Ice Pilots NWT

I don't know why I haven't posted about this earlier, considering it's been on the channels since 2009... ICE PILOTS!

Following the day-to-day business of Buffalo Airways, an airline running cargo and passenger ops in the Canadian north, The show takes you into gritty, down and dirty details of life in the airline business, and you get to see a TON of WWII-era aircraft flying, being serviced, etc. The members of Buffalo give you, the viewer (and possibly future career pilot?), a hell of a lot of good advice, based on experience in the field.

One of my current favorite TV shows out there!

Be advised, there is a bit of mild language, but it's censored out. You can catch the show on History, National Geographic or Discovery.

Iceman out.

Rangers Lead the Way!

On this day in history, June 19th, 1942, 1st Ranger Battalion was officially activated under the command of the legendary William O. Darby. 50 men selected from thousands of applicants were awarded their tabs. I remember watching an interview of one of Darby's Rangers, and he recalls his personal interview with Darby before he was accepted to commando training. According to him, he was asked to be seated at a table in a room. Darby walked in, asked him if he trusted him, then asked him to put his hand on the table if the candidate responded affirmatively. He drew a knife and slammed it down, burying it into the table millimeters from the future Ranger's hand. That was highly indicative of the qualities Darby looked for in his men. He wanted soldiers who would be cool under fire, less prone to "heroic" antics and men who'd be willing to trust their fellow Rangers completely. The Rangers have gone on since then to become on of the most capable and well-known SOF units in the world.

Truly legendary.

D-Day

Utah-Omaha-Gold-Juno-Sword

On this day, 68 years ago, Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy in an assault of epic proportions, effectively tearing a gaping hole in Nazi German defenses and beginning the final push to the end of the war in Europe.

Remember those brave souls who gave their lives for a free world.

Iceman out.

Midway

"The most stunning and decisive blow in the history of naval warfare."

Arguably the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War Two, 70 years ago on this day, the Battle of Midway began when US naval forces ambushed Japan's attacking fleet steaming for Midway Atoll. Japanese flag officers believed the American forces would react poorly to an attack on Midway and would be defeated easily, considering Midway came a mere 6 months after the devastating blow at Pearl Harbor. Little did the Japanese admirals realize that the US had gathered enough intelligence and anticipated such a surprise attack and had set up their own counter-ambush.

In the ensuing battle, 4 IJN aircraft carriers and a cruiser were sunk. Among the list of ships destroyed was the Akagi, one of the carriers that participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The battle raged on fiercely for 3 days, and the prowess of US naval aviators proved too much for the Japanese.

A stunning loss for the Japanese, it turned the tide of war and the US was able to gain supremacy on the seas and obliterate IJN ships at an awe-inspiring rate.

Remember those who perished.

Memorial Day 2012

"But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

-Abraham Lincoln (16th President of The United States of America). 

What do we think of when Memorial Day Weekend comes to mind? Family and friends over for a barbecue for sure, right? Fireworks, a parade, the Indy 500 and television marathons?

Sadly, for a very large number of Americans, that would be their definition of the day. Memorial Day is when we come together to remember those who've paid the ultimate sacrifice in support of their country, throughout the years.

From the Revolutionary War to the current conflict in Afghanistan, so many Americans have given their lives in the name of freedom, liberty and justice, and in defense of the United States against those who seek to tear it apart.

God bless those who've passed in service of the United States. As Abraham Lincoln put it so well, it is up to us to ensure that these brave men and women did not die in vain, and to preserve their memory for future generations.

Let us never forget.