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[happy]

Here is a link to a slide show of the kit of a British soldier - from Hasting in 1066 to Helmand Provence in 2014

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/wo...

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

That's a great link, thanks very much for that Happy, very interesting to see the progress of a soldiers gear & kit.

[happy]

I hope this doesn't stir up too much controversy, but here is a tribute to the Enola Gay and the passing of her last surviving crew member - Theodore Van Kirk, from NRO

http://www.nationalreview.com/article...

[Nooilforpacifists]

happy, nice tribute; thanks for the link.

[Tionne]

I know we discussed how terrible roundabouts were so I thought I'd let you all know how terrible going through a roundabout is on a bicycle in New Jersey. Pretty terrifying. Worse because I couldn't find a helmet in the shed of the beach house I'm staying at. Haha But I survived those Jersey drivers and the view from the seawall was worth it! :-)

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Sounds like you have been having a fun time Tionne :)

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Come to Britain Tionne we have thousands of roundabouts with some crackers like this one in Hemel Hempstead: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Ro...

[Tionne]

OMG Geevee, a roundabout going in the opposite direction sounds like more of a nightmare. Hahaha

[Tionne]

Yes, AR, it is a lot of fun. Tomorrow is the Air Show in Atlantic City with the Thunderbirds. Gotta love vacation! :-)

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

That should be a great day, enjoy :)

[happy]

Tionne wrote: "OMG Geevee, a roundabout going in the opposite direction sounds like more of a nightmare. Hahaha"

When we visited England a few yrs ago, I almost killed myself and everyone in the car with me at a roundabout. I looked in the wrong direction and was about to pull out into oncomming traffic, when my brother yelled and I came to a quick stop. I let him drive the rest of the vacation (he lived there and was used to it) :)

[happy]

Tionne wrote: "Yes, AR, it is a lot of fun. Tomorrow is the Air Show in Atlantic City with the Thunderbirds. Gotta love vacation! :-)"

enjoy!

The T-birds were here a month ago. They fly right over the house, so I didn't have to go to the AFB so the show

I like the arrival show just about as much as the regular one.

[Tionne]

Yes! They have been practicing here off and on all week. It's been pretty awesome. Nothing like sitting on the beach getting buzzed by one of those! :-)

[carl]

MR9, this just showed up in my Abe's Books
suggestions. couldn't help but think of you:


Robert Johnson: LOST AND FOUND

[Manray9]

carl wrote: "MR9, this just showed up in my Abe's Books
suggestions. couldn't help but think of you:


Robert Johnson: LOST AND FOUND"

Thanks. The King of the Delta Blues!

"I got a girl, say she long and tall.
She sleeps in the kitchen with her feets in the hall.
Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes she got'em for sale."

[Manray9]

Thanks are due to Ms. Margaret E. Zerwekh of Delafield, Wisconsin for pushing for recognition of the valiant Lieutenant Alonzo Cushing's performance on the field during the third day at Gettysburg. President Obama will award Lt. Cushing the Medal of Honor. He earned it!

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/26/us/meda...

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

That's great news Manray9! I read a book of this brave fellow many years back:


Cushing of Gettysburg: The Story of a Union Artillery Commander by Kent Masterson Brown

[Doubledf99.99]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "That's great news Manray9! I read a book of this brave fellow many years back:


[book:Cushing of Gettysburg: The..."
That is most excellent news..
"That those caissons go rolling along"..

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Manray9 wrote: "Thanks are due to Ms. Margaret E. Zerwekh of Delafield, Wisconsin for pushing for recognition of the valiant Lieutenant Alonzo Cushing's performance on the field during the third day at Gettysburg...."

Delafield is about 10 miles from where I grew up. I saw "Cushing" on a number of things like schools, roads. parks, etc. I spent summers on Nagawicka Lake and winters on Delafield ski hill. This is great news to hear of the MoH award.

[Manray9]

This had nothing to do with WW II, but I found it interesting. I have read of Queen Victoria and John Brown and watched the movie, "Mrs. Brown," with Judi Dench. It seems Ms. Baird may a found a little more.

From the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/01/opi...

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Interesting thanks. In my current book the author Jane Ridley mentions Brown and his nickname and that he was hated by staff and family members including Bertie (Edward VII). Brown was a bully and drunk and treated the younger prince leopold, a haemophiliac, terribly with his cruelty to him being documented; hitting Leopold, telling him off throughout the day, keeping him in isolation and banishing his favourite dog (pages 134-136).
In this account Ms Ridley also quotes a conversation recorded ebetween the liberal mp Loulou Harcourt and Dr Norman Macleod the Scottish Presbyterian minister who counselled Victoria as saying on his deathbed how he regretted marrying the queen and Brown (many rumours at the time were of this marriage and the sexual relationship especially as Victoria was unpopular with her subjects at this time).

On his succession to the throne Edward destroyed or removed the statues and memorials to Brown.

[Ugo]

So I'm just started into the group, and one thing I have to say is that Goodreads' discussion forums functionality is terrible!

I am used to a standard discussion forum layout: all threads listed in chronological order with most recent first (with the notorious stickies at the top) and then you click on a thread to access the replies and details.

But Goodreads forum interface seems stuck in 1994 bulletin board mode. First of all, for whatever reason, it presents me with the first post ever in the discussion posted like 2 or 3 years ago. I have to click on "Newest" to get it sorted with most recent on top.

Second, there seems to be no distinction made between a reply made to someone, from an actual new comment or thread. It makes it awfully complicated to follow what's happening and who's responding on what.

Is it just me missing some easy way to sort this mess or does Goodreads's forums functionality really dates back to stone age of the net?

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

I think that sums it up Ugo - the only "short cut" I know of is clicking the red link for the most recent and new posts since I last looked at a thread.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I haven't found any other way to work through the posts other than what Geevee has said.

[Steve]

Welcome to 1994, Ugo. ; ) I don't think GR has changed its interface at least since I joined back in 2008. I keep thinking it's going to be updated soon.

[Manray9]

Today is the bicentennial of the British attack on Fort McHenry in Baltimore. The bombardment of the fort inspired a Georgetown lawyer, Francis Scott Key, to write a poem entitled "The Defence of Fort M'Henry" (yes, defence with a "c", the Brit way) which became the "Star-Spangled Banner." Right now, I'm lifting a glass to Mr. Key. He did well.

September 13th also plays into the history of another great American martial anthem. On this date American troops assaulted the Mexican castle of Chapultepec led by a group of 120 hand-picked soldiers and U.S. Marines. The Mexican forces, including military academy cadets and American deserters of the San Patricio battalion, were routed. The fall of Chapultepec resulted in the surrender of Mexico City to General Winfield Scott and the well-known line of the Marine Corps Hymn: "From the Halls of Montezuma..."

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Great information Manray9, thanks for those details.

[happy]

Manray9 wrote: "Today is the bicentennial of the British attack on Fort McHenry in Baltimore. The bombardment of the fort inspired a Georgetown lawyer, Francis Scott Key, to write a poem entitled "The Defence of ..."

A slideshow from NRO about the British attack on Baltimore and the Star Spangled Banner

Some nice pics of the "Star Spangled Banner"

http://www.nationalreview.com/slidesh...

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Mick Mannock VC's death plaque to be sold at auction this week: http://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/n...

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Geevee wrote: "Mick Mannock VC's death plaque to be sold at auction this week: http://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/n..."

Just browsing the auction site. Wish I had some extra cash to use, there are some really unique medals and memorabilia to buy...

[Manray9]

Geevee wrote: "Mick Mannock VC's death plaque to be sold at auction this week: http://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/n..."

Rather unseemly to me. Must need the money badly.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Mike me too and Manray9 despite what i said to Mike the sale of medals always saddens me as the family connection goes.

[Manray9]

Today President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to Command Sergeant Major Bennie Adkins of Opelika, Alabama. Sergeant Major Adkins distinguished himself in the A Shau Valley of South Vietnam in March, 1966. Check this link and read the section entitled "The Battle." He was a real-life Rambo -- killing between 135-175 North Vietnamese regulars and taking 18 wounds. I would like the opportunity to salute him in person.

http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/adki...

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Hell of a fight. What a fighter.

[Manray9]

Mike wrote: "Hell of a fight. What a fighter."

There were 17 Green Berets in the camp. All were wounded or killed.

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Is there a good book on the battle?

[Manray9]

Mike wrote: "Is there a good book on the battle?"

Good question. I don't know.

[Manray9]

Mike wrote: "Is there a good book on the battle?"

This shows a section on Adkins in the index. AR read it.

Green Berets At War: U.S. Army Special Forces in Southeast Asia 1956-1975 by Shelby Stanton.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Great story of a great man! Thanks for the link Manray9. I really enjoyed the book; Green Berets At War. I went and found my copy and checked the page on SFC Bennie G. Adkins and it only briefly mentions him when rescuing S.Sgt James Taylor during this fight.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Manray9 wrote: "Today President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to Command Sergeant Major Bennie Adkins of Opelika, Alabama. Sergeant Major Adkins distinguished himself in the A Shau Valley of South Vietnam in M..."

Amazing man and what a lovely video of him shaking hands with his president. A fine soldier and I see another man was awarded a CMoH at the same time and another will receive it posthumously. Nice article in the British Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic...

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Great article on the close of the Invictus Games in London: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic...

[Manray9]

Geevee wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "Today President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to Command Sergeant Major Bennie Adkins of Opelika, Alabama. Sergeant Major Adkins distinguished himself in the A Shau Valley of So..."

I don't know about the delay in his case, but for some years now the Dept of Defense and the services have been reviewing past awards. Unfortunately, many awards were tarnished by racial and ethnic prejudice. The effort now is to ensure past awards were just. Many feel Dorie Miller would have received the Medal of Honor at Pearl Harbor, but the USN in those days wouldn't recommend a black man for such an award.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Dorie Miller should have done - that was a sad event in US military/naval history.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Great story and some great pic's, thanks for the link Geevee.

[Nooilforpacifists]

For fans of the late Patrick Leigh Fermor, a sad piece about the hapless attempts to renovate his Greek house:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/article...

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Interesting story about Patrick Leigh Fermor's house, thanks for posting the link.

[Manray9]

Nooilforpacifists wrote: "For fans of the late Patrick Leigh Fermor, a sad piece about the hapless attempts to renovate his Greek house:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/article..."

Thanks. I'm an admirer.

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Nooilforpacifists wrote: "For fans of the late Patrick Leigh Fermor, a sad piece about the hapless attempts to renovate his Greek house:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/article..."

Interesting article. I first heard of him in Ill Met By Moonlight. Quite a character.

[carl]

Nooilforpacifists wrote: "For fans of the late Patrick Leigh Fermor, a sad piece about the hapless attempts to renovate his Greek house:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/article..."

ahh yes, the most interesting man in the world.

[Manray9]

While off the WW II theme, any recs on a good book about the Battle of Khe Sanh?