Trivia

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PHKRAUSE

I did not  know  how  TWITTER  got its  name

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Patrick Henry

On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry stood before the Virginia Convention and called for the colony to create militias to defend against the British, using the now-famous quote, "Give me liberty, or give me death!" Here are 5 things you didn't know about Patrick Henry...

That Speech Wasn't the First Time Henry Had Criticized Britain

Before standing in front of the Virginia Convention and advocating for the formation of militias, Henry was a lawyer who defended the state during the Parson's Cause case. Preachers in Virginia were originally paid in tobacco, not cash, and during a particularly bad spell for tobacco crops, the colonial government (the House of Burgesses, a Virginian governing body and not a British one) decided to switch the mode of payment to a specific cash pay rate. However, when the price of tobacco surpassed the amount of pay in cash, preachers protested because they were getting what amounted to a pay cut. King George III supported the preachers. Henry represented Virginia and gave a speech that pretty much called King George III a tyrant.

He Might Actually Have Never Said That Famous Quote

The "Give me liberty, or give me death" line that Henry is known for might not have been real. No one recorded his speech, he had no notes, and it wasn't until the early 1800s that anyone bothered to put the speech back together. The author of a biography of Henry, William Wirt, cobbled together the speech from speaking with people who had heard it (Henry died in 1799, long before Wirt began his book). While there's some agreement that Wirt's version isn't too far from the truth (in other words, it's likely not made up completely), no one really knows how much dramatic flair he or his interviewees added to the speech.

No Matter the Quote's Origin, Henry's Speech Convinced a Gunshy Virginia Convention to Support Militias

Regardless of the exact wording, Henry's speech was a pivotal moment for Virginia. He was addressing the Virginia Convention, where many people still hoped to avoid war with Britain. They weren't keen on the idea of forming armed militias as that could escalate British actions against colonists. However, Henry's speech was considered so energizing and inspirational that the Convention eventually voted to form militias. And it turned out the be the right move because fighting soon broke out.

Henry Preferred the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution

The Articles of Confederation were the original constitution created after the United States declared independence. And the Articles were a mess. They decentralized national government for a reason; no one wanted a hint of centralized, monarch-style rule. But they left the states pretty much on their own with a hodge-podge of laws that ended up being more annoying than anything else. In 1789, the states reconvened to create a new constitution, but Henry balked at the idea, claiming the new version, which gave more power to a central national government, was too close to monarchy.

He Was a Reluctant Politician

Despite Henry's continued involvement in politics, he really didn't want to be there. He, like George Washington, preferred to stay at home with family and tend to personal business. Henry tried to stay in private life as a lawyer, but in 1799, he was convinced to run again for a spot in the Virginia legislature (and he won). However, he died before his term began.

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5 Things You Didn't Know about Houdini

On March 24, 1874, Erich Weiss, better known as Harry Houdini, was born in Hungary. He went on to become one of the greatest illusionist and showmen of all time. Here are five things you didn't know about Houdini...

Houdini May Have Named Buster Keaton

Houdini was a contemporary and business partner of Joe Keaton, the patriarch of the entertaining Keaton family and father of future star Buster Keaton. Buster's real name was Joseph Frank Keaton, but he may have gotten the "Buster" nickname from Houdini, who witnessed Buster falling down stairs when he was only a few months old. Buster was unharmed, believe it or not (given his later performances, it's probably not so surprising), and Houdini reportedly exclaimed that the fall was a real buster, which is an older slang term for a fall. Joe Keaton started calling his son by that name, and eventually, that became Buster's nickname and stage name.

His Stage Last Name Was a Tribute to a Magician He Later Tried to Debunk

"Houdini" was based on a magician whose last name was Robert-Houdin, and it was meant to be a tribute. However, Houdini later turned on Houdin, accusing him of magic-trick theft and trying to discredit his skills. It's not really clear why, but it also wasn't the only about-face that Houdini made. Houdini was also dedicated to debunking the more occult side of magic, such as mediumship, despite the fact -- or maybe because of it -- that he and his wife apparently acted as mediums for a while when traveling with a show and knew how to pull a fast one on grieving people. Houdini was also fairly put out by an incident in which he tried to contact his deceased mother through a seance only to get a message in English, which his mother didn't speak.

He Could Hold His Breath Underwater for Three Minutes

Houdini was not just a master of escape, but also of breath regulation. In the course of his career, he was known for holding his breath underwater for three minutes (don't try that, really) and for staying in a locked, underwater coffin for an hour and a half with no extra oxygen supply. This was not a fluke; Houdini practiced his breathing techniques after being challenged to replicate a dangerous stunt by another magician. Houdini succeeded and surpassed the original trick's time frame.

Houdini Was One of the First People to Make a Plane Flight Over Part of Australia

This is something that Houdini used to be known for, but that may have not actually been a first. Still, he was one of the earliest pilots to fly over part of Australia. Houdini had developed an interest in flying and purchased a small plane in 1909 and promptly crashed it. In 1910, after additional practice, he made three very short flights in the Melbourne area. For a long time, these flights were certified as the first flights in that country (remember, at this point commercial airplane trips in Australia, much less to Australia, in case you're wondering how Houdini got there in the first place, were not a thing), but evidence uncovered later showed that an Englishman had actually made the first flight. Still, Houdini and the Englishman were both honored for their aviation feats.

He Also Started a Film Company and Produced Movies

Houdini was nothing if not prolific. In the late 1910s and early 1920s, Houdini starred in a couple of silent films, the first of which turned into a hit. He went on to start his own film company, but the venture was so expensive -- and his later films didn't really make a profit -- that he closed the company. 

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The $100 Bill

On Monday, March 25, 1996, the U.S. Treasury Department began circulating a newly redesigned $100 bill.  Here are 5 things you probably didn’t know about the $100 bill and how it has changed over the years...

The New $100 Bill Was a Big Change From the Old One

To add protection against counterfeiting, eight features were added to the $80 billion of $100 bills released in 1996. They included an off-center, larger Ben Franklin, ink that color shifted and words that were micro-printed to make it more difficult for forgers to copy. Some of the new features remained a secret as an added foil for counterfeiters.

The $100 Bill Was Redesigned Again and Released in 2013

Apparently, the redesign of the bill in 1996 wasn’t considered secure enough against counterfeiters, so it was redesigned once again in 2013. The newer bill has an embedded security thread that glows pink under ultraviolet light. Other changes included a security ribbon that changes from 100s to bells and back when tilted, and a watermark of Benjamin Franklin that is visible from both sides.

The First of the 2013 Bills Printed Could Be Worth Thousands

The first bill that became released on October 8, 2013, and has serial No. 1 would be valuable to collectors. An independent dealer named Scott Lindquist said that this particular bill could be valued at $10,000 to $20,000 to those who collect printed money.

Another Change That Might Be Missed by Forgers

The $100 bill released in 2013 features the clock mounted on the bell tower at Independence Hall, just as the older bill did, but a significant change was made. The older $100 bill showed the time on the clock at 4:10, but it reads 10:30 on the new bills. Both images were done in the 1920s by engraver J.C. Benzing, and no one seems to know why the times are different.

The First $100 Bill Was Issued in 1862

The first $100 bill featured a large eagle with its wings spread and with the words Washington and the date of March 10, 1862, printed on the front. Later images featured Abraham Lincoln on the left-hand side and were printed on colorful paper, which gave rise to their being called rainbow notes. Benjamin Franklin appeared on the $100 bill beginning in 1929.

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PHKRAUSE

 I  did  not  know that  Patrick  Henry  ran for the Virginia Legislature

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PHKRAUSE

I  did  not  know that  HOUDINI  had  any  influence  in  giving  BUSTER   KEATON  his  name===

I did  not  know that  hw  stared  in  silent  films  and  started  his  own  film  company

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PHKRAUSE

I did  not  know that the 1st  100 dollar  bill had a  large  eagle ====I  also  did  not  know that

ABRAHAN  LINCOLN  was  featured  on the  100  dollar  bill

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Beethoven

On March 26, 1827, composer Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna, Austria, at age 56. Here are 5 things you probably didn't know about this famous German composer and pianist...

Beethoven Had a Difficult Childhood

Beethoven’s father was an abusive alcoholic who wanted his son to become the next Mozart, even lying about his son’s age when the child first performed in public in Munich, saying he was six when he was seven-and-a-half. The father was known to slam the piano lid on the boy’s hands if he hit a wrong note, and there were times when the elder Beethoven would bring friends home from a tavern in the middle of the night and wake his son to play for them. Despite this difficult relationship, Beethoven published his first work before he had turned 12, entitled 9 Variations in C Minor for Piano.

He Wrote The Anthem For The European Union

In 1972, the Council of Europe voted to adopt the “Ode to Joy” from Beethoven’s ninth symphony as the official “Anthem of Europe”. It was also used temporarily as Kosovo’s national anthem when they declared independence in 2008 until an official one was adopted later that year. The movement was composed in 1823 from a poem written by German poet Friedrich Schiller in 1785 called "An die Freude" (To Joy). 

Beethoven Suffered From Many Illnesses

Beethoven, through a letter, attributed the start of his deafness to when he became startled and tripped and fell. However, he suffered from many illnesses over the years, including smallpox, typhus, colitis, rheumatic fever, chronic hepatitis, and cirrhosis of the liver. He died from cirrhosis in 1827 from his excessive drinking.

Beethoven Did Not Name the Moonlight Sonata

The Moonlight Sonata, one of Beethoven’s most famous works, wasn’t titled that until long after his death. Beethoven merely called it Number 14 in C# Minor. He dedicated the song to one of his piano students, Countess Giulietta Guicciardi.

Beethoven Wrote One Opera

The composer’s only opera, Fidelio, took him ten years to write, so it isn’t surprising that he only wrote one. It was originally titled Leonore, or The Triumph of Marital Love, which is now known merely as Leonore. Following the end of World War II, Fidelio was the first opera that was performed in Berlin at its remaining undamaged theater.

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PHKRAUSE

I   did  not  know that  his  father  was   a  alcoholic  and  would   bring  his  friends home and  wake  up BEETHOVEN 

to  play for  them===I  did  not  know  that  he  published  his  1st   before  age  12

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The U.S. Navy

On March 27, 1794, President George Washington and Congress authorized the creation of the U.S. Navy. See how much you didn’t know about America’s maritime branch of the military...

David Farragut Was the Navy’s First Admiral

This amazing man is known for the quote, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” But he was much more than that. Farragut was only nine years old when he joined the Navy and served in the War of 1812. He was placed in charge of a ship at age 12, and by 20, was a seasoned officer. He went on to serve in the Navy during the Civil War and helped to win the Battle of Vicksburg, which gave the Union important control over the Mississippi River.

No One Seems to Know Where the Navy Was Born

Both Beverly and Marblehead, Massachusetts claim that the schooner Hannah, which was an armed vessel used during the American Revolution, was where the Navy was born. It was in Beverly that the new sea vessel was armed, while the crew was selected in Marblehead. Other cities that claim to be the Navy’s birthplace include Providence, Rhode Island; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Whitehall, New York.

Navy Personnel Who Serve on Submarines Are Volunteers

It’s probably a bad idea for those with claustrophobia to serve on a submarine because it offers cramped quarters without any windows or differentiation between day and night, so all submariners are volunteers. Most U.S. Navy submarines are fairly small and stay underwater for months, plus they are nuclear powered. Those who want to serve on a submarine have to pass stringent physical and psychological tests, which is probably a good idea.

TOPGUN Has Been Around Since the Vietnam War

The U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School, known as TOPGUN, is located in Nevada and was founded to train pilots in air-to-air combat. In the 1970s, this successful training program lowered the kill/loss ratio to 13:1 from its high of 3.7:1. In 1986, Tom Cruise starred in a movie about TOPGUN where he played a well-trained fighter pilot.

Captain James Kirk Commands the USS Zumwalt

Captain Kirk, not to be confused with the mythical captain of the Enterprise, commands the largest destroyer that was ever built for the Navy. The ship is 610-feet long and weighs about 15,000 tons. Advanced stealth capabilities on the ship allow it to be registered by other ships as a small fishing boat, and its missile system can strike targets as far as 63 miles away.

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PHKRAUSE

I  did  not  know  about  DAVID FARRGUT  and  his  fighting in the  war  of   1812  as  well  as the civil  war

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Dwight D. Eisenhower

On March 28, 1969, Dwight D. Eisenhower died in Washington, D.C., at age 78. Here are 5 surprising facts about the five-star general who also served as America’s 34th president...

His Name Wasn’t Dwight D. Eisenhower

Eisenhower’s real name was David Dwight Eisenhower. However, his father’s first name was David, so Eisenhower’s mother started calling him Dwight to avoid confusion. He is referred to as David Dwight in his family's Bible as well as his yearbook from high school.

The Entire Family Was Nicknamed “Ike”

Eisenhower’s nickname of Ike actually came from his last name, not from the name Dwight, and everyone in the family went by that name. All seven of the boys in the family were called “Ike” growing up. Eisenhower’s brother Edgar was called “Big Ike”, and Dwight was called “Little Ike.” The brother who became president remained the only one who retained the nickname.

He Never Served in Active Combat

Even though Eisenhower served through two world wars and was in the military for 35 years, he never served in combat. He graduated in 1915 from the U.S. Military Academy and asked to be transferred overseas during World War I. The request was denied, and he stayed in the United States in a training role. He became a general before World War II began, and he was eventually appointed as the supreme commander of the European Allied Expeditionary Force.

Eisenhower Was Offered a Job by William Randolph Hearst

Eisenhower was not only an experienced military man; he was also a good writer, crafting many reports, speeches and military studies. During the 1930s, William Randolph Hearst, the renowned newspaper publisher, offered Eisenhower a job as a military correspondent. Eisenhower refused the offer, even though Hearst offered him a salary that was three times higher than he was earning in the military.

Both Parties Wanted Him as a Candidate for President

President Truman began encouraging Eisenhower to run for president in 1945, and although Eisenhower refused, by 1952, both the Republican and Democratic parties were trying to talk him into being their candidate. In 1951, Eisenhower agreed to run after Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. submitted Eisenhower’s name as a contender in the Republican primary in New Hampshire in 1952. Eisenhower won the 1952 election against Adlai Stevenson in a landslide of 442 to 89, and won once more against Adlai Stevenson in 1956.

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PHKRAUSE

I   did  not  know  that  both  his  father  and   he  had  same name  DAVID =====I  did not  know that  he

was  offered  a  job as a  military correspondent  for a  new  paper

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5 Surprising Presidential Firsts

On March 29, 1929, President Herbert Hoover had a phone installed at his desk in the Oval Office. Here are 5 other interesting presidential firsts you may not know...

Thomas Jefferson Was the First President Who Shook Hands With Guests

It wasn’t customary to shake hands with the president until Thomas Jefferson introduced the custom in 1801. George Washington, being the courtly person he was, had the custom of bowing to his guests; they, of course, bowed back.

William Henry Harrison Was First to Be Photographed

William Henry Harrison had a daguerreotype taken of himself after he was sworn into office in 1841, and this was the first instance of a president being photographed. The original has been lost, but one copy still survives and is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. A photo of James K. Polk, the 11th president, is the oldest surviving image that was taken while he was in office.

Teddy Roosevelt First Called His Temporary Home the White House

The White House wasn’t called by that name until Teddy Roosevelt called it that in the 20th century. Before that, there were many names used to refer to the big, white house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. One of those names was the “Executive Mansion,” while another was the "President’s Palace.”

Andrew Jackson Was the First and Only President to Kill a Man in a Duel

Charles Dickinson and Andrew Jackson were both plantation owners and horse breeders, and they apparently had a strong dislike for each other. Jackson challenged Dickinson to a duel after Dickinson made a nasty comment about Jackson’s wife, Rachel, and accused him of being a cheat with regard to a bet on a horse race. Dickinson and Jackson met to duel it out on May 30, 1806, where Jackson was shot in the chest first. Jackson fired once more, mortally wounding Dickinson.

This President Was the First and Only One to be Sworn in by His Father

Calvin Coolidge was the only president to be sworn in by his father, and this occurred after President Warren G. Harding died in office. Coolidge’s father was John Calvin Coolidge, Sr. In addition to being a Vermont farmer, store owner and businessman, the elder Coolidge served in both the Vermont House of Representatives and Senate.

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PHKRAUSE

I did  not  know  about  the  shaking  of the  hands vs  the bowing===I  also  did not know  about 

the  different names  of the  white  house

dgrimm60

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Jeopardy

On March 30, 1964, the TV game show Jeopardy! debuted on NBC. Since then the show has won 30 Emmys and additional awards. What are five things you didn't know about Jeopardy!?

Jeopardy!'s "Answer in the Form of a Question" Format Was Used Because of the Quiz Show Scandals — but It Wasn't Unique

The "What is" answer format for Jeopardy! was added as a way to prove to the audience that the contestants were thinking up their own answers. In 1956, an investigation revealed that the popular game show Twenty-One was rigged, with favored contestants receiving answers from producers to ensure they'd win (as dramatized in the 1994 film Quiz Show). As a result, game shows pretty much disappeared from TV for a few years. When Merv Griffin tried to pitch Jeopardy!, he needed a way to prove to audiences that the contestants were really giving their own answers. His wife suggested providing the answer instead and having the contestants create the questions. This was not a new strategy; in fact, the first TV game show used a similar format. Jeopardy! was the first to bring that format back.

It's Faced Repeated Orders to "Dumb Down," Which Hosts and Creators Have Refused to Follow

Jeopardy! has faced constant criticism from network and production heads that the show was too "smart." The executives were too frustrated with the questions and wanted the show to dumb itself down. This happened in the early 1960s when the show was first proposed; NBC head Mort Werner couldn't answer any of the questions and got so frustrated that he reportedly literally threw up his arms (at that point, his assistant urged him to buy the show, and Griffin didn't dumb down anything). The executives for the syndication company producing the 1980s version of Jeopardy! also wanted Griffin to make the questions easier. Griffin said he would, but then he and Trebek both kept the intensity level of the questions the same — no dumbing down occurred at all, and audiences loved it.

The Theme Song Is Technically a Lullaby

The theme to Jeopardy! is named Think! and was composed by Merv Griffin. Nowadays, no one can hear the theme and think of anything other than three contestants concentrating on a question, but when it was originally thought up, it was supposed to be a short lullaby to get Griffin's kid to fall asleep. Instead, Griffin gave it to the show — a smart move given Griffin's own estimates of the royalties he's gotten are in the $70 million range.

Alex Trebek's Appointment as Host Was Initially Received With Skepticism

It's difficult to imagine Jeopardy! without Trebek's calm tones narrating the game, but when he was first tapped to be the host of the new 1980s' version of the show, he seemed an odd choice. Not only did he seem a lot younger than people expected game show hosts to be, but he also didn't have a good track record of hosting game shows. He had hosted a few other shows throughout the 1970s that were all canceled, such as Wizard of Odds and High Rollers. But Griffin thought Trebek had the right stuff to be a host and wanted to give him another shot. Griffin's instinct was right on target.

Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune Have a Special Agreement

When Jeopardy! was brought back onto TV in the 1980s, it was paired with the syndicated evening version of Wheel of Fortune, the game show hosted by Pat Sajak and Vanna White. That was mainly to help the previously canceled Jeopardy! get a better foothold with audiences, but the two shows — both created by Merv Griffin — also have a special agreement: No contestants from one show may appear on the other.

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PHKRAUSE

I  did  not  know  that the theme song  was  a  lullaby  

dgrimm60

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5 Cool Facts About The Eiffel Tower

On March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower opened in Paris. Originally built for an international exposition, the tower has drawn both criticism and praise. It's now a symbol of Paris and France, and it remains a top tourist attraction. Here are five cool facts about the Eiffel Tower...

The Eiffel Tower Faced Enormous Opposition

The Eiffel Tower might seem like a classic structure now, but when it was proposed, it was not well-liked at all. In fact, petitions were created to oppose its construction, and people were worried that such a tall structure would be unstable. Remember, no one had made a structure like the Eiffel Tower before; even the Statue of Liberty, designed by the same people, was a more classically designed artwork. Some people were so upset that they deliberately chose establishments to visit based on whether they could see the tower's shadow or not. After the tower's construction, however, people gradually got used to it. It helped that the tower had a few other purposes, which you'll hear about in a bit.

It Held the Record for Being the Tallest Human-Made Structure in the World for 41 Years

From the time the tower was constructed in 1889 to the time the Chrysler Building was built in New York in 1930, the Eiffel Tower held the record as the world's tallest human-made structure. The length of time it held that record really isn't a surprise; construction and engineering techniques didn't really reach the point where they could support extremely tall structures in a cost-effective way until the 20th century. After the Chrysler Building took the title, however, the "tallest structure" title was usurped again and again. After the Chrysler Building opened in 1930, so many taller structures were built that the Eiffel Tower no longer ranks among the 100 tallest buildings in the world.

The Tower Is More Resistant to Wind Than Sunlight

You would think that something like wind, actively pushing against a structure, would have more of an effect than a passive influence like sunlight. Yet the Eiffel Tower was built to be very wind resistant. It does sway somewhat, but it really moves when sunlight hits it. The metal in the tower expands when it heats up, causing the warm side of the tower to lean back away from the sun. The leaning isn't drastic — about 18 centimeters, or around 7 inches — but it's still farther than the tower moves when a strong storm blows in.

The Eiffel Tower Was Almost Demolished — but It Was Saved for Another Use

The Eiffel Tower was not meant to be permanent. It was actually supposed to be demolished about 20 years after its construction. However, officials realized that the tower was very useful as a radio tower, so it stayed up. In fact, the Eiffel Tower was used during World War I to receive and send communications such as zeppelin alerts and intercept radio transmissions from the enemy.

It's a Science Lab

It wasn't intended to be, but the tower houses and has served as a scientific laboratory. Gustave Eiffel built a meteorology lab in the tower and allowed other scientists to perform experiments in that lab; other scientists took advantage of the height and open nature of the tower to test out theories. One scientist managed to confirm the existence of cosmic rays when he was at the tower.

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PHKRAUSE

I did  not   know  that the  tower  was  used  to sent and  receive  messages  during  WW I ===

dgrimm70

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The Desert Fox

On April 2, 1941, "The Desert Fox" recaptured Libya by pushing British forces out of Ajdabiya, a district in the northeastern part of the country. Discover the following facts about the military life of German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel...

Rommel Earned His Nickname in North Africa

Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel, the famous German field marshal who served the Nazis during World War II, was sent to North Africa in 1941 to battle the British after the Italians troops there suffered a defeat. He was there for two years and was known as a man who was courageous and moved his troops rapidly to take advantage of his enemies. It was here he earned his nickname, “The Desert Fox,” because of his daring sneak attacks.

He Served During World War I

Rommel was stationed in many places during World War I, fighting in the Italian and Romanian campaigns as well as in France. He received a promotion to first lieutenant and was sent to command the Alpenkorps in 1915. Three years later, he was made a captain and assigned to the German XLIV Army Corps.

Rommel’s Biggest Achievement Was in 1942

In 1942, Rommel and his troops defeated the British at the Battle of Gazala, and followed this battle by taking Tobruk. When the British army won a victory at El Alamein, he withdrew his surviving troops to Tunisia. At this point, the Americans and British both were in North Africa, reconquering territory and hemming in the Germans. Rommel returned to Europe in 1943.

He Was a Popular Military Leader

Rommel won many battles and was a popular leader because he led his army instead of following up from the rear, which was standard practice. He became known at the “People’s Marshal,” becoming popular among the Germans and the Arabs because he was seen as liberating them from the rule of the British.

Rommel Was Ordered to Commit Suicide

In 1944, German officers planned a coup called Operation Valkyrie to remove Hitler from power, and they approached Rommel with this plan. The plot failed when a bomb that was set off at Hitler’s field headquarters failed to kill him. It resulted in almost 5,000 people being executed, with many more arrested. During the Nazi investigation into the plot, Rommel’s name came up as a conspirator, and he committed suicide on 14 October 1944, an option given to him by Hitler, so that his family would remain safe.

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PHKRAUSE

I did not  know  that  he was  involved  in the  plot to  kill  Hitler====I   also  did not  know that  he   committed  suicide

dgrimm60

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18 hours ago, phkrause said:

Rommel Earned His Nickname in North Africa

Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel, the famous German field marshal who served the Nazis during World War II, was sent to North Africa in 1941 to battle the British after the Italians troops there suffered a defeat. He was there for two years and was known as a man who was courageous and moved his troops rapidly to take advantage of his enemies. It was here he earned his nickname, “The Desert Fox,” because of his daring sneak attacks.

My father was in the Army during WWII. He was in the N. African and the Italian campaigns. He would tell few stories as many soldiers were reluctant to tell what they had been thru. He was in a company of about 100 men. 98 of them bought life insurance. My father and one other man did not. The two who did not buy life insurance were the only ones of their group to survive the war. My father was in the trenches when mortar fire came in and blew up one of the men who happened to be his best friend. His best friends head landed in his lap. My father eventually got sent home "shell shocked" (ptsd in current speak). War is hell.

[phkrause]

Thanks for sharing. And yes war is hell for sure. My Father was in a concentration camp during WW2 and 4 of his brothers were killed in action when Germany invaded Poland. Only one other family member survived the war, a brother, who fled into Russia!

[phkrause]

5 Things You May Not Know About The Pony Express_2

On April 3, 1860, the Pony Express began delivering mail, newspapers and messages, and the service was much faster than the stagecoaches used in those days. Here are 5 things you didn’t know about the Pony Express..

Mail Was Delivered Really Fast for Those Days

The Pony Express riders rode their route at about 10 mph through what are 10 states today. It took them 10 days to make it from Missouri to California. By comparison, a stagecoach delivering mail took about 24 days. In 1861, riders made a record run to California in less than eight days, delivering to California the inaugural address of the new president, Abraham Lincoln.

Many of the Riders Were Youngsters

To enable the horses to run faster, the Pony Express limited its riders to men who weighed from 100 to 125 pounds, which is equal to today’s jockeys. Although many of the riders were about 20 years old, some were as young as 14. One rider, named “Bronco” Charlie Miller, stated that he was 11 years old when he started riding for the Pony Express.

It Took Many Horses to Deliver the Mail Quickly

Riders for the Pony Express normally rode from 75 to 100 miles at a time but changed horses frequently, so their mounts would be fresh. Because the stations were located around 10 miles apart, this is where they changed to fresh horses. Since they changed horses as many as 10 times during each ride, the Pony Express kept up to 400 horses for that purpose.

More Pony Express Stockhands Died Than Riders

Being a rider for the Pony Express could be a dangerous job between bad weather, the threats from Indians, bandits and the rough terrain they traveled over. However, the stock keepers at the relief stations were alone in remote locations, which made it even more dangerous for them. During the summer months of 1860, when the Pyramid Lake War was going on, it was reported that up to 16 stock hands were killed by Indians, compared to six riders that died during the history of the mail service.

The Pony Express Operated for Only About 18 Months

The Pony Express began on April 3, 1860, but operated only until October 26, 1861. One of the things that helped to shut it down was the transcontinental telegraph line, which connected cities in the East Coast to California. The telegraph line was completed two days before the Pony Express closed down.

[B/W Photodude]

6 hours ago, phkrause said:

Thanks for sharing. And yes war is hell for sure. My Father was in a concentration camp during WW2 and 4 of his brothers were killed in action when Germany invaded Poland. Only one other family member survived the war, a brother, who fled into Russia!

My former father--in-law, who was also Jewish, was with a company involved in liberating the camps. I think that also deeply affected him for the rest of his life.

FILs father had been in the Russian army in the first WW. And my son was named for him. FILs father was from Odessa.