To All
Just realized that this one did not go out yesterday. The reason was the two attachments put us over the limit and I got a comeback copy but it was only to tell me that and I did not look at it closely and went of to spend the day doing leaves.
Here it is minus one of the attachments. Cowboy found the URL for one
Good Saturday Morning January 27, 2024. Clear and cool again today. We had some pretty good winds last night that separated some more leaves from the trees. Got inside and outside chores on my HD list today. I hope you all have a great weekend
Regards
Skip
HAGD
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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/
This day in Naval and Marine Corps History
Jan. 27
1778—During the American Revolution, the Continental sloop Providence, commanded by Capt. O. P. Rathburne, attacks New Providence Island, spikes the guns of the fort, captures small arms, holds off the sloop-of-war Grayton, and captures a privateer and five other vessels, while freeing 20 released American prisoners.
1942—Submarine Gudgeon (SS 211) becomes the first U.S. Navy submarine to sink an enemy Japanese submarine in action during World War II.
1945—Destroyer Higbee (DD 806) is commissioned. She is the first U.S. Navy combat ship to bear the name of a female member of the naval service.
1952—U.S. Navy carrier aircraft cut the Korean railroad, a constant target during the Korean War, in 165 places, a record for a single day's aircraft operations by Fast Carrier Task Force (TF 77).
1967—Tragedy strikes the Apollo space program when a flash fire occurs in command module 012 during a launch pad test of the Apollo/Saturn space vehicle being prepared for the first piloted flight, the AS-204 mission. Three astronauts, Lt. Col. Virgil I. Grissom, a veteran of Mercury and Gemini missions; Lt. Col. Edward H. White, the astronaut who had performed the first United States extravehicular activity during the Gemini program; and (Navy LCDR) Roger B. Chaffee, an astronaut preparing for his first space flight, die in this tragic accident.
1973—The Paris Peace Accords are signed, ending U.S. participation in the Vietnam War.
1988 - About 400 Marines and sailors from the 2d Marine Division, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, and 2d Force Service Support Group deployed for the Persian Gulf. The Contingency Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) CM 2-88 would relieve Contingency MAGTF 1-88 in the volatile Persian Gulf and provide the effective landing force capability to Joint Task Force Middle East.
Thanks to Ted
Skip,
It's not true that Ev Alvarez was the longest held POW in VN (and U.S. history), and we all should know that. Indeed, Ev does his best to disclaim the "longest held" title when asked, or is doing speaking engagements. Yes, he was the first pilot shot down over North Vietnam, and longest held there (although Floyd Thompson ended up there).
It's a notable disservice to the SpecOps soldier/pilot who was the longest held, and in gruesome circumstances, not to properly recognize him. Suggest we give credit where credit is due and correct the widespread, and accepted by many, falsehood about "longest held."
Cheers, Ted
1970 – U.S. Navy Lt. Everett Alvarez Jr. spends his 2,000th day in captivity in Southeast Asia. First taken prisoner when his plane was shot down on August 5, 1964, he became the longest-held POW in U.S. history. Alvarez was downed over Hon Gai during the first bombing raids against North Vietnam in retaliation for the disputed attack on U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin in August 1964."
"On March 26, 1964, the first U.S. service member imprisoned during the Vietnam War was captured near Quảng Trị, South Vietnam when an L-19/O-1 Bird Dog observation plane flown by Captain Richard L. Whitesides and Captain Floyd James Thompson was brought down by small arms fire. Whitesides was killed, and Thompson was taken prisoner; he would ultimately spend just short of nine years in captivity, making him the longest-held POW in American history. The first fighter pilot captured in North Vietnam was Navy Lieutenant (junior grade) Everett Alvarez, Jr., who was shot down on August 5, 1964, in the aftermath of the Gulf of Tonkin incident.[3]"
"Army Special Forces Capt. Floyd James Thompson, who was captured on March 26, 1964, was the longest-held POW. Navy Lieut. Junior Grade Everett Alvarez, Jr., shot down on August 5, 1964, was the first pilot to be captured in NVN."
"Floyd James "Jim" Thompson (July 8, 1933 – July 16, 2002) was a United States Army colonel. He was the longest-held American prisoner of war in U.S. history, spending nearly nine years in captivity in the jungle camps and mountains of South Vietnam and Laos, and in North Vietnam during the Vietnam War."
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This Day in World History…
January 27
1695 Mustafa II becomes the Ottoman sultan in Istanbul on the death of Amhed II.
1825 Congress approves Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma), clearing the way for forced relocation of the Eastern Indians on the "Trail of Tears."
1862 President Abraham Lincoln issues General War Order No. 1, setting in motion the Union armies.
1900 Foreign diplomats in Peking fear revolt and demand that the Imperial Government discipline the Boxer Rebels.
1905 Russian General Kuropatkin takes the offensive in Manchuria. The Japanese under General Oyama suffer heavy casualties.
1916 President Woodrow Wilson opens preparedness program.
1918 Communists attempt to seize power in Finland.
1924 Lenin's body is laid in a marble tomb on Red Square near the Kremlin.
1935 A League of Nations majority favors depriving Japan of mandates.
1939 President Franklin D. Roosevelt approves the sale of U.S. war planes to France.
1941 The United States and Great Britain begin high-level military talks in Washington.
1943 The first U.S. raids on the Reich blast Wilhelmshaven base and Emden.
January 27, 1945, Soviet troops enter Auschwitz, Poland, freeing the survivors of the network of concentration camps—and finally revealing to the world the depth of the horrors perpetrated there.
Auschwitz was really a group of camps, designated I, II, and III. There were also 40 smaller "satellite" camps. It was at Auschwitz II, at Birkenau, established in October 1941, that the SS created a complex, monstrously orchestrated killing ground: 300 prison barracks; four "bathhouses" in which prisoners were gassed; corpse cellars; and cremating ovens. Thousands of prisoners were also used for medical experiments overseen and performed by the camp doctor, Josef Mengele, the "Angel of Death."
The Red Army had been advancing deeper into Poland since mid-January. Having liberated Warsaw and Krakow, Soviet troops headed for Auschwitz. In anticipation of the Soviet arrival, SS officers began a murder spree in the camps, shooting sick prisoners and blowing up crematoria in a desperate attempt to destroy the evidence of their crimes. When the Red Army finally broke through, Soviet soldiers encountered 648 corpses and more than 7,000 starving camp survivors. There were also six storehouses filled with hundreds of thousands of women's dresses, men's suits and shoes that the Germans did not have time to burn.
1959 NASA selects 110 candidates for the first U.S. space flight.
1965 Military leaders oust the civilian government of Tran Van Huong in Saigon.
1967 Three astronauts are killed in a flash fire that engulfed their Apollo 1 spacecraft.
1973 A cease fire in Vietnam is called as the Paris peace accords are signed by the United States and North Vietnam.
1978 The State Supreme Court rules that Nazis can display the Swastika in a march in Skokie, Illinois.
1985 Pope John Paul II says mass to one million in Venezuela.
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OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT Thanks to the Bear
Skip… For The List for the week beginning Monday, 22 January 2024 and ending Sunday, 28 January 2024… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT (1968-1972)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post of 14 April 2019… 35th President attends his 1st meeting with his National Security Advisor and Staff…
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 can read what happened each day to the aircraft and its crew. ……Skip
This is the one for Harley Hall and it is also the first one that uses information provided by HC-7 on the helo rescue attempt that was discussed earlier. So Helo drivers please see what you can do to send in the information on your rescues to add to the information on all rescues with crew names and such…..Skip
From Vietnam Air Losses site for "Satirday 27 January
27: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=3106
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 . 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
Check this out
Thanks to the Bear
Skip… For your information and consideration.. RTR Webmaster Dan Heller has updated the Links List attached to the RTR website with a dozen Vietnam air war sites that might interest regulars of The List… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻… See…
https://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/new-links/
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Thanks to Barrel
How disgusting is this? And illegals are able to fly with no ID!
This is so wrong on so many levels
https://youtu.be/Cp7TH_vjVGg?si=Sz4c9mDzYpTPNIqE
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Thanks to Bob and the F-14 Reunion folks
F-14 Reunion Update
Hi Skip,
DFW Tailhookers has been assisting James Watterson with F-14 Tomcat Association Reunion in Fort Worth April 11-14. Looks like a great event. Could you put the link and information out to The List?
Cheers
Bob "Spock" Champney
CDR, USN (Ret)
Treasurer & Director of Communications
214 546-8020
On Jan 10, 2024, at 11:15 AM, Watterson, James <JWatterson@visitgreensboronc.com> wrote:
Happy New Year, Bob!
Hope you had a great holiday. I just wanted to let you know that our reunion registration for the F-14 Association is now live and we're really getting excited to meet in Fort Worth this April. I'm going to attach a link to our brochure. Would you mind sharing with your members? We're really hoping to have as many Texas Tailhookers as possible join us for the Big Fighter Friday social on Friday, 12 April. It's a beer and pizza social event at the Downtown Sheraton Ft. Worth from 6:30 until 9:30.
Here's the link: https://www.acompletereunion.com/_files/ugd/be6c8a_b6d8015313034c2eaf255e95e5255c0c.pdf
Let me know if you have any questions, and thanks again for all the help you've given us in letting folks now about the event.
Best,
James
James Watterson Director of Operations
Main 800-344-2282
Office 336-335-1582
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Thanks to History Facts
7 Fascinating Facts From the History of the World's Fair
Inventions you didn't realize came from the world's fair
The first world's fair, known as the Great Exhibition, took place in London in 1851. Held in the Crystal Palace — a massive exhibition hall made of glass and iron — the fair displayed marvels of industry and science as well as works of craftsmanship and art from around the world. Since then, more than 100 world's fairs have been held in over 20 countries, and countless inventions have made their debut at these massive events, from the telephone to cotton candy. Though the world's fair has declined in popularity in the United States, it remains popular throughout much of the rest of the world. Here are seven highlights from the history of these fascinating exhibitions.
One Fair Sparked a Frenzy for Plastic Pickles
The 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago (named in honor of Christopher Columbus) was ripe with opportunity for food sellers. But H.J. Heinz — an American purveyor of pickles and ketchup — was frustrated with his booth placement. While the main floor showcased food exhibits from Germany, Great Britain, Mexico, and other nations, Heinz was stuck on the second floor where there was little foot traffic. He devised a marketing plan that promised a free prize to anyone who visited his booth: a small green plastic pickle pin. The pins were a massive hit; the crowds that flocked to his booth were so large that the floor reportedly sagged around the display. By the end of the exhibition, Heinz had given away more than 1 million pickle pins, paving the way for his brand to become a household name.
Baby Incubators Started as a Carnival Attraction
The baby incubator — a lifesaving device in which premature or sick infants can develop — was invented in the 19th century by French obstetrician Stéphane Tarnier, who got the idea after seeing baby chicks being incubated at a zoo. The invention was widely adopted decades later, thanks to the work of two men, Pierre Budin and Martin Couney. Determined to popularize the groundbreaking technology, Budin and Couney displayed six incubators complete with real premature babies at the 1896 Great Industrial Exposition of Berlin, in an exhibit they dubbed "Child Hatchery." The exhibit was so popular that Couney went on to set up a permanent exhibit in an unlikely location: the Coney Island amusement park in New York. For the next four decades, Couney managed a neonatal intensive care unit that saved thousands of babies while doubling as a carnival attraction. Despite not being a licensed doctor, Couney is now widely credited with the adoption of the baby incubator into mainstream medicine.
Thomas Edison's New X-Ray Machine Was Almost Used When President McKinley Was Shot
The 1901 Pan-American Exposition was held in Buffalo, New York, and showcased many cutting-edge advancements in science and technology. But it was also the site of tragedy. While greeting the public at the fair, U.S. President William McKinley was shot twice by an anarchist named Leon Czolgosz. The first bullet only grazed McKinley, but the second bullet hit him in the stomach, and the medical team could not locate it. As fate would have it, one of Thomas Edison's new X-ray machines was on display at the fair. Edison had an assistant bring a machine to the house where McKinley was staying, but the medical team decided the President's condition was too unstable to undergo the X-ray procedure, and the device was never used. McKinley passed away a week later, leading some to wonder whether Edison's invention might have saved his life.
Chicago Almost Became Home to a Bigger Eiffel Tower, But Got a Ferris Wheel Instead
Four years after the Eiffel Tower was built for the Paris International Exposition of 1889, a Chicago committee started to plan its own world's fair, soliciting ideas from U.S. architects that would "out-Eiffel, Eiffel." Proposals included a 1,500-foot tower made of logs and what would have been the first bungee tower. The architect of the Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel, even offered to build a larger version of his namesake landmark. Instead, the Chicago committee opted for something unique: the world's first Ferris wheel, built by and named for George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. At 250 feet in diameter, and sitting atop 140-foot-tall towers, the Ferris wheel took riders higher than the crown of the Statue of Liberty. While the original Ferris wheel in Chicago has since been replaced by the Centennial Wheel, visitors from around the world continue to enjoy the architectural legacy of the world's fair at Navy Pier.
A World's Fair Helped a Woman Inventor Launch the Modern Dishwasher
In 1883, an American socialite named Josephine Cochrane grew frustrated with the tedious task of washing the fine china she used to entertain guests. She vowed, "If nobody else is going to invent a dishwashing machine, I'll do it myself." In 1886, Cochrane received a patent for her dishwashing machine, which could wash and dry up to 240 dishes in two minutes with its innovative use of water pressure. However, Cochrane struggled to sell her invention due to the high cost of manufacture, as well as the sexism of the time; potential investors wanted Cochrane to resign and turn over control of her company to men. The 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago gave her the platform she needed — after publicly demonstrating her machine, Cochrane was awarded the event's highest prize, for "best mechanical construction, durability, and adaptation to its line of work." Orders from restaurants and hotels throughout the region skyrocketed, paving the way for the modern dishwasher.
Video Chatting Was Initially a Flop
It's easy to assume that video chatting is a recent invention that came along with the advent of the internet. But video chat technology has a history going back more than half a century. The public's first contact with video chat was at the 1964 World's Fair in New York, where Bell Labs debuted a "picturephone" that enabled fairgoers to make video calls with strangers across the country at California's Disneyland. Long lines formed and Bell Labs (along with its parent company, AT&T) believed the technology would be a commercial hit, with executives projecting that a million picturephone sets would be sold by 1980. Alas, the device failed to take off, largely due to the high price tag. Bell Labs attempted to roll out various iterations of the picturephone in the following decades, but it wasn't until the advent of the internet that video chat finally took off.
A Snake Oil Salesman Was a Showstopper
Today, the term "snake oil" signifies fraudulent goods and deceptive marketing, and it all started with a man named Clark Stanley, nicknamed "the Rattlesnake King." Stanley introduced a "snake oil" product to the American public at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, claiming to have learned about it from Hopi medicine men. As part of a dramatic live demonstration, he cut open a rattlesnake and submerged it in boiling water, skimming off the fat that rose to the surface to create "Stanley's Snake Oil." Spectators were wowed, and Stanley's product became an immediate hit. But while the oil from certain snakes, such as Chinese water snakes, does have medicinal properties, oil from most snakes native to the U.S. does not. What's more, Stanley's product was later found by the FDA to not contain any snake oil at all, but rather beef fat, red pepper, and turpentine, forever making snake oil synonymous with fraud.
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Thanks to Barrett
Just gotta contribute my two bits (maybe now two cents due to Bidenflation) here:
Snow.
I remember Snow.
It brought frozen pipes to dig out at the ranch and breaking ice in lots of water troughs...
Which is why I prefer my climate measured in degrees rather than inches.
Here's an image that I send this time of year. A lot.
I call it "Arizona winter sports."
AZ winter.jpg
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This Day in U S Military History
27 January
1778 – Marines landed at New Providence, Bahamas; the American flag flew over foreign soil for the first time. The first American soldiers sent forth from the fledgling nation's shores were a detachment of Marines. That amphibious raid–the first in what remains today a Marine specialty–aimed to seize guns and gunpowder from a British fort.
1939 – First flight of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament. Named "fork-tailed devil" by the Luftwaffe and "two planes, one pilot" by the Japanese, the P-38 was used in a number of roles, including dive bombing, level bombing, ground-attack, night fighting, photo reconnaissance missions, and extensively as a long-range escort fighter when equipped with drop tanks under its wings. The P-38 was used most successfully in the Pacific Theater of Operations and the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations as the mount of America's top aces, Richard Bong (40 victories) and Thomas McGuire (38 victories). In the South West Pacific theater, the P-38 was the primary long-range fighter of United States Army Air Forces until the appearance of large numbers of P-51D Mustangs toward the end of the war. The P-38 was unusually quiet for a fighter, the exhaust muffled by the turbo-superchargers. The P-38 was the only American fighter aircraft in production throughout American involvement in the war, from Pearl Harbor to Victory over Japan Day.
1942 – USS Gudgeon is first US sub to sink enemy submarine in action, Japanese I-173.
1943 – 8th Air Force bombers, dispatched from their bases in England, fly the first American bombing raid against the Germans, targeting the Wilhelmshaven port. Of 64 planes participating in the raid, 53 reached their target and managed to shoot down 22 German planes-and lost only three planes in return. The 8th Air Force was activated in February 1942 as a heavy bomber force based in England. Its B-17 Flying Fortresses, capable of sustaining heavy damage while continuing to fly, and its B-24 Liberators, long-range bombers, became famous for precision bombing raids, the premier example being the raid on Wilhelmshaven. Commanded at the time by Brig. Gen. Newton Longfellow, the 8th Air Force was amazingly effective and accurate, by the standards of the time, in bombing warehouses and factories in this first air attack against the Axis power.
1945 – The Ledo Road to China is finally cleared when Chinese troops from Burma and Yunnan province link up near Mongyu. General Sultan, who leads the British, American and Chinese in the area, has in fact announced the road as open on January 22nd. Sultan's forces are now moving south toward Mandalay and Lashio by several routes.
1967 – A launch pad fire during Apollo program tests at Cape Canaveral, Florida, kills astronauts Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chafee. An investigation indicated that a faulty electrical wire inside the Apollo 1 command module was the probable cause of the fire. The astronauts, the first Americans to die in a spacecraft, had been participating in a simulation of the Apollo 1 launch scheduled for the next month. The Apollo program was initiated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) following President John F. Kennedy's 1961 declaration of the goal of landing men on the moon and bringing them safely back to Earth by the end of the decade. The so-called "moon shot" was the largest scientific and technological undertaking in history. In December 1968, Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft to travel to the moon, and on July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. walked on the lunar surface. In all, there were 17 Apollo missions and six lunar landings.
1973 – The Paris Peace Accords are signed by officials from the United States and North Vietnam, bringing an official end to America's participation in its most unpopular foreign war. The accords did little, however, to solve the turmoil in Vietnam or to heal the terrible domestic divisions in the United States brought on by its involvement in this Cold War battleground. Peace negotiations between the United States and North Vietnam had been ongoing since 1968. Richard Nixon was elected president that year, largely on the basis of his promise to find a way to "peace with honor" in Vietnam. Four years later, after the deaths of thousands more American servicemen, South Vietnamese soldiers, North Vietnamese soldiers, and Viet Cong fighters, the Paris Peace Accords were signed, and America's participation in the struggle in Vietnam came to a close. On the military side, the accords seemed straightforward enough. A cease-fire was declared, and the United States promised to remove all military forces from South Vietnam within 60 days. For their part, the North Vietnamese promised to return all American prisoners of war within that same 60-day framework. The nearly 150,000 North Vietnamese troops in South Vietnam were allowed to remain after the cease-fire. The political side of the agreement was somewhat less clear. In essence, the accords called for the reunification of North and South Vietnam through "peaceful means on the basis of discussions and agreements between North and South Viet-Nam." Precisely what this entailed was left unsaid. The United States also promised to "contribute to healing the wounds of war and to postwar reconstruction of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam [North Vietnam] and throughout Indochina." Most Americans were relieved simply to be out of the Vietnam quagmire. The war against communism in Southeast Asia cost over 50,000 U.S. lives and billions of dollars, in addition to countless soldiers wounded in the line of duty. At home, the war seriously fractured the consensus about the Cold War that had been established in the period after World War II–simple appeals to fighting the red threat of communism would no longer be sufficient to move the American nation to commit its prestige, manpower, and money to foreign conflicts. For Vietnam, the accords meant little. The cease-fire almost immediately collapsed, with recriminations and accusations flying from both sides. In 1975, the North Vietnamese launched a massive military offensive, crushed the South Vietnamese forces, and reunified Vietnam under communist rule.
1977 – Pres. Carter pardoned most Vietnam War draft evaders. No comment except four letter words…skip
1980 – Through cooperation between the U.S. and Canadian governments, six American diplomats secretly escape hostilities in Iran in the culmination of the Canadian Caper, the popular name given to the joint covert rescue. The "caper" involved CIA agents (Tony Mendez and a man known as "Julio") joining the six diplomats to form a fake film crew made up of six Canadians, one Irishman and one Latin American who were finishing scouting for an appropriate location to shoot a scene for the nominal science-fiction film Argo. The ruse was carried off on the morning of Sunday, January 27, 1980, at the Mehrabad Airport in Tehran. The eight Americans successfully boarded a Swissair flight to Zurich and escaped Iran.
2003 – During Operation Mongoose, when a band of fighters were assaulted by U.S. forces at the Adi Ghar cave complex 15 miles (24 km) north of Spin Boldak, 18 rebels were reported killed with no U.S. casualties. The site was suspected to be a base for supplies and fighters coming from Pakistan. The first isolated attacks by relatively large Taliban bands on Afghan targets also appeared around that time.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
ROBINSON, JAMES H.
Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 3d Michigan Cavalry. Place and date: At Brownsville, Ark., 27 January 1865. Entered service at: Victor, Mich. Birth. Oakland County, Mich. Date of issue: 4 April 1865. Citation: Successfully defended himself, single-handed against 7 guerrillas, killing the leader (Capt. W. C. Stephenson) and driving off the remainder of the party.
*EVANS, DONALD W., JR.
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 2d Battalion, 12 Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Place and date: Tri Tam, Republic of Vietnam, 27 January 1967. Entered service at: Covina, Calif. Born: 23 July 1943, Covina, Calif. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. He left his position of relative safety with his platoon which had not yet been committed to the battle to answer the calls for medical aid from the wounded men of another platoon which was heavily engaged with the enemy force. Dashing across 100 meters of open area through a withering hail of enemy fire and exploding grenades, he administered lifesaving treatment to 1 individual and continued to expose himself to the deadly enemy fire as he moved to treat each of the other wounded men and to offer them encouragement. Realizing that the wounds of 1 man required immediate attention, Sp4c. Evans dragged the injured soldier back across the dangerous fire-swept area, to a secure position from which he could be further evacuated Miraculously escaping the enemy fusillade, Sp4c. Evans returned to the forward location. As he continued the treatment of the wounded, he was struck by fragments from an enemy grenade. Despite his serious and painful injury he succeeded in evacuating another wounded comrade, rejoined his platoon as it was committed to battle and was soon treating other wounded soldiers. As he evacuated another wounded man across the fire covered field, he was severely wounded. Continuing to refuse medical attention and ignoring advice to remain behind, he managed with his waning strength to move yet another wounded comrade across the dangerous open area to safety. Disregarding his painful wounds and seriously weakened from profuse bleeding, he continued his lifesaving medical aid and was killed while treating another wounded comrade. Sp4c. Evan's extraordinary valor, dedication and indomitable spirit saved the lives of several of his fellow soldiers, served as an inspiration to the men of his company, were instrumental in the success of their mission, and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for January 27, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
27 January
1911: At an Aero Club show in San Diego, Calif., Lt Theodore G. "Spuds" Ellyson (U. S. Navy), a student at the nearby Curtiss School, took off in a Curtiss "grass cutter" plane to become the first Naval aviator. With a blocked throttle, this ground plane was not supposed to fly, and Ellyson was not proficient enough to fly. He slewed off left, cracking up the plane somewhat by making a wing-first landing. Ellyson wasn't injured, but from then on he was considered to have made his first flight. (21) (24)
1912: MACKAY TROPHY. Clarence H. Mackay established the Mackay Trophy. Aviators could compete for the trophy annually under rules made each year, or the War Department could award the trophy for the most meritorious flight of the year. (24)
1928: The Navy airship Los Angeles (ZR-3) landed on the carrier USS Saratoga at sea near Newport, R.I., to transfer passengers and take on fuel and supplies. (24)
1943: Eighth Air Force's 1st Bombardment Wing and 2nd Bombardment Wing conducted the first American bombing mission against Germany. In this mission, 53 B-17s and B-24s hit the naval base, the U-boat construction works, power plant, and docks at Wilhelmshaven. Two other bombers hit the submarine base at Emden. Afterwards, the bomber returned to the United Kingdom with the loss of three aircraft. (21) (24)
1954: Dr. Wernher von Braun and his team launched Redstone missile No. 2 from Cape Canaveral, Fla. (24)
1955: TRAINING IN FORMOSA. During the latter part of November 1954, the Commander-inChief of the Pacific Command invited Far East Air Forces to rotate fighter squadrons to bases on Formosa on a training and familiarization basis. The 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing completed its move to the island today. (17)
1967: APOLLO FIRE. USAF Lt Cols Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom and Edward White, and Navy Lt Cmdr Roger B. Chaffee died when their Apollo spacecraft caught fire at Cape Kennedy, Fla. They were rehearsing for a 21 February flight. (9)
1968: Operation COMBAT FOX: After North Korea seized the S. S. Pueblo on 23 January, the Military Airlift Command supported USAF and Army deployments from the U.S., Pacific, and Southeast Asia to South Korea and Japan. During the next three weeks, the Military Airlift Command moved 7,996 passengers and nearly 13,700 tons of cargo in over 800 missions to the region. (2) (17) (18)
1971: Cmdr Donald H. Lilienthal (USN) flew a P-3C Orion to a world speed record for heavyweight turboprops. Over 15-25 kilometers, he reached 501 miles per hour to break the Soviet I1-18's May 1968 record of 452 miles per hour. (5)
1973: VIETNAM PEACE ACCORDS. After the 11-day B-52 bombing campaign against Hanoi and Haiphong, North Vietnam signed a peace accord. (1) (2)
1977: A Delta booster launched the NATO III-B satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral, Fla. (5)
1982: At the Utah Test and Training Range, an Air Launched Cruise Missile coated with 3/4-inches of ice, showed its all-climate capabilities after its launch by a B-52G. (6)
1991: Operation DESERT STORM. After 10 days of aerial combat, US-backed coalition air forces attained air supremacy over the Iraqis. F-111 Aardvarks delivered guided bombs on the Al Ahmadi oil refinery to close oil manifolds opened by the Iraqis. This attack stopped the flow of crude oil, the biggest deliberate oil spill in history, into the Persian Gulf. (16) (21) (26)
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Thanks to Brett
Stratfor snippets - Argentina, U.S., China/Iran, Mali, Burkina Faso, Venezuela, EU/Tunisia/Italy, UK/Canada, India/France, Bangladesh, Israel/South Africa, Haiti/Kenya
Argentina: Government Delays Lower House Omnibus Bill Vote Over Lack of Support
What Happened: Argentina's ruling party pushed the lower house's vote on President Javier Milei's omnibus economic reforms package until at least Jan. 30, La Nacion reported on Jan. 24. Originally, the vote was scheduled to take place on Jan. 25, but disagreements between lawmakers and the government over key items in the 664-article bill have stalled its deliberation on the house floor.
Why It Matters: The delay indicates that the ruling party, which holds a small minority of seats in Congress, does not have the votes to pass Milei's economic reforms. The government may negotiate with opposition parties regarding pensions, but the economy minister's insistence on achieving a balanced budget will constrain negotiations. These limitations will exacerbate tensions between the government and legislators who represent provinces that have large agricultural sectors. Even if the lower house passes the bill, the legislation will face similarly steep headwinds in the upper house, where the president's party has even less power. If the lower house rejects the bill, Milei could publish emergency decrees — or, in an extreme case, call a popular referendum — to achieve his government's fiscal goals, which the judicial system is almost guaranteed to challenge. In the meantime, businesses operating in Argentina will struggle to adjust to constantly-changing legal frameworks and adapt their operations accordingly. Milei's government will likely continue to struggle to pass legislation through Congress.
Background: The government had already accepted over 100 modifications to the sweeping reform leading up to the delay. Opposition lawmakers now are focused on changing sections of the bill that would delegate broad authorities to the president, alter the formula designed to calculate pension disbursements, and increase export duties on Argentina's largest agricultural exports. The government has faced intense street protests over the bill, and the largest bloc in Congress said it plans to reject the reforms outright, meaning the government will need the support of smaller parties for any chance of the bill's approval.
US: Biden Officially Announces Pause to New Approvals for LNG Export Projects
What Happened: U.S. President Joe Biden announced in a Jan. 26 statement that his administration was temporarily pausing new liquified natural gas export project approvals while the administration looks at the impact of those approvals on climate change. The announcement confirms a New York Times scoop earlier in the week that the administration had paused its decision-making process on a proposed LNG export facility in Louisiana.
Why It Matters: The pause on approving new projects will not affect projects already under construction and approved. When combined with LNG export projects under construction in Mexico and Canada, these projects will add more than 80 million tons per annum of LNG export capacity by the end of 2027 and double U.S. export capacity by 2030. However, the pause will affect projects that have not been approved, most of which aim to come online after 2030, and even if the pause is temporary, it could delay project timelines by months and/or years.
Background: The Biden administration has been facing significant pressure from climate activists calling for it to do more to address hydrocarbon production in the United States, particularly following its approval of ConocoPhillips' controversial Willow oil project in Alaska.
US: Republicans, Tech Sector Advocates Prepare Assault on Biden's AI Executive Order
What Happened: Republican lawmakers and technology sector advocates are looking at ways to disrupt the implementation of U.S. President Joe Biden's October 2023 executive order on artificial intelligence, as many of its deadlines will expire in the coming months, Politico reported on Jan. 26. Specifically, the order's opponents are targeting alleged overreach of the Defense Production Act's emergency powers to compel technology firms to submit information to the U.S. government on AI models that are trained using significant computing power, which comes into effect at the end of January.
Why It Matters: The assault on the executive order demonstrates the significant divisions between Republicans and Democrats on how aggressively to regulate AI. It also underscores that legislative action to make the order's voluntary requirements more binding is highly unlikely over the next few years, barring a major AI scandal. This trajectory will likely ensure that U.S. AI regulations are conducive to developing highly advanced AI models, and it will increase the gap between regulations in the United States and the European Union.
Background: Aides to Sen. Ted Cruz said his office was evaluating reforms to the Defense Production Act, which comes up for renewal in 2025, to curb the executive order. Opponents of the executive order have also filed lawsuits against the administration's broad interpretation of the Defense Production Act.
US: FTC Launches Inquiry Into AI Investments and Partnerships
What Happened: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission announced on Jan. 25 an inquiry into generative artificial intelligence investment and partnerships between different companies. The FTC sent compulsory orders to Google parent Alphabet, Amazon, Claude AI model developer Anthropic, Microsoft and ChatGPT creator OpenAI to provide information within 45 days.
Why It Matters: The inquiry formally launches the FTC's antitrust scrutiny of some of the tie-ups within the technology sector between technology and AI companies. The FTC will likely take the closest look at Microsoft and OpenAI's strategic relationship, as the drama in 2023 around OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's firing and return shed some light on the complicated nature of the two companies' relationship. The inquiry also demonstrates that — at least among progressives and liberals — concern about AI development and its implications for competition and consumer interests is growing. Still, the FTC's scrutiny will run into some obstacles, including the long-term nature of such investigations if Republicans win the White House and/or Congress in the November elections.
Background: Under FTC chair Lina Khan, several of the FTC's high-profile cases against technology companies have failed due to a broad interpretation of existing regulatory powers under current antitrust laws that the courts have rejected.
China, Iran: Beijing Pushes Tehran to Reduce Houthi Attacks on Commercial Shipping
What Happened: China recently pressed Iran to help restrain attacks by Yemen-based Houthi rebels on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, adding that if Houthi attacks harm China's business interests, it would impact Iran's business relations with China, Reuters reported on Jan. 25. Reuters did not specify any business ties between China and Iran that Beijing would reduce.
Why It Matters: Iran will probably direct Houthi attacks away from China-linked vessels, which may be effective given that Iran is believed to be helping the Houthis target ships. However, Tehran will not try to stop the Houthis from targeting other ships, even if these attacks hurt China's interests indirectly. China could reduce business ties with Iran by reducing purchases of Iranian oil, which has few other buyers.
Background: U.S. and British forces carried out their second round of joint airstrikes on Houthi military infrastructure in Yemen on Jan. 23.
Mali: Junta Ends 2015 Algiers Peace Deal With Separatist Rebels
What Happened: The Malian junta announced in a press release that it was ending the 2015 Algiers peace deal with the Tuareg rebels, aBamako reported on Jan. 25. The junta cited the Tuareg rebels' role as "terrorist actors," international mediation efforts' alleged failure to take into account the junta's concerns, and the "hostility" of head mediator Algeria.
Why It Matters: The junta's decision to terminate the agreement marks a near-complete breakdown in diplomatic efforts to maintain stability in northern Mali. This move is also poised to heighten diplomatic tensions between Mali and Algeria, a crucial mediator between the junta and the Tuareg rebels. Beyond diplomatic concerns, the end of the peace deal risks a potential resurgence of violence arising from confrontations between the army and Tuareg rebels. As a consequence, the Malian army and potentially the Russian Wagner Group will attempt to sustain deployments in northern Mali, particularly Kidal, a stronghold for the rebels.
Background: The 2015 Algiers accord was a peace agreement signed between the Malian government and various armed groups, particularly addressing ethnic and territorial disputes in northern Mali. Facilitated by Algeria, the accord outlined commitments related to security arrangements, political decentralization and development initiatives.
Burkina Faso: Russian Troops Arrive in Ouagadougou
What Happened: A contingent of 100 Russian troops landed in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou, according to the African Corps channel on Telegram, Reuters reported on Jan. 25. Details about the deployment are unknown, including whether the Russian troops belong to the paramilitary Wagner Group.
Why It Matters: The deployment of Russian troops to Burkina Faso will likely contribute to a rapidly worsening security environment, given that Russian forces in neighboring Mali routinely carry out abuses against civilian populations that drive jihadist recruitment. However, the presence of Russian troops in Ouagadougou will likely bolster local forces' capacity to protect the capital, reducing the likelihood of jihadist incursions into the capital and of a subsequent external military intervention.
Background: This is the first known deployment of Russian troops in Burkina Faso since Ouagadougou ended its military partnership with France in 2023. Russia reportedly plans to deploy another 200 troops to Burkina Faso in the "near future."
Venezuela: Barbados Agreement on the Brink of Collapse
What Happened: The president of Venezuela's National Assembly announced that President Nicolas Maduro would seek a third term as President of the Republic of Venezuela, according to a Jan. 25 Bloomberg report. On the same day, Maduro stated that the Barbados Agreement was "mortally wounded," throwing into question his commitments to holding free and fair elections before the end of 2024.
Why It Matters: Maduro's candidacy does not come as a surprise, but his comments regarding the "mortally wounded" Barbados Declaration, injured due to the "conspiracy" against him, create even more political and economic uncertainty in the authoritarian context of Venezuela during an election year. It seems clear that the Maduro government is set on prohibiting Maria Corina Machado's candidacy, as the President of the National Assembly stated on Jan. 25 that "there is no way this woman (Machado) can be candidate to any elections." Any legal action taken against opposition candidate Machado — if her appeal is rejected by the courts, or in an extreme case, if she is arrested — would draw steep criticism from Washington and likely trigger a reimposition of sanctions. Continued repression of members of the opposition, which could take the form of additional arrests or maintaining electoral bans, could lead to a reimposition of certain U.S. sanctions targeting Venezuela's oil and gas sector. Finally, the opposition has repeatedly called for the government to release a timeline for elections that should take place in the latter half of 2024, and the announcement of Maduro's candidacy at least implies that elections will move forward.
Background: The Barbados Agreement, signed by the opposition's Unitary Platform and the government in October 2023, represents a series of negotiations to enable competitive Venezuelan elections in the latter half of 2024. Though the United States was not party to the agreement, the deal was largely seen as a condition necessary to remove sanctions targeting Venezuela, many of which were lifted after the agreement was signed. On Jan. 22, the government arrested 33 Venezuelans, including members of the opposition, which the Attorney General accused of working with the CIA to conspire to kill Maduro and other high-ranking government officials.
EU, Tunisia, Italy: Migration From Tunisia Falls Following MoU With EU
What Happened: EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said irregular migration from Tunisia to Italy since the beginning of October 2023 had decreased by 80%-90% compared with the same period the previous year, Il Sole 24 Ore reported on Jan. 26. Johansson's comments followed an informal meeting of EU interior ministers in Brussels, Belgium, in defense of an EU-Tunisia memorandum of understanding signed in October.
Why It Matters: Despite harsh criticism from humanitarian organizations, the MoU appears to be reducing irregular flows to Italy through increased interceptions and returns of irregular migrants to Tunisia. The success of the MoU strengthens the case for the European Union to use the deal as a blueprint for migration cooperation in the region as the bloc struggles to contain migrant inflows. However, the effectiveness of current and future deals will continue to hinge on delicate political, diplomatic and economic conditions, such as the socio-economic situation in the region or eventual diplomatic tensions between the European Union and its southern neighbors. If these factors swing out of balance, MoUs' signatories could reopen migrant routes and cause migration crises. Moreover, push factors in origin countries will remain strong, so migrants will seek other routes to the European Union, potentially including through Spain, Greece or Malta.
Background: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Tunisian President Kais Saied signed the MoU in Tunis, Tunisia. Under the MoU, Tunisia agreed to enhance border controls, search and rescue efforts, and anti-smuggling operations in return for financial aid and investment totaling over 1 billion euros ($1.09 billion) from the European Union. The sum was also aimed at stabilizing Tunisia's ailing economy and preventing a potential default that could drive more migrants across the Mediterranean Sea.
UK, Canada: London and Ottawa Pause Free Trade Negotiations
What Happened: The United Kingdom and Canada paused free trade negotiations following eight rounds of unsuccessful talks, Politico reported on Jan. 25.
Why It Matters: This would be the United Kingdom's first free trade agreement to break down since leaving the European Union, so its outcome affects the ruling Conservative Party's portrait of Brexit as improving the country's ability to conclude better trade deals. In the absence of a breakthrough in negotiations, the United Kingdom and Canada's previous agreement will continue to regulate their bilateral trade. This means British cheese makers will not benefit from a renewal of a preferential access clause that expired in 2023, while access to preferential rules for British car makers will expire in April. Still, the impact on the British dairy and auto industries from the resulting reduced access to Canadian markets will be limited, as Canada accounts for only a small share of the two sectors' exports.
Background: Negotiations were meant to lead to an agreement replacing a post-Brexit rollover agreement that copied the terms of the trade arrangement the United Kingdom had with Canada when it was an EU member. However, talks reportedly broke down over a long-running dispute concerning hormone-treated beef produced in Canada on which the United Kingdom maintained its EU-era ban.
India, France: Modi Welcomes Macron for Republic Day as Airbus Inks Helicopter Deal With Tata
What Happened: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron as the chief guest of India's Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, France 24 reported on Jan. 26. Simultaneously, European aerospace company Airbus announced that it would partner with Indian automotive company Tata Motors to set up final assembly lines for H125 civilian helicopters in the Indian state of Gujarat.
Why It Matters: Macron's presence in New Delhi highlights the continued strengthening of diplomatic ties between India and France, and the Tata-Airbus deal showcases both countries' ambition to expand bilateral cooperation beyond the field of military procurement. Additional sectors where India and France will look to boost cooperation include trade, investment and civil nuclear power. Nonetheless, defense cooperation is set to remain the main driver of bilateral cooperation, with deals regarding India's acquisition of an additional three French Scorpene-class attack submarines and 26 Rafale fighter jets for its navy expected to be concluded in 2024. While defense cooperation with New Delhi is lucrative for Paris, strengthening India's naval capabilities also fits within France's interests, as it serves to counterbalance China's expanding naval capabilities and strengthen India's role in supporting freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean.
Background: India held Republic Day celebrations on Jan. 26 to commemorate the adoption of the Indian constitution. Modi's invitation to Macron comes after Macron invited Modi to be the guest of honor at France's Bastille Day celebrations in July 2023.
Bangladesh: Opposition Advocates for 'India Out' Movement
What Happened: A growing "India Out" campaign spearheaded by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Bangladeshi diaspora alleges that India is meddling in Bangladesh's political affairs and elections, Nikkei Asia reported on Jan. 26. The campaign is urging people via social media to protest India and boycott Indian products.
Why It Matters: An increase in anti-India sentiment underscores the opposition's efforts to mobilize protesters against the ruling Awami League party by protesting its relationship with India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. However, this sentiment's impact is likely to remain constrained unless it extends more widely across Bangladesh's electoral landscape and within the Awami League itself. Additionally, Bangladesh's trade reliance on India means a widespread boycott risks causing supply chain and economic disruptions, as well as heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh.
Background: India is the top importer of Bangladeshi goods, and Dhaka relies heavily on New Delhi for essential commodities like cotton, rice and wheat. Tarique Rahman, a convicted terrorist and the acting chair of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, reportedly directed party members to emulate the Maldives' anti-India movement, intensifying anti-Hindu and anti-Indian sentiments in Bangladesh.
Israel, South Africa: ICJ Makes Initial Ruling Against Israel
What Happened: The International Court of Justice issued an initial ruling that included emergency measures against Israel to prevent acts of genocide, prevent and punish incitement of genocide, and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, Reuters reported on Jan. 26. However, the ICJ did not order Israel to halt military operations in Gaza, nor did it rule on the allegation that Israel was committing genocide.
Why It Matters: The ICJ ruling will pressure Israel's government to take additional measures to protect Palestinians, though this is unlikely to alter military operations in Gaza. Although the ICJ has no enforcement mechanisms, Israel is obligated to submit a report to the court in a month. If Israel fails to do so, the court will likely reopen the case and could add allegations of genocide. The U.S. government may use some of the rationale presented in the ruling to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to distance the government's stance from some far-right politicians in the government. However, Netanyahu will have difficulty doing so since he needs to maintain the support of far-right politicians and voters to sustain his political future amid his approval rating of just 15%.
Background: South Africa brought the case accusing Israel of genocide to the ICJ on Dec. 29, 2023. The case has subsequently gathered support from additional countries, including Brazil and Malaysia. The U.S. government has become more critical of the number of Palestinian civilian casualties in the war, and some European countries, including Finland, have demanded a cease-fire to stop civilian casualties.
Haiti, Kenya: Kenyan High Court Rules Against Deployment to Haiti
What Happened: Kenyan High Court Judge Chacha Mwita ruled that the planned deployment of Kenyan police officers to lead a U.N. Security Council-approved mission to combat extreme gang violence in Haiti violates the Kenyan constitution, Reuters reported on Jan. 26. The government said it plans to appeal the decision.
Why It Matters: The ruling demonstrates continuing tensions between President William Ruto and Kenya's judiciary, including the High Court, which lowers the likelihood that the government will successfully appeal the decision. With Kenya no longer able to participate, the United States will likely begin searching for another nation to lead the mission in the coming days, further delaying the deployment. Although other countries, including the Bahamas and Jamaica, have offered to assist in the deployment, none have large enough police forces to provide the 1,000 officers Kenya planned to send. With the deployment unlikely to commence in the coming weeks, the security situation in Haiti will likely continue to deteriorate, worsening humanitarian conditions and making it more difficult for the deployment to combat gang violence if and when it does occur.
Background: The U.N. Security Council approved the international security deployment to Haiti in October 2023 after Ruto offered to lead it, but an opposition party challenged the planned deployment shortly after, with the High Court announcing it would rule on the issue in January 2024. The United States and other regional governments have pushed for the deployment, as gang violence in Haiti has significantly escalated since 2021, with over 5,000 people killed in 2023.
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