THE BATTLESHIP THAT INVADED UNION SQUARE

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Oh my goodness!!!...you never heard of the USS Recruit, and her being at dock side at "Union Square" in New York??

Well 'your not alone' if you have never heard of the above. 

Back in 1917 we Americans found ourselves at war with Kaiser Wilhelm's Imperial Germany....and we needed 'recruits'.....big time!!!  All around the nation quota's was set for enlistments....to acquire the men to fight in this first European War, and low and behold the 'quota's' were not being met.  As an example: New York had an assigned goal of 2,000 men....and only come up with 900 enlistments.  So some 'brain storming' had to be done to raise the number of enlistments.

Well New York City's flamboyant and imaginative mayor, John Purvoy Mitchel got involved.....and take a gander on what his idea was.....and believe it or not.....IT WORKED!!!!

This is just a short little article on some Naval History you may not be aware of ...so if I've tickled your interest....and if you want to take a few minutes to read the article....you can do so by clicking on this title: THE BATTLESHIP THAT INVADED UNION SQUARE

Hope you enjoy the article

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THE SINKING OF USS PRINCETON (CVL-23)

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This particular Navy warrior started her ship life in a strange manner ---and her life ended in tragedy----not only for the vessel herself, but for her crew and crew's from other ships that attempted to help her.

The USS Princeton was actually laid down as a cruiser (CL) .....given the name "Tallahassee."  She came off the building blocks being reclassified as a carrier (CV)----but low and behold she was again reclassed just over a year later to a Small Aircraft Carrier (CVL-23).

The Princeton was a busy naval vessel, but when she hooked-up with carrier group TG 38.3 which was cruising off Luzon, she got into a world of hurt.

The ending to this story is not a joy to read....actually somewhat sad....but there again that is just all the more reason to read it if for no other reason than to learn how costly our freedom has been.

So if your interested in reading about this proud ship and her crew...as well as the ships and crews that attempted to help the Princetion in her time of need....just click on the title: SINKING OF USS PRINCETION (CVL-23).

Hope you enjoy the article

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A SERVICE OF SAVING LIVES

The United States Coast Guard is noted for many accomplishments, but foremost in the public’s mind is the Service’s efforts in helping those "in peril upon the seas." Indeed, all of the various federal agencies that were brought together to form the modern day United States Coast Guard dealt in some manner with assisting those that were in distress or in helping the prevention of loss of life at sea.

The U.S. Lighthouse Service, for example, maintained lighthouses and sea markers to warn ships from danger. Lighthouse keepers also helped people who were in danger close to their stations. Each year the annual reports of the Service were filled with the accounts of keepers saving lives. The cutters of the U. S. Revenue Cutter Service assisted mariners in distress offshore. The Service began winter cruising, in 1831, to provide rescue craft when sailing ships were most likely to run afoul of bad weather. The Steamboat Inspection Service was established in 1838 in an effort to prevent disasters before they occurred. Despite the many accomplishments of these agencies, the organization that contributed the most to the U.S. Coast Guard’s image as a lifesaver was the U.S. Life-Saving Service. It is important that the story of this Service be detailed, for many of the U.S. Coast Guard’s procedures in search and rescue can be traced to this small service.

So...if your 'into' naval history, ...and if your like me, what I know...just generates more interest...well you just may wish to give this article a 'tumble'....I'd have to say it is pretty darn interesting

The above is the lead in to the article...if you wish to give it a go....just click on this title: A SERVICE OF SAVING LIVES  it will take you immediately to the article, and I don't believe you'll be disappointed....if you are...well then leave me a comment or e-mail me, as do the same if you liked it....I'd appreciate it.

Hope you enjoy!

USS SCORPION (SSN-589)....WHAT HAPPEN?

LAUNCHED DEC.,1959--LOST MAY 22, 1968

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Somewhat of a mystery .....yes still to this day not all the answers are forth coming as to really what caused the USS Scorpion (SSN-589) to just vanish.

Many things were talked about...."Did a torpedo explode....or maybe a faulty valve of some sort.....there was talk of some sort of flooding problem??"  But I don't think nobody really knows.  It also was reported that she sunk like a 'sinker on a fishing pole' down to over 10,000 ft (plus)....well if that was the case she was crushed like a tin can.....

Then there was some discussion of a Soviet destroyer and an ECHO-II class sub being in the general area when the Scorpion disappeared.....hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm that certain is interesting as well.

Well if you wish to give this subject some additional reading I have my version and my comments about all of this.....you can 'link' up to the article by clicking on this title: LOST OF THE USS SCORPION (SSN-589).

Hope you enjoy the article

REQUIEM FOR A HERO

ONE OF THE INCIDENT'S OF THE "COLD-WAR" THAT MADE US FIGHTING MAD!!

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I'm sure most of you, if not all, recall many, many issues in and around the "Cold War" somewhere in the neighborhood of early 1968 and into early 1969....yeah kind of an ugly time wasen't it?  Some actually refer to that time period as the "Shot-Less" war.

Now....inter-mixed in this "Cold War" era was a couple of icon names I'm sure that when I mention them they are going to jump out at you.....how about: USS PUEBLO AND COMMANDER PETE BUCHER?

Yep, I'm sure you're saying, "Oh yes I do remember that incident."

Well I have a 'short article' on what took place....kind of like a refresher article on what actually happened and how it all ended up.

So...if you'd care "remind" yourself on what went on when this 'incident' did take place....you can click on this title: REQUIEM FOR A HERO  and it will take you to the article for a short read while your enjoying your coffee and a tad of coffee cake.

Hope you enjoy the article.

PRINCE ROBERT

FROM CRUISE SHIP TO ARMED MERCHANT CRUISER

In her colorful 30-year career, this hard-steaming passenger liner played many roles and performed each with the flair and aplonb of the pedigree that had been built into her.

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During the first two years of WW II, before the United States was drawn in by the attack on Pearl Harbor, a Canadian ship conducted many operations that would son be done by American ships. Although we were officially neutral at the time, Americans would have been pleased with the actions of this ship, had we known more about what she was doing. These activities included such things as patrolling the coast of North America, capturing a potential supply ship with ties to a German raider, taking German agents off an American liner at sea, and looking for survivors of the first American merchant ship sunk after Pearl Harbor.

The ship was the “Prince Robert” which, over the course of more than 30-years, served in a variety of roles under the Maple Leaf flag. She began life during the depression years as a civilian coastal liner for Canadian National Steamship in northwestern waters, after which she served as a cruise ship to the West Indies. When war came along, she became His Majesty’s Canadian Ship “Prince Robert,” an armed merchant cruiser. After the war, she was an immigrant ship for several years, carrying emigres to and from Europe, and finally closed out her distinguished career as a passenger liner under the Italian flag.

Ok....so you'd really like to know more about this old girl wouldn't you...well...all you have to do is 'click' on this title: PRINCE ROBERT  and this will link you up to the article...and if I must say so myself this is a pretty neat ship...and she has an impressive history.

Hope you enjoy the article.