Bits O' History-- Some New News About Old Stuff.
1. GOING FOR OBAMA ITEMS-- The Nov. 12, 2008, Chicago Tribune had an article about the Smithsonian going after items connected to Obama's political campaign. The National Museum of African American History and Culture plans to open on the National Mall in 2015, but they have acquired election maps, strategy boards, campaign literature and other items from his Falls Church, Virginia, office. Virginia was a key swing state and Obama was the first Democrat to carry it since 1964. Can anybody spell E-C-O-N-O-M-Y.
2. THANKS IKE-- The Jan. 1, 2009, Houston Chronicle reports that a 25-foot boat has been found wedged up under the WW II destroyer USS Stewart. They haven't found out the name of the boat yet, but it got there compliments of Hurricane Ike. It poses no danger to the destroyer, one of only three remaining WW II destroyers and part of the Seawolf Park on Pelican Island.
The Stewart was put on the National register of Historic Places this past year and made 30 North Atlantic crossing protecting convoys from 1944 to 1945. It was decommissioned in 1947.
The Cavala, a WW II submarine was also in the hurricane, but only slightly moved.
3. 139 MARINE GRAVES FOUND-- The Nov. 25th Military.com reports that the graves of 139 Marines killed at the Nov. 1943 Battle of Tarawa in the Pacific have been located. Navy Seabees were under heavy fire when they were clearing a landing strip and the markers were accidentally bulldozed in the confusion.
After the war, the Army attempted to locate the graves, but only half found. Two private companies have found the 139 of the 541 still missing on the island. using ground penetrating technology.
4. OBAMA TO SWEAR ON LINCOLN BIBLE-- The Bible Abraham Lincoln used to be sworn in will also be used to swear in new President Obama this month. No other president has been sworn in on it.
Now, You Know. --Old Coot
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