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Bouncing around in my head today...

By The Armorer on February 20, 2005 | | Comments (8)

Today was an interesting day in history...

In 1547, the Brits put a child on the throne - Edward VI (aged 10), installed as King of England (r 1547-1553). Interesting young man, but sickly and died young of tuberculosis - which led to the very sad 9-day reign of Lady Jane Grey, followed by the cantankerous Mary - culminating in the Ultimate Tudor, Elizabeth I. (just clck on the "next monarch" button on the bottom of the page... fascinating reading, I think)

In 1839, Congress prohibited dueling within the District. Too bad - they'd probably be a lot more interested in 2nd Amendment issues if they'd permitted it as a means of resolving political impasses. "Ladies and Gentlemen, on the Field of Honor today, Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, Senate Majority Leader and Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, Senate Minority Leader - on the issue of judicial filibusters! Senator Frist, although having decided this issue in his dispatch of Senator Daschle, finds the Democrats unable to abide by the rules as laid down, and so finds himself again forced to take to the Field of Honor. Mssrs Jonah Goldberg and Al Franken will act as seconds, respectively." Ah, fantasies.

In 1942, Lieutenant Edward H. O'Hare, namesake of the eponymous airport, shot down 5 Japanese bombers on a single mission. I'll send you to The Commissar's other website, Ace Pilots, to read of O'Hare's exploits.

1947 Former commando leader Lord Louis Mountbatten becomes the last Viceroy of India. He will later be murdered by the Irish Rethuglican Army. (I may be of Irish heritage - but I am *not* impressed by the IRA) The man had in impressive and fascinating career.

1962 John Glenn is first American to orbit Earth, in Friendship 7. Whatever you may think of Glenn's subsequent political career, as a Marine fighter pilot and later astronaut, he had the Right Stuff.

Just because I like the picture - the Osprey, in tests at Edwards AFB in California.

Hi-res here.

Neptunus Lex reminds us of a another anniversary - yesterday. Blackfive weighs in as well.

Blogspawn SGT B is collecting a list of things we sent newbies out to get...

Blackfive has some interesting stuff up about the documentary Gunner Palace. The Armorer was invited to participate in this PR blitz, but since none of the premiers we were invited to was within striking distance of the Castle, we have been unable to participate in a meaningful way - which is kind of a bummer, since it was nice to be asked. I'm afraid I'll have to leave it to Matty and others to beat the drum until it hits the main theaters. The Armorer does note that the soldiers in the documentary are from the Armorer's Regiment, the Third Field Artillery. And we're a little jealous around here that Jessica Smith didn't ask us for any help... but then considering how much help we've been to Gunner Palace...

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8 Comments

By Neffi on February 20, 2005 12:18 PM
Yesterday, out at Vance Brand airport (Longmont, Colorado) I had a conversation with Mike Tucker, son of Bob Tucker- one of my hangar-mates. Mike is home on leave from Iraq, where he flies Blackhawks for the Army. He talked of dodging the occasional burst of MG fire while flying supply runs, and Dust Offs, and incoming mortar and RPG rounds... and all the time I was looking at him and listening to his stories, I was thinking he looked just too impossibly young for this- he looks like a senior in HS. But he's a WO2 in a war zone- and then I look today at the 'poster' for Gunner Palace, at that kid's face... and I wonder. My Gawd, did we look like that?????
 
By John of Argghhh! on February 20, 2005 12:42 PM
Yeah, Neffi, we did. So did Bill.
 
By SangerM on February 20, 2005 1:43 PM
Neffi, I work at a military school. I see brand new LTs every week. I also routinely see folks from every service, of every rank from E1s-O8s. Suffice to say, YES, the young ones really do look that young, and so did I when I was 17 and an E1 (I have pictures I check every now and again to be sure). Of course, many of the older folks look older than they should to me. 37 going on 60. . . Sometimes, I just stand in the student lounge and watch the younger folks, trying to put myself in their shoes, to see the world through their eyes. When I was born WWII had only been over 10+ years, there were only 48 stars on the flag, and no one had been to space! Vietnam was still going strong when I went to HS. When a lot of these folks were born (85-ish), the Vietnam war was as far in their past as WWII was in mine, we'd had 50 states for so long people forgot new ones could be added, and we'd been to the Moon and abandoned it. By the time they got to HS, the cold war had ended (!!!!!), and Desert Storm was grade school news. In HS, they saw 9/11! Now they are junior NCOs or almost done cadets. Sometimes, I can't help but smile at their youth, their naiveté, etc. Always, I am a bit awed by them. And then, at 49, I don't feel all that old, really. And my 12 year old keeps me young, but too, I find it easy to talk to young soldiers. I led a bunch of them for years, and the one's I led were not terribly different than the ones I meet today, just different perspectives. Some of today's soldiers have granddad's who fought in Vietnam, and I have to think, my step-fathers fought in WWII. Other than that little distinction (g), there's not a great deal of difference. Sometimes, though, it's just too hard to think about without getting all confusticated and blurry-eyed. Watching the trailers for Gunners Palace, I saw myself and more than a few of my former friends there. The American soldier today may be lots more lethal, lots more edgy and techno-cool, but those are the soldiers I remember too. Laughing so hard they fall on the ground, enjoying the moment, ever sharp, ready for whatever they have to do--or at least willing to go do it, even if they aren't really ready. You know, sometimes, I am just overwhelmed by the fact that I am a citizen of what has simply got to be the greatest country that ever existed on the face of the planet. God has been good to us, and I could not possibly be more thankful. And I have to admit, the past few years have done more to bolster my feelings about this country than anything had in a good many years prior. I know 9/11 was a bad thing, but I always try to find silver linings. In some ways, I think 9/11 was also the best thing that happened to this country in the past 30 years. It showed that still, in spite of Vietnam, Watergate, Oklahoma City, Clinton, and even those heinous attacks, we are the same people, the same nation. We suffer, and grow, and we move one, yet we remain at the core, that which the founders envisioned: A grand, moral country that can endure any hardship, tolerate any creed or diversity of opinion, and still be a safe home to anyone who needs one. You have just got to love this place we call home, huh? [sorry about the meander, but I'm in several places mentally today, not the least of which is packing to move... arrrghggrhrhrhararaerahhhhahrthah!) -SangerM
 
By Neffi on February 20, 2005 3:47 PM
Roger that, Sanger. I guess I was looking at these 'kids playing soldier' and wondering how they could possibly do it so danged well... [looking at the grizzled old face in the mirror] sigh. The U.S. military is in good hands, methinks. Bet we could still teach 'em some lessons about debauchery, though heehehe heads up!!
 
By John of Argghhh! on February 20, 2005 9:58 PM
Neffi - from my contacts in the enlisted force... they know debauchery - boy, do they know it!
 
By Barb on February 21, 2005 12:24 AM
SangerM - I understand what you are saying about 9/11 perfectly. It gave us a wake up call that raised us up to our best, in many ways. I think we had largely gotten complacent as a society, and maybe somewhat aimless. We could look at the events in other parts of the world with out directly feeling the impact here. No longer. We are blessed to live in this country - and to have the freedoms we do. So there's also a responsibility not to let it slip through our fingers. And I do feel old sometimes (I'm only a year younger than you!) when I read the ages of the soldiers dying or wounded, and see their pictures.
 
By John of Argghhh! on February 21, 2005 5:28 AM
Gadzooks! I'm younger'n just about anyone around here... 'ceptin Zoomie-Sib who's damn near a baby in comparison.
 
By Barb on February 21, 2005 2:34 PM
What's the line from "Indiana Jones"... - It ain't the years, it's the milage - ;-) *ducks and runs for cover*
 
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