This post is dedicated to WLSC, FDR and JBS. They know why. God bless them.
I am running this post today, January 21, Dear Readers, because on this date in 1954, the first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus was launched by Mamie Eisenhower. (Who happens to share my birthday- November 14.)
It was launched in Groton, Connecticut and I know this because…
What you’re looking at pictured above is a sampling of my books about military history.
I have done you a favor.
This a very small sample.
I have always been fascinated by the subject.
And like most of my interests, I have NO idea why.
My grandfather was in the Army Infantry in France in World War I. He was the oldest vet at Hines Hospital when he died at 96. (And a belated thank you to Dr. Mike Rubnitz. I think he helped land him safely at the new facility.)
My father was in the Navy on the aircraft carrier Number 88- the USS Shangri-Là- during all of WWII.
My beloved Uncle Herb was in the Air Force for WWII and Korea. He stayed in and retired as a Colonel.
I was married to a former Major in the Army and a Marine. (I do not have to divulge the Marine’s name, rank or serial number. Just the word “Marine” should tell you everything you need to know about him.)
I’ve spent time at USMA. (That’s West Point for those of you who have never had the privilege of being in Highland Falls, New York.)
I’m proud and grateful for each and every man and woman who has defended our country and kept us free. Free to make up our own minds on everything from religion to what blogs we read.
But I can’t help wishing that I could have been part of the show. I always thought I should have been in the military. I don’t know why.
I do know that from earliest childhood, I was entranced by war movies.
Destination Gobi, Sergeant York, The Desert Fox, What Price Glory, Destination Tokyo, The Great Escape, Stalag 17, Lawrence of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Kelly’s Heroes, The Dirty Dozen, The Guns of Navarone.
But then there was the one movie that changed my life.
The Man Who Never Was.
SPOILER ALERT: If you’ve never seen it, I am sworn to secrecy about the whole darn plot. Let’s just say, for your eyes only, that Ian Fleming and the original role model for M- Sir Stewart Cameron Menzies KCB, KCMG, DSO, MC, Chief of MI6, played supporting roles in this true life “Spy vs Spy” story about the D-Day invasion at Normandy.
See it.
And that’s an order!
Counter Intelligence, hide in plain sight, code breaking…
Ahhh. Code-breaking. This movie really rang a bell for Crossword Constructionist me.
The girl who solves the crossword puzzle? That’s always been me. (Only I’m nowhere near as beautiful as Keira Knightley.)
Completely off topic clip. Because I love her so much.
Ok. I’m all squared away and back on the beam.
I always wanted to join the military- but I knew I could never hack it.
Beast Barracks? Basic? The orders I would have to follow- like it or not.
I’d be much more like this NJG.
I would end up like these guys for sure.
But after a lifetime of trying to figure out what branch of the military I truly belong in, I think I’ve finally got it.
I would, likely as not, end up here.
Yep. I can live with that.
Where do I sign?
Dear Ellen,
I read your subject line too quickly, and thought you might be writing about “Marital Acts”. Oh well, you bring up “The Imitation Game” (starring one of your favorite actors, Benedict Cumberbatch) and I have to take the bait. Go to the “The Enigma Variations” at http://www1.chem.umn.edu/groups/baranygp/puzzles/enigma/ and have fun with it, a real Turing circus (say it out loud).
GB
Nice comment this morning, B. (I can’t call you M,- it’s been taken.) And I will. I’m glad so that we linked up. Making crosswords has been a huge joy in my life and I owe that all to you. Fate had something to do with it. But it was mostly you. E
I’m very impressed by your family background in the military… never knew all that!!!
And never knew that you were that interested!? But I do believe you would have been just like Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin…. When she asked if the fatigues “came in any other colors?”
You have fought enough battles in your life. Glad you never enlisted!!!!
Thanks for my first laugh of the day, my dear comrade in arms- and jump rope. We both have fought battles- sometimes Life can be hard. I’m so glad Fate put us in the same battalion. Love 810
Interesting perspective. And nice shout out to my Dad:-)Agree with Ellen K, Private Roffe.
Your father was a great help. And when has anything about me ever been Private?
Possible reason for your interest in the military – PAST LIVES (for those who believe).
Past lives? Well, I must say I never thought about that. Remember how Jesse Goodman went to St. John’s? Thanks for the read this morning, X-1. You’ve got a code name. I like it.
Yes, x-1! Indisputably! There has been serious research on reincarnation in this country by the late Dr. Ian Stevenson at the University of Virginia.
Here is a YouTube link to the extraordinary story of James Leininger and his past life remembrance of being a WW II pilot who was shot down by the Japanese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JrSi7rWWpM
An essay by one of Stevenson’s researchers:
https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/wp-content/uploads/sites/360/2015/11/REI36Tucker-1.pdf
Really? Thanks, Bill. I will check out the link after the Kansas City Chiefs game. I’m taking Mahomes to win. Maybe I was Jimmy The Greek in a past life?
X-1 as in your first ex husband.
Thank you for that unnecessary clarification. I know who you are. I’ve known you since I was 14. And please see William Johnson’s comment that speaks to just that.