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Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: Navy, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 9 of 9
1. The Port Chicago 50 - a review


Sheinkin, Steve. 2014. The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights. New York: Roaring Brook.

The Port Chicago 50, as they became known, were a group of African American Navy sailors assigned to load munitions at Port Chicago in California, during WWII.  The sailors' work detail options were limited; the Navy was segregated and Blacks were not permitted to fight at sea. The sailors worked around the clock, racing to load ammunition on ships headed to battle in the Pacific. Sailors had little training and were pressured to load the dangerous cargo as quickly as possible.

After an explosion at the port killed 320 men, injured many others, and obliterated the docks and ships anchored there, many men initially refused to continue working under the same dangerous conditions. In the end, fifty men disobeyed the direct order to return to work. They were tried for mutiny in a case with far-reaching implications.  There was more at stake than the Naval careers of fifty sailors.  At issue were the Navy's (and the country's) policy of segregation, and the racist treatment of the Black sailors.  Years before the Civil Rights movement began, the case of the Port Chicago 50 drew the attention of the NAACP, a young Thurgood Marshall, and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Through the words of the young sailors, the reader of The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights relives a slice of history as a Black sailor in 1944.

Steven Sheinkin combines excellently researched source materials, a little-known, compelling story, and an accessible writing style to craft another nonfiction gem.

Read an excerpt of The Port Chicago 50 here.

Contains:
  • Table of Contents
  • Source Notes
  • List of Works Cited
  • Acknowledgements
  • Picture Credits
  • Index
See today's Nonfiction Monday roundup at http://nonfictionmonday.wordpress.com 



Advance Reader Copy supplied by publisher.



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2. 11 Ways to Ruin a Photograph by Darcy Pattison

National Veterans Awareness Week United States Senate Resolution 143 November 11 to November 17, 2012 The resolution calls for educational efforts directed at elementary and secondary school students concerning the contributions and sacrifices of veterans. Veterans Day “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to [...]

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3. Book Review: Left For Dead, A Young Man's Search for Justice for the USS Indianapolis by Pete Nelson with a preface by Hunter Scott

Recently I reviewed another book about the story of the USS Indianapolis.
Link for review:
http://impressionsinink.blogspot.com/2012/03/book-review-in-harms-way-sinking-of-uss.html
In this review I shared that I have a dear friend whose first husband did not survive the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. His name was Charles Roberts. They'd been married less than a year when he perished. She was a widow at age 18. She does not know if he perished on the ship or in the ocean. She does not want to know. In reading a book where I have a personal connection to it, made it more tangible, and certainly emotionally gripping.






During the summer of 1996, Hunter Scott, age 11, watched the movie Jaws. One of the characters Captain Quint told a story about surviving after his ship the USS Indianapolis was sunk. He'd shared his ordeal of surviving shark attacks. With this in mind Hunter Scott decided to use this subject as his history fair project for school, the story of the USS Indianapolis. His project turned in to a history making project. It changed the course of history for himself, for the men who survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, for the families of all Sailors and Marines who were assigned to the USS Indianapolis, and it changed the course of history for the Indianapolis' Captain. Hunter began by trying to find out as much information as possible at his local library, but little was available. Through an ad in a military newspaper he was able to contact survivors of the Indianapolis. His first contact person was a man living in Alabama, Maurice Glenn Bell. Hunter contacted over 100 men, hearing from some. Some of these men were willing to share their story, photographs, caps, and other memorabilia. Hunter ended up with a large collection of artifacts and saved material memories from the Indianapolis' survivors. What started as a history fair project turned in to a goal of exonerating Captain Charles Butler McVay, a career Navy Officer who was wrongly court marshaled. The Navy had been at fault, yet used and misused McVay as a gross outlet for their mistakes. 

For a recap of the story of the USS Indianapolis:
During the summer of 1945 the USS Indianapolis CA-35 (a heavy cruiser) was chosen to carry "Little Boy" from San Francisco, California, to the island of Tinian, in the Pacific. Afterwards the Indianapolis was to practice or train near the island of Leyte. The Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine early on July 30. Many men survived the ships sinking by jumping in to the deep waters of the Pacific, but it would be the shark infested waters that would take the lives of many more. The surviving men were rescued on August 2 and 3.
"Of the 1,197 crew members aboard the Indianapolis when she sailed for Leyte, 317 men survived."

This book goes in to detail about what happens to a human body while in the salty ocean. It breaks it down how the body reacts to the inability to have drinking water and what happens if we drink salty ocean water. There is a section in the book on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. We are also told what being in the sun day after day with the reflection of the water will do to the body, especially the eyes. The book also shares with us survivor stories in their own words.
This is a must have book for any middle school or high school library, for three reasons.
1. It is the story of men who gave their life for our f

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4. Give a Military Family a Free Children’s Book for Veteran’s Day

In celebration of National Picture Book Month and Veteran’s Day:

Give a Military Family a Free Book

11 Ways to Ruin a Photograph book


In celebration of National Picture Book Month and Veteran’s Day and to honor of our military families, download and give a free children’s picture book to a military family.

THE STORY: “11 Ways to Ruin a Photograph”

When her father goes soldiering for a year, a girl decides that without Dad at home, it’s not a family photo album. Though her beloved Nanny is in charge of the album that year, the girl makes sure that photographs of her never turn out well. Photos are blurred, wind blows hair in her face. April rains bring umbrellas to hide behind. Halloween means a mask. This poignant, yet funny family story, expresses a child’s anger and grief for a Dad whose work takes him away for long periods of time. It’s a tribute to the sacrifices made by military families and to those who care for children when a family needs support.

THIS STORY IS A WINNER!


In conjunction with “The Help” movie (www.thehelpmovie.com), TakePart.com (www.takepart.com/thehelp) recently sponsored three writing contests: a recipe contest, an inspirational story contest and a children’s story contest. TakePart is the digital division of Participant Media which aims to bolster a movie’s audience with a message of social change. THE HELP movie campaign emphasized the role of stories in people’s lives.
Notice: This site and the story are not endorsed by or affiliated with TakePart, LLC or the motion picture “The Help” and or its distributors.

READ THE BOOK!

Darcy Pattison’s story, “11 Ways to Ruin a Photograph” is the winning children’s story. It is a free download at www.takepart.com/thehelp, or download it here (pdf download).

You can also order it for your:

MORE

Read more at www.11WaystoRuinaPhotograph.
PLEASE pass this along to anyone who might know a military family or to anyone in the military that you know.

5. Disney Retracts ‘SEAL Team Six’ Application, But We’re Not Relieved

A week and a half ago, we learned that Disney had applied for trademark on the name “SEAL Team Six,” just two days after that group had carried out the successful assassination attack on Osama Bin Laden. Americans collectively... Read the rest of this post

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6. Dress Parade {Holiday Part 1}

I know, the last time I was going on and on about dresses it was about little smocks and such.  But you’ll be proud of me because one of these dresses (the above one, actually) is one that I started a year ago, so at least I’m making myself finish what I start!

My intention was to wear this number last Thanksgiving in Texas during our grand “series of fortunate events.”  And while my husband’s family was planning most of the reception activity I was far too frazzled to focus on sewing this dress, especially when the sleeves stopped cooperating.  I finally decided, a year later, to finish it or give it up which was enough motivation to figure out the sleeve issue (ones I drafted myself) and apply the finishing touches.

This is Du Barry 2506B.  Hands down, one of my favorite patterns.  The sleeves in real life were too puffy for me so that’s why I had to change them.  The bow at the neckline was not quite as sweet as the one shown so I used this corally-colored satin ribbon instead.  At first I thought, perhaps, it looked too much like a Girl Scout or pilgrim dress but in these photos I quite like it.  The dark brown dotted swiss is really soft and so comfortable.  I omitted the belt because it looks fine with out it but I can always make one later on.

The next dress is quite different:

I had to blow out the photos because the fabric is so dark; it’s a midnight blue rose-pattern lace.  It’s the kind of lace that has a nice weight and drape and may be a cotton blend (similar to my wedding dress).   I ended up using a slightly darker Petersham (grosgrain) ribbon and kept the look monochromatic.

This style is a departure from my normal look, at least in terms of the sleeves.  I’ve seen them called “wingsleeves” before although I’m not sure if that’s the official term.  Very popular in the 1940s and ’50s they always struck me as being a little bit masculine or angular and therefore was never that appealing.  Over the last few years, however, quite a few vintage patterns with such sleeves have found their way into my stash and I might as well give them a try!

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7. Cybils Nominee: Nugget on the Flight Deck

Considering the fact that my father served on the USS Forrestal (CV59), I could not pass up the chance to review this book. My dad was not a pilot (he was a trumpeter in the ship's band,) and he didn't work on the flight desk, but he did sleep beneath it, a fact he was mighty proud of. So this book held immediate appeal for me.And, sentiment aside, it will hold appeal for young readers, too. "

2 Comments on Cybils Nominee: Nugget on the Flight Deck, last added: 10/23/2009
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8. Tagged! I'm Reading Bartlett's Familiar Quotations

CJ Ray has tagged me with a most creative meme: I must grab the closest book with more than 123 pages, turn to page 123, go five sentences down, and provide the next three sentences here.

How fortuitous that Bartlett's tome sits nearby; a book on bodily functions occupied a nearer space yesterday.

Here are the words from the required quadrant:

Modestus said of Regulus that he was "the biggest rascal that walks upon two legs."

There is nothing to write about, you say. Well then, write and let me know just this--that there is nothing to write about; or tell me in the good old style if you are well. That's right, I am quite well.

* * *

I included a bonus sentence because I like the flip voice of the speaker.

My tag is open--if you like this meme, show us what you've got!

In other news, Stephen Parrish gave me an E for excellence blog award. Thank you, Stephen! I'll add it to my sidebar.

Being noted for excellence is an inspiration to aspire to greater heights. I want to achieve excellence in all my endeavors. I want to be all I can be. Oh, wait, that's the Army. Get an Edge on Life, that's the Army, too, but the other slogan, Be All You Can Be is better. Here are a few more:

It's not just a job. It's an adventure! Navy slogan. I give it an E for excellent!
The Few. The Proud. Marine Slogan. SC for super cool!
Aim High. Air Force. O for okay.
Be Part of the Action. Coast Guard. B for boring. There's gotta be something better than that. Post your alternative in the comments!

10 Comments on Tagged! I'm Reading Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, last added: 3/12/2008
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9. toread: bookhunter

Two disparate things to post under one short heading. First, this exposition of the idea of the toread tag is one that pleases me. Second, if you like libraries and comics, you need TOREAD Bookhunter. I’d suggest buying it, but you can read it online in book or scroll format. It’s seriously great.

, ,

3 Comments on toread: bookhunter, last added: 7/27/2007
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