Wednesday, March 31, 2021

A Forgotten American Hero Who Sunk Two Japanese Aircraft Carriers

HSE Officer (2012–present)

What are historical examples of a single soldier changing the outcome of a battle?

Richard Halsey “Dick” Best and the Battle of Midway (1942)

With my answer today, I would like to introduce to your readers a typical single bomber pilot who changed the outcome of the historical Battle of Midway (04 to 07 June 1942) between the U.S. Pacific Fleet and the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

He was Richard Halsey “Dick” Best (1910–2001) or Lieutenant Commander Best, who successfully bombed and sunk two Japanese aircraft carriers in only one day. In my opinion, his remarkable war achievements subsequently changed not only the single Battle of Midway but also the course of war, if we consider the American victory at Midway as the historical turning point of the Pacific War (1941–1945).

At 10:22 AM, 04 June 1942, under the commanding of the Lieutenant Commander McClusky, the squadrons of 31 Douglas SBD Dauntless aircraft started the bombing against the Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga. However, McClusky had a small mistake: he ordered the leading squadron (VS-6) to attack Kaga, while the designated target of VS-6 would be the aircraft carrier Akagi.

The first SBD is Best's aircraft at the flight deck of USS Enterprise, 15 May 1942.

As the VB-6 squadron commander, Best recognized the error of McClusky and he still decided to attack the Akagi. Despite the confusions which let most of the aircraft from his VB-6 squadron missed the target and continued to dive on the Kaga, with only two wingmen left, Best launched the attack on Akagi at 10:26 AM.

USAAF photo: Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi and a destroyer under high-level bombing attack by B-17 bombers at around 8:00 AM, 04 June 1942, during the Battle of Midway.

The first bomb dropped by Lieutenant Edwin John Kroeger only hit the water near the Akagi. A few seconds later then came the second bomb dropped by Best himself, which successfully penetrated the flight deck and exploded inside the hangar, destroying a lot of Japanese aircraft. Like a knock-out punch, the bomb drop by Best destroyed not only numerous aircraft but also put the Akagi out of its action. It was subsequently sunk on the next day (05 June 1942).

But that was not all. Later on that day, Best continued to participate in the attack of Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu. Again, Lieutenant Commander “Dick” Best knocked it out with a direct bomb hit. The Hiryu was finally sunk on the next day. In general, the Japanese lost all of its four aircraft carriers during the Battle of Midway and it was turned out to be a decisive U.S. victory. Also, the outcome of the Battle of Midway was a striking blow to the Japanese Combined Fleet, as it marked the beginning of the end for the Empire of Japan.

The burning and sinking Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu during the Battle of Midway, photographed by a Yokosuka B4Y aircraft, 05 June 1942.

The historical Battle of Midway was also the last battle for “Dick” Best during his military career. He was suffered from Hemoptysis and his lung was severely damaged during the battle. Consequently, he retired from U.S. Navy in 1944, with 100% disability. After the battle, Lieutenant Commander “Dick” Best finally received the honorable Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross. His Navy Cross citation reads:

“Defying extreme danger from concentrated anti-aircraft barrage and powerful fighter opposition, Lieutenant Commander Best, with bold determination and courageous zeal, led his squadron in dive-bombing assaults against Japanese naval units. Flying at a distance from his own forces which rendered return unlikely because of probable fuel exhaustion, he pressed home his attacks with extreme disregard for his own personal safety. His gallant intrepidity and loyal devotion to duty contributed greatly to the success of our forces and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

In conclusion, it can be seen that Richard Halsey “Dick” Best was indeed a historical example of a single bomber pilot who changed the outcome of not only a battle but probably the course of a war. Furthermore, he was the only American bomber pilot who successfully bombed and sunk two enemy aircraft carriers in one day. Once again, thank you very much for reading my answer and best regards,

Andrew

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Monday, March 29, 2021

Understanding The China/Iran Deal

CHINA / IRAN

Go East, Young Man

China and Iran signed a 25-year cooperation agreement over the weekend, a move that defies the United States attempts to isolate Iran and allows it to form closer diplomatic ties with non-Western powers, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The agreement will offer an economic lifeline, technology transfer and foreign investment opportunities to Iran in sectors ranging from nuclear energy to the oil-and-gas industry.

In return, China will receive steady supplies of Iranian oil, currently subject to US sanctions.

The two countries also agreed to the formation of an Iranian-Chinese bank to help Tehran bypass US sanctions that have barred its participation in global banking systems.

Analysts said that the deal gives Iran “a way out of economic strangulation” caused by US sanctions, while also allowing China to increase its influence in the Middle East.

The pact comes amid an ongoing spat between the US and Iran over the latter’s nuclear program: In 2018, the Donald Trump administration withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions. The move prompted Iran to retaliate by violating some of the terms of the deal.

The Biden administration has expressed a willingness to return to the deal if Iran upholds its commitments spelled out in the accord. Tehran, however, demands sanctions relief before conceding to Washington’s demands.

Sunday, March 28, 2021

Third Atomic Bomb Attack - Japan 1945

Saturday, March 27, 2021

Some Advice To My Daughter With Respect To Her Now Unborn Children

The article in the FT of London yesterday about the changes in the labor force got me thinking and reflecting. The first challenge we have is the millions of lower skilled people who have lost their jobs. Many of these jobs will not come back. (This is not just a US problem.) We might have a segment of the population permanently unemployed. What do we do about this? I will leave you to reflect on this.

Now the next challenge is our grandchildren who will one day enter the labor market and be forced to compete for jobs and economically survive. They will face competition from very smart artificial intelligence machines. They will face competition from very smart and highly-skilled people living in less-developed countries willing to work for lower wages. They will face the challenge of climate change and previously politically stable countries that become politically unstable (The US and Chile are examples.)

Anna, what would I advise you and Gabriel to do when your now-unborn children come into the world? Get the hell out of Brasil!!!!!!! For me, Brasil is a beloved country. But it is collapsing into an ungovernable environmental mess. High crime and social unrest will be the way of life. Climate change will create a disaster with my beloved Rio eventually being flooded out of existence.

Where would I tell you to go? Looking forward, I would advise you to look seriously at Canada, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Greenland. These places have cold climates now. They will become more temperate as temperatures rise. Norway would be the best of the best. It is prosperous, politically stable, economically viable, and very welcoming. They now have quite a number of immigrants from African countries and the Middle East, for example. Everyone is required to learn English.

How do you prepare these yet unborn children for the harsh new world that we are facing? I would say be honest with them and realistic. Do not frighten them. Instead tell them that original thinking and innovativeness are the keys to survival. Give them the best education that you can. The rugged individualism of past generations is not going to work any more. It is not going to be "every man and woman for himself or herself."

As most of you know, I spent 8 months of my life in an African village in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. These wonderful people were members of Nelson Mandela's Xhosa tribe. Their whole mindset was to think of the welfare of the group first and the individual second. Your family will be your tribe. One of your children could be a super star. The rest of the kids may not achieve that status. You and Gabriel will need to provide inherited wealth. You children will need to share their wealth between them. I'm not advocating socialism on a grand scale. I am advocating it at the family level.

I have a passion for Charles Darwin. He was that man with one eye in a world full of blind people. People believe that his banner saying was "The survival of the fittest." He was misunderstood. What he was really saying is: "The survival of the most adaptable." I will add the word innovative to that expression.

Thursday, March 25, 2021

A Supply Chain Disaster

EGYPT

Calling Little Toot

A large cargo container ship became grounded in the middle of Egypt’s Suez Canal this week, effectively disrupting one of the world’s most important shipping routes, CBS News reported Wednesday.

The Panama-flagged MV Ever Given, one of the largest ships in the world, turned sideways on Tuesday, with Egyptian officials and shipping companies blaming “a blackout” and strong winds for the incident.

Satellite images showed the ship’s bow touching the canal’s eastern wall, while its stern seemed lodged against the western wall. On Wednesday, Egyptian authorities sent tugboats to assist in moving the ship but said the operation could take at least two days.

Meanwhile, about 100 vessels at both the southern and northern entrance of the canal have been stuck.

Opened in 1869, the Suez Canal provides an important link for oil, natural gas and other cargo being shipped from Asia to Europe and beyond. Around 10 percent of the world’s trade flows through the waterway and it remains one of Egypt’s top foreign currency earners.

Analysts said the incident is the latest to affect mariners amid the pandemic: Many sailors have been stuck aboard vessels due to restrictions imposed by countries to contain the virus even as shipping demands have increased in recent months.

P

Saturday, March 20, 2021

A 1922 US Dollar Bank Note With A Fascinating History.

If you visited our house and walked into the study, I would ask you to look to the right as you entered. I would point out a US dollar bill in an old frame. The $1 bill is from 1922. It has been in the family 75 years. There is quite a story behind it.

When World War II ended, my dad transitioned from commanding a heavy armored vehicle with a 155 mm Howitzer on top. His new vehicle was a US Army Willys Jeep. He went from being a combat artilleryman. His new job was a social worker. He would drive around the German countryside all day long. His primary job was to help displaced people find food, shelter, and medical care. His secondary job was to round up German soldiers. These military people would go to camps for processing.

One morning as dad was riding down a country road, he spotted a group of German soldiers huddled on the roadside. Their uniforms were in tatters. They were filthy. They looked hungry and exhausted. Dad brought his jeep to a stop. He looked at the men. He noticed that all the soldiers gave special respect to one man. He got out of his jeep and walked toward the men.

He started to speak German to the man who appeared to be in charge. Dad got the surprise of his life. The German responded to him speaking American English (Many decades ago if a German spoke English, they spoke British English.) The German introduced himself as a Field Marshal (General). As the conversation continued, it came out that this German officer had been an exchange student at the University of Tennessee in the early 1920's. Dad and this German officer "hit it off famously." They became good friends.

Dad drove this German officer in his jeep to a processing center for senior German officers. Enquiries revealed that this officer had not been involved in war crimes. He was detained in comfortable circumstances befitting an officer of high rank. Dad became this general's "go to man." If the general was having a problem with the US Army bureaucracy, dad would go up the chain of command and work it out. If the general had other special requests, dad would see that these were taken care of.

In early 1946 when dad was told to pack up and leave for the US. The general was very sad to see his friend go. He reached into his pocket. He brought out his wallet. He gave my dad a 1922 US dollar that he had kept since his days at the University of Tennessee. Dad thanked him and left.

For the rest of his life, dad would proudly boast the following:

"Son in World War II, I captured a German Field Marshal."

This $1 note has stayed in the family for 75 years. Being a collector, I got curious yesterday as to what this almost 100-year bank note would be worth. I went to EBay. A 1923 banknote like ours was valued at $4,700 US. I bet that our bill is worth more than $5,000 US!

Friday, March 19, 2021

The Solar Winds Hack Was Not The Worst

Yesterday I listened to a most-fascinating and enlightening podcast from the FT of London. It was an interview with their resident cybersecurity expert. I have always assumed that the hack by Russian intelligence operatives of Solar Winds was the most damaging hack in US history. The resident expert discussed this hack in detail. He dismissed it as a routine matter. He said: "Do not be too concerned. Retaliation is not required."

He then turned to the Chinese hack of Microsoft. He said this was a much more serious and irresponsible hack. He said that it caused much more damage. He called for retaliation.

There is a saying in English: "Speak of the devil." I got this warning early this morning from one of my computer-security services as follows:

Lookout Breach Report

At least 30,000 organizations hacked in a massive breach of Microsoft Exchange email software

Starting in January 2021, cyberattacks exploited four vulnerabilities in on-premises Microsoft Exchange Servers, which provided hackers with full access to user emails and passwords, administrator privileges, and broader access to devices on the network. On March 12, Microsoft announced that a new family of ransomware is being deployed to servers initially infected, encrypting all files, making the servers inoperable and demanding payment to reverse the damage. At least 30,000 organizations across the United States — including a significant number of small businesses, towns, cities and local governments — have over the past few days been hacked. Microsoft said a Chinese hacking crew called ‘Hafnium’ is responsible for the attack and continues to target email systems used by a range of industry sectors, including infectious disease researchers, law firms, higher education institutions, defense contractors, policy think tanks, and NGOs.

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2021/03/at-least-30000-u-s-organizations-newly-hacked-via-holes-in-microsofts-email-software/

Next Steps:

Potentially affected customers should apply the security patches released by Microsoft and exercise incident response to mitigate risk and remediate any damage. Organizations should also evaluate their cybersecurity defense to ensure they have comprehensive endpoint-to-cloud protection in place.

Breach occurred on March 2021

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Saint Patrick's Day-Who Is Irish?

Today is Saint Patrick's Day. It began as a Catholic feast to honor Saint Patrick. It has grown to be a holiday to honor Irish people in general and Irish people in particular in the US.

Who is Irish? That is a great question. The most obvious answer is people living in or from Ireland. Perhaps we could add people with Irish names. But to get a real answer, we need to get the results of DNA testing.

In my case I can trace ancestors back to the German town of Hamelin. I have been in this little town. It was made famous by the Pied Piper of Hamelin. I assumed that my ancestors came from Germany, England, Wales, and Scotland. My DNA report told a different story. I do have ancestors from Germany, England, Wales, and Scotland. I also have a substantial number of Irish ancestors. I have ancestors from Holland, Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, and Russia. Elena got a huge surprise when her DNA results came back. She assumed that she would have ancestors from Italy, Spain, France, and perhaps Morocco. When the DNA results came back, they affirmed her ancestors from Italy, Spain, and France. No ancestors from Morocco showed up. What did show up was a substantial number of ancestors from Ireland. She also had ancestors from the indigenous Indians of South America.

There is a lot of controversy about DNA tests. It centers on privacy issues and the idea of who owns the information about you. DNA tests answer a question central to all our lives as follows:

"Who am I?"

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

The Earth Is Running Out Of Sand

A Sandy Crisis

The Earth is running out of sand.

And that’s more of a problem than one might think.

Sand, seemingly ubiquitous, is essential to everything around us – it is the primary substance used to make everything from roads and bridges to silicon chips.

In fact, United Nations climate scientists said that a sand shortage will be one of the greatest sustainability challenges of the 21st century, according to CNBC.

“We never thought we would run out of sand but it is starting in some places,” Pascal Peduzzi of the UN Environment Programme said during a webinar hosted by the British-based think tank Chatham House.

Peduzzi explained that the UN has estimated that the world consumes about 40 to 50 billion tons of sand annually, adding that the global rate of sand use goes beyond the rate at which sand is being naturally replenished.

Scientists have also noted that not all sand is useful: Construction companies primarily use sand extracted from bodies of water – such as seabeds, coastlines and rivers – due to its binding properties.

Nevertheless, researchers said that countries have started to take steps to reduce sand usage following a 2019 UN resolution that recognized the sand crisis.

But Peduzzi warned that the world has yet to properly address this challenge and that many countries must implement a proper action plan.

“It’s time to wake up,” he said.

A 4-Day Work Week In Spain!

SPAIN

Work Revolution

Spain is poised to become one of the first countries in the world to experiment with a four-day workweek after the government agreed to launch a pilot program that will allow workers to spend less time at the office without any change in pay, the Washington Post reported Monday.

The trial was proposed by the left-wing party, Más País, which is now negotiating with the government to launch the project this fall.

The exact details of the experiment remain unclear but it is expected to cost nearly $60 million and last three years. Más País estimates that the budget could allow around 200 companies to take part, which means 3,000 to 6,000 workers will be working only four days a week.

The pilot is also intended to reduce employers’ risk by having the government make up the difference in salary when workers switch to a four-day schedule, according to Spanish media.

The project comes as the coronavirus pandemic has upended work schedules.

This has prompted politicians around the world to push for a four-day workweek to address issues such as burnout and give workers more flexibility at a time when work duties frequently clash with responsibilities at home.

Australia Gets Bad Marks On Women's Rights And Protection!

AUSTRALIA

Pride and Prejudice

Thousands of women marched in Australia Monday to protest against sexual violence and Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s handling of recent rape scandals that have shaken his administration and also parliament, Bloomberg reported.

The demonstrations come after former government media adviser Brittany Higgins alleged that she was raped by a former colleague in a minister’s office in 2019.

Outrage also followed the refusal of the government to hold an inquiry into claims that Attorney-General Christian Porter raped a fellow member of a school debating team in 1988, citing a lack of admissible evidence. Porter denies the allegations.

Analysts said the scandals could prove very problematic for the Morrison administration, despite its popularity in handling the coronavirus pandemic. They added that Morrison needed to be aware that his handling of the pandemic would not automatically secure him enough voter support to win elections in 2022.

Australia prides itself as being one of the first countries to give women the right to vote and run as candidates but female lawmakers have complained for years about the male-dominated culture in the capital, Canberra.

Globally, Australia ranks as the 50th country for the representation of women in parliament – a major drop from the 15th in 1999.

Saturday, March 13, 2021

A Thank You Lunch For The Two Men Who Helped To Save Our Dog Alice's Life

Yesterday afternoon the owner of Peterson Light and Power met with an inspector from the City of Pacifica Planning Department. The new power box was inspected. It passed inspection.

I had made a request of Mr. Peterson. When Alice escaped on the afternoon of March 2, one of his employees saw her escape and gave me a warning. (She is a tiny dog weighing only 16 lbs.). Another of Mr. Peterson's employees gave chase. I joined in the chase. Alice ran out onto Highway One. It is a freeway. The employee and I risked our lives to go out on the freeway and retrieve Alice. We were lucky that drivers in the two lanes had come to a stop. We recovered Alice. I asked Mr. Peterson to take the employees to a nice restaurant for lunch. I asked him to thank these workers for saving Alice's life. He had done this.

Coyote That Attacked Multiple People In Bay Area Has Been Captured, Killed

Coyote that attacked multiple people in Bay Area has been captured, killed

Michael Williams

March 12, 2021Updated: March 12, 2021 8:25 p.m.

Authorities in Contra Costa County have captured and killed the coyote responsible for attacking and injuring five people in the Moraga area since last summer.
Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle

The Moraga coyote’s reign of terror has — finally — come to an end.

Authorities in Contra Costa County have captured and killed the coyote, which was responsible for attacking and injuring five people in the area since last summer, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Friday morning.

The male coyote was captured and killed Thursday, “very close to one of the attack sites,” Fish and Wildlife Capt. Patrick Foy said. It fell for a baited trap and was dispatched via “a properly placed gunshot,” he said.

DNA results later confirmed it was the same coyote responsible for several attacks since July, including on small children. Foy said aggressive coyotes aren’t uncommon, but the level of aggression displayed by this one was unlike anything he has seen in his career.

“It is the sincere hope of the agencies that locals can recreate outdoors in the area again with significantly reduced anxiety and that the community knows that outdoor recreation is still very safe,” fish and wildlife officials said in a statement.

Veterinary staff at UC Davis will conduct a rabies test. Authorities said there is nothing to indicate that the coyote was rabid, but testing is standard procedure because of the seriousness of the disease, and can only be done after the animal is dead.

More for you

All of the attacks occurred within 2 miles of each other in an area around Lafayette and Moraga, prompting a posse of trappers, hunters, wardens and police officers to search for the culprit. The attacks rattled residents in the area, leaving them feeling unsafe walking outside.

The first attack from the coyote, which authorities described as “unusually aggressive,” happened July 9, when a small child was attacked at the Moraga Commons parking lot along St. Mary’s Road. The next two happened five months later, just over a week apart in December, when the coyote clamped down on the leg of a man exercising Dec. 4 at Campolindo High School, and attacked another man behind the Diablo Foods grocery store in Lafayette on Dec. 15.

Next, the coyote attacked a 3-year-old girl as she walked with her mother near Campolindo Drive and Calle la Montana on Feb. 17, traumatizing the girl. The coyote’s final attack came Feb. 19 at a Kwik Stop in Lafayette.

DNA from each of those attacks was linked to the same animal.

Jackie B., the mother of the 3-year-old who was attacked Feb. 17, said her daughter is still traumatized — and now scared of dogs because she’s too young to understand the distinction between the animals. Jackie, who asked that her last name not be used to protect her daughter’s privacy, runs in the area every morning, and has lately been carrying an umbrella, pepper spray and bullhorns.

Friday was the first morning since the attack that she didn’t have to carry items for self-defense, she said.

“What the (animal trappers) did was above and beyond,” she said. “They were in contact with me and remained in constant contact with me — they really did have people out here 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Kenji Sytz, who fought off the coyote after it clamped down on his leg while he was working out at Campolindo High School, said the attacks made nearby residents wary when they walked out of their doors.

“It’s not anything I ever thought about before the Dec. 4 incident,” Sytz said. “Since then we have always been super vigilant, always scanning our surroundings.”

Sytz fully recovered, but he still has the scars from four puncture wounds. “I was happy to hear that they caught it, and he is no longer a threat,” Sytz said.

Michael Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: michael.williams@sfchronicle.com

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