridor into Bastogne and capture the town.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
HOWARD, ROBERT L.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 30 December 1968. Entered service at: Montgomery, Ala. Born: 11 July 1939, Opelika, Ala. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Howard (then Sfc .), distinguished himself while serving as platoon sergeant of an American-Vietnamese platoon which was on a mission to rescue a missing American soldier in enemy controlled territory in the Republic of Vietnam. The platoon had left its helicopter landing zone and was moving out on its mission when it was attacked by an estimated 2-company force. During the initial engagement, 1st Lt. Howard was wounded and his weapon destroyed by a grenade explosion. 1st Lt. Howard saw his platoon leader had been wounded seriously and was exposed to fire. Although unable to walk, and weaponless, 1st Lt. Howard unhesitatingly crawled through a hail of fire to retrieve his wounded leader. As 1st Lt. Howard was administering first aid and removing the officer's equipment, an enemy bullet struck 1 of the ammunition pouches on the lieutenant's belt, detonating several magazines of ammunition. 1st Lt. Howard momentarily sought cover and then realizing that he must rejoin the platoon, which had been disorganized by the enemy attack, he again began dragging the seriously wounded officer toward the platoon area. Through his outstanding example of indomitable courage and bravery, 1st Lt. Howard was able to rally the platoon into an organized defense force. With complete disregard for his safety, 1st Lt. Howard crawled from position to position, administering first aid to the wounded, giving encouragement to the defenders and directing their fire on the encircling enemy. For 3 1/2 hours 1st Lt. Howard's small force and supporting aircraft successfully repulsed enemy attacks and finally were in sufficient control to permit the landing of rescue helicopters. 1st Lt. Howard personally supervised the loading of his men and did not leave the bullet-swept landing zone until all were aboard safely. 1st Lt. Howard's gallantry in action, his complete devotion to the welfare of his men at the risk of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for December 30, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
30 December
1914: The Signal Corps accepted the first Burgess-Dunne inherently stable armored airplane (No. 36). (24)
1918: Lt T. C. Rodman, piloting an H-16 flying boat at Pensacola, scored the Navy's first win in the Curtiss Marine Trophy Race, an annual competition set up by Glenn H. Curtiss in 1915 to encourage seaplane development. (24)
1945: Republic Aviation revealed its four-engine XF-12 Rainbow. This flying photo laboratory could carry five crewmen at 425 miles per hour. The Air Technical Service Command later cancelled its order for six aircraft. (24)
1950: William F. Ivans, Jr., set a world altitude record for gliders by reaching 42,100 feet.
1952: KOREAN WAR/Project SPOTLIGHT. After an RB-26 located five locomotives in one marshaling yard, two B-26 light bombers destroyed four and damaged the fifth. To 31 December, the 19th Bombardment Group bombed the Choak-tong ore processing plant near the Yalu. Aided by a full moon and a signaling aircraft, enemy interceptors downed one B-29 and damaged two others so badly that they were forced to land at Suwon AB. (28)
1959: First fleet ballistic missile submarine, the nuclear-powered USS George Washington, commissioned at Groton, Conn. It was launched on 9 June 1959. (16) (24)
1964: The USAF accepted the last of 732 KC-135 aircraft produced at Boeing in Seattle, Wash.
1972: Operation LINEBACKER II. President Nixon halted the bombing of North Vietnam north of the 20th parallel. Peace talks resumed in Paris, France, on 8 January 1973. (16) (17)
1981: Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger ordered the Air Force to deploy 40 M-X (Peacekeeper) missiles in existing Minuteman silos by 1986 and to study other basing modes. (6)
1994: The Air Force's fifth B-2 (#8-0331), the Spirit of South Carolina, joined the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman, Mo. (15)
1997: Crews from five Air National Guard C-130s airdropped 50,000 pounds of hay to cattle stranded by blizzards in southeastern New Mexico. The 137th Airlift Wing from Will Rogers World Airport, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the 136th Airlift Wing from Naval Air Station Dallas, Texas, and the 153rd Airlift Wing from Cheyenne Municipal Airport/Air Guard Station, Wyoming, provided the aircraft. (22) (32)
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Thanks to Brett……What is going on in the rest of the world
Stratfor snippets - Yemen, Guyana, Serbia, Ethiopia, Chad, Congo, Ukraine, Poland, Iran, Argentina, Romania/Bulgaria, Turkey, U.S., India/Russia,
Yemen: Houthis and Yemeni Government Agree to Steps Toward Peace
What Happened: The U.N. special envoy for Yemen announced that the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the Houthis have agreed to take steps toward a cease-fire, Reuters reported Dec. 23. The Yemeni government and the Houthis will work to establish a road map toward a cease-fire that includes resuming oil exports, opening roads in Taiz and other parts of Yemen, paying public sector salaries, and reducing restrictions on Sanaa International Airport and al-Hudaydah port.
Why It Matters: Steps toward a peace process by the Houthis and the Yemeni government, neither of which is interested in resuming fighting, will support improved economic and humanitarian conditions. While the Houthis have engaged in maritime strikes against commercial vessels in the Red Sea during the Israel-Hamas war, they have not attacked the Yemeni government, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates. Houthi maritime attacks are likely to continue independently of the Yemen peace process, though regional governments have expressed optimism that progress toward a cease-fire will reduce some tensions on the Arabian Peninsula.
Background: The Houthis and the Yemeni government have been in a de facto cease-fire since April 2022. Negotiations toward a formal Yemeni peace process have been ongoing, including a round of negotiations in September 2023.
Guyana: U.K. Announces Deployment of Naval Ship to Guyana
What Happened: The British Defense Ministry confirmed Dec. 24 that the United Kingdom will deploy the naval patrol ship HMS Trent off the coast of Guyana in a show of support for the former British colony amid its territorial dispute with neighboring Venezuela, the Financial Times reported Dec. 24. The ship will anchor off the coast of Georgetown and carry out visits, training and joint activities with the Guyanese navy.
Why It Matters: Venezuela's government has criticized the Trent's deployment, and Caracas may use it as justification for suspending or ceasing talks with Guyana aimed at peacefully resolving the dispute over the Essequibo region. The deployment comes amid concern that Venezuela will harass ships off the coast of Guyana in order to establish its control of waters off Essequibo; the presence of a British naval ship and its engagement in training with Guyana will somewhat decrease the risk of such harassment. This will likely only be the case, however, as long as the Trent or another allied nation's naval vessel is in the region. Meanwhile, the deployment is unlikely to cause Venezuela to alter its plans to build a military airfield near the Guyanese border.
Background: Venezuelans voted to incorporate Essequibo in a referendum Dec. 3, after which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced his government would create a new state in the territory known as Guyana Esequiba. The HMS Trent deployment follows a statement by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron that the United Kingdom would work with regional partners to ensure Guyana's territorial integrity.
Serbia: Thousands Gather in Belgrade to Protest Election Results
What Happened: On Dec. 25, thousands gathered in front of Serbia's central election commission building in Belgrade to protest against alleged irregularities in the Dec. 17 general election, in which the governing Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) won 46.72% of the vote, Reuters has reported. This came after protesters on Dec. 24 tried to storm Belgrade's town hall, resulting in clashes with the police and the detention of 38 people. Separately, on Dec. 25, a spokesperson for the Russian government said that unspecified ''foreign-backed forces'' were fomenting instability in Serbia.
Why It Matters: For weeks, thousands of Serbians have been denouncing that the recent election was full of irregularities. Protests will likely continue, and new episodes of violence and clashes with the police are possible. However, the protest movement is so far not strong or widespread enough to threaten the Serbian government's stability or to force it to organize a new general election. In the medium-to-long term, however, the combination of electoral irregularities, institutional opacity and close political ties with Russia will continue delaying Serbia's accession to the European Union.
Background: Observers for the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) reported irregularities in Serbia's Dec. 17 election and said the vote took place amid ''unjust conditions.'' The European Union (which Serbia aspires to join) has also called for an investigation into the alleged irregularities and for Serbia to reform its electoral procedures to make future ballots more transparent.
Ethiopia: Government Officially Defaults on External Debt
What Happened: Ethiopia failed to make a coupon payment by the end of a grace period on Dec. 25, becoming the third sub-Saharan African country to default on its external debt since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bloomberg reported the same day.
Why It Matters: The default was largely expected, as the Ethiopian government gave no indication that it would pay the $33 million coupon by the end of the grace period. Even so, negotiations over external debt restructuring — already ongoing under the Group of 20 (G-20) Common Framework — are tenuous and contingent on the government striking a relief deal with the International Monetary Fund by March. It appears likely that Ethiopia's debt negotiations will face similar challenges to those in Ghana and Zambia, where disagreements among public, private, Western and Chinese creditors have delayed restructuring agreements and thus delayed their respective economic turnarounds.
Background: A $33 million coupon payment on a $1 billion Eurobond was due Dec. 11, but the Ethiopian government had until Dec. 25 to make the payment before it officially defaulted.
Chad: Voters Approve New Constitution, Paving the Way for Elections
What Happened: Chadians approved a Dec. 17 constitutional referendum that, among other changes, lowers the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 35 and mandates that candidates must be born a citizen of Chad to Chadian parents, Reuters reported Dec. 24.
Why It Matters: The approval of the new constitution paves the way for Chad to hold national elections, which Interim President Mahamat Deby will likely attempt to use to extend his tenure. Deby is 39 years old, and opponents have speculated that changes to the minimum age for presidential candidates and nationality requirements are designed to make it legal for Deby to run while sidelining some of his main challengers whose parents are not of Chadian nationality.
Background: 86% of voters reportedly approved the referendum and voter turnout was about 64%, according to Chad's transitional government. Deby promised that the country would hold elections in 2024.
Congo: Opposition Plans Protests in Response to 'Massive Electoral Fraud'
What Happened: On Dec. 23, opposition leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo said the results of the country's recent presidential election should be annulled because of ''massive fraud'' and called on supporters to stage protests on Dec. 27, Reuters has reported. On Dec. 24, Congo's Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) began releasing the preliminary results of the Dec. 20 presidential race, which show current President Felix Tshisekedi securing 82.6% of votes.
Why It Matters: Amid widespread claims of ''massive planned fraud,'' opposition-led demonstrations will very likely result in clashes with police in Kinshasa and other regional capitals, creating more violence and confusion but likely not altering Tshisekedi's presumed victory.
Background: One of Tshisekedi's primary challengers, Moise Katumbi, received 14.3% of the votes, according to the CENI's preliminary results, and is being referred to as the ''second runner-up.'' Katumbi released a statement on Dec. 22 alleging planned electoral fraud on the part of the government.
Ukraine: Bill Proposes Dropping Mobilization Age From 27 to 25
What Happened: The Ukrainian government on Dec. 25 submitted a bill to parliament that would lower the mobilization age from 25 from 27, The Kyiv Independent reported Dec. 25. The draft law also limits the exceptions to enlistment and proposes basic military training for Ukrainians under 25. Parliament reportedly will start debating the measure Jan. 10, 2024.
Why It Matters: The bill came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his end-of-year press conference Dec. 19 that the Ukrainian military had proposed mobilizing an additional 450,000-500,000 Ukrainians. Zelensky qualified the matter as a highly sensitive issue that he said the government and the military would discuss further before making concrete decisions.
Background: As the Russian invasion drags on with no end in sight, Ukraine is under pressure to expand its forces so it can continue fighting and to allow front-line troops to rotate away from the fighting. The decision will prove complex, however, because of the direct and indirect economic costs involved. According to Zelensky, mobilizing an additional 450,000-500,000 people would cost about 12 billion euros (about $13 billion) while removing a substantial number of people from the workforce.
Poland: Duda Escalates Standoff With New Pro-EU Government Over Spending Plans
What Happened: Polish President Andrzej Duda proposed a new spending plan after vetoing a competing proposal from the country's new pro-European government that included a $765 million subsidy for state-owned media, Bloomberg reported Dec. 27. The plan maintains the government's proposed salary increase for public sector workers (like teachers), various industrial subsidies and local government funding, as well as increased welfare benefits for 2024. But it excludes additional funds for public media.
Why It Matters: The move will escalate the ongoing standoff between Duda of the ruling right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party and Poland's new prime minister, Donald Tusk — illustrating the challenges ahead for Poland's new pro-EU government in its ambitious reform program to liberalize the economy, implement a more progressive social agenda and resolve a rule-of-law dispute with Brussels to unlock billions of euros in frozen EU funds earmarked for Warsaw. While dismantling reforms implemented by the former PiS-led administrations is a priority for the new government, progress on this front will be slow amid significant institutional constraints posed by the PiS-dominated Constitutional Court, as well as the president's veto powers, with Duda set to remain in office until at least the next presidential elections in 2025. But thanks to its good relations with Brussels, the new government will likely still make progress toward unlocking EU funds, which are conditional on implementing structural reforms in Poland.
Background: Poland's new government pledged to implement judicial reforms required by the European Union to unlock almost 60 billion euros ($66.4 billion) in frozen EU post-pandemic recovery funds. The government also recently overhauled the management of state media outlets, sacking leadership figures appointed by the previous PiS administration.
Iran: Tehran Ramps up Uranium Enrichment Rate
What Happened: Iran has tripled its enrichment of high-enriched uranium to 60% U-235 purity over the past month, according to an unpublished International Atomic Energy Agency report sent to IAEA members, Reuters reported Dec. 26. Since the end of November, Iran has reportedly increased its 60% enriched uranium stockpiling rate from about 3 kg per month to 9 kg per month, the same level of production from early 2023 prior to its summer 2023 reduction.
Why It Matters: The Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the consequent Gaza war have once again ratcheted up tensions between the United States and Iran. Against this backdrop, Tehran is reversing its summer 2023 decision to reduce its enrichment rate as a part of a hostage swap deal it reached with Washington in September. The higher rate of enriched uranium will only exacerbate tensions with both the United States and Israel, as Iran's stockpiles of 60% high-enriched uranium — which only needs to be lightly enriched to reach 90% weapons grade — continue to grow, which at some point will likely trigger a nuclear crisis.
Background: As a part of the September hostage swap deal, the United States agreed to unfreeze about $7 billion in Iranian assets for humanitarian trade, but Washington refroze those assets after the Hamas attack a month later.
Argentina: Government Dismisses Thousands of Public Employees
What Happened: Argentina's government published a decree on Dec. 26 dismissing at least 5,000 public employees who joined the civil service after Jan. 1, 2023, and are not considered essential, the Buenos Aires Times reported Dec. 26. The decree applies to those in positions without seniority and to nonpermanent temporary employees, and affects public bodies such as the National Social Security Administration, the public health insurance agency and the Federal Administration of Public Income.
Why It Matters: The dismissals are part of a broader effort by the government of newly elected President Javier Milei to shrink government expenses by reducing services and decreasing the number of public sector employees. The decree also indicated that all other government contracts will be subject to an exhaustive review over the next 90 days, meaning additional dismissals are likely in the coming months. Unions have already announced protests for Dec. 27, which could see tens of thousands of participants, as occurred during previous anti-government protests on Dec. 20; this will create significant transportation disruptions in Buenos Aires and safety risks due to potential clashes between protesters and security forces. In addition, the dismissals will create challenges for residents of Argentina and businesses as government bodies scramble to function without hundreds of workers, which will likely slow government services, including health care and processing for permits and imports and exports.
Background: Argentina has a large public sector of almost 3.5 million salaried employees, whose pay accounts for 2.2% of the country's total GDP, which President Milei promised to decrease during his campaign. On Dec. 20, the government also announced an emergency decree that included more than 300 measures aimed at deregulating Argentina's economy, including eliminating price controls for goods and services.
Romania, Bulgaria: Romania and Bulgaria to Join Europe's Schengen Area For Air and Sea Travel in March 2024
What Happened: Bulgaria and Romania have reached an agreement with Austria to join Europe's passport-free Schengen area for air and sea travel starting March 2024, Reuters reported Dec. 28, citing Romania's interior ministry. Talks to extend the two countries' membership, which will eventually also include land borders, are set to continue throughout 2024.
Why It Matters: The accession will remove barriers for passengers from Romania and Bulgaria flying within the European Union, but an agreement concerning land borders, while possible, will be more difficult to achieve over the next year amid political and electoral calculations in both Austria and the Netherlands. Despite concessions concerning air and sea travel, the Austrian government may still decide not to fully lift its veto on the two countries' Schengen accession ahead of legislative elections expected for September 2024, given Austrian voters' broad support for a veto. Moreover, in the Netherlands, while the outgoing government also recently agreed to drop its veto, a possible new administration led by the far-right Party for Freedom — which is leading government formation talks after coming first in the Nov. 22 general elections — could still overrule the decision.
Background: Austria and the Netherlands had long opposed Bulgaria and Romania's bid to join the Schengen passport-free area due to rule of law and illegal migration concerns, despite the European Commission, the European Parliament and several EU member states such as Germany and Spain arguing in favor of the two countries' membership.
Turkey: Government Raises Monthly Minimum Wage by 49%
What Happened: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey's minimum wage will increase 49% to $577 per month in 2024 to help households cope with high inflation, which reached 62% in November, Bloomberg reported Dec. 27.
Why It Matters: Though the higher minimum wage will help Turks suffering from the cost-of-living crisis, it will also likely fuel inflation. This could threaten the government's efforts to attract investment, with Moody's Investors Service recently noting that excessive wage increases posed a near-term risk for foreign investors. While Turkey's central bank will likely announce another interest rate hike to counteract any additional upward pressure on consumer prices, the impact of the wage increase may still jeopardize Turkey's goal of reducing inflation by about 50% by the end of 2024. Some Turkish economists have noted, however, that cutting inflation might still be possible through tight monetary and fiscal policies.
Background: Prior to the May 2023 presidential election, Turkey loosened monetary policies, which exacerbated inflation and decreased the foreign exchange reserves. After Erdogan's re-election, Turkey has turned toward more orthodox economic policies to stabilize the economy and draw in foreign investment.
US: The New York Times Sues OpenAI and Microsoft for Copyright Infringement
What Happened: The New York Times filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement, becoming the first major news outlet to pursue legal redress against a generative AI company, The New York Times reported Dec. 27. The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI used millions of articles published by The New York Times to train their AI chatbot models without permission or compensation.
Why it Matters: The landmark lawsuit will further drive generative AI into new legal battlegrounds as courts grapple with the lack of precedent around nascent AI commercial products and the legality of copyright and trademark. Other media and content companies will likely start seeking similar compensation from generative AI powerhouses like OpenAI as well, forcing courts to contend with the principle of fair use and whether AI tools should be protected under the doctrine. Some of The New York Times' demands, such as the destruction of any AI models that used their proprietary content to train chatbots, will also challenge core tenets of AI development, which rely on accessing huge amounts of data needed to train the most advanced models.
Background: Since ChatGPT's launch in November 2022, a number of companies have filed lawsuits against OpenAI and other AI companies for alleged copyright infringement. In February 2023, Getty Images sued one AI company, Stability AI, for purportedly illegally copying over 12 million Getty photos to train the software behind its Stable Diffusion AI tool. In September 2023, 17 prominent writers joined the Authors Guild in filing a class action suit against OpenAI similarly alleging copyright infringement.
India, Russia: Indian Foreign Minister Holds High-Level Talks in Moscow
What Happened: Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for high-level talks on Dec. 27 as part of the Indian diplomat's five-day visit to Russia, Nikkei Asia has reported. The discussions reportedly centered on deepening India and Russia's trade and energy ties, as well as jointly producing military equipment.
Why It Matters: Traditionally, Russia and India hold a summit each year to discuss bilateral ties, but that annual meeting has not occurred since the Ukraine conflict began in February 2022. This — combined with Jaishankar's recent meetings with Lavrov and Putin — reflects New Delhi's efforts to walk a fine line amid rising Russia-West tensions, as India tries to maintain strategic autonomy and its historically close partnership with Moscow, while simultaneously strengthening its ties with the United States and other Western governments. The potential collaboration with Russia on manufacturing weaponry also aligns with India's efforts to develop its domestic industrial base and build capabilities amid ongoing tensions with China.
Background: In his meeting with Putin, Jaishankar discussed Ukraine, trade relations and having Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit Moscow next year. Despite facing pressure from the United States, India has maintained a neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict, citing a desire to preserve its strategic autonomy.
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