Monday, July 23, 2018

MAD MAX . USS Indianapolis

Seventy three years ago today the first bone head blunder happened that would lead to the largest Navel disaster in history.  It seemed small at the time when a communications to Rear Admiral McCormick Commander of Task Force 95.7 was missed.   95.7 was accidentally changed to 95 and he did not receive a submarine update in the Pacific.

One of many many mistakes and cover ups about what was to happen in the next 12 days.

This weekend was the annual USS Indianapolis reunion and only 4 survivors were able to make it this year.  Sad. 

I'm reading "Indianapolis: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty-Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man"  which is the precursor to an HBO mini series and it's fascinating.  This is, so far, a military book with great detail of all involved.  A fun read for anybody that likes military books.

My FIL is in the book and is guarding the secret crate which SEEMS to be diversion as the REAL prize is the two canisters of uranium which are sort of unnoticed.

Jumping forward to 1997 we are learning about Bill Toti, the Captain of the Nuclear Submarine USS Indianapolis and a really cool guy that we have talked to in Indianapolis.

He explains that when you are put in command of a ship you are not only responsible for the the crew and the ship but you are ALSO in command of all previous ships under that name.  You do not what to ruin the reputations and dishonor ALL that came before you.

But one part that got me (among a few) is that he was a navel historian and when the Nuclear sub Indy was about to be decommissioned he sent a letter to all survivors (I remember hearing about this letter).  I don't know why this gets to me. He writes.

Since you were never able to decommission your ship, I would be honored if you would attend the decommissioning of mine.  But I have one request: that you would stand in formation during the ceremony and be part of my crew, as one crew, the combined crew of the Indianapolis.       

If you want a learn about the Indy I suggest  In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors"  This is a fantastic book and a very good read, a true story kind of book that you can't put down.

Anyway - I was surprised to see today's date from 73 years ago in the book

I was also surprised to see DJ and I are in the new book . . .in the "Thank You" for helping section.

I mentioned a while ago that my daughter found a video filmed 73 years ago that shows Mel getting off the rescue plane in Guam.

That is Mel hanging on to the railing.  We have a full 12 seconds of him.  It's amazing what you can find on YouTube



And last night I put a video on YouTube of Mel being interviewed from 2016

https://youtu.be/nAw-j8bEj6o


Indy went down July 30th just after midnight.

******************************

The Brewers continue to struggle with yet another starting pitcher going down.  To be honest I'm surprised they have done this well with their injuries.
++++
Kris Davis was a Milwaukee Brewer in 2013 when he had his best and first year with a .279 batting average.  Here is the weird thing.  Since that first year Davis has hit .244, .247, .247, .247, and this year he is breaking out with a .249 average.  CONSISTENT!

************************

Expect gas prices to go up and up as the price of oil jumped 2% today when Trump threatened to annihilate Iran and bomb it back into the stone ages and Iran threatened to start "the mother of all wars" with America.  All is well.

Of course get the 2 leaders in a room together and Trump would cave in to anything Hassan Rouhani asked for and Trump would claim victory.   It's Obama's fault anyway.  The emails the emails Benghazi Benghazi

**************************

Newest studies are showing that a cardio routine of 1/2 hour is the magic pill for health.  That half hour is the key (hmmmmm  I go 28 minutes, I suck)

 Cardio could be the closest thing to a miracle drug that we have, but doing it shouldn't take a whole day. 

**************************

OH - we watched MAD MAX: Fury Road.  WOW - I can totally see why it won 6 Oscars, was in the running for best movie and many call it the bast action adventure of all time.  DJ loved it and I was astounded.

What everybody says is 100% true.  Thin plot, and 90% chase scene but you literally can not stop watching as it never ever gets boring, even for a non-action movie lover like DJ.  It's one of those "what happens NEXT" movies.  No real blood and gore but it's a thrill ride from the get go and hang on.   BRAVO

Mad Max: Fury Road was named the nineteenth-greatest film of the 21st century in a 2016 BBC critics' poll.

In 2017, it was named the nineteenth "Best Film of the 21st Century So Far" by The New York Times.

The 2nd most nominated film in the 88th Academy Awards and won six Oscars. 

https://youtu.be/YWNWi-ZWL3c



**********************************

Weather - A little above average for the next 3 days (very little) then cooling off Thursday and we will be a little below average for a week or so.  No BIG chances for rain.

Columbus had a little more then 2 inches of rain this last weekend.

******************

talk at ya later.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.