OTD in 1945, General George S. Patton died of injuries sustained in a car crash on December 9, 1945.
On this day in..........
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Last: 8 hrs ago by KentK93
December 22, 1944 - the 101st Airborne at Bastogne received a surrender ultimatum from the Wehrmacht that was smashing Allied lines en route to Antwerp so as to split the Allies during the Battle of the Bulge. The famous response from the commanding officer, General Anthony McAuliffe, was one simple word: "Nuts".
If the 1970 movie, Patton, was in any way accurate when Patton learned of this, Patton reportedly said "a man that eloquent has to be saved!"
https://militaryhistorynow.com/2020/09/15/nuts-the-story-of-the-famous-american-reply-to-the-german-surrender-ultimatum-at-bastogne/
If the 1970 movie, Patton, was in any way accurate when Patton learned of this, Patton reportedly said "a man that eloquent has to be saved!"
https://militaryhistorynow.com/2020/09/15/nuts-the-story-of-the-famous-american-reply-to-the-german-surrender-ultimatum-at-bastogne/
December 23rd, 1927: The Santa Claus Bank Robbery - Cisco, Texas.
A more detailed article of this notorious bit of Texas history.
Quote:
At noon Marshall Ratliff, Henry Helms, Robert Hill, and Louis Davis entered the First National Bank of Cisco with guns drawn. Ratliff, dressed in a borrowed Santa Claus costume, entered the bank vault. Some of the bank customers escaped and alerted the police and town citizens. Gunfire ensued when Ratliff came out of the vault with a sack containing money. Two policemen were mortally wounded, and Ratliff and Davis were also wounded, Davis severely. As their escape car was almost out of gas and one of the tires had been shot out, the robbers commandeered another car, but the driver took the keys with him. They then left the wounded Davis in the car, forgetting the moneybag. The fugitives escaped on foot, stole a series of cars, and had more gunfights over the next several days. They were finally captured in Graham, Texas. The infamous Santa Claus Bank Robbery led to the largest manhunt ever seen in the state at that time.
A more detailed article of this notorious bit of Texas history.
#OTD in 1910: Lt. Theodore G. Ellyson becomes the first naval officer sent to flight training when he was ordered to report to the Glenn H. Curtiss Aviation Camp at North Island, San Diego, California. pic.twitter.com/VLANOPDPuS
— U.S. Naval Institute (@NavalInstitute) December 23, 2025
Some good:
Some…not so much.
On this day in 1814, the Treaty of Ghent was signed in Belgium, ending the War of 1812 between the United States and Britain—restoring pre-war boundaries with no territorial changes or clear victor. Signed on Christmas Eve, news took weeks to cross the Atlantic, so fighting… pic.twitter.com/dMxuSqkYyV
— Manifest History (@ManifestHistory) December 24, 2025
Some…not so much.
Quote:
December 24, 1865: The Ku Klux Klan had its beginnings in the law office of Thomas M. Jones in Pulaski, Tennessee. The name evolved from the Greek kyklos (circle), suggested by John B. Kennedy ('always an unswerving Democrat'). It was broken down into the more euphonic form Ku Klux by James R. Crowe, who added Klan as a reflection of the area's predominantly Scottish-Irish population.
On December 24, 1943 General Dwight D. Eisenhower was appointed Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force.
In this capacity he commanded Operation Overlord, the largest combined sea, air, and land military operation in history, which was successfully launched against Nazi-occupied Europe on June 6, 1944.
General Eisenhower's uniform and pistol are on exhibit in the American Wars Gallery on the second floor of the West Point Museum.
.
In this capacity he commanded Operation Overlord, the largest combined sea, air, and land military operation in history, which was successfully launched against Nazi-occupied Europe on June 6, 1944.
General Eisenhower's uniform and pistol are on exhibit in the American Wars Gallery on the second floor of the West Point Museum.
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Today in history
1868: U.S. President Andrew Johnson grants an unconditional pardon to all persons involved in the Civil War.
1896: John Philip Sousa composes the patriotic march "The Stars and Stripes Forever."
1991: Mikhail Gorbachev formally resigns as President of the USSR in a televised speech.
Birthdays today include Clara Barton, filmmaker Charles Path, Louis Chevrolet, Humphrey Bogart, Cab Calloway, Anwar Sadat, Rod Serling, and O'Kelly Isley of the Isley Brothers.
1868: U.S. President Andrew Johnson grants an unconditional pardon to all persons involved in the Civil War.
1896: John Philip Sousa composes the patriotic march "The Stars and Stripes Forever."
1991: Mikhail Gorbachev formally resigns as President of the USSR in a televised speech.
Birthdays today include Clara Barton, filmmaker Charles Path, Louis Chevrolet, Humphrey Bogart, Cab Calloway, Anwar Sadat, Rod Serling, and O'Kelly Isley of the Isley Brothers.
Thanks for posting that. I had never heard or read that before!
KingofHazor said:
Thanks for posting that. I had never heard or read that before!
Which post are you referring to?
ABATTBQ87 said:KingofHazor said:
Thanks for posting that. I had never heard or read that before!
Which post are you referring to?
Your post on the proximity fuse.
FYI, to determine which post someone is replying to, you can click on the "In reply to _____________" words and that will take you to the applicable post. But I should have made it clear in my reply, for convenience sake. My apologies, but thanks again for your post.
KingofHazor said:ABATTBQ87 said:KingofHazor said:
Thanks for posting that. I had never heard or read that before!
Which post are you referring to?
Your post on the proximity fuse.
FYI, to determine which post someone is replying to, you can click on the "In reply to _____________" words and that will take you to the applicable post. But I should have made it clear in my reply, for convenience sake. My apologies, but thanks again for your post.
I did not know about that function, so thank you for that information
Eli Whiteley goes off on the nazies and earns the MOH
https://www.army.mil/article/242104/despite_wounds_courageous_soldier_led_his_platoon_through_battle
https://www.army.mil/article/242104/despite_wounds_courageous_soldier_led_his_platoon_through_battle
Quote:
All in all, Whiteley's courage under intense fire led to the death of nine Germans and the capture of 23 more. His leadership during the battle led to an Allied victory that shattered any remaining enemy resistance in the area.
A regret of my time at A&M is that I didn't attend his funeral in December 1986, as I was living in room 128 of Dorm 9, aka Whitely Hall
December 8, 1986 Battalion
December 8, 1986 Battalion
I get "access denied" on the Whitely article
https://www.army.mil/article/242104/despite_wounds_courageous_soldier_led_his_platoon_through_battle
Not sure why but my guess something with my iPad
Not sure why but my guess something with my iPad
ABATTBQ87 said:
A regret of my time at A&M is that I didn't attend his funeral in December 1986, as I was living in room 128 of Dorm 9, aka Whitely Hall
December 8, 1986 Battalion
I wander which 1st Cavalry Division had grave duty month of December in 1986. I was in the 1st Cavalry Division 85-87 then 88-89 I never got assigned to graves duty that would have been a huge honor.
December 27, 1975
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) December 28, 2025
CBS Sports' Brent Musburger throws it to Las Vegas for the semifinals of the #NFL Players Association Arm Wrestling Competition during halftime of the Rams-Cardinals 1975 NFC Divisional Playoff.
The Patriots' Julius Adams vs. the Bills' Joe DeLamielleure,… pic.twitter.com/XuPRH7DaDl
December 28, 1975
My hero Roger Staubach throws a Hail Mary to Drew Pearson to defeat the Minnesota Vikings
My hero Roger Staubach throws a Hail Mary to Drew Pearson to defeat the Minnesota Vikings
For years I've kind of had a memory of Pearson getting away with a shove but I just rewatched it and he really didn't.
Most surprising thing, the video showed Landry smiling on the sideline after the play.
Most surprising thing, the video showed Landry smiling on the sideline after the play.
1845 . . . .
Martin Cash said:
1845 . . . .
Texas, Our Texas....
USA*** said:Martin Cash said:
1845 . . . .
Texas, Our Texas....
On this day in 1845, the United States Congress voted to annex Texas. Statehood was first proposed in 1837, but was rejected by President Martin Van Buren. Constitutional scruples and fear of war with Mexico were the reasons given for the rejection, but antislavery sentiment in… pic.twitter.com/8U8eteHhid
— Trevor P. Wardlaw (@1thread6flags) December 29, 2025
Quote:
On this day in 1845, the United States Congress voted to annex Texas. Statehood was first proposed in 1837, but was rejected by President Martin Van Buren. Constitutional scruples and fear of war with Mexico were the reasons given for the rejection, but antislavery sentiment in the United States undoubtedly influenced Van Buren and continued to be the chief obstacle to annexation. Under President James Polk the United States Congress passed the Annexation Resolution in February 1845. Texas president Anson Jones called the Texas Congress into session on June 16, 1845, and a convention of elected delegates met on the Fourth of July. Both the Texas Congress and the convention voted for annexation, and a constitution was drawn up. The document was ratified by popular vote in October 1845 and accepted by the United States Congress on December 29, 1845. On February 19, 1846, President Jones of the Republic of Texas handed over control of the new state government to Governor James Pinckney Henderson.
On this day in 1860, Britain's first iron warship, HMS Warrior, is launched. The 40-gun steam-powered armoured frigate is the most powerful warship in the world at the time of her completion. You can still visit her today at @PHDockyard pic.twitter.com/P4PlfNJSfQ
— Military History Now (@MilHistNow) December 29, 2025
KentK93 said:On this day in 1860, Britain's first iron warship, HMS Warrior, is launched. The 40-gun steam-powered armoured frigate is the most powerful warship in the world at the time of her completion. You can still visit her today at @PHDockyard pic.twitter.com/P4PlfNJSfQ
— Military History Now (@MilHistNow) December 29, 2025
I visited Portsmouth in June 2024 and have pictures of that ship
Very cool!
Opened this day, December 29, 1990. 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂 pic.twitter.com/kYU9iOZUM1
— The Tap (@TapBcs) December 29, 2025
On this night in 1940, the Luftwaffe drops 100,000 incendiary bombs on London triggering what will be remembered as the city's "Second Great Fire." Nearly 200 civilians perish in the raid. pic.twitter.com/6bOYnPkPUK
— Military History Now (@MilHistNow) December 29, 2025
Good follow.
One of Nixon's greatest mistakes (along with hiring/promoting G Gordon Liddy).
On this day in 1972, President Nixon calls off the "Christmas Bombings" of North Vietnam after Hanoi agrees to resume peace talks in Paris. An estimated 1,600 civilians are killed in the raids; 16 B-52s are lost. A deal is reached three weeks later. pic.twitter.com/xqBwdrOijE
— Military History Now (@MilHistNow) December 30, 2025
One of Nixon's greatest mistakes (along with hiring/promoting G Gordon Liddy).
What mistake? Ending the war? Not winning the war? Resuming talks? Looking for the mistake.
Not cultivating the press or opening up China, might be bigger than those. If he cultivated the press his third rate burglary cover up would be ignored like the first rate treason we witnessed recently by Democrats.
Not cultivating the press or opening up China, might be bigger than those. If he cultivated the press his third rate burglary cover up would be ignored like the first rate treason we witnessed recently by Democrats.
Our politics and our existence as a united country are well and truly ****ed, aren't they?
Not ready to give up.but it sure seems that way. We used to at least have a common reality but now…
Captain Joseph John Maucini Jr. was born on January 31, 1923, in New York, the son of Joseph John Maucini and Anna O. Sanbo Maucini. He later moved to Texas, where he attended Texas A. & M. College from 1940 to 1941 as a member of the Class of 1944. With the onset of World War II, he chose to leave his studies to answer the call of duty, enlisting in the United States Army Air Corps. He completed his flight training in Arizona, receiving his commission and his silver wings at Luke Field before deploying overseas in October 1943.
As a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot with the 378th Fighter Squadron, 362nd Fighter Group, Captain Maucini became one of the most active and decorated aviators of the European Theater. He flew through the historic campaigns of Normandy and Northern France, completing a staggering tour of duty that saw him credited with at least four aerial victories. After returning to the United States for a brief thirty-day rest in August 1944, his devotion to his unit led him to return to the front lines in Europe that October to continue the push toward victory.
On December 30, 1944, at the age of 21, Captain Maucini was flying his 200th combat mission during the height of the Battle of the Bulge. While conducting an armed reconnaissance mission, his aircraft was struck by intense enemy ground fire. Though he managed to bail out of his stricken Thunderbolt south of airbase A-82 near Verdun, France, his parachute tragically failed to deploy. For his extraordinary heroism, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. The citation, authorized by the President of the United States, states that his gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, demonstrated without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service.
In addition to the Silver Star, Captain Maucini was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart with an Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Air Medal with two silver and four bronze clusters. He additionally earned the American Theater ribbon and the European-African-Middle Eastern ribbon with five battle stars. Captain Maucini was brought home to Texas and interred at Riverside Cemetery in Wichita Falls, where he rests in Block B-B, Lot 26.
Agree! They had North Vietnam on their knees with the bombings and yes G Gordon Liddy was bad news.
Okay, let's spot you your claim that NV was on its knees. But the NLF was not and the SV government was a hot mess. Victory was not achievable without even more cost. It had been so FUBAREd by Johnson (to give it one belly buttonMcNamara) that it was time to cut bait, as Nixon promised when he ran for president.
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