Anecdote
SERGEANT YORK’S FEAT
A dirt-poor farmer from Tennessee was the most decorated doughboy of WWI. Alvin York grew up in a two-room log cabin. He was one of eleven children. He grew up wild and loved to drink and party. His life Read more…
Anecdote
SMOKEY BEAR
On August 9, 1944, the U.S. Forestry Service authorized the creation of a baby bear symbol for firefighting efforts by the public. WWII was underway and there were fewer firefighters because many joined the military. The public was enlisted Read more…
Anecdote
FACTS ABOUT THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN
The Battle of Britain was the first major military campaign fought entirely by air forces. The battle actually got its name before it even began. On June 18, 1940 Winston Churchill made a speech that included the lines: “The Battle Read more…
Anecdote
THE ST. ALBANS RAID
The St. Albans Raid was the most Northern action of the Civil War. Lt. Bennett Young of the Confederate army had escaped from a Union prison camp and made it to Canada. He came up with the idea of Read more…
Anecdote
THE YANKEE VERSION OF “DIXIE”
The song “Dixie” is forever associated with the South before and during the Civil War. Ironically, it was written by an Ohioan named Daniel Decatur Emmett. He meant it to evoke a the positive effects of slavery, although it Read more…
Anecdote
GLADIATOR FACTS
Gladiators were usually either slaves, criminals, or prisoners of war. Some might even be free men who joined for the adventure and/or fame. New gladiators were called novicius. They were brought to the training school (ludus). The owner was Read more…
Anecdote
SINKING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS
Today is the anniversary of one of the worst maritime disasters in history. The crew of the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis would have been proud that they had contributed to the ending of WWII and the saving of many Read more…
Anecdote
PT-109
Today is the anniversary of the ramming and sinking of John F. Kennedy’s PT-109 in 1943. A PT (patrol torpedo) boat was a wooden, speedy boat used against enemy shipping. Their attacks on Japanese warships were close to suicidal. What Read more…
Anecdote
TYPES OF GLADIATORS
Most gladiators were slaves, but some free men joined for the fame and fortune. There were even some female gladiators. They fought in loin cloths without helmets, so people could see they were women. A bestiarus hunted wild animals Read more…
Anecdote
DEATH TO GLADIATORS
How you died was important to gladiators. Part of the training at the gladiator school was how to die appropriately. If you lost, you needed to make eye contact with the victor and offer your neck. You put two Read more…