What's bugging you? (2024 edition)

[zurch1818]

I'm not trying to compare Putin to Washington or even trying to be political...just stating a fact. Washington crossed the Delaware on December 25th, 1776 to attack the British.

I guess the Washington attack would be more akin to Ukraine surprise attacking Russian troops on Christmas as Russia is in Ukraine.

[SeaBass]

3 hours ago, zurch1818 said:

I'm not trying to compare Putin to Washington or even trying to be political...just stating a fact. Washington crossed the Delaware on December 25th, 1776 to attack the British.

I guess the Washington attack would be more akin to Ukraine surprise attacking Russian troops on Christmas as Russia is in Ukraine.

Since we're focusing on facts, Washington was attacking Hessian (German) mercenaries that were employed by the British. While the crossing of the Delaware occurred on Christmas night, the actual attack didn't happen until the morning of December 26th.

[igor67]

My neighbor growing up shared that in the aftermath of the Battle of the Bulge he spent Christmas day playing dead after a disabled German tank had surprised him and a fellow soldier by firing on them early in the morning. The other soldier was KIA by the shell, but the shrapnel hit and bent the butt of my neighbors rifle around his hip.

[TURBO]

1 hour ago, igor67 said:

My neighbor growing up shared that in the aftermath of the Battle of the Bulge he spent Christmas day playing dead after a disabled German tank had surprised him and a fellow soldier by firing on them early in the morning. The other soldier was KIA by the shell, but the shrapnel hit and bent the butt of my neighbors rifle around his hip.

Woa!

[igor67]

As a science teacher I will readily admit having to do an oral history project where I interviewed him and heard the story was definitely the coolest high school assignment I had. I was pretty sure at the time that I was in the extra lucky place to hear a couple of stories he had hardly or maybe never really told anyone. He didn't even start basic training until after D-Day but what he did see was still very sobering. Realizing the person your talking to straight up cheated death at least twice (90% of his 200 man unit was wiped out taking a hill as well) really just makes it real in a completely different way.

[zurch1818]

On 12/26/2024 at 2:40 PM, SeaBass said:

Since we're focusing on facts, Washington was attacking Hessian (German) mercenaries that were employed by the British. While the crossing of the Delaware occurred on Christmas night, the actual attack didn't happen until the morning of December 26th.

I stand corrected. I blame my high school history classes (or the fact that it's been 20 years since I had the class).

Correct me if I'm wrong...but I thought they waited until the morning of the 26th to attack because they needed the cover of them in a drunken stooper to cross the river.

I wish I could read books on history...but my brain just doesn't work that way. I usually have to stick to documentaries with subtitles on...and I have to watch it about 2 to 3 times to fully understand what is going on.

I do really find Revolutionary War era history facinating. The Ken Burns Ben Franklin documentary from a few years ago was phenomenal.

I'm currently watching a BBC documentary on the Boleyn family on PBS. Talk about a nuts time period with King Henry VIII. I have had virtually zero experience with this level of depth.

[zurch1818]

On 12/26/2024 at 2:58 PM, igor67 said:

My neighbor growing up shared that in the aftermath of the Battle of the Bulge he spent Christmas day playing dead after a disabled German tank had surprised him and a fellow soldier by firing on them early in the morning. The other soldier was KIA by the shell, but the shrapnel hit and bent the butt of my neighbors rifle around his hip.

Wow...that's nuts. Thanks for sharing.

[SeaBass]

6 minutes ago, zurch1818 said:

Correct me if I'm wrong...but I thought they waited until the morning of the 26th to attack because they needed the cover of them in a drunken stooper to cross the river.

I think it was just because the crossing took place at night and it took time to organize everyone. According to Wikipedia the artillery didn't finish crossing until 3 am so the army didn't start marching until 4 am.