David
Sat January 18, 2003 12:15pm
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The C-141B Starlifter air
The C-141B Starlifter aircraft leaves four plumes of exhaust behind it as it prepares for an airdrop during Operation Deep Freeze. Starlifter can airlift combat forces, equipment and supplies, and deliver them on the ground or by airdrop, using paratroop doors on each side and a rear loading ramp. It can be used for low-altitude delivery of paratroops and equipment, and high-altitude delivery of paratroops. It can also airdrop equipment and supplies using the container delivery system. It is the first aircraft designed to be compatible with the 463L Material Handling System, which permits off-loading 68,000 pounds (30,600 kilograms) of cargo, refueling and reloading a full load, all in less than an hour. The C-141 has an all-weather landing system, pressurized cabin and crew station. Its cargo compartment can easily be modified to perform around 30 different missions. About 200 troops or 155 fully equipped paratroops can sit in canvas side-facing seats, or 166 troops in rear-facing airline seats. Rollers in the aircraft floor allow quick and easy cargo pallet loading. A palletized lavatory and galley can be installed quickly to accommodate passengers, and when palletized cargo is not being carried, the rollers can be turned over to leave a smooth, flat surface for loading vehicles. In its aeromedical evacuation role, the Starlifter can carry about 103 litter patients, 113 ambulatory patients or a combination of the two. It provides rapid transfer of the sick and wounded from remote areas overseas to hospitals in the United States.
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David
Sat January 18, 2003 12:17pm
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A C-5 Galaxy from the 439
A C-5 Galaxy from the 439th Airlift Wing Westover ARB, Mass., arrives at McChord AFB, Wash. With its tremendous payload capability, the gigantic C-5, an outsized-cargo transport, provides the Air Mobility Command intertheater airlift in support of United States national defense. The C-5 is one of the largest aircraft in the world. It can carry outsized cargo intercontinental ranges and can take off or land in relatively short distances. Ground crews can load and off load the C-5 simultaneously at the front and rear cargo openings since the nose and aft doors open the full width and height of the cargo compartment. It can also "kneel down" to facilitate loading directly from truck bed levels.
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David
Thu March 27, 2003 2:58pm
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A Marine from the 2nd Bat
A Marine from the 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment, kicks open a door as troops move house to house on Sunday on the outskirts of the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah, where allied troops faced some resistance in their northbound advance toward Baghdad.
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David
Sat December 20, 2003 2:29pm
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A U.S. soldier, left, sta
A U.S. soldier, left, stands at the entrance to the bedroom where Saddam Hussein was living before he was captured, Dec. 15, 2003. Quran verse over the door reads " By the name of God, graceful and merciful."
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 9:38pm
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An-124 Condor
Function: High payload, long range cargo aircraft.
History: Introduced in 1982 as a long range, heavy lift cargo and troop transport aircraft, the Antonov An-124 Ruslan (NATO designation Condor) is currently the world's largest and heaviest payload aircraft in production in the world. Outclassing the C-5 Galaxy by nearly 20 tons in payload capacity, and the Ilyushin Il-76 by more than 100 tons, the An-124 is only exceeded in lifting ability by the special purpose An-225 Mriya (NATO designation Cossack) which was purpose built to transport the Russian space shuttle, and of which only two were built.
Currently in production at the AVIASTAR facility in Ulyanovsk and the AVIANT State Aviation Plant in Kiev, the An-124, in addition to serving with the Russian military as a long range high payload cargo aircraft capable of delivering or airdropping troops, and equipment, is also in service with a number of civilian organizations as a dedicated cargo transport. Antonov Airlines, Volga-Dniepr, and Poliot all employ the An-124, using it to transport heavy and over sized equipment such as hydraulic turbines, mobile cranes, railway locomotives, earthmovers and dump trucks, and sailing vessels. The An-124 is even capable of transporting other aircraft, ferrying partially disassembled passenger planes to customers worldwide.
To facilitate the loading and unloading of cargo, the nose section is hinged to open upwards, and the tail section is fitted with a pair of clamshell doors. Both nose and tail sections are equipped with integral loading ramps. In addition, the An-124 also employs two traveling cranes, two winches, a rollgang and tie down equipment which limit it's dependence on ground equipment for cargo handling and manipulation. The Ruslan is equipped with multi leg, self-orienting landing gear and is rough surface capable. The landing gear height can be adjusted on the ground, to facilitate loading cargo.
In addition to the An-124-100 currently in production, Air Foyle (UK) in conjunction with Antonov and Aviastar has proposed the construction of two new versions, the An-124-210, and the An-124-100M. Both versions will be equipped with Western and Russian digital instruments and displays which will reduce the crew size from 6 to 4. In addition, both will be equipped with a traffic alert collision and avoidance system, ground proximity warning system and a satellite communications system. The 210 will be outfitted with Rolls-Royce RB211-52H-T engines, while the 100M will be equipped with the Series 3 D-18 engines, produced by the Progress Design Bureau in Zaporozhe. Each of these engine upgrades will increase the Ruslan's range by 10% and reduce take off distance.
Description: Typical of most cargo aircraft, the An-124 body forms a thick oval cross-section, with a tapered aft section and rounded nose to facilitate cargo handling. The fuselage is of a twin deck design, the upper deck being the flight deck, and the lower deck serving as the cargo hold. On the flight deck are the cockpit, with stations for the six crewmembers, a relief crew compartment, and seating for an additional 88 passengers. The loadmaster's station is on the cargo deck.
The wings are mounted high on the fuselage at a negative dihedral, are tapered and swept, with a relatively high cross-section to increase efficiency and range. The four Lotarev D-18T turbofans are mounted on pylons underneath the wings. The horizontal stabilizers are also swept back and tapered, and are mounted at mid level on the fuselage, aft of the vertical stabilizer.
General Characteristics, AN-124 Condor
Power Plant:
Four D-18T turbofans (An-124-100)
Four D-18T Series 3 (An-124-100M)
Four RB211-524H-T (An-124-210)
Thrust:
229 kN (153,558 pounds)
An-124-210: 264 kN (177,027 pounds)
Length:
69.1 meters (226.4 feet)
Height:
21.08 meters (69.2 feet)
Wingspan:
73.3 meters (240.5 feet)
Cargo Hold Dimensions:
Floor length including ramps: 36.5 meters
Width at floor level: 6.4 meters
Height: 4.4 meters
Volume cargo hold: 1,270 cubic meters
Speed:
800 to 850 kmh
Cruise speed at an altitude of 9 km: 750 to 800 kmh
Ceiling:
12,000 meters (39,370 feet)
Load-Carrying Capacity:
120 tons using a 2,800 meter runway (2300 meters for An-124-210)
150 tons using a 3,000 meter runway (2500 meters for An-124-210)
Maximum Takeoff Weight:
392 tons
Range:
With maximum fuel: 13,300 kilometers (7,980 miles) (15,250 for An-124-210)
With 40-ton payload: 10,960 kilometers (6,576 miles) (12,730 for An-124-210)
With 120-ton payload: 5,030 kilometers (3,018 miles) (5,950 for An-124-210)
Crew:
Seven (An 124)
Four (An-124-100)
Four (An-124-100M)
Three (An-124-210)
Runway:
3000 meters (2,420 for An-124-210)
Takeoff run on concrete runway: 2520 meters (2,420 for An-124-210)
Landing roll on concrete runway: 900 meters
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 9:38pm
Rating: 8
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Il-76 Candid
Function: Medium range, medium lift cargo aircraft.
History: The Ilyushin Il-76 (NATO designation Candid) was fielded by the Soviet Air Force in 1974 as a medium range, medium payload, rough surface capable cargo aircraft. Produced by the Ilyushin Aviation Complex Joint Stock Company in Moscow and the Tashkent Aircraft Production Corporation in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the Il-76 was purpose built as a combat support aircraft who's primary mission was to deliver infantry and light armored vehicles. The Il-76 is also paratrooper capable, and can air deliver palletized cargo and specially prepared military vehicles.
To facilitate rough field operations, the Il-76 is equipped with a low ground pressure landing gear system and extendable trailing flaps and leading edge slats on the wings to generate additional lift at low airspeeds. To support airborne cargo delivery missions, the Candid is equipped with a telpher; an over-head electrically operated track from which cargo can be suspended and deployed, as well as a deck mounted roller conveyer system. The Il-76 can also be converted to a litter capable airborne ambulance.
Since its introduction, the Il-76 has undergone a number of modifications. The Il-76M is virtually identical to the base line Il-76 in terms of physical appearance, and flight characteristics, but with almost twice the payload capacity (47 tons for the M model, up considerably from the 28 tons of the basic model.) The Il-76MD is essentially an Il-76M with structural modifications to increase fuel load and range. The additional fuel carried increased the MD's maximum take off weight by 20 tons, and increased the range of the aircraft by 40%. The Il-76MF variant incorporates a 6.6-meter insertion into the fuselage to increase cargo hold dimensions, as well as improved engines, replacing the four D-30KP turbofan engines with four more powerful PS-90A-76 turbofans. These new engines improve range by 20% over the MD model. The MF's maximum take off weight has been increased to 210 tons, and the maximum payload has been increased to 52 tons.
In addition to serving as a cargo aircraft, the basic Il-76 design has been modified to fill a number of additional aircraft requirements. The A-50 Mainstay Airborne Early Warning radar aircraft is derived from the Il-76 design, and the Il-78 Midas aerial tanker is derived from a modified MD airframe.
Description: As with most cargo aircraft, the Il-76 body was designed to maximize available space. The fuselage is long and more rounded in cross-section than the more contemporary An-124 Condor, with a tapered aft section and rounded nose. The tail has a pair of clamshell doors and integral loading ramp for cargo. The nose, un-like the C-5 Galaxy or the An-124 Condor, is fixed, and the lower section is glassed in for observation. Directly behind the glass nose section is an oval radome, which extends laterally beyond the sides of the frame.
The wings are mounted high on the fuselage at a slight negative dihedral, and are tapered and swept. The four turbofans are mounted on pylons underneath, and forward of the wings. The horizontal stabilizers are also swept back and tapered, and are mounted high on the vertical stabilizer.
Designed as a combat aircraft, the Il-76 is capable of mounting an electronic warfare ECM package, to include radar warning receiver, and chaff and flare dispensers, to defend the aircraft from radar guided and heat seeking missile threats, and is capable of mounting air dropped ordnance on external, wing mounted ejector racks. In addition, the tail section incorporates a manned weapons station, mounting two 23mm cannons and a fire direction radar. This tail gun station is retained on many Russian owned, civilian operated Il-76s, as they were expected to serve with the Air Force during a time of war.
General Characteristics, Il-76 Candid
Power Plant:
Four D-30KP turbofans
Thrust:
12,000 kef
Length:
46.6 meters (152.9 feet)
Height:
14.42 meters (47.31 feet)
Wingspan:
50.5 meters (165.7 feet)
Cargo Hold Dimensions:
Length (less ramp): 20 meters
Width: 3.45 meters
Height 3.4 meters
Speed:
Cruise speed at an altitude of
9 to 12 kilometers: 760 to 780 kmh
Ceiling:
20,695 meters (67,900 feet)
Load-Carrying Capacity:
47 tons
Maximum Takeoff Weight:
170 tons
Range:
With 20-ton payload: 6,100 kilometers (3,660 miles)
With 47-ton payload: 3,000 kilometers (1,800 miles)
Crew:
Six or seven
Runway:
Takeoff run on concrete runway: 1,600 meters
Landing roll on concrete runway: 780 to 1,000 meters
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 9:38pm
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Su-47 (S-37) Berkut
Function: The Su-47 (initially known as the S-37) Berkut (Golden Eagle) is a testbed for developing technologies for the next generation of aircraft.
Description: The basic dimensions and weight of the Su-47 "Berkut" are similar to those of Su-37, although they are different aircraft, and the tail, nose and canopy are similar to those of the Su-35. The first two prototypes of this aircraft were evidently designated the S-32, and the S-37 designation was previously applied to an unrelated fighter project for a smaller delta wing single aircraft that was cancelled due to lack of funding.
The Su-47 features forward-swept wings, which promises a range of benefits in aerodynamics at subsonic speeds and at high angles of attack. The forward-swept wing, which enables the aircraft to increase its range and its manoeuvrability at high altitude, makes extensive use of composite materials. The aircraft has large canards mounted on the intake side, close to the leading edge of the wing. The vertical stabilizers are canted slightly outward [not inward, as previously believed], and two large auxiliary intake doors are visible on the center fuselage section. It is unclear which engines are used on this aircraft. The two powerplants are at the moment D-30F6 turbojets which are normaly used at the MiG-31M, while the second prototype uses the Ljulka AL-37FU turbojet with thrust vectoring. The Su-47 is an experimental program for developing fifth-generation technologies.
The Su-47 is a better performer at high angles of attack in post-stall manoeuvring much needed in close-in dogfight. Having the edge in manoeuvring, the Su-47 is clearly catching up in stealth with US and European new-generation fighters. However even with its internal weapon bay and RAM coating, the new Sukhoi is a very different concept than F-22. The heavy accent on RAM rather than radar absorbing structures (RAS) is obvious. The major components of radar stealth -- RAM coatings and surface quality -- are subject to the production and maintenance tolerance as it was shown by USAF F-117 and B-2 operational experience. Untightened screws, scratches or unfastened access panels were known to greatly deteriorate the RCS of the aircraft, reducing the engineering efforts put into aircraft design. It remains to be seen how Sukhoi will overcome the looser production standards of the Russian aircraft plans.
General Characteristics, Su-47 (S-37) Berkut
Designer:
Sukhoi Design Bureau
Power Plant:
* 2 Perm Aviadvigatel D-30F6 (34,170 lbst), or
* 2 Saturn/Lyul'ka AL-37FU afterburning 142.2 kN (31,966 lb st) with afterburning thrust-vectoring in pitch -20o to 20o at 30o per second
Length:
22.2 m - 22.6 m (72.83 ft - 74.15 ft)
Height:
6.36 m - 6.40 m (20.87 ft - 21.00 ft)
Wingspan:
15.16 m - 16.7 m (49.74 ft - 54.8 ft)
Max Speed:
2,500km/h (1,350 knots)
Ceiling:
18,000 meters (59,055 feet)
Weight:
* Empty: 24,000 kg (52,910 lb)
* Equipped: 26,000 kg (57,320 lb)
Maximum Takeoff Weight:
34,000 kg (74,960 lb)
Range:
1,782 nm (3,300 km/2,050 miles)
Crew:
One
Hardpoints:
14: 2 wingtip, 6-8 underwing, 6-4 conformal underfuselage
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:15pm
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BTR-70 APC
Function: Soviet 1970-era wheeled APC.
Background: Introduced in 1978 as a replacement to the BTR-60, The BTR-70 is very similar externally to the older vehicle, as many if the improvements made to the vehicle are internal.
The BTR-70 uses the standard Warsaw Pact APC weapons turret equipped with one KPV 14.5mm machine gun and one PKT 7.62mm machine gun. As with the BTR-60, power is supplied to all eight wheels by means of a unique twin engine/transmission arrangement. The BTR-70's power plants, however, have been upgraded to two 120hp gasoline engines. The gearbox arrangement, however, remains unchanged; one supplies power to the 1st and 3rd axles and the other supplies power to the 2nd and 4th axles.
The BTR-70 is also 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.
Though replaced by the BTR-80 in the early eighties, the BTR-70 continues to serve in many armies world-wide, including most former Warsaw Pact as well as many Middle Eastern, African, and Asian countries.
Description: The BTR-70 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 the case of the BTR-70 the hull has been lengthened somewhat and the axles now have a paired appearance, with a distinctive gap between the second and third axles.
The BTR-70 may be readily distinguished from the 60 and 80 series by the presence of a single, large, curved "caterpillar" insulated exhaust located on either side of the hull rear. In addition the amphibious operations trim vane has been moved from underneath the nose of the vehicle, BTR-60 series, to on top of the nose, just forward of the driver's station.
The BTR-70 is equipped with the standard Warsaw Pact APC turret. The small, one man turret is mounted over the second axle and contains one KPV 14.5mm machine gun and one PKT 7.62mm machine gun.
The personnel compartment can be accessed by a triangular doorway located between the second and third axles. The three infantry mounting steps and the three additional mounting rails located on the hull above the steps, present on the BTR-60, have been eleminated. The large personnel compartment access hatches located on each side of the hull have also been eliminated and replaced with three firing ports.
General Characteristics, BTR-70 Armored Personnel Carrier
Manufacturers:
Soviet Union
Transmission:
2x manual
Engine:
2x 120hp V-8 gasoline
Length:
25.51 feet (7.85 meters)
Width:
9.1 feet (2.80 meters)
Height:
7.96 feet (2.45 meters)
Combat Weight:
11.5 tons
Cruising Range:
450 kilometers
Speed:
Maximum: 50mph ( 80kph)
Off-road: 38mph (60kph)
Fording:
Fully amphibious without preparation
Crew:
2; driver, gunner-commander
8 passengers
Armament:
Main:
One 14.5mm KPV HMG
Secondary:
One 7.62mm PKT-T MG
Introduction Date:
1978
Variants:
BTR-70 M1986/1: Improved version of the Basic BTR-70.
BTR-70Kh: Chemical recon variant. Equipped with a proximity fuse jammer. This device is designed to prematurely detonate proximity fused artillery rounds.
BTR-70MS: Communications support variant.
BTR-70KShM: Mobile command post variant.
BREM: Armored Recovery Vehicle variant.
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:35pm
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LPD - San Antonio Class A
Function: The Landing Platform Dock 17, San Antonio Class, is the latest class of amphibious force ship for the United States Navy. The mission of the LPD 17 ships is to transport marines, with helicopters and air-cushioned landing craft to trouble spots around the world. The first ship, the San Antonio (LPD 17), is currently under construction and is scheduled to be delivered in November 2002.
History: In December 1996 the U.S. Navy awarded a contract to an industrial alliance led by Litton Industries Avondale with Bath Iron Works and Raytheon Company to design and construct the first of an anticipated twelve ships under the Navy's LPD 17 program. Litton Avondale will build eight of the twelve, including the first of class ship and the second. Bath will construct four, including the third of class vessel. The second ship, New Orleans (LPD 18), is planned to commission in 2004.
Description: The ship is of all steel construction with diesel propulsion. The ship provides three vehicle decks of 25,402 square feet and two cargo holds with 25,548 cubic feet for bulk cargo and ammunition magazines in addition to 1,234 cubic m for cargo fuel. Accommodation is provided for two LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushioned), 720 troops and 15 vehicles.
At the stern of the ship the landing deck is able to accommodate two Sikorsky CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters, four Bell AH/UH-1 Iroquois twin Huey helicopters, four Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters, or two Bell V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.
The hangar deck provides aviation maintenance facilities and is sufficiently large to accommodate one Sea Stallion, two Sea Knight, three Iroquois helicopters or one Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. The hangar doors are constructed by Indal Technologies. Each blast-resistant door weighs 18,000 kilograms and has three horizontal folding panels.
LPD 17 was planned to be equipped with the Mark 41 launcher for the Raytheon Evolved Seasparrow surface-to-air missile (ESSM), but budgetary considerations have meant that this may not now be fitted. Two Mark 31 launchers are capable of launching the fire and forget Raytheon Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM). RAM is a point defence anti-missile missile.
San Antonio will have two Mk 15 Phalanx close-in weapon systems (CIWS) from Raytheon and General Dynamics. Each Phalanx CIWS has one 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan Gatling-principle gun which fires 3,000 rounds per minute at a range of 1.5 km. The ship is also equipped with three Mark 38 25-mm machine guns and four 12.7 mm machine guns.
San Antonio is one of the classes of vessels planned to receive the SSDS (Ship Self Defense System) being developed by the U.S. Navy. SSDS will be an integration of all the ship's self defence systems and will include multi-function radar, ESSM, Advanced Integrated Electronic Warfare System and infrared search and track system (IRST). LPD 22, the sixth of class is scheduled to be the first ship to receive the complete system, which will be retrofitted to the rest of the class. SSDS is also to be fitted to the U.S. Navy projected new carriers (CVN 76) and destroyers (DD 21).
General Characteristics, LPD
Builders:
Defoe SB Co, Bay City
Dillingham SR, Portland
Norshipco, Norfolk
Tampa SY
Keith Ship Repair, New Orleans
Power Plant:
Four medium speed turbocharged marine diesels; two shafts; two single reduction gears; two controllable pitch propellers
Length, Overall:
683 feet (208.18 meters)
Beam:
105 feet (32 meters)
Displacement:
25,300 long tons (25,706 metric tons) full load
Aviation Facilities:
Hangar "O" level maintenance facilities for one CH-53E, or two CH-46s, or three UH/AH-Is helicopters, or one MV-22 tiltrotor aircraft
Landing deck for two CH-53E, or four AH/UH-1, or four CH-46, or two MV-22 tiltrotor aircraft
Medical Facilities:
Two operating rooms
24-person hospital ward
100 casualty overflow
Maximum Speed:
22+ knots
Weapons Systems:
Mark 41 16-cell vertical launch missile system for evolved Sea Sparrow missile
Mark 31 Mod 0, Rolling Airframe missile launchers
Two Mark 15 Phalanx CIWS
Mark 38 25mm machine guns
Mark 26 0.50 calibre machine guns
Countermeasures:
AN/SLQ-25A Nixie towed decoy system
Mark 36 Mod 18 Super Rapid Bloom Offboard Chaff (SRBOC) launchers
Nulka decoy countermeasures
Raytheon AN/SLQ-32Q(V) system
TISS
Radar:
AN/SPS-48E
AN/APQ-9B
AN/SPS-64(V)9
AN/SPS-67(V)3
Crew:
Ship's crew, 422; officer accomodation, 190;
accomodation for enlisted men, 1038
Ships:
San Antonio (LPD 17), commissioned September 2002
New Orleans (LPD 18), to be commissioned Summer 2003
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:46pm
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LST - Newport Class Tank
Function: Tank landing ships (LST) are used to transport and land tanks, amphibious vehicles and other rolling stock in amphibious assault.
Description: Ships of this class are the first to depart from the bow-door design that characterized the workhorses of World War II. The hull form necessary to attain the 20-knot speeds of contemporary amphibious squadrons would not permit bow doors. Accordingly, these ships offload cargo and vehicles by means of a 112-foot ramp over their bow. A stern gate allows off-loading of amphibious vehicles directly into the water. The two ships of this class, now assigned to the Naval Reserve Forces, are the only of this 20-ship class of LSTs remaining in the fleet.
General Characteristics, Newport Class
Builders:
National Steel and Shipbuilding
Date Deployed:
June 7, 1969 (USS Newport)
Power Plant:
Six diesels, two shafts, 16,000 brake horsepower
Length, Overall:
522 feet (159.11 meters)
Beam:
69 feet (21.03 meters)
Displacement:
8,450 long tons (8,585.61 metric tons) full load
Speed:
20 knots (23.02 mph, 37.05 kph)
Crew:
13 officers, 244 enlisted
Armament:
One 20 mm Phalanx CIWS mount
Two 25 mm MK 38 machine guns
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David
Mon October 4, 2004 5:13pm
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Sgt. Jose Antonio Bernal
Sgt. Jose Antonio Bernal Gomez
34
Spanish Air Force, National Intelligence Center, Military attache
Madrid, Spain
Gunmen, one dressed as a Shiite Muslim cleric, shot him outside his Baghdad residence after knocking on his door early in the morning of October 9, 2003
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David
Mon July 25, 2005 11:40am
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Somme American Cemetery
The World War I Somme American Cemetery is located one-half mile southwest of the village of Bony (Aisne), France, which is one and one-half miles west of Highway N-44, thirteen miles north of St. Quentin and fourteen miles southwest of Cambrai. The road leading to Bony leaves Highway N-44 ten miles north of St. Quentin, a short distance north of the Bellicourt American Monument. The cemetery, ninety-eight miles northeast of Paris, can also be reached by automobile via the Paris-Brussels toll Autoroute A-1 to Peronne, then via Vermand and Bellenglise, or Brussels-Reims toll Autoroute A-26 exit 9, via Highway N-44 south for seven and one-half miles to Bony. Hotel accommodations are available at Peronne, St. Quentin and Cambrai, which may be reached by train from Paris (Gare du Nord).
This fourteen-acre cemetery, sited on a gentle slope typical of the open, rolling Picardy countryside contains the graves of 1,844 American military Dead. Most lost their lives while serving in American units attached to British Armies or in the operations near Cantigny during World War I. The headstones, set in regular rows, are separated into four plots by paths which intersect at the flagpole near the top of the slope. The longer axis leads to the chapel at the eastern end of the cemetery.
A massive bronze door, surmounted by an American eagle, leads the way into the chapel whose outer walls contain sculptured pieces of military equipment. Once inside, light from a cross-shaped crystal window above the marble altar bathes the subdued interior with luminous radiance. The walls bear the names of 333 heroic American Missing in Action who gave their lives in the service of their Country, but whose remains were never recovered or identified. There are three Medal of Honor recipients interred at the cemetery.
The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm except December 25 and January 1. It is open on host country holidays. When the cemetery is open to the public, a staff member is on duty in the Visitors? Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.
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David
Mon July 25, 2005 11:41am
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St. Mihiel American Cemet
The World War I St. Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorial is located at the west edge of Thiaucourt, France. The cemetery can be reached by automobile from Paris by toll Autoroute A-4. Take the Fresnes-en-Woevre Exit following Route D-904 south to Beney-en-Woevre then D-67 to the cemetery. There is direct rail service from Paris (Gare de l'Est) to Onville. At Metz, Nancy and Verdun, hotel accommodations are available and taxicabs may be hired.
This cemetery, forty acres in extent, contains the graves of 4,153 American military Dead from World War I. Most of these gave their lives in the great offensive which resulted in the reduction of the St. Mihiel salient that threatened Paris. The headstones are aligned in long rows and divided into four plots by tree lined walks. At the center of these walks is a large sundial surmounted by an American eagle. To the right (west) end of the walk is a small monument and to the left is a semicircular overlook.
Beyond the burial area to the south is a white stone memorial consisting of a small chapel, a peristyle with a large rose granite urn in the center and a museum. The chapel contains a beautiful mosaic portraying an angel sheathing a sword. On the end walls of the museum are recorded the names of 284 American Missing who gave their lives in the service of their country and whose remains were never recovered or identified. On the wall opposite the door is a large inlaid marble map describing the St. Mihiel Offensive.
The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm except December 25 and January 1. It is open on host country holidays. When the cemetery is open to the public, a staff member is on duty in the Visitors? Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.
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frisco-kid
Sun December 4, 2005 9:13pm
Rating: 10
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100_0089
The only disturbing place for me on the whole trip was the War Museum in Saigon. I went there after stopping at the Buddhist temple, "U.S. PARATROOPER" hat and all. You pay less than a buck to get in. You then enter a gallery depicting the war in pictures. One of the first displays is of unit patches of all of the American units involved in the war. You then meander through a hall lined with blown-up pictures of U.S. forces in kinda chronological order. The first thing I noticed about them was that they were all taken from Life Magazine, newswire agencys, etc., many of them famous pictures. They were given usually slanted captions. Their museum; I guess they can say whatever they want. Some of them were wrong, also. They had several of the 101st dated when I was with them and the location stated wasn't accurate. They did have one cool picture of us making the jump at Kontum, taken from inside the plane as we exited the door. I don't think I was in it, though. I don't recall a photographer on my plane.
As you exit the building, you go through an outside exhibit of U.S. military equipment. These are the one's I have pictured.
When you cross the exhibit, you enter another building. This is the one I really had a problem with. The whole theme of the exhibit inside is depicting us a s barbarians and war criminals. It starts out with an exhibit explaining Agent Orange; pictures of planes spraying it; topped off with a couple deformed fetuses in jars claiming to be caused by the effects of AO. It then flows into pictures of napalm drops on villes and countryside; pictures of burnt victims; and the centerpiece,.....the little naked girl running down the road away from a napalm strike. The caption conveniently doesn't mention that this was an ARVN Air Force drop. I set the record straight with several Europeans that were near me. It then, of course, went into pictures of My Lai. As I moved through the pictures, I noticed one of the uniformed security guards was watching me. I stopped and locked eyes with him until he looked away. Phuck him. Did the same thing with a couple Europeans that I caught giving me side glances. It then went through a group of pictures of us handling prisoners and dead bodies. One of them was a picture of an APC dragging three bodies down a road. The caption said that the three was dragged to death but, upon a closer look, you could see that one had an obvious GSW to the head. There were others with prisoners being led by ropes around their necks with the caption reading that we treated prisoners worse than we would animals. On the way out of the building there was another room with a sign above it saying something like "Children Remember The War Through Drawings And Writings," or something like that. I could only imagine what half-truths and lies were being presented in there. I was too pissed to go in. I walked out and told my driver lets get the phuck out of here. It might be their museum, but I don't have to like it. I'm sure my body language told them so, too.
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frisco-kid
Sun December 11, 2005 4:36pm
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100_0057
As I've said on many occassions, Catholicism is alive and well in VN. There's alot of Catholics in the Communist Party there. You can see this as you drive by huge mansions with catholic statuary on the balcony, or a catholic shrine in the courtyard. This is a not-too-subtle catholic shrine at a gas station that we stopped at. The gas stations are privately owned, but the government comtrols the flow and the price. Most of these stations sit on a good sized piece of real estate, with the owners usually huge house next door to it.
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