WWI, September 30, 1918: USS Ticonderoga Sunk

SEPTEMBER 30, 1918

The USS Ticonderoga is sunk in the mid-Atlantic by the German submarine U-152, killing 214 men (113 sailors and 101 soldiers).

--Cooter

WW I: Sept. 29, 1918: Frank Luke Earns Medal of Honor

SEPTEMBER 29, 1918

Frank Luke, Jr. is first U.S. pilot to earn a Medal of Honor.

It was awarded posthumously for his 18 kills in 18 days.

--Cooter

WW I Sep. 26-Nov.11: Meuse-Argonne Offensive

SEPTEMBER 26-NOVEMBER 11, 1918

THE MEUSE-ARGONNE OFFENSIVE

Up until then, the largest U.S. field army (1st and 2nd Armies)  ever assembled -- more than 1.2 million men in 23 divisions (or elements of).

The first phase of the offensive ended October 3; Phase 2 October 30.  The final phase was the first eleven days of November.

Sedan is captured.

U.S. casualties:  26,277 KIA and 95,786 WIA in 47 days.

Th End Is Near.  --Cooter

USCG Cutter Tampa-- Part 2: Originally the USRCS Cutter Miami

Commissioned  19 August 1912, 190 feet long, 32.5 feet beam. 70 crew.

From 1912-1917, she mounted three six-pounder guns.  In the Navy she traded those for two 3-inch guns, machine guns and depth charges.

After commissioning, the Miami (original name until renamed the Tampa) served in the Revenue Cutter Service and did duties typical to revenue cutters.  It served on the International Ice Patrol, keeping an eye on icebergs in the North Atlantic, for several tours of duty.

It operated out of several stations as well, including Key West, Tampa and New York City.

On 29 August 1915, the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service and the U.S. Life-Saving Service  were merged to form the present-day U.S. Coast Guard.  A year later the name of the Miami was changed to Tampa.

--Cooter

USCG Cutter Tampa-- Part 1: Served in Revenue Cutter Service, Coast Guard and U.S. Navy.

In the last post, I wrote that today is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of this ship by a torpedo from a German  U-boat during World War I.  I'd never heard of the ship so did some more research.  Of course, good old Wikipedia was the first place I stopped.

United States Coast Guard Cutter Tampa   The ship initially served in the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, then in the U.S. Coast Guard and finally in the U.S. Navy. Commissioned in 1912, it was used extensively in the International Ice Patrol which monitors icebergs, something founded after the sinking of the Titanic.

Its sinking on September 26, 1918, is regarded by some as the largest American combat loss during World War I.

--DaCoot

WW I Sep. 26, 1918: C.G. Cutter Tampa Sunk

SEPTEMBER 26, 1918

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tampa is torpedoed and sunk in the Bristol Channel, off England.

115 American lives are lost.

--Cooter

Working the Oats in the Field in 1918

From the August 15, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"The employees of the Fourth street bank, Robert McCormick, Frank Fordham and George Hanrahan, put their Thursday half-holiday to the best possible use yesterday when they went to the farm of Martin Mihm, a former employee of the bank, and shocked oats until dark.

"The fellows stated that they had several engagements from now on, and that many chicken suppers, etc., had been offered if they would only put in an appearance for work in the oat field."

Of course, with so many young men at war, there was a big need for help in the fields.

Will Work for Food.  --Cooteat

Hurricane Florence Floods Moores Creek National Battlefield

The recent Hurricane Florence has caused flooding at the Moores Creek National Battlefield near Wilmington, North Carolina.

It flooded Patriots Hall, but the park visitor center and administration buildings are still above the floodwaters.

The park will remain closed until further notice.

--DaCoot

North Korea Returns Remains of 55 Americans Killed in the Korean War

From the July 29, 2018, Chicago Tribune  "Kim's end game remains to be seen" by Eric Talmadge.

North Korea made good on a promise to President Trump by returning 55 sets of apparent remains of U.S. soldiers killed during the Korean War.  But it expects something in return -- a peace treaty, or something much like it.

Friday was the 65th anniversary of the end of the 1950-1953 Korean War , which concluded not in a formal peace treaty but an armistice agreement that was supposed to be temporary but has stayed in effect ever since.

The remains of more than 5,000 American soldiers are believed to be recoverable in North Korea and it is possible that they have gathered hundreds more of the remains

The remains were flown to Hawaii where they will undergo scientific testing to determine if they are human, American or of Allied troops.

A Step In the Right Direction.  Welcome Home.

June 25, 1876 A Real Bad Day for the Custer Family

On June 25, 1876, five members of the Custer family were killed at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, including three brothers, a nephew and a brother-in-law.  Of course, the real famous one was George Armstrong Custer.

I have been doing a lot of research on the family of George Armstrong Custer in my Not So Forgotten War of 1812 blog.  He had a strong connection with veterans of the War of 1812.  Plus, he was from Monroe, Michigan, the site of the infamous River Raisin Massacre during that war.

Plus, two of the Custer family are buried in Woodland Cemetery.

Go to the site by clicking on My Blogs to the right of this to find out what happened June 25, 1876.

Plus, you can find out where George and his brother Tom are buried.

--DaCoot

George Alford, Minuteman and Served Under Washington

From Wikipedia.

Woodland Cemetery, Monroe, Michigan.

I have been doing a lot of research on George A. Custer, his family and the War of 1812 in my Not So Forgotten War of 1812 blog.

I came across this man who is buried in Woodland Cemetery in Monroe, Michigan and he sounds like an interesting story.

George Alford (died 1836)  A Minuteman in the American Revolution and the only known Monroe soldier to have served directly under the command of General George Washington.

--DaCoot

Pistol-Wielding Lady Demands Retractions in the Barber Shop

From the August 1, 2018, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Miss Hortense Cotton, who last Saturday night drove terror into the hears of several fellows in the Lewis barber shop and Lewis himself when she stepped into the business place and demanded certain retractions on the part of Lewis, at the point of a 32-calibre revolver was arrested yesterday.

"The young lady was given a hearing and after the matter had been  threshed out by the officials of the law, the young lady was assessed the fine of $25 and costs, amounting to $33.60, which was promptly paid and the case dismissed."

Wonder what Mr. Lewis had said?

I Sure Would Like To Know the Particulars of This Case.  --Cooter

'Sixteen Candles' House Sells for $1.135 Million

From the July 15, 2018, Chicago Tribune by Bob Goldsborough.

The six-bedroom brick house in northwest Evanston, Illinois, where the 1984 classic teen comedy "Sixteen Candles" was filmed finally sold June 28 for $1.135 million, after two years on and off the market.

The three-story, 3,250-square-foot house is in a neighborhood that has been popular with filmmakers. In "Sixteen Candles" it was the cinematic home of the movie's main character, played by Molly Ringwald, and her family.

Built in 1931, the house has two fireplaces, a media room on the third floor, a new kitchen with a breakfast room and an attached two-car garage.   Outside are a terrace, an outdoor kitchen and a wood-burning fireplace.

Public records do not yet identify the buyers.

Missed Your Chance to Live Somewhere Famous.  --Cooter

'Brady Bunch' House Up for Sale: Marsha Would Not be Happy

From the July 20, 2018, Chicago Tribune.

The home featured in the opening and closing scenes of "The Brady Bunch" is for sale for $1.885 million.

Records show that George and Violet McCallister bought the two-bedroom, three bathroom split-level home in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles in 1973 for $61,000.

The agent says the home attracts 30 to 50 visitors a day.  The owners died and their children are selling the property.

Quite the Markup.  --Cooter

A Detasseling Tale, Part 2: Home Front 1943

From the August 1, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"More than 100 theological students were scheduled to arrive in DeKalb late this afternoon or tonight from Chicago and will be employed as corn detasselers by the DeKalb Agricultural Association.

"The young men ranging in age from sixteen to 25 years of age were secured through the cooperation efforts of the Ag Association and the United States Employment agency."

A Corny Thing To Do.  --Cooter

A Tale of Detasseling in DeKalb County in 1968: $1.25 an Hour Pay

From the July 25, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1968, 50 Years Ago.

"A sort of 'children's crusade' will hit the cornfields in DeKalb County the next three weeks as the DeKalb Agricultural Association begins its annual summer corn detasseling campaign.

"The operation employs about 1,00 youngsters age14 and older.  With its 26 plants throughout the nation, the DeKalb Agricultural Association is probably the largest employer of children in the country.

"The youngsters get $1.25 an hour to pass up and down the rows of corn and pull the tassel off selected corn.  Close to 9,000 acres are involved in Waterman and Esmond."

Hot, Hard Work for $1.25.  But a McDonald's Hamburger Cost 15 Cents.  --Cooter

12 Fascinating Facts About "WKRP"-- Part 3: Herb's Volkswagen Seat Cover Suit

7.  Herb Tarlek actually did wear a suit made from Volkswagen seat covers.  Of course, those suits Herb wore?

8.  Venus Flytrap was the inspiration for SNL's Ladies Man.  He was SO SMOOTH.

9.  The show was inspired by Harry Chapin's "WOLD" song.

10.  Series creator Hugh Wilson wrote the lyrics to the them,e song.    The show's second theme is at the end and is really just a bunch of spoken gibberish.

11.  An extended version of the theme song became a hit in its own right.  In 1979, Steve Carlisle released it and in 1981 it hit #65 on the Billboard Top 100.

12.  Almost everyone returned for at least a cameo ten years later on "The New WKRP in Cincinnati" in 1991..  Rejoining the cast were Gordon Jump (Mr. Carlson), Richard Sanders (Les Nesman), Howard Hesseman (Dr. Johnny Fever) and Frank Bonner (Herb Tarlek).

Tim Reid (Venus Flytrap) and Lori Anderson (Jennifer Marlowe) made cameos.  Garry Sandy (Andy Travis) and Jan Smithers (Bailey Quarters) did not.

One Really Funny Show.  --Cooter

12 Fascinating Facts 'WKRP In Cincinnati'-- Part 2: Les' Bandages

4.  Les Nessman wears a bandage in every episode because of a real injury in the first episode.  He accidentally cut it but decided to keep it as part of his character.

5.  Blondie donated a Gold Record to the show for helping "Heart of Glass" become a hit.  Acts like U2, Toto, Knack, Cars and Devo all count WKRP as pivotal in launching their careers.

6.  The posters and band stuff you see on the walls were gifts from real DJs.

"As God As My Witness...I Thought Turkeys Could Flt!"  --Cooter

WWW I, September 1918: The Fortunes of War Turn for the Allies

SEPTEMBER 15-OCTOBER 15

Limey Defensive Sector.  U.S. losses 466 Killed in Action, 1,036 Wounded in Action.

SEPTEMBER 16

Italy.  Company E, 332nd Infantry Regiment, goes to the front near the Varage salient along the Piave River.

SEPTEMBER 17

U.S. troops consolidate their Meuse Heights-Moselle River Line by capturing Ronvaux, Monheulles, Pintheville, Haumont and Hatton Charel.

Later, the line stretches from the Forges on the Meuse River to the center of the Argonne Forest.

SEPTEMBER 17- NOVEMBER 11

Puvenell Defensive Sector.  U>S> casualties:  658 Killed in Action, 2.020 Wounded in Action.

--Cooter

WW I: St. Mihiel Offensive September 12-16

The first all-American offensive on the Western Front.

Seventeen U.S. divisions (or elements of divisions) participate.  This was a total of 665,000 men.

This was also the first time that tanks were used by U.S. military, the 1st Tank Brigade.

The offensive also featured the largest aggregation of air support during the war with 600 airplanes and crews.

The Doughboys take the German salient after a 36-hour battle.

15,000 Germans are captured as are 250 artillery pieces.

U.S. casualties, however, were enormous with 1,799 killed in action and 6,885 wounded in action.

--Cooter

12 Fascinating Facts About 'WKRP in Cincinnati'-- Part 1: Characters Based on Real People

From the September 13, 2018, MeTV site.  By the MeTV staff, March 29, 2018.

I have certainly enjoyed watching the reruns of my all-time favorite sitcom over this summer on MeTV.

1.  Andy Travis is based on real program director  "Captain Mikey."  Mikel  Herrington.    Arthur Carlson and Dr. Johnny Fever are also based on actual radio personalities.   Fever is Atlanta DJ "Skinny" Bobby Harper.

2.  Some of the characters were based on series creator Hugh Wilson's family.  Bailey Quarters is based on his wife.

3.  David Cassidy was originally cast as Dr. Johnny Fever.  Cassidy turned it down.  Howard Hesseman originally was called to be Herb Tarlek, but refused to read for anything but Fever.

Beware the Phone Police.  --Cooter

WW I, Sep. 12-13: Only U.S. Cavalry Action In WW I

SEPTEMBER 12-13, 1918  100 Years Ago.

Troops B, D, F and H of the Provisional Squadron, 2nd Cavalry (300 men) are the only American horse soldiers to come under fire -- during the St. Mihiel Offensive.

--Cooter

Remnant of 9/11 in Tinley Park, Illinois-- Part 2

Continued From my RoadDog's RoadLog blog.  You can click on it in the My Blogs section to the right.

The village Fire Department has had a banner created that will be mounted near the beam as a way to honor it and alert people as to its presence.

There were also plans for a mural to be made on the building by its present location, but that was dropped as plans for a more permanent memorial developed.

However, at least in 2016, nothing was done about it.

Come on Tinley Park, do something with it.  You have a real piece of history.  I'm sure we here in Spring Grove,Illinois, would be more than happy to take it off your hands.

Since this article is from Sept. 11, 2016, I was wondering if anything else has been done in Tinley Park since then.  I haven't been able to find that anything has.  But I did find an article about the beam coming to the town and will write about it in my Not So Forgotten War of 1812 blog today.  Click on the site at My Blogs to the right of this post.

Adm. John McCain-- Part 2: World War II Service

Upon commissioning, he took part in the Great White Fleet's voyage around the world, then joined the battleship USS Connecticut.

After that, he was ordered to the Asiatic Squadron and then based at San Diego, California, on the armored cruiser Colorado, patrolling off the Pacific coast of the troubled Mexico.  He was executive and engineering officer on this ship.  His next posting was to the flagship of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the armored cruiser USS San Diego.

After the United States entered World War I, the San Diego did convoy duty in the Atlantic Ocean escorting troop and supply ships.    The USS San Diego was based out of New York and Halifax.

In may 1918, he transferred to the Bureau of Navigation.  Two months later, the USS San Diego was sunk by a mine placed by a German U-boat off the coast of Long Island.

During the interwar years, McCain advanced  in rank and became a major proponent of naval aviation which had so much impact on the next war.

I'll write about his service in World War II in my Tattooed On Your Soul World War II blog.

--Cooter

Admiral John "Slew" McCain, Sen. McCain's Grandfather-- Part 1

From the United States World War I Centennial Commission  "Remembering the WW I  Service of  John 'Slew' McCain" by Chris Isleib.

The United States recently lost one of its great men, Senator John McCain, who was a naval aviator during the Vietnam War.  But, his family has quite the Navy connection.  His grandfather was Admiral John McCain who fought in both World Wars.

The first John McCain was born in Mississippi and attended the University of Mississippi for two years before deciding to attend the USMA West Point where his brother William Alexander McCain was enrolled.  To practice for his entrance exams, he used the ones given at the USNA and passed them so decided to enter there.

His performance at the Naval Academy were lackluster at best but he graduated in 1906, ranked #79 out of 116 in his class.

--Cooter

Too Hot for Crime in 1918?

From the August 15, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"There is little to do, day or night at the police station these days, it being either too hot for violations of the city's laws, or else those fellows who are in the habit of getting arrested occasionally have left the city or have turned over a new leaf.

"For the last two nights, the desk sergeant has had nothing to do but sit and read the paper, and try to keep cool, and he said that he wished there was a little work now and then to break the monotony."

Hey, Bad Guys,  Bored Cops.  --Cooter

10 Offensive Things That Once Were Entertainment-- Part 2: Dance-Till-You Drop

5..  Blackface performances in minstrel shows.

4.  Great Depression Dance-Till-You Drop

3.  Pepe Le Pew--  A real sex offender if there ever was one.

2.  TV's Flipper  1964-1967

1.  Music songs such as "Funky Cold Medina" offensive to women.

Personally, I believe many of the so-called rap songs would fall into this category with the use of the racist "N" word, swear words and description of women.

--Cooter

Ten Offensive Things That Once Passed for Entertainment-- Part 1: Original Drive-By Shootings

From the August 13, 2018, ListVerse "10 Offensive Things That Once Passed For Entertainment" by Christopher Dale.

Remember, lots more information at the site.

10.  Poor Tours--  Rich folks touring poor people.

9.  The original drive-by shootings--  In the post-Civil War, people shooting bison from moving trains.

8.  Wild West Shows--  Whites had the valor, Indians were the barbarians.  Sorry Buffalo Bill Cody.

7.  Midget shows

6.  Premature babies

--Cooter

WW I, Sep. 7, 19118: Capture of La Cendiere Farm

SEPTEMBER 7  Elements of the United States 77th Division capture La Cendiere Farm.

They then passed the Aisne Canal.

I am unable to find out any more about it.

--DaCoot

I Sure Got My History's Worth Last Week-- Part 5: World War II's LST-325

Let's see, the history of us, Civil War, and, oh yes, World War II.  I got excited when Is aw the World War II LST-325 was going to be in Dubuque, Iowa, this weekend, so it definitely got on my list of things to do.

We spent the last two days of our vacation in Dubuque.  I had planned to tour the ship on Sunday, but the line waiting to go on it was way too long, so I put it off until Monday.  I had worried that they wouldn't attract many people to see it, but at least 4,000 went on board each day.

Monday, I stood in line for about 30 minutes and toured the ship which had been at D-Day and after the war spent 30-some years in the Greek Navy.  These ships had flat bottoms and would run up on a beach and drop off tanks, vehicles or troops.  LST stands for Landing Ship Tank, though, their crews said LST stood for "Large Slow Target."

Well Worth the Wait.  --Cooter

I Sure Got My History's Worth Last Weekend-- Part 4: Grant Park and the Cannons

AUGUST 26, SUNDAY

After leaving the U.S. Grant House, I drove the short distance to Grant Park by the river and took a walk around it.  They are noted for their cannons captured in war.

First I took a look at the Napoleon 12-pounder, a cannon used extensively during the Civil War in both Confederate and Union artillery units.  This one was reportedly captured.  Then, i saw the Blakely cannon which was at the attack on Fort Sumter and might have fired the first shot of the battle.

Then they have a large cannon from the Spanish cruiser Viscaya, sunk during the Spanish-American War.

Lastly, there was a Krupps cannon from World War I.

All Of These Were Captured Cannons.  --Cooter

I Sure Got My History's Worth Last Week-- Part 3: Elihu Washburne's House

On Friday, August 24, I noticed a sign out by the Washburne home in Galena saying that it was open Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m..  I've been wanting to visit this place for many years, but it is usually closed.  And, it was 11 a.m..  I stopped.

This is an impressive house and a state historic site.  Home to one of Galena's most influential men, Elihu Washburne.  He was a multi-term U.S. Congressman from Illinois and a great friend of U.S. Grant.  He was largely responsible for Grant getting back into the Army as becoming a brigadier general (one star).

On election night 1868, Grant and others were in this house, which was hooked up to a telegraph, to follow voting results and was there when he found out he was the new president.

Also, two of Elihu's brothers were U.S. representatives from Wisconsin and Minnesota.

An Important Man Few Know Today.  --DaCoot

I Sure Got My History Last Week-- Part 2: The Civil War's U.S. Grant

Of course, being in Galena, which bills itself as "The Town That History Forgot" there is history dating to the lead boom which brought the people and even the Black Hawk War.

But, probably Galena's best-known citizen was one who went by the name U.S. Grant.  He was in town when the Civil War started and thanks to the help of one of the townspeople, got back into the U.S. military as a colonel and then, the rest is well-known history.

On Sunday, August 26, I went to his house where an Illinois Bicentennial event was going on.  The general and I had a discussion about the number of stars on his uniform and what one, two, three and four stars stood for.  An enlisted man was also there talking to folks about how they went about their war business.  Another man was playing a guitar and harmonica and singing songs of the era.

--Cooter

I Sure Got My History Last Week-- Part 1: Our 45th Wedding Anniversary

And, I can never get too much history as you might guess.  The more the better.

Last week, August 22 to August 28, Liz and I went out to the Mississippi River to Galena, Illinois, and Dubuque, Iowa, to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary, and that is some history right there.  We went to Galena or our honeymoon and visited Dubuque back in 1973.

The motel we stayed in, the Palace, an old mom-and-pop motel, no longer stands, but there is still one of those mom-and-pop motels in Galena called Grant Hills Motel and we stayed there for four nights.  A highlight for us was eating dinner at The Log Cabin Steakhouse in Galena which is where we ate the day after we got married.  Other than the prices, that place has not changed a bit since then.

--DaCoot

Itinerant Musician in Town in 1918: Mr. Bojangles?

From the July 25, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"One of 'ye old tyme' fiddlers, well along in years, put in an appearance on the streets today, in an effort to pick up some loose change.

The musician's hair was snow-white, and he was no amateur with the fiddle, and it is probable that he picked up many a stray nickel or dime while in the city."

Unexpected Entertainment.  --Cooter

How Cortland, Illinois, Got Its Name

From the August 1, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"In a recent article in the Chronicle by John Spy mention was made  of the names of various towns around here and how they were adopted.

"In the case of Cortland, the name  came from Cortland Keys, a resident of Dixon who was greatly interested in the community when the Chicago and North Western  railroad was built through that vicinity."

Wikipedia says it was named after Cortland, New York.

--Cooter

Opening of Swedish American Hospital in Rockford in 1918

From the July 25, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Formal opening of the Swedish-American hospital in Rockford, where Dr. T. Arthur Johnson is head physician, will take place on Sunday and Monday next.

"Cards have been sent out inviting DeKalb and vicinity people to attend.  The hospital, located at 1320 Charles street, Rockford is one of the finest in Illinois with a large corps of attendants."

The hospital is still in Rockford which has many people of Swedish descent living there.

--Cooter

Sugar Rationing in 1918

From the July 25, 2018, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Hotels and restaurants in DeKalb received their sugar allowance cards from the food administration, taking care of their allowance for the next three months.

"The eating places of the city are allowed three pounds of sugar for every 90 meals served, and it is required that the next three months' supply be anticipated, and proper requisition made to the sugar department of the food administration."

Rationing During World War I.  --Cooter