40 years ago today.

Today

 

 

Derek Lovell

Firefighter.

2008 - End of the Odyssey

The man who did more for space exploration than Neil Armstrong, Auther C Clark died today in his adopted home of Sri Lanka aged 90.

I’m sure we would not have had men on the Moon if it had not been for Wells and Verne and the people who write about this and made people think about it. I’m rather proud of the fact that I know several astronauts who became astronauts through reading my books.

Arthur C. Clark

Those who do not learn from history

are doomed to repeat it.

Consequently you actually NEED to see this film.

Poland has always suffered from a serious case of geography. During WWII this resulted in being the meat in a Nazi/Communist power grab sandwich. Leading to Stalin ordering the murder of 25,000 Polish officers, chaplains, landowners, a prince, officials, soldiers, refugees, university professors, physicians, lawyers, engineers, teachers, writers, journalists and pilots.

What we now collectively refer to as the Katyn Massacre or Katyn Forrest Massacre was denied by the Soviet government untill 1990 and even then they declined to actually allow any prosecution of the perpetrators. This attitude as now changed slightly and the state media have elected to go with a denial again to celebrate the release of Katyn, Directed by 81 year old Andrzej Wajda father, Jakub, was murdered at Katyn, as were family members of many of the production team.

A 10 minute video shot by the Germans in 1943 with an English commentry is here.

Some times having a common enemy doesn’t mean you should be an ally.

Now thats poetry.

Jessica T Hill

23rd October 1990 - 19th Feburary 2008

Matthew Ferrara

Lieutenant Matthew Ferrara

Matthew was born in the US, his mother Linda is a New Zealander and his father, Mario is American. Two of his siblings were born in New Zealand and Mathew held dual New Zealand citizenship.

He spent a lot of time in New Zealand particularly visting his grandparents, his grandfather Bruce also served. 

He graduated  Torrance’s South High in 2001 and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2005 ninth in his class.

Matthews three brothers are also serving in the US Military. One is based in Thailand, another in California and the youngest is currently at West Point.

His sister Simone Carmichael, competed for New Zealand in the Fifa Women’s World Soccer Cup in China in September and plays for the Ajax America soccer club.

Matthew was five months into his year long deployment in Afghanistan when his patrol was ambushed.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of five soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died of wounds sustained when their patrol was attacked by direct fire from enemy forces in Aranus, Afghanistan, on Nov 9. They were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.

Killed were:
1st Lt. Matthew C. Ferrara, 24, of Torrance, Calif., who died Nov. 9 in Aranus.

Sgt. Jeffery S. Mersman, 23, of Parker, Kan., who died Nov. 10 in Aranus.

Spc. Sean K. A. Langevin, 23, of Walnut Creek, Calif., who died Nov. 9 in Aranus.

Spc. Lester G. Roque, 23, of Torrance, Calif., who died Nov. 10 in Aranus.

Pfc. Joseph M. Lancour, 21, of Swartz Creek, Mich., who died Nov. 10 in Aranus.

Santa Claws is coming to town…

and some of you have been werrrrry bad by the look of it…

No, in fact its not Christmas, but it is a good chance for you younger members of the blogosphere to find out why us fat old buggers and some not so old ones might actually be worth listening to once and a while.

If not, you’re free to do whatever the hell you like. Because guys like these made it so.

Also they make good stand in Santas if the MkI is busy.

Dear Paul.

Thank you.

 

Brig Gen Paul Warfield Tibbets DSC, DFC,
23 Feb 1915 - 1 Nov 2007

 

Without Comment.

Go read this. (With thanks to Imshin).