I was having HTML issues with the Engineer post
In case you couldn't tell.
That and my f*cking snail-slow SBC connection.
Anyway, I stole that quiz from El Capitain.
Oh, and in a somewhat related note (the speed thing), we're scheduled to meet out installer for Blue Wind on Nov. 30 around 3PM.
Gawd, I hope my modem doesn't wear-out from all this reconnecting it's doing before it gets here.
- On a line that doesn't have any problems that the UNION flack could find.
Because he didn't come when we're having problems.
AND
The monopoly that charged us $30 for our connection WORKING during the day when we DON'T have the problem.
Friday, November 18, 2005
I guess desecrtating a Koran is different if you do it for global terror
Part ummm 8,904,873.
The Iraqi terrorists decided that bombing a Mosque and getting blood on, and probably burning several-didn't quite make the cut as riot fodder. Since ya know, it was moslems doing it instead if the wrong belief system.
Part ummm 8,904,873.
The Iraqi terrorists decided that bombing a Mosque and getting blood on, and probably burning several-didn't quite make the cut as riot fodder. Since ya know, it was moslems doing it instead if the wrong belief system.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
 | You scored as Engineer. Military Engineer. Your job is usually overlooked, but without you nothing gets done. While you sometimes annoyed at this, and you know the only time people come to you is when there's something wrong. You understand that you are the heart and soul of any organization with honesty and nice work ethic to boot. "I need more Duct Tape!!!"
Which soldier type are you? created with QuizFarm.com |
I guess this does go to prove that all politics are local
Right here in the Newspaper of Record for South Texas is a bunch of obstructionist eco-Nazis.
We have a quarry starting up a little to the west of us and two eco-Nazis sprung a resolution on the Medina County commissioners Court in part to:
The resolution proposed that, as a condition of any license the STB might issue, Vulcan should be required to use appropriate bridges at all major creek crossings and perform appropriate upgrading as deemed necessary by commissioners to bear both local and quarry traffic on the truck route determined and accepted by the county. The resolution requests the STB to ensure compatibility of the quarry with future growth in population and transportation needs in Medina County. It also asks for adoption of a
mitigation plan which fully analyzes safety and flood plain impacts in its evaluation of truck routes.
-snip-
The MCEAA (Medina County Environmental Action ASSotiaion-->me) President requested commissioners to ask the STB to compel Vulcan to construct overpasses across CR 4516 and CR 353 and to utilize span
type bridges over the Quihi Creek flood plain where their proposed railroad crosses over CR 365. "Commissioners Court will have done what their
constituents have asked and made this project as safe as possible," he said.
Yep, they want the EVIL big , , , ummm rock (shrug) to pay for PUBLIC road improvements.
AND to be sure that their trucks obey traffic laws.
You know it's for the CHILDREN!
They didn't even get a second on the motion.
After discussion on the issue, Commissioner Mitchell offered the motion to adopt the resolution. Her colleagues were silent, however, and the item died for lack of another voice to support it.
After the meeting, Fitzgerald was curious to know why none of the commissioners would second the resolution so it could be voted up or down. Instead, the resolution died for lack of a second. Only Mitchell and Pct. 4 Commissioner Kelly Carroll were available for comment by press time. Judge Jim Barden was out of town and the other commissioners failed to return
calls.
Well at least we have some with common sense.
But we all know, whenever a Liberal is stopped- it's a PLOT:
Fitzgerald argued the resolution was not anti-Vulcan, only pro-safety. He suggested commissioners were influenced by the money Vulcan is paying a few landowners and selling out the majority.
"There is nothing objectionable in (the resolution) to anyone, even the quarry owners," said Fitzgerald, by phone on Wednesday. "I guess they are afraid if they do anything Vulcan will get mad and go away. It was a sad ending. I'm very, very disappointed. It shows to me the county is under the control of a few families whose only tie to the quarry is financial, and they really don¹t care about the rest of the people in Medina County at
Right here in the Newspaper of Record for South Texas is a bunch of obstructionist eco-Nazis.
We have a quarry starting up a little to the west of us and two eco-Nazis sprung a resolution on the Medina County commissioners Court in part to:
The resolution proposed that, as a condition of any license the STB might issue, Vulcan should be required to use appropriate bridges at all major creek crossings and perform appropriate upgrading as deemed necessary by commissioners to bear both local and quarry traffic on the truck route determined and accepted by the county. The resolution requests the STB to ensure compatibility of the quarry with future growth in population and transportation needs in Medina County. It also asks for adoption of a
mitigation plan which fully analyzes safety and flood plain impacts in its evaluation of truck routes.
-snip-
The MCEAA (Medina County Environmental Action ASSotiaion-->me) President requested commissioners to ask the STB to compel Vulcan to construct overpasses across CR 4516 and CR 353 and to utilize span
type bridges over the Quihi Creek flood plain where their proposed railroad crosses over CR 365. "Commissioners Court will have done what their
constituents have asked and made this project as safe as possible," he said.
Yep, they want the EVIL big , , , ummm rock (shrug) to pay for PUBLIC road improvements.
AND to be sure that their trucks obey traffic laws.
You know it's for the CHILDREN!
They didn't even get a second on the motion.
After discussion on the issue, Commissioner Mitchell offered the motion to adopt the resolution. Her colleagues were silent, however, and the item died for lack of another voice to support it.
After the meeting, Fitzgerald was curious to know why none of the commissioners would second the resolution so it could be voted up or down. Instead, the resolution died for lack of a second. Only Mitchell and Pct. 4 Commissioner Kelly Carroll were available for comment by press time. Judge Jim Barden was out of town and the other commissioners failed to return
calls.
Well at least we have some with common sense.
But we all know, whenever a Liberal is stopped- it's a PLOT:
Fitzgerald argued the resolution was not anti-Vulcan, only pro-safety. He suggested commissioners were influenced by the money Vulcan is paying a few landowners and selling out the majority.
"There is nothing objectionable in (the resolution) to anyone, even the quarry owners," said Fitzgerald, by phone on Wednesday. "I guess they are afraid if they do anything Vulcan will get mad and go away. It was a sad ending. I'm very, very disappointed. It shows to me the county is under the control of a few families whose only tie to the quarry is financial, and they really don¹t care about the rest of the people in Medina County at
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
I wonder when this guy will get fillibustered
You know for his conservative views
AND because Bu$h picked him -without begging the Dems ok.
Since he will be in charge of the Federal MONEY management.
The Libs want to throw rocks into the gears of ANYTHING that could be good for America, so naturally they'll oppose Bernanke for Greenspans replacement.
Oh, and speaking of Democratic obstructionalism- have you heard that Alito is now classified as an "EXTREMIST"?
You know for his conservative views
AND because Bu$h picked him -without begging the Dems ok.
Since he will be in charge of the Federal MONEY management.
The Libs want to throw rocks into the gears of ANYTHING that could be good for America, so naturally they'll oppose Bernanke for Greenspans replacement.
Oh, and speaking of Democratic obstructionalism- have you heard that Alito is now classified as an "EXTREMIST"?
Now, here's something about global warming that not BS
Yep, this time it really IS humans responsible for global warming!
Ok, it's not really global warming, but humans "playing God with the environment" and it's not really our environment. They're looking at greening Mars for future settlements.
I bet that sends the greenies into orbit right there.
Yep, this time it really IS humans responsible for global warming!
Ok, it's not really global warming, but humans "playing God with the environment" and it's not really our environment. They're looking at greening Mars for future settlements.
I bet that sends the greenies into orbit right there.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Can someone tell me just what the f*ck lawyers know about running a war?
I've been hearing about that BS vote up in DC whenever I got near a radio today.
They want President Bush to come to them hat-in-hand explaining what and why he's letting the military do what it's doing.
-And how the war is going. Let ME tell you, you hypocritical asshats- we're WINNING! We have been winning- no matter what the 5th column say.
They don't have a d@mn thing to do with running the war, just give the military the money and believe me- they'll spend it better than ANY Congress-critter could even THINK of doing. And probably get more for it than any of those overpaid Ambulance Chasers imagined possible. I'm not talking about NASA's $100,000 toilet seats, or specialized aircraft body hammers-I'm talking about weapons, logistics, transportation-and all it takes to win a war- not sending boatloads of PORK to their home state.
Gawd- I'm getting tired of the DEMOCRATS running things, either by nagging and caterwalling- or by fiat with their willing accomplices the BIG MEDIA.
When are the Republicans going to stand up and tell them all to STFU!
When are the Republicans going to ACT like they won the elections? Can they anymore?
I've been hearing about that BS vote up in DC whenever I got near a radio today.
They want President Bush to come to them hat-in-hand explaining what and why he's letting the military do what it's doing.
-And how the war is going. Let ME tell you, you hypocritical asshats- we're WINNING! We have been winning- no matter what the 5th column say.
They don't have a d@mn thing to do with running the war, just give the military the money and believe me- they'll spend it better than ANY Congress-critter could even THINK of doing. And probably get more for it than any of those overpaid Ambulance Chasers imagined possible. I'm not talking about NASA's $100,000 toilet seats, or specialized aircraft body hammers-I'm talking about weapons, logistics, transportation-and all it takes to win a war- not sending boatloads of PORK to their home state.
Gawd- I'm getting tired of the DEMOCRATS running things, either by nagging and caterwalling- or by fiat with their willing accomplices the BIG MEDIA.
When are the Republicans going to stand up and tell them all to STFU!
When are the Republicans going to ACT like they won the elections? Can they anymore?
Well, it looks like we're actually on the way to communism
When an election doesn't mean anything in who calls the shots in government, it sure starts looking like a totalitarian state.
The Dems have stolen the initiative (aided by the 5th column MSM) and are now officially and brazenly rewriting history. The put their judges up to circumvent the laws of the land- to force law abiding citizens to bow to their unelected power.
I'd like to remind you that the Soviet Union had a Constitution, too with all the protections of ours. They also had judges that used it as toilet paper and changed the meaning to fit their agenda.
Does that sound familiar?
(UPDATE 7:03PM) I cleaned it up because I wrote it early this morning when I heard what the Dems were attempting to do.
When an election doesn't mean anything in who calls the shots in government, it sure starts looking like a totalitarian state.
The Dems have stolen the initiative (aided by the 5th column MSM) and are now officially and brazenly rewriting history. The put their judges up to circumvent the laws of the land- to force law abiding citizens to bow to their unelected power.
I'd like to remind you that the Soviet Union had a Constitution, too with all the protections of ours. They also had judges that used it as toilet paper and changed the meaning to fit their agenda.
Does that sound familiar?
(UPDATE 7:03PM) I cleaned it up because I wrote it early this morning when I heard what the Dems were attempting to do.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Oh, HI!
Sorry, kinda forgot about you. See we're getting satellite broadband and a cell connection that works here. That would be fine- we could drop SBC like a hot rock if we didn't need cheap international calling.
Yep, if we try to have a nice long conversation on a mobile call to Chelthenham, England it would cost about 30 cents per minute. That would eat up anything we saved from dropping SBC'sover charging usurious monopolistic rates.
I think I have it down to either Vonage@ $14.99/mo or Packet8@ $19.95/mo.
Ok, back tosurfing poking around the internet VoIPs.
Sorry, kinda forgot about you. See we're getting satellite broadband and a cell connection that works here. That would be fine- we could drop SBC like a hot rock if we didn't need cheap international calling.
Yep, if we try to have a nice long conversation on a mobile call to Chelthenham, England it would cost about 30 cents per minute. That would eat up anything we saved from dropping SBC's
I think I have it down to either Vonage@ $14.99/mo or Packet8@ $19.95/mo.
Ok, back to
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Having fun with homonyms
Why not go over to Boyds blog to give him some of your favorite homonymes in his comments.
I'm sure he'll welome you with open arms.
Why not go over to Boyds blog to give him some of your favorite homonymes in his comments.
I'm sure he'll welome you with open arms.
I forgot to mention just how costly staying home sick was
I stayed home sick last Thurs. I'm not getting sick time yet, so I lost a good side of $100+.
I got tired of having enough time to load the laundry while waiting for websites I was surfing to load.
So, knowing the trailer was going to be sold soon- I went ahead and ordered $512 worth of Wild Blue satellite internet. I got the Value pack. After 26K a 512KPS connection is lightning fast. The only problem is that the rep told me that it's problematic to get reliable VoIP (broadband telephone) over satellite, so it looks like we'll be stuck with SBC for a while, yet.
Bummer.
On the other hand, our old cellphones from Verizon Wireless(with extending antennas)can recieve both Verizon signals and cingular.
Now we need to decide the best way to network our computers.
I stayed home sick last Thurs. I'm not getting sick time yet, so I lost a good side of $100+.
I got tired of having enough time to load the laundry while waiting for websites I was surfing to load.
So, knowing the trailer was going to be sold soon- I went ahead and ordered $512 worth of Wild Blue satellite internet. I got the Value pack. After 26K a 512KPS connection is lightning fast. The only problem is that the rep told me that it's problematic to get reliable VoIP (broadband telephone) over satellite, so it looks like we'll be stuck with SBC for a while, yet.
Bummer.
On the other hand, our old cellphones from Verizon Wireless(with extending antennas)can recieve both Verizon signals and cingular.
Now we need to decide the best way to network our computers.
This could really be something good
But then again I am a gas guy.
Still 100MPS broadband at a non-premium price sounds REAL good.
It just doesn't sound quite right mixing natural gas with advanced technology.
I mean some of those lines have been buried for over 100 years, and the old meters hanging on your house don't look cutting edge.
The ony concerns I'd have is if the plastic gasline could contain the high energy radio waves, and what would happen in a line break? Poly line already has a static electricity problem, would radio waves increase the problem? We use sound to trace Poly line that doesn't have tracer wire buried with it- if the plastic doesn't contain the radio waves, would the ground swallow it?
But then again I am a gas guy.
Still 100MPS broadband at a non-premium price sounds REAL good.
It just doesn't sound quite right mixing natural gas with advanced technology.
I mean some of those lines have been buried for over 100 years, and the old meters hanging on your house don't look cutting edge.
The ony concerns I'd have is if the plastic gasline could contain the high energy radio waves, and what would happen in a line break? Poly line already has a static electricity problem, would radio waves increase the problem? We use sound to trace Poly line that doesn't have tracer wire buried with it- if the plastic doesn't contain the radio waves, would the ground swallow it?
As y'all may know, I'm looking at a third vehicle
I stayed away from the "Jeep*" name because I had some VERY bad experiences with their pickups whilesentenced assigned to the Newport,R.I. Naval base right before I got out. We had three of them, one was always in for charging system problems, one for the transmission, and I can't remember what the other repair queen was in for.
As I was looking at vehicles, I found a site that has some reliability ratings and the problems associated with a general class of vehicles.
I was suprised at how much green was showing on the Jeeps*.
I took a look at the Govt' fuel ratings and saw that they didn't get all that bad of milage.
Especially when you hear the vast leftwing magpies calling them gas guzzlers. I bet alot of those anti-SUV greenies drive luxury cars that get worse milage than a light Jeep*. My Dodge Ram 1500 gets worse milage than a Grand Cherokee. It's also wider as my wife found out when coming through the gate (not as bad as Rhianna's boo boo).
I now have another choice in vehicles, although not one the Left would approve of (the ability to choose what I drive), and they seem to be a bit less expensive that the Chevies, Fords and Dodges I've been looking at. I guess the fact that alot were made by slave labor in "Re-education camps" has something to do about that.
And yes, we need another vehicle. I work 50 miles away, wife works about 30(and different hours) and we need a way to get there if one of the vehicles is down. We also have two teens making noise about drivers licenses.
* This is a registered name for the Crysler Corp. who have tried to take over bars, resuraunts, and anything else that mentioned the Jeep* name without mentioning them- the CHRYSLER CORP. prominently in their verbage. Even if the said bar or resturaunt had been in business before the CHRYSLER CORP. had bought out the Jeep* brand. and before it sold itself to it's new German masters.
I stayed away from the "Jeep*" name because I had some VERY bad experiences with their pickups while
As I was looking at vehicles, I found a site that has some reliability ratings and the problems associated with a general class of vehicles.
I was suprised at how much green was showing on the Jeeps*.
I took a look at the Govt' fuel ratings and saw that they didn't get all that bad of milage.
Especially when you hear the vast leftwing magpies calling them gas guzzlers. I bet alot of those anti-SUV greenies drive luxury cars that get worse milage than a light Jeep*. My Dodge Ram 1500 gets worse milage than a Grand Cherokee. It's also wider as my wife found out when coming through the gate (not as bad as Rhianna's boo boo).
I now have another choice in vehicles, although not one the Left would approve of (the ability to choose what I drive), and they seem to be a bit less expensive that the Chevies, Fords and Dodges I've been looking at. I guess the fact that alot were made by slave labor in "Re-education camps" has something to do about that.
And yes, we need another vehicle. I work 50 miles away, wife works about 30(and different hours) and we need a way to get there if one of the vehicles is down. We also have two teens making noise about drivers licenses.
* This is a registered name for the Crysler Corp. who have tried to take over bars, resuraunts, and anything else that mentioned the Jeep* name without mentioning them- the CHRYSLER CORP. prominently in their verbage. Even if the said bar or resturaunt had been in business before the CHRYSLER CORP. had bought out the Jeep* brand. and before it sold itself to it's new German masters.
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Anybody up for some cheap Texas land?
This 11 acre ranch in west Texas has alot going for it.
Privacy Solitude A sense of security Ok, it'll have plenty of moving targets.
Not that it's bad to invade a sovergn country your not wanted in, or anything like that. . .
This 11 acre ranch in west Texas has alot going for it.
Not that it's bad to invade a sovergn country your not wanted in, or anything like that. . .
Friday, November 11, 2005
This is why we remember
PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION
USN Presidential Citation Ribbon
Awarded to Task Unit 77.4.3 (Taffy III)
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to TASK UNIT SEVENTY-SEVEN POINT FOUR POINT THREE, consisting of the U.S.S. FANSHAW BAY and VC-88; U.S.S. GAMBIER BAY and VC-10; U.S.S. KALININ BAY and VC-3; U.S.S. KITKUN BAY and VC-5; U.S.S. SAINT LO and VC-65; U.S.S. WHITE PLAINS and VC-4; U.S.S. HOEL, U.S.S. JOHNSTON, U.S.S. HEERMANN, U.S.S. SAMUEL B. ROBERTS, U.S.S. RAYMOND, U.S.S. DENNIS and U.S.S. JOHN C. BUTLER
for service as set forth in the following CITATION
"For extraordinary heroism in action against powerful units of the Japanese Fleet during the Battle off Samar, Philippines, October 25, 1944. Silhouetted against the dawn as the Central Japanese Force steamed through San Bernardino Strait towards Leyte Gulf, Task Unit 77.4.3 was suddenly taken under attack by hostile cruisers on its port hand, destroyers on the starboard and battleships from the rear. Quickly laying down a heavy smoke screen, the gallant ships of the Task Unit waged battle fiercely against the superior speed and fire power of the advancing enemy, swiftly launching and rearming aircraft and violently zigzagging in protection of vessels stricken by hostile armor-piercing shells, anti-personnel projectiles and suicide bombers. With one carrier of the group sunk, others badly damaged and squadron aircraft courageously coordinating in the attacks by making dry runs over the enemy Fleet as the Japanese relentlessly closed in for the kill, two of the Unit's valiant destroyers and one destroyer escort charged the battleships point-blank and, expending their last torpedoes in desperate defense of the entire group, went down under the enemy's heavy shells as a climax to two and one half hours of sustained and furious combat. The courageous determination and the superb teamwork of the officers and men who fought the embarked planes and who manned the ships of Task Unit 77.4.3 were instrumental in effecting the retirement of a hostile force threatening our Leyte invasion operations and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
For the President,
/signed/ JAMES FORRESTAL Secretary of the Navy
Some gave their all.
This is one story.
On 25 October 1944, TASK UNIT 77.4.3, nicknamed "TAFFY III" was cruising some forty or fifty miles east of the Island of Samar, Philippine Islands;
TAFFY III consisted of six baby flattops, USS FANSHAW BAY CVE 70 (Flagship) , USS GAMBIER BAY, CVE 73, USS KALININ BAY CVE 68, USS KITKUN BAY CVE 71, USS SAINT LO CVE 63 and USS WHITE PLAINS CVE 66.
These small carriers were being screened by 3 destroyers and 4 destroyer escorts. The three destroyers were; USS HEERMANN DD 532, USS HOEL DD 533 and USS JOHNSTON DD 557. The four destroyer escorts were; USS JOHN C. BUTLER DE 339, USS DENNIS DE 405, USS RAYMOND DE 341 and USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS DE 413.
TAFFY THREE'S aircraft were supporting the landings of General Douglas MacArthur as he was attempting to keep his word of " I SHALL RETURN" when he was forced to retreat from the Philippine Islands in the early part of WW II.
It was believed by most Task Unit Commanders in the area that Admiral William F. (Bull) Halsey was guarding the exit of San Bernardino Strait with his mighty Task Force 38 however, Admiral Halsey had been lured north by a Japanese Carrier Task Force set up as a decoy for the purpose of pulling Admiral Halsey's Giant Task Force away from the Leyte Operation. The Japanese had intention of destroying General MacArthur's landing operations on LEYTE.
At about 0645 on the morning of 25 OCTOBER 1944, a pilot on patrol sighted and reported an extremely large Japanese Task Force consisting of 4 battleships, 8 cruisers and 11 destroyers heading straight for TAFFY III. This report was challanged by TU commander, Adm. Sprague thinking the pilot had spotted parts of Admiral Halsey's large task force and asked that the pilot recheck his sighting for better identification. The pilot re-checked and reported that the large surface ships were supporting giant Pagoda masts. This pretty well confirmed that the sightings were not American ships.
At about the same time that positive identification was made of the enemy task force, the Japanese Task Force commenced firing on TAFFY III, concentrating their fire on the carriers.
The carriers were not only small but were slow, each one could only make 17 or 18 knots. The Japanese Task Force was closing at about 25 knots.
JAPANESE FORCE
Japanese Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita's fleet consisted of four battleships, the world's largest, YAMATO which contained 9, 18.1" guns in three turrets, plus NAGATO which contained 9, 16" guns in three turrets and KONGO and HARUNA which contained 14" guns.
In addition to the four battleships, there were eight cruisers and 11 destroyers. All of the ships in Adm. Kurita's force were equipped with torpedo tubes except the super heavy YAMATO.
One of YAMATO'S turrets containing 3, 18.1-inch guns weighed more than a Fletcher class destroyer.
USS JOHNSTON
Destroyer Johnston. Commanded by Commander Ernest E. Evans, which was nearest the Japanese Task Force at the time turned and began making smoke from her stacks and also her smoke screen generators. JOHNSTON was zig-zaging as she began to close her range with the enemy task force. As the range began to close rapidly, Commander Evans picked out a heavy cruiser in the lead and advised the gunnery officer to begin firing on that ship as soon as our range closed enough/ Johnston began firing on heavy cruiser KUMANO and picked that ship as a target for a torpedo attack. Later, johnston was followed by USS HOEL, USS HEERMAN and USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS. .
JOHNSTON was zigzagging as she laid smoke in an attempt to hide the carriers from view of the Japanese. As JOHNSTON closed within range of the enemy ships, she opened fire with her five, 5-inch guns and selected a target for a torpedo attack. Johnston picked out one of the heavy cruisers that was in the lead and began a torpedo run When JOHNSTON got within approximately 9000 yards of Japanese Heavy Cruiser KUMANO, the target cruiser, began firing her torpedoes to starboard. By the time JOHNSTON completed the firing of her ten torpedoes, she was within approximately 6000 yards of KUMANO Torpedo hits were made on cruiser Kumano severely cripling her and taking her out of the action.
Johnston turned and was attempting to retire into her own smoke screen when she was hit for the first time with a three gun salvo of 14: inch projectiles from a battleship. These hits were followed in 30 seconds by a 3-gun salvo of 6" projectiles from a light cruiser. These six hits caused considerable damage to JOHNSTON knocking out one fire room and one engine room, slowing JOHNSTON from about 34 knots to about 16 knots. Hits were received on the bridge that caused a large amount of damage and either killed or seriously wounded many of the men assigned to the bridge which included the Captain. The Captain received wounds to his hand, back and it is believed to his ear drums from concussion.
JOHNSTON then took refuge inside a rain squall in an attempt to make emergency repairs. This lasted for about ten minutes. The enemy ships were either not equipped with fire control radar or it was not very effective because they didn't seem to fire unless they had a good visual contact with our ships.
After orders were given for "small boys" to make a torpedo attack, JOHNSTON fell in behind HOEL HEERMANN and DE, SAMUEL B. ROBERTS in an attempt to provide fire support as these ships made a torpedo attack. At about 17 knots, JOHNSTON'S full speed at the time, could not keep up with the other ships making a torpedo attack but was able to provide some fire support for them.
JOHNSTON continued to engage the enemy in an attempt to draw the enemy fire toward the JOHNSTON and away from the carriers. JOHNSTON continued to receive extremely damaging fire until approximately 0940 when JOHNSTON was knocked "dead in the water" by crippling gun fire from the enemy. At approximately 0950, Commander Ernest E. Evans gave that dreadful order., "Abandon Ship" at that time, men began to go over the side of JOHNSTON and attempt to swim away from the sinking ship.
At approximately 1010, JOHNSTON sank as an enemy destroyer continued to pump projectiles into her critically damaged hull. Her survivors were in the water nearby as the enemy destroyer slowly steamed through the survivors who were scattered about in the water. We all believed that we would be straffed by the guns aboard the enemy destroyer and also believed that the destroyer might drop depth charges set at a very shallow depth which would probably have killed all or most of the survivors in the water that were near by. However the enemy sailors were off thier guns and lining the port side of the destroyer and were yelling at us but did not offer to fire or to drop depth charges. This was graciously accepted by the survivors.
After JOHNSTON rolled over and sank, the Japanese destroyer that was very close at hand, steaming very slowly through the survivors, once it cleared the survivors, increased it's speed and departed the area of JOHNSTON's survivors.
Once it was clear or believed to be clear that the enemy was not going to direct any further attention to the survivors of JOHNSTON, we survivors began to organize and collect into groups around life rafts that had been dropped over the side of JOHNSTON.
There were many severely burned and wounded men in the water. Many needed medical attention, far more than could be given in the water. Immediate rescue was desperately needed to save many men's lives.............but it didn't come. At this time, there were more than 1100 hundred survivors in the water from GAMBIER BAY, HOEL, JOHNSTON aand SAMUEL B. ROBERTS.
Rescue didn't come. Many times, our planes would dive down and take a look at us and when we would wave to them they would dip their wings to let us know that they recognized us as American. Still, no rescue came. The enemy turned and with their ships that could still make way, exited the area. Our remaining ships of TAFFY III. Those that we sacraficed ourselves for also left the area and didn't send rescue vessels for us nor would they permit any of our destroyers to come back for us when they requested permission to do so. Commanding officers of other destroyers in TAFFY II were denied permission to come to us and help us out of the ocean.
All of us in the water expected to be rescued in a very short time but still.........rescue didn't come.
As the day wore on, we began to wonder why we received no help. The commander of our Task Unit knew exactly where we were and knew the enemy had left the area but still did nothing to help us.
In the group the writer was in, we placed two of the most severely injured inside a life raft with one other badly injured man to help take care of them. The two men were burned extremely bad and couldn't see.
About 1500 (3:pm) , we saw our first shark. He was a pretty big shark and was approximately 100 yards from our group but was coming closer as he swam back and forth. Finally it was obvious that he was going to make an attempt to hit someone and he swam along the side that I was on and rolled as if he was going to hit someone. About six of us pushed down on him in an attempt to keep from being bitten. It seemed to work because the shark didn't hit anyone at that time and we apparently scared him away. We had no further shark attacks until after dark and then we had several. Several men were hit, one was hit in both thighs, one in the back, one on his left arm and shoulder and one in the left kidney area, Two of the men later died.
Shortly after dark, both of the two men that were burned and that were in the raft died. They died about 10 minutes apart. Someone said a prayer and a few words about each shipmate and then their life jacket was removed and then they were allowed to slip below the surface. Although all of us had seen many of our shipmates die during the battle, it was still rough on us at our early ages to burry our shipmates in this fashion. We had to go on and those of us who were still alive had to try to survive.
There were other groups of survivors from JOHNSTON but we had drifted apart and could no longer see the other groups. A long night was ahead of us. From time to time, someone would scream out and someone would yell, "SHARK!!" and the rest of us would start kicking and splashing frantically in an attempt to scare the shark away. As far as I know, it worked. I don't remember a shark hanging on with all of us kicking and splashing. It was very tiring, kicking and splashing all night but we did it, at least in the group that I was in.
Morning came and no rescue was in sight so at about 0600 (6:00 am) two men from my group started swimming for the Island of Samar. We were closer to Samar now due to the current. It was agreed that at around noon six more of us would begin swimming for Samar in hopes of some of us making it to get help for the other survivors. None of this should have been necessary........if only our TASK UNIT Commander had only initiated a rescue attempt of his own.
At about noon, as agreed, six of us began our swim toward Samar.
The two men who left earlier, John Schindele and Jim Correll had long been out of our sight. The six of us; Charles (Chuck) Campbell, Jim Herring, Frank Nelson, Juliam Owen, J.B. Strickland and myself *Bill Mercer) took a 4 X 4 timber with us in order for us to all stay together and headed toward Samar. We could easily see the island but it was several miles away. As we swam, the current was also helpful in taking us closer and closer to the island. Late in the after noon, we sighted what we thought was a small boat with one or more people in it but we couldn't tell if they were friendly or enemy. As we drew closer, one of the men in the boat yelled, "we have some water".
We were encouraged that the person spoke English and felt that it must be Filipinos in the boat and were coming out to help us. We drew closer and closer and then realized that it was not Filipinos nor was it a boat. It was Jim Correll and John Schindele who had left earlier. They had come across a life raft from the JOHNSTON that had apparently been blown off during the battle because it still contained a 40 mm ammunition cannister that contained rations, cigarettes and other survival items, It did contain a breaker with some water but it was very "stringy" but it wasn't salty so it did quench ones thirst but we didn't have much of it. We had cigarettes and matches but shortly after opening the cannister, Chuck campbell dropped the lid and no one wanted to dive for it........the water was a few miles deep at that point. Not long after dropping the lid, a wave splashed into the cannister and got all of the matches wet. That took care of the cigarette smoking. We did still have what rations it contained and a very pistol. A very pistol is a pistol that shoots flares which were later fired in an attempt to attract sttention to our position in case there were rescue vessels in the area, Later we learned that it was a flare that had been fired into the air that the actual rescue group saw that later lead them to the survivors. We weren't the only ones who were firing flares so I don't know if it was ours the men on the rescue ship saw or some other groups flares.
The rescue Task Unit that was organized was not organized by our own Task Unit Commander but by a group in Leyte Harbor who had heard of survivors having been seen in an area east of Samar. Our Task Unit Commander had nothing to do with the organization or the rescue of the more than 1100 survivors. The rescue vessels consisted of two PC Craft, PC-623 , PC 1119 and LCI's 34, 71, 337, 340 and 341. PC 623 was flagship of Task Unit 78.12. The rescue Task Group was recommended by Captain Charles Adair and was approved by Admiral Kincaid.
Not long after the rescue Task Group 78.12 was organized, It stood out of Leyte Harbor to an area some 125 miles east of Leyte to search for and rescue survivors.
In the meantime, those of us still out in the ocean were struggling to hang on, still hoping to be rescued.
In my small group, we continued to drift closer to the Island and it appeared that we would surely make landfall some time during the night which was the second night for us in the ocean. We were getting so close to land, that we made plans as to what we we would do once we made it to the shore. We decided that we would divide into two groups of four to the group. We split up what money we had so that each group had about the same amount. We decided that when we got on the beach, one group would go to the right and one to the left and then try to go into the hills in search of a village that we believed to be near the center of the Island. We had our plans in place but the current didn't cooperate, The currents changed and began to pull us back out to sea. The night seemed twice as long as the first night. We were tired, depressed and very weary. After dark, I learned that my life jacket would no longer float so I let it go and it sank. Later into the night we began to hallucinate, not all at the same time but at some time during the night all of us did. It is very difficult to separate fact from fiction when one hallucinates. Fortunately for us some one was rational at all times during the night and that helped to keep the group from doing something that we should not.
In the group the writer was in, there were eight men and I don't recall anyone having a watch that worked but as it began to get light enough to see, it was clear that we had drifted closer to the island of Samar and it seemed to the writer that we were near the south end of the island and much closer than the evening before. All of the men in our little group were very tired and half dozing, one with his head dangling in the water as he lay across the edge of the life raft. As I recall, the writer was the first one to notice that we were close to the island and began trying to get everyone alert. I began by getting Owens to get his head out of the water which wasn't an easy task but finally by "poping" him pretty good, he did raise his head. As everyone seemed to be awake, we discussed making it to shore again and the current seemed to change again and began pulling us out to sea again. We all seriously discussed leaving the raft and swiming for it and most of us agreed that we would do that but one man, Strickland, said that he knew he couldn't make it but urged the others of us to go for it. We discussed it further and decided that if we couldn't all go then none of us would go. This was probnably a life saving decision. Since our life jackets were gone, we probably wouldn't have made it. We were close but probably not as close as it looked.
Since none of us had watches that worked, I don't know what time it was but I always thought it was about noon when we spotted ships in the distance. There seemed to be a small group of small ships. The eight of us then began to discuss whether the ships were enemy or friendly. As I recall, all of us but Strickland thought they were enemy but Strickland insisted from the beginning that they were American. We then discussed whether we should try to get the attention of someone on the ships and agreed that we needed to get out of the water, be it by friendly help or by the enemy. So one of the men, Herring began waving a white scivie shirt in an attempt to get their attention. Still we didn't know if they were enemy or American. As the ships drew closer, one of the Patrol Craft drifted almost broadside to our group and we could easily see the American flag waving ..........what a beautiful site. A man on LCI 71 yelled through a megaphone that they saw us and for us to take it easy they were going to get us. A line was thrown to us and we tied it to the raft and was pulled along side and helped aboard. This was a very pleasant feeling........finally.......we were out of the water, something we had just about given up on ever happening. It should have happened many hours before but didn't.
Soon we would be in Leyte Harbor and there we would be transferred to either a hospital ship or to an LST and would head for New Guinea, Australia and then home to San Francisco,
Thanks to the rescue group, more than 1100 men were eventually rescued. There would have been many more survivors had rescue come quickly as it should have.
Stolen from The Johnston-Hoel memorial page.
PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION
USN Presidential Citation Ribbon
Awarded to Task Unit 77.4.3 (Taffy III)
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to TASK UNIT SEVENTY-SEVEN POINT FOUR POINT THREE, consisting of the U.S.S. FANSHAW BAY and VC-88; U.S.S. GAMBIER BAY and VC-10; U.S.S. KALININ BAY and VC-3; U.S.S. KITKUN BAY and VC-5; U.S.S. SAINT LO and VC-65; U.S.S. WHITE PLAINS and VC-4; U.S.S. HOEL, U.S.S. JOHNSTON, U.S.S. HEERMANN, U.S.S. SAMUEL B. ROBERTS, U.S.S. RAYMOND, U.S.S. DENNIS and U.S.S. JOHN C. BUTLER
for service as set forth in the following CITATION
"For extraordinary heroism in action against powerful units of the Japanese Fleet during the Battle off Samar, Philippines, October 25, 1944. Silhouetted against the dawn as the Central Japanese Force steamed through San Bernardino Strait towards Leyte Gulf, Task Unit 77.4.3 was suddenly taken under attack by hostile cruisers on its port hand, destroyers on the starboard and battleships from the rear. Quickly laying down a heavy smoke screen, the gallant ships of the Task Unit waged battle fiercely against the superior speed and fire power of the advancing enemy, swiftly launching and rearming aircraft and violently zigzagging in protection of vessels stricken by hostile armor-piercing shells, anti-personnel projectiles and suicide bombers. With one carrier of the group sunk, others badly damaged and squadron aircraft courageously coordinating in the attacks by making dry runs over the enemy Fleet as the Japanese relentlessly closed in for the kill, two of the Unit's valiant destroyers and one destroyer escort charged the battleships point-blank and, expending their last torpedoes in desperate defense of the entire group, went down under the enemy's heavy shells as a climax to two and one half hours of sustained and furious combat. The courageous determination and the superb teamwork of the officers and men who fought the embarked planes and who manned the ships of Task Unit 77.4.3 were instrumental in effecting the retirement of a hostile force threatening our Leyte invasion operations and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
For the President,
/signed/ JAMES FORRESTAL Secretary of the Navy
Some gave their all.
This is one story.
On 25 October 1944, TASK UNIT 77.4.3, nicknamed "TAFFY III" was cruising some forty or fifty miles east of the Island of Samar, Philippine Islands;
TAFFY III consisted of six baby flattops, USS FANSHAW BAY CVE 70 (Flagship) , USS GAMBIER BAY, CVE 73, USS KALININ BAY CVE 68, USS KITKUN BAY CVE 71, USS SAINT LO CVE 63 and USS WHITE PLAINS CVE 66.
These small carriers were being screened by 3 destroyers and 4 destroyer escorts. The three destroyers were; USS HEERMANN DD 532, USS HOEL DD 533 and USS JOHNSTON DD 557. The four destroyer escorts were; USS JOHN C. BUTLER DE 339, USS DENNIS DE 405, USS RAYMOND DE 341 and USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS DE 413.
TAFFY THREE'S aircraft were supporting the landings of General Douglas MacArthur as he was attempting to keep his word of " I SHALL RETURN" when he was forced to retreat from the Philippine Islands in the early part of WW II.
It was believed by most Task Unit Commanders in the area that Admiral William F. (Bull) Halsey was guarding the exit of San Bernardino Strait with his mighty Task Force 38 however, Admiral Halsey had been lured north by a Japanese Carrier Task Force set up as a decoy for the purpose of pulling Admiral Halsey's Giant Task Force away from the Leyte Operation. The Japanese had intention of destroying General MacArthur's landing operations on LEYTE.
At about 0645 on the morning of 25 OCTOBER 1944, a pilot on patrol sighted and reported an extremely large Japanese Task Force consisting of 4 battleships, 8 cruisers and 11 destroyers heading straight for TAFFY III. This report was challanged by TU commander, Adm. Sprague thinking the pilot had spotted parts of Admiral Halsey's large task force and asked that the pilot recheck his sighting for better identification. The pilot re-checked and reported that the large surface ships were supporting giant Pagoda masts. This pretty well confirmed that the sightings were not American ships.
At about the same time that positive identification was made of the enemy task force, the Japanese Task Force commenced firing on TAFFY III, concentrating their fire on the carriers.
The carriers were not only small but were slow, each one could only make 17 or 18 knots. The Japanese Task Force was closing at about 25 knots.
JAPANESE FORCE
Japanese Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita's fleet consisted of four battleships, the world's largest, YAMATO which contained 9, 18.1" guns in three turrets, plus NAGATO which contained 9, 16" guns in three turrets and KONGO and HARUNA which contained 14" guns.
In addition to the four battleships, there were eight cruisers and 11 destroyers. All of the ships in Adm. Kurita's force were equipped with torpedo tubes except the super heavy YAMATO.
One of YAMATO'S turrets containing 3, 18.1-inch guns weighed more than a Fletcher class destroyer.
USS JOHNSTON
Destroyer Johnston. Commanded by Commander Ernest E. Evans, which was nearest the Japanese Task Force at the time turned and began making smoke from her stacks and also her smoke screen generators. JOHNSTON was zig-zaging as she began to close her range with the enemy task force. As the range began to close rapidly, Commander Evans picked out a heavy cruiser in the lead and advised the gunnery officer to begin firing on that ship as soon as our range closed enough/ Johnston began firing on heavy cruiser KUMANO and picked that ship as a target for a torpedo attack. Later, johnston was followed by USS HOEL, USS HEERMAN and USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS. .
JOHNSTON was zigzagging as she laid smoke in an attempt to hide the carriers from view of the Japanese. As JOHNSTON closed within range of the enemy ships, she opened fire with her five, 5-inch guns and selected a target for a torpedo attack. Johnston picked out one of the heavy cruisers that was in the lead and began a torpedo run When JOHNSTON got within approximately 9000 yards of Japanese Heavy Cruiser KUMANO, the target cruiser, began firing her torpedoes to starboard. By the time JOHNSTON completed the firing of her ten torpedoes, she was within approximately 6000 yards of KUMANO Torpedo hits were made on cruiser Kumano severely cripling her and taking her out of the action.
Johnston turned and was attempting to retire into her own smoke screen when she was hit for the first time with a three gun salvo of 14: inch projectiles from a battleship. These hits were followed in 30 seconds by a 3-gun salvo of 6" projectiles from a light cruiser. These six hits caused considerable damage to JOHNSTON knocking out one fire room and one engine room, slowing JOHNSTON from about 34 knots to about 16 knots. Hits were received on the bridge that caused a large amount of damage and either killed or seriously wounded many of the men assigned to the bridge which included the Captain. The Captain received wounds to his hand, back and it is believed to his ear drums from concussion.
JOHNSTON then took refuge inside a rain squall in an attempt to make emergency repairs. This lasted for about ten minutes. The enemy ships were either not equipped with fire control radar or it was not very effective because they didn't seem to fire unless they had a good visual contact with our ships.
After orders were given for "small boys" to make a torpedo attack, JOHNSTON fell in behind HOEL HEERMANN and DE, SAMUEL B. ROBERTS in an attempt to provide fire support as these ships made a torpedo attack. At about 17 knots, JOHNSTON'S full speed at the time, could not keep up with the other ships making a torpedo attack but was able to provide some fire support for them.
JOHNSTON continued to engage the enemy in an attempt to draw the enemy fire toward the JOHNSTON and away from the carriers. JOHNSTON continued to receive extremely damaging fire until approximately 0940 when JOHNSTON was knocked "dead in the water" by crippling gun fire from the enemy. At approximately 0950, Commander Ernest E. Evans gave that dreadful order., "Abandon Ship" at that time, men began to go over the side of JOHNSTON and attempt to swim away from the sinking ship.
At approximately 1010, JOHNSTON sank as an enemy destroyer continued to pump projectiles into her critically damaged hull. Her survivors were in the water nearby as the enemy destroyer slowly steamed through the survivors who were scattered about in the water. We all believed that we would be straffed by the guns aboard the enemy destroyer and also believed that the destroyer might drop depth charges set at a very shallow depth which would probably have killed all or most of the survivors in the water that were near by. However the enemy sailors were off thier guns and lining the port side of the destroyer and were yelling at us but did not offer to fire or to drop depth charges. This was graciously accepted by the survivors.
After JOHNSTON rolled over and sank, the Japanese destroyer that was very close at hand, steaming very slowly through the survivors, once it cleared the survivors, increased it's speed and departed the area of JOHNSTON's survivors.
Once it was clear or believed to be clear that the enemy was not going to direct any further attention to the survivors of JOHNSTON, we survivors began to organize and collect into groups around life rafts that had been dropped over the side of JOHNSTON.
There were many severely burned and wounded men in the water. Many needed medical attention, far more than could be given in the water. Immediate rescue was desperately needed to save many men's lives.............but it didn't come. At this time, there were more than 1100 hundred survivors in the water from GAMBIER BAY, HOEL, JOHNSTON aand SAMUEL B. ROBERTS.
Rescue didn't come. Many times, our planes would dive down and take a look at us and when we would wave to them they would dip their wings to let us know that they recognized us as American. Still, no rescue came. The enemy turned and with their ships that could still make way, exited the area. Our remaining ships of TAFFY III. Those that we sacraficed ourselves for also left the area and didn't send rescue vessels for us nor would they permit any of our destroyers to come back for us when they requested permission to do so. Commanding officers of other destroyers in TAFFY II were denied permission to come to us and help us out of the ocean.
All of us in the water expected to be rescued in a very short time but still.........rescue didn't come.
As the day wore on, we began to wonder why we received no help. The commander of our Task Unit knew exactly where we were and knew the enemy had left the area but still did nothing to help us.
In the group the writer was in, we placed two of the most severely injured inside a life raft with one other badly injured man to help take care of them. The two men were burned extremely bad and couldn't see.
About 1500 (3:pm) , we saw our first shark. He was a pretty big shark and was approximately 100 yards from our group but was coming closer as he swam back and forth. Finally it was obvious that he was going to make an attempt to hit someone and he swam along the side that I was on and rolled as if he was going to hit someone. About six of us pushed down on him in an attempt to keep from being bitten. It seemed to work because the shark didn't hit anyone at that time and we apparently scared him away. We had no further shark attacks until after dark and then we had several. Several men were hit, one was hit in both thighs, one in the back, one on his left arm and shoulder and one in the left kidney area, Two of the men later died.
Shortly after dark, both of the two men that were burned and that were in the raft died. They died about 10 minutes apart. Someone said a prayer and a few words about each shipmate and then their life jacket was removed and then they were allowed to slip below the surface. Although all of us had seen many of our shipmates die during the battle, it was still rough on us at our early ages to burry our shipmates in this fashion. We had to go on and those of us who were still alive had to try to survive.
There were other groups of survivors from JOHNSTON but we had drifted apart and could no longer see the other groups. A long night was ahead of us. From time to time, someone would scream out and someone would yell, "SHARK!!" and the rest of us would start kicking and splashing frantically in an attempt to scare the shark away. As far as I know, it worked. I don't remember a shark hanging on with all of us kicking and splashing. It was very tiring, kicking and splashing all night but we did it, at least in the group that I was in.
Morning came and no rescue was in sight so at about 0600 (6:00 am) two men from my group started swimming for the Island of Samar. We were closer to Samar now due to the current. It was agreed that at around noon six more of us would begin swimming for Samar in hopes of some of us making it to get help for the other survivors. None of this should have been necessary........if only our TASK UNIT Commander had only initiated a rescue attempt of his own.
At about noon, as agreed, six of us began our swim toward Samar.
The two men who left earlier, John Schindele and Jim Correll had long been out of our sight. The six of us; Charles (Chuck) Campbell, Jim Herring, Frank Nelson, Juliam Owen, J.B. Strickland and myself *Bill Mercer) took a 4 X 4 timber with us in order for us to all stay together and headed toward Samar. We could easily see the island but it was several miles away. As we swam, the current was also helpful in taking us closer and closer to the island. Late in the after noon, we sighted what we thought was a small boat with one or more people in it but we couldn't tell if they were friendly or enemy. As we drew closer, one of the men in the boat yelled, "we have some water".
We were encouraged that the person spoke English and felt that it must be Filipinos in the boat and were coming out to help us. We drew closer and closer and then realized that it was not Filipinos nor was it a boat. It was Jim Correll and John Schindele who had left earlier. They had come across a life raft from the JOHNSTON that had apparently been blown off during the battle because it still contained a 40 mm ammunition cannister that contained rations, cigarettes and other survival items, It did contain a breaker with some water but it was very "stringy" but it wasn't salty so it did quench ones thirst but we didn't have much of it. We had cigarettes and matches but shortly after opening the cannister, Chuck campbell dropped the lid and no one wanted to dive for it........the water was a few miles deep at that point. Not long after dropping the lid, a wave splashed into the cannister and got all of the matches wet. That took care of the cigarette smoking. We did still have what rations it contained and a very pistol. A very pistol is a pistol that shoots flares which were later fired in an attempt to attract sttention to our position in case there were rescue vessels in the area, Later we learned that it was a flare that had been fired into the air that the actual rescue group saw that later lead them to the survivors. We weren't the only ones who were firing flares so I don't know if it was ours the men on the rescue ship saw or some other groups flares.
The rescue Task Unit that was organized was not organized by our own Task Unit Commander but by a group in Leyte Harbor who had heard of survivors having been seen in an area east of Samar. Our Task Unit Commander had nothing to do with the organization or the rescue of the more than 1100 survivors. The rescue vessels consisted of two PC Craft, PC-623 , PC 1119 and LCI's 34, 71, 337, 340 and 341. PC 623 was flagship of Task Unit 78.12. The rescue Task Group was recommended by Captain Charles Adair and was approved by Admiral Kincaid.
Not long after the rescue Task Group 78.12 was organized, It stood out of Leyte Harbor to an area some 125 miles east of Leyte to search for and rescue survivors.
In the meantime, those of us still out in the ocean were struggling to hang on, still hoping to be rescued.
In my small group, we continued to drift closer to the Island and it appeared that we would surely make landfall some time during the night which was the second night for us in the ocean. We were getting so close to land, that we made plans as to what we we would do once we made it to the shore. We decided that we would divide into two groups of four to the group. We split up what money we had so that each group had about the same amount. We decided that when we got on the beach, one group would go to the right and one to the left and then try to go into the hills in search of a village that we believed to be near the center of the Island. We had our plans in place but the current didn't cooperate, The currents changed and began to pull us back out to sea. The night seemed twice as long as the first night. We were tired, depressed and very weary. After dark, I learned that my life jacket would no longer float so I let it go and it sank. Later into the night we began to hallucinate, not all at the same time but at some time during the night all of us did. It is very difficult to separate fact from fiction when one hallucinates. Fortunately for us some one was rational at all times during the night and that helped to keep the group from doing something that we should not.
In the group the writer was in, there were eight men and I don't recall anyone having a watch that worked but as it began to get light enough to see, it was clear that we had drifted closer to the island of Samar and it seemed to the writer that we were near the south end of the island and much closer than the evening before. All of the men in our little group were very tired and half dozing, one with his head dangling in the water as he lay across the edge of the life raft. As I recall, the writer was the first one to notice that we were close to the island and began trying to get everyone alert. I began by getting Owens to get his head out of the water which wasn't an easy task but finally by "poping" him pretty good, he did raise his head. As everyone seemed to be awake, we discussed making it to shore again and the current seemed to change again and began pulling us out to sea again. We all seriously discussed leaving the raft and swiming for it and most of us agreed that we would do that but one man, Strickland, said that he knew he couldn't make it but urged the others of us to go for it. We discussed it further and decided that if we couldn't all go then none of us would go. This was probnably a life saving decision. Since our life jackets were gone, we probably wouldn't have made it. We were close but probably not as close as it looked.
Since none of us had watches that worked, I don't know what time it was but I always thought it was about noon when we spotted ships in the distance. There seemed to be a small group of small ships. The eight of us then began to discuss whether the ships were enemy or friendly. As I recall, all of us but Strickland thought they were enemy but Strickland insisted from the beginning that they were American. We then discussed whether we should try to get the attention of someone on the ships and agreed that we needed to get out of the water, be it by friendly help or by the enemy. So one of the men, Herring began waving a white scivie shirt in an attempt to get their attention. Still we didn't know if they were enemy or American. As the ships drew closer, one of the Patrol Craft drifted almost broadside to our group and we could easily see the American flag waving ..........what a beautiful site. A man on LCI 71 yelled through a megaphone that they saw us and for us to take it easy they were going to get us. A line was thrown to us and we tied it to the raft and was pulled along side and helped aboard. This was a very pleasant feeling........finally.......we were out of the water, something we had just about given up on ever happening. It should have happened many hours before but didn't.
Soon we would be in Leyte Harbor and there we would be transferred to either a hospital ship or to an LST and would head for New Guinea, Australia and then home to San Francisco,
Thanks to the rescue group, more than 1100 men were eventually rescued. There would have been many more survivors had rescue come quickly as it should have.
Stolen from The Johnston-Hoel memorial page.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Well, maybe one of my more finiky eaters might change her mind
When we try this spread out.
Those English folk aren't really known as adventurous eaters.
When we try this spread out.
Those English folk aren't really known as adventurous eaters.
There's one good thing you could say about Fascists
At least they can make the trains run on time.
I wonder what kind of NGO is in charge of S. Africa?
At least they can make the trains run on time.
I wonder what kind of NGO is in charge of S. Africa?
It looks like the RINOS in the House are living down to their name
They decided to kill the ANWAR drilling in the budget bill being sent to a vote. I guess our $3.00+/gal was some once-in-a-lifetime anomality, so we don't need divergant oil supplies here at home.
WASHINGTON - A solid phalanx of Republican moderates drove House GOP leaders to drop a hotly contested plan to open an Alaskan wilderness area to oil drilling as a sweeping budget bill headed toward a vote Thursday.
A plan to allow states to lift a moratorium on oil drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts was also axed.
. . . snip. . .
... Florida Republicans were especially active, helping kill the offshore drilling plan and loosening proposed restrictions on food stamp benefits for legal immigrants.
The decision on the Arctic refuge was a big setback for those who have tried for years to open a coastal strip of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or ANWR, to oil development. It was a victory for environmentalists, who have lobbied hard against drilling.
And lets not forget the fiscal side of being in bed with the Libs:
"I have to represent my district," said Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Ill., who represents farmers opposed to cuts in commodity payments as well as the University of Illinois campus, which is upset about cuts to student loans. "At this point, I am very, very skeptical."
The overall bill is a top Republican priority. The Senate last week passed a milder version of the bill to curb the automatic growth of federal spending by $35 billion through the end of the decade.
The House plan cuts more deeply across a broader range of social services, though Republican leaders say the effects will be modest to programs like the Medicaid health system for the poor and disabled. It will still grow much faster than inflation even after beneficiaries face increased copayments and the likely loss of some benefits.
"We are not cutting Medicaid for those truly in need," said Rep. David Dreier (news, bio, voting record), R-Calif.
Someone want to tell me just WHY I should bother to vote for anyone with a big old (R) behind their name?
Daym, those crickets sure are loud.
They decided to kill the ANWAR drilling in the budget bill being sent to a vote. I guess our $3.00+/gal was some once-in-a-lifetime anomality, so we don't need divergant oil supplies here at home.
WASHINGTON - A solid phalanx of Republican moderates drove House GOP leaders to drop a hotly contested plan to open an Alaskan wilderness area to oil drilling as a sweeping budget bill headed toward a vote Thursday.
A plan to allow states to lift a moratorium on oil drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts was also axed.
. . . snip. . .
... Florida Republicans were especially active, helping kill the offshore drilling plan and loosening proposed restrictions on food stamp benefits for legal immigrants.
The decision on the Arctic refuge was a big setback for those who have tried for years to open a coastal strip of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or ANWR, to oil development. It was a victory for environmentalists, who have lobbied hard against drilling.
And lets not forget the fiscal side of being in bed with the Libs:
"I have to represent my district," said Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Ill., who represents farmers opposed to cuts in commodity payments as well as the University of Illinois campus, which is upset about cuts to student loans. "At this point, I am very, very skeptical."
The overall bill is a top Republican priority. The Senate last week passed a milder version of the bill to curb the automatic growth of federal spending by $35 billion through the end of the decade.
The House plan cuts more deeply across a broader range of social services, though Republican leaders say the effects will be modest to programs like the Medicaid health system for the poor and disabled. It will still grow much faster than inflation even after beneficiaries face increased copayments and the likely loss of some benefits.
"We are not cutting Medicaid for those truly in need," said Rep. David Dreier (news, bio, voting record), R-Calif.
Someone want to tell me just WHY I should bother to vote for anyone with a big old (R) behind their name?
Daym, those crickets sure are loud.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
I note a whiff of hypocrisy from the RINOs in D.C.
You have heard about the of the secret prisons holding terrorist enemies in foreign lands. Trent Lott (R-exSpeaker Senate Majority Leader*) guessed that it was probably someone in the employ of a Republican Congress-critter.
Ok, if it was- or it wasn't. Why are you shutting down the investigation? If you thought it might be Dems, you'd, , , ummmm, , , well , , , probably do nothing, like you didn't go after Kerry during the Bolton hearings, and you roll over to the Libs anytime they start whining about not being in charge.
If you're shutting down the investigation because you think it was one of you, you are as bad as the Dems and their obstructionalism. If you're scuttling the investigation because you might rock the boat by p*ssing off the Dems- WHY should I bother to vote for a Republican?
All this cr@p you're playing along with in the Wilson/Plame B.S. and not looking at a REAL blown security problem tells me that YOU are not serious about the G.W.T. you are nothing but talk.
I know how well talk accomplishes anything- I was awake during the Clinton reign.
*As I was corrected by Aelfheld. Since I'm not a graduate from a Jounalism school, or a producer of a network news show- I'll change my error AND acknowledge it.
You have heard about the of the secret prisons holding terrorist enemies in foreign lands. Trent Lott (R-ex
Ok, if it was- or it wasn't. Why are you shutting down the investigation? If you thought it might be Dems, you'd, , , ummmm, , , well , , , probably do nothing, like you didn't go after Kerry during the Bolton hearings, and you roll over to the Libs anytime they start whining about not being in charge.
If you're shutting down the investigation because you think it was one of you, you are as bad as the Dems and their obstructionalism. If you're scuttling the investigation because you might rock the boat by p*ssing off the Dems- WHY should I bother to vote for a Republican?
All this cr@p you're playing along with in the Wilson/Plame B.S. and not looking at a REAL blown security problem tells me that YOU are not serious about the G.W.T. you are nothing but talk.
I know how well talk accomplishes anything- I was awake during the Clinton reign.
*As I was corrected by Aelfheld. Since I'm not a graduate from a Jounalism school, or a producer of a network news show- I'll change my error AND acknowledge it.
I forsee even more of a lack of posting ahead
Now I know why I haven't been feeling like doing anything lately. Seems I've caught the latest version of the crud. It came on strong at work, about 2 hours before quitting time.
I'll see if there's anything I feel strongly enought to write about.
There's alot of good reading in my blogroll, if your looking. . .
Now I know why I haven't been feeling like doing anything lately. Seems I've caught the latest version of the crud. It came on strong at work, about 2 hours before quitting time.
I'll see if there's anything I feel strongly enought to write about.
There's alot of good reading in my blogroll, if your looking. . .
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
I just got good news, now I can retire
From: "southaustralialottery" Save Address
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Status: U
South Australia Lotteries,
23 Rundle Mall, Adelaide, South Australia.
(South Australia Lottories is an affiliate of Overseas Subscriber Agents).
Arena Complex 14 Donegall Square West, United Kingdom.
From: Ariel Bertis
(Lottery Coordinator)
Sir/adam,
CONGRATULATIONS
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the South Australia
Lotteries Winners International programs held on the 8th,November, 2005.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket #: 00903228100 with prize #
778009/2 drew €1,000,000.00 which was first in the 2nd class of the
draws.
you are to receive €1,000,000.00 (One Million Euros). Because of mix up
in cash pay-outs, we ask that you keep your winning information
confidential until your money (€1,000,000.00) has been fully remitted
to you by our accredited pay-point bank. This measure must be adhere
to avoid loss of your cash prize - winners of our cash prizes are
advised to adhere to these instructions to forestall the abuse of this
program by other participants.
It's important to note that this draws were conducted formally, and
winners are selected through an internet ballot system from 60,000
individual and companies e-mail addresses - the draws are conducted
around the world through our internet based ballot system. The
promotion is sponsored and promoted by South Australia lotteries.
We congratulate you once again. We hope you will use part of it in our
next draws; the jackpot winning is €85million.
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 20 days.
After this date all unclaimed cash prize will be forfeited and included
in the next sweepstake.
Please, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications remember
to quote personal and winning numbers in all correspondence with us.
Congratulations once again from all members of South Australia
Lotteries. Thank you for being part of our promotional program.
For immediate release of your cash prize to you, please kindly contact
our Paying Bank ( Deutsche Bank, Amsterdam.)
Send them the following:
(i). Your names, (ii) Contact telephone and fax numbers (iii) Contact
Address (iv) your winning numbers (v) Quote amount won.
Contact the paying bank with the following:
Contact person: Mr. Water Williams,
Deutsche Bank, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
E-mail:custservices22@netscape.net
Tel: 31 647-210-426
Fax:31-847-235-420
Congratulations once again.
Yours in service,
Ariel Bertis
(Lottery director)
This is what I wrote back:
I won (almost) the Austrailian lottery!!!!!!!!
WOOHOO, and to think- I din't do a damn thing to get into it.
Just how can I win something I didn't enter?
You Aussies and Europeans sure do things different, see over here in America- we're not so trusting. We make people PAY for their tickets upfront.
Hey, to help you to avoid the trouble, and transfer fees; just write me a check I'll take care of the rest. You know enough about me that I don't even have to add my name.
Cheers!!
From: "southaustralialottery"
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Status: U
South Australia Lotteries,
23 Rundle Mall, Adelaide, South Australia.
(South Australia Lottories is an affiliate of Overseas Subscriber Agents).
Arena Complex 14 Donegall Square West, United Kingdom.
From: Ariel Bertis
(Lottery Coordinator)
Sir/adam,
CONGRATULATIONS
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the South Australia
Lotteries Winners International programs held on the 8th,November, 2005.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket #: 00903228100 with prize #
778009/2 drew €1,000,000.00 which was first in the 2nd class of the
draws.
you are to receive €1,000,000.00 (One Million Euros). Because of mix up
in cash pay-outs, we ask that you keep your winning information
confidential until your money (€1,000,000.00) has been fully remitted
to you by our accredited pay-point bank. This measure must be adhere
to avoid loss of your cash prize - winners of our cash prizes are
advised to adhere to these instructions to forestall the abuse of this
program by other participants.
It's important to note that this draws were conducted formally, and
winners are selected through an internet ballot system from 60,000
individual and companies e-mail addresses - the draws are conducted
around the world through our internet based ballot system. The
promotion is sponsored and promoted by South Australia lotteries.
We congratulate you once again. We hope you will use part of it in our
next draws; the jackpot winning is €85million.
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 20 days.
After this date all unclaimed cash prize will be forfeited and included
in the next sweepstake.
Please, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications remember
to quote personal and winning numbers in all correspondence with us.
Congratulations once again from all members of South Australia
Lotteries. Thank you for being part of our promotional program.
For immediate release of your cash prize to you, please kindly contact
our Paying Bank ( Deutsche Bank, Amsterdam.)
Send them the following:
(i). Your names, (ii) Contact telephone and fax numbers (iii) Contact
Address (iv) your winning numbers (v) Quote amount won.
Contact the paying bank with the following:
Contact person: Mr. Water Williams,
Deutsche Bank, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
E-mail:custservices22@netscape.net
Tel: 31 647-210-426
Fax:31-847-235-420
Congratulations once again.
Yours in service,
Ariel Bertis
(Lottery director)
This is what I wrote back:
I won (almost) the Austrailian lottery!!!!!!!!
WOOHOO, and to think- I din't do a damn thing to get into it.
Just how can I win something I didn't enter?
You Aussies and Europeans sure do things different, see over here in America- we're not so trusting. We make people PAY for their tickets upfront.
Hey, to help you to avoid the trouble, and transfer fees; just write me a check I'll take care of the rest. You know enough about me that I don't even have to add my name.
Cheers!!
If you hadn't heard, the governor of Alabama wants a nationwide Aruba boycott
Since Aruba hasn't found Natalee yet, or her killers; Alabama Gov. Bob Riley called for a travel boycott of Aruba today. Natalees mother saw some cameras and hopped up on stage, too.
Now, I wonder if they will understand when nobody comes to Alabama since I'm sure there are several unaccounted for missing girls there, too. We just don't know who they are because they obviously weren't photogenic enough to garner widespread media attention. And they didn't have a media savvy blond babe for a mom, either.
Ok Gov. I won't go to Aruba, as long as you prove you don't have any outstanding missing people in your state -Deal?
Since Aruba hasn't found Natalee yet, or her killers; Alabama Gov. Bob Riley called for a travel boycott of Aruba today. Natalees mother saw some cameras and hopped up on stage, too.
Now, I wonder if they will understand when nobody comes to Alabama since I'm sure there are several unaccounted for missing girls there, too. We just don't know who they are because they obviously weren't photogenic enough to garner widespread media attention. And they didn't have a media savvy blond babe for a mom, either.
Ok Gov. I won't go to Aruba, as long as you prove you don't have any outstanding missing people in your state -Deal?
Monday, November 07, 2005
Here's an animal question for y'all
I don't feel like writing about what's goingwrong on in the rest of the world today.
I'm watching the dogs play.
As you may know, we have the white Hefalump and the black wiggler.
I'm sure they know which paw is theirs, so they don't bite it.
They may be aware that the other isn't the same as themselves.
The question is: Do they KNOW that they are black and white?
Would they notice if they changed colors?
I don't feel like writing about what's going
I'm watching the dogs play.
As you may know, we have the white Hefalump and the black wiggler.
I'm sure they know which paw is theirs, so they don't bite it.
They may be aware that the other isn't the same as themselves.
The question is: Do they KNOW that they are black and white?
Would they notice if they changed colors?
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Now, Here's a study I'd like to get my hands around
Exept that I'm like- married.
To give you a bit of scientific enticement, I give you the title of the article:
The Physics of Bras
Force = Mass x Acceleration
Overcoming Newton's second law with better bra technology
. . .
To best support breasts, a designer has to understand how they move. To that end, McGhee's team in Australia, headed by biomechanist Julie Steele, tags women with light-emitting diodes and asks them to run on treadmills. (The women run with and without bras, so the laboratory doors are bolted to prevent uninvited people from bursting in.) Darnit
Computer systems then track the breasts' motions in three dimensions by following the moving lights. "We can actually work out exactly where they're going, how they're moving, and how this movement is affected by bras," Steele says. Breasts move in a sinusoidal pattern, Steele has found, and they move a lot. Small breasts can move more than three inches vertically during a jog, and large breasts sometimes leave their bras entirely. "We have videos of women who, particularly if the cup is too low, spill all over the top," Steele says.
I wonder how long THAT particular study will stay off the internet.
BUT they do make the effort to remind you that this IS a scientific study
"Force equals mass times acceleration," Steele says. "That's Newton's second law. You have a large mass, and it's going quickly, and the force is going to be large. If you have breasts that are slapping down and hitting the chest and having to come back up, they accelerate very quickly." No one really knows the long-term medical consequences of "excessive breast bounce," as Steele calls it. But it can cause pain and is the most likely reason for sagging breasts.
Exept that I'm like- married.
To give you a bit of scientific enticement, I give you the title of the article:
The Physics of Bras
Force = Mass x Acceleration
Overcoming Newton's second law with better bra technology
. . .
To best support breasts, a designer has to understand how they move. To that end, McGhee's team in Australia, headed by biomechanist Julie Steele, tags women with light-emitting diodes and asks them to run on treadmills. (The women run with and without bras, so the laboratory doors are bolted to prevent uninvited people from bursting in.) Darnit
Computer systems then track the breasts' motions in three dimensions by following the moving lights. "We can actually work out exactly where they're going, how they're moving, and how this movement is affected by bras," Steele says. Breasts move in a sinusoidal pattern, Steele has found, and they move a lot. Small breasts can move more than three inches vertically during a jog, and large breasts sometimes leave their bras entirely. "We have videos of women who, particularly if the cup is too low, spill all over the top," Steele says.
I wonder how long THAT particular study will stay off the internet.
BUT they do make the effort to remind you that this IS a scientific study
"Force equals mass times acceleration," Steele says. "That's Newton's second law. You have a large mass, and it's going quickly, and the force is going to be large. If you have breasts that are slapping down and hitting the chest and having to come back up, they accelerate very quickly." No one really knows the long-term medical consequences of "excessive breast bounce," as Steele calls it. But it can cause pain and is the most likely reason for sagging breasts.
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