WILLIAM PITSENBARGER

                William Pitsenbarger was 21 when he sacrificed his life for others.  He was born in Ohio on July 8, 1944.  As a high school junior, he tried to enlist in the Marines, but his parents refused to sign off.  After graduating, he enlisted in the Air Force and volunteered Read more…

THE MOST INFAMOUS HIGHWAYMAN

                America had Jesse James.  Australia had Ned Kelly.  And England had Dick Turpin.  All three were popular heroes who were noted for their “rob from the rich and give to the poor” Robin Hoodish careers in crime.  Unlike Robin Hood, all three men were actual historical figures and the Read more…

THOSE FOKKERS

I still enjoyed teaching, even after 39 years, because I looked forward to telling anecdotes.  But I also enjoyed telling jokes.  I started each class with one of my story jokes.  And occasionally I was able to squeeze one into a lesson.  The joke below was told as part of Read more…

THE BATTLE OF HILL 488

                One of the most remarkable small unit actions in American History occurred on the night of June 15, 1966.  In the Vietnam War, small units of soldiers or Marines would sometimes be dropped off in the jungle to scout for enemy formations.  This could be dangerous if the unit Read more…

THE TRUE STORY OF JESSICA LYNCH

                The relationship between the American media and the military has often been adversarial.  However, while the news media pats itself on the back for reporting the truth in war (e.g., the My Lai Massacre), we also have examples of the media “enhancing” stories (sometimes with Pentagon collusion).  America went Read more…

DONALD DUCK GOES TO WAR

                Cartoon characters can go to war to boost morale or for propaganda purposes.  Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Popeye, but the biggest star was Donald Duck.  Disney was happy to make cartoons supporting the war effort.  It was determined to go with Donald over Mickey Mouse because of Donald’s Read more…

COMFORT WOMEN

                The largest example of sex slavery and government condoned human trafficking took place before and during WWII.  Starting in 1932 in the Chinese city of Shanghai.  The Japanese army, with the knowledge of the government, instituted a policy of providing women for the Japanese troops to decrease the wanton Read more…