Mark Scott Smith's Blog: Enemy in the Mirror, page 44

Hurricane Hazel Kills 348 in US & Canada

In October 1954 Hurricane Hazel  killed at least 469 people in Haiti before striking the United States near the border between North and South Carolina as a Category 4 hurricane where it caused 95 deaths.

Hazel then struck Canada as an extratropical storm with a death toll of 81 people, mostly in Toronto.

As a result of its high death toll and extensive damage, the name Hazel was retired from use for North Atlantic hurricanes.

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale

CategorySustained WindsTypes of Damage Due to Hurricane Winds174-95 mph
64-82 kt
119-153 km/hVery dangerous winds will produce some damage: Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof, shingles, vinyl siding and gutters. Large branches of trees will snap and shallowly rooted trees may be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles likely will result in power outages that could last a few to several days.
296-110 mph
83-95 kt
154-177 km/hExtremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage: Well-constructed frame homes could sustain major roof and siding damage. Many shallowly rooted trees will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. Near-total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks.
3
(major)111-129 mph
96-112 kt
178-208 km/hDevastating damage will occur: Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes.
4
(major)130-156 mph
113-136 kt
209-251 km/hCatastrophic damage will occur: Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
5
(major)157 mph or higher
137 kt or higher
252 km/h or higherCatastrophic damage will occur: A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.

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Southeast Asia Treaty Organization – SEATO

Wikipedia

In September 1954 the United States, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan formed the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).

 

 

Although most of the SEATO member states were countries located elsewhere than Southeast Asia. they all had interests related to their geographic position, status as former colonial powers or concern about communist expansion in the region. 

SEATO was dissolved on 30 June 1977 after multiple members lost interest and withdrew. 

Main Source: Office of the U.S. State Department Historian

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Popular Movies

Americans watched some good foreign and domestic movies in 1954.

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“Under God” phrase added to the Pledge of Allegiance

In June 1954, In response to the perceived communist threat during the Cold War, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words “under God,” to the pledge of allegiance.

Today the Pledge reads:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

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Coup D’état in Guatemala

In June 1954, Operation PBSuccess (a covert operation directed by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency) orchestrated the invasion of Guatemala from Honduras by a force of Guatemalan mercenaries.

The successful coup d’état deposed the democratically elected Guatemalan President Jacobo Árbenz and installed a military dictatorship under Carlos Castillo Armas, the first in a series of U.S.-backed authoritarian rulers in the country.

Important factors influencing the U.S. decision to intervene included:

U.S. Cold War attitude regarding the spread of communism in Latin AmericaPresident Árbenz’s legalization of the communist Guatemalan Party of LabourInfluential lobbying by the United Fruit Company that profited from exploitative labor practices in Guatemala

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Popular TV Programs

Popular TV shows 1954

Top-rated primetime television series of the 1954–55 season as measured by Nielsen Media Research.[1]

RankProgramNetworkRating1 I Love Lucy CBS49.32 The Jackie Gleason Show 42.43 Dragnet NBC42.14 You Bet Your Life 41.05 The Toast of the Town CBS39.66 Disneyland ABC39.17 The Jack Benny Show CBS38.38 The George Gobel Show NBC35.29 Ford Theatre 34.910 December Bride CBS34.711 The Buick-Berle Show NBC34.612 This Is Your Life 34.513 I’ve Got a Secret CBS34.014 Two for the Money 33.915 Your Hit Parade NBC33.616 The Millionaire CBS33.017 General Electric Theater 32.618 Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts 32.519 Private Secretary 32.220 Fireside Theatre NBC31.121 The Life of Riley 30.922 Arthur Godfrey and His Friends CBS29.823 The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin ABC29.524 Topper CBS29.425 Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts 29.126 The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show 29.027 The Colgate Comedy Hour NBC28.028 The Loretta Young Show 27.729 My Little Margie 27.130 The Roy Rogers Show 26.9

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First Taiwan Strait Crisis

In August 1954 the Communist People’s Republic of China attacked several islands located a few miles from mainland China in the Taiwan Strait that were held by the Nationalist Republic of China.

Wikipedia

In January 1955, the Formosa Resolution was approved by the U.S. Congress authorizing President Eisenhower to use U.S. forces to defend Nationalist China and its possessions in the Taiwan Strait against armed attack. The U.S. Navy then assisted the Nationalists in evacuating their forces from the Tachen Islands.

In March 1955, U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles stated that the U.S. was seriously considering a nuclear strike against Communist China. In response, the alliance of NATO foreign ministers warned against such action.

In May 1955, Communist Chinese forces ceased shelling Kinmen and Matsu Islands, but the fundamental issues of conflict remained unresolved and both sides subsequently built up military forces on the Taiwan Strait leading to a new Taiwan Strait crisis three years later.

Source: Wikipedia

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“The World Series Catch” by Willie Mays

In the 8th inning of game 5 of the September 1954 World Series,  New York Giants center fielder Willie Mays made a remarkable over-the-shoulder running catch of a deep center field fly ball to record the out and throw back to the infield, preventing runners from advancing.

The Giants won the game 5–2 in extra innings, and eventually the World Series. 

Source: Wikipedia

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Fall of French Indochina

In May 1954 communist Viet Minh forces won a decisive victory over the French colonial army in the Battle of Điện Biên Phủ. The war ended shortly afterward with signing of the 1954 Geneva Accords in which France agreed to withdraw its forces from all of its colonies in French Indochina.

The accord temporarily divided Vietnam at the , with control of the north given to the Viet Minh as the Democratic Republic of Vietnam under Ho Chi Minh. The south became the State of Vietnam, nominally under Emperor Bảo Đại, thereby preventing the communists from gaining control of the entire country. Separate ceasefire accords were made with Cambodia and Laos at the conference.

Although a general election was to be held by July 1956 to create a unified Vietnamese state, the subsequent refusal of the State of Vietnam to allow the elections ultimately led to the Vietnam War.

Wikimedia

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Music Soothes the Post-War Soul

Popular music often seemed soft and soothing in 1954, the year after the tragic Korean War.

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