Old Fogey

Old-Fashioned man.

What an old fogey that teacher was.

In the mid-18th century the British Army used the term “foggy” or “fogey” to mean an invalid soldier or one so old that he was restricted to garrison duties.

By the 19th century, “fogey”was appearing in American military jargon to denote a supplement in pay which increased with service. In turn, this produced the term “old fogey” for the typical old soldier who kept telling the rookies what it was like back in the good old days.

Of course it could also mean a Magic: The Gathering Card

Eisenhower’s D-Day Message to the Troops

In February 1944 Allied General Dwight D. Eisenhower started writing of an order that would change the world.  WWII had been raging for years and the final act was on the verge of beginning. The Allies would be invading German occupied France and the results of the invasion would most likely determine the war.

For years the Germans had worked to turn Europe into a fortress. The Atlantic Wall, a series of fortifications that spanned the entire coast, would be the great obstacle that must be overcome. To that end the Allies gathered over 4,000 ships and almost three million troops to breach the defenses. Strategy questions, weather issues and proper timing was the next obstacle.

The Decision

Finally on the morning of June 5th Eisenhower made the decision that the next day would be the day. Looking back on the letter he started in February he finalized his words. In the letter he took responsibility for the decision to go ahead, and the blame should it fail. The daily order was issued to the troops in letter form before the invasion kicked off. The letter above belonged to one of the soldiers from that day.

For a readable version click here.

The invasion started with a bombardment of naval guns and flights of bombers.  This was followed by an airborne assault of paratroopers that would pave the way for the landings. 175,000 men proceeded to storm the beach and turn the tide of history.

There is a footnote to this story. Eisenhower had another letter ready to go should the invasion fail. Thankfully he didn’t need it The original is in the archives of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, Kansas.

Today is July 4th, the day that we spend celebrating our independence and the birth of the United States of America. It is a day to think about all we have accomplished as a nation and to reflect on what maybe we can do better moving forward. Our country is not perfect, our leaders, not perfect, our system of government is not perfect and our people are not perfect, We are however a nation that has accomplished so much in so little time that it is amazing to think about how young we are and what we have survived.

Today as you enjoy the hot dogs and fireworks it would be great if you remembered those that came before and those that sacrifice to keep our nation strong. Our strength does not come from our military or our laws, it comes from the fact that every time out nation has been challenged we have risen up as a people, put our differences aside and faced the darkness.

We have liberated more than we have conquered and paid a blood price for other people’s freedom as well as for our own. Whether you look at the flag and feel proud or feel sad be grateful that you are in a country where you are still allowed the freedom to say or think what you want. Hold tight to that freedom as the days pass and in the challenges ahead.

That flag above is one of the first that was flown by the Continental Army in the early days of the war. it was called the Grand Union flag and Washington himself called it his favorite. It think it is neat because it shown a little bit of the past and a little bit of the future.

have a safe and happy 4th of July.

Where the game of darts come from? Glad you asked.

Back in the day A barrel lid (Sometimes an entire barrel) was taken from the local pub and placed in the village green. The town archers in their down time would toss crossbow quarrels at it using an under handed, high arching toss. Whoever got closer to the middle of the lid would win that round.  Eventually the lid was hung up inside the local pub and the men tossed the quarrels at trying to get closest to the center. That eventually would become the game of darts we know today.  (I know what you are thinking and that sounds like a lot like lawn darts, I guess that actually predated wall darts!)

Instead of the regular Wednesday Words & Phrases post, this one will be a thank you. See this post, right here is #300. Yes, over the years I have managed to keep up a fairly good pace and turned out 300 unique and individual posts.

So first I want to thank everyone who takes the time each week to sift through all your notifications and decide to spend a few moments with Historia Militaris. I hope it has been as fun for you as it has been for me.

Thanks also to my family who has been patient with me as I obsess over getting the posts queued up for the week. Though I do all the writing this is truly a group effort.

What lies ahead for the blog? Well, there are a few things in the works but nothing quite ready for prime time yet. I will admit, #300 snuck up on me a bit or else we would have had a party or something.

This will be the last post for the week, but next Tuesday we will be hitting it hard again and start cranking them out towards another 300!

You know, that reminds me of a story…

Well 2016 is in the books and 2017 looms ahead of us full of many interesting things. Histroria Militaris will be with you several times a week a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Below is the most popular post of 2016 with a total of 196 views. Far and away the most. With no further ado I present or re-present Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard (P.G.T).

The Little Creole, The Little Napoleon, Bory, Felix, The Hero of Fort Sumter, P.G.T., and too himself just G.T. The man had many names and many different roles during his life time. He graduated from the US Military Academy as an Engineer and served in the Mexican War.

In 1861 he was the Superintendent of the Academy when South Carolina seceded. He reigned his post and the US Army and became the first brigadier general in the Confederate Army where he led the defenses of Charleston and was victorious against the Union forces at Ft. Sumter. A couple of months later he led the CSA in battle at Bull Run in Virginia and beat the Union Army.

Soon after he was sent to the Western theater and led armies at Shiloh and the Siege of Corinth in Tennessee. In 1863 he went back Charleston and defended the city from a number of attacks by Union forces and perhaps in his greatest achievement he managed to keep Petersburg from falling into Union hands, preventing the Union Army from attacking Richmond.

So one of the most successful Confederate generals, maybe one of the best, so why do we not know his name like we do Jackson, Lee, Longstreet and the others? Most likely it was because he was not that great at the political aspects of generalship and did not play well with others. Including the president and the rest of the high command.

After the war he was offered positions in the armies of Brazil, Romania and Egypt, all of which he declined instead focusing his energy on free the South from the Union occupational forces by speaking out for civil rights and the ability to vote for recently freed slaves. Ran a railroad and invented cable cars. He was also a proliferate author relying on his experiences in the war.

In 1889 when Jefferson Davis passed, Beauregard was asked to head the funeral procession for his former president. He turned it down saying, “We have always been enemies. I cannot pretend I am sorry he is gone. I am no hypocrite.”

www.mc-lef.org

This week I wanted to take a break from the history part of the site and focus on the military part of the stories. So this week we will feature two great non-profit organizations that look to make the world a little bit better fo those that have served or are serving and their families.

The Marine Corp- Law Enforcement Foundation provides scholarships for the children of Marines or Federal Law Enforcement agents that lose their lives in the line of duty. Its a great way to give back to those who give so much to protect us.

A little blurb from Their Site:

Our Mission

Thanks to our generous donors, MC-LEF currently provides a $30,000 scholarship account for every child who loses a parent serving in the United State Marine Corps or any Federal Law Enforcement Agency. Since our founding in 1995, MC-LEF has awarded over $70 million in scholarships and other humanitarian assistance, and has supported over 3,500 children. Although MC-LEF is immensely proud of our work to date, there is still much to be done to support the families of America’s Marines and Federal Law Enforcement Officers. Please consider clicking on our “Donate” button to help support our mission and cause.

Right now with the holidays giving is easier than ever. Chances are you are going to be using Amazon,  so use https://smile.amazon.com and select the MC-LEF as your non-profit of choice and a percentage of everything you spend goes to the foundation without you needing to do a thing. (No, you don’t pay more, Amazon actually foots the bill. All you need to do is shop.)

http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org

This week I wanted to take a break from the history part of the site and focus on the military part of the stories. So this week we will feature two great non-profit organizations that look to make the world a little bit better fo those that have served or are serving and their families.

The first one this week is Wreaths Across America an organization that provides wreaths for veteran graves all across the country from local cemeteries to Arlington National Cemetery.  These wreaths are simple, nothing fancy but let people know that the sacrifices of their loved ones will never be forgotten.

There are two ways you can help. Either sponsor a wreath for $15 or on December 17th volunteer to help lay the wreaths on the grave sites. If you can do both, great, If you can only one, that is good also.

The website is linked up at the top and if you click on the pic you will go to their page. Yes, we here have donated. Check out their site for more info.

And for the day itself, President Ronald Reagan’s 1981 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Proclamation 4883 — Thanksgiving Day, 1981

November 12, 1981

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

America has much for which to be thankful. The unequaled freedom enjoyed by our citizens has provided a harvest of plenty to this Nation throughout its history. In keeping with America’s heritage, one day each year is set aside for giving thanks to God for all of His blessings.

On this day of thanksgiving, it is appropriate that we recall the first Thanksgiving, celebrated in the autumn of 1621. After surviving a bitter winter, the Pilgrims planted and harvested a bountiful crop. After the harvest they gathered their families together and joined in celebration and prayer with the native Americans who had taught them so much. Clearly our forefathers were thankful not only for the material well-being of their harvest but for this abundance of goodwill as well.

In this spirit, Thanksgiving has become a day when Americans extend a helping hand to the less fortunate. Long before there was a government welfare program, this spirit of voluntary giving was ingrained in the American character. Americans have always understood that, truly, one must give in order to receive. This should be a day of giving as well as a day of thanks.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving in 1981, we should reflect on the full meaning of this day as we enjoy the fellowship that is so much a part of the holiday festivities. Searching our hearts, we should ask what we can do as individuals to demonstrate our gratitude to God for all He has done. Such reflection can only add to the significance of this precious day of remembrance.

Let us recommit ourselves to that devotion to God and family that has played such an important role in making this a great Nation, and which will be needed as a source of strength if we are to remain a great people.

Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 26, 1981, as Thanksgiving Day.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and sixth.

Ronald Reagan