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The ship that saved the unknown soldier from disaster
WaPo vis MSN ^ | 4/30/21 | Michael Ruane

Posted on 04/30/2021 6:38:19 AM PDT by DoodleDawg

Up on deck, where the casket of the unknown soldier was tied down with rope and covered with canvas, the Marine guards lashed themselves to the ship’s stanchions so they wouldn’t be swept overboard.

Twenty-foot seas broke over the pilot house. One Marine was drenched by a wave so big that it tore his hip boots off. And the ship was rolling so badly that the crew feared that each roll would be its last.

It was the fall of 1921. The USS Olympia was halfway across the stormy Atlantic, bound from France to the Washington Navy Yard. And the Marine commander realized that if the hallowed casket went over the side, he might as well go, too.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: marines; navy; unknownsoldier
Interesting piece of history that I wasn't aware of.
1 posted on 04/30/2021 6:38:20 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: DoodleDawg

My bet is that thru DNA they could actually identify the WW1, WW2, and Korea, Unknown Soldiers. They already used DNA to identify the Viet Nam unknown.


2 posted on 04/30/2021 7:02:24 AM PDT by euram
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To: DoodleDawg

Good stuff! Thanks for posting.


3 posted on 04/30/2021 7:11:45 AM PDT by MV=PY (The Magic Question: Who's paying for it?)
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To: DoodleDawg

Was surprised to find the Olympia hadn’t been scrapped but is intact and viewable by the public.


4 posted on 04/30/2021 7:32:58 AM PDT by chrisser
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To: euram
My bet is that thru DNA they could actually identify the WW1, WW2, and Korea, Unknown Soldiers. They already used DNA to identify the Viet Nam unknown.

Yes, probably. But to quote Dr. Ian Malcom, “Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.”

5 posted on 04/30/2021 7:40:45 AM PDT by null and void (When you put bad people in charge expect bad things to happen, often in a spectacular and sudden way)
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To: DoodleDawg
Amazing that the source is WaPo.

Cape Henry is also where the Pilgrims dedicated the land to the Lord. www1.cbn.com/spirituallife/the-beginning-of-a-christian-nation

6 posted on 04/30/2021 7:46:59 AM PDT by The Truth Will Make You Free
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To: DoodleDawg

“Up on deck, where the casket of the unknown soldier was tied down with rope and covered with canvas, the Marine guards lashed themselves to the ship’s stanchions so they wouldn’t be swept overboard.”

Patriots doing what Patriots do.
May the Lord bless them and their charge.
Reminds me of the guards who refused to leave their posts when hurricane Sandy blew through. Duty, Honor, Sacrifice...they still have meaning to some remnant.


7 posted on 04/30/2021 9:16:24 AM PDT by oldvirginian (Shut up and sing, shut up and dribble, shut up and play, shut up and act...just SHUT UP)
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To: chrisser

It still needs a lot of work.


8 posted on 04/30/2021 9:30:17 AM PDT by Coronal
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To: Coronal

I imagine parts are hard to find.


9 posted on 04/30/2021 9:42:06 AM PDT by chrisser
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