On Snow days, you get to stay home, enjoy the fire, drink hot chocolate or cider, and play in the snow. On late start days, you have to wait until the roads thaw a little, get in to work with increased traffic, leave before it gets dark so you can get home before the roads refreeze, and still get in a full day's work. Late start days disrupt that carefully balanced schedule most families develop to get everyone out the door on time. It gets especially frustrating when different family members have different start times. Definitely a traffic jam for the shower! Give a me plain old snow day anytime ! ~ Michael S. Pauley
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It's hard to believe, with all the wintry weather around the nation, that, baseball has started back up! The boys of summer are starting their annual migration to camp and we can look forward to warmer days and pre-season games. The time between Superbowl Sunday and the first televised pre-season game emphasizes the poor choices for television viewing on most channels. I have been reduced to watching re-runs of Cold Case ( more interesting than I thought it would be). But I have had a chance to catch up on my military history reading! To quote the kids, Yay, me! ~ Michael S. Pauley
Today is the birthday of William Shirer, CBS broadcaster and author (The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich), born in 1904. I am in the process of re-reading The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (again), and re-realizing how much the events of that time are still affecting us today. I also am realizing how much some events of today mirror those of the past. As I look at the historical events of the day (1916, 1926, 1954), I am struck by how many past concerns are still issues we deal with many years later. ~ Michael S. Pauley
As a native of West Virginia, I am no stranger to winter weather. That is one reason I no longer live there! I joke that I started walking south with a snow shovel and when someone asked me, "What you got there?", I stopped walking and settled down. It seems that the weather has found a way to follow me! When it is cold even in Miami, it shows how my plan was far from fool-proof. At least we don't have to worry about losing pets and small children in the drifts. Records are being broken all over the U.S. and I think we could all do with a little less record breaking! ~ Michael S. Pauley
Today, in Western Christianity, is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. People that participate give up something for the duration of the Lent season. Most people choose something they won't really miss, like chocolate covered cherries or fruitcake. Some people give up something that is a true hardship for them, like smoking. I wish that some aspects of human nature, like making war on our fellow man, were as easy to give up as fruitcake. ~ Michael S. Pauley
Enjoy the long weekend! ... in spite of the weather ~ Michael S. Pauley
Today is the birthday of Harold "Hal" Moore Jr., US Army lieutenant general, author; led 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment at 1965 Battle of Ia Drang Valley; his best-known book, co-authored with combat journalist Joe Galloway, is We Were Soldiers Once . . . And Young, an account of that battle. We Were Soldiers Once And Young (with co-author Joseph L. Galloway), which was adapted into the film "We Were Soldiers," which was filmed at Fort Hunter Liggett and Fort Benning; Moore was played by Mel Gibson. LTG Hal Moore and Joseph L. Galloway have co-authored another book together, a follow-up to their highly successful first title. We Are Soldiers Still; A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam was highly anticipated and published in 2008. ~ Michael S. Pauley
Two very interesting news stories that nobody will tell in the mainstream media. The first is that Russia has struck a deal with Cyprus for the basing of both ships and aircraft in the Eastern Mediterranean. If you look at a map, this is a presence that is being done to throw everyone off the Baltic games being played. It is on the other side of Turkey, and virtually astride the “Fertile Crescent,” in other words, from a naval strategic stand point, it is sitting on some key “terrain.” Meanwhile, in Egypt, the Russians are striking a deal to not use US dollars for the trade of grain, but instead to deal only in their own national currencies. This comes at a time when there is also a discussion between Egypt and Russia about Export/Import Tariffs between the two parties. In short, the Cold War is coming back, whether we like it or not. The naval and air presence in the Mediterranean is a bad enough issue, but now there are more and more unilateral discussions with Russian trading partners, in an attempt to marginalize the flow of dollars, and in an attempt to prop up the Ruble against their own failing economy. I know that historically, this is usually the type of events that are harbingers of badness, as in 1933 Germany badness. On one hand, they are expanding the military presence, while at the same time, trying to prop up their economy in the face of inflation, and increased debt from a diminished national currency. This is never a good thing, and honestly, it scares the hell out of me. ~ Michael S. Pauley
You know that feeling you get waiting for new books? I can hardly wait until my order gets here! I will finally have all the books by one of my favorite military historians, Rear Admiral Samuel Elliott Morison. I love Naval history, especially that of World War II, and his books are among the best. I feel like I have been waiting forever to get the last few books. Finally found them through the Naval Institute. Still waiting... the anticipation builds... what is taking so long? Packing? Shipping? Oh, wait, I just ordered them this morning! Patience is not one of my virtues. ~ Michael S. Pauley
While posting the "This Day in History" column, I had to do a double-take and double-check the dates. Guantanamo, Cuba, Benghazi, and others leapt out at me and I had to take another look. Today in history, France recognized the United States and offered us aid. Today, we are still allies in many ventures. Today in history, the Third Reich began censorship of the press. That is still a favorite tactic of repressive governments and other groups wanting their ideology to smother all others. Yes, those who do not know history seem doomed to repeat it. ~ Michael S. Pauley
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AuthorMichael S. Pauley is a Navy brat and an old soldier who served in all three components of the United States Army. Living in Lexington, South Carolina, Michael is now a practicing attorney and member of the United States Naval Institute and the American Legion, Post 154, Tybee Island, Georgia. Archives
June 2021
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