We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:17:29 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:00:03 -0600
*click* *scroll* *click* *right-click* *click* *enter* *scroll* *click* *click* *click* *click*

Got one for you if you're fluent in Guanche and can access the server in the Rift Valley.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90060 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90060 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:40:23 -0600
Do you have a billable number for that?  If you do, I'll get right on it.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90059 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90059 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:03:02 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90058 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90058 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:21:38 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90057 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90057 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:55:52 -0600 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90053 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90053 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:50:52 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90052 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90052 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:46:47 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90050 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90050 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:22:05 -0600
And Benteen doesn't really count as a third column in the attack, he was split off for a different scouting mission (aside from possibly apocryphal notion put forth by Benteen's supporters that it was just to keep him from the fight and the glory due to the personal issues between he and Custer).   Cooke did send the now famous "Come on...big village, be quick...bring pacs" [sic] message which wasn't all that informative and indicates Custer was winging it (which, once contact is initiated, we all do, I know). 

And Custer did *not* make his plans clear to his subordinates, nor did he have his command and control mechanism well established.  Not at least as I understand it.

There's lots of blame to go around, but I think Custer at times evades too much because he died.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90048 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90048 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:55:11 -0600
Seems the medals went to Reno's men and Benteen's after they united on the bluff -- duh.

BTW, Yello Hair was the first casualty of his battalion crossing the Greasy Grass according to the Indians.  Since he had cut his hair prior to leaving Fort Lincoln they didn't recognize him when describing the event -- they just identified his clothes.  Had Custer made it into the village and attacked the whole thing might have ended much differently.  As it was, he was at least mortally wounded crossing the creek in the face of fewer than 10 Indians and his unit fell back -- another indicator that he was the casualty.  Hindsight...

In the War Between the States there was a use of primitive metal dog tags by the Union.  They were made of a highly corrosive metal and so they didn't last long underground. 
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90045 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90045 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:37:21 -0600
As will be evidenced once again in a posthumous award for action 1 through 23 July 1970 that will be coming up shortly.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90033 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/06/todays_medal_of_41.html#comment-90033 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:17:26 -0600