Anecdote
BRUCE CRANDALL – IA DRANG MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT
The Battle of Ia Drang was the first battle of the Vietnam War for America. It took place on Nov. 14-15, 1965. The movie “We Were Soldiers” depicts the battle. Bruce Crandall Read more
Anecdote
THE “WILLIE DEE” ALMOST SINKS FDR
The USS William D. Porter was a destroyer commissioned on July 6, 1943 with a crew of rookies commanded by Lt. Commander Wilfred Walter. Little did they know, they would attempt to assassinate the President. In November, 1943, the Read more
Anecdote
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN’S “THE WALL”
Here’s an excellent video for Bruce Springsteen’s song about the Wall, which opened to the public on Nov. 13, 1982. Videos can be interesting additions to lessons.
Anecdote
MYTH #4 – Columbus Was the First to Believe the Earth Was Round
When I was in elementary school, I can remember my teacher telling a story about the young Christopher Columbus watching a ship leave the harbor. He noticed that as it got further away it disappeared, but with its sails Read more
Anecdote
TAINTED CONVICTS
Frederick the Great once visited a prison. At each cell, the inmate invariably proclaimed their innocence. Finally, he reached a cell where the convict remained quietly seated on his bed. Frederick looked in and said: “And what crime are Read more
Anecdote
DONKEY AND ELEPHANT
In 1828, Andrew Jackson was running for President. His opponents called him a “stubborn jackass”. Jackson liked the description and put a donkey on his campaign posters. The Democrats decided to adopt the donkey as their symbol. They put Read more
Anecdote
FORGOTTEN HERO: Casimir Pulaski
Kazimierz Michal Wladyslaw Wiktor Pulaski was born to a noble family in Warsaw on March 6, 1745. He loved the military so he became a cavalryman when he grew up. He fought the Russians, but his side lost. A Read more
Anecdote
THE GUNPOWDER PLOT
British teachers probably know about the Gunpowder Plot like American teachers know the assassination of JFK, but for everyone else, here is the story of the origin of Bonfire Night. In 1603, Elizabeth I died without an heir. Read more
Anecdote
THE MOST FAMOUS MARINE IN WWII
John Basilone was born on November 4, 1916. He was the sixth of ten children. He dropped out before high school. In 1934, he spent part of this tour in the Philippines. When his enlistment was up, he returned Read more
Anecdote
MYTH #3: Washington’s Wooden Teeth
A myth that is still believed by many is that George Washington had dentures made of wood. This myth appeared in textbooks as late as the early 20th Century. He had at least four pairs of false teeth during Read more