USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Tribute to the Delta Force & 160th SOAR ~ June 10, 2003

www.azstarnet.com ^ | June 10, 2003 | LaDivaLoca

[LaDivaLoca]

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday...
Thank the Veterans who served in
The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom?
Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

---

US Special Forces
(Click on the graphics for links to sources and additional information)

Part IV - A: DELTA FORCE

Part IV - B: 160th SOAR

"These are guys that are putting their lives on the line, taking on some very serious bad guys. The less anyone knows about the unit, the better." — Former Delta Force soldier quoted in Stars and Stripes.

WHO ARE THEY: The super-secret counter-terrorism group of the U.S. Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta.

NICKNAME: "Delta Force."

ORIGIN: After a rise in global terrorism in the 1970s, the Delta Force was created in 1977 by U.S. Army Col. Charles Beckwith, who had completed an exchange program in the 1960s with the elite British SAS.

SPECIALTIES: Experts in preventing terrorism as security at high-profile targets, or reacting to terrorism. Trained to infiltrate or storm hideouts to rescue hostages. GEAR: 9mm Beretta Model 92 pistol, Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun, Walther MP-K submachine gun, Colt Model 733 Commando assault rifle.

SPECIAL TRAINING: Reputation as shooting experts on close-quarters gunfights or long-range sniping. Internet reports about their secretive headquarters claim they have an Olympic-size swimming pool, dive tank and three-story climbing wall at their compound.:

EXPERIENCE: Failed attempt to rescue Iranian hostages in 1980; Panama, 1989; and Iraq, where they are believed to have worked with Green Berets to locate Scud missile launchers.

HOME BASE: Fort Bragg, N.C.

HOLLYWOOD'S VERSION: "Delta Force," 1986.

— Scripps-Howard News Service.

The 1st SFOD-Delta (Delta force) is one the Federal Government's CT (Counter Terrorist) groups. Also known as CAG (Combat Applications Group) the Pentagon manages to tightly control what is known about this Unit. Their soldiers are recruited from the U.S. Army, mainly from the Special Forces Green Berets and Rangers. Their main compound is in a remote area of Fort Bragg and it is rumored that up to 2,500 personnel are present at this facility.

The TO (Table of Order) for Delta consists of three operational squadrons, a support squadron, a signal squadron, an aviation platoon, and what is termed the "Funny Platoon". This funny platoon is reported to be the only JSOC unit including female operators.

Training involves run throughs CQB (Close Quarters Battle) killing houses designed to teach teams and individuals how to assault buildings that have been captured by terrorists. Selective firing (whether or not to shoot a target) as well as the double tap (shooting the target twice to make sure that the target does not get up again) are instilled in the Delta operators.

Their facility at Bragg is reported to be considered the best special operation training facility in the world. The CQB indoor training range has earned the ominous nick-name, "The House of Horrors". There ar mock-up of trains and buses for practice in tubular assaults, and there is reported to be a section of a wide-body jet in the units "aircraft room".

As a counter-terrorist group, Delta's main function is in hostage rescue. During Operation Just Cause Delta got their chance to do just that. Kurt Muse, an American businessman operating an underground radio station,had been jailed in Modelo. A 160th SOAR MH-6 transported a team of troopers to the rooftop of the jail. The team fought its way down to the second floor and blew the door to Muse' cell. As the team and Muse made their way to the roof and the waiting MH-6, Kurt Muse counted at least five bodies. Not all had been killed; one terrified guard had been handcuffed to a staircase railing. Lifting off, the small helicopter was hit by small arms fire and fell to the street below. The pilot slid the aircraft along the ground to a parking lot and attempted to take off again. The aircraft was hit by ground fire again and hit the ground, this time permanently. A passing UH-60 spotted the infrared spotlight held up by a Delta trooper, and soldiers from the 6th Infantry Regiment came to their rescue. Four Delta operators were wounded, but Delta had validated their existance and saved Kurt Muse' life.

Delta also saw action in Desert Storm, although precisely what they did there has not been revealed. They were also involved in the disasterous UN Campaign to stabilize the country of Somolia. During their mission in Mogadishu, Somolia, they assaulted different safe houses containing high-ranking members of warring clans and took them prisoner. Unfortunately, during their last mission two of the suport helicopters from the 160th SOAR were shot down. Two Delta operators were killed defending the survivors of the second crash, and at least one was killed in an on-foot extraction through the city.

Delta relies on the 160th SOAR for air support, but they also have their own fleet of helicopters (the aviation platoon). Painted in civilian colors and with fake registration numbers, the helicopters can deploy with Delta operators and mount gun pods to provide air support as well as transportation. Delta/CAG also works with the CIA's Special Activities Staff.

Good Reads:
"DELTA, America's Elite Counterterrorist Force" Terry Griswold
"Blackhawk Down" Mark Bowden

(Info found at www.specwarnet.com)

Our Loss
By Irvine Bruce

They came when they were called,
They asked for little and received less.
They fought for honor and truth,
In a world in which there was precious little.
We have been made better for their sacrifice
And yet we are poorer by their passing.
Ultimately in spite of their lost lives,
We must recognize that the greatest loss lies with us;
For we have been stripped of their lives and their gifts.
Of all the children they will never father,
of the students they will never tutor,
of the truth they will never uncover,
of the dreams they had that no mortal will ever know,
of the best of humanity that they can never again be.

We cannot remember them as well as we should,
We will never remember them as well as we do now.
Alas, we barely knew them at all.
But they died in our stead,
And if there is one thing we should know,
one thing we must take from this desolate moment;
it is that they could have been us,
and they must be us.
We must live for them.
We must try to achieve the promise that was embodied their lives,
before they were so nobly cast aside for our sake.
This is the only way
we can shoulder this otherwise unbearable debt.
By their selfless sacrifice they have shown
that this is how they would have had it,
had they by some accident of fate
been left as the living
and not we.

Black Hawk Down
Anonymous

"Black Hawk Down!" across the net came the cry
A wisp from the ground brought fire to sky
Two hundred heads turned in that moment so clear
Yet not a first thought their own lives' fear.

Pilot, soldier, sailor, crew
Hell's fire below meant nothing to you
Yet into the maelstrom only two could leap
Against oppression fury they would reap

I can still see them coughing against the desert sand
Fearing naught, an upraised hand
Gesturing towards the fallen, neither haughty nor proud
They disappeared quickly into the rising cloud

Nothing further could I offer, they doubtless knew
As towards the injured with wings they flew
Through smoke, through fire, and failing light
Two soldiers together entered a selfless night

They gave without asking
A reward never known
They sacrificed freely
And our brother came home.

Thank you.

In Memorium

Whoever does not have the stomach for this fight, let him depart.
Give him money to speed his departure
since we wish not to die in that man's company.
Whoever lives past today and comes home safely
will rouse himself every year on this day,
show his neighbors his scars, and tell embellished stories
of all their great feats of battle.
These stories he will teach his son,
and from this day until the end of the world,
we shall be remembered.
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
for whoever has shed his blood with me shall be my brother.
And those men afraid to go, will think themselves as lesser men
as they hear how we fought and died together...

Major General William F. Garrison
October 6, 1993
Task Force Ranger
Mogadishu, Somalia

Special warfare, like any good military plan, requires the proper use of forces at the proper time. Usually this means that special forces teams must be prepared for lightning-quick reactions. Operations behind enemy lines are not conductive towards high-speed movement by ground forces, thus they must find other methods to get to strike or surveillance points quickly and without the enemy's knowledge. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) uses specially modified rotorcraft and highly trained pilots to get special warfare teams to their mission through hostile territory or weather. Whatever the mission, the 160^th has adopted the name Nightstalkers and the motto, "Nightstalkers don't quit!"

The 160th consists of three battalions, two white and one "black" (for classified missions). The 1st and 2nd Battalions are located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, while the 3rd is located at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia. The 160th operates a group of highly modified aircraft in their missions. These aircraft are fitted with special avionics to allow them to fly at low level at night or in inclement weather. In addition they have increased weapons and armor to enable them to survive the harder missions in enemy fire.

The Nightstalkers were pioneers in the field of helicopter special operations. Originally formed as "Task Force 160" in the early 80's, the nightstalkers were the first unit to work on the integration of night vision goggles into helicopter cockpits and tactics using them. In 1988 this training paid off, and the AH-6 Littlebirds attached to support Operation Prime Chance became the first to engage and neutralize a target using NVG's. The Nightstalkers were also the first Army aviators to be DLQ'd (Deck Landing Qualified), allowing them to operate from Navy ships (which they did in preparation for the cancelled invasion of Haiti). Task Force 160 served as a provisional unit until 1986, when they were reformed as the 160th Special Operations Aviation Group (Airborne). In June of 1990 they were re designated the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne).

Nightstalker members and aircraft have seen action all over the world in support of US forces. They were deployed in Operations URGENT FURY and JUST CAUSE as well as Operation DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM. In April of 1996 members of 3-160 (A) proved the skill and dedication that characterizes the members of the 160th. Within 12 hours of notification that they were to take place in Operation Assured Response (The evacuation of Americans in Liberia), the 160th had disassembled and readied for C-5B loading four MH-47D's. These aircraft were reassembled on-location and flew their first missions only 72 hours after they had first been notified. During the ten days they participated in the operation, these four helicopters worked in conjunction with 5 USAF MH-53J and transported more than 2,500 civilians to safety.

Although staffed by dedicated members and sporting the latest technology, the Nightstalkers have not been without loss. In 1993 two MH-60L Blackhawks were shot down over Mogadishu, Somalia, with the loss of three pilots and another becoming a bargaining chip. Two other blackhawks were heavily damaged that day but managed to crash land back at their base. A MH-47E Chinook crashed in April of 1996 after suffering electrical failure, with the loss of five 160th Members.

Night Stalker Creed
 

Service in the 160th is a calling only a few will answer for the mission is constantly demanding and hard. And when the impossible has been accomplished the only reward is another mission that no one else will try. As a member of the Night Stalkers I am a tested volunteer seeking only to safeguard the honor and prestige of my country, by serving the elite Special Operations Soldiers of the United States. I pledge to maintain my body, mind and equipment in a constant state of readiness for I am a member of the fastest deployable Task Force in the world – ready to move at a moments notice anytime, anywhere, arriving on target plus or minus 30 seconds.

I guard my unit’s mission with secrecy, for my only true ally is the night and the element of surprise. My manner is that of the Special Operations Quiet Professional, secrecy is a way of life. In battle, I eagerly meet the enemy for I volunteered to be up front where the fighting is hard. I fear no foe’s ability, nor underestimate his will to fight.

The mission and my precious cargo are my concern. I will never surrender. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.

Gallantly will I show the world and the elite forces I support that a Night Stalker is a specially selected and well trained soldier.

I serve with the memory and pride of those who have gone before me for they loved to fight, fought to win and would rather die than quit.

Night Stalkers Don’t Quit!

"The Lord knows the way I take, and when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold" JOB 23:10

Night Stalker Prayer

Father of the heavens and the night; Stretch forth Your almighty arms to strengthen and protect us. Even as You gave Saint Michael, Your angelic warrior, power to do spiritual battle in the heavens, so give us power to command the darkened skies.

Guide and direct us in the defense of our country and in the maintenance of justice among the nations. Give us the courage to face all obstacles that might keep us from our time on target. Send Your holy Angels to protect the precious cargo which we carry; the elite Special Operations forces of the United States. Sustain us in the hour of danger with the knowledge of Your mercy and return us safely home.

Watch over our families when we can not. May Your presence give them comfort, and Your love lend them the courage to face each day, confident in the knowledge that You will never leave them nor forsake them. Protect them with Your unfailing mercy and grace. Grant that wherever we serve, we may be loyal to our proud heritage. Make us to choose the harder right over the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when the whole can be won. May we ever embody the principles upon which the Night Stalkers are founded and serve proudly with the memory of those who have gone before. Give us the courage to fight to win and the faith to die rather than quit. Because,
Night Stalkers Don’t Quit!

Amen

Precious Cargo
Anonymous

We shall never view our mission lightly
Like those who have nothing to lose
Rather, we carry our brothers tightly
Precious cargo in those times we choose

Heaven will help not those who come between
Our home, our path, our goal
For fury shall be brought to bear;
Against oppression, death our toll

What becomes of you, my friend
Whence we release you from our eagle's grasp
Only a few shall ever know

But believe during those long hours
That Night Stalkers are near
And fear your enemy will know.

Part V - Air Force Spec Ops

[LaDivaLoca]

USO Canteen FReeper Style Military Support Links

Armed Forces Careers

Army	Navy	Air Force	Marines	Coast Guard

The Fisher House program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America's military in their time of need by providing homes close to a loved one during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury. There are currently 31 houses located on the grounds of every major military medical center and several VA medical centers. These houses will play a critical role in caring for casualties from Operation Iraqi Freedom. Donations will be used to help meet the cost of lodging for a family whose loved one was injured in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. There is a limit to the number of families who can stay in a Fisher House and program is committed to help provide lodging for families who must find commercial lodging, because the Fisher House is full.

Access the Wounded Heroes Guestbook to write a message of encouragement for a hero wounded in the line of duty.   Messages in the Wounded Heroes Guestbook are viewed by wounded soldiers, their loved ones, and the general public.

VetsCoR is pleased to present: a CD message of support from America to our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen deployed in the Middle East, and other places around the globe, in the ongoing war on terrorism.

If you have a family member deployed, and would like to send them a copy of the CD, please click here. (VetsCoR will mail a copy of the CD FREE to any APO/FPO or military address.) If you want a copy of the CD and you are not a member of the Armed Forces, you may order a copy for $5.00 each. Click the VetsCor Logo for more information.

Share your thoughts, good wishes and messages with American troops deployed around the globe. In turn, we hope those in service will be able to view them on this site, and perhaps respond themselves. ADD A SERVICEPERSON: Please help make this tribute more complete by creating a page for your own friends and family who are currently deployed around the globe.

Support the Military Relief Societies!
Please support the the Military Relief Societies that help families whose loved
ones were injured or killed in battle. Click any one of the following:

Click here for info on
USO Canteen FReeper Style Business Cards

[LaDivaLoca]

A good morning to my fellow Canteeners,
our Military, Veterans, Allies and your families



Have a wonderful day!

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Diva and all.

[LaDivaLoca]

God morning, aeronaut. Have a nice day and THANK YOU for your daily fly-over at the Canteen.

I'm going back to sleep - see ya tonight.

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Tuesday !

79 degrees as I post this, headin' for around 91 today.

Have a cup while you FReep !

For those who prefer hot chocolate.....

[Radix]

Good Morning LaDivaLoca. You have posted a great thread, as usual. I shall go back and read all of it now, LoL! I actually did read a lot already. It said, Tuesday, Canteen, some stuff about Delta, and a whole lot more. Gosh I hate these early morning posts.

I saw no mention of pancakes or burkas. I was puzzled by those items being omitted, until I realized that today was only Tuesday!

[tomkow6]

SALUTE!

 

 

[tomkow6]

Good morning, Diva! Good morning, Canteen Crew! Good morning, EVERYBODY!

GOOD

MORNING

TROOPS!!

[tomkow6]

Today's FEEBLE attempt at humor:

 

At the Greater Cincinnati Airport today, an individual,
later discovered to be a public school teacher, was
arrested trying to board a flight while in possession
of a compass, a protractor, and a graphical calculator.
Authorities believe he is a member of the notorious
al-Gebra movement.

He is being charged with carrying weapons of math instruction.

[tomkow6]

Current Conditions:
As reported at KORD, O'Hare Arpt..
Last update Tue 10 Jun 2003 4:55 AM CDT.

	Mostly Cloudy
62°F	Feels Like: N/A°F
UV Index:	0 Minimal
Wind:	From the S at 8 mph
Humidity:	72 %
Visibility:	unlimited
Barometer:	29.82 inches and Falling

Today's Forecast
Tue 10 Jun 2003 03:46 AM CDT

 

TUE

Scattered Strong Storms Low 54°F High 76°F

5 Day Forecast
Tue 10 Jun 2003 03:46 AM CDT

 

WED		Partly Cloudy Low 53°F High 71°F
THU		Isolated Thunderstorms Low 57°F High 74°F
FRI		Mostly Cloudy Low 58°F High 74°F
SAT		Partly Cloudy Low 58°F High 77°F
SUN		Partly Cloudy Low 57°F High 75°F

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Click on the pic and I'll guide you
to the start of today's thread



From the USO Website
"The USO mission is to provide morale, welfare and recreation-type services
to uniformed military Personnel."
USO CANTEEN FREEPER STYLE MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.
CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREAD.

The USO Canteen FReeper Style does not show any bias
towards any particular faith or political party.

This is the same as the real USO AND Free Republic itself.

From the front page of Free Republic.

"Free Republic is an online gathering place for independent,
grass-roots conservatism on the web."

To our military readers, we remain steadfast in keeping the Canteen doors open.
The Canteen is Free Republics longest running daily thread specifically designed
to provide entertainment and morale support for the military.
The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afganistain.
We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.

To every service man or woman reading this thread.
Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
no matter what your job description
Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.






Please Thank someone in the military for ensuring our Freedom.
Take a moment and Thank a Service Man or Woman.
Just Click on the graphic to SEND an e-mail.

[tomkow6]

Just a little reminder for everyone.......

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

[firewalk]

Thanks for the ping Diva
hope you have a nice day (-:

[tomkow6]

That's not nice to target Patriotic Pattie with the flag.....

[tomkow6]

For our Canteen WAFFLE Specialist, Radix
Catch 

Pancakes on Wednesdays

WAFFLES ON WEDNESDAY!

WAFFLES ON WEDNESDAY!

WAFFLES ON WEDNESDAY!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

From the men in the Military and the Canteen

[Valin]

On This Day In History


Birthdates which occurred on June 10:
1613 Johan Georg II, ruler of Saxon (1656-80)
1637 Jacques Marquette, jesuit/missionary
1706 John Dollond owner of 1st patent for achromatic lens
1735 John Morgan American physician-in-chief of Continental Army
1819 Gustave Courbet France, realist painter (Funeral at Ornans)
1836 Yamaoka Tesshu Japanese swordsman, master of kendo
1895 Immanuel Velikovsky writer (Worlds in Collision)
1904 Frederick Loewe composer/partner of Learner
1910 Howlin' Wolf [Chester Arthur Burnett], Blues legend (Evil, Do the do, Big City Blues)
1911 Ralph Kirkpatrick Leominster Mass, harpsichordist
1911 Terence Rattigan playwright (Winslow Boy, Browning Version)
1913 Thor Johnson Wisconsin Rapids Wisconsin, conductor (Cin Symph 1958)
1913 Wilbur J Cohen 1st employee of Social Security System
1914 Saul Bellow author (Mr Sammler's Planet)
1915 Oscar Comras Bronx, drummer (namesake of Comras Mall in Bronx Park)
1921 Prince Philip Mountbatten Greece, Duke of Edinburgh, Mr Elizabeth II
1922 Judy Garland [Frances Gumm], Mich, actress/singer (Wizard of Oz)
1922 Rose Moffard AZ acting Governor
1923 Earl Hamner Jr Schuyler Va, TV narrator (The Waltons)
1923 Robert Maxwell [Jan Hoch], Czech, billionaire/CEO (NY Daily News)
1925 Nat Hentoff columnist/novelist (Village Voice, The Cold Society)
1926 June Haver actress (Dolly Sisters, Girl Next Door)
1928 Maurice Sendak NYC, author/illustrator (Where The Wild Things Are)
1929 James McDivitt Chicago, Brig Gen USAF/astronaut (Gemini 4, Apollo 9)
1932 Gardner McKay NYC, actor (Pleasure Seekers, Boots & Saddles)
1933 F Lee Bailey Waltham Mass, attorney (Sam Shepard case)
1937 Richard Foreman NYC, theatrical director (Daily Life)
1939 Alexandria Stewart Montr‚al, actress (In Praise of Older Women)
1941 Shirley Alston Passaic NJ, singer (Shirelles-Soldier Boy)
1943 Jeff Greenfield NYC, media commentator (Firing Line, Nightline)
1945 Ron Glass Evansville Ind, actor (Ron-Barney Miller, New Odd Couple)
1946 Matthew Fisher England, keyboardist (Procal Harum-Conquistador)
1951 Dan Fouts NFL QB (San Diego Chargers)
1955 Andrew Stevens Memphis Tn, actor (Seduction, Boys in Company C, Fury)
1959 Timothy Van Patten Bkln NY, actor (White Shadow, Master)
1961 Maxi Priest rocker (Wide World)
1962 Duane Sutter NHL player (NY Islander)
1966 Doug McKeon NJ, actor (Big Shamus Little Shamus, Centennial)
1967 Human Beatbox (Darren Robinson) rocker (Fat Boys-Jail House Rock)
1973 David Friedman LA Calif, actor (Jason-Little House on the Prairie)
1991 James Cleveland McFadden-Talbot son of Gates McFaden (Star Trek NG)

---

Deaths which occurred on June 10:
1190 Frederik I van Hohenstaufen "Barbarossa", German King, dies
1580 Lu¡s Vaz de Camoes Portugal's national poet, dies
1839 Nathaniel Pryor sgt of Lewis & Clark Expedition, dies
1903 King Alexander I & Queen Dragia of Serbia are assassinated
1924 Giacomo Matteotti Italian socialist deputy, assassinated by fascists
1941 Marcus Garvey dies at 52 in London England
1946 Jack Johnson 1st black heavyweight champion, dies in car accident
1971 Michael Rennie actor (Day the Earth Stood Still), dies at 61
1981 Russell "Lucky" Hayden actor (Judge Roy Bean), dies at 68
1982 Rainer Werner Fassbinder film-maker, dies of drug overdose at 36
1985 Bob Prince sportscaster (Monday Night Baseball), dies at 68
1985 George Chandler actor (Lassie), dies of Alzheimer's disease at 87
1988 Louis L'Amour western writer, dies at 80 of cancer

---

Reported: MISSING in ACTION

1965 COMPA JOSEPH J. JR. EAST LIVERPOOL OH.
[LAST SEEN ON GROUND]
1965 CURLEE ROBERT L. JR. MONROE NC.
[ON GROUND-UNDER FIRE]
1965 DOUGHTIE CARL LOUIS TARBORO NC.
[ID 15 DEC 98, REMAINS BURIED 02/25/99 ARLINGTON]
1965 HAGEN CRAIG L. SACRAMENTO CA.
[LAST SEEN ON GROUND-UNDER FIRE]
1965 HALL WALTER L. OLD TOWN ME.
[LAST SEEN ON GROUND-UNDER FIRE]
1965 JOHNSON BRUCE G. HARBOR BEACH MI.
[LAST SEEN UNDER FIRE]
1965 OWENS FRED M. PICHER OK.
1965 SAEGAERT DONALD R. BERLIN CT.
[LAST SEEN ON GROUND-UNDER FIRE]
1967 EVERSON DAVID AITKIN MN.
[03/04/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE AND WELL 98]
1967 HALL THOMAS R. CARROLLTON VA.
[03/04/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE IN 98]
1967 PLATT ROBERT L. JR. CHARLESTON SC.
1967 SHERMAN PETER WOODBURY BAY VILLAGE OH.
[REMAINS RETURNED 01/16/91]
1970 PIERCE WALTER M. PHILADELPHIA PA.


POW / MIA Data & Bios supplied by
the P.O.W. NETWORK. Skidmore, MO. USA.

---

On this day...
1610 1st Dutch settlers arrive (from NJ), to colonize Manhattan Island
1639 1st American log cabin at Fort Christina (Wilmington Delaware)
1682 Tornado in Connecticut uproots a 3' diameter oak tree
1720 Mrs Clements of England markets 1st paste-style mustard
1752 Ben Franklin's kite is struck by lightning-what a shock!
1760 NY passes 1st effective law regulating practice of medicine
1772 Burning of the Gasp‚e, British revenue cutter, by Rhode Islanders
1776 Continental Congress appoints a committee to write a Decl of Ind
1801 Tripoli declares war on US for refusing tribute
1809 1st US steamboat to a make an ocean voyage leaves NY for Phila
1846 Robert Thomson obtains an English patent on a rubber tire
1847 Chicago Tribune begins publishing
1848 1st telegraph link between NYC & Chicago
1854 Georg F.B. Reiman proposes that space is curved
1863 Battle of Brice's Crossroads, Miss; Forrest w/3500 defeats 8000 Feds
1865 Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" 1st performance Mnchen Germany
1868 2nd Belmont Stakes, General Duke wins
1869 Agnes arrives in New Orleans with 1st ever shipment of frozen beef
1880 Charlie Jones becomes 1st to hit 2 HRs in 1 inning
1892 Wilbert Robinson of Balt Orioles sets record of 7 for 7 in 9 inn game
1898 US Marines land in Cuba, during Spanish-American War
1899 Improved Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks forms in Cincinnati
1902 Patent for window envelope granted to H.F. Callahan
1905 1st forest fire lookout tower placed in operation, Greenville, Me
1908 1st flying club, Aeronautical Society of NY, opens
1916 Great Arab Revolt begin
1921 Babe Ruth becomes all time HR champ with #120 (Gavvy Cravath)
1924 1st political convention broadcast on radio-Republicans at Cleveland
1926 Phillies Russ Wrightstone hits for the cycle
1932 1st demonstration of artificial lightning Pittsfield Mass
1934 Italy beats Czechoslovakia 2-1 (OT) in soccer's 2nd World Cup at Rome
1935 Dr Robert Smith & William Wilson of Akron form Alcoholics Anonymous
1940 Italy declares war on France & Britain during WW II
1942 Massacre at Lidice (Czechoslovakia) Gestapo kills 173
1943 FDR becomes 1st US pres to visit a foreign country during wartime
1943 FDR signs withholding tax bill into law (this is W-2 Day!)
1944 Joe Nuxhall at 15 becomes youngest ML baseball player
1946 Italian Republic established
1952 Chic White Sox Sam Mele is 6th to get 6 RBIs in an inning (4th)
1954 PBS reaches SF: KQED (Channel 9) starts broadcasting
1955 1st separation of virus into component parts reported
1956 16th modern Olympiad equestrian events open in Stockholm
1957 Harold MacMillan becomes British PM
1957 John Diefenbacker (C) elected PM of Canada
1959 Rocky Colovito hits 4 HRs in 1 game
1962 A record 54 home runs hit in baseball
1962 Igor Ter-Ovanesyan of USSR, sets then long jump record at 27' 3¬"
1964 Southern filibuster on civil rights bill ends; cloture invoked
1965 A R Klemola discovers asteroid #2370 van Altena
1966 Beatles "Paperback Writer" is released in the UK
1966 Beatles record "Rain", 1st to use reverse tapes
1966 Cleve Indian Sonny Siebert no-hits Wash Senator, 2-0
1966 Janis Joplins 1st live concert (Avalon Ballroom in SF)
1967 15,000 attend Fantasy Faire & Magic Mountain Music Festival, Calif
1967 Israel, Syria, Jordan, Iraq & Egypt end "6-Day War" with UN help
1971 11 die in a train crash in Salem Ill
1972 Hank Aaron's grandslammer (14) ties him for NL lead with Gil Hodges & moves him aheard of Willie Mays as the #2 HR hitter (649)
1973 NASA launches Radio Astronomy Explorer 49 into lunar orbit
1975 Rockefeller panel reports on 300,000 illegal CIA files on Americans
1976 67,000 fans attends Wings concert at Seattle's Kingdome
1977 Apple Computer ships its 1st Apple II
1977 James Earl Ray (Martin Luther King's killer) escapes from prison
1978 Yankees trade Ken Holzman for Ron Davis
1979 Balt Orioles pull their 8th triple play (5-4-3 vs Cleve)
1979 Pope John Paul II visits Poland
1981 IRA's Joseph Doherty escapes from Crumlin Road Jail
1981 Pete Rose ties Stan Musial's NL record of 3,630 hits
1981 Sebastian Coe of Englands sets the 800m record (1:41.73) in Florence
1981 Seven Brothers Square in Bronx named honoring 7 Santini Bro Moving Co
1982 Israeli troops reach outskirts of Beirut
1984 Boston beats Los Angeles, for the NBA championship
1984 Ivan Lendl wins the French Open, his 1st grand slam title
1984 US missile shot down an incoming missile in space for 1st time
1984 Zhu Jian Hua of China high jumps a record 7'10" (2.39m)
1985 Claus von Bulow acquitted on charges he tried to murder his wife
1985 Coca Cola announces they'd bring back their 99-year-old formula
1986 A Bartlett Giamatti becomes president of baseball's NL
1987 Discovery's SRBs and External Tank are mated
1988 Greatest number of participants (31,678) on a bicycle tour (London)
1989 Major French Open upset, as Spain's Arantxa Sanchez, 17 beats heavily favored Steffi Graf, also 1st Spaniard to win a grand slam title
1990 Andres Gomez beats Andre Agassi for French Open title
1990 Burger King begins using Newman's Own Salad Dressing
1990 Detroit Pistons beat Trail Blazers for 1st time since 1974 in Portland
1990 Rap group 2 Live crew members arrested in Fla for obscenity
1991 Mother of All Parades-NYC welcomes desert storm troops

---

Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"

Argentina : Affirmation of Argentina's Rights over the Malvinas
Azores : Camoes Day (1580)
Cape Verde, Maderia : National Day (1580)
Portugal : Day of Portugal (1580)
Massachusett : Children's Day - - - - - ( Sunday )
Shelby, Mich : National Asparagus Festival - - - - - ( Thursday )
Great Britain : Queen's official birthday (National Day) - - - - - ( Saturday )

---

Religious Observances
RC-Vatican City : Sacred Heart Day (moveable feast)
Ang : Commemoration of Ephrem of Edessa, Syria, deacon
old RC : Commemoration of St Margaret, Queen of Scotland, widow

---

Religious History
1692 Bridget Bishop became the first person hanged for witchcraft, during the ordeal known to history as the 'Salem Witch Trials.' In all, 20 people died before theological jurisprudence was restored in this isolated Puritan community in Massachusetts.
1850 The American Bible Union was founded, organized by church leaders who had broken from the American and Foreign Bible Society.
1854 Eventually to become the first African- American Roman Catholic bishop, James Augustine Healy, 24, was ordained a priest in Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris.
1925 The United Church of Canada was formed, uniting both the Methodist and Presbyterian denominations of Canada. The merger also took in 3,000 independent Canadian Congregational churches.
1983 The Presbyterian Church (USA) was formed in Atlanta, through a reunification of the United Presbyterian Church (UPCUSA) and the Southern Presbyterian Church (PCUS).

Source: William D. Blake. ALMANAC OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1987.

---

Thought for the day :
"If you want the last word with a woman, apologize."