TheList 7449

The List 7449

To All.

Good Tuesday Morning February 17, 2026.

..It is partly cloudy and cool this morning and the rain will start around 11PM tonight and go through tomorrow morning..

Toni got home late yesterday and I passed the initial inspection. She is feeling a bit better and is able to walk with a walker and take care of things. She is sleeping OK and I am following orders. I had to get up at 0 dark thirty to go to a physical Therapy session at the Oceanside VA hospital with my long time favorite physical Therapist. I think that the stretching machine got me over the 6 foot mark this morning or so it seemed.

On the way home I got redirected to do some shopping and a run to the donut Shop. Mission was completed and Toni was happy.

Now she reminds me of all the meds I have to take each day and lets me know if I am late which just happened.   Yes Dear seems the only response

I apologize for another Late List. I will try to get back on track

Thanks again for all the notes and phone calls

.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/.    Go here to see the director's corner for all 94 H-Grams. 

This day in Naval and Marine Corps History

17 February

1864

While at anchor off Charleston, S.C., the Steam Sloop of War USS Housatonic is attacked by the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley using a spar torpedo. USS Housatonic is recorded as the first warship to be sunk by a submarine.

1942

The first Construction Battalion (Seabees) arrives in the Pacific during World War II at Bora Bora, Society Islands.

1944

USS Nicholas (DD 449) sinks the Japanese submarine I-11 in the Marshall Islands.

1944

During Operation Hailstone, aircraft from the nine aircraft carriers of Task Force 58 attack the Japanese fleet at Truk. During the 2-day strike, 33 Japanese vessels are destroyed and nine more damaged.

1945

While wounded and gravely weakened, Medal of Honor Recipient Lt Rufus G. Herring takes the helm of the Landing Craft Infantry Gunboat (LCI(G)-449), which was heavily hit by Japanese counter-fire, rallies his men, and keeps the ship in action protecting UDT swimmers.

 

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THIS DAY IN WORLD HISTORY

February 17

1454     At a grand feast, Philip the Good of Burgundy takes the "vow of the pheasant," by which he swears to fight the Turks.

1598     Boris Godunov, the boyar of Tarar origin, is elected czar in succession to his brother-in-law Fydor.

1720     Spain signs the Treaty of the Hague with the Quadruple Alliance ending a war that was begun in 1718.

1801     The House of Representatives breaks an electoral college tie and chooses Thomas Jefferson over Aaron Burr.

1864     The Confederate submarine Hunley sinks the USS Housatonic in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.

1865     The South Carolina capital city, Columbia, is destroyed by fire as Major General William Tecumseh Sherman marches through.

1909     Apache chief Geronimo dies of pneumonia at age 80, while still in captivity at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

1919     Germany signs an armistice giving up territory in Poland.

1925     The first issue of Harold Ross' magazine, The New Yorker, hits the stands, selling for 15 cents a copy.

1933     The League of Nations censures Japan in a worldwide broadcast.

1935     Thirty-one prisoners escape an Oklahoma prison after murdering a guard.

1938     The first color television is demonstrated at the Dominion Theatre in London.

1944     U.S forces land on Eniwetok atoll in the South Pacific.

1945     Gen. MacArthur's troops land on Corregidor in the Philippines.

1951     Packard introduces its "250" Chassis Convertible.

1955     Britain announces its ability to make hydrogen bombs.

1959     The United States launches its first weather station in space, Vanguard II.

1960     Martin Luther King Jr. is arrested in the Alabama bus boycott.

1963     Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev visits the Berlin Wall.

1969     Russia and Peru sign their first trade accord.

1973     President Richard Nixon names Patrick Gray director of the FBI.

1975     Art by Cezanne, Gauguin, Renoir, and van Gogh, valued at $5 million, is stolen from the Municipal Museum in Milan.

1979     China begins a "pedagogical" war against Vietnam. It will last until March.

1985     Murray Haydon becomes the third person to receive an artificial heart.

 

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Thanks to the Bear and Dan Heller. We will always have the url for you to search items in Rolling Thunder

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER …

. rollingthunderremembered.com .

.

 

 Thanks to Micro

From Vietnam Air Losses site for ..February 17 . .

February 17: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=2809 

Hello All,

Thanks to Dan Heller and the Bear

 Links to all content can now be found right on the homepage http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com. If you scroll down from the banner and featured content you will find "Today in Rolling Thunder Remembered History" which highlights events in the Vietnam war that occurred on the date the page is visited. Below that are links to browse or search all content. You may search by keyword(s), date, or date range.

     An item of importance is the recent incorporation of Task Force Omega (TFO) MIA summaries. There is a link on the homepage and you can also visit directly via  https://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/task-force-omega/. There are 60 summaries posted thus far, with about 940 to go (not a typo—TFO has over 1,000 individual case files).

     If you have any questions or comments about RTR/TFO, or have a question on my book, you may e-mail me directly at acrossthewing@protonmail.com. Thank you      Dan

 

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.

. Thanks to YP… I have seen a couple accidents  from Pri Fly  both landing and taking off…skip

I've seen two separate mid airs:

 

First was from my perch on Vulture's Row on Independence, watching a recovery. A division of Blue Hawk Scoots were just aft of the boat over the wake and #2 was crossing over and collided with the section leader

 

HUGE EXPLOSION!  One Scoot with nothing remaining behind the wing line came spinning out of the mess, and, miraculously, two chutes cleared the cloud.

 

The ship's helo had to go dump fuel to pick up the very chunky, very wet USAF Exchange pilot, who was wearing a Jarboon platoon's worth of survival gear.  We expected at least a couple of inches

to be planed off both sides, but he was OK.  The Plane Guard picked up the other chap.

 

I saw #2 midair from the cockpit of a DC-9 approaching ATL.  A dirty black cloud appeared out in front of us.  WTF?  ATC comm got strange.  Turns out that two Scoots from Dobbins doing ACM had collided.  Sadly, (at least) one was a mort,

 

I witnessed a RA-5C crash from up close.  I had trapped and taxied and shut down port side just forward of the Angle.  I was standing on the ladder putting the pins in my ejection seat when this TREMENDOUS ROAR went by me.  I looked up and saw an RA-5C cocked up and in burners roaring crash into the water with a tremendous splash.

 

The Viggie, flown by the Squadron Skipper, had pulled a wire partially out and it broke, scything the flight deck.  Even though the aircraft had decelerated, the Skipper tried to take it around.

 

When the splash subsided some, all I saw was airplane pieces and a floating flight helmet.  Evidently, the B/N ejected, but way too late.  Neither of the crew was recovered.

 

Probably, every tactical Naval/USMC aviator, particularly the lifers, all have such stories.

 

Part of the package.

YP

 

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YP is and I have seen more than my share

 

Many years ago on a beautiful Friday morning at NKX The blue angels came to town and were doing a show. In those days it was for the base folks only and Turkey Tucker and I walked out to the end of the F-14  line to watch. Turkey was just about done with the F-14 Rag and only needed CQ as I remember.  He had come from the Blue Angels where he flew the F-4 and the A-4 and had developed the solo routine.

As we watched one of the solos came left to right and started doing a series of roles at very low altitude. I was watching his nose position at each role and after the third one his nose was slightly below the horizon and I turned to Jerry and said something and Jerry said "He' Is dead" and the aircraft bellied into the ground.  What followed was a fight between the Operational Navy and the Training command navy and Jerry ended up back in the Blues on Monday as the lead solo for another full season. Jerry had been flying  F-4 when the team had the midair and had developed all the moves for the solo in the A-4 and knew exactly how they should be done. By the way there are a couple of pictures of Jerry running doing his routine of the dirty role on take off  around are Holy Chit!!!!

 

Skip

 

 

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A couple years ago when I totaled my 1996 Impala SS I was in the show room and there was one of these tricked out beasts there with a starting price of $88,000. It was big and black and impressive and out of my price range by a mile or two. I think the tires came up to my chest and figured I would need three men and a small boy to change one. 720 HP was probably not going to get the gas mileage was looking for either…Sigh!!!

Thanks to Mike

Marine vet credits Raptor for saving his life in crash — and Ford

Bravo Zulu Ford!

 

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/marine-vet-credits-raptor-saving-121131729.html

 

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From the archives

Working on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier at sea

. Like many of you out there I spent many years on the flight deck of a number of aircraft carriers and saw many small and large accidents. The deck handlers were quite a group and they paid the price of a second of inattention. The F-8 Crusader was a dangerous one on the deck and I almost swallowed my plane captain one day on the USS Hancock. He was giving me my control checks and was in front of the left side of my nose and as I saw him start moving from my left to my right  I heard something rattle down the intake under my seat and immediately shut off the engine as other flight deck folks started running toward my aircraft. He had been sucked into the intake and managed to get a hand on each side of the intake and held himself out for the fraction of time it took me to shut the engine down. What I heard was his helmet and gear being sucked off him and clatter down the intake.  He was ok      skip

 

Thanks to Billy … Including F-35 ops ... via Dr. Rich

One of most hazardous jobs on the planet - the carrier deck hands! — — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N4TUN_WijI

 

Want a lesson on the hand signals?  -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As7zQPkkv8c

 

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Thanks to Nice News

 

            For a short month, February is absolutely stacked with occasions. Between Valentine's Day, Presidents Day, Mardi Gras, and Lunar New Year, we can hardly keep up. But today's holiday is one we'd never forget: Random Acts of Kindness Day. We challenge you to go forth today and extend as many acts of kindness as you can, whether it's simply smiling at a stranger or signing up to volunteer.

 

Amtrak's Largest Fleet Replacement Since 1971 Is in the Works

 Kyle Ortiz—iStock/Getty Images Plus

 

Founded in 1971, Amtrak built many of its existing trains in the '70s and '80s, but a new fleet will soon catch the company up to the current century. In development now, Amtrak's Airo trainsets will mark its largest fleet replacement ever, providing a plethora of updated features that will render them more eco-friendly and easier to maintain with a better passenger experience.

 

Along with lowering diesel particulate emissions by 90%, the new trains will boast larger windows, more spacious seating and individual power outlets, an updated cafe car with self-service options, and improved accessibility for people with disabilities. "We're jumping about 50 years into the future," Derek Maier, a senior director of the Airo program, told The New York Times. "It's a more open experience. It's better lit. It's newer materials."

 

The first eight Airo trainsets, projected to be completed this year, will run between Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, and Eugene, Oregon. But the entire fleet, which will consist of 83 trainsets costing $8 billion, will be constructed and rolled out across the U.S. in the coming years. "If you've ridden trains in Europe, you're going to say, 'OK, these are pretty normal train sets,'" said Jim Mathews, president of the Rail Passengers Association. "But if you haven't ridden trains in Europe, you're going to walk through these trains and be like, 'Holy crap, this is fantastic!'"

 

How Hip-Hop and House Revolutionized Music and Culture

 Raymond Boyd—Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

 

This article was written by Joycelyn Wilson, an assistant professor of ethnographic and cultural studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology, for The Conversation.

 

There was a time when artists representing two of America's biggest homegrown musical genres wouldn't get a look in at the Grammys.

 

Hip-hop and house both have their origins in the 1970s and early 1980s — in fact, they recently celebrated a 50th and 40th birthday, respectively. But it was only in 1989 that an award category for "best rap performance" started recognizing hip-hop's contribution to U.S. music, and house had to wait another decade, with the introduction of "best dance/electronic recording" in 1998.

 

At this year's awards, which took place on Feb. 2, hip-hop and house artists were among the most talked about. House duo Justice and Kendrick Lamar, a hip-hop superstar who incorporates elements of house himself, were among those looking to pick up an award. Meanwhile, a nomination for a collaboration between DJ Kaytranada and rapper Childish Gambino shows how artists from both genres continue to feed off each other.

 

And while both genres are now celebrated for their separate contributions to the music landscape, as a scholar of African American culture and music, I am interested in their commonality: Both are distinctly Black American art forms that originated on the streets and dance floors of U.S. cities, developing a devoted underground following before being accepted by — and transforming — the mainstream. Learn more about how hip-hop and house music have evolved.

 

 

Happy Lunar New Year — And Welcome to the Year of the Fire Horse

 Ying Tang—NurPhoto/Getty Images

 

If you haven't quite gotten around to your New Year's resolutions yet, consider starting them at the Lunar New Year, which begins today. Guided by the cycles of the moon, the Lunar New Year is a major holiday celebrated by Asian communities all over the world and an opportunity to look ahead with optimism.

 

"Just as Christmas is a highlight of the year for many Western people, so is the Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year, to the Chinese all over the world," Jianguo Chen, an associate professor of Chinese at the University of Delaware, previously told Good Housekeeping.

 

The occasion marks the transition to spring and is typically observed with family reunions, festive foods, temple visits, lots of red, and other traditions meant to welcome in good vibes and sweep away bad luck. (We mean sweeping metaphorically, as cleaning on the first day of the Lunar New Year risks getting rid of any accumulated good luck — all cleaning should happen before the holiday.)

 

This is the Year of the Fire Horse, running from Feb. 17 to Feb. 5, 2027 on the Gregorian calendar. In the Chinese zodiac, the horse is associated with confidence, intelligence, and independence, while fire is thought to amplify qualities like passion, charisma, and ambition. See what the Year of the Fire Horse is expected to bring and check your Chinese zodiac.

 

 

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. Thanks to 1440

 

 Some Bits

 

Apalachee Trial Begins

Opening statements began yesterday in the trial of Colin Gray, the father of Apalachee High School shooting suspect Colt Gray. The elder Gray has pleaded not guilty to 29 charges, including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.

In September 2024, then-14-year-old Colt allegedly killed four people and wounded nine others at his high school in Winder, Georgia. Colt's father had purchased the AR-15-style rifle for Colt as a Christmas gift and had also purchased a larger magazine for extra rounds. The gift came despite a visit from police over threats Colt allegedly made to carry out a school shooting (no charges were filed; see video). Colt had also allegedly kept a shrine to a school shooter in his bedroom. Prosecutors say the elder Gray's actions indicate "criminal negligence."

The trial follows a relatively new approach by prosecutors to charge parents of school shooters. The first instance came in 2021, with charges against the Crumbley parents, whose son killed four students in Oxford, Michigan.

 

 

Fat Tuesday Arrives

Cities around the world celebrate Mardi Gras today, the final day before the Christian fasting and religious observance period of Lent begins. French for "Fat Tuesday," Mardi Gras caps Carnival, which starts annually Jan. 6—the 12th day after Christmas—and ends the day before Ash Wednesday. Celebrations include weeks of parades, masked balls, and king cake-filled gatherings.

New Orleans is considered the US epicenter for festivities, drawing roughly 1 million visitors and generating around $900M in economic impact (although Mobile, Alabama, claims the first American Mardi Gras in 1703). Social clubs known as krewes, like Rex and Zulu, roll through the city in elaborate floats, tossing beads and doubloons. Roughly 2.5 million pounds of trash are produced each year, including nearly 100,000 pounds of beads, prompting the development of new biodegradable throws.

Mardi Gras evolved from ancient Roman festivals into a global event, from Rio de Janeiro's samba parades to Venice's masked balls. See photos here and here.

 

 

Lost Ship Discovered

Researchers have found the Lac La Belle, a luxury passenger ship that sank in Lake Michigan more than 150 years ago. The 217-foot steamer was discovered 20 miles offshore between Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin. See images of the ship, including stereoviews, here.

The Lac La Belle was built in Cleveland in 1864. The ship sank twice—the first time in 1866 after a collision on the St. Clair River. After being restored in 1869, the ship was purchased by a Milwaukee-based company. On Oct. 13, 1872, the ship left the city with 53 passengers and crew, as well as goods, including barley, flour, pork, and whiskey. After two hours, it began leaking uncontrollably and encountered a storm, forcing passengers to escape by lifeboat. Eight people died.

Eighty-year-old shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn discovered the hull via sonar in October 2022 and waited to announce its discovery until he created a 3D model of the ship. Learn more about shipwrecks via 1440 Topics here.

 

In partnership with EnergyX

The Lithium Boom is Heating Up

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Thanks to growing demand, lithium stock prices grew 2X+ from June 2025 to January 2026. $ALB climbed as high as 227%. $LAC hit 151%. $SQM, 159%.

 

But the real winner may be a stock not listed on public exchanges, EnergyX. This $1B unicorn's patented technology can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods. That's earned investment from leaders like General Motors. Now they're preparing for commercial production just as experts project 5X demand growth by 2040. They've announced what could be one of the US' largest lithium production facilities and have rights to approximately 150,000 lithium-rich acres across North and South America. 

 

Unlike public stocks, you can buy private EnergyX shares alongside 40,000+ other investors. Invest for $11/share by the 2/26 deadline.*

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Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> Oscar-winning actor Robert Duvall dies at age 95 after decadeslong film career, including roles in "The Godfather" franchise, "Apocalypse Now," and "Lonesome Dove," among others (More)

 

> US women's ice hockey team advances to gold medal game after 5-0 win over Sweden, will play Canada Thursday (More) | Japan wins pairs figure skating champion; US pairs come in seventh and ninth (More)

 

> Anthony Edwards named NBA All-Star Most Valuable Player after Team USA Stars win championship game in new USA vs. World format (More)

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Science & Technology

> OpenAI hires Peter Steinberger, creator of the AI agent social network OpenClaw, to focus on development of personalized agents .

 

> Martian soil analysis suggests the planet was warm and wet during its Noachian era, roughly 4 billion years ago; findings provide support for scenario countering the theory early Mars was icy and cold (More) | Mars 101 (1440 Topics)

 

> Researchers develop "liquid battery" that stores energy from the sun for later use; light causes the substance's molecular structure to change, releasing energy as heat (More)

 

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In partnership with hear.com

 

This Is The Tiny Hearing Device Experts Trust

A new German engineered hearing device is catching experts' attention. Not just for its nearly invisible design, but because it delivers unmatched clarity in everyday life.

 

Most devices rely on a single processor. Horizon IX packs two AI smart chips, separating speech from noise in real time. The result is crisp, natural conversations anywhere life gets loud. Over 540,000+ people are already experiencing this expert-recommended hearing revelation.

 

 

Business & Markets

> Anthropic reports 11% boost in daily active users following Super Bowl commercial criticizing OpenAI for integrating ads into ChatGPT (More) | Defense officials consider cutting ties with Anthropic over its terms of use banning monitoring of Americans and autonomous weaponry (More)

 

> Tom Pritzker, executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels, resigns from position over ties to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein (More)

 

> Early IRS data suggests the average tax refund is nearly $2,300, up almost 11% from last year; filing deadline is April 15 (More) | Everything we've learned about income taxes (More)

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Politics & World Affairs

> Second round of US-Iran nuclear talks begins today in Geneva after Iran launches second round of naval drills, the US deploys second aircraft carrier to the region (More)

 

> The US and Hungary sign agreement to cooperate on civilian nuclear energy, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signals support for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in the lead-up to April election (More)

 

> Minnesota authorities say FBI will not share information with state authorities on the agency's investigation into the death of protester Alex Pretti (More)

 

In-Depth

> Double Dutch and the Rhythm of Joy

Niche to Meet You | Leslie Eiler Thompson. A sound-rich story about the girls and women who carried Double Dutch forward—and how its rhythms helped shape early hip-hop, even as its originators were written out. (Listen)

 

> The Science of Love and Obsession

Lit Hub | Tom Bellamy. Desire, whether fleeting or obsessive longing, is rooted in brain reward systems that make us want things sometimes far more powerfully than we like them, even twisting yearning into addiction-like obsession. (Read)

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In partnership with EnergyX

 

Exxon Has an Unlikely New Competitor

 

Energy giants like Exxon have been buying land in America's lithium hotspot. Now they've got a new neighbor.

 

EnergyX acquired the rights to 35k gross acres of lithium-rich land right next door. It's not just the acres turning heads, either. Their tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than usual methods. Now they're preparing to drill and unlock America's next major lithium supply. General Motors and 40k+ everyday people already invested. Join them as an EnergyX shareholder for $11/share by 2/26.*

 

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 Some humor from the archives

Thanks to Barrel

Alaska Airlines commercial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZf0bNDWH4s

 

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This Day in U S Military History….17 February

1900 – In response to an ambush that has killed two Philippine based Marines the day before, the gunboat USS Manileno was present and willing to help but broken down, so Captain Draper, the local commander, prevailed upon the master of a native steamer to tow the gunboat with himself and a force of 107 men aboard to the village of Moron a little after midnight on the morning of 17 February. Surprising the defenders, he took the town without much resistance, destroyed a store of ammunition, and burned the blockhouse. On the afternoon of the same day he ordered the inhabitants of Benictican and Baton to move into Olongapo, where the Marines were based, within three days or be declared outlaws. All obeyed his order except six families, who, according to his information, moved to another town.

1909 – Apache chief Geronimo dies of pneumonia at age 80, while still in captivity at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The slaughter of Geronimo's family when he was a young man turned him from a peaceful Indian into a bold warrior. Originally Goyathlay ("One Who Yawns") joined a fierce band of Apaches known as Chiricahuas and with them took part in raids in northern Mexico and across the border into U.S. territory which are now known as the states of New Mexico and Arizona. Geronimo was the last Apache fighting force. He became the most famous Apache of all for standing against the U.S. government and for holding out the longest. He was a great Apache medicine man, a great spiritual leader. Geronimo was highly sought by Apache chiefs for his wisdom. He is said to have had magical powers. He could see into the future and walk without creating footprints. He could even prevent dawn from rising to protect his people. In 1876, Federal authorities captured and forced Geronimo and his band onto a U.S. reservation at San Carlos, Arizona. It was described as "Hell's Forty Acres." He soon escaped and fled to Mexico to resume the life that he loved. Geronimo roamed Arizona and New Mexico and was persued relentlessly by more than five-thousand U.S. troops. Exhausted and hopelessly out numbered, Geronimo surrendered in 1886. His band consisted of a handful of warriors, women, and children. Geronimo, along with a few hundred of his fellow Apaches, were shipped by box-car to Florida for imprisonment. Geronimo was relocated to Fort Sill, Oklahoma and, as a prisoner of war, unable to return to his much loved homeland, died of pneumonia. He is buried in the Apache cemetery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

1944 – Operation Catchpole is launched as American troops devastate the Japanese defenders of Eniwetok and take control of the atoll in the northwestern part of the Marshall Islands. The U.S. Central Pacific Campaign was formulated during the August 1943 Quebec Conference. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill agreed on, among other things, a new blueprint for fighting in the Pacific: an island-hopping strategy; the establishment of bases from which to launch B-29s for a final assault on Japan; and a new Southeast Asia command for British Adm. Louis Mountbatten. The success of the island-hopping strategy brought Guadalcanal and New Guinea under Allied control. Though those areas were important, the Allies also still needed to capture the Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, and the Gilbert Islands, which had comprised an inner defensive perimeter for the Japanese. Each was a group of atolls, with between 20 to 50 islets, islands, and coral reefs surrounding a lagoon. The Allies planned an amphibious landing on the islands–all the more difficult because of this unusual terrain. On February 17, a combined U.S. Marine and Army force under Adm. Richmond Kelly Turner made its move against Eniwetok. Air strikes, artillery and naval gunfire, and battleship fire 1,500 yards from the beach gave cover to the troops moving ashore and did serious damage to the Japanese defenses. Six days after the American landing, the atoll was secured. The loss for the Japanese was significant: only 64 of the 2,677 defenders who met the Marine and Army force survived the fighting. The Americans lost only 195. The position on Eniwetok gave U.S. forces a base of operations to finally capture the entirety of the Marianas. Eniwetok was also useful to the United States after the war–in 1952 it became the testing ground for the first hydrogen bomb.

1944 – American forces attack the Japanese base at Truk and nearby shipping. Three groups of Task Force 58 (Admiral Mitscher) and one group of Task Forces 50 (Admiral Spruance) engage. The operation is under the command of Spruance. In total 9 carriers and 6 battleships as well as cruisers, destroyers and submarines are involved.

1968 – American officials in Saigon report an all-time high weekly rate of U.S. casualties–543 killed in action and 2,547 wounded in the previous seven days. These losses were a result of the heavy fighting during the communist Tet Offensive.1972 – President Nixon departed on his historic 10-day trip to China.

1974 – Private First Class Robert K. Preston, US Army, a helicopter pilot who had washed out of training, crept across the tarmac at Fort Meade, Maryland, and boarded a UH-1 Iroquois helicopter.  The aircraft was unarmed and, as was usual, was kept fueled on the flight line.  With the practiced hand of his training, he quickly went through the start up sequence.  Without clearance, he pushed in the power, pulled up on the controls and took off into the night.  For a time, he orbited the base at night, enjoying the view and hovering over base housing.  Finally, bored with this, he set out for a new destination — the White House.  When PFC Preston arrived in Washington, he took a flight down the Anacostia River, turned north at the Capitol Street Bridge and then flew directly to the White House.  It was about 1:00 am.  At first the Secret Service was somewhat miffed.  He buzzed the White House itself and then hovered overhead for six long minutes.  At the time, policy was that they would not fire on a helicopter or other aerial intruder if it might endanger innocent bystanders, and so they waited.  Finally, he flew down the South Lawn and landed about 100 yards toward the south fence.  The Washington Monument towered in the background and he remained there on the ground for a minute.  Two Maryland Police helicopters that had flown down from around Baltimore hovered nearby.  Suddenly, PFC Preston took back off into the night skies and the police gave close pursuit.  An extended tail chase ensued at low level.  In fact, it turned out that PFC Preston was indeed quite an expert pilot after all, as he managed to not only outmaneuver the two helicopters at every turn but even managed to drive one down in the process.  The second helicopter broke off but stayed nearby after what officials called, "a modern day dogfight".  PFC Preston returned to the White House once more.  It was nearly 2:00 am and he had led the officials on a prolonged chase — certainly, his fuel was running low.  This time he flew up to the Washington Monument, hovering at seven feet of altitude along the base for a bit before flying back straight north onto the White House's South Lawn.  There too he hovered just a few feet over the grass and it seemed to officials that this time he might be preparing to make a dash to crash into the building.  The second Maryland Police helicopter set down quickly between him and the White House as Secret Service agents moved toward the helicopter.  Then, without warning, they opened fire with handguns and shotguns hoping to cripple the helicopter.  They also fired and hit PFC Preston with a shotgun blast, injuring slightly.  He landed the damaged helicopter at once — though it seemed also that the damage from the gunfire had knocked the aircraft out of the sky, leaving the Secret Service to conclude that it had downed the helicopter.  Once on the ground, the Secret Service and Maryland Police rushed in.  PFC Preston jumped clear and fought them hand to hand, though he was badly outnumbered.  It wasn't long before he was subdued, however.  Handcuffed, he was taken into the White House for questioning before being transferred to Walter Reed hospital for treatment for his light injuries — mainly shotgun pellets.  The following day, when being escorted into a police car, he was smiling.  When asked why he had flown back to the White House a second time, he said that he knew it was wrong to fly over the White House so he had flown back "to turn himself in".  The Secret Service ordered psychological testing.  Ultimately, all civil charges were dropped and he was left to the military court system.  In the end, PFC Preston had proven two things — first, he was a pretty darn good helicopter pilot after all; and second, that he was certainly not up to the moral and ethical standards of the US Army.  He was sentenced to a year in prison.

1988 – Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins, an American officer, and veteran of Vietnam, serving with a United Nations truce monitoring group, was kidnapped in southern Lebanon by pro-Iranian terrorists. He was later slain by his captors. His remains were recovered and interred at Arlington National Cemetery. In 1999, the Navy named an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer for him.

 

Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day

*HAMMERBERG, OWEN FRANCIS PATRICK

Rank and organization: Boatswain's Mate Second Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 31 May 1920, Daggett, Mich. Accredited to: Michigan. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a diver engaged in rescue operations at West Loch, Pearl Harbor, 17 February 1945. Aware of the danger when 2 fellow divers were hopelessly trapped in a cave-in of steel wreckage while tunneling with jet nozzles under an LST sunk in 40 feet of water and 20 feet of mud. Hammerberg unhesitatingly went overboard in a valiant attempt to effect their rescue despite the certain hazard of additional cave-ins and the risk of fouling his lifeline on jagged pieces of steel imbedded in the shifting mud. Washing a passage through the original excavation, he reached the first of the trapped men, freed him from the wreckage and, working desperately in pitch-black darkness, finally effected his release from fouled lines, thereby enabling him to reach the surface. Wearied but undaunted after several hours of arduous labor, Hammerberg resolved to continue his struggle to wash through the oozing submarine, subterranean mud in a determined effort to save the second diver. Venturing still farther under the buried hulk, he held tenaciously to his purpose, reaching a place immediately above the other man just as another cave-in occurred and a heavy piece of steel pinned him crosswise over his shipmate in a position which protected the man beneath from further injury while placing the full brunt of terrific pressure on himself. Although he succumbed in agony 18 hours after he had gone to the aid of his fellow divers, Hammerberg, by his cool judgment, unfaltering professional skill and consistent disregard of all personal danger in the face of tremendous odds, had contributed effectively to the saving of his 2 comrades. His heroic spirit of self-sacrifice throughout enhanced and sustained the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.

HERRING, RUFUS G.

Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Naval Reserve, LCI (G) 449. Place and date: Iwo Jima, 17 February 1945. Entered service at: North Carolina. Born: 11 June 1921, Roseboro, N.C. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of LCI (G) 449 operating as a unit of LCI (G) Group 8, during the preinvasion attack on Iwo Jima on 17 February 1945. Boldly closing the strongly fortified shores under the devastating fire of Japanese coastal defense guns, Lt. (then Lt. (j.g.)) Herring directed shattering barrages of 40mm. and 20mm. gunfire against hostile beaches until struck down by the enemy's savage counterfire which blasted the 449's heavy guns and whipped her decks into sheets of flame. Regaining consciousness despite profuse bleeding he was again critically wounded when a Japanese mortar crashed the conning station, instantly killing or fatally wounding most of the officers and leaving the ship wallowing without navigational control. Upon recovering the second time, Lt. Herring resolutely climbed down to the pilothouse and, fighting against his rapidly waning strength, took over the helm, established communication with the engineroom, and carried on valiantly until relief could be obtained. When no longer able to stand, he propped himself against empty shell cases and rallied his men to the aid of the wounded; he maintained position in the firing line with his 20mm. guns in action in the face of sustained enemy fire, and conned his crippled ship to safety. His unwavering fortitude, aggressive perseverance, and indomitable spirit against terrific odds reflect the highest credit upon Lt. Herring and uphold the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

JOHNSTON, WILLIAM J.

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company G, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Padiglione, Italy, 1719 February 1944. Entered service at: Colchester, Conn. Birth: Trenton, N.J. G.O. No.: 73, 6 September 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. On 17 February 1944, near Padiglione, Italy, he observed and fired upon an attacking force of approximately 80 Germans, causing at least 25 casualties and forcing withdrawal of the remainder. All that day he manned his gun without relief, subject to mortar, artillery, and sniper fire. Two Germans individually worked so close to his position that his machinegun was ineffective, whereupon he killed 1 with his pistol, the second with a rifle taken from another soldier. When a rifleman protecting his gun position was killed by a sniper, he immediately moved the body and relocated the machinegun in that spot in order to obtain a better field of fire. He volunteered to cover the platoon's withdrawal and was the last man to leave that night. In his new position he maintained an all-night vigil, the next day causing 7 German casualties. On the afternoon of the 18th, the organization on the left flank having been forced to withdraw, he again covered the withdrawal of his own organization. Shortly thereafter, he was seriously wounded over the heart, and a passing soldier saw him trying to crawl up the embankment. The soldier aided him to resume his position behind the machinegun which was soon heard in action for about 10 minutes. Though reported killed, Pfc. Johnston was seen returning to the American lines on the morning of 19 February slowly and painfully working his way back from his overrun position through enemy lines. He gave valuable information of new enemy dispositions. His heroic determination to destroy the enemy and his disregard of his own safety aided immeasurably in halting a strong enemy attack, caused an enormous amount of enemy casualties, and so inspired his fellow soldiers that they fought for and held a vitally important position against greatly superior forces.

 

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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for February 17  FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY

17 February

1911: In a Navy first, Glenn H. Curtiss flew a Curtiss seaplane from North Island to land alongside the armored cruiser, the USS Pennsylvania (ACR-4), in the harbor at San Diego, Calif. The ship then hoisted the aircraft aboard by a launch crane. Later Curtiss took off from the water and flew back to North Island. (24)

1912: The Army published its first pilot physical exam requirements. (4) SECOND CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. Robert G. Fowler flew the second cross county trip in a Wright biplane, flying 2,520 miles from Los Angeles to Pasadena, Yuma, Tucson, Douglas, El Paso, Sweetwater, Fort Worth, Houston, Orange, New Iberia, New Orleans, Biloxi, Flomstom, Evergreen, Troy, Bainbridge, Quitman, and Pablo Beach. (9)

1913: The Army tested Lawrence Sperry's Gyrostabilizer, or automatic pilot, for the first time. (21)

1938: Through 27 February, Lt Col Robert D. Olds completed a round-trip goodwill flight with six B-17s between Langley Field, Va., and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The trip to Buenos Aires took 33 hours 30 minutes, while the return flight took 33 hours 35 minutes for the longest nonstop flight in Air Corps history to date. (24)

1944: The USS Enterprise launched 12 TBF-1Cs to attack Truk, in the first night bombing attack in carrier aviation history. (24)

1952: KOREAN WAR. Fifth Air Force flew 695 sorties, cratering rail tracks in over 50 locations, damaging a train and 15 rail cars near Huichon, strafing a convoy of trucks near Sinanju, and destroying supply buildings and dumps between Kumsong and Sibyon-ni. (28)

1956: Lockheed's first production F-104 Starfighter made its first flight at Edwards AFB, Calif. (12)

1958: From a DB-47, a 445th Bombardment Squadron crew from Pinecastle AFB, Fla., launched the prototype Rascal missile over the Atlantic Missile Range for the first time. (The DB-47 was a drone director.) (6)

1959: The US Navy launched its Vanguard II weather-reporting satellite into an earth orbit. (16) A one-third scale Minuteman missile fired for the first time at Edwards AFB, Calif. (3)

1959:  Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Associate Director of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory at Cambridge, Mass., recommends that the Air Force should take an active and positive approach to investigation of all UFO sightings, use scientific means to determine what caused the sightings, and keep the public informed of existing policy concerning the phenomena.

 

1965: The last operational KB-50 retired from the Tactical Air Command to the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB. (5) The largest balloon ever constructed by the Air Force, 450 feet in height, completed a 26-hour flight with a 450-pound payload of instruments to a record 142,000 feet. At that height, the balloon's dimensions were 270 feet high and 330 feet in diameter. (5)

1972: Air Force One, a VC-137 aircraft assigned to the 89th Military Airlift Wing at Andrews AFB, Md., carried President Nixon on his historic trip to China to meet Chinese Premier Chou En-Lai. (2)

1978: The 64th Flying Training Wing, Reese AFB, Tex., became the first Air Training Command command pilot training base with a fully operational instrument flight simulator program. That capability allowed training for both the T-37 and T-38. (16)

1999: Lockheed's first C-130J transport arrived at Keesler AFB, Miss., for assignment with the 403d Wing. (21) With the expiration of US treaty rights in the Canal Zone, the Air National Guard held closing ceremonies for Operation Coronet Oak at Howard AFB, Panama. The Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve had conducted the Coronet Oak (originally Operation Volant Oak) C-130 airlift operation in Panama since October 1977. Operations transferred to Puerto Rico. (32) Air National Guard KC-135s began air refueling support for fighter movements to Europe and air cargo missions to position people and supplies for a possible war with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia over the latter's actions in Kosovo. (32)

2007: The 45th Space Wing supported the launch of a Delta II booster from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., carrying five National Air and Space Administration 'THEMIS" probes to study auroral substorms, an avalanche of solar wind powered magnetic energy that intensifies the northern and southern lights. This was the largest number of National Air and Space Administration scientific satellites launched on a single booster. THEMIS stands for Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions in Substorms. (AFNEWS, "Air Force Supports NASA Mission to Study Auroras," 18 Feb 2007.)

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