military

  • On January 14,1942  U123 surfaced so close to New York Harbor that the rides at Coney Island could be seen silhouetted against the evening sky. Captain Reinhard Hardegen expected the U.S. east coast to be blacked out after more than a month at war and was surprised to see the glow in the sky from

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  • The Last Man Standing

    A few days before Christmas, 2024,Dennis Donovan, the last surviving member of the wartime 48 Royal Marine Commando, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, at the remarkable age of 100. In recent years, he has made several pilgrimages back to Normandy, with his final visit in June 2024 to commemorate the 80th

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  • Patton-the Death of a Legend

    Although he was a highly controversial character  there are two things that no one can deny.1. He was a hero,2. he was and is a legend. The commander of the U.S. Third Army, General George S. Patton, Jr., took no great pleasure in the end of the war in Europe; he already knew that despite

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  • “Who do you think you are kidding Mr Hitler” is the first line of the theme of the British sitcom Dad’s Army. A truly hilarious show. I remember one episode where Capt Mainwaring is telling a story how he met an Australian soldier. He had asked him “Did you come here to die?” whereupon the

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  • The story of Eiji Sawamura is both a tale of extraordinary talent and a poignant reminder of the human cost of war. Known as one of Japan’s greatest baseball players, Sawamura’s life was a trajectory of brilliance interrupted by history. His journey from prodigious athlete to soldier aboard the ill-fated SS Hawaii Maru is emblematic

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  • JFK at War

    While the world is remembering the 62nd Anniversary of the Assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. I want to focus on a different aspect of JFK, his time during World War II. Specifically, his time on PT 109. “The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY and MARINE CORPS MEDAL to/ LIEUTENANT

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  • World War II was a global conflict that tested the limits of human resilience, innovation, and ingenuity. In addition to the millions of soldiers, civilians, and military machinery involved, a vast array of animals played indispensable roles throughout the war. From dogs and horses to pigeons and even reindeer, animals were employed for various purposes,

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  • The Liberation of Eindhoven

    On September 18, 1944, American paratroopers entered Eindhoven, liberating the city. Their mission was not only to free the population but also to secure the advance route and the bridges over the River Dommel, ensuring they remained open for the approaching British ground forces. Citizens of Eindhoven, many dressed proudly in orange, lined the streets

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  • The war in the pacific

    Pacific War, major theatre of World War II that covered a large portion of the Pacific Ocean, East Asia, and Southeast Asia, with significant engagements occurring as far south as northern Australia and as far north as the Aleutian Islands. Rather then going into specifics, because so much has already been written about it and I probably won’t be adding new to it,

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  • Auschwitz SS Guards

    In January 2017, Polish historians unveiled what they claim to be the most comprehensive roster of Nazi SS commanders and guards at Auschwitz, aiming to ensure that any surviving perpetrators might still face justice. This monumental effort, spearheaded by the state-run Institute of National Remembrance, is titled the SS KL Auschwitz Garrison List. It draws

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