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Posted on Sep 14, 2006 in Armchair Reading, Front Page Features

ACG WebOps

Jim H. Moreno

Welcome to WebOps, Armchair General’s first website column! This week we take a look at little ol’ ladies and their flying machines, a little younger lady in charge of a mean green fighting machine, and help celebrate the birthday of perhaps the greatest war machine of all! Clicks away!

News

This past week, much of America spent time in continued mourning and remembrance on the terrorists attacks of 11 September 2001. The Internet flowed with news and discussions of the other "day which will live in infamy", somewhat crowding out other news events that happened last week. But, that wasn’t the case for our military history. There’s always something to be remembered.

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On Sunday, The Canadian Airborne Regiment Plaza in Edmonton, Canada, was dedicated. The plaza, formerly a Canadian military base, was built to honor "the history of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion during World War II and the Canadian Airborne Regiment".

Village at Griesbach Pays Tribute to Military Heroes – Canada News Wire

Airborne Regiment Association of Canada

A group of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II gathered in Washington state this past week for their biennial convention, where, as you may guess, the youngest member is 83 years of age. Age certainly doesn’t seem to be slowing them down, for it was only the week before when one of their members, Vi Cowden, 89, re-set the record for the oldest person to jump with the U.S. Army’s Golden Knights Parachute Team, a record formerly held by George H.W. Bush.

Flying into History – The Columbian, Clark County, WA

Pearson Air Museum

The 173rd Airborne Brigade’s history is quite a distinguished and valiant one. They recently added another page to the ‘Big Book of Military History’ in the name of 1st Sgt. Nicholette Clara, who became the first female ‘Sky Soldier’ NCO to be promoted to the airborne infantry’s top enlisted leadership position.

173rd Airborne taps first female NCO to lead unit – Stars & Stripes

173rdAirborne.com

Another very important date in military history – 2 January 2004. On that day, Capt. Kimberly Hampton of Easley, South Carolina, is said to have become the first female pilot KIA in American military history, the first 82nd Airborne Division female to die in action, and that division’s first company commander to die while serving in the War on Terrorism. On Monday, her parents helped the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum announce a website expansion to their "Write from the Front" exhibit, which began in 2003.

South Carolinian’s War E-Mails and Photos on Display – WLTX.com. Columbia, SC

Write from the Front

Honor the Fallen – Army Capt. Kimberly N. Hampton

In military historical fiction book news, the Military Writers Society of America recently awarded the 2006 Gold Medal in historical fiction to Joyce Faulkner for her book In the Shadow of Suribachi.

Pittsburgh Author, Joyce Faulkner – PRWeb.com

Canada’s University of New Brunswick recently opened the Gregg Centre for the Study of War and Society, named in honor of Victoria Cross recipient Brig. Milton Gregg, who served in World War I.

Research centre targets Canada’s military – Yahoo! Canada News

A national military history festival was recently held in the Moscow Region of Russia commemorating the 194th anniversary of the Battle of Borodino. Dig this image gallery of the event!

Battle of Borodino: historical reconstruction – Russian Information Agency Novosti

The Virtual Battle of Borodino

Villa Rose is the name of one of twelve fortifications built along Switzerland’s ‘Toblerone Trail’, a concrete defensive line built to deter invasion from the German Army during World War II. Villa Rose has now been fully restored to its former prime condition and recently opened up to the public.

Villa Rose opens doors to toblerone ramblers – NZZ Online, Zurich, Switzerland

New Zealanders recently took time to honor their soldiers who fought at the World War I Battle of the Somme ninety years ago.

90th anniversary of Battle of Somme – tvnz.co.nz

New Zealand’s history online – The Battle of the Somme

Toronto, Canada, will be the place for military historians to be on Sunday, when that city unveils a 30-metre granite monument honoring Canada’s military history and their warriors who participated in its’ making.

Parade, wall to honour vets – thestar.com, Toronto

It has taken the last five years for an archaeological team to uncover a 250-year-old sutler site some forty miles up the Hudson River from Albany, NY. The items they are recovering should do wonders to giving us a much better understanding of life in the area during the French and Indian Wars.

Archaeology project uncovers remains of 18th-century store – Newsday.com

Articles

Charlie Oellig, of Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, describes his life as a military history buff, and how he became curator of the Pennsylvania National Guard Military Museum at Fort Indiantown Gap.

Military museum at Gap labor of love for curator – Lebanon Daily News

Michelle Sifuentes of Fontana, California, relates her excitement and enthusiasm for recently being hired on as the March Field Air Museum collections manager. Included with her story is a short video of her showing the museum during the interview. The video quality is frakk’d in a couple of segments (at least it was during my viewing), but still made for a good sidebar.

Air museum makes a collect call – The Press-Enterprise, Inland Southern California

The March Field Air Museum

The Manila Bulletin Online recently published an OP-ED piece from the Phillipine viewpoint about the Battle of Pulang Lupa, Marinduque, during the Phillipine-American War.

Battle of Pulang Lupa, Marinduque – Manila Bulletin Online

Phillipine-American War – Wikipedia

Jason Cundiff and other members of the 10th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry reenactors prepare for their part in next month’s 144th anniversary of the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky.

Civil War reenactors focus on Lebanon unit – The Lebanon Enterprise Online

Perryville Reenactment

Bill Nunes of East St. Louis, Illinois, is being called "the most prolific living Illinois writer of history by the Illinois Historical Library" upon the release of his 12th book, Illinois in World War II.

Local man cranks out 12th book – Edwardsville Intelligencer

Here’s an obituary about Col. Edward Mohlere, who played his part in our nation’s military history. His other history is interesting, also, I think.

Colonel’s life is like lesson in U.S. history – The Huntsville Times

Richard Brewster of Exeter, N.H., is interviewed by his local newspaper about his experience during the Battle of the Bulge for an upcoming local history group lecture.

Firsthand account of Battle of the Bulge – The Weston Town Crier

This Week In Military History

Leonardo da Vinci designed a very early version during his lifetime, but it wasn’t until British ingenuity combined with an American-made tractor during World War I, that the first of these battlefield behemoths were created. The British Army tested the world’s first Mark I tank on 6 September 1915, 90 years ago, forever changing the art of war. Not to steal any rolling thunder from the upcoming 100th birthday of the tank, here are just a couple of websites until then!

BBC – History – Mark I Tank

History of the Tank – Military Matters Quiz

Tank History

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Stay Alert, Stay Alive!

Jim H. Moreno

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