He Has Not Yet Begun to Fight

John Paul Jones is often considered one of the Fathers of the United States Navy. He was a privateer who joined the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War. However, since he worked with mercenaries, pirates, and other soldiers of fortune under his command, he found himself betrayed by his own crew on more thanContinue reading “He Has Not Yet Begun to Fight”

Historic Events: John Paul Jones’ Whiteraven Raid

On this day, 244 years ago on April 10, 1778, John Paul Jones set sail aboard the USS Ranger from Brest, France on mission to harass British ships near the mainland. John Paul Jones was commissioned as a first lieutenant with the Continental Navy on December 7, 1775. His crew on the USS Ranger, however,Continue reading “Historic Events: John Paul Jones’ Whiteraven Raid”

Heroes From History: Davy Crockett

Davy Crockett was an American solider, politician, and famous frontiersman. He was born on August 17, 1786 in Greene County, Tennessee. His parents were pioneers who moved around a lot and had a big family. Davy Crockett was one of nine children and received very little formal education beyond 100 days of tutoring. Most ofContinue reading “Heroes From History: Davy Crockett”

Historic Events: The Battle of Iwo Jima

The Battle of Iwo Jima was a major engagement between the United States of America and the Empire of Japan during the Pacific War of World War II. Major combat operations lasted from February 19 – March 16, 1945 with some Japanese forces maintaining resistance on the island all the way into 1949. The battleContinue reading “Historic Events: The Battle of Iwo Jima”

Friends Forged In Fire: A Haiku Series

In 1853, Matthew Perry led four ships into Tokyo Bay to establish formal ties between the United States and Japan for the first time. Others had tried before, but none were successful. Perry’s mission was to secure safe harbor for shipwrecked Americans and gain permission for U.S. ships to refuel and resupply at Japanese ports.Continue reading “Friends Forged In Fire: A Haiku Series”

And So Comes A New Year

And so passes another year on this journey of ours we call life. We carry on, hoping to be better moving forward than we were in the past. For many, that is the goal, and so it should be. Without that drive to continually improve ourselves, we lay stagnant and decay. Atrophy sets in andContinue reading “And So Comes A New Year”

Christmas Miracles: The Collapse of the Soviet Union

On December 25, 1991, the red flag with a hammer and sickle flying over the Kremlin was lowered, never to be raised there again. Numerous Soviet states had already announced they were leaving the Union. Intolerance of any political dissent, the centralized economy, and constant conflict with the rest of the world had finally wornContinue reading “Christmas Miracles: The Collapse of the Soviet Union”

Christmas Miracles: The Christmas Truce of 1914

The First World War was a major conflict for control of the European continent between the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary and the Allied Powers of France, Britain, and Russia. Many other countries came into the fold on one side or the other until most of the world was involved, and nearly the entireContinue reading “Christmas Miracles: The Christmas Truce of 1914”

Christmas Miracles: The Battle of Trenton

The month of December is host to many great tales. Some of heroism and bravery, others of self-sacrifice and generosity, and some tell of unsuspecting peace and tranquility. The month of December is a special time for many when magic is in the air and the impossible is made possible. The Battle of Trenton inContinue reading “Christmas Miracles: The Battle of Trenton”

The Spirit of Thanksgiving

The story of Thanksgiving holds many common themes found in numerous holidays from across the ages. A people sent adrift in a strange land, unprepared for the perils and hardship. They find themselves set upon by famine and hunger, threatened with oblivion. Then, a kind people take notice of their plight and offer a tradeContinue reading “The Spirit of Thanksgiving”