Earlier this week, our trip historian Don Farrell discussed the U.S. invasion of Saipan, one of the Northern Marianas Islands in the Central Pacific. Spain controlled Saipan until the Spanish-American War in 1898, when the United States captured Guam to provide a coaling station in the western Pacific. The U.S. took little interest in the […]
Suicide Cliffs and Selfies: Studying the Battle of Saipan Read More »
Most anyone who thinks of December 7, 1941, will immediately recall seeing old black and white images of the burning wreckage of the USS Arizona or hearing recordings of President Roosevelt’s “Day of Infamy” speech. Fewer know much about what happened just a few miles away at Hickam Field and Wheeler Air Base as the
Hell at Hickam: December 7, 1941, Beyond Battleship Row Read More »
The last two days have been eventful and fun. I re-connected with my old Band of Brothers tour mates, Clyde, Phil, Peggy, and Rick, to check out Waikiki. We toured the Army Museum yesterday before meeting other members of our tour group at the orientation reception and dinner. We met our lead historian, Don Farrell,
It Begins: Pearl Harbor Sites Today Read More »
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad When I was in seventh grade in 1977,
Like Seattle with Palm Trees: The Academic Redneck Arrives in Hawaii Read More »
Tomorrow, yours truly, the Academic Redneck, embarks on a once-in-a-lifetime historical study adventure, “Iwo Jima and the War in the Pacific,” through Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours. My trip will begin in Honolulu, Hawaii, where I’ll tour the USS Arizona and other relevant Pearl Harbor landmarks. Then it’s on to Guam, Saipan, and Tinian before climbing Mt.
A Fourteen-Day Tour: The Academic Redneck Heads to the Pacific Read More »
Previous Weight Loss (November 28, 2016-February 5, 2018): 27.6 pounds Weight Loss (February 5-March 5, 2018): 6.8 pounds Total Weight Loss (November 28, 2016-March 5, 2018): 34.4 pounds Yay me! I’ve battled back to the weight loss I had accomplished last October. I’m proud that I didn’t give up even when I had several months of setbacks and
The Academic Redneck Fitness Challenge: Update 8 Read More »