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David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:08pm

D-30 122mm Towed Howitzer

Function: 122mm towed howitzer.

Background:Introduced in 1963 as a replacement for the pre-WWII M-30 howitzer, the D-30 122mm howitzer is in service with more than 50 countries and variants are still in production in Russia.

The D-30 fires variable charge, semi-cased, multi-part ammunition. The D-30 is capable of firing a number of projectile types, including HE-fragmentation, illuminating, smoke, leaflet, flechette, and incendiary.

The D-30 is capable of firing a non-rotating, fin stabilized anti-tank HEAT round which gives the gun a limited anti-armor capability. A Rocket Assisted Projectile (RAP) has been fielded which would increase the gun's range from 15,300 meters to 21900 meters.

There are at least two chemical munitions available for the D-30. The Sarin projectile weighs 22.2 kg with 1.3 kg of Sarin agent. The Lewisite projectile weighs 23.1 kg with 3.3 kg of viscous Lewisite agent.

Description: The D-30 has a single axle with a unique three-trail carriage. When limbered for transport, the gun rests on the wheeled axle. Once set up, the gun is suspended on top of the three trail arms which give the gun a 360 degree traverse capability.

The gun's recoil mechanism is housed in an armored box on top of the barrel and there is a small armored shield fitted between the wheels that provides limited protection to the crew. Early versions of the gun were fitted with a multi-baffle muzzle break while later models have been fitted with a double baffle break.

The gun itself is semiautomatic, with a vertically-sliding, wedge-type breechblock. The D-30 can be towed by a truck (Ural-375 or ZIL-131) or armored tractor. It is towed muzzle-first by a large lunette just under the muzzle brake with its trails folded under the barrel.

General Characteristics, D-30 122mm Towed Howitzer

Length:
Limbered for travel
17.55 feet (5.4 meters)

Width:
6.12 feet (1.9 meters)

Height:
5.2 feet (1.6 meters)

Weight:
3.2 tons

Cruising Range:
450 kilometers

Towing Speed:
Maximum: 38mph (60kph)
Off-road: 16mph (25kph)

Emplacent time:
1.5 minutes
Displacement time:
3.5 minutes

Rates of Fire:
Maximum: 8 rounds per minute
Sustained: 4 rounds per minute

Maximum Range:
15 km with conventional projectiles.
22km with extended range RAP projectiles.

Introduction Date:
1963

David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:15pm

BTR-60 APC

Function: Soviet 1950 era wheeled APC.

Background: Introduced in 1963 as a replacement for the fully tracked BTR-50, the BTR-60 represents the first of a series of 8x8 wheeled APC that are still in production in the former Soviet Union. In terms of numbers produced, the BTR-60 was the most important vehicle in the Soviet Army and was issued to the Soviet naval Infantry. In addition, the BTR-60 has been supplied to most Warsaw Pact countries in addition to North Korea. The BTR-60 has also been manufactured in Czechoslovakia and Poland.

Initial BTR-60s were equipped with a single 12.7mm DShK machine gun and two PKT 7.62mm machineguns, all mounted forward of the personnel compartment. Later models used the standard Warsaw Pact APC weapons turret equipped with one KPV 14.5mm machine gun and one PKT 7.62mm machine gun. Power is supplied to all eight wheels by means of a unique twin engine/transmission arrangement. The BTR-60 uses two V-8 90hp gasoline engines and two separate transmissions; one supplies power to the 1st and 3rd axles and the other supplies power to the 2nd and 4th axles.

The BTR-60 is fully amphibious and does not require any preparation time. Steering, both on land and in the water, is provided by the forward two axles, which are also power assisted. Water propulsion is provided by a single rear mounted water jet.

Although the BTR-70 began to replace the BTR-60 in 1978, the BTR-60 has never been retired, and continues to serve in Russian reserve formations and numerous countries world-wide.

Description: The BTR-60 an all-wheeled 8x8 fully amphibious armored personnel carrier. The boat shaped vehicle is divided up into three sections: crew compartment, personnel compartment, and engine compartment. In early versions the personnel compartment is open topped; in later versions the entire vehicle is fully enclosed. The BTR-60 may be readily distinguished from the later 70/80/90 series by the presence of a single "automotive-type" muffler exhaust located on either side of the hull rear.

The BTR-60 "P" and "PA" variants are equipped with a single 12.7mm DShK machine gun and two PKT 7.62mm machineguns. These MGs are mounted forward of the personnel compartment, and require the gunners to be exposed while firing. Because of the size of the gunner's position, only two of the three MGs can be manned at any given time. The "PB" model is equipped with a small, one man, turret, mounted over the second axle that contains one KPV 14.5mm machine gun and one PKT 7.62mm machine gun.

In all models, the personnel compartment can only be accessed from the roof of the carrier. There are three infantry mounting steps on each side of the vehicle, mounted between the road wheels, and three additional mounting rails located on the hull above the steps. There is a large personnel compartment access hatch located on each side of the hull.

General Characteristics, BTR-60 Armored Personnel Carrier

Manufacturers:
Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Poland.

Transmission:
2x manual

Engine:
2x 90hp V-8 gasoline

Length:
23.47 feet (7.22 meters)

Width:
9.17 feet (2.82 meters)

Height:
6.7 feet (2.06 meters)

Combat Weight:
10.1 tons

Cruising Range:
500 kilometers

Speed:
Maximum: 50mph ( 80kph)
Off-road: 38mph (60kph)

Fording:
Fully amphibious without preparation

Crew:
Two (driver, gunner-commander)
12 passengers

Armament:
Main:
One 12.7mm DShK HMG (BTR-60P)
One 14.5mm KPV HMG (BTR-60PB)
Secondary:

Two7.62mm PKT-T MG (BTR-60P)
One 7.62mm PKT-T MG (BTR-60PB)

Introduction Date:
1961

Variants:
BTR-60P: Initial production model. The BTR-60P was open topped and armed with a single 12.7mm DShK machine gun.

BTR-60PA: Modified "P" model. Incorporates overhead cover for the personnel compartment. Because of space restrictions in the gunner's hatch, no more than two of the weapons can be manned at any given time.

BTR-60PB: Most widely fielded varient. Has increased overhead protection for passengers and crew and incorporates the standard Warsaw Pact APC weapons turret. This one-man turret houses one KPV 14.5mm machine gun and one PKT 7.62mm machine gun.

BTR-60PBK: Command variant with additional communications equipment.

BTR-60 PU: Armored command vehicle (ACV) variant for battalion level. The "PU" is open-topped and can be identified by its canvas roof, additional communication equipment and lack of weapons turret. The "PU" also has an easily recognizable dipole antenna that runs nearly all around the top of the vehicle.

BTR-60 PU-12 and -12M: "U" and "PU" variants used by air defense controllers and configured for ground to air communication.

BTR-60 R-975: Forward Air Control Vehicle (FACV). A modified BTR-60PB with sighting optics and laser designator installed in the turret in place of the weapons. Can also be identified by the large portable generator mounted on the rear of the vehicle.

MTP-2: Armored recovery vehicle.

R-145BM: ACV used ad Brigade level. Has increased radio range and communications capabilities.

ACRV 1V18: Artillery command and reconnaissance vehicle. The 1V18 is a command and observation vehicle (COP) while the 1V19 variant serves as an artillery fire direction center (FDC).

David
Sat January 3, 2004 11:51pm

Ocean Surveillance Ship

Function: Ocean surveillance ships have a single mission to gather underwater acoustical data. The T-AGOS ships operate to support the anti-submarine warfare mission of the Commanders in chief of the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets.

History: A contract for the first SWATH ship, T-AGOS 19, was awarded in November 1986, and options for the next three were exercised in October 1988. These ships have the same WSC-6 communications, links and operating procedures as the Stalwart class. The keel for the first Impeccable class was laid down Feb. 2, 1993. The ship was more than 60 percent completed when the shipyard encountered difficulties. The contract was sublet to Halter Marine on April 20, 1995 to complete the ship. Planned christening date is early 1999.

Description: The ship is designed to tow an array of underwater listening devices to collect acoustical data. The ship also carries electronic equipment to process and transmit that data via satellite to shore stations for evaluation. The ship, the listening devices and electronic equipment are all part of a system called the Surveillance Towed Array System, or SURTASS. The Victorious class ocean surveillance ships are built on a Small Waterplane Twin Hull, or SWATH, design for greater stability at slow speeds in high latitudes under adverse weather conditions. The Impeccable class ships have a hull form based on that of the Victorious. Acoustic systems should include an active low frequency towed array, which has a series of modules each of which houses two high-powered active transducers. These can be used with either mono or bistatic receivers.

Background: Stalwart, along with two sister ships, was deactivated in the early 1990s when the end of the Cold War signaled a reduced submarine threat from the former Soviet Union, however, the Atlantic commander decided to convert the three ships for a new mission ? finding narcotics traffickers. They now support the Joint Interagency Task Force, East. The three Stalwart class ships have been modified for a drug interdiction mission. The underwater acoustic array was removed, and an air search radar, integrated display system, sophisticated communications suite and other special mission equipment were installed to detect and monitor suspected drug traffickers.

General Characteristics, Stalwart Class

Builders:
Tacoma Boatbuilding, Tacoma, WA

Power Plant:
Diesel-electric; four Caterpillar D 3988 diesel generators, 3,200 horsepower, two motors, 1,600 horsepower; two shafts; bow thruster; 550 horsepower

Length, Overall:
224 feet (68.28 meters)

Beam:
43 feet (13.11 meters)

Displacement:
2,262 long tons (2,298.3 metric tons) full load

Speed:
11 knots (12.66 mph, 20.37 kph), 3 knots when towing array

Crew:
18 mariners, five technicians and up to 15 Navy personnel

Ships:
USNS Prevail (T-AGOS 8)
USNS Assertive (T-AGOS 9)
USNS Bold (T-AGOS 12)

General Characteristics, Victorious Class

Builders:
McDermott Marine, Morgan City, LA

Power Plant:
Diesel-electric; four Caterpillar 3,512 diesel generators, two GE motors, twin screw 1,600 shaft hp; two bow thrusters; 2,400 horsepower

Length, Overall:
234.5 feet (71.48 meters)

Beam:
93.6 feet (28.53 meters)

Displacement:
3,396 long tons (3,450.5 metric tons) full load

Speed:
10 knots (11.51 mph, 18.52 kph), 3 knots when towing array

Crew:
19-22 mariners, 5 technicians and up to 15 Navy personnel

Ships:
USNS Victorious (T-AGOS 19)
USNS Able (T-AGOS 20)
USNS Effective (T-AGOS 21)
USNS Loyal (T-AGOS 22)

General Characteristics, Impeccable Class

Builders:
Tampa Shipyard/Halter Marine

Power Plant:
Diesel-electric; three diesel generators; two Westinghouse motors; 5,000 horsepower; twin screw shaft; two omni-thruster hydrojets; 1,800 horsepower

Length, Overall:
281.5 feet (85.80 meters)

Beam:
95.8 feet (29.2 meters)

Displacement:
5,370 long tons (5,456.18 metric tons) full load

Speed:
13 knots (14.96 mph, 24.08 kph), 3 knots when towing

Crew:
20 mariners, 5 technicians and up to 20 Navy personnel

David
Sun January 4, 2004 12:31am

SSN688 - Los Angeles Clas

Function: Nuclear powered Fast Attack submarine.

History: Deployed on November 13, 1976, the Los Angeles (SSN688) fast attack submarine marked a technological leap forward in submarine design. Built from the screw forward as a dedicated antisubmarine warfare (ASW) platform, the Los Angeles class submarines were designed to guard American Carrier Battle Groups by hunting Soviet submarines and anti-surface warfare (ASUW) capitol ships like the Kirov class BCGN. The Los Angeles submarines were faster, quieter, carried more sophisticated sensors and possessed better weapons than any other submarine in existence. In addition to their primary function as offensive ASW weapons the 688 boats perform a number of additional duties to include sub surface precision land attack strikes (using tube launched Tomahawk cruise missiles), intelligence gathering, mine warfare, and special operations support (SEAL deployment and recovery). In fact, their performance was so revolutionary that beginning with USS Providence (SSN719) the hull was lengthened to accommodate 12 vertical launch system (VLS) tubes to allow the submarines to launch Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles. Nearing the end of their 30-year lives, the Los Angeles class submarines are slowly being replaced by the Improved Los Angeles (San Juan SSN751), the Seawolf (SSN21) and ultimately by the Virginia class (SSN774).

General Characteristics, Los Angeles Class

Cost:
About $900 million each

Builders:
General Dynamics Electric Boat Division

Power Plant:
One S6G nuclear reactor, one shaft, 35,000 shaft horse power

Date Deployed:
November 13, 1976 (USS Los Angeles)

Length, Overall:
360 feet (109.73 meters)

Beam:
33 feet (10.06 meters)

Draft:
35 feet (10.67 meters)

Displacement:
6,927 tons (7,010.73 metric tons) submerged

Speed:
32 knots submerged

Crew:
13 Officers; 121 Enlisted

Armament:
Mk 48 ADCAP Torpedoes, launched from four 533mm torpedo tubes

Harpoon anti-ship missiles (tube launched)

Tomahawk anti-ship/ land attack missiles (tube launched SSN688 - SSN718, VLS launched SSN719 - SSN751)

Sensors:
BSY-1 combat data system

Radar:
1 AN/BPS-5 surface search radar

1 AN/BPS-15 navigation and fire control radar

Sonar:
1 TB-16 passive towed sonar array

1 TB-23 passive "thin line" towed sonar array

1 AN/BQG-5 wide aperture flank array

1 AN/BQQ-5 low frequency spherical bow sonar array

1 AN/BQS-15 close range active sonar (ice detection)

Mine and Ice Detection and Avoidance System (MIDAS)

SADS-TG active detection sonar)

Optics:
1 Type 2 attack periscope

1 Type 18 search periscope

Countermeasures:
WLR-9 acoustic intercept receiver

WLQ-4 ESM

WLY-1 torpedo decoy

Ships:
USS Los Angeles (SSN-688), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Philadelphia (SSN-690), Groton, CT
USS Memphis (SSN-691), Groton, CT
USS Bremerton (SSN-698), San Diego, CA
USS Jacksonville (SSN-699), Norfolk, VA
USS Dallas (SSN-700), Groton, CT
USS La Jolla (SSN-701), San Diego, CA
USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN-705), Groton, CT
USS Albuquerque (SSN-706), Groton, CT
USS Portsmouth (SSN-707), San Diego, CA
USS Minneapolis-St. Paul (SSN-708), Norfolk, VA
USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-709), Norfolk, VA
USS Augusta (SSN 710), Groton, CT
USS San Francisco (SSN-711), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Houston (SSN-713), San Diego, CA
USS Norfolk (SSN-714), Norfolk, VA
USS Buffalo (SSN-715), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Salt Lake City (SSN-716), San Diego, CA
USS Olympia (SSN-717), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Honolulu (SSN-718), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Providence (SSN-719), Groton, CT
USS Pittsburgh (SSN-720), Groton, CT
USS Chicago (SSN-721), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Key West (SSN-722), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723), Norfolk, VA
USS Louisville (SSN-724), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Helena (SSN-725), San Diego, CA
USS Newport News (SSN-750), Norfolk, VA

David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:22pm

Twenty-second Armored Div

Worn from 24 June 1947 to 1 March 1952
Tab: NONE

Activated at Houston, Texas. The Arabic number twenty-two shows the division's designation.

Campaigns: NONE

David
Thu April 15, 2004 2:04pm

Guilford Courthouse, 15 M

General Nathaniel Greene assumed command of the remnants of the Southern Army after Horatio Gates' disastrous defeat at Camden. In his ensuing campaign against Lord Cornwallis he sought to gain strength while harassing British forces and drawing them further from their bases on the coast. His position immensely strengthened by Daniel Morgan's victory at Cowpens (17 January 1781), Greene skillfully retreated before Cornwallis' force and finally, his ranks swollen by militia, gave battle on grounds of his own choosing at Guilford Court House, N.C.

Greene deployed his forces in three lines. The first was composed of North Carolina militia whom he asked to fire several volleys and retire; the second was made up of Virginia militia; the third, posted on a rise of ground, comprised Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware Continentals.

When Cornwallis' Regulars launched their attack, the first line of militia fired their rounds and fled the battlefield, the second line offered stiffer resistance but also withdrew. Before the second line gave way, several British units broke through and charged the last line. Greene observed as the veteran First Maryland Continentals threw back a British attack and countered with a bayonet charge. As they reformed their line, William Washington's Light Dragoons raced by to rescue raw troops of the Fifth Maryland who had buckled under a furious assault of British Grenadiers and Guards.

Finally Greene ordered a retreat, since he was determined not to risk the loss of his army. For the British it was another Pyrrhic victory. Cornwallis, his force depleted, withdrew to the coast at Wilmington and then went on to his rendezvous with destiny at Yorktown. Greene, while losing two more such battles, by October 1781 had forced the British to withdraw to their last enclaves in the South-Charleston and Savannah.

David
Thu April 15, 2004 2:04pm

Monmouth, 28 June 1778

On 18 June 1778, Sir Henry Clinton evacuated Philadelphia and with 10,000 men set out on a march to New York. Washington followed closely, but on 24 June a council of his officers advised him to avoid a major engagement, though a minority favored bolder action. A change in the direction of the British line of march convinced the Continental Commander he should take some kind of offensive action, and he detached a force to attack the British rear as it moved out of Monmouth Court House. General Charles Lee, who had been the most cautious in council, claimed the command from Lafayette, who had been most bold, when he learned the detachment would be composed of almost half the army.

One of the most confused actions of the Revolution ensued when, on the morning of 28 June, Lee's force advanced to attack Clinton's rear over rough ground that had not been reconnoitered. The action had hardly begun when a confused American retreat began over three ravines. Historians still differ over whether the retreat and confusion resulted from Lee's inept handling of the situation and lack of confidence in his troops, or whether the retreat was a logical response to Clinton's quick countermoves and the confusion a product of the difficulties of conducting the retreat across the three ravines.

In any case, Washington, hurrying forward with the rest of his Army to support an attack, met Lee amidst his retreating columns and irately demanded of him an explanation of the confusion. Lee, taken aback, at first only stuttered "Sir, sir." When Washington repeated his question, Lee launched into a lengthy explanation but the Commander-in-Chief was soon too busy halting the retreat to listen very long.

The retreat halted, Washington established defensive positions and the Continental Army beat off four British assaults. During the night the British slipped away. Monmouth was the last major engagement fought in the north. However inconclusive its result, it did show that the Continental line, thanks to the training of Von Steuben, could now fight on equal terms with British regulars in open field battle. It also led to the court martial of Charles Lee and his dismissal from the Continental service.

David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:08pm

Ordine della Santissima A

Ordine della Santissima Annunziata: one of the greatest chivalric orders of all times, comparable to the Habsburg's Golden Fleece, the Order of the Garter and the Supreme Order of Christ. While very exclusive, the collar was bestowed upon high ranking generals.

Established in 1362 by Amedeo VI of Savoy ("the Green Count"). While the founder had originally conceived an overall number of 15 members to honour the 15 "delights" of the Blessed Virgin (14 knights plus the Grand Master), in 1869 King Vittorio Emanuele II raised the number of knights from 14 to 20; but the Grand Master, the princes of his royal blood, clergymen and foreigners were supposed to be calculated as an extra to this fixed number. Untill the fall of monarchy, the Knighthood of the Holy Annunciation equalled nobility, and gave right to the title of "Excellency" and "Cousin of the King", with precedence, in all ceremonies, over the highest offices of state. The Annunziata's collar could be conferred on non-nobles, but not on non-catholics: this because of its deeply religious origins, and since the knights had many religious duties. Each collar exists in two versions: a greater one (to be used on New Year's Day, on Annunciation Day, on national holidays and in all solemn court cerimonies) and a smaller (for all other occasions). Collars were to be returned to the King after the death of a Knight. Nevertheless, during last decades many collars went missing, as the Duce's (Benito Mussolini) one. Although the medallion is worn suspended to a golden collar, a ribbon to be used on uniforms was indeed instituted by Royal Decree in 1924: it is purple (better: amaranthine) and bears a small golden badge (four-leaved clover-shaped) depicting the Annunciation "en miniature".
During the monarchy, this was to be placed above all other merits and awards. After the fall of monarchy the Italian Republican Government obviously denied acknowledgement of this order, which was never discontinued, being dynastic patrimony of the existing House of Savoy, and ist still, though very seldom, conferred.

David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:08pm

Ordine dei Santi Maurizio

Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro. Born from the union of two ancient and different Orders which, for particular reasons, only in the XVI Century were combined under the Mastery of the House of Savoy. The Order of St. Maurice and Lazarus was awarded with some frequency among generals and colonels.

The Order of St. Maurice was established in 1434 by Amedeo VIII of Savoy (during his stay in the Ripaglia hermitage near Thonon) and so called after Maurice, the brave Captain of the Legio Tebea who was martyred in 286 a.d, altogether with his legionnaires for having refused to worship the Imperator Marco Aurelio.
From its origins, the Order of St. Maurice was an "Ordine combattente" (Combating Order) intended to fight Lutherans and Calvinists. The origins of the Order of St. Lazarus can be, on the contrary, brought back to the foundation, around 1100, of an Hospital for Leprosy in Jerusalem by a group of crusaders who called themselves "Brothers of St. Lazarus" (Lazarus was the poor leprous beggar, described in the Bible by the Evangelist St. Luke (Luke, chapter 16, verses 19-31), who became patron saint of lepers).
Under the Grand Mastery of Duke Emanuele Filiberto "Iron Head", the two orders were declared united by Pope Gregory XIII in 1572, one year after the battle of Lepanto, in order to fight the infidels; nevertheless, already during the XVI century the newborn order missed its military "raison d'etre", shifting instead towards the original hospital rule of St. Lazarus.
Brought back in favour by King Vittorio Emanuele II, the Order was sparingly conferred for distinguished service in civilian or military affairs, as an exclusive award compared with the more common Order of the Crown of Italy. Because of the fall of monarchy, the Italian Government in 1952 changed the Order (which no longer was officially acknowledged as such) in "Ente Morale" (Non-profit Corporation) and kept in function its hospitals, churches, orphanages and schools which are now under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic. As for the House of Savoy, still owner for dynastic reasons of the Grand Mastery, the pretender to Italy's Throne (Prince Vittorio Emanuele IV) is still conferring from his exile knightoods of this important Order which was never discontinued.

David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:35pm
Rating: 10

Royal Hohenzollern House

Royal Hohenzollern House Order, as its name implies, was not so much a Prussian order as an order of the Prussian ruling family, the Hohenzollerns. Nonetheless, this order earned an important place in the heirarchy of Prussian military awards of the First World War. The knight's cross of this order became a bridge to the considerable gap between the Iron Cross, first class, and the Pour le Merite for recognizing heroism., while the Crown Order and Red Eagle (logical choices) remained fairly exclusive.
There was also a "member's cross" of the order which was available to non-commissioned officers, but was rarely awarded. When awarded for duty in a combat unit or for combat operations, the decoration had swords between the arms of the cross. There were over 8,000 awards made during World War I, the vast majority of them knight's crosses.

David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:39pm

The Order of the Golden F

The Order of the Golden Fleece - One of the most ancient of chivilaric knighthood orders. The Order was of such limited membership as to lie outside this study, but is included here for identification.
- Established in 1430 by Duke Phillip III of Burgundy, the Order came be an Austrian Order (or more properly, a Habsburg Order) when Maximillian of Habsburg (husband of Marie, Phillip's granddaughter) became Sovereign of the Order. Membership was always stricly limited, and usually only extended to members of the Imperial family and the highest of the nobility in Austria and abroad. As with other ancient knighthood orders, this Order comes in only one grade. The badge, a gold 'fleece' suspended from a highly stylized "B" (for Burgundy) was worn from the neck on a scarlet ribbon.
Following the split in the Habsburg house into Spanish and Austrian branches, there came to be both an Austrian Order and a Spanish Order. Both are still in existence today. One had to be Catholic and of good character to receive it. Except for Imperial archdukes and foreign nobility it was usually only given late in life as a reward for a lifetime of service to the Imperial family.
The last Habsburg emperor, Karl (1916-1918), awarded seven knighthoods to the order after he was removed as Emperor and before his death in 1922. Karl's grandson, Otto, presides as Sovereign of the Order today.

David
Mon November 8, 2004 3:14am
Rating: 10

Capt. George Fishley

The Capt. George Fishley photograph is something most people have never seen. It is a daguerreotype made of a Revolutionary War soldier. This photo was take when he was 90 years old.

There are only a few photos of revolutionary war soldiers in existence and most never see the light of day outside of private collections.

There is a note attached to the back of the image. It reads:

"Capt. George Fishley is 90 years on his birthday June 11, 1850. He called at the house this afternoon and appeared well and healthy for an old man, he went to sleep and died December 26th aged 90 years, 7 months adn15 days."

George Fishley entered the Continental Army in 1777, under Gen. Poor and Col. Dearborn. He served three years and, according to his own account, was among the men who marched near Valley Forge wearing no shoes or stockings. Fishley was at Monmouth, the New Jersey confrontation led by George Washington. Monmouth is best known for the resulting court martial of Maj. Gen. Charles Lee and for the famous camp follower "Molly Pitcher" who took her husband?s place at a cannon when he was wounded in battle.

After the Revolution, Fishley served aboard a privateer, was captured and imprisoned in Halifax, according to the Portsmouth Journal. He later commanded a coaster shipping between Portsmouth and Boston. He was a popular figure in patriotic events for decades, and was one of the few surviving veterans to attend the opening of the Bunker Hill Monument in Boston in 1843. In another ceremony, dressed in his uniform, he commanded a miniature ship that was transported from Portsmouth inland to Concord, NH among a crowd of 300 celebrants. Invited to meet James Polk, Capt. Fishley at first declined to shake the President?s hand saying he had no political sympathies with the man. Born under the reign of King George, he lived under the first 13 American presidents, just missing New Hampshire born Franklin Pierce, who became President Number 14.

Capt. Fishley was among the three longest-surviving Revolutionary War veterans in Portsmouth and a patriot to the end, as this story from his obituary confirms:

"It is told of Fishley that when Adams and Jefferson were buried in 1826, and a procession was contemplated in Portsmouth, of which the Revolutionary heroes were to form a part, the committee came to Fishley requesting him to appear. He asked who were to be there. All were named until ----- was mentioned. "What" cried the old man. "He a patriot!" Why he was a d--- Hessian, and came over hear to fight us for six pence a day. No s-i-r, I don?t ride with such patriots as he!" And ride he did not on the solemn occasion."

David
Mon November 8, 2004 3:17am

David
Mon November 8, 2004 3:19am
Rating: 10

David
Thu December 9, 2004 8:17am

Jim Nicholson

Dec. 9, 2004: Jim Nicholson, accepts his nomination by President Bush to be the next Secretary of Veterans Affair in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.

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