USS Grebe (AM-43)-- Part 2: Sinking A Sub, Hurricane Work and Towing the USS Constitution

Continued from April 23, 2019.

The Grebe's next duty was to depth charge target submarine G-1 (SS-19 1/2) which she did on June 23.  The ship was involved in other operations along the U.S. East Coast until  decommissioned in 1922.  Near the end of the year the Grebe was recommissioned and stationed in the Caribbean.

Hurricane Rescue Work

In 1930, the Grebe rushed to the aide of the Dominican republic where a hurricane had caused much destruction  Carrying trained medical men and emergency supplies, she was the first ship to reach the island where she remained for two weeks.

Towing the USS Constitution

This is where I talked about the Grebe in my Not So Forgotten: War of 1812 blog.

The Grebe returned to Boston in 1931 and on 12 July took tow of the historic sailing frigate USS Constitution.  A long campaign had been waged to provide financing to restore the historic ship to her original condition and the Grebe spent nearly the next three years as her tender and towing ship.

They visited nearly every  major American port on both the East and West Coasts.  Millions of Americans thrilled to the sight of the "Old Ironsides."    Some of the stops were in New York City, Washington, D.C., Norfolk, Key West Galveston, Guantanamo,   Los Angeles, Seattle, Bellingham, Portland and the Panama Canal Zone.

After that, the Grebe was transferred to the West Coast.

It was at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and I will write about the Grebe's experience there and in the rest of WW II in my Tattooed On Your Soul World War II blog next month.

--CootTowing

A War on Marijuana DeKalb County (Illinois) in 1968

From the October 17, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1968, 50 Years Ago.

"A team from the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office waged  a full-scale war on cultivated and wild marijuana.

"The team, composed of Sheriff Mel Shaw, Chief Deputy Wilbur Scott, Det. Sgt. James Smoltich, Det. Joseph Salemi and a narcotics detective agent from the state bureau, attacked approximately  30 patches of marijuana with a chemical weed killer, 2-4-D."

Remember all that hemp plant planted during WW II for the war effort.  (See my Tattooed On Your Soul World War II blog for more on the hemp growing in DeKalb County.

So May Disappointed Hippies.  --Cooter

American Legion Baseball: Players Who Went On to Baseball's Hall of Fame

Wikipedia has a long list of American Legion baseball players who went on to MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.  Here are just a few of them.

Bob Feller,  Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Yogi Berra, Al Kaline, Bob Gibson, Frank Robinson, Don Drysdale, Johnny Bench, Carl Yastrzemski, Nellie Fox and Ryne Sandberg.

*****************************

In 2011, Shelby, North Carolina, was names as the permanent home for the American Legion Baseball World Series.  Attendance in 2016 was 120,000.  The last three winners:

Texarkana, Arkansas, Post 58 in 2016
Henderson, Nevada, Post 40 in 2017
Wilmington, Delaware, Post 1 in 2018

******************************

Probably one of the most interesting names for an American Legion team comes from Hooker, Oklahoma, whose team is named the Hooker Horny Toads.  Hooker is in the Oklahoma Panhandle.  Of course, I just had to have one of their tee shirts.

Looking Forward to Baseball Season.  --Cooter

American Legion Baseball

Post 703 has been supporting an American Legion Baseball team for many years now and this year, we are planning a Legion Day for one of the team's home games at Grant Township High School.  More information on that will be given when we know the schedule in June.

Our team is comprised mostly of boys from the Fox Lake area and managed by Brian Talbot.

But, in the meantime, to prepare for the season, we'll take a look back at the history of American Legion baseball.

From Wikipedia.

American Legion Baseball is amateur played by  13 to 19-year-olds in all fifty states and Canada.  More than 3,500 teams compete each year.  The American Legion Department of South Dakota established  the program in 1925 in Milbank, South Dakota.

PURPOSE

To give players the opportunity to develop their skills,  personal fitness,  leadership qualities, and to have fun. Hundreds of thousands of boys have been taught this over the years.

--Cooter

USS Grebe (AM-43)-- Part 1: World War I Mines in the North Sea

In my Not So Forgotten:  War of 1812 blog, I recently wrote about the USS Grebe, which towed and served as the tender for the famed War of 1812 warship, USS Constitution on its 1931-1932 National Cruise to U.S.ports after it was restored.

I looked the ship up in Wikipedia and found this ship had quite an interesting and varied history.

USS GREBE

It was 187-foot long Lapwing-class minesweeper launched 17 December 1918 and served in many capacities until destroyed by a hurricane in 1943.  It was commissioned 1 May 1919 and from July to October of that year, participated in the clearing of the North Sea mines from WW I.

From then until 1921, she did a variety of jobs, including rescuing 139 passengers from the SS Mormugao on April 29.  (The SS Mormugao was a Portuguese ship which ran ashore off Block Island, Rhode Island. Her passengers were taken off and the ship was refloated on May 2.)

--Cooter

Kishwaukee College Opens

From the October 17, 2018,  MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1968, 50 Years Ago.

"With tractor engine noises ringing in their ears and workmen still placing sod on the ground, around five temporary school buildings, the Kishwaukee (Jr.) college opened its doors."

The Mighty Kish.   --Cooter

Illinois' Sesquicentennial in 1968

From the October 10, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Bacl."

1968, 50 Years Ago.

"The DeKalb County Court House in Sycamore has received some outdoor decorations in honor of  the 150th 'birthday' of Illinois.

"The Sesquicentennial salute lists Northern Illinois University, the Farm Bureau, barb wire, and the home of Chief Shabbona as unique facets of DeKalb County's history."

--Cooter

The Belangiga Massacre-- Part 5: Deaths and Afterwards

The exact number of Filipinos killed is not known and likely never to be.    In the 1990s,  a ten-year study was made on the Belangiga Massacre by British writer  Bob Couttie who put the figure at 2,500.  yet, there are some historians who put the figures closer to 50,000.

When events in Samar became known, there were prompt investigations.  Secretary of War Elihu  Root sent orders to relieve American commanders and to court martial Gen. Jacob Smith.  Jacob Smith and Littleton Waller faced courts martial.  Waller was found not guilty and Smith was found guilty, admonished for his tactics and forced to retire.

What About the Bells?

The Belangiga Massacre-- Part 4: Excessive Retaliation on U.S. Part

Gen. Jacob Smith further ordered that Major Littleton Waller kill all persons who were capable of carrying arms.  When asked about an age limit, Smith replied anyone over the age of ten.

Food and trade to Samar to starve the revolutionaries into submission.  The hope was that the villagers would stop supporting the guerrillas and turn to the Americans for help.  His soldiers began sweeps in the interior looking for guerrillas.

American columns marched across the island destroying homes and shooting people.  At one point Waller wrote that over an 11 day period his men had burned 255 homes, shot 13 carabaos (domestic water buffalo) and killed 39 people.

It was noted later by the Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army that the reason this did not get worse was that junior officers often didn't follow orders fully.  When this destruction was learned in March 1902 back in the United States, this greatly agitated anti-imperialist groups.

I found an article about General Jacob Smith in Wikipedia.  His was quite a story.  I'll be wrting about it in the future.

Not An Honorable Part of American History.

Doolittle Raiders 77th Anniversary Today

This raid had a huge positive impact on the morale of the American people as World War II was going badly the first six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor.  It showed the nation had the means to strike back and would use it.  For the Japanese, it was just the opposite, they were sure that the United States could not reach them.  They found out the hard way that wasn't true.

In honor of the 77th anniversary, I am writing about the Raid in  all of my blogs.  I also have my U.S. flags flying outside.

Today they are having a funeral service for Richard E. Cole, the last surviving Doolittle Raider who died this past April 9.  This is in Texas and he will later be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

The Belangiga Massacre-- Part 3: Massacre and U.S. Retaliation "I Want No Prisoners"

Continued from  April 12.

On the morning of September  28, 1901, the villagers made their move.  Filipino prisoners on communal duty overpowered their American guards.  They then attacked other Americans having  breakfast.  Of the 74 men of Company C, 36 were killed including all its commissioned officers.  Twenty-two were wounded and four MIA.

Eight later died of wounds and only four escaped unscathed.  The villagers lost  28 dead and 22 wounded.

American retaliation was swift.  Company G of the 9th U.S. Infantry sailed to the Belangiga, found it abandoned, burned the American dead and then burned the town.

American reaction to the news was horrified, comparing it to Custer's massacre at the Little Bighorn in 1876.  Major General  Adna R. Chaffee, military governor of the Philippines, received a message from  President Theodore Roosevelt to pacify Samar.

General Jacob G. Smith instructed Major Littleton Waller, USMC, :: "I want no prisoners.  I wish you to kill and burn, and the more you kill and burn, the better it will please me....  The interior of Samar must be made a howling wilderness."

As a result of this order, General Smith became known as "Howling Wilderness Smith."

--Cooter

Kishwaukee College To Get Revenue Bonds for Construction

From the October 10, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1968, 50 Years Ago.

""The Kishwaukee (Jr.) College in Malta may someday be able to sell revenue bonds to raise money to build a real, permanent school building complex."

--Cooter

Fire at the Glidden Home in 1943

From the September 19, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Fire which broke out  just before 9:00 o'clock did considerable damage to the Glidden home on West Lincoln Highway.

"The blaze, which was caused by a spark in the chimney, had obtained a good start when the fire trucks arrived but was soon brought under control and damage was held to a minimum."

Fires Happen to Famous Families Too.  --DaCoot

School Attendance in DeKalb, Illinois, in 1943

From the September 19, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Enrollment at the Ellwood school showed an increase of 51 over  last year but the other  school enrollments will be about the same.

"In the three city schools 935 have reported to classes and 240 have enrolled at the McMurry Training School, just a few more than at the close of school in the spring."

--CootEd

The Belangiga Massacre-- Part 2: Friendly Then Not-So Friendly

The attack and subsequent retaliation remains one of the longest-running and most controversial issues between the governments of the Philippines and the United States.  Conflicting accounts only further the situation.  Some Filipino historians hold that the true "Massacre" occurred took place when American troops burned whole towns during the March Across the Samar.

In the summer of 1901, Brigadier General Robert P. Hughes started an aggressive policy of food deprivation and property destruction to force the end of Filipino resistance.  Samar was a major center of the hemp trade which was financing resistance forces.  Plus, American interests wanted to get control of the lucrative business.

On August 11, 1901, Company C of the 9th U.S. Infantry arrived at Belangiga, the third largest town on the island.  At first, relations between the Americans and villagers were friendly.  The situation deteriorated and the villagers and their leaders decided to attack the Americans.  There is a whole lot more in the Wikipedia article.

--Cooter

The Belangiga Massacre and Bells-- Part 1: What Was It?

In the last post I wrote about two of the Belangiga Bells of the Philippines being at Francis Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and being returned a few years ago.  I'd never heard of this, so....

From Wikipedia.

Date September  29, 1901

Place:  Belangiga, Samor, Philippines

Result:  Filipino victory

Also called the Belangiga Incident and Belangiga Conflict.  Took place during the Philippine-American War.

About 49 members of the U.S. 9th Infantry killed by the townspeople, allegedly aided by Filipino guerrillas.

It has been described as the worst massacre of U.S. troops since  the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876.

--Cooter

Francis Warren AFB-- Part 3: Fort Russel and "Black Jack" Pershing

In 1906, Secretary of War  William Howard Taft recommended an expansion for Fort Russell to brigade-size and by 1910, there were a lot more buildings.  Artillery units were assigned to the fort as well.

From 1913-1916, during the Mexican Revolution, artillery units were stationed along the border to keep the struggle from  coming to U.S. territory. During World War I, the fort served as a mobilization point and training facility for field artillery and cavalry units.

When the war began, Fort Russell became one of the largest stateside Army posts.

Quarters No. 2 at the post were for the second in command and  at one time the family of John J. "Black Jack" Pershing lived there.  He later led U.S. Forces in World War I.    He had married the daughter of Francis E. Warren.  Within two years of his marriage to Helen Frances Warren in 1905, Pershing was raised four ranks from captain to brigadier general.  Something unheard of in those days.

It is suspected that being married to the daughter of a very powerful U.S. senator and a personal favorite of Theodore Roosevelt had something to do with it.

For the post's role in World War II, go to my Tattooed On Your Soul:  World War II blog.

--Cooter

Francis E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, Wyoming-- Part 2: Fort Russell

The Air Force base was originally named Fort D.A. Russell when it was established in 1867 to protect workers on the Union Pacific Railroad.   In 1930, the fort's name was changed to Fort Francis E. Warren. In 1949, it became Francis E. Warren Air Force Base.

It was the home of three black regiments, the famed Buffalo soldiers, for much of the late 19th century.  By 1900, Fort Russell was one of the largest cavalry bases in the United States.

In 1898, the Spanish-American War renewed the importance of the post.    Soon afterwards, the 8th Cavalry  left for Cuba.    Later that year, the Wyoming National Guard mustered in at Fort Russell.  In the Battle of Manila, the Wyoming National Guard were the first to reach the city and raise the flag.

In 1901, troops from Fort Russell returned to the Philippines  to put down the insurrection for independence during the Philippine-American War.  They returned with a Queen Mary Tudor cannon forged in 1557 and two of the three Belangiga bells, which had been used by the insurrectionists as a signal to launch an ambush on American troops.

The bells were returned to the Philippines in 2018.  The seven-foot cannon,  the only one of its kind in the U.S. is on display near the base flagpole.

--Cooter

Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Cheyenne, Wyoming

I gave been writing about Francis E. Warren in my Saw the Elephant: Civil War blog.  He is a famous person in Wyoming history, including first governor, a long-serving U.S. Senator and a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient.

One of the honors he received was having this air base named after him.

From Wikipedia.

Located three miles west of Cheyenne, Wyoming, one of three strategic missiles bases in the U.S..  It has no runway for fixed-wing planes, however.  It has never been used by modern-day pilots.

It became famous when World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker crashed his plane on the field and survived.

The base traces its origins back to the Railroad Act of 1862 when plans for the transcontinental railroad were put in place and protection from the Indians was needed.  It evolved from a frontier infantry post to a cavalry post to the current missile facility.

--Cooter

2019 Oscars-- Part 4: Best Supporting Actor and Actress

*  I saw it.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR


Mahershala Ali--  Green Book*

Adam Driver--  BlacKKKlansman

Sam Elliott--  A Star Is Born*

Richard E. Grant--  Can You Forgive Me?*

Sam Rockwell--  Vice*

I picked Mahershala Ali and he won.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams--  Vice*

Marina de Tavira--  Roma

Regina King--  If Beale Street Could Talk

Emma Stone--  The Favourite

Rachel Weisz--  The Favourite

I picked Rachel Weisz, Regina King won.

So, I picked 4 of the 7 categories correctly.  Unbelievably good for me.

--Cooter

2019 Oscars-- Part 3: Best Actor, Best Actress

**  Movies I saw.

BEST ACTOR

Christian Bale--  Vice*

Bradley Cooper--  A Star Is Born*

William Dafoe--  At Eternity's Gate

Rami Malek--  Bohemian Rhapsody*

Viggo Mortenson--  Green Book*

Personally, I think Mahershala Ali of  "Green Book" should have been nominated in this category.

I picked Christian Bale.  Rami Malek won.


BEST ACTRESS

Yalitza Aparicio--  Roma

Glenn Close--  The Wife

Olivia Colman--  The Favourite*

Lady Gaga--  A Star Is Born*

Melissa McCarthy--  Can You Forgive Me?*

I was torn on this one between Olivia Colman and Melissa McCarthy.  I picked Olivia McCarthy and she won.

Oh, the Stars.  --Cooter

2019 Oscars-- Part 2: Best Director and Best Animated Feature

BEST DIRECTOR

I missed this one.

Nominees:  *  Movies I saw

Spike Lee   BlacKKKlansman
Pawel Pawlikowski    Cold War
Yorgos  Lanthimos   The Favourite*
Alfonso Cuaron  Roma
Adam McKay   Vice*

I picked Yorgos Lanthimos.  Alfonso Cuaron won.


BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Incredibles 2*
Isle of Dogs
Miral
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spider-Man:  Into the Spider-Verse*

I picked Spider-Man and it won.

Always Helps to Pick When I See the Movies.  --DaCoot

2019 Oscars-- Part 1: Best Picture

I did pretty well (for me) picking Oscar winners in the local Classic Cinemas Theatres prediction contest after seeing a majority of the movies in each of the major categories.

I saw 6 of the 8 nominees in Best Picture:

Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
A Star Is Born
Vice.

I did not see BlackKKlansman or Roma (I don't get Netflix).

I was amazed that I had seen three of them before nominees were announced.  Usually most of the nominees are movies most people did not see.  If the Oscars want to raise its ratings they should have two categories for Best Picture:   Movies People Have Seen and Movies People Haven't Seen.

Though I must admit, whenever I get to see one of the movies people haven't seen, I must admit that it is an excellent movie.  I do appreciate Regal Cinemas and Classic Cinemas showing all those movies people haven't seen after they are nominated.

They were all great movies and I picked "Green Book" to win, and it did.

Must be a Film Critic  Now.  --CootPicker

The Fog of the Revolution Saves Washington and His Army

From the March 20, 2019, Washington Post  "Weird weather saved America three times" by Gillian Brockell.

General George Washington and the Continental Army lost badly to the British in the Battle of Long Island.  They were outnumbered two to one.  One fifth of his force were either killed, wounded or captured.  And, on the evening of August 29, 1776, they were pinned down in Brooklyn between the British Army and the East River.

Rain had hurt Washington in earlier endeavors, but this time he got a solid in the form of liquid and gas.  First, rain slowed the British advance and gave Washington time to plan an escape.  As the sun went down, Washington gathered every boat he could and began, very quietly,  evacuating his army.

Oars were muted and campfires remained lit to fool the British.  But the sun came up and the British saw. Americans were still on the shore and in peril when a tremendous fog rolled in.  One soldier reported that you couldn't see  more than 20 feet away.

That was all Washington needed as he boarded the last boat to leave the shore.  he and his army would be able to fight another day.

----CootFog

The Rise of Daylight Saving Time-- Part 2: World War I, Bills and Vetoes

However, World War I changed all this.  The Germans were the first to adopt Daylight Saving Time (DST) on April 30, 1916, as a way to save on coal-powered lighting in factories.  The British politicians followed suit two days later and set their clocks forward.  Most other European countries did the same.

Time changed slower in the United States, which did not join the war until 1917.  Stockbrokers and manufacturers pushed for it,  but the railroads opposed it fearing a change like that would cause train crashes.  So were farmers, who worked by the sun anyway.

The stockbrokers won, the bill passed Congress and President Wilson signed it.  But, there was a problem as the date the time changed was on March 31, 1918, Easter Sunday.  But, the change went smoothly.

By the next year, the war was over and many wanted DST over as well.  Farmers were still against it and some two dozen bills were introduced in Congress to repeal it.  One passed both houses, but Wilson vetoed it.  A vote to overturn the veto failed.  Another bill passed but again Wilson vetoed it.  This time, though, opponents got the 2/3 vote necessary to overturn it.  DST was dead.

But cities like Pittsburgh and New York passed DST laws and it was brought back for a short time during WW II.  States had various DSTs, including Iowa which at one time had 23 different times depending on what town you were in.

In 1966, President Johnson made DST the law of the land.

I'm thinking DST Year Round would be the thing to do.  I hate changing all the clocks.

Technologically Challenged Me.  --Coot?

The Rise, Set and Rise of Daylight Saving Time-- Part 1: It Had to With a War

From the March 10, 2019, Chicago Tribune by Gillian Brockell of the Washington Post.

Hey, that was the day we went back on Daylight Saving Time (DST)!!

Nope, Benjamin Franklin did not invent it, suggesting that cities fire a cannon earlier to wake its citizens.

The idea of doing that DST thing came around the turn of last century from New Zealand and England.  New Zealander George Hudson wanted more time for his hobby, collecting bugs.  William Willett of England wanted more time for his passion called golf.

Neither man's desires came about.

Then came World War I, or as the English call it the First World War.  Of course, back then no one knew that there was going to be a second act so  it was mostly  just called the Great War.

--CooTime