The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Destroyer Squadron 9 & Wolmi Do-(9/13-24/1950) - Aug. 3rd, 2005

www.ussdehaven.org ^ | Relman Morin

[SAMWolf]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

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

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You Can Thank Six Brave Ships for Inchon Win

The landing at Inchon, in a large part, is the story of six brave little Ships and a wonderful blunder.

The North Koreans made the blunder. The little ships, the big ones, the planes and finally a Marine assault force capitalized on it.

A chain of events started by these six ships led directly to the victory of Inchon.

In the entrance of Inchon harbor, and commanding approaches to it, is the island of Wolmi. It is a wooded island shaped like an oyster shell. From the beaches, the ground rises 300 feet to a rounded top, A stone causeway connects the island to the Inchon waterfront.

Wolmi was the key to the entire operation. Before the main attack could begin on Inchon, Wolmi had to be taken. In an order issued before the battle, Rear Admiral James H. Doyle, commander of Task Force 90, said:, "This mission (Wolmi) must be successfully completed at any cost. Failure will seriously jeopardize or even prevent the major amphibious assault on Inchon therefore, press the assault with the utmost vigor despite loss or difficulty."

Big questions loomed. What did the north Koreans have on Wolmi to defend it? How many guns? How big? Where?


Five U.S. Navy destroyers steam up the Inchon channel to bombard Wolmi-Do island on 13 September 1950, two days prior to the Inchon landings. Wolmi-Do is in the right center background, with smoke rising from air strikes. The ships are USS Mansfield (DD-728); USS DeHaven (DD-727); USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729); USS Collett (DD-730) and USS Gurke (DD-783).

Six brave little ships. six destroyers, were sent to find out.

Vice Admiral Arthur D. Struble, commander of Joint Task Force 7, ordered a "reconnaissance in force."

The mission frankly was to draw fire from Wolmi-the more the better.

A destroyer's armor is three-eighths of an inch thick. Practically anything stronger than a slingshot will pierce it.


Wolmi-do Island, Inchon, 9/14/50
Before Assault

On the morning of September 13, "D-day minus two," the six brave little ships, moving in column, and slowly, sailed into the narrowing channel leading pass Wolmi to Inchon.

One anchored off of the southern face of the island. Three passed through the neck of the channel to the other side. Two remained in the channel.

None was more than a mile from the beaches and some were 1,000 yards-two thirds of a mile.

They were "sitting ducks." That's what they were meant to be, juicy targets for concealed guns on the shore.


USS DeHaven DD-727

From all over the elbe of the channel farther down, thousands of binoculars were trained on them from American and British cruisers. The silence was like a blanket. It was a brilliant sunny day, and you could see even without binoculars.

Suddenly there was a single white flash. Seconds later the muffled crack of the gun came back. "The 730 reported she spotted a battery moving on the beach," a report to the bridge of the flag ship said.

A few more tense, breathless, incredible seconds of waiting passed. Still silence. Wolmi Island looked like a picnickers paradise, green-wooded and serene.


USS MANSFIELD DD-728

Then the North Koreans made a fateful and wonderful blunder. Suddenly a necklace of gun flashes sparkled around the waist of the island. The flashes were reddish gold and they came so fast that soon the entire slope was sparkling with pinpoint of fire.

The destroyers were quick to answer.

Lightening flashes leaped from their guns. They hit back, shell for shell, firing faster and faster until the whole channel was a tunnel of rumbling thunder.


USS Lyman K Swenson DD-729

The pace increased. On Wolmi, still more gun positions opened up. The red necklace spread and widened. They were hitting destroyers now. They could hardly miss at that range.

Then a report came down to the bridge and your blood ran cold. "It looks as though the 783 is dead in the water, Sir." Admiral Struble's answer was quiet and the words were taut. "Make sure and then see what we have to do to get her out of there."

The duel went on for an hour. It was a slugging match, toe to toe, and nobody quit or backed away. Six brave little ships sat there and shot it out with the dug in enemy gun crews on Wolmi Island.


USS Collett DD-730

Three of the six were hit, one seriously, but not so seriously that she could not come out under her own steam. An officer died. There were other casualties.

The destroyers came out proudly and without haste, still firing flat trajectory fire at close range and then at higher arcs as the distance increased.

The mission was accomplished successfully, the navy will say. Gloriously is a better word.


USS Gurke DD-783

If the guns on Wolmi Island had never been discovered; if the North Koreans had not blundered into exposing their armament, it is hard to say what might have happened to the transports and the little landing craft when they came in for the assault two days later.

At best, the casualties would have been enormous -for Wolmi Island is studded with guns-at worst, the invasion could have stalled right there at the first objective.

Six brave little ships exposed themselves to fire. The bigger guns and hordes of planes knocked it out before the Marines ever appeared.


USS Henderson DD-785

Six brave little ships: the Mansfield DD728, DeHaven 727, Collett 730 Lyman K Swenson 729, Gurke 783 and the Henderson 785.



Two days later the Marine invasion took place.

[SAMWolf]

The Taking of WOLMI-DO

The MANSFIELD, flagship of Commander Destroyer Squadron NINE, was one of six (6) destroyers selected for the reconnaissance in force of Inchon Harbor on 13 and 14 September 1950. The ship had been employed in blockade and shore bombardment of the enemy coast of Korea from 25 June until 8 September 1950. The ship was assigned to Task Force 90 (Fire Support Group) on 12 September, following three (3) busy days in port for replenishment and indoctrination of the planned assault.



Departure and speed of the task group were set to bring the force off the approaches to Inchon, Korea on the morning of the 13th of September. The first sign of enemy activity came about 1100I when mines ere sighted off the port bow at a distance of about 3,000 yards. The DEHAVEN and SWENSON, immediately astern, joined with the MANSFIELD in taking those under fire, and exploded one. Others were destroyed by the USS SOUTHERLAND, while the five remaining destroyers proceeded on toward Inchon.



The MANSFIELD continued leading the destroyer reconnaissance force up Flying Fish Channel, past Wolmi-Do Island into Inchon Harbor, arriving as scheduled. At 1248I anchored, and 1302I commenced firing upon selected targets, principally gun emplacements along the sea wall, plus some emplacements on the hills of the city. 154 rounds of 5" AAC were expended in pin-point shooting at the targets. A total of 18 were directly hit. At 1320I observed shell fire being received by destroyers in the second section anchored south of Wolmi-Do (USS COLLETT and USS GURKE). At 1400I weighed anchor as scheduled and followed destroyer unit out of harbor. Counter battery fire was received around this ship beginning about 1411I during retirement at full power while passing the shore batteries. When south of Wolmi-Do at a range of 3,500 yards the coast defense batteries there were taken under fire by our full battery of six (6) 5 inch guns and eight (8) 40MM. The 5" salvos landed close to the western gun emplacements and some shots may have hit. The dust and smoke from this fire drifted eastward across the several batteries visible and obscured their vision for a period of one (1) or two (2) minutes, during which reduced counter battery fire was received.


Inchon Invasion, September 1950 Wolmi-Do island under bombardment on 13 September 1950, two days before the landings at Inchon. Photographed from USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729), one of whose 40mm gun mounts is in the foreground. Sowolmi-Do island, connected to Wolmi-Do by a causeway, is at the right, with Inchon beyond.

The relative bearing of the targets now drew rapidly aft and only 5" mount No.3 could bear on the emplacements. Splashes were again observed falling around the ship. Emergency full speed was called for at 1415I and obtained from the engine rooms, rapidly reaching 33-1/2 knots.


This picture was taken during the assault on Wolmi-Do at Inchon September 13, 1950. Left to Right: Ens. William Barnes (back view) on the sound powered telephone. LTjg. D. J. Winnie, First Lieutenant and LTjg (MCR) R. H. Lee, Medical Doctor (ComDesRon9 staff).

The bearing of the enemy positions was now such that the director optical system was obscured by the mast. The firing circuit cam cut out one gun of mount No.3 due to low elevation angle. No fall of shot was seen on Wolmi-Do at this time except from our 40MM battery. The commanding officer ordered indirect fire against the enemy, rapid fire from mount No.3. Enemy shells continued to fall on all sides of the ship, one clearly seen by the commanding officer and several others to pass between the stacks and land about 15 yards to starboard. The damage control officer in the engine room reported hearing 3 shell explosions close aboard during this retirement. Fifty (50) rounds of 5" AAC were expended at indirect fire with conclusive results in the appearance of many ground bursts on Wolmi-Do.



The enemy fire again slackened. When the range to the island reached about 12,000 yards, the enemy shells began to fall short of the ship. At 1423I speed was slowed. The British cruiser KENYA was now observed firing her 6" guns over our ship providing covering fire against Wolmi-Do. Ammunition expenditure for the ship in this reconnaissance totalled 170 5" AAC and 420 40MM. No Casualties were suffered by this ship, although the destroyers present were hit with about ten (1) wounded and one (1) killed.

[SAMWolf]

The second reconnaissance in force, at 1300I on 14 September, was carried out on schedule similar to the previous day, except that a more effective air strike preceded our entry. The MANSFIELD followed the HENDERSON to a point 8,000 yards from the enemy batteries on Wolmi-Do, where the HENDERSON took station for counter battery fire. The MANSFIELD then proceeded up channel in the lead of the destroyer unit passing Wolmi-Do without incident. She took station (remaining underway) and at 1256I opened fire upon more gun emplacements on the beach and in the hills of the city. Retirement was made at 1415I passing Wolmi-Do, again without return fire. The silence of the coast defense guns on Wolmi-Do on this date is believed due to one (1) location of the emplacements by the destroyers on the 13th: two (2) air strikes approaching down the throat of the enemy guns; and three (3) pin-point, point-blank fire of the destroyers immediately following the air strike. The MANSFIELD expended a total of 154 rounds of 5" AAC and 1140 rounds of 40MM shells, on this reconnaissance fire.


The DeHaven makes a hasty retreat from Wolmi-Do. Photo taken from the HMS Kenya.
Contributed by Tony Berry

The next approach to the target area was made early on the 15th, the MANSFIELD again leading the entire invasion fleet. Anchor was dropped at 0426I during darkness in the innermost berth in the harbor and at 0554I fire was opened on visually selected targets along the Inchon waterfront, in accordance with the schedule for LOVE hour of D-Day.

At 0628I fire was ceased and at 0630I the landing of troops commenced on time.

At 0709I the island of Wolmi-Do was reported secure.

At 0801I the MANSFIELD received her first call fire mission from the Shore Fire Control Party; an enemy field piece located near the main railroad station in Inchon. It was destroyed with six (6) rounds of 5" AAC. During the remainder of the day a total of seven (7) call fire missions were supplied the troops ashore. typical of these was call fire for a gun emplacement over a hill, requiring a reduced charge, on round was sent to the target and a spot of "right 50, add 50" was received. A second round was fired with this correction. The spotter then replied "target destroyed, end of mission." Time for knocking out this Red Gun was five (5) minutes.



Also throughout the day until HOW Hour visible targets were selected and fired upon. A total of 596 rounds of 5" AAC and 1170 rounds of 40MM shells were expended in this manner on carefully selected covered gun emplacements, revetments, trenches and bunkers.

After 1730I when the main landing was made, the ship fired only at hill top emplacements suspected of opposing the landing force. At 1953I the ship's company secured from General Quarters, having been at battle stations since 0340I.


Inchon Operation, September 1950, a Chaplain reads the Last Rites service as Lieutenant (Junior Grade) David H. Swenson is buried at sea from USS Toledo (CA-133), off Inchon, Korea. He had been killed by North Korean artillery while his ship, USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729) was bombarding enemy positions on Wolmi-do island, Inchon, on 13 September 1950. K. Swenson is in the background, with her crew at quarters on deck.

On the 16th the ship remained at anchor, providing gunfire support for our advancing troops.

During the night of the 16th and 17th the ship was assigned illumination fire missions. Fifty (50) star shells were fired hourly throughout the night, lighting up a road junction near the Third Battalion of the Fifth Marines, which unit we were supporting.

The enemy aircraft which attacked the USS ROCHESTER and HMS JAMAICA about 0600I this date did not approach the MANSFIELD.



On the 17th, three (3) fire missions against retreating enemy troops were assigned. Thirty-two (32) rounds AAC and four (4) rounds VT were expended on call.

At 1731I on the 17th the MANSFIELD got underway for replenishment, proceeding to rear anchorage for re-fueling and re-arming.

Additional Sources:

web.meganet.net/kman
www.navsource.org
www.bluejacket.com
www.south-pole.com
www.combatindex.com
www.kmike.com
www.rt66.com

[SAMWolf]

On the 18th this ship, with ComDesRon 9 embarked, was assigned the duty of meeting the only active battleship of the fleet, (USS MISSOURI) and escorting her up Flying Fish Channel to the Inchon Anchorage. After observing HMS MOUNTS BAY drop a depth charge pattern on a reported submarine contact, the MISSOURI anchored up the channel awaiting flood tide. At about 1130I on the 19th the MANSFIELD led the MISSOURI to her gunfire support anchorage, and then moored alongside her for obtaining mail, freight, and passengers for delivery to ships of the gunfire support group present.


Men of Destroyer Division 91 crowd the foc'sle and superstructure of their ships in Sasebo, Japan, to receive their Navy Unit Commendations. During the presentation on the Mansfield, a crane crew in the background continues its task of installing new gun barrels on the De Haven. Streaks of red lead on the Collett and the Swenson in the foreground show the work that has occupied all the crews while in port. By coincidence the famed 'Sitting Duck' destroyers are berthed in their numerical order: USS De Haven (DD-727), Mansfield (DD-728), Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729), and Collett (DD-730)." Photograph and caption released by Commander Naval Forces, Far East, under date of 18 December 1951. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center.

On the 20th and 21st the MANSFIELD occupied air defense station in the anchorage, near Yodolmi Do Island.

On the 23rd the MANSFIELD, along with the SWENSON and DEHAVEN, were detached from Task Force 90 and returned to Task Force 95. Those ships under command of Commander Destroyer Squadron NINE arrived at Sasebo, Japan for replenishment at 1700I on 24th of September.

[SAMWolf]

Showcasing America's finest, and those who betray them!

Please click on the banner above and check out this newly created (and still under construction) website created by FReeper Coop!

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Veterans for Constitution Restoration is a non-profit, non-partisan educational and grassroots activist organization. The primary area of concern to all VetsCoR members is that our national and local educational systems fall short in teaching students and all American citizens the history and underlying principles on which our Constitutional republic-based system of self-government was founded. VetsCoR members are also very concerned that the Federal government long ago over-stepped its limited authority as clearly specified in the United States Constitution, as well as the Founding Fathers' supporting letters, essays, and other public documents.

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We here at Blue Stars For A Safe Return are working hard to honor all of our military, past and present, and their families. Inlcuding the veterans, and POW/MIA's. I feel that not enough is done to recognize the past efforts of the veterans, and remember those who have never been found.

I realized that our Veterans have no "official" seal, so we created one as part of that recognition. To see what it looks like and the Star that we have dedicated to you, the Veteran, please check out our site.

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UPDATED THROUGH APRIL 2004



The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul

Click on Hagar for
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[snippy_about_it]

"FALL IN" to the FReeper Foxhole!



Good Wednesday Morning Everyone.

If you want to be added to our ping list, let us know.

[w_over_w]

Evening Grace Snip & Sam~

Up late doing some work, eyes going square, ping for tomorrow AM read.

All secure . . . goodnight . . .

[U S Army EOD]

Well I know for a fact, they fired at least one APHE round because in 1968 when I had the EOD Section of the 83rd Ord BN (AMMO) in Korea, we got to recover a dud one on Wolmi-Do. This particular round had what is know as a BDDD type fuze in it which stands for Base Detonating Decleration Descriminating. When it is fired, it partially arms, when it hits something it fully arms, and when it hits something else it goes. It is designed so when it hits the side of a ship or bunker, it will not detonate until it penetrates one side and explodes on the inside of the target as it is going out. We knew it had hit the island and was armed. There is no way to disarm this fuze since it is internal and you can't get to it. You are supposed to blow it in place but in this case there was no place to blow it. We put it in the back of our 3/4 ton truck and covered it with many, many sand bags and transported it about 30 miles or so to our demo range and then blew it. I have never been so scared before or after in my life.

Try driving a truck with your elbows because you have your fingers in your ears on both hands just in case it blows.

[StayAt HomeMother]

Fiction, biography, and the Foxhole – whichever you like to read, here are some recommendations that relate to today’s thread.

W. E. B. Griffin’s ninth novel in his Marine Corps series, titled “Under Fire,” is about the start of the Korean War and preparations for Inchon. This is a fictional tale of Americans who went in to Flying Fish Channel weeks before the battle to collect critical intelligence.

"The Secrets of Inchon" is a first person true narrative of this daring but somehow obscure military operation. After Griffin's novel was written and while it was in preparation for publication, Griffin learned that the true story of this pre-invasion operation had been written by the man who had done it, then Lieutenant Commander Eugene Franklin Clark. “The Secrets of Inchon” had been written in 1953 but then left forgotten in a safety deposit box. This true account tells about Clark’s fortnight on a small island in North Korean-occupied Inchon harbor. Clark's mission included hand-to-hand combat, interrogations, night forays in small junks, constant vigilance, exhaustingly long hours, and the cooperation of anti-Communist Koreans.

The following comes from one of my favorite sources, the FReeper Foxhole. See: The Taking Of Wolmi-Do (9/15/1950) [Foxhole of Dec. 4th, 2003]. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/1033591/posts

Lieutenant Eugene F. Clark, ensconced on Inchon's Yong-hung-do, was getting all the information he could and nightly radioing it back to Tokyo.

Report: "A company of North Korean troops are in entrenchments along the sea wall of Inchon tidal basin."

Report: "Two antiaircraft guns are located on Wolmi adjacent to the former US Communications Building~

Report: "Wolmi gun defenses consist of three large guns at Sowolmi-do, one gun, size unknown, at south end of breakwater. Four or five machine guns on west side, two on southwest side. Infantry trenches are a few feet back from waterline."

Report: "There is a gunfire observation post in the tower of a large red building on Wolmi-do."

Report: "Twenty-five machine guns and five 120mm mortars have been located on Sowolmi-do by observing their fire."

Report: "Wolmi-do has 20 heavy coastal defense guns placed on island's seaward side. Extensive concrete trench and tunnel system combs island. Estimated 1,000 troops on island which is restricted; only laborers admitted."

[Iris7]

The Navy will do what needs doing.

Looking at MacArthur make me wonder how the world would have turned out if MacArthur had told Truman that he was wrong that day in Alaska when MacArthur accepted being relieved. Then took the crooked little haberdasher for an extended tour of the war - say, five years.

Kidnapping? Oh, heavens, no. Just guarding the old gent.

[Iris7]

Morning, SAM,
You may like this site as a resource for Frank Luke's story.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/7133/contents.html

Lieutenant Luke, US Army Air Service, was praised highly by Rickenbacker. Luke's eighteen day combat career has never been equaled.

Mr. Luke, not yet twenty years of age, was shot through the chest by defending German machine gunners while attacking a German observation balloon. He put his machine down, climbed out, and made for a stream bed nearby, the only cover and concealment available. The Germans came running up. No time for the creek. Luke was a fine shot with a pistol, and I wonder how many Germans he took with him to Valhalla. I bet you he did not miss once. The M1911 .45 Colt, by the way. The local French buried him. After the war he was interred in a United States cemetery in France.

[gridlock]

So was Lieutenant (Junior Grade) David H. Swenson, who was killed in this action, related to Lyman K. Swenson, for which his ship (DD-729) was named? Or was this just coincidence?

[E.G.C.]

Good morning Snippy and everyone at the Foxhole.

[The Mayor]

August 3, 2005

We Don't Need You

Read:
Jeremiah 2:5-13

What injustice have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me, have followed idols, and have become idolaters? —Jeremiah 2:5

Bible In One Year: Habakkuk 1-3

There's a story about a group of scientists who decided that humans could do without God. So one of them looked up to God and said, "We've decided that we no longer need You. We have enough wisdom to clone people and do many miraculous things."

God listened patiently and then said, "Very well, let's have a man-making contest. We'll do it just like I did back in the old days with Adam." The scientists agreed, and one of them bent down and picked up a handful of dirt. God looked at him and said, "No! You have to make your own dirt!"

In Jeremiah's day, the Israelites were living as if they no longer needed the Lord. They had entrusted themselves to other gods, even though their gods could not respond to their needs. Jeremiah confronted them about their rebellion, for they had forsaken the true God and shown disrespect for Him (Jeremiah 2:13,19).

Are we guilty of living as if we don't need God? We may know Him as our Savior but be worshiping the idol of our own wisdom or self-sufficiency. Could the Lord be saying of us, "They have gone far from Me"? (2:5).

Living far from God dishonors and displeases Him, and it will never meet our deepest needs. But we can return to Him today (3:7). —Anne Cetas

Unless we worship only God
Our lives cannot be truly free;
For we were made for Him alone—
All else is but idolatry. —D. De Haan

The idol of self is a sorry substitute for God.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
How Do You Live The Christian Life?

[texianyankee]

Good morning to everyone! Thanks for this great site & all this history & pics you provide us.

It rained yesterday evening here in the Brazos Valley. Chance of showers again today.

[alfa6]

Things are looking up Bump for the Freeper Foxhole

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[tomkow6]

Good morning, Mayor!

[The Mayor]

Good morning!

[Valin]

On this Day In History


Birthdates which occurred on August 03:
1753 Charles Earl Stanhope, England, radical politician/scientist
1811 Elisha Graves Otis inventor (safe elevator)
1851 Lady Isabella Caroline Somerset temperance leader
1867 Stanley Earl Baldwin, (C) British PM (1923-24, 1924-29, 1935-37)
1872 Haakon VII Charlottenlund Denmark, King of Norway
1884 Louis Gruenberg near Brest Litovsk Poland, composer (Daniel Jazz)
1887 Rupert Brooke British WW I poet (1914)
1894 Harry Heilmann SF Cal, baseball hall of famer outfielder (Detroit)
1900 Ernie Pyle correspondant during WW II
1900 John T Scopes Tennessee teacher convicted for teaching evolution
1901 John Stennis (Sen-D-Miss)
1902 Habib Bourguiba 1st president of Tunisia
1902 Ray Block France, orch leader (Ed Sullivan, Jackie Gleason)
1905 Dolores Del Rio Mexico, actress (What Price Glory?)
1907 Irene Tedrow Denver Colo, actress (Lucy-Dennis the Menace, Mr Novak)
1918 James MacGregor Burns political writer (The Lion & the Fox)
1920 Maria Karnilova Hartford Ct, actress (Olga-Ivan the Terrible)
1920 P.D. James mystery writer (Cover Her Face)
1921 Hayden Carruth Waterbury Ct, novelist (Crow & Heart)
1921 Marilyn Maxwell actress (East of Sumatra)
1923 Anne Klein fashion designer (Anne Klein II)
1924 Leon Uris US, novelist (Exodus, QB VII)
1926 Tony Bennett Queens NY, singer (It sys so right in the contract)
1927 Gordon Scott Portland Oregon, actor (Tarzan & the Trappers)
1929 Bethel Leslie NYC, entertainer (Capt Newman MD, Rabbit Trap)
1930 James Komack NYC, writer/director/actor (Courtship of Eddie's Father)
1931 Alex Cord actor (Brotherhood, Fire, Street Asylum)
1935 Georgi S Shonin cosmonaut (Soyuz 6)
1935 Richard D Lamm (Gov-D-Colo)
1938 George Memmoli NYC, actor (Earl-Hello Larry)
1938 Terry "5 Wigs" Wogan British talk show host (Irish Days)
1940 Lance Alworth Houston Tx, NFL hall of famer (Charger, Cowboys)
1940 Martin Sheen actor (Subject Was Roses, Wall St, Westwing)
1941 Beverly Lee Passaic NJ, singer (Shirelles-Soldier Boy)
1941 Martha Stewart cookbook author/actress/excon (Those Two)
1950 John Landis director (Twilight Zone)
1950 Waldemar Cierpinski German DR, marathoner (Olympic-gold-1976, 80)
1951 Marcel Dionne Quebec, NHL center (LA Kings, NY Rangers)
1952 Jay North North Hollywood Calif, actor (Dennis the Menace, Maya)
1954 Denise Craig WBL forward (Dayton Rockettes, NY Stars)
1956 Kirk Brandon rocker (Theatre of Hate, Spear of Destiny-Outland)
1959 Victoria Jackson Miami Fla, actress (Casual Sex, SNL)
1960 Tim Mayotte Springfield Mass, tennis player (Olympic-silver-1988)
1962 Tina Lehtola Finland, women's ski jumper (world's record holder)
1963 Carlo Imperato Bronx, actor (Fame)
1963 James Hetfield heavy metal rocker (Metallica-Helpless)
1966 Christine Richters Fullerton Ca, playmate (May, 1986)
1967 John Femia Bkln NY, actor (Square Pegs, Hello Larry)
1974 Jenny Beck actress (Claire Carroll-Guns & Paradise)

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Deaths which occurred on August 03:
1460 James II of Scotland was killed by a cannon's explosion.
1916 Sir Roger Casement, Irish nationalist (Easter uprising 1916), hanged for treason at 51
1924 Joseph Conrad, Polish/British writer (Heart of Darkness), dies at 66
1954 Colette France, novelist (Claudine), dies at 81
1964 Flannery O'Connor, writer (Good Man is Hard to Find), dies at 39
1966 Lenny Bruce comedian, dies of a morphine overdose
1983 Carolyn Jones actress (Morticia-Addams Family), dies at 54 of cancer
2003 Dr. Pater Safar (79), father of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (cpr), dies
2004 Henri Cartier-Bresson (95), French photographer of the decisive moment, died

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GWOT Casualties

Iraq
03-Aug-2004 3 | US: 3 | UK: 0 | Other: 0
US Sergeant Tommy L. Gray Taji (NW of Baghdad) - Salah ad Din Non-hostile - vehicle accident
US Captain Gregory A. Ratzlaff FOB Duke (near Najaf) Non-hostile - weapon discharge
US Private 1st Class Harry N. Shondee Jr. Baghdad (western part) Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack


Afghanistan
A Good Day

http://icasualties.org/oif/
Data research by Pat Kneisler
Designed and maintained by Michael White
//////////
Go here and I'll stop nagging.
http://www.taps.org/
(subtle hint SEND MONEY)

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On this day...
0881 Battle at Saucourt: French King Louis III defeats Vikings


1492 Columbus sets sail from Palos, Spain for "Indies"


1596 David Fabricius discovers light variation of Mira (1st variable star)
1678 Robert LaSalle builds 1st ship in America, Griffon
1804 US Commodore Edward Prebble’s squadron shells Tripoli inflicting heavy damages on the city
1807 The trial of Aaron Burr begins. He is accused of plotting the secession of New England.
1852 1st intercollegiate rowing race, Harvard beats Yale by 4 lengths
1860 American Canoe Association founded at Lake George NY
1863 Governor Seymour asks Lincoln to suspend draft in NY
1863 Saratoga Racetrack (NY) opens
1864 Federal gunboats attack but did not capture Fort Gains, at the mouth of Mobile Bay, Alabama
1881 US Nation Lawn Tennis Association removes "Nation" from name
1882 Congress passes 1st law restricting immigration, The Chinese Exclusion Act


1914 Germany invades Belgium & declares war on France in WW I



1914 Yankee catcher Nunamaker throws out 3 would be stealers in 1 inning
1921 1st aerial cropdusting (Troy Ohio to kill caterpillars)
1921 Due to a technicality, 8 Chicago White Sox accused in the Black Sox scandal are acquited, however Landis throws them out of baseball
1928 Ray Barbuti saves US team from defeat in Amsterdam Olympics track events by winning 400 m (47.8 sec)
1930 2nd time in 1930, Chuck Klein of Phillies hits in 26 straight games
1933 Yanks are shut out for 1st time after 308 games
1940 Lithuanian SSR is accepted into the USSR
1943 U.S. General George S. Patton slaps an Army private hospitalized for battle fatigue accusing the young man of cowardice. (OMG! The horror! Not only did he STRIKE him, he also spoke HARSHLY to him. If only we had Dick Durbin around, he'd set Patton straight.)
1944 4,000 gypsies gassed at Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

1948 Whittaker Chambers, (an editor for Time Magazine) admits he was a Communist, telling the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) that he was a courier of stolen government documents in a Communist espionage operation during the 1930s, some of which were supplied by Alger Hiss. He publicly accused former State Department official Alger Hiss of having been part of a Communist underground, a charge Hiss denied.

1949 Basketball Assoc of America & National Basketball League merge to form the National Basketball Association
1952 15th Olympic games close in Helsinki Finland
1953 Frank Blair becomes news anchor of the Today Show
1954 1st VTOL (Vertical Take-off & Land) flown
1955 Automobile Association of America ends support of auto racing
1955 Hurricane Connie begins pounding US for 11 days
1956 Willie Williams of the US sets 100 meter record at 10.1
1958 USS Nautilus begins 1st crossing of Arctic Ocean under icecap
1959 AL beats NL 5-3 in 27th All Star Game (Dodger Stadium)
1960 Niger gains independence from France
1962 NY Met Frank Thomas hits his 6th HR in 3 games
1963 Allan Sherman releases "Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda"
1963 Beatles final performance at the Cavern Club in Liverpool
1963 Allan Sherman releases "Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda."

1963 Great Train Robbery-$2.5 M ($3.25 M) robbed

1969 Reds beats Phillies 19-17
1970 4 day NFL strike ends
1970 Hurricane "Celia" becomes most expensive Gulf storm in history
1970 Mairiam Hargrave of Yorkshire, passes her driving test on 40th try. (Not sure if this is a good thing or not.)
1971 Paul McCartney announces the formation of his group Wings
1973 Flash fire kills 51 at amusement park. (Isle of Man, UK)
1974 Guitarist Jeff "skunk" Baxter quits Steely Dan & joins Doobie Brothers
1975 500 drown when 2 river boats collide & sink in China's West River
1975 Louisiana Superdome is dedicated
1977 Radio Shack announce the TRS-80 computer (25 existed), within weeks thousands were ordered
1979 Fastest jai-alai shot (188 mph), Jose Arieto at Newport Jai Alai, RI
1980 Duke Snider & Al Kaline enter baseball's Hall of Fame

1981 Air Traffic Controllers (PATCO) begin their strike. (Big win for the Gipper)

1982 Clyde King replaces Gene Michaels as Yankee manager
1983 John Sain of South Bend, Ind builds 3.91 m house of cards
1984 365.7 million shares traded in NY Stock Exchange
1985 "Nihilator" set harness pacing mile (1:49.6) in East Rutherford, NJ
1987 Chicago Bears beat Dallas Cowboys 17-6 in London, England (NFL expo)
1987 Discovery in Orbital Processing Facility is powered up for STS-26
1988 Skip Storch swims 246 km of Hudson River from Albany to NYC
1989 5th jockey to win 6,000 races (Jorge Valesquez)
1989 Lawrence Delisle drives his 4 kids into river
1989 Rickey Henderson sets AL mark of 50 steals in 9 seasons
1989 Cincinnati Reds send record 20 men to bat with a record 16 hits in 1 inning as they score 14 runs in the 1st inning
1990 NY Yankee Kevin Mass sets record with 10th HR in 1st 72 at bats
1990 Radio Kuwait goes off the air, due to the Iraqi invasion
1990 US announces commitment of Naval forces to Gulf regions
1991 Pan Am games open in Havana
1994 Stephen G. Breyer was sworn in as the Supreme Court's newest justice in a private ceremony at Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist's Vermont summer home
1995 Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson announces an end to welfare offices in the state at the site of a new jobs center in Racine
1995 Eyad Ismoil extradited from Jordon to US. He faces charges that he’d driven a bomb-laden van into New York’s World Trade Center. Ismoil is serving a life sentence.
1998 The White House plays down the possibility that President Clinton would reverse previous statements and admit to a sexual relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky when he testified before a grand jury.
1999 Arbitrators ruled the government had to pay the heirs of Abraham Zapruder $16 million for his movie film that captured the assassination of President Kennedy
1999 400 Iraqi dissidents, wounded in recent clashes with security forces, were executed. Maj. Saad Khazal Jabbar said 120 people were killed in the anti-government riots in Baghdad
2000 George W. Bush accepts the GOP presidential nomination at the party’s convention in Philadelphia with a 52 minute speech He presented himself as an outsider who would return "civility and respect" to Washington politics.
(George, it takes two to tango)
2003 The Episcopal Church's House of Deputies further paved the way for the Rev. V. Gene Robinson to become the church's first openly gay elected bishop, approving him on a 2-1 vote

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

New Zealand : Arbor Day (1872)
Niger : Independence Day (1960)
Tunisia : Bourguiba's Birthday (1902)
Arizona, Michigan : American Family Day - - - - - ( Sunday )
Italy : Joust of the Quintana (1st Sunday) - - - - - ( Sunday )
Colorado : Colorado Day (1876) ( Monday )
US : National Smile Week begins (day 3)
Grasmere England : Rush-Bearing Day ( Saturday )
National Psychiatric Technician Week Begins
National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
National Watermelon Day
National Dinner at Spotsy's house day..no week...I mean MONTH
Romance Awareness Month

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Religious Observances
RC : Commemoration of Finding of the Body of St Stephen, martyr

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Religious History
1739 English revivalist George Whitefield wrote in a letter: 'I am no friend to sinless perfection. I believe the existence (though not the dominion) of sin remains in the hearts of the greatest believers.'
1858 Birth of Maltbie D. Babcock, American Presbyterian clergyman. His pastoral work centered around Maryland and New York, but he is better remembered today as author of the well-known hymn, "This is My Father's World."
1902 Birth of Martin Noth, German Lutheran Old Testament scholar. His researches concentrated on the "history-of-traditions" approach to analyzing and understanding the Old Testament writings.
1944 Lutheran theologian and Nazi martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in a letter from prison: 'The Church must not underestimate the importance of human example; it is not abstract argument, but example, that gives its word emphasis and power.'
1959 English apologist C.S. Lewis wrote in a letter: 'When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place.'

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

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Techies Publish 'Open-Source Beer' Recipe

COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- You may have heard of open-source software, but how about open-source beer?

Some Danish technology students are applying the open-source philosophy to suds. They've published their recipe for Our Beer version 1.0 on the Internet.

The open-source movement is an alternative to traditional forms of copyright.

One of the best-known examples is the Linux operating system for PCs, an alternative to Windows.

As for the open-source beer, the recipe includes a touch of the herb guarana, which has caffeine for an added kick.

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Thought for the day :
"When in Rome, do as you done in Milledgeville."
Flannery O'Connor

[Professional Engineer]

Good morning ladies. Flag-o-Gram.

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning everyone.