Category: History - Michael S. Pauley, Author

Michael S. Pauley, Author

War of The Worlds Radio Broadcast Anniversary

10/30/2015

Today is the Anniversary of the Orson Welles’ Mercury Theatre of the Air radio adaptation of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds. This book still continues to influence science fiction writers, me included! There are some books and/or authors who formed the bedrock of the craft and still exert their influence after many generations. To quote Mark Twain,“There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We give them a turn and they make new and curious combinations. We keep on turning and making new combinations indefinitely; but they are the same old pieces of colored glass that have been in use through all the ages."

There are several web sites that provide the radio broadcast for your listening pleasure. And while we laugh at the gullibility of the 1938 listening audience, we must make allowances for them. This was back in the day of Flash Gordon, the unrest in Europe that led to WWII, and people believing news broadcasters. Happy Halloween! ~Michael S. Pauley

Happy Birthday, US Navy!

10/12/2015

Tomorrow, October 13, marks the birthday of the US Navy. There are many activities and celebrations around the country. Here are a few, if you are in the area to attend.

Navy Birthday 2015: National Museum of the U.S Navy
October 13, 2015
1:00 PM — 1:30 PM
Celebrate the Navy's 240th birthday with the National Museum of the U.S Navy!Celebrate with the National Museum of the United States Navy as we present 1775-Present: A Glimpse into 240 Years of the U.S Navy. Through a series of paintings, etchings and photographs, this exhibit highlights each decade of the past 240 years. The exhibit will open on October 13th to commemorate the U.S Navy's birthday.

For more information please visit the National Museum of the United States Navy.

Navy Birthday 2015: Submarine Force Museum
October 9, 2015
10:00 AM —2:00 PM
Celebrate the Navy's 240 Birthday with the Submarine Force Museum!

Join the Submarine Force Museum for the 240th Navy Birthday! Meet Your Navy Fair! The Submarine force museum will host CAPT Carl Lahti, Commanding officer, Naval Submarine base in attendance.

For more information please visit the Submarine Force Museum.

US Navy Birthday Celebration
910 Harbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
http://www.midway.org/navy-birthday

Region: Downtown
Date: October 11 - 13, 2012

Time: 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Boot camps start at 7:30 AM

Price: Various pricing. Please check website.
Follow Us On: 3-day celebration including a Flight Deck Boot Camp, a global navy re-enlistment ceremony, a movie night and a live Navy Band concert. Work out with actual Navy fitness instructors! Watch the hit film Battleship on the Midway, and much more!

Days of Infamy

9/11/2015

Events occur that everyone old enough to remember will be able to tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing when they happened. Today is one of those days. 9/11. September 11. Fall of the Two Towers. Attack on the Pentagon. Flight 93. It only takes a few words to cause a person to stop and briefly relive that moment in time. Today we will probably see a lot of that, people just stopping and having that blank stare for a few moments. Here's to memories and moments of silence. ~ Michael S. Pauley

Remembering D-Day

6/5/2015

The Battle of Midway, D-Day, the 6 Day War. The list of conflicts that occurred on or around this time throughout history is almost endless. The weather has improved enough in most places to begin a campaign or expand one already begun. Wars of the past depended greatly on the weather. D-Day was one such conflict that was based in large part on weather predictions. With the D-Day anniversary tomorrow, June 6th, the remembrances, ceremonies, tours, etc, around the world are more numerous than we could ever hope to list here. What we can do is share some websites devoted to those who took part in the D-Day invasion, also known as Operation Overlord.

"Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of Allied Expeditionary Force ! You are about to embark upon the Great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you... I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory !" Dwight D. Eisenhower

American D-Day (http://americandday.org/)

The Battle of Normandy (http://www.dday-overlord.com)

D-Day Museum and Overlord Embroidery Portsmouth’s D-Day Museum is Britain’s only museum dedicated solely to covering all aspects of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France, on 6 June 1944. (http://www.ddaymuseum.co.uk/)

While it might be a little late to head to France for the many tours and ceremonies, hopefully you can find an event near you to participate in the remembrances. ~Michael S. Pauley

The Battle of Midway Commemorations

6/3/2015

There will be a number of commemorations honoring the Battle of Midway over the next several days. There will be wreath-laying ceremonies and special programs at many different site. Below are just three of the events. Look for one in your area!

PENSACOLA, FLA.-In recognition of the 73rd anniversary of the Battle of Midway, the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training will host a commemoration ceremony in the Blue Angel Atrium at the National Naval Aviation Museum on Thursday June 4th at 10 a.m. (Source: Chipley Bugle.com)

Where: Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor
When: Saturday, June 06, 2015
1:30PM to 3:30PM - The Museum marks the 73rd anniversary of the turning point of WWII with a special Midway program.
Source :pacificaviationmuseum.org

Battle of Midway Commemoration at the United States Naval Memorial
(Source :navymemorial.org/events/calendar/battle-midway-commemoration-3)

~ Michael S. Pauley

Naval History

6/1/2015

Thursday, June 4, marks the anniversary of the Battle of Midway. The Navy will have a number of remembrances on Thursday. For you history buffs, here is a site that has an excellent article on this event. http://www.worldwar2facts.org/battle-of-midway-facts.html

A Difficult Holiday

5/25/2015

For those who have served, and still may be serving, in the U.S. Armed Forces, Memorial Day is a difficult holiday. While many of our fellow citizens view this as just another day off, a day to grill out and gather with friends, it reminds members of the Armed Forces of those we have lost. The ceremonies, the flags on graves, the specials on TV, and the movie marathons all dredge up those memories of comrades-in-arms who are not here to join in the celebrations. This holiday also brings out the best in many of our neighbors as they thank us for our service and reminisce about their own friends and family, living and gone, who served. So enjoy the day, remember those gone, and that we are the home of the free, because of the brave. ~ Michael S. Pauley

VE Day

5/8/2015

Today is the 70th anniversary of the end of war in Europe. According to The Daily Mail (UK), more than half of 18 -to- 25-year-olds there do not know much about the event. I am sure the numbers would be similar here in America and in most other countries. With 'The Greatest Generation' leaving us, indeed almost gone, most of these young people probably do not even know anyone from that era. So even though there are three event-filled days of remembrance in the UK and across Europe, many people just know that it's a time of celebration. An end to war is always a time of celebration. ~ Michael S. Pauley

Never Again

4/17/2015

As communities around the world hold services in remembrance of Yom HaShoah, we can look at world events and see that we as humans have a long way to go to reach "Never Again". Genocide has always been with us and we see the stark images of that sort of hatred on the news every day. While the Shoah remembers the Holocaust of World War II, Israel still faces those who want to annihilate her. Christians face that same hate, and fate, in many areas . Just being American is no longer safe.

This distrust of each other is a topic I addressed in my books, how even in the midst of an alien invasion, we humans were turning on each other. It is a theme that continues into the third book. We will probably take this attitude and treatment of each other into space with us. Like I said, we have a long way to go. ~ Michael S. Pauley

anniversary in Boston

4/15/2015

As we remember the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, our hearts go out to their families. Most of us cannot imagine what they went through and still face each day without their loved ones and as the victims try to live their lives with loss and injury. ~ Michael S. Pauley