The bond between a mother and her son is truly beyond words. And when that son goes off to war, his mother could not be more proud … and equally terrified. But then, for some, in an instant, life ends as they previously knew it. Maybe they saw the car roll up the drive and [...]
If you’re anything like the History Junkie, no matter how disinterested you were in the recent royal wedding between William and Kate, you still ingested bits and pieces through the non-stop force feeding of coverage. Most interesting to me … no, not Kate’s wedding dress … was Prince William’s work with the RAF Air-Sea Rescue. [...]
This past weekend marked the 66th anniversary of the death of Adolf Hitler. Then late Sunday night, the world received word that Osama bin Laden had been killed. Hitler’s death came by his own hand. As American and Russian forces were tightening the noose around Berlin, Hitler took refuge in his custom-built Fuhrerbunker. It would [...]
Monday again, and we hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. We here in Indiana actually saw the sun for a few hours. I was beginning to wonder if it still existed. Lets put a cap on April and the 66th anniversary of the liberation of the Flossenburg Concentration Camp with the 90th Infantry Division Picture [...]
Yeah Friday, finally. And time for the Weekly History Wrap-Up. First off, the History Junkie must admit that he got a little misty last night watching Michael Scott’s final episode on The Office. Without a doubt, best boss ever. But back to work! Madame Ngo Dinh Nhu, South Vietnam’s “Dragon Lady” or unofficial “First Lady” [...]
Over 30,000 prisoners would die at Flossenburg Concentration Camp before it was liberated in late April 1945, 66 years ago this week. Each one had a story to tell. Some of the more notable inmates included co-conspirators in the failed plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, codenamed Valkyrie–Rev. Dr. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, General Hans [...]
Hump day, and time for our weekly feature, Letters From War Wednesdays. Harold Hastings was drafted by the U.S. Army pre-Pearl Harbor, in October 1941. He fell in with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 168th Infantry, 34th Infantry Division. In November 1942, Hastings joined 30,000 Allied troops for Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa. On [...]
This week marks the 66th anniversary of the Liberation of the Flossenburg Concentration Camp, during World War II. In late April 1945, members of Patton’s Third Army, specifically advance units from the 90th and 97th Infantry Divisions, liberated the facility. Even these battle-hardened GIs would never forget what they witnessed. The Flossenburg Concentration Camp was [...]
I trust everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend. It’s Monday, and time for the 90th Infantry Division – Picture of the Week. By August 1944, the 90th Infantry Division had broken free from the Cotentin Peninsula and was racing east, toward Paris. Near Le Mans, plans changed. The 90th ID was rerouted north through [...]
And yes, time for the Weekly History Wrap-Up. Wow! The CIA declassified World War I era spy documents. Really? Already? The remains of World War II Army Air Force Tech Sgt. James Maynard have been recovered, identified and returned to the family. Maynard’s C-47 went down on Leyte, in the Philippines in March 1945. He’ll [...]