Comic Book -- Two-Fisted Tales -- November 10, 2024

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Veterans Day is coming.

Two-Fisted Tales was a famous war comic from EC. This cover of this issue shows two Marines who have been through hell. The cover promises "A document of the action at the Changjin Reservoir." This battle, one of the Marine Corps' most famous, is more commonly called the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. If you have never heard of it, look it up.

John Glenn 100 -- July 18, 2021

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Astronaut John Glenn was born 100 years ago today, on 18-July-1921. He served as a Marine fighter pilot in both World War II and the Korean War.  When NASA looked for the first group of astronauts for the Mercury program, he was almost too old and lacked the required degree in science, but made the cut.  On 20-January-1962, in Friendship 7, he became the first American to make an orbital space flight.

When I was growing up, we heard a lot more about John Glenn than Alan Shepard or Gus Grissom, who flew before him.  We had a Time Life book and record set about the space program and Glenn was heavily featured.

In 1974 he ran for the US Senate as a Democrat and won.  He ran for President in 1984, and got a boost from his portrayal in The Right Stuff.

I remember how excited he was to fly on the Space Shuttle in 1998,.

Huey Long 150, Ted Williams 100, R Crumb 75 -- August 30, 2018

Ted Williams, perhaps the greatest hitter in major league history, was born 100 years ago today, on 30-August-1918.  As a Marine, he flew fighters in both World War II and the Korean War.

I was surprised to learn that Ted Williams shared a birthday with the Kingfish, Huey Long and cartoonist/musician R Crumb.

Harris & Ewing, Library of Congress, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

I read All the King's Men before I read a biography of Louisiana politician Huey Long.  He did a lot for common folks, but seemed dangerous.  His assassination smelled fishy.

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I first learned about underground comix when I took a summer acting class at Lone Mountain College.  I found a counterculture  newspaper, perhaps the Berkeley Barb or a short-lived San Francisco paper, and saw Gilbert Shelton's "I Set My Chickens Free."  I went on to find out about other artists like Spain Rodrigues and R Crumb.  Crumb's comix seemed to have a lot of misogyny, but they could be very funny.  Later I learned about his music.

John Glenn, RIP -- December 8, 2016

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When a television channel recently showed The Right Stuff, I thought "John Glenn is still alive."  I was sad to learn that he has passed on.

He served as a Marine fighter pilot in both World War II and the Korean War.  When NASA looked for the first group of astronauts for the Mercury program, he was almost too old and lacked the required degree in science, but made the cut.  On 20-January-1962, in Friendship 7, he became the first American to make an orbital space flight.

When I was growing up, we heard a lot more about John Glenn than Alan Shepard or Gus Grissom, who flew before him.  We had a Time Life book and record set about the space program and Glenn was heavily featured.

In 1974 he ran for the US Senate as a Democrat and won.  He ran for President in 1984, and got a boost from his portrayal in The Right Stuff.

I remember how excited he was to fly on the Space Shuttle in 1998,.


Godspeed, John Glenn. 

Jerry Coleman RIP -- January 9, 2014

Jerry Coleman grew up in San Francisco.  He went to Lowell. 

Jerry Coleman flew fighters  in combat for the US Marine Corps in both World War II and Korea.  He won two Distinguished Flying Crosses.

Jerry Coleman played second base for the Yankees during the 1950s. 

Jerry Coleman broadcast for the Padres since 1972 and for CBS Radio.  The Padres made him their manager in 1980.  I remember my father saying it wasn't going to work.  It didn't.  I always enjoyed his work on the Game of the Week and the post season. 

Jerry Coleman was famous for his unique command of the English language.  "Winfield goes back to the wall, he hits his head on the wall and it rolls off! It’s rolling all the way back to second base. This is a terrible thing for the Padres." "Rich Folkers is throwing up in the bullpen." "George Hendrick simply lost that sun-blown popup." " McCovey swings and misses, and it's fouled back." "There's a hard shot to LeMaster and he throws Madlock into the dugout."

I will miss his voice. 

Joe Simon 100 -- October 11, 2013

Joe Simon, who created Captain America with Jack Kirby, was born on 11-October-1913.

Simon served in the Coast Guard during World War II.

The image of Captain America Number 1 comes from a wonderful blog, Hitler Getting Punched (http://hitlergettingpunched.blogspot.com/).

I was sad to learn that Commander Scott Carpenter, the second American in space, has died.  He trained to be a naval aviator during World War II, then served during the Korean War.  After he flew into space, he joined the Navy's Sealab project. John Glenn is the last surviving Mercury program astronaut. 

Nickname #26 -- May 19, 2013

The First Armored Division, currently based in Fort Bliss, Texas, is nicknamed "Old Ironsides."  Established in 1932, it first fought ten years later during Operation Torch in North Africa.  It participated in the invasion of Italy and fought up the peninsula for the rest of the war.  It was inactivated in 1946 but reactivated in 1951 for the Korean War.  Units of the division fought in Vietnam.  The division fought in both Iraq Wars and is now serving in Afghanistan. 

Yesterday we went to Good Shepherd to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost.  I wore my red shirt.  

Nickname #20 -- November 15, 2012

Lewis "Chesty" Puller was the most-decorated member of the United States Marine Corps, with five Navy Crosses and many other awards.  He rose from Private to Lieutenant General during his long distinguished career.  He missed combat during World War One, but spent much of the inter-war period fighting in the Caribbean and Central America.  During World War II, he led Marines on Guadalcanal and other islands in the Pacific.  When the Korean War broke out, he was at Inchon. 

He earned his nickname because of his barrel chest and his aggressive posture.  Marines in boot camp end their day with a shout of "Good night Chesty Puller, wherever you are!"

A famous quote which General Puller may have said at the Chosin Reservoir:  "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things."

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I was happy to learn that Buster Posey is the National League Most Valuable Player.  

Neil Armstrong RIP -- August 25, 2012

I was sad to learn that Astronaut Neil Armstrong has died.  He was an Ohioan, a Naval aviator, a Korean War veteran, and the first man to walk on the Moon.  We gathered at our house to watch and my mom made a cake that looked like the Moon.


Today we went to a nice picnic at San Pedro Valley Park. 

Lunch at Beach Chalet -- July 27, 2012

My wife and I had lunch upstairs at the Beach Chalet.  There was the standard Richmond District overcast, but it was warm and muggy. 

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Armistice which paused the Korean War.  It could start up again. 

We're getting ready to watch the opening ceremonies of the London Olympics between innings of the Giants vs Dodgers.