H&I Fires* 7 Oct 2008

Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite.

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Apropos my "Tired Tractors Posing As Tanks" post - comes this picture:



Army High Mobility Engineer Excavators are moved into position prior to being loaded onto a C-5 Galaxy Sept. 29 at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. The HMEEs will be transported to forward deployed locations to assist Soldiers and contractors in hostile environments. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Timothy Taylor) 

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An American Carol.  Saw it.  Loved It.  6 thumbs up (there were three of us who went together) Go see it.  -the Armorer

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The last (there were only three, regardless) survivor of the sinking of the HMS Hood has passed.  Meet Ted Briggs, participant in history, not merely an observer.
 

As an 18-year-old Flag-Lieutenant's messenger, Briggs was on Hood's compass platform when a shell from Bismarck hit the ship between centre and stern, penetrated the deck, exploded and touched off the ammunition in the four-inch and 15-inch magazines. According to one witness, the column of flame generated was “four times the height of the mainmast".

Ted Briggs himself recalled that he was lifted off his feet and dumped headfirst on the deck: "Then she started listing to starboard. She righted herself, and started going over to port. When she had gone over by about 40 degrees we realised she was not coming back." There was no time, or need, for an order to abandon ship. Hood sank within three minutes.

Read the rest here, at the Telegraph.

Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance - in memoriam for Brit sailor Ted Briggs, who sailed on HMS Hood as she went to her death.  Fair winds and a following sea, sailor.  H/t, CAPT H and Boquisucio.  -the Armorer

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If you're in striking distance of Topeka...  here's something to do this weekend.
 

Civil War Day is being held at the Kansas National Guard Museum, 6700 South Topeka Blvd (main entrance of Forbes Field.) this Saturday, Oct. 11. Civil War troops will show what life was like during the Civil War through encampments, reenactments, demonstrations and discussions. All events are free and open to the public and will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday kicks off with a Pancake Feed open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donations will be accepted.

Featured will be the 8th Kansas Infantry and the 2nd Colorado Cavalry re-enactors. Demonstrations on Civil War medicine, blacksmithing, and a Civil War Sanitary Commission will be held. Discussions will be on the 8th Kansas Infantry (10 a.m.) and the Battle of Mine Creek (11 a.m.). Showing of "The 34th Star," a story of the struggle for Kansas statehood, will be held throughout the day.

Admission to the Museum of the Kansas National Guard is free, and 75 inside and 21 outside major equipment exhibits are on display including five helicopters, two airplanes, five artillery pieces, three tanks and a variety of trucks and other equipment.

The Kansas National Guard Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
 

I'd be there, but I'm already scheduled to work the American Heart Association Heart Walk in Leavenworth this weekend.  -the Armorer

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The Thunder Run greets its 200,000th visitor:
 

Visitor 200,000 Is In The House!
Visitor Number 200,000 to The Thunder Run showed up at 1136 hours today, by following a trackback from a post at Michelle Malkin's site.
Thanks for stopping by, I honestly couldn't do this without everyone's support.
As noted I will be making a $25.00 donation to Soldier's Angels, in your honor.

David M Editor: The Thunder Run and Denizen of Castle Argghhh!

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