Salute to Memorial Day: ‘Battleground’ (1949)

Big Hollywood 

After endless days of hell, Kinnie and the other survivors are finally out of danger and set to be relieved by fresh troops. Hungry, exhausted, and shaken to the core, they’re a ragtag bunch dreaming only of a hot meal and clean sheets. Kinnie understands, though, that his men have one more mission: to put on a brave face and show their replacements a fighting spirit.

....

"Directed by The Mighty William Wellman (his finest hour — and I don’t say that lightly), “Battleground”  is not only one of the finest war films ever produced, but also an unqualified masterpiece not enough people know about. If you haven’t seen it, do. If you have, spread the word.

"And don’t forget to thank a Veteran … for everything. Because without them we’d have nothing."

Trivia: Playing a German soldier in the movie is a young Jerry Paris who would someday play Jerry Helper, best friend and neighbor to Rob and Laura Petrie on the Dick Van Dyke Show. (Senior citizens know stuff like this.)

Memorial Day



Hat tip to http://terrellaftermath.com/

Lee Teter Painting;  allposters.com

 

Fireworks shows need new environmental review/ Court ruling could have sweeping impact

San Diego Union-Tribune  "What started as a battle over fireworks shows led to a sweeping legal victory Friday for environmentalists that could stymie a wide range of events needing city permits, from the Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon to birthday parties held at parks.

"“According to the strictest interpretation of this, jumpy-jumps and everything else would be subject to environmental review if this ruling stands,”..."
Via Drudge
I'm from the government and I'm here to help you.

Gettysburg links: Scott brothers capture Civil War in 'Gettysburg'

Qwest   "Would you expect anything less from Ridley and Tony Scott, whose resumes include "Top Gun," "Black Hawk Down" and "Gladiator"? The brothers behind some of the biggest blockbusters don't skimp on the horrors of war for the small screen in this docudrama."....
The "Gettysburg" trailer:

 ""Gettysburg" includes commentary from Civil War scholars such as Edward Ayers, president of the University of Richmond, and camera trickery such as soaring overhead shots to explain battle strategies."

History Channel links here.

About Gettysburg , the documentary: "Executive produced by Ridley and Tony Scott, GETTYSBURG strips away the romanticized veneer of the Civil War to present the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg in a new light--a visceral, terrifying and deeply personal experience, fought by men who put everything on the line in defense of their vision of the American future. Cinematic in scope, GETTYSBURG is an information-packed look at the turning points, strategic decisions, technology and little-known facts surrounding the battle. Developed in collaboration with highly esteemed Civil War historians, GETTYSBURG reflects hundreds of individual accounts of the battle--the unique voices of struggle, defeat and triumph that tell the larger story of a bitterly conflicted nation."

More links:

Gettysburg photo gallery

Building the National Military Park; then and now photos.

140 places every Gettysburg guide should know 

150 topics on the Civil War
Gettysburg Photo Galleries

Gettysburg, a Virtual Tour Panoramas
 Below: Little Round Top


The Rebel Yell  that struck fear in the heart of many a Yankee soldier.
"We encourage you to listen to this voice from the past, read the ...information below to learn of the man behind the voice and how this audio treasure came to be recorded for posterity. "....
"We are grateful to Mr. J.B. Joye of Belmont, N.C. for providing us with a tape of his grandfather's voice and thanks to Pvt. Ken Curtis of Co. E of the 26th NCT Reactivated for recognizing the historical importance of the tape."

More on the Rebel yell:

Ambrose Bierce (a Federal soldier/author) wrote "It was the ugliest sound any mortal ever heard." 

Arthur Freemantle (an English officer) said "The Southern troops, when charging, or to express their delight, always yell in a manner peculiar to themselves. The Yankee cheer is much more like ours; but the Confederate officers declare that the Rebel yell has a particular merit, and always produces a salutary and useful effect upon their adversaries. A Corps is sometimes spoken of as a "good yelling regiment.""

Warren Lee Goss (a Federal soldier) informs us that " They charged upon us with their peculiar yell."

James Harvie Dew, (a Confederate cavalryman with J.E.B. Stuart) He described the rebel yell "In an instant every voice with one accord vigorously shouted the Rebel yell, which was so often heard on the field of battle...Woh--who--ey! Who--ey! Who--ey! Woh--who--ey! Who--ey!""

Samuel Bradbury (a Federal engineer) on charging Rebels said "And the Rebs a yelling as they came up on the charge with that peculiar yell they have. It sounds like a lot of school boys just let loose."

George T Stevens (Federal soldier) talks of "The vigorous manly cheers of the Northern soldiers, so different from the shrill yell of the Rebels."

Newton Kirk (a Federal soldier) "The shrill yells of the Rebels, mingled with the hoarser cheers of our own men."

A doctor of the 4th New York remembered that "Suddenly out of the dusk in front, and to the rear of us, burst the Ki-yi Ki-yi close to us and with it the Rebels were seen."

Now hear the yell as it was heard on battlefields in the American Civil War  Picture yourself as a Union soldier at the ready, preparing to receive this charge. You may want to turn your speakers up.

Memorial Day in America

Gen. Logan

It's beginnings: "The first official recognition of Memorial Day as such was issued by General John A. Logan, first commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. This was General Order No. 11 establishing "Decoration Day" as it was then known. The date of the order was May 5, 1868, exactly two years after Waterloo's first observance. That year Waterloo joined other communities in the nation by having their ceremony on May 30."

EDITORIAL: Memorial Day: a family story "On May 3, 1902, John A. Logan Jr. was posthumously given the country’s highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor. The citation read, “For most distinguished gallantry in leading his battalion upon the entrenchments of the enemy, on which occasion he fell mortally wounded.” Young Jack Logan grew up in the midst of heroes whose deeds were written high on the wall of fame. He could well have stayed on his Ohio horse farm with his family living a comfortable life, but as his mother wrote, he was determined to “add to the glory of the name he bore.” "

Union dead at the Battle of Brown's Mill  "In June and July of 1867 the Federal Government removed bodies of soldiers, who were buried in temporary graves around Newnan, vicinity of Corinth Road, and Philpot's Ferry GA., to their final resting place at the Atlanta-Marietta National Cemetery. The list below was compiled from the US Quartermaster's "Roll Of Honor", published 1869"  Graves

National Cemetery Locations "On July 17, 1862, Congress enacted legislation that authorized the President to purchase "cemetery grounds" to be used as national cemeteries "for soldiers who shall have died in the service of the country." Fourteen cemeteries were established that first year, including one in the sleepy Maryland town of Sharpsburg where 4,476 Union soldiers were laid to rest after the one day of terrible slaughter that was the Battle of Antietam. (By way of comparison, approximately 3,000 Americans, British and Canadians died on June 6, 1944, in the invasion of Normandy)."

Disney abandons SEAL™ hunt

Osama's last view on earth

By Greyhawk at Mudville Gazette:  "It's difficult to put into words how much disgust I feel for corporations attempting to exploit the name and reputation of men who have EARNED the right to be held in such regard. I feel the same about people who never served using parts of military uniforms and ribbons or medals as props. The only lower from of life is those who actually claim fake military service and honors, those people are beneath contempt. While I am glad that Disney finally withdrew its attempt at trademark, I know they didn't do it for the right reason, if they KNEW the right reason they would have never filed in the first place." From the comments to this post.

trutv.com/dumb_as_a_blog/

The perpetual campaigner

jeffreyhill.typepad.com/The English Blog



Charles Krauthammer: What Obama did to Israel

The Washington Post  "Every Arab-Israeli negotiation contains a fundamental asymmetry: Israel gives up land, which is tangible; the Arabs make promises, which are ephemeral. The long-standing American solution has been to nonetheless urge Israel to take risks for peace while America balances things by giving assurances of U.S. support for Israel’s security and diplomatic needs.
"It’s on the basis of such solemn assurances that Israel undertook, for example, the Gaza withdrawal. In order to mitigate this risk, President George W. Bush gave a written commitment that America supported Israel absorbing major settlement blocs in any peace agreement, opposed any return to the 1967 lines and stood firm against the so-called Palestinian right of return to Israel."
"For 2 ¹ / ₂ years, the Obama administration has refused to recognize and reaffirm these assurances. Then last week in his State Department speech, President Obama definitively trashed them." (Emphasis added)
....
"The only remaining question is whether this perverse and ultimately self-defeating policy is born of genuine antipathy toward Israel or of the arrogance of a blundering amateur who refuses to see that he is undermining not just peace but the very possibility of negotiations."

The Obama Dilemma

Vodkapundit  "Peggy Noonan last year opined that “the president is starting to look snakebit.” If he is, it’s because Obama spent the first half of his first term ignoring Americans’ number one concern — jobs — while squandering America’s prestige overseas so thoroughly it begins to appear to be an almost dedicated effort.
"His one big win — nailing bin Laden — certainly made us all feel very good, and helps to put the squeeze on al Qaeda. But bin Laden is yesterday’s enemy, as semi-affiliated terror groups spread to places like Somalia, Yemen, and maybe eventually Egypt.
"Obama’s endless  personal gaffes overseas — the bowing and scraping and toasts to the orchestras — might not make the news much here, but you can bet they’re laughing mighty hard in Paris and Moscow and Beijing and… everywhere else."  Stephen Green

UK Telegraph: This isn’t a special relationship, it’s sinister and sycophantic

guardian.co.uk/gary-barker

 From the left: The American president’s message of hope could be useful in Europe "If a black man can become president in America then, yes, Ireland can surely recover from its crash. Later in London, where he was greeted with the best of British pomp, a regal Mr Obama confirmed that yes, even a reduced Britain can be a really, really special friend to America."  The Economist

(Video) Presidential Limo Not As Unstoppable as Previously Reported  "The vehicle, referred to by the Secret Service as “the beast,” will reportedly feature heavy armor that is at least 5 inches thick and comes complete with run-flat tires, bulletproof glass and a completely sealed interior to ward off a chemical attack, among many other high-tech security features." Via  Michelle Malkin

Progressive Pundit Walks Off Fox Set When Called Out for Fearmongering

Big Journalism  "Ferguson was right to point out that Democrats have decided to forgo offering any solution to the looming debt and deficit crisis and have opted to just attack – with fearmongering and lies – the Republicans who are offering realistic solutions.
"Confronted with irrefutable facts, Simon decided to cry about not being able to be heard and walked off the set. Way to go, Ben!"....
"Unfortunately for Simon, the other guest on the show, radio host Ben Ferguson, wasn’t having any of it. Watch the money clip."  (Video)

The six-block scar: Amazing satellite photos pinpoint devastation of Joplin as it emerges that 232 people are still missing

UK Daily Mail  "Following the devastating tornado which ripped though Joplin at the weekend, these satellite images show the extent of the damage.''
"Before and after aerial photos show the shocking extent of the damage caused by the twister in the Missouri city - this image shows a six-block path of destruction."
Hat tip to Don Standlee, Arlington, TX.

Back to the Pre-American World?

Victor Davis Hanson  ..."There have been plenty of thugs who threatened their neighbors over the last 30 years. Saddam Hussein, Slobodan Milosevic, Manuel Noriega, and the Taliban were all deposed from rule only by American power. The “lost” war in Iraq resulted in a democratic and, for now, still viable government in place of genocide. Afghanistan is depressing, but the medieval Taliban still have remained out of power for nearly a decade.

"In short, the old pre-American world was as unstable and dangerous as would be a new post-American update. But both retrenchments were choices that an unsure and depressed United States made — not symptoms, then or now, of inherent weakness or inevitable decline."
Victor Davis Hanson is a classicist and historian at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and the author, most recently, of The Father of Us All: War and History, Ancient and Modern.