PEARL HARBOR WARNINGS

PEARL HARBOR WARNINGS For years, the final exam for Japanese naval cadets included the question:  “How would you attack Pearl Harbor?” The night before the attack, the FBI intercepted a suspicious phone call from Tokyo to the Japanese embassy in Honolulu. Early in the morning of the attack a minesweeper Read more…

AMERICA’S FIRST SHOT

AMERICA’S FIRST SHOT –  On Dec. 7, 1941 just before daybreak, a minesweeper in Pearl Harbor signaled the destroyer USS Ward that it had sighted an unidentified submarine.  Four hours later, lookouts on the Ward spotted the conning tower of a green, two man midget sub trailing a supply ship.  Read more…

PEARL HARBOR RADAR

PEARL HARBOR RADAR –  ***  Here’s an anecdote from my WWII page.  On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, Privates Joseph Lockard and George Elliott were operating an experimental radar station near Pearl Harbor.  They were off duty at 7 A.M., but since their ride had not arrived, Elliott was Read more…

Civil War Sutlers

Sutlers were civilian merchants who sold provisions to the soldiers.  They were also known as victualers.  The occupation went back to the French and Indian War and sutlers could be found in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.  Most of them followed the armies and sold out of Read more…

THE COURTLY FART

The Earl of Oxford attended Queen Elizabeth’s court one day and as he bowed low before the monarch, he broke wind.  He was so embarrassed that he stayed away from the court for several years.  When he finally returned and approached the Queen to bow again, she said:  “My lord, Read more…