The FReeper Foxhole Profiles Geronimo - Goyathlay ("One Who Yawns") - April 26th, 2003

http://www.indians.org/welker/geronimo.htm ^

[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

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

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Geronimo
Goyathlay ("One Who Yawns")
(1829-1909)

.

Geronimo {jur-ahn'-i-moh}, or Goyathlay ("one who yawns"), was born in 1829 in what is today western New Mexico, but was then still Mexican territory. He was a Bedonkohe Apache (grandson of Mahko) by birth and a Net'na during his youth and early manhood. His wife, Juh, Geronimo's cousin Ishton, and Asa Daklugie were members of the Nednhi band of the Chiricahua Apache.

He was reportedly given the name Geronimo by Mexican soldiers, although few agree as to why. As leader of the Apaches at Arispe in Sonora, he performed such daring feats that the Mexicans singled him out with the sobriquet Geronimo (Spanish for "Jerome"). Some attributed his numerous raiding successes to powers conferred by supernatural beings, including a reputed invulnerability to bullets.

Geronimo's war career was linked with that of his brother-in-law, Juh, a Chiricahua chief. Although he was not a hereditary leader, Geronimo appeared so to outsiders because he often acted as spokesman for Juh, who had a speech impediment.

Geronimo was the leader of the last American Indian fighting force formally to capitulate to the United States. Because he fought against such daunting odds and held out the longest, he became the most famous Apache of all. To the pioneers and settlers of Arizona and New Mexico, he was a bloody-handed murderer and this image endured until the second half of this century.

To the Apaches, Geronimo embodied the very essence of the Apache values, agressiveness, courage in the face of difficulty. These qualities inspired fear in the settlers of Arizona and New Mexico. The Chiricahuas were mostly migratory following the seasons, hunting and farming. When food was scarce, it was the custom to raid neighboring tribes. Raids and vengeance were an honorable way of life among the tribes of this region.


Geronimo (in front of horse) with some of his warriors during negotiations with General George Crook in 1886. During this period, telegraph linemen and Apache warriors were antagonists in a 19th-century precursor to 21st-century cyberwar.

By the time American settlers began arriving in the area, the Spanish had become entrenched in the area. They were always looking for Indian slaves and Christian converts. One of the most pivotal moments in Geronimo's life was in 1858 when he returned home from a trading excursion into Mexico. He found his wife, his mother and his three young children murdered by Spanish troops from Mexico. This reportedly caused him to have such a hatred of the whites that he vowed to kill as many as he could. From that day on he took every opportunity he could to terrorize Mexican settlements and soon after this incident he received his power, which came to him in visions. Geronimo was never a chief, but a medicine man, a seer and a spiritual and intellectual leader both in and out of battle. The Apache chiefs depended on his wisdom.

When the Chiricahua were forcibly removed (1876) to arid land at San Carlos, in eastern Arizona, Geronimo fled with a band of followers into Mexico. He was soon arrested and returned to the new reservation. For the remainder of the 1870s, he and Juh led a quiet life on the reservation, but with the slaying of an Apache prophet in 1881, they returned to full-time activities from a secret camp in the Sierra Madre Mountains.



In 1875 all Apaches west of the Rio Grande were ordered to the San Carlos Reservation. Geronimo escaped from the reservation three times and although he surrendered, he always managed to avoid capture. In 1876, the U.S. Army tried to move the Chiricahuas onto a reservation, but Geronimo fled to Mexico eluding the troops for over a decade. Sensationalized press reports exaggerated Geronimo's activities, making him the most feared and infamous Apache. The last few months of the campaign required over 5,000 soldiers, one-quarter of the entire Army, and 500 scouts, and perhaps up to 3,000 Mexican soldiers to track down Geronimo and his band.

In May 1882, Apache scouts working for the U.S. army surprised Geronimo in his mountain sanctuary, and he agreed to return with his people to the reservation. After a year of farming, the sudden arrest and imprisonment of the Apache warrior Ka-ya-ten-nae, together with rumors of impending trials and hangings, prompted Geronimo to flee on May 17, 1885, with 35 warriors and 109 women, children and youths. In January 1886, Apache scouts penetrated Juh's seemingly impregnable hideout. This action induced Geronimo to surrender (Mar. 25, 1886) to Gen. George CROOK. Geronimo later fled but finally surrendered to Gen. Nelson MILES on Sept. 4, 1886. The government breached its agreement and transported Geronimo and nearly 450 Apache men, women, and children to Florida for confinement in Forts Marion and Pickens. In 1894 they were removed to Fort Sill in Oklahoma. Geronimo became a rancher, appeared (1904) at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, sold Geronimo souvenirs, and rode in President Theodore Roosevelt's 1905 inaugural parade.


Geronimo's Grave

Geronimo's final surrender in 1886 was the last significant Indian guerrilla action in the United States. At the end, his group consisted of only 16 warriors, 12 women, and 6 children. Upon their surrender, Geronimo and over 300 of his fellow Chiricahuas were shipped to Fort Marion, Florida. One year later many of them were relocated to the Mt. Vernon barracks in Alabama, where about one quarter died from tuberculosis and other diseases. Geronimo died on Feb. 17, 1909, a prisoner of war, unable to return to his homeland. He was buried in the Apache cemetery at:

Fort Sill, Oklahoma
437 Quanah Road
Fort Sill, OK (73503-5000)

[SAMWolf]

Photographers always chose the dramatic warlike pose for Geronimo. This would allow them to achieve their own personal motives. War is far more newsworthy than religion. In reality, Geronimo was a trusting, gentle, caring person. He was a Holy Man and Leader but never a Chief. Usen had bestowed The Power upon him. The Power protected him from death by his enemies. No one could kill him. In defense of his people, Geronimo was a fearless and fierce Warrior who fought many battles. For survival, all Apaches were taught to be Warriors in defense of the band. The Apache culture was a true democracy. Everyone had an equal say in the affairs of the band. No individual Apache was forced to do what she or he did not want to do. The Chief was never allowed to force his will on the band. Individual leaders would be chosen for a specific purpose, as the need arose.



The Mexican government tried to exterminate Goyathlay's band, at their base camp, while the adult males were invited to town on an a peaceful trading mission. Goyathlay's wife, children, and mother were killed in the massacre. Goyathlay was chosen to lead the attack against the Mexican army garrison that caused the massacre. Goyathlay demonstrated such skill and bravery that from this time on, he was called Geronimo (Jerome in Spanish). The Apaches were successful and wiped out the army garrison. The battle had taken place during the Mexican festival of San Geronimo. Goyathlay was named Geronimo to honor him for his accomplishments and heroic feats during the battle.

Later on, the U.S. Army killed Geronimo's second wife in a similar ambush massacre. The continuing bounties for Apache scalps kept the Apaches on the defensive, but the Chiricahua did not want war with the U.S. They had always trusted and wanted friendship with the Americans since their first encounter with Americans. In 1872, they agreed to a treaty which provided them with a reservation that included the Dragoon and Chiricahua Mountains, and land east from there to the New Mexico border and south to the Mexico boundary line. This was their native homeland and they were happy. The Chiricahua Apaches are traditionally a trusting people. Everyone, including Geronimo, thought they were finally at peace on the Chiricahua Reservation.

The Council between Geronimo and General Crooke 1881-ca. 1885, National Archives.

The U.S. Government had other ideas and forcibly moved them north to the arid San Carlos Reservation. The Chiricahua Reservation was evidently too good of a cattle ranch country to allow Apaches to live there. American ranchers felt they could better utilize the land even though the Apaches were doing well raising cattle. Ironically, Apaches are presently among the top cattle ranchers in the United States. They are natural stockmen and raise prime cattle. Gold and other minerals were found on the Chiricahua Reservation which attracted major mining interests and also led to the removal to San Carlos. Geronimo felt that the U.S. Government had betrayed the Chiricahua Apaches, and had stolen the Chirichahua Reservation from them. He quickly became intolerant of the inhumanities being suffered by the Chiricahua Apaches on the San Carlos Reservation. He then led a small band of Apaches away from the reservation and was viewed by the U.S. Government, from then on, as an enemy.

Most of the Chiricahua Apaches had never taken up arms against the U.S. Goverment or ridden with Geronimo. They were entirely peaceful. Geronimo never had more than 35 men in his band while he was being pursued by 5000 U.S. soldiers. Yet, when Geronimo surrendered for the final time, all Chiricahua Apaches were forcibly removed from the San Carlos Reservation and taken to Florida, Alabama, and eventually to Oklahoma as prisoners of war. Geronimo was promised that the exile would only last 2 years. After that, all Chiricahua Apaches, including Geronimo, would be allowed to return to their homeland in Arizona. They were lied to again. To this day, no Chiricahua Apache has been officially allowed to return to Arizona. Geronimo asked repeatedly to return, but was denied and died later in Oklahoma. He is buried near Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. A movement is underway to have his remains moved and reburied in his beloved Arizona.

[SAMWolf]

Geronimo's Greatest Battle

AFTER the treachery and massacre of Casa Grande we did not reassemble for a long while and when we did we returned to Arizona. We remained in Arizona for some time, living in San Carlos Reservation, at a place now called Geronimo. In 1883 we went into Mexico again. We remained in the mountain ranges of Mexico for about fourteen months, and during this time we had many skirmishes with Mexican troops. In 1884 we returned to Arizona to get other Apaches to come with us into Mexico. The Mexicans were gathering troops in the mountains where we had been ranging, and their numbers were so much greater than ours that we could not hope to fight them successfully, and we were tired of being chased about from place to place.



In Arizona we had trouble with the United States soldiers and returned to Mexico.

We had lost about fifteen warriors in Arizona, and had gained no recruits. With our reduced number we camped in the mountains north of Arispe. Mexican troops were seen by our scouts in several directions. The United States troops were coming down from the north. We were well armed with guns and supplied with ammunition, but we did not care to be surrounded by the troops of two governments, so we started to move our camp southward.

One night we made camp some distance from the mountains by a stream. There was not much water in the stream, but a deep channel was worn through the prairie, and small trees were beginning to grow here and there along the bank of this stream.



In those days we never camped without placing scouts, for we knew that we were liable to be attacked at any time. The next morning just at daybreak our scouts came in, aroused the camp, and notified us that Mexican troops were approaching. Withinin five minutes the Mexicans began firing on us. We took to the ditches made by the stream, and had the women and children busy digging these deeper. I gave strict orders to waste no animunition and keep under cover. We killed many Mexicans that day and in turn lost heavily, for the fight lasted all day. Frequently troops would charge at one point, be repulsed then rally and charge at another point.

About noon we began to hear them speaking my name with curses. In the afternoon the general came on the field and the fighting became more furious. I gave orders to my warriors to try to kill all the Mexican officers. About three o'clock the general called all the officers together at the right side of the field. The place where they assembled was not very far from the main stream and a little ditch ran out close to where the officers stood. Cautiously I crawled out this ditch very close to where the council was being held. The general was an old warrior. The wind was blowing in my direction, so that l could hear all he said, and I understood most of it. This is about what he told them: "Officers, yonder in those ditches is the red devil Geronimo and his hated band. This must be his last day. Ride on him from both sides of the ditches; kill men, women, and children; take no prisoners; dead Indians are what we want. Do not spare your own men; exterminate this band at any cost; I will post the wounded shoot all deserters; go back to your companies and advance."


Prisoners,Geronimo with his son in matching shirts front row right, 1896. National Archives

Just as the command to go forward was given I took deliberate aim at the general and he fell. In an instant the ground around me was riddled with bullets; but I was untouched. The Apaches had seen. From all along the ditches arose the fierce war-cry of my people. The columns wavered vered an instant and then swept on; they did not retreat until our fire had destroyed the front ranks.

After this their fighting was not so fierce, yet they continued to rally and readvance until dark. They also continued to speak my name with threats and curses. That night before the firing had ceased a dozen Indians had crawled out of the ditches and set fire to the long prairie grass behind the Mexican troops. During the confusion that followed we escaped to the mountains.


Tenth Cavalry During Apache Wars 1889. National Archives

This was the last battle that I ever fought with Mexicans. United States troops were trailling us continually from this time until the treatty was made with General Miles in Skeleton Canyon.

During my many wars with the Mexicans I received eight wounds, as follows: shot in the right leg above the knee, and still carry the bullet; shot through the left forearm; wounded in the right leg below the knee with a saber; wounded on top of the head with the butt of a musket; shot just below the outer corner of the left eye; shot in left side, shot in the back. I have killed many Mexicans; I do not know how many, for frequently I did not count them. Some of them were not worth counting.



Additional Sources:

www.geocities.com/Nashville/5714
home.globalcrossing.net
www.michaelstory.com
www.statemuseum.arizona.edu
www.buffalosoldier.net
www.stanfordgallery.com
odur.let.rug.nl
www.municipiodenogales.org
sill-www.army.mil
www.artfinders.com
www-cgsc.army.mil

[SAMWolf]

'I was warmed by the sun, rocked by the winds and sheltered by the trees as other Indian babes. I was living peaceably when people began to speak bad of me. Now I can eat well, sleep well and be glad. I can go everywhere with a good feeling.'

'The soldiers never explained to the government when an Indian was wronged, but reported the misdeeds of the Indians. We took an oath not to do any wrong to each other or to scheme against each other.'

'I cannot think that we are useless or God would not have created us. There is one God looking down on us all. We are all the children of one God. The sun, the darkness, the winds are all listening to what we have to say.'

'When a child, my mother taught me to kneel and pray to Usen for strength, health, wisdom and protection. Sometimes we prayed in silence, sometimes each one prayed aloud; sometimes an aged person prayed for all of us... and to Usen.'

'I was born on the prairies where the wind blew free and there was nothing to break the light of the sun. I was born where there were no enclosures.'

-- Geronimo

[SAMWolf]

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On This Day In History


Birthdates which occurred on April 26:
0121 Antonius Marcus Aurelius [Marcus A Verus], Emperor of Rome (161-180)
1319 Jean II the Good, king of France (1350-64)
1538 Giovanni P Lomazzo Italian writer/poet (Trattato)
1567 Nicolas Forme composer
1573 Marie de'Medici Queen of France
1603 Francesco Nigetti composer
1637 Philip J van Lichtenbergh Governor of Suriname, baptized
1648 Pedro II King of Portugal (1683-1706)
1711 David Hume England, empiricist/philosopher (Treatise of Human Nature)
1718 Esek Hopkins US, 1st commander-in-chief (US Navy)
1726 Pasquale Paoli Corsican freedom fighter
1776 Joan M Kemper Dutch lawyer (designed civil code law book)
1782 Maria Amalia of Bourbon-Sicily wife of Louis Phillip of Austria
1785 John James Audubon Haiti, bird watcher/artist
1787 Ludwig Uhland writer
1796 Auguste-Matthieu Panseron composer
1798 Ferdinand Eugène Delacroix French painter/lithograph/etcher (Journal)
1806 Ludwig Friedrich Hetsch composer
1808 Martha Finley children's book author
1812 Alfred Krupp German arms merchant
1820 Alice Cary Cincinnati OH, American poet (Cincinnati Sentinel)
1822 Frederick Law Olmsted architect/writer (designed Central Park)
1822 Jan Albert van Eyken composer/organist
1827 Charles Edward Hovey Brevet Major General (Union volunteers)
1834 Artemus Ward [Charles Farrar Browne] humorist
1834 Horatio Richmond Palmer composer
1836 Erminnie Adelle Platt US, ethnologist (Iriquois-English Dictionary)
1839 Cyrus Hamblin Brevet Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1867
1841 Wilhelm Scherer German literature historian
1860 Alphonse Ariëns Dutch pastor
1863 Arno Holz writer
1863 Charles Haslewood Shannon lithographer/painter
1868 Harold Sidney Harmsworth 1st Viscount Rothermere/Newspaper publisher
1868 Robert Herrick US writer (Common lot)
1873 Otto zur Linde German author (Charon)
1874 J H "Biddy" Anderson cricketer (one Test South Africa vs Australia 1902)
1875 Syngman Rhee Whanghai Province South Korea, President of South Korea (1948-60)
1878 Ethel Griffies actress (Billy Liar, Birds, We Live Again)
1879 Sir Owen Williams Richardson England, physicist (Nobel 1928)
1880 Mikhail Fokine Russia, choreographer/founder of modern dance
1884 Harry Sothern actor (Dr Huer-Buck Rogers)
1886 Ma Rainey [Gertrude Pridgett] "Mother of the Blues", US blues singer
1888 Aleksandr Mikhailov USSR, astronomer
1889 Ludwig Wittgenstein Austria, philosopher (Tractatus)
1890 Edgar "E Livingstone" Kennedy US actor/director (My Old Dutch)
1893 Anita Loos author (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)
1895 Rudolf Hess Hitler's Deputy Führer, only prisoner at Spandau
1897 Olga Chekova Russia, actress (Italian Strawhat, Cry of the Children)
1898 Vicente Aleixandre Spain, poet (Ambito, Bird of Paper, Nobel 1977)
1898 Edward PF Eagan Denver CO, boxer (Olympics-gold-20)/bobsledder (Olympics-gold-32)
1898 John Grierson documentary film maker
1899 Guinn "Big Boy" Williams Decatur TX, actor (Circus Boy, Hoedown, Country Fair, Blackmail)
19-- Diego Verdaguer Buenos Aires Argentina, Spanish singer (Estoy Celoso)
19-- Ron McLarty Providence RI, actor (Sergeant Frank Belson-Spenser For Hire)
1900 Charles Richter Ohio, Earthquakes seismologist (Richter scale)
1900 Douglas Sirk director (Zu Neuen Ufern, Boefje)
1900 James Sutherland English literature scholar/actor (Rob Roy 1953)
1903 Geoffrey Worthington Air vice-marshall
1903 Niven Busch US screenwriter (Postman Always Rings Twice)
1904 Paul E "Cardinal" Leger archbishop (Montréal Québec Canada)
1904 William "Count" Basie jazz pianist (Policy Man, Blazing Saddles)
1905 Charles K Feldman [Gould] New York NY, producer (Casino Royale)
1905 Denis O'Dea Dublin, actor (Esther & the King, Treasure Island)
1905 Jean Vigo France, actor/director (Zero For Conduct, L'Atlante)
1906 Gracie Allen Mrs George Burns, comedienne (George Burns Show)
1906 Leopold Spinner composer
1907 Theun de Vries writer (February; PC Hooft prize 1981)
1909 Richard Howorth cricketer (English all-rounder, three county doubles)
1910 Erland von Koch composer
1910 Ernst Tittel composer
1910 Johan Doorn Dutch journalist/resistance fighter (Orange Newspaper)
1910 Tomoyuki Tanaka director (Godzilla)
1911 Marianne Hoppe Rostock Germany (Bei Thea, Liebrauen)
1912 A[lfred] E[lton] Van Vogt Winnipeg Manitoba Canada, science fiction writer (Cosmic Encounter)
1914 Bernard Malamud Brooklyn NY, novelist (Fixer, The Natural Pulitizer 1967)
1914 Charlie Chester British comedian (Never Say Die)
1914 Horace Leonard Gold Sci-Fi writer/editor
1914 James William Rouse US builder (shopping malls/Columbia MD)
1914 Wilfred Howard Mellers composer
1916 Morris L West Australia, novelist (Shoes of the Fisherman)
1916 Arnoldus Christian Vlok van Wyk composer
1917 I[eoh] M[ing] Pei Canton China, architect (1961 Brunner Prize)
1917 Sal "The Barber" Maglie pitcher (New York Giants, 8th best won-lost percentage)
1918 Fanny Blankers-Koen Holland, 100 meter/200 meter dash, Hurdler (Olympics-gold-1948)
1918 Stafford Repp California, actor (Chief O'Hara-Batman, Plunder Road)
1918 Jack Morpurgo American Literature scholar (Leeds University)
1920 Juan C Lampe Aruba, pianist/composer
1921 Harry Knutton Major-General/Director-General (London City & Guilds Institute)
1921 Jimmy Giuffre jazz musician
1921 Margaret Gowing professor (history, science)
1922 Mike Kellin Hartford CT, actor (Honestly Celeste, Fitz & Bones)
1922 James Holt medieval historian
1922 Jeanne Sauvé 1st female Governor-General (Canada, 1984-90)
1922 Margaret Scott founder (Australian Ballet School)
1922 Paul-Andre Gaillard composer
1922 Pol Bury Belgian sculptor
1923 Oliver Millar Surveyor (Queen's Pictures)
1924 Russell Nype Zion IL, singer/actor (Burton Farley-Dorothy)
1926 Preston "Bob" Tisch NFL co-owner (New York Giants)
1926 Anton PO Ekström Swedish writer (Summer Dances)
1926 David Coleman sports commentator
1926 Michael Joughin CEO (Scottish Hydro-Electric)
1926 Oldrich Frantisek Korte composer
1927 Anne McLaren biologist/zoologist/actress (Things to Come)
1927 Jack Douglas comedian (My Brother Was an Only Child, Jack Paar Show)
1928 Gordon Downey British Comptroller General/Reader Representative (Independent)
1928 Hertha Kräftner writer
1930 Roger Moens Belgium, 800 meter runner (Olympics-silver-1960)
1930 Derek Waring actor (Barnacle Bill, Arthur-Heart of the Country)
1930 Justin Gosling principal (St Edmund Hall Oxford)
1933 Carol Burnett San Antonio TX, comedian/actress (Annie, 4 Seasons)
1934 J Micheal McCloskey environmentalist, Sierra Club chairman
1936 Edward Cazalet British High Court Judge
1937 Robert Boozer Omaha NE, basketball player (Olympics-gold-1960)
1938 Duane Eddy Phoenix AZ, guitarist (Peter Gunn, Cannonball)
1938 Maurice Williams rocker
1938 Willie Wood bowler
1939 Roger Buckley British High Court Judge
1940 Giorgio Moroder Ortisei Italy, composer/producer/singer (Top Gun, Metropolis, Electric Dreams, Cat People, Let it Ride)
1941 John Battle MP
1942 Bobby Rydell Philadelphia PA, rock singer (Wild One, Bye Bye Birdie)
1942 Claudine Auger Paris France, Miss France-Universe (1958)/actress (Thunderball)
1942 Vitali Andreyevich Grishchenko Russia, cosmonaut
1943 Gary Wright Creskill NJ, singer/keyboardist (Dream Weaver, Spooky Tooth-Love Is Alive)
1944 David O'B Martin (Representative-Republican-NY, 1981- )
1944 Martha Rockwell Providence RI, skier (Mount Washington)
1945 V K Ramaswamy cricketer (Indian Test umpire stood in 1996 World Cup)
1947 Donna Elizabeth De Varona Greenwich CT, swimmer (Olympics-2 gold-64)
1947 Gervase Frank Ashworth Jackson-Stops architectural adviser
1948 Boyd Matson TV host/correspondent (National Geographic Explorer)
1948 Gerry Sikorski (Representative-Democrat-MN, 1983- )
1949 Jimmy Hall rocker (Wet Willie)
1950 Howard "Leon" Reeder rock guitarist (Champaign)
1950 Peter Schaufuss director of ballet (Deutsche Opera Berlin)
1951 Lynne Jones MP
1952 Popo Simon Molefe Secretary-General (South Africa UDF)
1956 Koo Stark [Kathleen Dee-Anne] photographer/actress (Emily)
1958 Giancarlo Esposito actor (Bob Roberts, School Daze, King of New York)
1958 Johnny "Earl of" Dumfries racing driver
1959 Ann O'Neill Toowoomba Queensland, golfer (1989 Downs District Champion)
1960 Roger Taylor England, rock drummer (Duran Duran-Hungry Like the Wolf)
1961 Albert Lawrence Jamaica, 4X100 meter relayer (Olympics-silver-1984)
1961 Joan Chen [Chen Chong] Shanghai China, actress (Heaven & Earth)
1961 Nancy Scranton Centralia IL, golfer (1991 du Maurier Ltd Classic)
1962 Graham "Skin" Skinner rocker (Hipsway)
1962 Michael Damian San Diego CA, actor/singer (Joseph & Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat/Young & the Restless)
1963 Bill Wennington NBA center (Chicago Bulls)
1963 Thomas Searle hockey defenseman (Team Austria 1998)
1964 Tod Bass Los Angeles CA, actor (Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In)
1966 Heather Rattray Moline IL, actress (Lily-As the World Turns)
1966 Andrea Temesvari Budapest Hungary, tennis star (1983, 1984, 1985 US Clay Courts)
1967 Klaus Merk Augsburg Germany, hockey goaltender (Team Germany 1998)
1967 Matt Peterson Chicago IL, Nike golfer (1992 Hawkeye Open-7th)
1968 Ahmed Elmaghraby Suez Egypt, US field hockey forward (Olympics-96)
1971 Ryan Yarborough NFL wide receiver (Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets)
1972 Francisco Cordova Veracruz México, pitcher (Pittsburgh Pirates)
1972 Marco Rivera NFL/WLAF guard (Scottish Claymores, Green Bay Packers-Superbowl 31)
1972 Natrone Means NFL running back (San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars)
1973 Damien Munoz Miss Colorado-USA (1997)
1973 Mark Davis NBA guard/forward (Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves)
1973 Tracy Kathleen Hayes Wheaton IL, Miss Illinois-America (5th-1996)
1975 Jabbar Threats defensive end (Jacksonville Jaguars)
1975 Trudi Ferguson Miss Jamaica-Universe (1996)
1976 Sarah Tueting ice hockey goalie (USA, Olympics-98)
1979 Sean Fox actor (3 Ninjas Kick Back, Calendar Girl)
1980 Jordana Brewster Panamá, actress (Nikki Graves-As the World Turns)
1980 Marne Patterson Sherman Oaks CA, actress (Nicole-Something So Right)
1984 Ryan O'Donohue Pomona CA, actress (Byrds of Paradise, Boys are Back)

---

Deaths which occurred on April 26:
0757 Stephen II Pope (752-57), dies
1196 Alfonso II King of Aragon (1162-96), dies
1444 Robert Campin South Netherlands painter/porter of Doornik, dies at about 65
1478 Giuliano de' Medici Medeheerser of Florence, murdered at about 24
1558 Jean François Fernel French physician, dies
1648 Christoph Thomas Walliser composer, dies at 79
1703 Georg Christoph Leuttner composer, dies at 58
1726 Jeremy Collier English bishop/historian/opponent to theater, dies at 75
1731 Daniel Defoe English author (Robinson Crusoe), dies at about 70
1785 Karl Siegmund von Seckendorff composer, dies at 40
1789 Peter I Panin Russian General (Pugatshov-uprising), dies at about 67
1805 Jean BG d'ansse the Villoison classic (Anecdota Graeca), dies at 55
1827 Bernardo Ottani composer, dies at 90
1865 Charles J Sax Belgian inventor (saxophone), dies at 74
1865 John Wilkes Booth assassin, is shot dead near Bowling Green VA at 27
1907 Pietro Plantania composer, dies at 79
1910 Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson Norwegian writer (Mary, Nobel 1903), dies at 77
1920 Srinivasa Ramanujan Indian math genius ('pi'/Notebooks), dies at 32
1922 Hans Sommer composer, dies at 84
1924 Josef Labor composer, dies at 82
1932 Bill Lockwood cricketer (43 wickets in 12 Tests for England), dies
1938 Edmund Husserl German philosopher (study of phenomenon), dies at 79
1940 Carl Bosch German chemist (BASF, IG Farben, Nobel 1931), dies at 65
1941 Jean Demoor Belgian physician/physiologist/educationalist, dies at 74
1946 Hermann Keyserling count/philosopher (Unsterblichkeit), dies at 65
1951 John Alden Carpenter US composer (Sea Drift), dies at 75
1952 Charles L Baars Dutch actor (Women Tamers), dies at 59
1956 Edward Arnold actor (Mr Smith Goes to Washington), dies at 66
1958 Joe Small cricketer (West Indies all-rounder in 1928 series), dies
1958 Johan N C "Joan" Collette painter, dies at 68
1960 Wander J de Haas Dut physicist (Einstein-De Haas effect), dies at 82
1961 Gail Russell actress (Calcutta, Moonrise, El Paso), dies at 36
1964 Edwin John Pratt Canadian poet (Towards the Last Spike), dies at 81
1964 Pieter van der Lijn Dutch geologist (Boulder Book), dies at 93
1965 Aaron Avshalomov composer, dies at 70
1970 Gypsy Rose Lee [Rose Louise Hovick] stripper/actress (Pruitts of Southampton), dies rom cancer at 56
1970 John Knittel writer, dies at 79
1970 Paul Celan writer, dies at 49 [or May 5]
1972 Margaret A R Bonds US pianist/composer/arranger, dies at 59
1973 Irene Ryan actress (Granny-Beverly Hillbillies), dies at 69
1976 Allan Jackson newscaster (Youth Takes a Stand), dies at 60
1976 Neil McCallum actor (Pete-Saber of London), dies at 45
1976 Sidney James actor (Lavander Hill Mob, Carry On), dies at 65
1980 Cicely Courtneidge actress (Double Exposure), dies at 87
1981 Jim Davis actor (Jack Ewing-Dallas), dies at 65
1981 Madge Evans TV panelist (Masquerade Party), dies at 71
1981 Robert Davi dies at 54
1982 Dame Celia Johnson British actress, dies of a stroke at 73
1982 Celia Johnson British actress (Jean Brodie), dies of stroke at 73
1982 Ville Ritola Finnish 5/10km runner (Olympics-gold-1924, 28), dies
1983 Bronislaw Kaper composer, dies at 81
1983 Vaughn Taylor actor (Johnny Jupiter), dies at 72
1984 Count Basie jazz piano great, dies at 78
1984 Henry Rowland actor (Rogue's Regiment), dies at 70
1984 May McAvoy actress (Ben Hur), dies after a heart attack at 82
1984 William "Count" Basie jazz piano great, dies on 80th birthday
1986 [William] Broderick Crawford actor (Highway Patrol), dies at 74
1986 Bessie Love actress (Broadway Melody, Isadora), dies at 87
1989 Lucille Ball comedienne/actress (I Love Lucy), dies of a massive heart attack at 78
1990 Carlos Pizarro Leongomez Colombian presidential candidate, assassinated
1991 Carmine Coppola composer/father of Francis Ford Coppola, dies
1991 Emily McLaughlin US actress (Jessie-General Hospital), dies at 61
1992 Alberta Vaughn actress (Wild Horse, Silver Devil), dies at 87
1992 Clyde Hartley entertainer, dies at 68
1995 Alexander Knox actor/writer (Gorky Park, Accident), dies at 88
1996 Burton Stein historian, dies at 69
1996 John Norrie McArthur malariologist/microscopist, dies at 94
1996 Stirling Silliphant screenwriter, dies at 78
1997 Joey Faye comic (Fruit of the Loom grapes), dies at 86
1997 Peng Zhen mayor of Beijing China (1951-66), dies
1997 Yegorov Russian leader (1994-95), dies

---

Reported: MISSING in ACTION

1966 ANDERSON WARREN L. CAMDEN MI.
RADIO CONTACT LOST

1966 REILLY EDWARD D. PHILADELPHIA PA.
INTERRO PAPERS FOUND, REMAINS RETURNED 08/22/89

1966 TUCKER JAMES H. PAUNEE OK.
ALL CONTACT LOST

1967 AUSTIN CHARLES D. NEW CANAAN CT.
SURVIVAL UNLIKELY

1967 DUDASH JOHN F. MANVILLE NJ.
REMAINS RETURNED 06/03/83

1967 ESTOCIN MICHAEL J. TURTLE CREEK PA.

1967 MEYER ALTON B. FREDERICKSBURG TN.
03/04/73 RELEASED BY DRV ALIVE AND WELL 98

1967 MEYER WILLIAM TAYLOR MI.
REMAINS RETURNED 08/14/85

1967 RIATE ALFONSO R. DELL GARDENS CA.
03/16/73 RELEASED BY PRG

1968 MC DANIEL JOHN LEWIS GIBSONVILLE NC.

1968 STOW LILBURN RAY VICI OK.

1968 TODD LARRY RICHARD CHAMBLEE GA.

1969 EAST JAMES BOYD JR. OKLAHOMA CITY OK.
REMAINS RETURNED ID 07/28/97

1970 ELLIOTT ARTICE W. TERRELL TX.
03/27/73 RELEASED BY PRG, ALIVE AND WELL 98

1972 AMESBURY HARRY A. JR. MORRISON IL.
"CRASH, NO SIGN SUBJ"

1972 COOKE CALVIN C. JR. WASHINGTON DC.
"CRASH, NO SIGN SUBJ"

1972 DUNN RICHARD E. TERRYVILLE CT.
"CRASH, NO SIGN SUBJ- 1 REMAINS RECOVERED"

1972 HOSKINS DONALD R. MADISON IN.
"CRASH, 1 REMAINS RECOVERED, NOT SUBJS"

1972 HIRONS ALAN
NOT ON OFFICIAL DIA LIST.

1972 RUSSELL RICHARD L. SNYDER TX.
"CRASH, 1 REMAINS RECOVERED, NO SIGN SUBJ"

1972 REYNOLDS TERRY L. GRAINFIELD KS.

1972 WEISMAN KURT F. JASPER IN
02/75 REMAINS RETURNED

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

---

On this day...
0757 Paolo Orsini replaces his brother Pope Stephen II, as Paul I
1220 German king Frederick II grants bishops sovereign rights
1478 Pazzi conspirators attack Lorenzo & kill Giuliano de'Medici
1478 Easter is celebrated for the first time
1514 Copernicus makes his 1st observations of Saturn
1532 Sultan Suleiman through Hungary on away to Vienna
1564 William Shakespeare baptized
1607 1st British to establish an American colony land at Cape Henry VA
1654 Jews are expelled from Brazil
1655 Dutch West Indies Company denies Peter Stuyvesant's desire to exclude Jews from New Amsterdam
1677 Emperor Leopold I forms University of Innsbruck
1709 Frisian viceroy Johan Willem Friso marries countess Maria Louisa
1721 Smallpox vaccination 1st administrated
1755 1st Russian university opens (Moscow)
1777 Sybil Ludington, 16, rode from New York to Connecticut rallying her father's militia
1803 Meteorites fall in L'Aigle, France
1814 King Louis XVIII lands on Calais, from England
1819 Odd Fellows Lodge is established
1828 Russia declares war on Turkey to support Greece's independence
1835 Frédéric Chopins "Grand Polonaise Brillante", premieres in Paris France
1841 "Bombay Gazette" begins publishing on silk
1853 Dutch King William III disbands 2nd Chamber
1855 Composer Gioacchino Rossini leaves Italy
1865 Battle of Durham Station NC (Greensboro)
1865 Battle of Fort Tobacco VA
1865 Confederate General J E Johnston surrenders Army of Tennessee, at Durham NC
1887 Huntsville Electric Company is established to sell electricity
1890 Henry Morton Stanley inaugurated in London
1893 1st Cleveland Board of Park Commissioners forms
1900 American League opener in Cleveland draws 6,500
1904 Bell Telephone Company of Antwerp Belgium forms
1905 Cubs Jack McCarthy becomes only major league player to throw out 3 runners at the plate in 1 game, all were ends of a double play
1906 1st motion pictures shown in Hawaii
1907 Jamestown VA Tercentenary Exposition opens
1912 1st homerun hit at Fenway Park (Hugh Bradley, Red Sox)
1913 Panamá-Pacific International Exposition opens in San Francisco
1913 Sun Yet San calls for revolt against President Yuan Shikai in China
1915 Italy secretly signes Pact of London with Britain, France & Russia
1920 H Shapley & H D Curtis hold "great debate" on nature of nebulae
1923 English prince Albert (George VI) marries lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
1925 Pulitzer prize awarded to Edna Ferber for "So big"
1926 Karachai Autonomous Region is established in RSFSR (until 1943)
1926 Germany & Russia sign neutrality/peace treaty
1928 Madame Tussaud's waxworks exhibition opens in London
1929 1st non-stop England to India flight lands
1931 Lou Gehrig hits a homerun but is called out for passing a runner, the mistake costs him American League home run crown; he & Babe Ruth tie for season
1932 Jean Anouilh's "L'Ermine", premieres in Paris France
1933 Jewish students are barred from school in Germany
1935 Frank Boucher is given the NHL's Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship permanently for winning it 7 of 11 years
1936 Dmitri Shostakovitch completes his 4th Symphony
1937 German Luftwaffe destroys Basque town of Guernica in Spain
1938 Austrian Jews required to register property above 5,000 Reichsmarks
1941 A tradition begins, 1st organ at a baseball stadium (Chicago Cubs)
1941 Potatoes rationed in Holland
1942 Colliery explosion kills 1,549 at Honkeiko Manchuria
1942 Luftwaffe bombs Bath
1944 1st B-29 attacked by Japanese fighters, one fighter shot down
1944 Papandreou government in Greece forms
1945 Marshal Henri Philippe Petain, leader of France's Vichy collaborationist regime during WWII, arrested for treason
1947 "Bless the Bride" musical opens in London
1948 The XP-86 prototype for the Sabre Jet first "officially" breaks the sound barrier. The first operational F-86A Sabres entered service in May of the same year
1950 Last horse race at Havre de Grace Track in Maryland is run
1950 University of Miami ends William & Mary straight tennis match victories at 82
1951 Queen Juliana opens Brielsche Mausoleum
1952 US minesweeper "Hobson" rams aircraft carrier "Wasp", kills 176
1952 Patty Berg scores 64, best competitive round of golf by a woman
1954 Nationwide test of Salk anti-polio vaccine begins
1954 Far Eastern Affairs conference opens in Geneva
1957 Jamestown VA 350th Anniversary Festival opens
1959 Cuba invades Panamá
1959 Wiffi Smith wins LPGA Betsy Rawls Golf Open
1961 French paratroopers' revolt suppressed in Algeria
1961 Roger Maris hits 1st of 61 homers in 1961
1962 1st Lockheed A-12 flies
1962 Boston Red Sox Bill Monbouquette no-hits Chicago White Sox 1-0
1962 US/UK launch Ariel; 1st international payload
1962 Ariel 1 Launch (1st UK Satellite)
1962 Ranger 4 crash lands on (backside of) Moon
1964 Tanganyika & Zanzibar unite to form Tanzania (Tanzanian Union Day)
1964 18th NBA Championship Boston Celtics beat San Francisco Warriors, 4 games to 1
1964 Marilynn Smith wins LPGA Titleholders Golf Championship
1965 Ives' 4th Symphony premieres
1966 Arnold "Red" Auerbach retires as Boston Celtic's coach
1967 "Hallelujah, Baby!" opens at Martin Beck Theater NYC for 293 performances
1967 KSPS TV channel 7 in Spokane WA (PBS) begins broadcasting
1967 San Marco 2 Launch (1st Equatorial Launch)
1968 Students seize administration building at Ohio State
1968 US underground nuclear test, "Boxcar", 1 megaton device
1968 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1969 "Celebration" closes at Ambassador Theater NYC after 110 performances
1969 "George M!" closes at Palace Theater NYC after 435 performances
1969 Firestone World Bowling Tournament (Mercury Open) won by Jim Godman
1970 "Company" opens at Alvin Theater NYC for 690 performances
1971 Heaviest rains ever in Bahia district of Brazil, 15" in 24 hours
1971 San Francisco lightship replaced by automatic buoy
1971 Turkey state of siege proclaimed
1973 "2 Gentlemen of Verona", musical opens in London
1973 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1974 Landslide in Huancavelica Province Peru creates a natural dam
1974 Nw York Yankees trade Peterson, Beene, Kline & Buskey to Cleveland Indians for Chambliss, Tidrow & Upshaw
1974 Malta adopts constitution
1975 Pittsburgh Penguins 0-New York Islanders 1-Quarterfinals-Islanders win series 4-3
1975 Philadelphia Phillies Mike Schmidt's 2 homeruns ties National League record of 11 homeruns in April
1976 Pan Am begins non-stop flights New York-Tokyo
1977 New York's famed disco Studio 54 opens
1978 NASA launches space vehicle S-201
1978 France sends troops to Chad
1980 Iran begins scattering US hostages from the US Embassy
1980 Longest jump by a jet boat is set at 120'
1980 Philadelphia Phillies' Steve Carlton pitches his 6th 1-hitter (beats St Louis Cardinals)
1980 Gerard Nijboer runs Dutch record marathon (2:09:01)
1980 Great Britain performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1981 "Copperfield" closes at ANTA Theater NYC after 13 performances
1981 Beth Solomon wins LPGA Birmingham Golf Classic
1981 Largest US bank robbery (Tucson AZ), more than $33 million stolen
1982 Argentina surrenders to Britain on South Georgia near Falkland Island
1982 Rod Stewart is mugged, the gunman steals his $50,000 Porsche
1982 CBS radio begins youth oriented broadcast Radio Radio
1982 Gene Michael becomes New York Yankee manager for 2nd time
1983 Boston Bruins 2-New York Islanders 5-Wales Conference Championship-Islanders hold 1-0 lead
1983 Dow Jones Industrial Average breaks 1200 for 1st time
1983 San Antonio spurs beat Denver Nuggets, 152-133 in NBA playoff game
1984 Liverpool's Cavern Club reopens
1984 President Ronald Reagan visits China
1986 Actor/body builder Arnold Schwarzenegger weds newscaster Maria Shriver
1986 Baseball game between California Angels & Minnesota Twins delayed for 9 minutes by strong winds
1986 Firestone World Bowling Tournament of Champions won by Marshall Holman
1986 France performs nuclear test
1986 Worst nuclear disaster, 4th reactor at Chernobyl USSR explodes, 31 die
1987 "Barbara Cook A Concert..." closes at Ambassador NYC after 13 performances
1988 1st TNN Viewers Choice Awards-Randy Travis wins in 5 categories
1988 NBA approves addition of 3rd referee in the 1988-89 season
1988 New York Mets' Davey Johnson becomes 2nd manager to record 400 victory in 1st 4 years (Al Lopez did it 1st)
1989 AT&T announces New Jersey's 201 area code will split into 908 & 201
1989 Mike Tyson is ticketed for driving 71 MPH in 30 mile zone in Albany
1990 126 die in a (6.9) earthquake in China
1990 Danny Wood of New Kids, steps on a stuffed animal & twists his ankle
1990 New York court of appeals ends 2½ year legal battle over 1988 America's Cup by refusing jurisdiction of the case
1990 Nolan Ryan ties Bob Feller's record of pitching 12 1-hitters
1990 "Accomplice" opens at Richard Rodgers Theater NYC for 52 performances
1991 "Dinosaurs" premieres on ABC-TV
1991 23 killed in Kansas & Oklahoma by tornadoes
1991 Soccer star Diego Maradona, suspended for using cocaine, arrested in Argentina for possession & distribution of illegal narcotics
1992 "Grand Hotel" closes at Martin Beck Theater NYC after 1,018 performances
1992 "Growing Pains", final episode on ABC TV
1992 "Jelly's Last Jam" opens at Virginia Theater NYC for 569 performances
1992 "Master Builder" closes at Belasco Theater NYC after 45 performances
1992 "Metro" closes at Minskoff Theater NYC after 13 performances
1992 "Who's The Boss", final episode after 8 years on ABC TV
1992 Alex Haley, (Roots), wins 1992 Ellis Island Award, posthumously
1992 Maggie Will wins LPGA Sara Lee Golf Classic
1992 Ozzie Smith steals his 500th base
1993 "Shakespeare for My Father" opens at Helen Hayes NYC for 266 performances
1993 Boeing 737 crashes at Aurangabad, kills 56
1993 NBC announces Conan O'Brien to replace David Letterman
1993 STS-55 (Columbia) launches into orbit
1994 1st multi-racial election in South Africa begins [3 days] Dr Nomaza Paintin in New Zealand is 1st black South African to vote
1994 26.9ºC in Prestebakke Norway (Norwegian April high temp record)
1994 Mad About You actress Leila Kenzel (33) weds Neil Monaco (34)
1994 Taiwan Airbus A-300 crashes at Nagoya Japan, 262 killed
1995 Baseball season begins after lengthy strike
1995 Coors Field, opens in Denver, Rockies beat Mets 11-9 in 14 innings
1996 Shaun Pollock takes 4 wickets in 4 balls for Warwickshire in B&H
1996 Sotherby ends 4 day auction of Jackie O stuff-take in $34.5 million
1997 "Life", opens at Barrymore Theater NYC

---

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

Georgia : Confederate Memorial Day (1868)
Guinea-Bissau : Municipal Holiday
Tanzania : Union Day (1964)
Virginia : Cape Henry Day
Alabama, Florida, Mississippi : Confederate Memorial Day (1868) - - - - - ( Monday )
US-Utah : Arbor Day-plant a tree (1872) - - - - - ( Friday )

---

Religious Observances
Roman Catholic : Commemoration of St Cletus, pope (76-88)
old Roman Catholic : Commemoration of St Marcellinus, pope (296-304)

---

Religious History
1518 German reformer Martin Luther stated in his Disputation at Heidelberg: 'Grace is given to heal the spiritually sick, not to decorate spiritual heroes.'
1834 Birth of Horatio R. Palmer, American Congregational clergyman. From his books of religious verse came two hymns which are still sung today: "Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts" and "My Faith Looks Up to Thee."
1877 The residents of Minnesota observed a statewide day of prayer, asking for deliverance from a plague of grasshoppers that had been ravishing their farm crops this year. (The plague ended soon after, in the summer.)
1955 The Roman Catholic religious program "Life is Worth Living" aired for the last time over Dumont television. Premiering in 1952, it was hosted by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, who won an Emmy during its first year of broadcast for being "the most outstanding personality" on television.
1956 English apologist C.S. Lewis wrote in "Letters to an American Lady": 'One of the many reasons for wishing to be a better Christian is that, if one were, one's prayers for others might be more effectual.'

---

Thought for the day :
"The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese"

[aomagrat]

Today's classic warship, HMS Resolution

"R" class battleship
Displacement. 29,150 t.
Lenght. 614'6"
Beam. 102'6"
Draft. 28'6"
Speed. 21 k.
Complement. 1146
Armament. 8 15"; 12 6"; 8 4"; various smaller AA.

HMS Resolution was laid down at the Palmers dockyard in Jarrow-on-tyne in November 1913, completed in January 1916 and was one of five "R" class battleships, the other's being Royal Oak, Royal Sovereign, Ramillies and Revenge.

She and her sister ships made up the Grand fleet's first battle squadron and were used for blockade duties in the later part of WWI . In November 1917 she supported Naval forces at action at Heligoland Bight.

After WWI in 1920 she transferred to Mediterranean fleet. In April 1929 Resolution sailed to Gallipoli after trouble flared up between the Greeks & Turks

In 1923 Resolution returned to England for refit and on 10th January 1924 while on the way back to the Mediterranean fleet, Resolution collided and sank British Submarine L24 off of Portland Bill with the lost of 43 crew. A look out on Resolution reported a disturbance on the surface ahead and at 11:13 a slight bump was felt. Resolution's chain was found to be fractured at the very bottom and was taken as evidence of a collision. It was believed L24 was unaware of Resolutions position having carried out a mock attack on another ship and surfaced directly in front of her.

In 1936 Resolution transferred to Home Fleet. During December 1939 her first roll in WWII was transporting British gold reserves to Canada and Canadian troops to Britain between the 10th and 29th December. In April 1940 she joined HMS Revenge as part of the force guarding the English channel.

In May 1940 she was sent up to Norway after the German invasion. She was deployed north of Narvik and supported the landing of French foreign legion troops at Herjangsfjord. Resolution was hit by an 250lb armor piercing bomb dropped by a JU88 while anchored off of Tjeldsundet which penetrated three decks between X and Y turrets, exploding on the Royal marine band's mess deck, killing two and injuring twenty seven. Temporary repairs were made by the crew and she remained in Norway until June 1940 when troops were evacuated.

After repairs in the UK she joined Force H at Gibraltar along with HMS Hood, and Ark Royal. On July 3rd 1940 Force H was involved in operation "Catapult" the attack on vichy French ships at Mers el kibir, in French North Africa. The French were given four options. (1) put to sea and join the British fleet. (2) sail to a French West Indian port and demilitarize. (3) Sail with a reduced crew to any British port. (4) Scuttle all ships.

Negotiations lasted most of the day, and the French fleet refused to sail out, so at 17.54, Resolution, along with HMS Hood and HMS Valiant, opened fire firing a total of 144 shells into the harbour hitting and capsizing the french battleship Bretagne with the loss of 1,012 lives. Also hit were the destroyer Mogador, and battleships Provence, and Dunkerque. The battleship Strasbourg steamed out of harbour with out releasing her moorings, ripping them from the quay and managed to escape.

On July 8th 1940 Resolution was part of a failed attempt to attack an Italian airfield at Cagliari, Sardinia. This was abandoned after they were spotted by enemy aircraft and Resolution received minor splinter damage from bombs dropped by Italian SM79 bombers.

On July 31st and August 1st 1940 she joined two cruisers and two destroyers in operation "Hurry" to provide cover for the delivery of hurricane fighters to Malta, and help in attacking Cagliari.

During September 13th-25th 1940 Resolution took part in operation "Menace", along with Ark Royal and Barham, landing British and free French troops thus occupying the French West African port of Dakar.

The force arrived off of Dakar on the 23rd, Resolution, and HMS Barham were deployed to attack the french ships including the battleship Richelieu at anchor in the port. On the 24th the attack begun, the force failed to land any troops and both Barham and Resolution failed to hit the shore batteries. Resolution took four hits off of the french shore batteries and had to retire. On the 25th she returned to continue fire and was hit by a torpedo fired by the French submarine Beveziers. She was hit on the port side in the boiler room, took a 12 1/2 degree list to port, and received extensive damage. Her speed kept dropping so finally she had to be towed by HMS Barham to Freetown, Sierra Leone, to have temporary repairs.

In March 1941, Resolution sailed to Philadelphia USA, to have major repairs carried out and was there till October 1941. Many of the crew were transferred to a US Coast Guard cutter which was renamed HMS Lulworth, given under the "lend lease" agreement, between Roosevelt & Churchill.

In October 1941 HMS Warspite arrived in America to have repairs carried out and many of her crew transferred to Resolution. Resolution sailed to Plymouth where she continued her refit in dry dock at Devonport under a camouflage net. This included extra deck armour and new radar system.

On 24th November 1941 Resolution left Plymouth for Scapa flow on the and endured a force 9 gale all the way, had working up exercises over Christmas. Whilst at Scapa flow the aircraft carrier Victorious dragged her anchor in another gale and almost collided with her, Victorious was sent out to sea to ride out the storm.

In January 1942 Resolution left Scapa flow and headed south west to meet up with a convoy of troop ships and escorted them to Cape town, with the intention of sailing to Singapore to join eastern battle squadron. She joined the 3rd Battle squadron in Columbo as flagship, along with her three remaining sister ships, Ramillies, Royal Sovereign and Revenge. (Royal Oak having been sunk by a German submarine at Scapa flow in October 1939), also Warspite, and the four carriers Illustrious, Formidable, Indomitable, and Hermes, and the cruisers Cornwall & Dorsetshire.

Admiral Sommerville, C-in-C of Eastern fleet received news on the 29th March that a Japanese fleet was planing to attack Columbo. Sommerville knew that the fleet was no match for the Japanese fleet in a daylight battle due to the fleets light anti-aircraft cover, so plans were drawn up for them to intercept at night. After night exercises the fleet set out to find the Japanese, but the fleet ran low on fuel and returned to the Maldives on the 2nd of April. After refueling Adm Sommerville was ordered not to engage the Japanese, so the British and Japanese fleets played cat and mouse around Ceylon, Sommerville always keeping out of Japanese aircraft range. On the 11th the Japanese fleet withdrew as they are low on fuel.

On the 5th of May 1943 Resolution took part in operation "Ironclad", the landing at Diego Suarez (North Madagascar). This was to occupy the Vichy French Base. After operation "Ironclad" She stayed in the Indian ocean on Convoy duties.

In October 1943, she escorted a convoy of 30,000 troops of the Australian 9th Division from the Middle East, back to Australia, this convoy included the liner Queen Mary.

In November 1943 Resolution returned to Britain and was reduced to reserve status, at Southampton and used as a training ship for new ratings. Transfered to Devonport in June 1944 and used as training for stokers, her main armament was removed to provide spares for HMS Ramillies and Warspite, who were involved in operation Neptune (Navy cover of D-day). Paid up and put on the disposal list in February 1948, she was sold to the British Iron & Steel Co Ltd. She was broken up at Faslane in Scotland on 13th of May 1948.

[HiJinx]

During September 13th-25th 1940 Resolution took part in operation "Menace", along with Ark Royal and Barham, landing British and free French troops thus occupying the French West African port of Dakar.

Poor French...seems like everyone's out to get them...!

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Jen

[SAMWolf]

1803 Meteorites fall in L'Aigle, France

Confusion reigns as the french frantically look for someone to surrender to.

[SAMWolf]

Eveyone was getting to take "a shot" at the french in WWII.

Good job Resolution.

[SAMWolf]

Morning HiJinx

[dinok]

Seems like the Free French were the last French with some moral backbone. While the rest of France went Vichy colaborationist or hid in the closet, the Free French fought for their nation's Freedom.

[Light Speed]

Discovered this note on a documentary recently.

President Roosevelt did not like Charles De Gaull....Winston Churchill tried and tried to get rid of the "Sulking" frenchman from Englands soil.

Roosevelt went to North Africa for a meet with Winston and De Gaull.
De Gaull wanted pre-eminence concerning french political aspirations and full controll of the french army.
Roosevelt blocked him...deciding upon a split French military leadership...hence the sulking in England.

President Roosevelt and Churchill arrived in North Africa...but no De Gaull.
Winston made repeated appeals for the sulking one to attend.

President Roosevelt ..becoming exasporated at De Gaulls antics ..waxed elloquent before the gathered media.

"Yes indeed,said Roosevelt......When is She going to get here"?

[Light Speed]

Have a freind who is a Vietnam vet Sam...served with "Aloha Ronnie's" Cav unit.
He grew up with Wes Studi in the Tahlequah Oklahoma region.
Wes could get very roudy at times...my friend remembers Wes getting on in the bars...and things did become "Wild West" as brawling goes..
his comment..."Oh ya....Some of Wes's facial scars were from us".

He has a ranch in Oklahoma today.... is one of the disabled from Vietnam....having lost the use of an arm from grenade fragments.

Immensley proud of 1st Cav...his participation...and his Cherokee heritage.

[Light Speed]

Photo of William with his "Starlite" scope....DMZ,Vietnam 69/70.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Light Speed. If there's one group of people in the United States who have a right to claim "Screwed by the Government" it's surely the American Indians. I don't think we ever kept one treaty we forced them to sign.