history

Today in History: April 29

Posted on by Mark Aldrich

Operation Frequent Wind commenced on this date in 1975.

It was the operation to evacuate American civilians and some Vietnamese from Saigon as that city fell to the North Vietnamese Army. It marked the end of U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

At the conclusion of two days of scrambling, some 7000 people were evacuated from Saigon by helicopter; over 50,000 were removed by fixed-wing aircraft. Almost 700 helicopter missions were flown; with no nation known as “South Vietnam” to return to, the South Vietnamese copters, some carrying U.S. insignia, were flown one-way—to U.S. ships in the South China Sea—where they were then pushed off the ships into the water to make room for more helicopters to land (photo at top). Some U.S. helicopters were ditched into the sea as well.
Read More

Today in History: April 28

Posted on by Mark Aldrich

Mutiny broke out on board HMS Bounty on this date in 1789.

The Royal Navy ship had been on a mission transporting breadfruit plants in the South Pacific. (Philip Larkin: “Boys dream of native girls who bring breadfruit, / Whatever they are …”) The crew spent about five months on Tahiti and in that time several of them fell in love with some of the native women who resided there. Acting lieutenant Fletcher Christian possibly considered himself betrothed to a young native woman whose name he changed from Mauatua to “Isabella.”

(Phrases heavy with words like “probable” and “possible” are necessary in telling the story of the mutiny.)
Read More

Today in History: April 27

Posted on by Mark Aldrich

Rocky Marciano fought 49 times between March 17, 1947, and September 21, 1955. He won each of the 49 fights. In his final six fights, he successfully defended his world heavyweight title. All told, he won 43 of his 49 victories by knockout. Sixty years ago today, at age 32, Marciano did the unexpected and announced his retirement from boxing. He remains the only undefeated heavyweight champion. A video from the 50th anniversary in 2006 (below the fold), which is worth watching for the historic footage and for the quotes from the late Bert Sugar:
Read More