Race Track Opening Depletes War Plant
The track was opened in 1938 by the Hollywood Turf Club[1] the racetrack was designed by noted racetrack architect Arthur Froehlich. Its chairman was Jack Warner[1] of the Warner Bros. film studio. Prominent shareholders included Jack Warner’s brother and fellow Warner Bros. executive Harry, Hollywood studio executives Walt Disney, Samuel Goldwyn, Darryl Zanuck, actors Al Jolson, Bing Crosby, Joan Blondell, George Jessel, Ronald Coleman and Ralph Bellamy. In addition to being shareholders film directors Raoul Walsh and Mervyn LeRoy were also founding members of the track’s Board of Directors with Jack and Harry Warner and Al Jolson.
Hollywood Park closed from 1942 to 1944 due to World War II, where it was used as a storage facility...............
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Park_Racetrack
Yamashita Back in Philippines
His last words are interesting:
On 23 February 1946, at Los Baños, Laguna Prison Camp, 30 miles (48 km) south of Manila, Yamashita was hanged. After climbing the thirteen steps leading to the gallows, he was asked if he had a final statement. To this Yamashita replied through a translator:[citation needed]
“ As I said in the Manila Supreme Court that I have done with my all capacity, so I don’t ashame in front of the gods for what I have done when I have died. But if you say to me ‘you do not have any ability to command the Japanese Army’ I should say nothing for it, because it is my own nature. Now, our war criminal trial going under your kindness and right. I know that all your American and American military affairs always has tolerant and rightful judgment. When I have been investigated in Manila court I have had a good treatment, kindful attitude from your good natured officers who protected me all the time. I never forget for what they have done for me even if I had died. I don’t blame my executioner. I’ll pray the gods bless them. Please send my thankful word to Col. Clarke and Lt. Col. Feldhaus, Lt. Col. Hendrix, Maj. Guy, Capt. Sandburg, Capt. Reel, at Manila court, and Col. Arnard. I thank you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomoyuki_Yamashita
And here is a different version of his last words, Wiki excluded the reference to the Emperor?
Yamashita was sent to the gallows on 23 Feb 1946 at Los Banos Prison Camp 30 miles south of Manila to die for the crimes committed by his men. Before the fateful hour, he issued a statement through his translator Hamamoto, which, in part, is as follows:
“I were carrying out my duty, as Japanese high commander of Japanese Army in the Philippine Islands, to control my army with my best during wartime. Until now I am believing that I have tried to my best throughout my army.”
“As I said in the Manila Supreme Court that I have done with all my capacity, so I don’t ashame in front of God for what I have done when I have die. But if you say to me ‘you do not have any ability to command the Japanese Army’ I should say nothing for it, because it is my own nature. Now, our war criminal trial going on in Manila Supreme Court, so I wish to be justify under your kindness and right.”
“I know that all your American and American military affairs always has tolerant and rightful judgment. When I have been investigated in Manila court I have had a good treatment, kindful attitude from your good natured officers who all the time protect me. I never forget for what they have done for me even if I had died. I don’t blame my executioner. I’ll pray God bless them.”
He went on to thank all those who represented him and helped him during the trials. His last words were, loyally, “I will pray for the Emperor’s long life and his prosperity forever!”
http://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=32
Three Million Dutch Face Famine
http://www.bodosandberg.webs.com/hungerwinterinholland.htm
I still have that American flour bag in our home in Darien, CT. American flour from the B.A. Eckhart Milling Co. in Chicago, ILL. U.S.A., milled: Jan. 1945. Oma baked bread from that flour which saved my Mom’s life. I was born shortly thereafter, in March 1946 and I am deeply aware that I owe my life to that bag of American flour.
THANK YOU, America!!
Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II [Kindle Edition] by Mitchell Zuckoff (free through November 30)
Amazon Best Books of the Month, May 2011: Near the end of World War II, a plane carrying 24 members of the United States military, including nine Women’s Army Corps (WAC) members, crashed into the New Guinea jungle during a sightseeing excursion. 21 men and women were killed. The three survivors--a beautiful WAC, a young lieutenant who lost his twin brother in the crash, and a severely injured sergeant--were stranded deep in a jungle valley notorious for its cannibalistic tribes. They had no food, little water, and no way to contact their military base. The story of their survival and the stunning efforts undertaken to save them are the crux of Lost in Shangri-La, Mitchell Zuckoff’s remarkable and inspiring narrative. Faced with the potential brutality of the Dani tribe, known throughout the valley for its violence, the trio’s lives were dependent on an unprecedented rescue mission--a dedicated group of paratroopers jumped into the jungle to provide aid and medical care, consequently leaving the survivors and paratroopers alike trapped on the jungle floor. A perilous rescue by plane became their only possible route to freedom. A riveting story of deliverance under the most unlikely circumstances, Lost in Shangri-La deserves its place among the great survival stories of World War II.
Lol. Florida and Kansas had the same number of electoral votes.