Jonathan’s Blog

19March2010

Supreme Court upheld the eight-hour work day

Posted by hotdog256 under: On this date; history.

On this date (March 19, 1917), the Supreme Court upheld the eight-hour work day for railroads.

19March2010

US 7th Army forces complete the capture of Saarlouis

Posted by hotdog256 under: On this date in Miltary history; history.

On this date (March 19, 1945), US 7th Army forces complete the capture of Saarlouis. Fighting in Saarbrucken and the towns to the east continues. US 3rd Army continues to advance east and southeast toward the Rhine River. Worms is reached, while to the left and right other units are near Mainz and Kaiserslautern.

17March2010

Scientists created a new radioactive element

Posted by hotdog256 under: On this date; history.

On this date (March 17, 1950), scientists at the University of California at Berkeley announced they had created a new radioactive element, which they named “californium.”

17March2010

1st submarine to surface at the North Pole

Posted by hotdog256 under: On this date in Miltary history; history.

On this date (March 17, 1959), the USS Skate became the 1st submarine to surface at the North Pole. The ships crew held a funeral service and scattered the ashes of explorer Hubert Wilkins (died 1958), who had attempted the feat in 1931.

USS SKATE

USS Skate

16March2010

CIA station chief in Beirut was kidnapped

Posted by hotdog256 under: On this date; history.

On this date (March, 16, 1984), William Buckley, the CIA station chief in Beirut, was kidnapped by gunmen.

16March2010

John Sailling , last documented Civil War vet, died

Posted by hotdog256 under: On this date in Miltary history; history.

On this date (March 16, 1959), John Sailling , last documented Civil War vet, died at age 111.

15March2010

American Legion was founded in Paris

Posted by hotdog256 under: On this date; history.

On this date (March 15, 1919), the American Legion was founded in Paris.

15March2010

United States 7th Fleet is formed

Posted by hotdog256 under: On this date in Miltary history; history.

On this date (March 15, 1943), the United States 7th Fleet (Admiral Carpender) is formed to control naval operations around New Guinea.

12March2010

Homeland security chief Tom Ridge unveiled a color-coded system for terror warnings

Posted by hotdog256 under: On this date; history.

On this date (March 12, 2002), Homeland security chief Tom Ridge unveiled a color-coded system for terror warnings.

12March2010

Marines quelled Massachusetts State Prison riot

Posted by hotdog256 under: On this date in Miltary history; history.

On this date (March 12, 1824), Marines of the Boston Barracks quelled a Massachusetts State Prison riot. Inmates rioted and holed up in the mess hall with a guard as hostage, Marines from the Boston barracks came to help. Major RD Wainwright led 30 Marines into the mess hall to confront 283 armed and determined prisoners. Wainwright ordered his men to cock and level their muskets. “You must leave this hall,” he told the inmates. “I give you three minutes to decide. If at the end of that time a man remains, he will be shot dead. I speak no more.” In two and a half minutes, “the hall was cleared as if by magic.”