The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Operation Torch - Casablanca (Nov-1942) - Apr. 27th, 2003

http://history.acusd.edu/gen/WW2Timeline/torch3.html ^ | April 21, 2001 | Jerod Jones

[SAMWolf]

Dear Lord,

There's a young man far from home,
called to serve his nation in time of war;
sent to defend our freedom
on some distant foreign shore.

We pray You keep him safe,
we pray You keep him strong,
we pray You send him safely home ...
for he's been away so long.

There's a young woman far from home,
serving her nation with pride.
Her step is strong, her step is sure,
there is courage in every stride.
We pray You keep her safe,
we pray You keep her strong,
we pray You send her safely home ...
for she's been away too long.

Bless those who await their safe return.
Bless those who mourn the lost.
Bless those who serve this country well,
no matter what the cost.

Author Unknown

.

FReepers from the The Foxhole
join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time.

.

.................................................................................................................................

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Operation Torch:
Allied Landings at Casablanca

"The job I am going on is about as desperate a venture as has ever been undertaken by any force in the world's history." - General S. Patton, Jr.

The job that General Patton was talking about was Operation Torch, which was the Allied invasion of North Africa that began in the early hours of November 8, 1942. Plans of the operation began in the spring and summer of 1942 between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

U.S. Navy task force carrying General Patton s Western Task Force approaches the coast of French Morocco.

The two leaders, however, disagreed on where the operation would commence. Roosevelt, along with General Eisenhower, wanted to open a "second front" to help relieve the Russians who were bitterly defending their homeland against the invading Germans on the Eastern front. Roosevelt wanted a cross-channel invasion of northwest France and strike quickly so as to avoid a long drawn out war with Germany. Churchill, on the contrary, was opposed to a cross-channel invasion because he felt the Germans were too heavily fortified to make a cross-channel invasion successful. Churchill proposed that the Allies take a less direct attack and invade North Africa instead. This, Churchill thought, would put pressure on Rommel and if successful in pushing him out, North Africa would provide a solid base for the Allies to invade southern Europe, possibly southern France or Italy.

The two leaders had many arguments over the final plans of the operation, but finally, on July 22, 1942, Roosevelt caved in and Churchill got what he wanted, an invasion of North Africa. As the historian, William Breuer points out in his book, Operation Torch: The Allied Gamble to Invade North Africa, "After four days of intense talks, the British carried the ramparts; on July 22, the Americans ran up the flag of surrender. French Northwest Africa, not northwest France, would be the locale of the Allied blow to relieve the pressure on the Russian army. The Mediterranean operation would be code named Torch... Torch was the brainchild of Winston Churchill and Alan Brooke, and they were delighted over acceptance of their strategic plan."

By the end of the summer, plans were finalized. Preparations of supplies, ships, carriers, ammunition, air power, and men had begun. It was decided that there would be three main landings. One was the city of Algiers, in which the Eastern Task Force would land and secure. The second was the port city of Oran, in which Center Task Force would take. Last, headed by General Patton, was the Western Task Force in which would land in Morocco and secure the city of Casablanca. Patton's Task Force was the only one that left from the United States. The other Task Force's left from England. Patton's would travel across the entire Atlantic in the midst of many lurking German U-boats and land near Casablanca.



The biggest problem facing the Allies, on the other hand, was the French in Northwest Africa. French Northwest Africa was still in colonial possession of the French and many were still loyal to the Vichy French government. It was a very real possibility that the French military in Northwest Africa would resist the Allied invasion. Robert Browning also points out in his article on operation Torch that a very large part of the success of the operation hinged on the French. In his article he stated, "The colonial possessions of France, however, remained free but still semi-loyal to France...their potential opposition to the Allied landing posed a grave threat to the success of the operation."

The Allies tried to get French four-star general Henri Giraud who was in North Africa to make the French military in North Africa to let the invasion commence without any resistance. This proved to be futile because when Giraud met Eisenhower at Torch's headquarters at Gibraltar on November 7, the French general refused to give the order to his military to cease all resistance unless he commanded the invasion. Of coarse Eisenhower was not receptive to that bargain and did not give in to the French general's wish. As H-hour was rapidly approaching, the Allies were still in the dark as to whether or not the French would resist.

For the most part the French in Algiers and Oran capitulated. They showed some pockets of resistance and inflicted some damage, but both cities were captured relatively easily. General Patton's Task Force however, faced stiff resistance by the French who were ordered by Henri Pétain, the puppet Vichy French leader in Southern France, to resist at all costs. Patton's force made three separate landings. One landing was codenamed Operation Blackstone commanded by General Ernest Harmon which would land near the port of Safi, one hundred forty miles southwest of Casablanca. The second landing, Operation Goalpost was commanded by Major General Lucian Truscott Jr., which had the mission of seizing the strategic port Lyautey, sixty miles northeast of Casablanca. The third landing, operation Brushwood in which Patton was commanding, would land at Fedala, a small port eighteen miles northeast of Casablanca.



Operation Blackstone did not start off smoothly. At 12:20 a.m., on November 8th, General Harmon sent a few scouts in a rubber boat to mark the Safi Harbor for the cargo carrier landing crafts to easily find the harbor. The French were already alerted to the attack and began firing on the scouts. Harmon ordered his men to press on in the midst of French machine gun fire. Harmon himself stayed back awaiting to hear the outcome of the landing. At daylight, Harmon had learned the troops had made it to shore. He then went to shore to find his troops taking cover on the beach from French snipers. Most of his troops had never seen combat before and were frightened. Harmon took control of the situation and flushed out the snipers. The resistance was not over, however. Harmon had learned that more than seventy trucks of French soldiers were on their way to help resist the invasion. Harmon had reached the aircraft carrier Santee by radio and within minutes, fighters from the Santee were flying overhead to knock out the French trucks. They were successful and the trucks and soldiers were destroyed. There was more resistance by the French on the beaches, but Harmon and his troops were able to overcome it and secure the port of Safi.

Operation Goalpost, as did Blackstone, did not start out well. General Truscott had the objective to not only seize the port of Lyautey, but also to secure the strategic airport located three miles north of Lyautey. General Truscott had also sent out scouts to look at the beaches for any enemy who might resist. His scouts had flashed him a grave signal. Truscott's worst fear had come true in the early hours of attack--the enemy somehow know about the invasion and were alerted to their coming. As Pierre Comtois points out in his article in World War II magazine, "Truscott wrestled with the knowledge that the most ambitious combined-arms operation in history had been discovered by the enemy in its climatic hour."



Truscott's original plan was to land four battalions at five different points along the shore at precisely 4:00 a.m. Once the troops were ashore, a special unit of seventy five men would detach and secure the airfield. But this plan would be delayed because once they had reached the beach, they were unsure of their precise wherabouts. To make matters worse, the rest of the troop convoys had not arrived at the meeting point, and ship-to-ship radios were not working. Gradually the convoys made it to the rendezvous point but not on time. As a result, Truscott had to delay H-hour by a half an hour. Meanwhile, President Roosevelt was unaware of the delay and at the precise time Truscott's troops were supposed to be hitting the beaches at Lyautey, the president issued a warning over the radio to the French to capitulate. This message fully alerted the French defenders of the impending invasion and they were completely ready for it.

On all five points, as the Americans were landing on the beaches, they were hit by artillery and machine gun fire by the French. It went from bad to worse. Many battalions, squads, and platoons missed their planned point of landing, communication was down, important convoys with ammuniction and supplies did not arrive on time and mass confusion occurred. Many of the troops were bogged down right away because of lack of experience. In fact, in the confusion, American antiaircraft guns shot down a British reconossaince plane. Truscott made it to shore and rallied the troops. They gradually secured the beaches but faced the daunting task of attacking the Casbah, a heavily fortified French concrete fortress a little ways inland from the beach. Truscott's troops had to quickly take cover because of French snipers in the fortress. Bogged down, tired, and unsure of success, General Truscott waited outside the fortress for reinforcemens. His reinforcements finally came with the help of Wildcat fighter-bombers that destroyed the Casbah's gates. Truscott's troops stormed the fortress and the remaining two hundred and fifty French soldiers inside surrendered. After the fall of the Casbah, special units were successful in capturing the strategic airfield as well. Port Lyautey had fallen in American hands and Operation Goalpost was successful.



Meanwhile, eighteen miles northeast of Casablanca, Operation Brushwwood, commanded by Major General Jonathan Anderson and overall commanded by General Patton, started off with severe problems as well. Anderson's battalion had lost communication during the landing and the armoured transports were late in coming. The troops quickly became bogged down and 'green' troops were frightened in their first combat situation. French mortar and artillery fire forced American troops to dig foxholes and take cover. After escaping a naval battle offshore, Patton make it to the beach by daybreak on November 8th. Patton was furious at the chaos and disorganization on the beachhead. He quickly took control and by mid afternoon he had established order. The landings were going smoothly, communications had been restored, and the beachhead at Fedala had been secured. As Martin Blumenson pointed out in his book Patton, "Patton's personal effort had 'a touch of magic.'"

By November 10, Patton had his units encircled around Casablanca and he had planned to attack the city at dawn. An hour before the assault was scheduled to take place however, French leaders in the city ordered a cease fire and surrendered. Patton entered Casablanca without opposition and the city was now in American hands. The Allies also secured Algiers as well as the port of Oran. Operation Torch proved to be an overwhelming success.


Troops and tank of the 7th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division, inland of Fedala

In conclusion, Operation Torch gave the Allies many advantages. With General Montgomery and the British to the east of Tunisia and now the U.S. to the west, Torch allowed the Allies to sandwich Rommel in Tunisia. This proved to be vital because the Allies eventually surrounded and defeated Rommel in the battle of Tunisia in the summer of 1943. This in turn gave the Allies a solid base in which they would use later to invade Sicily and Italy. Torch also marked, up that time, the largest amphibious operation in the history of warfare. More importantly, it marked the first big success of the war for the Allies, boosting morale and turning the tide of the war in favor of the Allied powers.

[SAMWolf]

Analysis

Operation TORCH gave the Allies substantial beachheads in North Africa at rather modest cost, considering the size of forces committed. One hundred twenty-five thousand soldiers, sailors, and airmen participated in the operation, 82,600 of them U.S. Army personnel. Ninety-six percent of the 1,469 casualties were American, with the Army losing 526 killed, 837 wounded, and 41 missing. Casualties varied considerably among the three task forces. Eastern Task Force lost the fewest Americans killed in action, 108, Western Task Force, with four times as many American troops, lost 142 killed; Center Task Force lost almost twice as many killed, 276. But without the British-sponsored RESERVIST disaster at Oran, the Center Task Force killed-in-action total would have been in the same range as that of the other task forces.

On the Moroccan and Algerian coasts the United States Army executed operations for which its history offered no preparation: large-scale amphibious landings under hostile fire. While those operations ended in victory, any evaluation of U.S. Army performance must allow for the generally inept resistance offered by French and colonial forces. Only isolated artillery batteries and infantry units proved formidable; a better-equipped and more determined opponent could have easily capitalized on the many Allied landing problems. Obviously, the U.S. Army and its Allies would have to overcome these problems before undertaking more ambitious amphibious operations.

Most of the Army's problems during TORCH occurred in the ship-to-shore phase of landings, when amphibious forces are most vulnerable. The whole idea of night landings had to be reexamined. While the transfer of troops and equipment from transports to landing boats could be accomplished with only moderate difficulty in darkness, the shuttling of boats between transports and beaches after their first trip ashore became a source of delays. Boats returning to transports had great difficulty avoiding subsequent boat waves and finding the right transport in the darkness.

A more serious problem concerned transport of vehicles to shore. Because vehicles required deeper-draft landing craft than troops, sandbars that light troop-carrying boats overrode became obstacles to heavier tank and truck lighters. Even on beaches without sandbars, lighters frequently bottomed some distance from the shoreline and had to discharge vehicles into several feet of water, disabling electrical systems. Problems such as these provoked a spiral of unloading delays and forced troops ashore into a tactical disadvantage during the crucial early hours of the landings. Reaching shore sooner than tanks and artillery, infantry units on D-day often found themselves attacking French coastal batteries and armored units with little more than rifles and hand grenades. Most other problems relating to navigation and handling of hazardous items such as gasoline could be corrected with training and experience. But one phenomenon affecting movement to shore remained beyond human reach: the weather.

Arriving at Fedala to negotiate at armistice, 1I November 1942. General Auguste Paul Nogues, left, is met by Col. Hobart R. Gay, representing General Patton.

Operational fires (large-caliber supporting fire) proved generally satisfactory to all landings. The assignment of an aircraft carrier to each landing site gave the task forces a great advantage: Allied aircraft could prevent reinforcement of enemy garrisons, but the French could not prevent Allied buildups ashore. Only at Safi and Algiers did lone sorties of French aircraft inflict damage, and both were quickly driven off.

Naval gunfire provided essential support in neutralizing coastal batteries. In coordinating with friendly troop movements ashore, however, problems arose. Most landings took place near urban areas, which placed troops in civil-military minefields. Since Allied leaders looked forward to eventual French cooperation against the Axis, gunnery officers aboard ships and field commanders ashore had to exercise great care to avoid civilian housing as well as port facilities and oil supplies they hoped to use. With surface units ten or more miles offshore, naval gunfire margins of error could not be ignored. Such considerations forced Army units to operate without some of the large-caliber support that could have shortened the duration—and reduced the casualty total—of some battles.

For advancing units ashore, a more immediate tactical problem with naval gunfire occasionally arose. In the Fedala area a conflict in calls for support almost caused the tragedy of American fire landing among American troops. As troops of the 7th Regimental Landing Group neared an objective they requested continuation of naval gunfire. At the same time, 30th Regimental Landing Group officers asked the ships to hold fire for the moment, since their troops were nearing the impact zone. Safety concerns dictated a halt of fire support missions but at the cost of delay in the advance ashore.

The Center and Eastern Task Force landings highlighted several operational differences between the two leading Western Allies. Most striking was the British preference for antisabotage thrusts directly into objective areas, a tactic Americans considered suicidal. The failure of Operations RESERVIST and TERMINAL confirmed fears of those American planners who were wary of some British operational concepts, a suspicion dating from World War I. On the American side, much work remained to be done before airborne operations could exercise decisive influence on the battlefield.

Despite the problems it exposed, Operation TORCH gave the U.S. Army a hopeful sign for the future: American troops would soon close the experience gap with their British comrades and enable the Allies to field well-coordinated forces of overwhelming power.

[SAMWolf]

In September of 1942 the German Army was at Stalingrad and Gen. Rommel was at the gates of Egypt with his touted Afrika Corp. The Allies desparately needed a second front to reverse the eastern assault of the Axis armies. Operation Torch was devised to be that second front.

The invasion plan called for three naval task forces to in invade Northern Africa. The USS Augusta under the command of Rear Admiral H.K. Hewitt1 and embarking Western Task Force, US Army General George S. Patton, Jr. commanding was selected to be the flagship for the Western Naval Task Force (WNTF) for Operation Torch.



The plan for the WNTF was to land a force of about 9,000 at Port Lyautry which was north of Casablanca to capture the airport. At the same time 18,000, supported by 80 tanks was to land at Fedala and march on Casablanca from the north. A third force of 6,000 with a hundred heavy tanks, having landed at Safi, was to advance on the city from the south.

"PLAY BALL"

With the initial element of surprise, at 0000 GMT on November 8,1942 the Augusta reached the shores off Casablanca and the Task Force commenced disembarking the invasion troops which were under the command of Gen. George S. Patton who at the time was directing the assault from the Augusta. The ship's war diary contains the following entry for that morning:

The landing of our boats was heavily opposed by both shore installations and French troops and at 0617 the order to "Play Ball" was received - this meant that we were to carry out our Attack Plan and destroy to the best of our ability all resistance encountered.

At 0700 in Casablanca Harbor five Vichy French submarines were preparing to stand out of the harbor to go on patrol. Merchantmen were beginning loading and unloading their cargos, and on board the cruisers and destroyers the crews were at work scrubbing decks.


Jean Bart

At 0730 the aircraft carrier USS Ranger launched her first strike of bombers with Wildcat escorts. Ten minutes later they were intercepted by French fighters, and in a dogfight 5 American and 7 French planes were shot down.

At 0804 as the Ranger's bombers were releasing their loads the battleship USS Massachusetts opened up with salvoes of her 16 inch guns on Casablanca's quays and ships. In the commercial harbor 10 cargo and passenger ships were sunk in 10 minutes, 40 crew killed and 60 wounded. Alongside the breakwater 3 Vichy submarines went down at their moorings their crews cut to pieces by flying stones.

El Hank and Oukacha returned fire along with Jean Bart one turret. Wreckage hurled aboard from the quayside landed down on the turret.

At 0900 the Vichy 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron under Rear-Admiral Gervais de Lafond raised sufficient steam to put to sea to head for Fedala. His flagshp, Primauguet, undergoing minor engine repair, de Lafond hoisted his flag in the superdestroyer Milan. He steamed northwards at full speed hoping that the smoke and rising sun would blind the American naval forces. At 0920 Wildcats from Ranger strafed her decks. Every man on bridge including LeFond was wounded. In the Vichy Boulonnais, was severly damaged. The commanding officer, Lt.-Comdr Martinant de Preneuf was killed on the Albatross. The Brestois anti-aircraft battery was put out of action.

Thereafter the Primauguet was off Fedala in the cross hairs of Augusta, Brooklyn to the north and Massachucetts, Tuscaloosa and Wichita from the northeast The first Vichy ship to sink was the Fougueux, which was struck by Massachusetts and Tuscaloosa. The Vichy Milan's bow shattered and forward turret wrecked and she beached.

The Boulonnais was sunk by 8 16" guns while carrying out a torpedo run, she turned turtle, and sunk with all hands.

Primauguet holed below her water line, with half of her engine room crew dead, dropped anchor near Milan.



Brestois and Frondeur got back to harbor but capsized during the night.

Vichy destroyer Alcyon left harbor for survivors but was attacked by bombers and navy guns when she cleared the Casablanca breakwater. The Albatross and Primauguet were hit again while trying to transfer 100 dead and 200 hundred wounded.

For the next three days the Augusta was engaged in protecting the transport ships and the invasion troops, and combating enemy naval and coastal resistance. On November 10, 1942 the Augusta helped turn back the French units sortieing from Casablanca who were attempting to disrupt the landings. The ship's scout observation planes played an active role in spotting the accuracy of the ship's gunfire against the enemy ships and coastal batteries. As depicted in the photo at right during this battle the Augusta (in the background) was straddled by shells from the Vichy French battleship, Jean Bart, which had been earlier mistakenly reported to Hewitt to have been out of commission. The Jean Bart was subsequently put out of action by return ship and carrier plane bombardment.

The invasion was successful and the ship and crew had the good fortune of being able to celebrate Thanksgiving Day 1942 with a special dinner with cuisine ala North Africa. A copy of the ship's program issued to the crew for that day is reproduced here. The message to the crew for that day summed up the feelings of all:

In its five engagements, one against a shore battery and four against enemy naval forces, the ship rendered a good account of itself and contributed in a large degree to the final defeat of the opposing forces and the establishing of a second front, in North Africa.

In the course of each engagement the ship was subjected to accurate and heavy fire by the opposing forces. And yet, although bracketed many times by the projectiles of the enemy, the ship miraculously escaped without damage to herself or injury to the crew. It should be apparent to all that consistent escape from harm was due not alone to skill, or to good luck, but unquestionably to the intervention of divine providence.

[SAMWolf]

The mission of Operation Torch was:

1. The establishment of firm and mutually supported footholds
   • between Oran and Tunisia on the Mediterranean, and
   • in French Morocco on the Atlantic, in order to secure bases for continued and intensified air, ground and sea operations.
2. Exploitation of the footholds in order to acquire complete control of French Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia and extend offensive operations against the rear of Axis forces eastward.
3. Destroy the Axis forces now opposing the British forces in the Western Desert and establish bases for the intensification of air and sea operations against the Axis in the European continent.

[SAMWolf]

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[SAMWolf]

[Jen]

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[E.G.C.]

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[Soaring Feather]

Good morning SAM.

[Valin]

On this Day In History


Birthdates which occurred on April 27:
1410 John Van Lannoy Flemish Governor of Holland/Zealand/West Frisia
1623 Johann Adam Reincken composer
1701 Charles Emanuel I King of Sardinia
1707 John Burman Dutch botanist/director botanical gardens
1724 Ferdinand Philipp Joseph Lobkowitz composer
1737 Edward Gibbon England, historian (Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire)
1759 Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin England, writer/feminist (Female Reader)
1767 Andreas Jakob Romberg German violinist/composer (Song of the Clock)
1791 Samuel Finley Breece Morse US painter/inventor (telegraph)
1802 Abraham Louis Niedermeyer composer
1803 Alfred Julius Becher composer
1812 Friedrich von Flotow composer
1820 Herbert Spencer Derby England, Victorian philosopher (Social Statics)
1822 [Hiram] Ulysses S[impson] Grant Point Pleasant OH, 18th US President (1869-77, Republican)
1824 William Richard Bexfield composer
1828 Gerben Colmjon Dutch Frisian linguist/publisher
1835 John Murray Corse Pittsburgh PA, Brevet Major General (Union volunteers)
1840 Edward Whymper 1st to climb Matterhorn (1865)
1861 Georgy L'vovich Catoire composer
1861 Johan M Skjoldborg Danish writer (Dynaes-Digte)
1865 Emile Erens Dutch Hagiographer (Pastor of Ars)
1869 William Victor Harris composer
1871 Arthur Finlay Nevin composer
1873 Harry M O'Connor Chicago IL, actor (Stranger than Fiction)
1875 André Baillon Belgian/French author (Un homme si simple)
1875 Freddie Fane cricketer (Hobbs' 1st Test opening partner)
1875 Lumsden Hare Ireland, actor (Oregon Trail, Desert Fox, Young Bess)
1883 Hubert Harrison St Croix Virgin Island, writer/freedom fighter
1884 Louis de Bree [Louis C Davids] actor (Bluejackets)
1891 Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev composer
1892 Louis Victor de Broglie physicist (studied electrons)
1893 Norman Bel Geddes Adrian MI, theatrical designer (Rivals, Dead End)
1894 Nicolas Slonimsky composer
1896 Rogers Hornsby Winters TX, 2nd baseman (St Louis Cardinals)
1896 Wallace Hume Carothers inventor (nylon)
19-- Ellen Regan Long Island NY, actress (Irma-Ted Knight Show, Me & Mrs C)
1900 Walter Lantz animator (Woody Woodpecker's creator)
1902 Kitty Kelly New York NY, actress (Ladies of the Jury, Behind Office Doors)
1903 Frank Belknap Long American writer (Rim of the Unknown)
1903 Hans Walter Kosterliz biochemist
1904 Arthur F Burns economist/chairman (Federal Reserve Board)
1904 Cecil Day-Lewis England, poet laureate/detective (Nicholas Blake)
1904 Ragnar Skrede Norwegian poet (Lauvfall)
1905 Julian Stryjkowski writer
1905 Philip Radcliffe composer
1906 Mark Alexander Abrams market researcher
1909 Muriel C Bradbrook English writer (That Infidel Place)
1911 Colin Gordon Ceylon, actor (John-The Baron)
1911 Georges Dargaud French publisher (Asterix, Tintin)
1912 Franz Weyergans Belgian literary (Les Gens Heureux)
1912 Frederick Rand Weissman philanthropist
1912 Renato Rascel actor (7 Hills of Rome, Secrets of Santa Vittoria)
1914 Albert Soboult French historian
1916 Jan Rychlik composer
1918 John Alfred Scali journalist/correspondant (ABC)
1918 Kirby Stone New York NY, jazz combo leader (Baubles Bangles & Beads)
1918 Willem N "Pim" Koot pianist of Concert building (Oh, Lady! Lady!)
1919 Walter Ritchie sculptor
1922 Jack Klugman Philadelphia PA, actor (Oscar-Odd Couple, Quincy, Goodbye Columbus)
1922 Daphne Anderson London, actress (Beggar's Opera, Hobson's Choice)
1927 Connie Kay jazz drummer
1927 Coretta Scott King Marion AL, civil rights leader
1927 John Joseph Moakley (Representative-Democrat-MA, 1973- )
1929 Nina Ponomareva Romaschkova USSR, discus thrower (Olympics-gold-1952, 60)
1930 Roelof F "Pik" Botha South African minister of Foreign affairs
1931 Robert Donner New York NY, actor (Yancy-The Waltons, Exidor-Mork & Mindy)
1931 Igor Oistrach Russian violinist/son of David Oistrach
1931 Krzystzof Komeda composer
1932 Anouk Aimee [Françoise Dreyfus] Paris France, actress (8½, La Dolce Vita)
1932 Casey Kasem Detroit MI, radio personality (American Top 40)
1932 Charles Adkins US, welterweight boxer (Olympics-gold-1952)
1932 Chuck Knox NFL coach (Rams, Bills, Seahawks)
1932 François Bayle composer
1932 Maxine Brown rocker (Browns)
1932 Petar Ozgijan composer
1936 Khalid Wazir cricketer (son of S Wazir Ali 2 Tests for Pakistan 1954)
1937 Phil Jones newsman (CBS)
1937 Sandy Dennis Hastings NE, actress (Honey-Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?)
1938 Earl Anthony bowler (PBA money champion 1974-6, 1981-3)
1939 Judy Carne Northhampton England, comedienne (Laugh-in, Fair Exchange)
1939 Jerry Mercer Montréal Québec Canada, rock drummer (April Wine)
1941 Judith Blegen Missoula MT, opera singer (Papagena-Magic Flute)
1941 Friedrich Goldmann composer
1941 Jan D Blaauw Dutch MP (VVD)
1942 Gordon Roddick English cosmetic manufacturer (Body Shop)
1942 Valeri Vladimirovich Polyakov Russian cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-6, TM-18)
1943 Helmut Marko auto racer (Le Mans Grand Prix)
1943 Eugene Polyakov dancer
1944 Michael Fish British TV weatherman
1944 Cuba Gooding US singer (Everybody Plays the Fool)
1944 Herb Pedersen Berkley CA, singer (Desert Rose Band-Love Reunited)
1945 August Wilson US, playwright (Fences, Pulitzer 1987)
1946 John Maclean cricketer (Australian wicket-keeper 1978-79)
1947 Ann Peebles St Louis MO, soul singer (I Can't Stand the Rain)
1947 Jim Ryun middle distance runner/world's outstanding athlete (1966)
1947 Pete Ham Swansea South Wales, rock guitarist/pianist/vocalist (Badfinger-Come & Get It)
1947 Herbie Murrell US singer (Stylistics-You are My Everything)
1947 Peter Gena composer
1948 Kate Pierson Weehawken NJ, vocals/guitarist (B-52's-Rock Lobster, Love Shack)
1949 Douglas Sheehan Santa Monica CA, actor (Ben-Knots Landing, Joe Kelly-General Hospital)
1949 Yoshiaki Fujiwara wrestler (NJPW/PWF/UWF)
1951 Ace Frehley Bronx NY, heavy metal rocker (Kiss-Beth, Frehley's Comet)
1951 Boris Kinberg rock percussionist (Mink Deville)
1953 Dr Ellen L Shulman Baker Fayetteville NC, MD/astronaut (STS 34, 50, 71)
1955 Cora Ann Mahalick New Jersey, news anchor (WNYW-TV)
1956 Dennie Shupryt-Knoop Chicago IL, beach volleyballer (Olympics-96)
1958 Keith Denunzio rocker
1959 Marco Pirroni London, rock guitarist (Adam & The Ants)
1959 Sheena [Shirley Orr] Easton Belshill Scotland, singer (Morning Train, For Your Eyes Only)
1962 Denise Baldwin Atlanta GA, LPGA golfer (1991 Futures Salisbury Classic)
1962 Grant Show Detroit MI, actor (Jake-Melrose Place, Rick-Ryan's Hope)
1962 Patricia Susan Plumer Levere Covina CA, 1.5k/3K/5k runner
1963 Schae Harrison [Deborah Schaeffer] Anaheim Hills CA, actress (Darla-The Bold & Beautiful)
1963 Arther van Dijk drummer (Ivy Green)
1964 Paul Osbaldiston CFL kicker (Hamilton Tiger Cats)
1965 Courtenay Becker-Dey Greenwich CT, Europe yachter (Olympics-bronze-1996)
1966 Peter McIntyre cricketer (Australian leg-spinner 1995)
1967 Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Dutch crown prince/son of Queen Beatrix of Netherlands/heir apparent
1967 Bridgette Gordon WNBA forward (Sacramento Monarchs, Olympics-gold-88)
1968 Adrian Cooper NFL tight end (Minnesota Vikings)
1969 Mica Paris rocker (So Good)
1969 Brett Steven Bermuda, New Zealand tennis player (Olympics-96)
1969 Francine "Frankie" McRae Australian softball outfielder (Olympics-bronze-96)
1969 Tyrone Rodgers CFL defensive linebacker (Winnipeg Blue Bombers)
1970 Mikiko Hagiwara WNBA guard (Sacramento Monarchs)
1970 Tim Hanshaw NFL guard (San Francisco 49ers)
1971 Hayley Barr [Sparks] Salzburg Austria, actress (Courtney-As the World Turns)
1971 Craig Keith NFL tight end (Jacksonville Jaguars)
1971 James Burton cornerback (Chicago Bears)
1971 Ricky Sutton WLAF defensive end (Barcelona Dragons)
1972 Alison McKnight Bakersfield CA, 100 meter hurdler/heptathlete
1972 David Lascher New York NY, actor (Josh-Clueless, Kidz in the Wood)
1972 Ethan Brooks NFL/WAFL tackle (Atlanta Falcons, Rhein Fire)
1972 Silvia Farina Milan Italy, tennis star (1995 Maria Lankowitz doubles)
1972 Tim Ruddy NFL center (Miami Dolphins)
1972 Tommy Thompson NFL punter (San Francisco 49ers)
1973 André Gower Culver City CA, actor (Monster Squad, Baby Makes 5, Fathers & Sons, Mr President)
1973 Sébastien Lareau Montréal Québec Canada, tennis player (Olympics-96)
1974 Carlos Fortes soccer player (Sparta)
1974 Pete Chryplewicz tight end (Detroit Lions)
1975 Kenny Harris safety (Arizona Cardinals)
1975 Michael Booker cornerback (Atlanta Falcons)
1992 James Duke Mason son of singer Belinda Carlisle & Morgan Mason

---

Deaths which occurred on April 27:
1076 Willem bishop of Utrecht (1054-76), murderer of earl Floris I, dies
1124 Alexander I king of Scotland (1107-24), dies
1404 Philip the Stout, Duke of Burgundy, dies at 62
1521 Ferdinand Magellan world traveler, killed by Filipino natives at 50
1605 Leo XI [Alessandro O de' Medici] Italian Pope (1605), dies at 69
1656 Gerard van Honthorst painter, dies at 65
1656 Jan J van Goyen Dutch landscape painter, dies at 60
1682 Theodorus III czar of Russia (1676-82), dies
1694 Johan Georg IV elector of Saxony (1691-94), dies at 25
1695 Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz [Asbaje] Mexican poetress/nun, dies at 44
1702 Jean Bart French captain/sea hero (Escape out of Plymouth), dies at 51
1758 Jan Francisci composer, dies at 66
1764 Jaime de Casellas composer, dies at 73
1794 William Jones British Orientalist/jurist, dies at 47
1806 Amalia Fürstin Gallitzin Prussian daughter of Golitsyn, dies at 57
1813 Zebulon M Pike US explorer (Pike's Peak), dies in battle at 34
1871 Sigismond Fortune François Thalberg composer, dies at 59
1872 Ion Heliade-Radulescu Romanian politician/author, dies at 70
1881 Ludwig A Benedek Austrian General, dies at 76
1882 Ralph Waldo Emerson US poet (Representive Men), dies
1893 John Murray Corse US General (Union), dies on his 58th birthday
1901 Richard Redhead composer, dies at 81
1902 Julius Sterling Morton who started Arbor Day, dies at 72
1915 Alexander N Skriabin Russian pianist/composer (Prometheus), dies at 43
1932 Harold "Heart" Crane US poet (Bridge), commits suicide by jumping from a steamer while sailing from México to New York at 32
1936 Frederik A Stoett linguist (Dutch Proverbs), dies at 72
1936 Karl Pearson mathematician, dies
1937 Antonio Gramsci Italian philosopher/marxist theorist, dies at 46
1938 Edmond Rubbens Belgian minister to Colonies, dies at 44
1950 Adam Tadeusz Wieniawski composer, dies at 70
1950 Karl Straube German organist/conductor, dies
1951 Philip Albert Myburgh Hands cricketer (7 Tests for South Africa), dies
1957 Mario A Gianini creator of the maraschino cherry, dies
1959 Gordon Armstrong inventor of baby incubator, dies
1961 Roy Del Ruth director (About Face, Folies Bergere), dies at 67
1964 Georg Britting writer, dies at 73
1965 Alan Bunce actor (Albert-Ethel & Albert), dies at 61
1965 Edward R Murrow newscaster (Person to Person), dies at 57
1969 Dino Terranova actor (Young Dillinger), dies at 65
1970 Arthur Shields actor (Your Show Time), dies at 73
1972 Kwame Nkrumah President of Ghana, dies at 62
1972 Phil King rock (Blue Oyster Cult), shot in head at 24 while gambling
1973 Jim Sims cricketer (England leg-spinner in 4 Tests 1935-37), dies
1973 Libbe de Wal founder of Humanistic Covenant, dies at 72
1975 Nicholas Soussanin actor (Last Command), dies at 86
1977 Stanley Adams actor (Lillies of the Field, Thunder Alley), dies at 61
1978 Mohammed Daud premier/President of Afghánistán, murdered
1982 Tom Tully actor (Line-up, Shane), dies at 85
1984 Piet Kraak Dutch soccer player, dies at 63
1991 Ken Curtis actor (Lost, Freckles, California Gold Rush), dies at 74
1991 Marcus Heeresma writer/poet (Anna, Son of a Whore), dies
1992 Olivier Messiaen French composer, dies at 83
1993 Hans Sahl German/US writer (Tie Exil im Exil), dies at 90
1994 Jerome Lejeune physiologist, dies at 69
1994 John Preston US writer (Gay House, Big Gay Book), dies at 48
1994 Lynne Frederick Unger actress (Trail of Pink Panther), dies at 39
1996 Joan Sterndale Bennett actress (Elizabeth-Dark Shadows), dies at 86
1996 William Egan Colby CIA Director, dies at 76
1997 Paul Lambert actor (Tom-Executive Suite), dies at 73

---

Reported: MISSING in ACTION

1967 BENTON JAMES AUSTIN DAISY TN.

1967 CASTRO REINALDO ANTONIO PACIFIC GROVE CA.

1967 DALLAS RICHARD H. MEMPHIS TN.

1967 DYER BLENN COLBY STANDISH ME.

1967 OSBORNE SAMUEL WILLIAM JR CHARLESTON SC.

1967 PENNINGTON RONALD KEITH HAMBLETON WV.

1969 DIEHL BERNHARD GERMANY
RELEASED 1973 ALIVE AND WELL 98

1969 SCHWINN MONICA GERMANY
RELEASED 1973 ALIVE AND WELL 98

1970 HILL JOHN R. WAYNESBORO PA.

1971 KRUPA FREDERICK SCRANTON PA.

1972 MOLINARE ALBERT R. SAN DIEGO CA.
03/28/73 RELEASED BY DRV ALIVE AND WELL 98

1972 SOUDER JAMES B. ELIZABETHTOWN TN.
03/28/73 RELEASED BY DRV ALIVE AND WELL 98


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

---

On this day...
4977 -BC- Johannes Kepler's date for creation of universe
1509 Pope Julius II excommunicates Italian state of Venice
1518 Treaty of St Truiden anti-French Trapdoors/Bourgondisch covenant
1522 Battle at Bicacca Charles I & Pope Adrianus VI beat France
1526 Mogol King Babur beats sultan of Delhi
1565 1st Spanish settlement in Philippines, Cebu City, forms
1576 Peace of Beaulieu & Paix de Monsieur
1643 Tirso de Molina's "Bellaco Sois, Gomez", premieres in Madrid
1646 King Charles I flees Oxford
1650 Scottish General Montrose defeated
1662 Netherlands & France sign military covenant
1694 Frederik August I "the Strong" becomes monarch of Saksen
1746 Battle at Culloden Moor Duke of Cumberland beats "James VIII & III"
1773 British Parliament passes the Tea Act (eventually leads to Boston Tea Party on December 16)
1805 US Marines attack shores of Tripoli
1813 Americans under General Pike capture Toronto; Pike is killed
1828 Zoological Gardens at Regent's Park London, opens
1838 Fire destroys half of Charleston
1841 Imakita Kosen, 1st Zen teacher of D T Suzuki, found the awakening
1857 Establishment of Jewish congregations in Lower Austria prohibited
1859 "Pomona" sinks in North Atlantic drowning all 400 aboard
1860 Thomas J Jackson is assigned to command Harpers Ferry
1861 President Abraham Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus
1861 West Virginia secedes from Virginia after Virginia secedes from US
1863 Battle of Streight's raid Tuscumbia to Cedar Bluff AL
1865 1450 of 2000 paroled Union POWs on their way home are killed when river steamer "Sultana" explodes on the Mississippi River
1865 Cornell University (Ithaca NY) is chartered
1867 The opera "Roméo et Juliette" is produced (Paris France)
1870 Heinrich Schliemann discovers Troi
1874 White League, Paramilitary white supremacist organization, forms
1877 The opera "Le Roi de Lahore" is produced (Paris France)
1877 President Rutherford Hayes removes Federal troops from Louisiana, Reconstruction ends
1881 Pogroms against Russian Jews start in Elisabethgrad
1890 French troops under Captain Archinard occupy Oussébougou West Sudan
1897 Grant's Tomb (famed of song & legend) dedicated
1903 1st Highlander (Yankee) shut-out, Philadelphia A's win 6-0
1903 Long Island's Jamaica Race Track opens
1905 World Exposition opens in Luik
1908 4th modern Olympic games open in London
1909 Sultan of Turkey Abdul Hamid II is overthrown
1910 Belgian parliament rejects socialist motion for general voting rights
1912 Relief laws replaces those of 1854, in Netherlands
1918 Brooklyn Dodgers get 1st victory after worst major league start (0-9)
1920 Pogrom leader Petljoera declares Ukraine Independence
1921 Hadjememaar, [Corn de Gelder] elected in Amsterdam
1922 Yakut ASSR formed in Russian SFSR
1922 Fritz Langs "Dr Mabuse, der Spieler" premieres in Berlin
1923 Mussolini government italian place in South Tirol/Alto Adige
1924 Antwerp soccer tie Belgium-Netherlands 1-1
1926 In the Giants' 9-8 win over Phillies, Mel Ott, 17, 1st appearance
1931 100º F (38º C), Pahala HI (state record)
1933 Karl Jansky reports reception of cosmic radio signal in Washington DC
1935 Yankees pull a 1st inning triple-play & beat Philadelphia A's 9-8
1935 Brussel's World Expo opens
1937 US Social Security system makes its 1st benefit payment
1940 Himmler orders establishment of Auschwitz Concentration Camp
1941 German troops occupy Athens Greece
1942 Tornado destroys Pryor Oklahoma killing 100, injuring 300
1942 Belgium Jews are forced to wear stars
1943 Lou Jansen & Jan Dieters arrested, lead illegal CPN party in Holland
1943 Soviet Union breaks contact with Polish government exiled in London
1944 Boston Brave Jim Tobin no-hits Brooklyn Dodgers, 2-0
1945 2nd Republic of Austria forms
1945 Italian partisans capture Mussolini prisoner
1945 US 5th army enters Genua
1946 1st radar installation aboard a commercial ship installed
1947 Babe Ruth Day celebrated at Yankee Stadium & through the US
1948 Arab legion attacks Gesher bridge on Jordan River
1950 South Africa passes Group Areas Act segregating races
1950 "Tickets, Please" opens at Coronet Theater NYC for 245 performances
1951 Mohammed Mossadeq chosen premier of Persia
1952 "4 Saints in 3 Acts" closes at Broadway Theater NYC after 15 performances
1953 Wrestler Freddie Blassie coins the term "Pencil neck geek"
1953 1st general elections in British Guyana, won by Jagans PPP
1956 Heavyweight champion, Rocky Marciano, retires undefeated from boxing
1956 Burma Premier U Nu's Volksliga voor Vrijheid loses election
1959 "Today" show goes abroad for the 1st time (Paris France)
1959 Liu Sjau-chi elected President of People's Rebublic of China
1960 1st atomic powered electric-drive submarine launched (Tullibee)
1960 France grants Togo independence (National Day)
1960 South Korean President Syngman Rhee resigns
1961 NASA launches Explorer 11 into Earth orbit to study gamma rays
1961 NFL officially recognizes Hall of Fame in Canton OH
1961 Sierra Leone declares independence from UK
1962 Arnold Wesker's "Chips with Everything", premieres in London
1962 US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island
1963 "Jopie" Pengel forms government in Suriname
1963 Cuban premier Fidel Castro arrives in Moscow
1964 John Lennon's "In His Own Write" is published in the US
1965 RC Duncan patents "Pampers" disposable diaper
1965 "I'm Solomon" closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 7 performances
1966 Dmitri Shostakovitch completes his 2nd cello concert
1967 Expo '67 opens in Montréal
1967 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1968 Baltimore Oriole Tom Phoebus no-hits Boston, 6-0
1968 Jimmy Ellis beats Jerry Quarry for heavyweight boxing title
1968 "Education of Hyman Kaplan" closes at Alvin NYC after 28 performances
1968 Congress of Political Party Radicals (PPR) forms in Netherlands
1969 Carol Mann wins LPGA Raleigh Ladies Golf Invitational
1971 Curt Flood resigns Senators after 13 games & departs for Denmark
1972 Apollo 16 returns to Earth
1972 NYC Mayor John Lindsay appeals that John Lennon not be deported
1973 Kansas City Royal Steve Busby no-hits Detroit Tigers, 3-0
1974 Pan Am 707 crashes into mountains of Bali, killing 107
1975 Sandra Haynie wins LPGA Charity Golf Classic
1975 USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakhstan/Semipalitinsk USSR
1976 "So Long 174th St" opens at Harkness Theater NYC for 16 performances
1976 Arabic Monetary Fund established in Abu Dhabi
1977 Bloody riots in Soweto South Africa
1977 HCC, Hobby Computer Club, forms in Netherlands
1978 14th Mayor's Trophy Game, New York Yankees beat New York Mets 4-3 in 11
1978 Accident at nuclear reactor Willow Island, Charleston WV, kills 51
1978 Afghánistán revolution (National Day), pro-Russian military coup
1979 George Harrison releases "Love Comes to Everyone"
1980 Barbara Barrow wins LPGA Birmingham Golf Classic
1981 1st female soccer official is hired by the NASL
1981 Beatle Ringo Starr marries actress Barbara Bach [Goldbach]
1982 Québec Nordiques 1-New York Islanders 4-Semifinals-Islanders hold 1-0 lead
1982 Trial of John W Hinckley Jr, attempted assassin of President Ronald Reagan, begins
1983 Nolan Ryan becomes strikeout king (3509), passing Walter Johnson
1984 Cleveland Indians beat Detroit Tigers, 8-4, in 19 innings
1984 Over 70 inches of snow falls on Red Lake MT
1986 Captain Midnight (John R MacDougall) interrupts HBO
1986 "Sweet Charity" opens at Minskoff Theater NYC for 368 performances
1986 Pat Bradley wins LPGA S&H Golf Classic
1987 US Justice Department bars Austrian Chancellor Kurt Waldheim from entering US, due to his aid of Nazi Germany during WWII
1989 Beijing students take over Tiananmen Square in China
1989 Mandatory seatbelt law goes into effect in Italy
1989 "Starmites" opens at Criter Center Theater NYC for 60 performances
1989 Hurricane in Bangladesh, kills 500
1990 50th annual barbershop quartet singing convention held (Michigan)
1990 Los Angeles Dodger Orel Hershiser undergoes career-threatening shoulder surgery
1990 Villanova's women set a 6,000 meter relay world record of 17:18:10
1991 "Lucifer's Child" closes at Music Box Theater NYC after 28 performances
1991 Firestone World Bowling Tournament of Champions won by David Ozio
1992 "Small Family Business" opens at Music Box Theater NYC for 48 performances
1992 New York Jets finish perfect 5-0 pre-season for 1st time
1992 New York Mets trade David Cone to Toronto Blue Jays for Jeff Kent
1993 Afghan Antonov AN-32 crashes at Tashqurgan, kills 76
1994 "Inspector Calls" opens at Royale Theater NYC for 454 performances
1994 29.0ºC in Genevad Sweden (Swedish April high temperature record)
1994 7th longest NHL game New Jersey Devils beat Buffalo Sabres (125 minutes 43 seconds)
1994 Graeme Obree bicycles world record time (52,713 km)
1994 Minnesota Twins righty Scott Erickson no-hits Brewers 6-0
1994 President Richard Nixon buried in Nixon Library in California
1995 "Indiscretions" opens at Ethel Barrymore Theater NYC for 221 performances
1995 Coors Field in Colorado opens - Denver Rockies beats Mets 11-9 in 14
1996 Brunswick World Tournament of Champions won by Dave D'Entremont
1997 "Little Foxes" opens at Vivian Beaumont NYC for 56 performances
1997 "Stanley" closes at Circle in Square Theater NYC
1997 Frank Nobilo wins Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic at Forest Oaks
1997 Las Vegas Senior Golf Classic by TruGreen-ChemLawn
1997 Nancy Lopez wins LPGA Chick-fil-A Charity Championship

---

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

Austria : 2nd Republic Day (1945)
Sierra Leone-1961, Togo-1960 : Independence Day
Alabama, Florida, Mississippi : Confederate Memorial Day (1868) - - - - - ( Monday )
US-Utah : Arbor Day-plant a tree (1872) - - - - - ( Friday )

---

Religious Observances
Christian : National Christian College Day
Roman Catholic : Commemoration of St Peter Canisius, confessor/doctor/apostle of Germany
Roman Catholic : Commemoration of St Turibius of Mogrovejo, bishop/confessor
Orthodox : Orthodox Easter (4/14 OS)

---

Religious History
1537 Geneva's first Protestant catechism was published. Based on Calvin's "Institutes," it was compiled by John Calvin, 27, and/or by fellow French reformer, Guillaume Farel, 48.
1667 English poet John Milton, 58, sold the copyright to his religious epic "Paradise Lost" for ten English pounds (less than $30).
1775 Death of Moravian missionary Peter Bohler, 63. Commissioned by Count Zinzendorf in 1737, Bohler encountered the as-yet-unsaved John Wesley, no doubt imprinting within him the later Methodist characteristics of crisis conversion, joyful assurance of God's acceptance and a Christian lifestyle of self- surrendering faith.
1832 The American Baptist Home Mission Society was formed in New York City. During its first 15 years, $1.66 million in contributions were raised, 14,426 churches were organized and 1,116 missionaries were sent out.
1950 The modern state of Israel was officially recognized by the British government.

---

Thought for the day :
" No man can serve two masters, yes-men can serve hundreds. "

[bvw]

You and your FR crew do an amazing job on these threads! I read most of them. This one seems timely. As the quote says, "the generally inept resistance offered by French"!

I had dinner with a First Army vet a while ago, he trained under Patton. Patton had the soldiers train in heat with low water rations. To this day the vet does not drink water -- only wine!

[Sam Cree]

I guess it was a good thing we went through this before trying it at Normandy. There was alot we had to learn, seemingly, not the least of which was the necessity of giving all out attention to every detail imaginable.

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Jen, Feather

[SAMWolf]

" No man can serve two masters, yes-men can serve hundreds. "

LOL!

[SAMWolf]

Thanks BVW. We're glad you enjoy the threads.

A little wine every so often is ok, I can't imagine drinking it everyday. Now Coffee I couldn't live without.

[SAMWolf]

North Africa provided a useful training ground for U.S. forces, allowed us to get rid of some inept commanders and introduced Patton to the American public.

[SAMWolf]

Our Military Today
Fort Bragg's Coach Moms

Mundy Garcia, right, whose husband is deployed to Iraq, leads her soccer team around the Hedrick Stadium track at Fort Bragg, N.C., Saturday, April 12, 2003, during the opening ceremonies for Bragg's spring sports program. Garcia is coaching for the first time to fill a void because so many Bragg troops are deployed.(AP Photo/Bob Jordan)


Julian Cochran, 5, front left, whose dad is an Army major, battles for the ball Saturday, April 12, 2003, at Fort Bragg, N.C., during the opening day for Bragg's spring sports program. More women are coaching teams this spring because of the high number of troops deployed from the base. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan)


Chris Wiseman shades his eyes from the sun at Hedrick Stadium, Saturday, April 12, 2003, at Fort Bragg, (AP Photo/Bob Jordan)


Young soccer players battle for the ball, Saturday, April 12, 2003, at Fort Bragg, N.C., during the opening day for Bragg's spring sports program.


Mundy Garacia tucks in the shirt of one of her soccer team players Saturday, April 12, 2003, at Fort Bragg, N.C., before the start of their game that helped open Bragg's spring sports programs. Garcia is coaching for the first time to fill a void because so many Bragg troops are deployed, including her husband whose serving in Iraq


Army Capt. Lisa Gerard, left, high-fives goalie Robbie MacGregor, right, Saturday, April 12, 2003, at Fort Bragg, N.C., during the opening day for Bragg's spring sports programs. Gerard is coaching for the first time to fill a void because so many Bragg troops are deployed. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan)

[SAMWolf]

Our Military Today
USS LINCOLN Battlegroup
Heading Home

Crewmen line the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier as it pulls into Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Saturday, April 26, 2003, after a deployment of nearly 10 months. The Lincoln has a crew of approximately 5,500. It is en route to its home port at Everett, Wash., by way of San Diego. (AP Photo/Carol Cunningham)


The USS Paul Hamilton pulls into its home port of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Saturday, April 26, 2003, after a deployment of nearly 10 months. The destroyer has a crew of approximately 350 and is part of the seven-ship battle group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln. (AP Photo/Carol Cunningham)


Seaman Joshua Haberman, stands with his wife, Kasi, while meeting his 8-month-old son, Lane, for the first time after the USS Paul Hamilton pulled into its home port of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Saturday, April 26, 2003. Lane was born one week after Haberman was deployed. (AP Photo/Carol Cunningham)


Navy Chaplain Lt. Charles Crane meets his new daughter, Hannah, after the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier pulled into Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Saturday, April 26, 2003. At left is Crane's other daughter, Sharon, 10. His wife, Mary Crane, is at right. The Lincoln is en route to its home port at Everett, Wash., by way of San Diego. (AP Photo/Carol Cunningham)


The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier pulls into Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Saturday, April 26, 2003, after a deployment of nearly 10 months.


Bernardo Fuller, center, is followed by other sailors carrying trash from the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier after it pulled into Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Saturday, April 26, 2003, following a deployment of nearly 10 months.


A sailor smells a rose as the USS Paul Hamilton pulls into its home port of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Saturday, April 26, 2003, after a deployment of nearly 10 months. The destroyer has a crew of approximately 350 and is part of the seven-ship battle group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln. (AP Photo/Carol Cunningham)


Two men look out from the USS Paul Hamilton as it pulls into its home port of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Saturday, April 26, 2003, after a deployment of nearly 10 months

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hi everyone!

Plans of the operation began in the spring and summer of 1942 between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

[Mortimer Snavely]

French Northwest Africa Campaign Bump.

[SAMWolf]

Afternoon Victoria. Have a good time with Mr. Right yesterday?