U-534

From the Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News:

A HISTORIC German U-boat which was cut into sections by a Widnes-based contractor and transported to its new home in Merseyside is now a key exhibit in a maritime museum.
The U-534 is the centrepiece of a major exhibition centre being constructed by Appleton-based Whitfield and Brown at the Woodside Ferry Terminal.
The U-boat was sunk in a Norwegian fjord by the crew of the “G” For George, a Liberator bomber of the RAF’s 547 Squadron.
The vessel is believed to be the last U-boat to make an attempt to escape the Allies at the end of the war.
Legend has it that the vessel contained a valuable cargo of contraband gold bullion, or possibly even a sacred relic known as the Spear of Destiny – said to be the spear that pierced Christ’s side.
The sub was found to be carrying an enigma cypher machine.
The Liberator dropped 10 depth charges on the sub during two attacks and one charge is said to have stuck to the upper part of its hull before exploding.
The U-534 sank stern first and 49 of its crew survived.
The Widnes contractor excavated a 60x20m “reception dock” into which the four sections of the historic vessel were placed. The Mersey Mammoth floating crane was used to transport the sub to its new home.
A project spokesman said: “The sub U-534 was formerly the centrepiece of Wirral’s Historic Warships Museum until it closed two years ago.
“It was bought for a nominal sum by Merseytravel after there were fears it could be sold for scrap.
“Because of space limitations and operational difficulties in moving the sub, it was cut into four sections and floated to its new home.”

By Adrian Short

Original article here

In the attic

So, in direct contrast to last week's book selection, here is a very fascinating, if not directly historical, book. Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz is one of those books that received a lot of attention, and naturally received a lot of both praise and criticism. The premise of the book is simple. Horwitz was a news correspondent who returned to the states and lived in Virginia. It was here that he met a group of Civil War reenactors. After questioning why they do what they do, he decided to begin an epic journey across the South. He went to cities, towns, and farms talking to white, black, mixed, rich, poor, educated, uneducated, everyone he could find, to ask what they thought of the Civil War. The result is an amazing study of the real heart of the South. Among these interviews are fascinating stories such as visiting Shiloh at dawn, the Union statue in South Carolina, actual battle reenactments, the center of the South Carolina Rebel Flag debates, the "last Confederate Martyr," and interviews with author Shelby Foote and the real life last living Confederate Widow. Altogether, the book provides fascinating insight both into why the Civil War is still so strongly on America's mind, and why history fans in general are so intrigued by the past. I highly reccomend this book for anyone with an interest in history, and especially in the Civil War. Also good for those significant others/family members/coworkers who always ask why you care so much about people and events from 100 years ago. It can be found on Amazon here.
Confederates in the Attic
Tony Horwitz
432 pages
1999 Vintage Publishing

On this day

My fellow Americans, Regardless of how you see it, today is a significantly historic day. We children of the 80's have seen (and many remember) pehaps a record number of historic events in our lifetime, including: The Challenger explosion and America's return to space, the healing of a divided nation (Germany), the world rising up to defend a helpless nation (Gulf War), the fall of one of the mightiest empires the world has ever known (The Soviet Union), the second ever President to be impeached (Bill CLinton), the worst domestic terrorism in our history (Oklahoma City), A frontline US Warship attacked and nearly sunk by an enemy in peacetime (USS Cole), the turning of a new milenium, the worst terrorist attack in history (9/11), and the fall of one of historie's worst dictators (Sadaam Hussein). We have also seen the rise in technology and popularity of CD's, DVD's, the Internet, cell phones, Global Positioning, home computers, SUV's, and countless other major inovations. Right now we are fighting at least two wars, have the worst financial crisis since the 1930's, are hated the world over, have sky high unemployment, are divided on several major political issues, have an astronomical national debt, most of our production is done overseas, and now the President is a Democrat for the first time in eight years. Oh, and by the way, he's also a black man. I know the internet now is full of articles and opinions about everything for and against concerning everything about our new President. Not the least of what is covered is his race. People have compared him to Abe Lincoln, Martin Luther King, and a host of others. I couldn't care less what his race is. I can think of plenty of Black people that I would rather have as President than a large number of white people I can think of. But this is not my reason for writing today. Regardless of what happens in the next four years, today is monumental. And the next four years are gauranteed to be just as eventful as the last several have been. That is why more than ever, all of us as Americans must look at our history. We must look at who we are, and what we trully believe. For the last couple decades the government, both Democrat and Republican, has run rampant with all kinds of powers and abuses that have the Founding Fathers rolling in their graves so fast they could light a fire. Why are they important, do you ask? Didn't they live over 200 years ago? I ask you this: How many peole follow the Ten Commandments? Those were written many, many years before there was even an England, let alone United States. Look at what the founding fathers wrote:
"We hold these truths to be self evident, that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among those are LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. That to secure these rights, GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTED AMONG MEN, DERIVING THEIR JUST POWERS FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED."

Does this sound like something important to you? Do you feel that all should be treated equal? Do you value your rights and freedoms as an American? Should the government work solely to protect and defend your rights from being infringed? These word come from the Declaration of Independence, the basis of the Revolution and the govenment formed afterwords. Let's read on:

"That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO ALTER OR TO ABOLISH IT, and to institute new government."

Does this sound familiar? I'm not making it up. It comes right after the previous section quoted. This was written and agreed upon by men with everything to lose. They had homes, families, businesses, all of which could be snuffed out in a moment by the momentous act of signing the Declaration. Why did they do it? What was so important to these men that they would RISK EVERYTHING INCLUDING THEIR LIVES to protect it? What has driven over 200 years of America's young men and women to fight and die to defend a flag that represents what these men did so long ago? Not long after the Revolution, the Constitution was written to "Form a more perfect Union" and establish the government that would carry the legacy of the Declaration. But it would not suffice without a Bill of Rights, designed to protect The People from the exact injustices they suffered under the British. So to understand why these men signed the Declaration, let's look at these rights:

1st) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

This is what America is. This is freedom right here. You can choose your religion, say your opinion, read what you want, and meet with who you want to. Imagine living under a government where you could not do those things.

2nd) A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

What is this? Oh yeah, the Revolution was fought by CITIZENS, with their OWN GUNS. The Founding Fathers realized that the other rights could not long survive without this all too important right to defend them. They even went so far as to say:

"No Free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -Thomas Jefferson

"A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves...and include all men capable of bearing arms." -Richard Henry Lee

"What, Sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty.... Whenever Governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins." -Elbridge Gerry

"If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?" -Patrick Henry

"Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence." -George Washington

That was the Father of our Country, as well as four other important Founding Fathers defending the Second Amendment. So, who still doubts its importance?

3rd) No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

This is pretty straight forward. The British kept troops in America against the wishes of the people, and even had them stay in peoples private homes. Proabably something you want protection against.

4th) The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

That's right people. No one (not even the police) can search you, your home, your car, or any of your personal possesions unless a specific warrant is issued to do so.

5th) No person shall be held to answer for any capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

This is perhaps the most quoted of the Bill of Rights, and yet many people have never even read it. Simply put, you do not have to answer for anything. No one can make you confess to anything, or take away your basic rights to make you confess.

6th) In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.

7th) In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

These both ensure a trial by jury, to be judged by your peers, to not be set up in a no win situation. This is what protects you from being falsely accused and convicted of crimes.

8th) Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

This ensures humanitarian treatment for ALL Americans, no matter what.

9th) The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Simply put: The Government cannont violate your rights. That's it.

10th) The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

This is perhaps the most abused of the ten ammendments. Read it again. See what that says? The powers given to the Federal Government by the Constitution are the ONLY powers it may have. All others are reserved for the States or the People. When was the last time this system was actually followed?

So there you have it folks. These ten ammendments spell out why these men risked everything they had to separate from their government. And they certainly did not think themselves the exception to the rule. Thomas Jefferson, the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence, was the forefront of the Revolutionary movement, and oh by the way, third President of the US, has a famous quote that "The tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of Patriots and Tyrants." But he also had a much less famous, but I think even more important quote: "The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the atmosphere." Say that again??? You mean to say I SHOULD question my government? I should NOT allow it to do what it wants? That's right folks, this is the spirit our country was founded on. This is the spirit in which Patrick Henry said "Give me Liberty or give me death!" This is when Nathan Hale said "I only regret that I have but one life to give my country." This is the time when ordinary farmers and shopkeepers took up arms and said enough! The citizens took a stand against the armies of the world's mightiest empire and won! They defended their rights! What is more, they defended them, from THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT. These were British subjects. Not until the Treaty of Paris in 1783 were they truly free as Americans. Many despaired in the meantime that their cause would be lost. George Washington himself at the Battle of New York cried "Good God! Have I got such troops as these?" But the citizens, the people, pulled through. At Trenton, Saratoga, King's Mountain, Cowpens, and finally Yorktown, the fighting spirit of the free men prevailed.

Why is all of this so important now, you ask? Read those rights again. How many violations can you think of, of those rights, in just the last few years? How about the last twenty years? How much is enough? When do you stand and say "today, I fight for my rights?" Today, I am a military man, fighting to preserve the freedoms that so many have already given The Last Full Measure of Devotion to defend. I will now give you the oath of enlistment in the US Military: "I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." I will defend... against all enemies, foreign AND DOMESTIC. This is where all of this is important. I am not defending a government, I am defending the Constitution itself. When people ask, I am not defending my country, I am defending MY FREEDOMS. To me, this is regardless of who, what, or where the enemy is. I fight in the spirit of Washington, Nathaniel Greene, Nathan Hale, William Jasper, William Moultire, Francis Marion, Andrew Pickens, and the countless others who bravely fought and often gave everything, even their own life, so that their families and children may live free. I continue the spirit of Oliver Hazard Perry, Andrew Jackson, Sam Houston, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Ulysses Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, George Dewey, John Pershing, Chester Nimitz, Dwight Eisenhower, Douglas Macarthur, and so many, many others to this day, continuing this legacy. But this legacy only matters if we remember why we are fighting. So come on America. No matter what happens in the next four years, let's make 'em count!

"Stand your ground. Do not fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, LET IT BEGIN HERE." -Captain John Parker at the Battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775

Bill of Rights Day

Ok, so this is a message my Dad sent me about the Bill Of Rights day celebration in Phoenix. I hate dabbling into politics on here, but the way I see it, this is a history blog, and we may well be in the middle of historic times right now. It's time for all of us to take a serious look at the world we live in and decide what it is we want and believe in. If you agree, then read on.
Bill of Rights Day, 2008, Phoenix, Ariz.
THE LIGHTER SIDE -- A Delightful Gathering (scroll down for darker side)
The Bill of Rights Day celebration in Phoenix, held this year at the Wrigley Mansion, showed the day's growing popularity since events began here in 2003. This reflected growth nationally since 1997, when Aaron Zelman and Richard Stevens worked together to reinvigorate recognition of this most auspicious day.More than 250 people -- the largest crowd so far -- packed the banquet hall and took part in the reading, food and drink, oratory by Patrick Henry (ably portrayed by Dr. Lance Hurley), and most important, a Town Hall discussion of the 217-year-old Bill's health and welfare.The reading was led by people from the community, and joined by those assembled:
Preamble and the 1st Amendment: Author Alan Korwin
2nd Amendment: KTAR Meteorologist Ed Phillips
3rd Amendment: Americans for Prosperity Arizona Chapter Tom Jenney
4th Amendment: Federalist Society and Institute for Justice Jennifer Perkins
5th Amendment: Attorney Richard Stevens
6th Amendment: Justice of the Peace Gerald Williams
7th Amendment: Ronald Reagan and Ron Paul Aide Joe Cobb
8th Amendment: ACLU Arizona Executive Director Alessandra Soler Meetze
9th Amendment: Republican Jewish Coalition Arizona President Amy Laff
10th Amendment: Arizona Council on Economic Education President and 4th Great Granddaughter of Patrick Henry, Elizabeth Volard
THE DARK SIDE -- Redress of Serious Grievances
It turned out that examining the abuses and usurpations of our government -- which the "declaratory and restrictive clauses" of the Bill of Rights are supposed to check -- is serious business, not just a Hallmark card opportunity.Those assembled expressed in no uncertain terms their anger that government had stepped so far outside its delegated boundaries, exercising unchecked powers, intruding into aspects of our lives that would have appalled the Founders, infringing upon or virtually eradicating freedoms we hold dear, and failing in its primary obligation -- the protection of our freedoms and rights. We found broad consensus on these points.This reading of the Bill of Rights is potentially a very dangerous thing.The government is not likely to take kindly to direct threats to its powers -- which the Bill of Rights specifically represents -- especially as it is held in hand by an angered people. The very idea that the people would take it upon themselves to examine government's abuses, usurpations of powers, abuses of authority, and contraventions of the very Bill that is meant to constrain government actions, is inflammatory.At what point do the people, oppressed and incensed by the abuses of government, act directly to limit and yes punish those responsible? When are "public servants," feigning to guard us against infringements, brought to justice?How is that government to react to this frontal assault on itself by the Fourth Branch of government, we the people? Do "officials" sit idly by and say yes, you're right, we screwed up, we'll leave you alone now? Or do they see the challenges as extra-legal, unwarranted foment, subversions of their unchallenged authority, and cause for retribution and retaliation? What do they tell their compliant press corps to tell the masses about all this?
By what means do the people rightly resist tyrannical, undelegated, unchecked abuse of power -- when elections and indignant letters to the editors have no effect? At what point does push come to shove? The people assembled asked -- where is the tipping point?We have very real concerns. The abuses are not imagined, not temporary, not short lived, not arbitrary, not about to dissipate on their own, and not acceptable.How It WentIf there was one common theme revealed in Bill of Rights Day 2008 this was it -- the federal government has overstepped its bounds with respect to the restrictions placed upon it by the Bill of Rights. Our rights are under assault. There was no disagreement. Too many felt the Bill of Rights was on life support.Our government is exercising powers it has not been given, and it's not acting to limit the abuse. No one realistically expects such change to come from within.There was inconsistent agreement on which abuses were worse, but there was unanimous consent that government had grown large, ugly and usurped powers it had no legitimate claim to take. The Tenth Amendment seemed to emerge as perhaps the most important and egregiously abused:The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.Just who is responsible for enforcing the Bill of Rights? Is Congress, or the Attorney General, or Senator McCain, or the Speaker of the House? Are they charged with the duty to enforce the limits on themselves? Pure experience reveals that to be ludicrous. The limits on government are enforceable only by the Fourth Branch of government -- we the people!The Bill of Rights was put into place by the Founders who recognized that government would naturally and inexorably exceed its bounds, acquiring more and more power. The Founders wrote basic rules for where that power must end. But they wisely left it up to the people to demand and enforce those limits -- government by its nature will do the opposite.Perhaps we have for a time neglected our responsibility under this document. It is time to renew our watchful eye over those natural and necessary limits on government, which the Bill of Rights demands. We are the guardians. The requirement to act falls to us.That's why Bill of Rights Day is dangerous. For if the people rise up and demand the limits placed on government, government is at risk. Its power and lifeblood are directly challenged by the very people it seeks to govern. The people's interest in limiting, regulating and governing those who govern threatens those who govern, and rightfully so. But so it should be in a free society.We reached some pretty dangerous conclusions that day, 250 members of we the people, in Congress assembled, in the magnificent Wrigley Mansion -- itself a free-market product of the very freedom we sought to preserve. The Fourth Branch of government examined the other three and found them lacking. We were not happy (although congregating that evening was pure joy).But who rises up, pitchfork in hand, and says enough? Surprisingly, many seemed at or near that breaking point, and these were decent and good citizens, your peers from around the neighborhood. How would government view that?We had recommendations on the table -- from prison terms for violation of oath of office to heads on pikes. Suggestions ranged from statutes to punish errant politicians to periodic criminal background checks for every government official in the land. Burning gasoline-soaked-tire destruction of photo-radar tax collectors that surveil the innocent. Jail for judges who subvert the law or invent their own. Fully informed juries. Tax revolt.We the people hungered for the common decency and rule of law we believe we are promised but that we do not receive. To a government bent on control and plunging headlong unbridled we edged perilously close to... well let's just say it got pretty uppity. I steered it away from a precipice more than once.Two hundred and fifty of my neighbors and friends packed into the Wrigley Mansion ballroom the night of Dec. 15 and examined the Bill of Rights. Well dressed, well mannered, well heeled, we assembled for a night of light ebullience, an evening of recognition, honorifics, celebratory drink and dining. We found ourselves in a ferment of redress of grievances.
Bill of Rights Day is not some mild mannered milquetoast celebration, it is functional. The government is failing us, exercising powers we have not delegated, interfering with our essence, eating out our substance. It is unacceptable, implacable, must not continue. The Bill of Rights, not government edict and largess, must prevail.We at Wrigley found ourselves appalled and unfortunately without consensus as to how to proceed. Author Claire Wolfe poignantly asked ten years ago, what do you do when it's too late to work within the system but too early to shoot the b@stards? Did she encapsulate the problem with this:"The ideal citizen of a tyrannical state is the man or woman who bows in silent obedience in exchange for the status of a well-card-for herd animal. Thinking people become the tyrant's greatest enemies."America needs 1,000 chapters of the Committee for the Bill of Rights, in 1,000 cities. A thousand points of light in this stygian darkness. We need to speak with a singular voice as the quintessential branch of governance. "You have no delegated power to take money from us in taxes and give it to businesses you deem poorly run. You don't. Whatever consequences you promise, whatever horrors you predict, you lack power to address the invented problems in this manner. You must cease and desist or face prison or worse."Like I said, this is dangerous stuff. How far away is the tipping point? When do the intolerable acts put pitchforks in the faces of the Dodd-Franks who insist on our passive compliance -- while undermining our banks and homes? When do the house and senate speakers and "leadership" cross the point of no return? They are moving in that direction with no signs of brakes.Who raises a hand when asked, "Do you want your taxes to go up?" How is it then that our elected officials keep raising our taxes? That's got a name. "Taxation without representation." When you have representatives but they fail to represent you, you are unrepresented -- while craftily deluded into thinking otherwise.It's wrong to cast this as some sort of partisan dilemma. This not about the Republicans vs. the Democrats. This is about the government vs. you.This is statism vs. individual freedom. The forces that have subjugated mankind since time immemorial are fighting the liberties that have created the greatest prosperity and abundance the planet has ever known. For all the political drawbacks of the classic "libertarian" philosophy, its underlying adoration of personal freedom, the right to be left alone, the right to do as you please as long as you harm no one, this must be rekindled. The late author and statesman Harry Brown recognized that government is a way for one group of people to impose its will on another group of people. We need less imposition and more free will."Some writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants, and government by wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher."--Thomas Paine, Common Sense 1776
Those of you who missed the meetings this year, mark your calendars now. Bill of Rights Day, Dec. 15, 2009, falls on a Tuesday.Maybe we need to meet before then.
Respectfully submitted,Alan Korwin
Alan Korwin
Bloomfield Press
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If you can read this, thank a teacher.If you're reading this in English, thank a veteran.
"No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothingbecause he could do only a little."--Edmund Burke

Pushin' Boots

Ok, so here is a video I found talking about the new Navy boot camp. Thought some of you guys out there might be interested. I only went through a few years ago and I already don't recognize it! I still can't decide whether I like it better or not.
navy bootcamp

Ike's aftermath

Ok, just a quick plug for Seawolf Park in Galveston, Texas. These guys were hit hard by the hurricane, and the ships on display are in bad shape. For more information on how you can help, go here.

Before 9-11

Ok, yesterday marks the eight year anniversary of the attack on the USS Cole. The Cole was Aden, Yemen for a routine fuel stop when a small boat approached the ship. This was supposedly not unusual and some reports say that sailors on the Cole and the smallcraft may have exchanged greetings. Then the small craft exploded, damaging the Cole's galley and engineering spaces. The crew fought flooding and other damage and had the ship under control by evening. An inspection by divers showed the keel was not damaged. In the end, seventeen sailors were killed and thirty-nine injured in the dealiest attack on a naval vessel since the Stark in 1987. The British vessel HMS Marlborough was the first to respond to the scene. Marines arrived to help and provide security, and within a few hours the USS Donald Cook and USS Hawes arrived to help. They were joined by several more ships in the following days. The Cole was taken onboard the semi-submersible salvage ship MV Blue Marlin from Norway and arrived in Pascagoula, Mississippi on December 24. In the aftermath of the attack, the Navy investigated and changed its rules of engagement after finding out that the sailors on the ship could not have fired at their attackers without permission from the Commanding Officer. Petty Officer Jennifer Kudrick said that if the sentries had fired on the suicide craft "we would have gotten in more trouble for shooting two foreigners than losing seventeen American sailors." The attack was renounced as an act of terrorism, though by US Law terrorism only occurs against civilian targets. It was, regardless, an attack by Al-Qaeda against the US,and no military response was made prior to 9-11. This post is dedicated to the sailors who lost their lives in this attack, and to those who risked everything to save their ship and their shipmates.

Lost and found

Original article here.

Navy confirms lost WWII sub has been found
'We hope this announcement will help to give closure,' official says

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - The Navy has confirmed the wreckage of a sunken vessel found last year off the Aleutian Islands is that of the USS Grunion, which disappeared during World War II.
Underwater video footage and pictures captured by an expedition hired by sons of the commanding officer, Lt. Cmdr. Mannert L. Abele, allowed the Navy to confirm the discovery, Rear Adm. Douglas McAneny said Thursday in a news release.
McAneny said the Navy was very grateful to the Abele family.

"We hope this announcement will help to give closure to the families of the 70 crewmen of Grunion," he said.
The Grunion was last heard from July 30, 1942. The submarine reported heavy anti-submarine activity at the entrance to Kiska, and that it had 10 torpedoes remaining forward. On the same day, the Grunion was directed to return to Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base. The submarine was reported lost Aug. 16, 1942.
Japanese anti-submarine attack data recorded no attack in the Aleutian area at the time of the Grunion's disappearance, so the submarine's fate remained an unsolved mystery for more than 60 years, the Navy said.
Abele's son's, Bruce, Brad, and John, began working on a plan to find the sub after finding information on the Internet in 2002 that helped pinpoint USS Grunion's possible location.
In August 2006, a team of side scan sonar experts hired by the brothers located a target near Kiska almost a mile below the ocean's surface. A second expedition in August 2007 using a high definition camera on a remotely operated vehicle yielded video footage and high resolution photos of the wreckage.

Matanzas Revisited

Ok, so today's Memorial Monday is something of a flashback, thanks to the article found here. Those who have followed this blog from the begining may remember some of my first posts including Fort Caroline and Fort Matanzas. To quickly recap, the Spanish discovered Florida in 1513, but the French were the first to settle it in 1562, creating Fort Caroline near modern day Jacksonville. In 1566, the Spanish founded St Augustine with the intention of driving out the French. While exact details vary, what is known is that the French sailed from Fort Caroline south to attack the Spanish but were caught by a hurricane that left them stranded with no weapons or supplies. The Spanish then killed the stranded French south of St Augustine, and those that had remained at Fort Caroline, returning Florida to Spanish control.
Well, this recent article, which I pasted below, talks about how underwater Archaeologists are hoping to find the wrecks of the French fleet. So today's post is dedicatedto all of those brave men and women who sailed the ocean and braved the wilderness to settle the new world, and those who lost their lives in the struggle not only against nature, but each other. Read on for more:
Archaeologists hold out hope of finding lost French fleet By RONALD WILLIAMSON SENSE OF PLACE
Four hundred Septembers past, and more, the first recorded hurricane in Northeast Florida raked the coast where we live, leaving violent death and crushed hopes of empires scattered along the sandy beaches where we play.
It's an old story of a terrible storm that some believed was the hand of God. It scattered and sank a French fleet led by Jean Ribault as it bore down on a handful of Spanish ships sheltering with Pedro Menendez in a harbor at today's St. Augustine.
Hundreds of Frenchmen, mostly Protestants, died either in the tempest, or of starvation and exposure, or at the hands of Catholic Spaniards who hunted down survivors in a bloody autumn genocide.
Despite the passing of 443 years, archaeologists say the remains of those galleons still lie beneath the sand and water, a cultural holy grail waiting to be found.
"Oh, yeah. They're there," John de Bry told me. "Absolutely. No doubt. North of the cape and not too far from shore."
As director of the Center for Historical Archaeology in Melbourne, de Bry has worked with numerous institutions and governments to find and investigate dozens of historic ships. He researched Ribault's fleet for the Lighthouse Archaeology Maritime Program based in St. Augustine, an institution dedicated to better understanding of the maritime history and archaeology of the city and this coast.
Ribault's flagship, La Trinite, is on the institution's list of ships it hopes to find one day.
"It's safe to say that finding La Trinite would be more significant to North America than finding Columbus' flagship, the Santa Maria," said de Bry. "Columbus never set foot on this continent."
Ribault's ships, if discovered, would be the oldest French wrecks in North America and a significant find.
"Not only were they representative of the greatest exploration technology of their time, but they also represent a period of U.S. history that lies almost completely forgotten," said David Brewer, a former National Park Service archaeologist who's the Virgin Islands' senior territorial archaeologist.
History was in the balance when the storm struck Sept. 10-13, 1565. King Charles of France sent Ribault with hundreds of Huguenot troops to resupply his fledgling colony near the mouth of the St. Johns River. King Philip of Spain sent Menendez with hundreds of troops to expel the interlopers.
By extraordinary circumstance, they arrived at almost the same time, some 80 miles north of Daytona Beach. They skirmished southward. The Spanish retreated to a harbor and, despite a growing storm, the French sailed after them.
La Trinite, a 32-gun galleon, is believed to have been driven ashore on the north side of Cape Canaveral. Other ships, including the 29-gun royal galleon Emerillon, were wrecked along miles of coast north of La Trinite.
French survivors struggled up the beach for weeks until they reached an inlet we know today as Matanzas -- which means slaughter or massacre in Spanish. Some 250 Frenchmen surrendered to the Spanish at the inlet. Almost every one was disarmed, bound and slain.
Ribault died on the sand with his men. His red beard was sent to the Spanish king.
Some 200 Frenchmen refused to surrender and fled south, back toward the cape where they salvaged some of La Trinite's cannon and built a sand fort. When Menendez found them in November, most were taken prisoner, but others fled inland to take their chances.
The next year, a Frenchman or two were found at a village on the Tomoka River. Years later, a few were found in South Florida. Others are believed to have lived out the rest of their lives with Indians, but traces of them and their fleet remained a mystery.
In 1990, Brewer was part of a National Park Service team that investigated a site where Mosquito Lagoon's shallows merge with the tough, impenetrable thickets of Cape Canaveral and there, in the furrowed sand, found evidence of the lost Frenchmen. The site has yielded coins, ceramics, personal articles and ship's iron spikes worked with a hot forge, a technology not possessed by the Indians.
"Examining the artifacts . . . was the closest thing to time travel that I have ever experienced," Brewer said. "Here were the remains of what might be best described as a survival kit from the mid-1500s." Hunted by the Spanish, the survivors probably placated the Indians by making both delicate trinkets and difficult, hot iron-forged tools, he said.
"I am convinced that it represents a camp established by some of the surviving Huguenots," de Bry said.
He knows of no scientific search ever made for Ribault's ships, but such a discovery would "capture the attention of many underwater archaeologists, and its excavation would be given top priority. Personally, I would not hesitate to drop everything that I might be doing at that time to participate in the excavation and subsequent analysis of the material culture."
Brewer believes the bones of the ships and, perhaps, the men still lie nearby. "They may be scattered under the palmetto-forest floor and dunes. They may lie under the beach-face or right in the surf zone, possibly to rise again one day after one of our major storms."
It's a remarkable and exciting notion that the hand of God would lift these lost wrecks from their graves. But, given the history of this storm-brushed coast, it's only a matter of time.

Remote Control submarines?

Ok, so in the spirit of my new status as a "submariner" blog, thought I would share this article my dad sent me.

DONNELLY: UNMANNED VEHICLES IMPORTANT TO FUTURE SUB FORCE
_______________________________________________
Date: September 1, 2008

The advantages of unmanned vehicles present major opportunities for the future submarine force, and the Navy is dealing with several technology hurdles as it seeks to make unmanned systems more compatible with subs, according to Vice Adm. Jay Donnelly, commander of submarine forces.

An unmanned system “gives us that extra sensor capability,” Donnelly said while discussing current technology efforts in an Aug. 21 interview with Inside the Navy. He added that submerged launch of both undersea and aerial unmanned vehicles was the next step for the submarine force, and the Navy is working toward that end.

The “eventual goal” is to make current and future submarines capable of launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) while submerged, and research and development funding is being spent on that project, Donnelly said. Also, the Navy is deciding whether it will launch 21-inch unmanned undersea vehicles (UUV) from torpedo tubes or a large-diameter UUV that could be deployed from large-diameter tubes on Ohio-class ballistic missile subs, the admiral added.

Currently, submarines can launch UAVs, but they must surface to do so, although it can be done in less than an hour, he said. Two subs have been deployed with the Buster UAV, a portable surveillance aircraft that takes infrared images. The Los Angeles-class submarine Montpelier (SSN-765) was the first sub to get Buster, a UAV that is currently used by the Army.

“We modified some of our antennas to enable us to do command and control and receive the video downlink,” the admiral said, adding that sailors were being trained to fly Buster -- built by Mission Technologies Inc. -- remotely. “It’s a baby step to see, ‘What is the utility of extending our sensors to off-board sensors?’”

The ability to launch UAVs without surfacing would be an even larger boon, though that remains a far-off goal, he said.

Another option is to hand off a UAV that is already in the air to a sub, Donnelly said.

“You don’t always have to launch your own,” he said. “If there’s another UAV in the area, as long as we can use this antenna to get the downlink and maybe even control it,” a launch of the sub’s own UAV would be unnecessary.

The admiral said he sees a “similar future” with UUVs, but there are issues that need to be resolved in the meantime.

“We have to decide whether we want to go with a 21-inch that goes out the torpedo tube, or with a large-diameter that could go out one of the large-diameter tubes on the SSGN” Ohio-class subs, he said. The large-diameter tube could be incorporated on the third production block of Virginia-class attack subs, he added.

“That’s the future,” he said. “I don’t have a program for this, but that’s an option.”

Late last year, Naval Sea Systems Command successfully demonstrated the first underwater launch and recovery of two UUVs from the Los Angeles-class attack sub Hartford (SSN-768).

Another sub technology currently under development is the photonics mast. The Navy has put in place a technology insertion program to enhance the mast -- a non-penetrating periscope -- in order to improve the resolution that would match high-definition televisions, Donnelly said. -- Dan Taylor
INSIDE THE NAVY

I make the neutrons happy :)

Ok, so our next stop was the World of Energy museum, located near the Oconee Nuclear Station, seen above. I wasn't really sure about going here since it is a kids museum and we had no kid at the moment, but as it turned out, most of the museum focused on nuclear power and the displays helped me explain (for the first time!!!) to my wife just what it is I do on the sub, without her falling asleep. I will now try to recreate this euphoria for anyone who is interested. And BTW, if anyone from NCIS or whoever reads this, before you give me any s**t, NOTHING on this post is classified. It is basic information that anyone can find, and most of it is from the museum. So I don't want to hear about how this blog is some "security issue." That's bull and we both know it. Ah-HEM. Moving on...

We begin with the atom. Basic unit of all substance in the known universe. It's a happy little guy, just floatin' through life. Nuclear substances contain special "heavy" atoms such as Uranium (power plants) or Plutonium (bombs). These elements are naturally unstable because of the number of sub-atomic particles they contain. Remember from science class that the atoms are made of postitive neutrons and neutral neutrons in the nucleus, which is surrounded by orbiting negative electrons. When a happy (but naturally unstable) atom of Uranium is hit by a free neutron, it can have several reactions, the most important of which is fission. Fission is when an atom is violently broken apart, releasing tremendous amounts of energy in the form of heat. When the atom is split, its neutrons go onto split other atoms, repeating the process. When fission is not controlled, it creates an explosion, which is how nuclear bombs work. When it is controlled, it simply creates a lot of heat, and is the basis of nuclear power.
Here is our model reactor. Nice, isn't it? Hope it is clear enough for those of you at home. In the center is the reactor core itself. This is where our happy little atoms live. The green things on the side are the reactor coolant pumps, the silver things behind them are the steam generators, and the silver thing above and behind the core is the pressurizer. In the core is the Uranium nuclear fuel, surrounded by the reactor, or primary, coolant. The primary coolant is heated by fission to a very high temperature and pressure (well in the hundreds, the actual numbers are classified though.) Remember that water only boils at 0 degrees (212 degrees Farenheit) when it is at atmospheric pressure. It is imprtant to keep the primary coolant pressure much higher to prevent the water from boiling. Boiling makes steam, and steam does not transfer heat well. The high pressure is maintained by the pressurizer, which has a steam bubble inside it, and allows the Reactor Operator to control pressure by use of electric heaters. The primary coolant is pumped through the core by the reactor coolant pumps through the steam generators to the reactor. In addition to the primary coolant flowing through the steam generators, they also contain secondary coolant, which is boiled into steam. The primary and secondary liquid never physically touch, and heat is transferred from the primary to the secondary through pipes in the generator. Now the primary, which has been cooled by transfering its heat to the secondary liquid, returns to the reactor to repeat the process. The water also acts as a moderator, helping the nuclear process to continue, and the cooler it is, the more the process continues. The core also contains control rods, operated by the Reactor Operator. These contain a neutron absorbing material in order to control the amount of fissions occuring. This prevents the number of fissions or the coolant temperature from reaching a dangerous point.
This diagram shows how the primary and secondary systems interelate. The green on the left is the reactor, flanked by yellow steam generators. The steam exits the top of the generators and goes to the turbines (white, center). The steam spins the turbines, which rotates a generator. Electricity is generated by a conductive metal rotating inside magnetic lines of flux. The turbine generator (red, right) is effectively that. The spinning turbine rotates conductive wires inside a magnet creating electric current, which is then sent to a distribution network to be sent where it is needed. After the steam exits the turbine, it is sent to a condenser, which is cooled by a third system of water. The condenser turns the steam back into water, and drops it down to the feed pumps, which then send it back to the steam generator to repeat the process. And that is nuclear power. Simple, huh?
This is the electrical disribution center for the Oconee Plant. Public Service announcment: Despite what everyone wants you to believe, nuclear power is safe! All reactors in the United States (Chernobyl was Soviet, remember?) have exteremelly strong controls on equipment quality, operator training, routine and emergency procedures, and radiation controls. These are what prevented Three Mile Island from becoming an actual problem, and the controls have only gotten more strict since then. Conventional plants have accidents all the time. Not nuclear plants. They are inherently safe, and are a strong, reliable source of clean energy for many, many, many years.

In remembrance...

Ok, so today I am going to step way outside the comfort zone of this blog, but I think it is entirely appropirate. Today, my wife mentioned that it bothered her how no one seems to remember 9-11. Well, it is sad, but too often true. However, I not only remember, but this is still something I feel very strongly about and still gets me very emotional. Like many historic events, everyone has a story. Mine was, it was my senior year of High School, and I was in first period band. First period was optional, so most students didn't have one. When I got out, I learned from friends what had happened, but of course much of it was rumors. Within an hour, my dad got me from the school, which was giving out "sick passes" to parents who wanted their kids to be home. Considering the school was next to a major Navy base, it was probably a good idea. When I got home, I learned the real story as we prepared for worst case scenarios. Turns out, if I had turned on the television before walkign out the door of my house that morning, I would have watched the second plane hit live (remember this is West Coast time.) Since then I check the news when I get up every morning. Today, the videos still give me chills, remembering in 1996 when my dad and I went to New York and were on top of the World Trade Center. A lot of people who had never experienced the towers never quite understood.
Remember when the first plane hit, and people thought it was an accident.


Then the second hit, on live television, making clear that this was no accident. In a very short time, the symbol of our nation's economic and social power was nothing more than a pile of burning rubble. And over 3,000 innocent people had been taken down with them.


They struck at the Pentagon, the ultimate symbol of our military strength since it was built in World War 2. Though it did not receive the media attention that the towers did, this was a stab in the heart of the nation's military members, who saw their house up in flames and their comrades in arms killed. It was Pearl Harbor all over again.
Then another plane mysteriously disapeared, crashing in a field in rural Pennsylvania. It became apparent that the passengers, learning they were about to become victims of a suicide crash into a national icon, took matters into their own hands, and throught their sacrifice won the first battle in the War on Terror.
Remember in the days that followed, whn everyone had American Flags? They were on houses, cars, clothing, buildings, stadiums. People made giant human flags and held vigils in support of the victims. I remember the first funeral following the attacks was for the Fire Department Chaplain. He, like his fellow police and fire firghters, had risked his life as the towers burned. He was killed when the towers fell, as he comforted the injured who could not make it away.
For days, even weeks, the nation wept together as the Chaplian and many more who follwed him were remembered and laid to rest. There were so many heroes that day, and so many were lost. People talk about sports heroes, and movie stars, and they follow American Idol more than most elections. No, these men are our nation's true heores. They risk everything everyday to protect and save ordinary citizens. No tabloids care about them, you won't find their poster on a teenager's wall, yet they continue to do their duty.
Remember how we AS AMERICANS stood behind the man who stood up to the terrorists? Just as everyone was donning their American Flag gear, we likewise rallied in finding those responsible for the acts. Much progress has been made in this war, but much is left to be done. Many of the terrorists have been caught, but many are still in hiding in a number of countries. It is sad to see how many people suddenly turned when no weapons or "evidence" was found in Iraq, and the "quick easy war" turned into a quagmire of a civil war. Suddenly polls dropped, and people began protesting what was seen as unnecesary. They forget many things including, Sadaam Hussein DID have weapons of mass destruction at one point. Most were destroyed before or during the first Gulf War, but the idea that he could have them again was certainly not far fetched. He also defied inspectors and was a known supporter of terrorists. Those who don't belive this need only look at the sudden surge of violence in Afghanistan once Iraq got quiet a few months ago. Al Quida was there, then left and returned to Afghanistan. This is the battle we face now.

My point is not political sympathy or to be an apologetic. I simply want to make the statement that we are Americans. On 9-11 we were attacked, and we must ensure this does not happen again. People say we should stop interfereing with other countries and just keep to ourselves. That is much easier said than done. To begin with we would abandon our numerous allies who, while they scoff and criticize us, nonetheless know that if they are ever in trouble we will protect them. We would have to lock down our country to a nearly fascist level. No one could enter or leave, in order to prevent terrorists or other enemies from coming into the country. And history is full of examples of countries that "kept to themselves". They get conquered by countries that don't. Thomas Jefferson said that "the man who turns his gun into a plow will plow for the man who does not." His statement is as true now as it was 200 years ago. We are a country of free people, and that is something that is in constant jeopardy. We are not empire building or bullying, we are trying to protect our way of life. And just as 230 years ago men volunteered to leave their homes and families in order to protect them, the same is true now. We have an all volunteer military. I volunteered. It sickens me to see people who say "I just joined to go to college, I don't really want to fight." That is BS and is not a reason to join the military. You should join the military only if you value your freedom and want to defend and if needbe die for it. The majority of the men and women over in Iraq and Afghanistan right now are these people. They knew what they signed up for and are proud to do it. If I went out tommorow and something happened where my ship did not make it back, I want my family to know that is the price of freedom. I have no regrets and will not if that happens. So now I ask you, consider all these things. Instead of insulting the soldier's Commander in Chief, why don't go write a letter the lonely soldier who may only want a small reminder of what he is fighting for. Instead of wondering why the American flag is in another country, why don't you try saluting it in memory of those who died to put it there? Instead of counting the bodies of the volunteer soldiers who are killed in Iraq, try counting the innocent victims of the 9-11 attacks that those soldiers helped ensure do not happen again. In closing, I dedicate this to all of the active duty and military veterans, as well as our nation's fire, police, and EMS forces. All of those who sacrifice to protect our freedoms and our lives. And to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, whose only memory is now a small flag on a grave. We thank you. And to all the victims of 9-11 and terrorism throughout the world, you ARE NOT forgotten.

Boneyard part dose

Ok, this is the real "Boneyard", or 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan AFB. I have wanted to come here for years, inspired by powerfull images of rows and rows of B52 bombers and other warplanes, a symbol of the great war with Russian that never came. Most of the B52s are now gone, but the place stills conveys a sense of power. The base was created in 1946 and since then has been used to store excess aircraft for future use or spare parts. It currently holds over 4,000 aircraft with an estimated total value of several billion dollars. Due to money from selling planes for scrap, it is also one of the few government agencies that makes more money than it needs to run. Starting above, we see a row of F16 Fighting Falcons in storage. Most of these are former air guard units, as can be seen by the logos on that tails for Arizona, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, and others. These are kept in better condition as most will be probably be reactivated or sold to other countries.
The tour bus goes through "museum row", a lineup of enough aircraft to make an entire separate museum, though only a few are shown here. Above is an S3 Viking and an A4 Skyhawk used as a Red Rogue fighter for training at the US Navy Fighter Weapons School.

The McDOnnell Douglas YC15, the competitor to the YC14 (last post) to replace the C130. While neither one went into production, the basic design of the YC15 is readily apparent in the modern C17 Globemaster.
The EC24, a DC8 modified for electronic warfare and testing.
Several rows of T37 Tweet trainers
hundreds of F4 Phantom fighters

S3 Vikings
A7 Corsairs and T2 Buckeyes
This is the area where all aircraft arriving or leaving pass through. Protective covering is applied here if they are going into storage, and it is removed and all systems checked if they are leaving.
Rows of F14 Tomcats with C5 Galaxies behind them
F111 Aardvarks, now retired from the US, kept mostly for spare parts for the Australian Air Force, which still flies the type.

Several C141s, also recently retired from the Air Force.
This is the ultimate fate of those iconic rows of B52s. Due to the Strategic Nuclear Arms Reduction Treatys, the old B52s are chopped up into several large pieces and left for a specified number of days to allow Russian sattelites to verify their destruction.
A group of F18 Hornets, and in the background the next B52s that will become victims of the START treaty.
Here is the closest thing to the old rows of B52s. A rather small cluster of more modern B1 Lancer bombers, too valuable to cut up, kept for spare parts to keep the others operational.
This grouping of planes is destined for various museums, and are awaiting pickup.

Americus... the tornadoes

Ok, so on March 1. 2007, a group of tornadoes ripped across Georgia and Alabama. One of the biggest went through the town of Americus (last post). I decided to include a blog with photos I took of the damage, but made it separate from the blog of historical sites. There are many sites out there with other pictures, much better than mine, here they are. This was the first time I have actually seen tornado damage, though I had heard about it from my parents (who grew up in Michigan.)


This flagpole was part of the Sept 11 memorial (see last post)
This WAS a gazebo.

Oak Grove Cemetary. Note the broken fence, tree roots, and crooked tombstone.