Citation: On board the U.S.S. Carondelet in various actions of that vessel [in Korea, June, 1871]. Wounded several times, Dougherty invariably returned to duty, presenting an example of constancy and devotion to the flag.
The last World War I veteran in Ohio, and one of only three known remaining U.S. veterans of the conflict, has died.
J. Russell Coffey was the last WWI vet in the state, according to the Veterans Affairs Department. He died Thursday at the age of 109, said the Smith-Crates Funeral Home in North Baltimore, about 35 miles south of Toledo.
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Coffey, born Sept. 1, 1898, did not see action overseas. He enlisted in the Army while he was a student at Ohio State University in October 1918, a month before the Allied powers and Germany signed a cease-fire agreement.
Our organizers have debated this for weeks, hoping that a few more well-timed deliveries would erase any need for an extension. With only two weeks to go and many books still undelivered, we decided we wanted a fair awards more than a fast one.
There’ll now be two announcement dates:On Jan. 1 we’ll still roll out the short lists for fiction picture books, poetry, fantasy and science fiction and middle grade novels.This probably isn’t the best solution, but it’s the one that fits for this time out. We’ll again do a post mortem in March when you can kvetch about what didn’t work, and we’ll re-examine our nomination deadline and reading period, and even our outreach to publishers.
That leaves non-fiction picture books, graphic novels, young adult novels, MG/YA non-fiction, which we plan to reveal on Jan. 7.
The contest will still finish up on Valentine’s Day, when we announce the winners. Yes, that means some judges get 6 fewer days, but most have given their okay on this.
Vitus Bering (1681-1741), Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915), Hans Langsdorff (1894-1939), Desmond Llewellyn (1913/14-1999) and Hope Lange (1933-2003) died on this date.
And happy birthday to Édith Piaf (1915-1963), Al Kaline** (1934-TBD), Richard Leakey (1944-TBD), Zal Yanovsky (1945-2002) and Robert Urich (1946-2002).
The crew of HMS Westminster took part in an ancient tradition at the weekend when they marched through the Tower of London delivering a barrel of rum to its Constable.
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Ancient rights dictated that every ship that came upstream to the City of London had to unload a portion of its cargo for the Constable, thus enjoying the protection of the Tower of London guns.
Today, the tradition of the Ceremony of the Constable's Dues is kept alive when every year the captain of a Royal Navy ship entering the Pool of London delivers a barrel of rum to the Constable.
The captain and his crew are firstly challenged for entry to the Tower by the Yeoman Gaoler, the second-in-command of the Body of Yeoman Warders (or Beefeaters).
The captain and his naval ratings then march through the Tower of London, accompanied by Yeoman Warders in State Dress and a Corps of Drums, to Tower Green, where the Constable is presented with the barrel of rum. Afterwards, all retire to Queen's House on Tower Green, the oldest surviving timber building in the City, to sample the contents.
The first ever female beefeater at the Tower of London, Yeoman Warder Moira Cameron, started work today, Monday 3 September 2007, beginning a new chapter in the Tower's 1,000 year history.
Former Warrant Officer Class 2 Cameron was announced in january [sic] 2007 as the first female Yeoman Warder in the 522 years of the position's existence. She joined the Body of the Yeoman Warders at the Tower in July this year where she has been undertaking a two month rigorous training programme.
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In order to qualify as a Yeoman Warder a candidate must be a former Warrant Officer or Senior Non-Commissioned Officer. They must also have served a minimum of 22 years in the Armed Forces and hold the Long Service and Good Conduct medal.
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WO2 Cameron, who is from mid Argyll in the Western Highlands, joined the Army in 1985 at the age of 20. She joined the Women's Royal Army Corps and trained as a Data Telegraphist with the Royal Signals. In 1988 she transferred and trained as a military accountant with the Royal Army Pay Corps and in 1992 was transferred to the Adjutants Generals Corp (Staff and Personnel Support) Branch. She has served in Northern Ireland and Cyprus and was awarded her Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 2000.
Due to arrive at the main British base in Helmand Province in the next few days are nine thousand kilograms of turkey breast, fifteen thousand kilos of cranberry sauce, four thousand mince pies, six thousand after dinner mints, six thousand balloons, four thousand party hats and five thousand Christmas crackers.
So it will be a traditional Christmas lunch in the two huge tented barrel cookhouses on the camp, and on Christmas Eve, the chefs plan to put up Christmas trees and decorations so the troops will be greeted on Christmas morning with a festive atmosphere.
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SAC [Stephanie] Thorogood points out that it's actually in the Queen's Regulations that no one is allowed to leave the cookhouse hungry, and there is not much chance of that happening at Bastion. They have seven different choices for lunch or dinner, ranging from lamb curry to steak with béarnaise sauce and chicken stir fry to lasagne, and it all tastes excellent:"People like curry," SAC Thorogood said. "We cook off six green boxes of rice a day, that's a lot of rice! I did the stir fry the other day too, with six boxes of peppers, that's a lot of peppers!"
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The Christmas tradition of officers and senior ranks serving the junior ranks their Christmas meal will be alive and well at Bastion too, and [head chef] WO2 [Alan] Watkins will know how to gauge the troops appreciation of the food[.]
Speaking of the holidays, this year we’ll be celebrating them with something we’re calling the “12 Days of Ice Cream.” Starting on Friday, December 14 we’ll be posting a new entry every day (including weekends) through December 25. Each day will feature a different ice cream related gift, which we will give away to one of that entry’s commenters chosen at random. We’re excited about it and when you see some of these gifts, we think you will be too. The best part is, we’ll be giving away a year’s supply of ice cream to one lucky reader. If you remember our National Ice Cream Month giveaway in July, that’s a pretty cool prize no matter what season it is.
Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Lone Pine trenches, in the Gallipoli Peninsula, on 9th August, 1915. In the early morning the enemy made a determined counter-attack on the centre of the newly captured trench held by Lieutenant Tubb. They advanced up a sap and blew in a sandbag barricade, leaving only one foot of it standing, but Lieutenant Tubb led his men back, repulsed the enemy, and rebuilt the barricade. Supported by strong bombing parties, the enemy succeeded in twice again blowing in the barricade, but on each occasion Lieutenant Tubb, although wounded in the head and arm, held his ground with the greatest coolness and rebuilt it, and finally succeeded in maintaining his position under very heavy bomb fire.Joint Citation: For most conspicuous bravery at Lone Pine trenches in the Gallipoli Peninsula on the 9th August, 1915.
Citation: Specialist Four Alfred Rascon, distinguished himself by a series of extraordinarily courageous acts on 16 March 1966, while assigned as a medic to the Reconnaissance Platoon, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate). While moving to reinforce its sister battalion under intense enemy attack, the Reconnaissance Platoon came under heavy fire from a numerically superior enemy force. The intense enemy fire from crew-served weapons and grenades severely wounded several point squad soldiers. Specialist Rascon, ignoring directions to stay behind shelter until covering fire could be provided, made his way forward. He repeatedly tried to reach the severely wounded point machine-gunner laying on an open enemy trail, but was driven back each time by the withering fire. Disregarding his personal safety, he jumped to his feet, ignoring flying bullets and exploding grenades to reach his comrade. To protect him from further wounds, he intentionally placed his body between the soldier and enemy machine guns, sustaining numerous shrapnel injuries and a serious wound to the hip. Disregarding his serious wounds he dragged the larger soldier from the fire-raked trail. Hearing the second machine-gunner yell that he was running out of ammunition, Specialist Rascon, under heavy enemy fire crawled back to the wounded machine-gunner stripping him of his bandoleers of ammunition, giving them to the machine-gunner who continued his suppressive fire. Specialist Rascon fearing the abandoned machine gun, its ammunition and spare barrel could fall into enemy hands made his way to retrieve them. On the way, he was wounded in the face and torso by grenade fragments, but disregarded these wounds to recover the abandoned machine gun, ammunition and spare barrel items, enabling another soldier to provide added suppressive fire to the pinned-down squad. In searching for the wounded, he saw the point grenadier being wounded by small arms fire and grenades being thrown at him. Disregarding his own life and his numerous wounds, Specialist Rascon reached and covered him with his body absorbing the blasts from the exploding grenades, and saving the soldier's life, but sustaining additional wounds to his body. While making his way to the wounded point squad leader, grenades were hurled at the sergeant. Again, in complete disregard for his own life, he reached and covered the sergeant with his body, absorbing the full force of the grenade explosions. Once more Specialist Rascon was critically wounded by shrapnel, but disregarded his own wounds to continue to search and aid the wounded. Severely wounded, he remained on the battlefield, inspiring his fellow soldiers to continue the battle. After the enemy broke contact, he disregarded aid for himself, instead treating the wounded and directing their evacuation. Only after being placed on the evacuation helicopter did he allow aid to be given to him. Specialist Rascon's extraordinary valor in the face of deadly enemy fire, his heroism in rescuing the wounded, and his gallantry by repeatedly risking his own life for his fellow soldiers are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
The sign above the kitchen door reads, “GALLEY.” Although it’s more than 500 miles from the nearest ocean, it’s still the closest thing to a ship that a small group of sailors have in western Afghanistan.
When CS2 (SS) Class Timothy Wright came to Forward Operating Base Maimaneh, he was the only Sailor here. He was also the only cook. So the officer in charge of the FOB, Army Lt. Col. Robert Williams, put him in charge of the dining facility.
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There are few non-contracted military dining facilities in Afghanistan, and even fewer still being run by a sailor. For a Navy petty officer to operate an Army dining facility is positively unique, and Wright has a reputation for running a good one. He’s enjoyed it so much he extended his tour in Afghanistan to almost two years.
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Wright spreads Navy influence in ways that are sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle. A Navy flag hangs on the dining facilities wall, and signs around the FOB remind “Shipmates” to replace water in the refrigerators, and call smoking areas “Smoke Decks.” It’s starting to pay off. He’s even heard soldiers refer to the latrine as the “head.”
NASA's Space Shuttle Program managers have targeted Jan. 10 for the launch of shuttle Atlantis' STS-122 mission to the International Space Station.
"The workforce has stepped up to and met every challenge this year," said Wayne Hale, Space Shuttle Program manager at NASA's Johnson Space Center. "Moving the next launch attempt of Atlantis to Jan. 10 will allow as many people as possible to have time with family and friends at the time of year when it means the most. A lot has been asked of them this year and a lot will be asked of them in 2008."
The liftoff date from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida, depends on the resolution of a problem in a fuel sensor system. The shuttle's planned launches on Dec. 6 and Dec. 9 were postponed because of false readings from the part of the system that monitors the liquid hydrogen section of the tank.
1911: Roald Amundsen, Olav Bjaaland, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel and Oscar Wisting became the first men to reach the South Pole.
And happy birthday to Tycho Brahe (1546–1601), Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, GCB (1775–1860), HM King George VI (1895–1952), Jimmy Doolittle (1896–1993), Morey Amsterdam (1908–1996), Spike Jones (1911–1965) and Hanni Wenzel (1956-TBD).
1914: HM Submarine B11 (Lieutenant Norman D Holbrook) went up the Dardanelles and through a minefield to torpedo and sink the Turkish battleship Messudiyeh. The sub then managed to return safely down the Dardanelles, despite coming under fire from shore batteries and enemy torpedo boats. B11 remained submerged for nine hours during this mission, a remarkable achievement for such a primitive craft. Holbrook was awarded the Victoria Cross - the first submariner to receive this award.
1939: German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee (Kpt z S Hans Langsdorff) met the Royal Navy's Force G (cruisers HMS Exeter, HMS Ajax and HMNZS Achilles, under Cdre Henry Harwood OBE) near the Rio de la Plata. Exeter was badly damaged, but Graf Spee was forced to flee to the nearby neutral port of Montevideo, Uruguay. Given the choice of having his ship interned, or leaving port to fight the British reinforcements that were on the way, Langsdorff ordered his ship scuttled on 17 December.**
Donatello (c 1386–1466), Alexander Selkirk (1676–1721), Thomas Watson (1854-1934), Grandma Moses (1860–1961), Raymond Spruance (1886-1969), Pigmeat Markham (1904-1981) and Zal Yanovsky (1944–2002) died on this date.
And happy birthday to Henry IV of France (1553–1610), Mary Todd Lincoln (1818–1882), Alvin York (1887–1964), Hans-Joachim Marseille (1919-1942), Dick Van Dyke (1925-TBD), Christopher Plummer CC (1929-TBD), Ted Nugent (1948-TBD), John Anderson (1954-TBD), Tamora Pierce (1954-TBD) and Johnny Whitaker (1959-TBD).
1937: Three people were killed and eleven wounded when Japanese aircraft sank the gunboat USS Panay (PR 5) on the Yangtze River in China.
1941: 54 Japanese bombers, escorted by A6M Zero fighters, raided Batangas Field, Philippines. Five Filipino pilots, flying Boeing P-26 Peashooters, fended them off with the loss of one man, Lt Cesar Basa.Space shuttle Atlantis' STS-122 mission to the International Space Station now is targeted to launch no earlier than Jan. 2 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The liftoff date depends on the resolution of a problem in a fuel sensor system.
Early Sunday, one of the four engine cutoff, or ECO, sensors inside the liquid hydrogen section of Atlantis' external fuel tank gave a false reading while the tank was being filled. NASA's current Launch Commit Criteria require that all four sensors function properly.
The sensor system is one of several that protect the shuttle's main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low. Atlantis' scheduled launch on Thursday, Dec. 6, was delayed after two liquid hydrogen ECO sensors gave false readings.
Citation: For having, after being engaged in the attack on the Redan [at Sebastopol, on 18 June 1855], repeatedly assisted, at great personal risk under a heavy fire of shell and grape, in rescuing wounded men from exposed situations; and also, while in command of a covering party, two days after, for having rushed with the most prompt and daring gallantry to a spot where a fire-ball from the enemy had just been lodged, which he effectually extinguished, before it had betrayed the position of the working party under his protection,–thus saving it from a murderous fire of shell and grape, which was immediately opened upon the spot where the fire-ball had fallen.
Citation: For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. Ens. Jones organized and led a party, which was supplying ammunition to the antiaircraft battery of the U.S.S. California after the mechanical hoists were put out of action when he was fatally wounded by a bomb explosion. When 2 men attempted to take him from the area which was on fire, he refused to let them do so, saying in words to the effect, "Leave me alone! I am done for. Get out of here before the magazines go off."Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to launch Sunday, Dec. 9, at 3:21 p.m. EST, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Shuttle program managers made the liftoff decision after three days of reviewing data on a problem with fuel sensors.
Atlantis' scheduled launch on Thursday was delayed after two of the four engine cutoff, or ECO, sensors in the shuttle's external fuel tank gave false readings. A third sensor failed after the tank was drained of fuel. The sensor system is one of several that protect the shuttle's three main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low.
During a Mission Management Team meeting Saturday, NASA leaders decided to fuel the tank Sunday and monitor the status of the sensor system. If all four ECO sensors inside the liquid hydrogen section of the tank perform as expected, the countdown will proceed toward the planned liftoff. NASA Television coverage of the tank loading will start Sunday at 6 a.m., with launch coverage beginning at 10 a.m.
NASA is targeting the launch of space shuttle Atlantis no earlier than Sunday, Dec. 9, at 3:21 p.m. EST from the Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Shuttle program managers made the decision after a meeting Friday to review data on a problem with a fuel cutoff sensor system inside the shuttle and its external fuel tank.
Because of the length of the meeting, the managers agreed that targeting Sunday would allow the launch and management teams appropriate time to rest and prepare. The Mission Management Team will meet Saturday at 1 p.m. to decide whether to make a Sunday attempt. A news conference will be held after the meeting's conclusion.
Atlantis' scheduled launch Thursday was delayed after two ECO sensors gave false readings. A third sensor failed after the tank was drained of fuel. The fuel cutoff sensor system is one of several that protects the shuttle's main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low.
1941: USS Ward (DD 139) sank a Japanese midget submarine off the entry to Pearl Harbor.* Shortly thereafter, Japanese naval aircraft attacked Pearl Harbor, Hickam Field, and other US bases in the Territory of Hawai`i.
1944: USS Ward (now APD 16) was sunk off Leyte by gunfire from USS O'Brien (DD 725) after being hit by a Japanese kamikaze aircraft.The launch of NASA's space shuttle Atlantis will take place no earlier than Saturday, Dec. 8, at 3:43 p.m. EST. Thursday's scheduled liftoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., was postponed because of a problem with a fuel cutoff sensor system inside the shuttle's external fuel tank.
The fuel cutoff sensor system is one of several that protect the shuttle's main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low. Launch Commit Criteria require that three of the four sensor systems function properly before liftoff.
Space Shuttle Program managers will hold a Mission Management Team meeting Friday at 2 p.m. to discuss the issue and determine the steps necessary to start a new launch countdown. A news conference will be held at approximately 5 p.m. after the meeting's conclusion.
On Thursday morning, two of the four engine cutoff, or ECO, sensors inside the liquid hydrogen section of the tank failed a routine prelaunch check. Following the launch postponement, the tank's liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen were drained. While the tank was being emptied, engineers monitored and collected data on the liquid hydrogen sensors that failed. During that process, another sensor gave a false reading, indicating that the tank was "wet," when it was dry. All ECO sensors are now indicating dry as they should be.
1917: The French munitions ship SS Mont-Blanc exploded after colliding with the Norwegian freighter SS Imo in the harbour at Halifax, Nova Scotia. More than 1900 people were killed, and part of the city of Halifax was destroyed.
1941: Submarine HMS Perseus (Lieut Cdr Edward C F Nicolay DSO) hit an Italian mine off Cephalonia and sank, coming to rest on the bottom at a depth of 170 feet. Four men, trapped in an aft compartment, attempted to escape using the 'Davis Submerged Escape Apparatus, but only Leading Stoker John Capes made it to the surface. Despite exhaustion, he managed to swim to Cephalonia, where he was found and sheltered by the residents. After eighteen months, they succeeded in smuggling him to safety in neutral Turkey.
Anthony Trollope (1815–1882), Jefferson Davis (1808–1889), Gene Stratton-Porter (1863-1924), Janet Munro (1934–1972), Roy Orbison (1936–1988), Don Ameche (1908–1993) and Werner Klemperer (1920–2000) died on this date.
And happy birthday to George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, KG (1608–1670), John Singleton Mosby (1833-1916), August von Mackensen (1849–1945), Alfred Eisenstaedt (1898–1995), Agnes Moorehead (1900–1974), "Baby Face" Nelson (1908-1934), Eliane Plewman (1917-1944), John Brunt VC MC (1922-1944) and Wally Cox (1924–1973).
NASA senior managers completed a thorough review Friday of space shuttle Atlantis' readiness for flight and selected Dec. 6 as the official launch date for mission STS-122. Commander Steve Frick and his six crewmates are scheduled to lift off to the International Space Station at 4:31 p.m. EST.
During the 11-day mission, the crew will install the European Space Agency's new Columbus laboratory. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide scientists around the world with the ability to conduct a variety of life, physical and materials science experiments. The mission will include at least three spacewalks, delivery of a new crew member to the station and the return of another astronaut after nearly two months aboard the station.
Atlantis' launch date was announced after the conclusion of Friday's Flight Readiness Review. During the one-day meeting, top NASA and contractor managers assessed any risks associated with the mission and determined whether the shuttle's equipment, support systems and procedures are ready for flight.
Joining Commander Frick on STS-122 will be pilot Alan Poindexter and mission specialists Leland Melvin, Rex Walheim, Stanley Love and European Space Agency astronauts Hans Schlegel and Leopold Eyharts. Eyharts will replace current station crew member Dan Tani, who has lived on the outpost since October. Eyharts will return to Earth on shuttle Endeavour's STS-123 mission, currently targeted for launch on Feb. 14, 2008.
Citation: In Italy on the night of 21st-22nd October, 1944, a Canadian Infantry Brigade was ordered to establish a bridgehead across the Savio River.
Citation: Seized the colors of his regiment at a critical moment and planted them on the captured works on the crest of Missionary Ridge [on 25 November 1863].
Citation: For conspicuous leadership in preparing the Philippine Islands to resist conquest, for gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against invading Japanese forces, and for the heroic conduct of defensive and offensive operations on the Bataan Peninsula [in 1941-1942]. He mobilized, trained, and led an army which has received world acclaim for its gallant defense against a tremendous superiority of enemy forces in men and arms. His utter disregard of personal danger under heavy fire and aerial bombardment, his calm judgment in each crisis, inspired his troops, galvanized the spirit of resistance of the Filipino people, and confirmed the faith of the American people in their Armed Forces.
