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Sergeant Alvin York

Sergeant York has been called "the greatest soldier in history" for his exploits during World War I. But Alvin York never set out to become a soldier, and he never wanted to fight a war or kill anyone. In fact, what he considered his greatest accomplishments came after all the glory of his war exploits. Others tend to disagree. He was a true... READ ON

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The Rise of the Flapper

Several factors were in play in the 1920s for the emergence of what came to known as flappers, teenagers and young women who flouted convention and spent their time pursuing fun instead of settling down to raise children in the prime of their lives. Many entered college or the workforce and felt entitled to make their own decisions about how to live their... READ ON

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The Amazing Life of Audie Murphy

Audie Murphy was a star in more ways than one. He was the most decorated hero of World War II, after being rejected for service because of his youth and size. He returned from war hailed as a hero, only to see hard times once again as he tried to find civilian employment. But that was just the beginning of his story, as he became a movie star, songwriter, veteran's advocate, and a role model. His was a truly amazing life. Audie Leon Murphy was born in Hunt County, Texas on June 20th, 1926.... READ ON

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Documentaries I Like: Code Rush

On the fortieth anniversary of the moon landing, many of us are watching historical video and reliving the experience. What was it like to work on a team with a goal that was (forgive the pun) out of this world? The moon landing might have been impossible, or killed the crew, and even if it did work it required everyone working on it to give everything -- for years. The closest I've come to such projects in my daily life is in software development -- with work weeks that expand to fill every hour of... READ ON

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Put Yourself in July of 1969

This weekend through Monday, television and the internet will be full of commemorations of the Apollo 11 moon mission, in which Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon's surface. If you want to relive the event, you can follow coverage in real time at the interactive site We Choose the Moon. It was 40 years ago today that the mission lifted off from Kennedy Space Center. But those who weren't yet born when Apollo 11 launched don't have the context of that time period,... READ ON

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Errol Morris on Robert McNamara

On Monday I pointed to The Fog of War, an Errol Morris documentary about Robert McNamara, former US Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam era. Yesterday, Morris posted a thoughtful blog entry on McNamara called McNamara in Context, and I think it's worth reading for those who are still curious about McNamara -- and in particular, how we should remember him. Here's a tidbit: He said, "We were wrong." He was reluctant to use the first person. It was always "we," not "I." But he did say it. It might... READ ON

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Documentaries I Like: The Fog of War (featuring Robert McNamara)

Robert McNamara died today, at the age of 93. McNamara was US Secretary of Defense through most of the 1960's, overseeing the start of the Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile Crisis, among other major Cold War crises. Back in 2003, documentarian Errol Morris made a film called The Fog of War featuring McNamara, and pretty much only McNamara -- literally sitting in a chair, reviewing the history of various wars, combined with archival video and audio. The Fog of War is truly fascinating. I don't use... READ ON

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Why Do We Sing the National Anthem at Sporting Events?

On the night of September 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer and amateur poet, accompanied American Prisoner Exchange Agent Colonel John Stuart Skinner to negotiate a prisoner release with several officers of the British Navy. During the negotiations, Key and Skinner learned of the British intention to attack the city of Baltimore, as well as strength and positions of British forces. They were held captive for the duration of the battle and witnessed the bombardment of Baltimore's Fort... READ ON

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Kerouac's Fantasy Baseball Obsession

So this is surprising: beat writer Jack Kerouac was way into fantasy baseball, and invented a detailed fantasy baseball game which he played -- by himself -- unbeknownst to his friends and colleagues. Lots of evidence of the game remains in his notebooks, allowing historians to piece together how it worked, and observe the progression of the game over different versions (starting when he was a teenager). The New York Times reports that Kerouac's game was quite complex: "By 1946, when Kerouac was 24,... READ ON

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Better Late Than Never: 6 Delayed Tales

Is it ever really too late to complete unfinished business? Last week, a 78-year-old woman in Lynwood, Washington was arrested for beating her 84-year-old husband over an affair he had (or at least that she suspected) 35 years ago. Was she angry all this time, or did she find out about it in their old age? The story reminded me of several other instances of unfinished business that took years to resolve. The... READ ON