To help bolster the work of SACO, Admiral Ernest J. King ordered that 120 officers and 900 men be trained for "Amphibious Raider" at the Scout and Raider school at Fort Pierce, Florida. They formed the core of what was envisioned as a "guerrilla amphibious organization of Americans and Chinese operating from coastal waters, lakes and rivers employing small steamboats and sampans."
While most Amphibious Raider forces remained at Camp Knox in Calcutta, three of the groups saw active service. They conducted a survey of the upper Yangtze River in the spring of 1945 and, disguised as coolies, conducted a detailed three-month survey of the Chinese coast from Shanghai to Kitchioh Wan, near Hong Kong.
The SEALs quickly gained a reputation of being unstoppable and were both feared and respected by the enemy. Today's SEALs continue to operate at the highest levels of professionalism. Their courage in taking down Osama Bin Laden and other feats in the Middle East is unparalleled.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Day 113, May 19
Magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post and Life printed stories about victory gardens, and women's magazines gave instructions on how to grow and preserve garden produce.
Families were encouraged to can their own vegetables to save commercial canned goods for the troops. In 1943, families bought 315,000 pressure cookers, compared to 66,000 in 1942. The government and businesses urged people to make gardening a family and community effort.
The result of victory gardening? The US Department of Agriculture estimates that more than 20 million victory gardens were planted. Fruit and vegetables harvested in these home and community plots was estimated to be 9-10 million tons, an amount equal to all commercial production of fresh vegetables. So, the program made a difference.
Families were encouraged to can their own vegetables to save commercial canned goods for the troops. In 1943, families bought 315,000 pressure cookers, compared to 66,000 in 1942. The government and businesses urged people to make gardening a family and community effort.
The result of victory gardening? The US Department of Agriculture estimates that more than 20 million victory gardens were planted. Fruit and vegetables harvested in these home and community plots was estimated to be 9-10 million tons, an amount equal to all commercial production of fresh vegetables. So, the program made a difference.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Day 112, May 18
While folks at home did everything they could to support the armed forces, the military realized that they needed to fight this war in new and innovative ways.
The modern-day U.S. Navy SEALs can trace their roots to World War II. The United States Navy recognized the need for the covert reconnaissance of landing beaches and coastal defenses. As a result, the Amphibious Scout and Raider School was established in 1942 at Fort Pierce, Florida. The Scouts and Raiders were formed in September of that year, just nine months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, from the Observer Group, a joint Army-Marine-Navy unit.
The first group included Phil H. Buckley, the "Father of Naval Special Warfare," after whom the Naval Special Warfare Center building is named. Commissioned in October 1942, this group saw combat in November 1942 during Operation Torch on the North African coast. Scouts and Raiders also supported landings in Sicily, Salerno, Anzio, Normandy, and southern France
The acronym SEAL comes from the words sea, air, and land, paying tribute to the SEAL's ability to operate in any environment and get the job done.
The modern-day U.S. Navy SEALs can trace their roots to World War II. The United States Navy recognized the need for the covert reconnaissance of landing beaches and coastal defenses. As a result, the Amphibious Scout and Raider School was established in 1942 at Fort Pierce, Florida. The Scouts and Raiders were formed in September of that year, just nine months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, from the Observer Group, a joint Army-Marine-Navy unit.
The first group included Phil H. Buckley, the "Father of Naval Special Warfare," after whom the Naval Special Warfare Center building is named. Commissioned in October 1942, this group saw combat in November 1942 during Operation Torch on the North African coast. Scouts and Raiders also supported landings in Sicily, Salerno, Anzio, Normandy, and southern France
The acronym SEAL comes from the words sea, air, and land, paying tribute to the SEAL's ability to operate in any environment and get the job done.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Day 111, May 17
It was fashionable for individuals and families to do without during the War years. I remember my mother saying that stockings were difficult, if not impossible, to come by. Women took to drawing "seams" up the backs of their legs with an eyebrow pencil to simulate the seams of silk stockings.
With rationing of everything from meat to gasoline, making do was a way of life. There was little complaining about the sacrifices as everyone realized that they were fighting an enemy so powerful and so wicked that the prospect of defeat was too devastating to consider.
Women entered the workforce in a big way, with "Rosie the Riveter" a role model for women wanting to do their part.
With rationing of everything from meat to gasoline, making do was a way of life. There was little complaining about the sacrifices as everyone realized that they were fighting an enemy so powerful and so wicked that the prospect of defeat was too devastating to consider.
Women entered the workforce in a big way, with "Rosie the Riveter" a role model for women wanting to do their part.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Day 110, May 16
As part of the war effort, the government rationed foods like sugar, butter, milk, cheese, eggs, coffee, meat and canned goods. Labor and transportation shortages made it hard to harvest and move fruits and vegetables to market. So, the government turned to its citizens and encouraged them to plant "Victory Gardens." They wanted individuals to provide their own fruits and vegetables.
Nearly 20 million Americans answered the call. They planted gardens in backyards, empty lots and even city rooftops. Neighbors pooled their resources, planted different kinds of foods and formed cooperatives, all in the name of patriotism.
Farm families, of course, had been planting gardens and preserving produce for generations. Now, their urban cousins got into the act. All in the name of patriotism.
When World War II ended, so did the government promotion of victory gardens. Many people did not plant a garden in the spring of 1946.
Nearly 20 million Americans answered the call. They planted gardens in backyards, empty lots and even city rooftops. Neighbors pooled their resources, planted different kinds of foods and formed cooperatives, all in the name of patriotism.
Farm families, of course, had been planting gardens and preserving produce for generations. Now, their urban cousins got into the act. All in the name of patriotism.
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When World War II ended, so did the government promotion of victory gardens. Many people did not plant a garden in the spring of 1946.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Day 109, May 15
The Great Depression broke some people, forged others, and left its mark not only on the United States but upon the entire world. It might have continued on indefinitely, but something happened to force America and other nations to deal with a greater threat.
Hitler had slowly but surely been marshalling his forces, moving in on nations such as Poland and others. Even in the early 1930s, far-seeing individuals understood Hitler's agenda and warned against him. The world paid no attention. Even when France and England were attacked, American allies, the United States stood back. On the other side of the world, Japan was committing attrocities against neighboring nations.
Only when Pearl Harbor was attacked in December of 1941 did America declare war on Japan. At that point, Hitler retaliated and declared war on America. The United States was officially at war. Factories now operated at full capacity, producing the materials needed to fight the battle of America's life.
Hitler had slowly but surely been marshalling his forces, moving in on nations such as Poland and others. Even in the early 1930s, far-seeing individuals understood Hitler's agenda and warned against him. The world paid no attention. Even when France and England were attacked, American allies, the United States stood back. On the other side of the world, Japan was committing attrocities against neighboring nations.
Only when Pearl Harbor was attacked in December of 1941 did America declare war on Japan. At that point, Hitler retaliated and declared war on America. The United States was officially at war. Factories now operated at full capacity, producing the materials needed to fight the battle of America's life.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Day 108, May 14
Poor agricultural practices and years of sustained drought caused the Dust Bowl. Plains grasslands had been deeply plowed and planted to wheat. During the years when there was adequate rainfall, the land produced bountiful crops.
But as the droughts of the early 1930s worsened, the farmers kept plowing and planting and nothing would grow. The ground cover that held the soil in place was gone. The Plains' winds whipped across the fields raising billowing clouds of dust to the skys.
The sky could darken for days, and even the most well sealed homes would have a thick layer of dust on furniture. In some places the dust would drift like snow, covering farmsteads. Aside from economic depression, psychological depression was common as farmers struggled to keep farms which had been in the family for years going and saw them and their dreams literally blown away.
But as the droughts of the early 1930s worsened, the farmers kept plowing and planting and nothing would grow. The ground cover that held the soil in place was gone. The Plains' winds whipped across the fields raising billowing clouds of dust to the skys.
The sky could darken for days, and even the most well sealed homes would have a thick layer of dust on furniture. In some places the dust would drift like snow, covering farmsteads. Aside from economic depression, psychological depression was common as farmers struggled to keep farms which had been in the family for years going and saw them and their dreams literally blown away.
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