Return of the Marsh Hawk....and 70 Years Ago Today, A Day that.........

Drove through the fog and mixed drizzle with icy mist late yesterday to work a girls JV basketball game at Convoy Crestview...which resulted in a close fought 30-27 for the home squad.  I showered and left before the end of the first quarter of the Varsity contest.  Arriving home at 8:30 as the drizzle had turned to light snow, but only a dusting occurred and the roads are clear this morning, as the sun begins to shine through the early morning cloud cover.

The Hawk Returns_____

 About this same time, the first year I started this blog, I believe the early winter of 2007-08, a Marsh Hawk began hanging around the back yard bird and Squirrel feeder.  That first late fall and early winter, he{or she?, but I believe it to be a male given the size} started off catching a slow moving Pigeon or two.  The Pigeons were nesting high on our roof and the old Church across the street.  They were easy prey for the Hawk....when the old Mersman Factory Building was raised, those birds moved on, but the Hawk continued to come back for a chance to feast on Doves or the smaller, but quicker, noisy Sparrows that gathered each morning.  On occasion I would note a successful hunt by the larger bird.  On some visits he would face off with one of the dozen or so back yard Squirrels, but would invariably fly away from the confrontation.  I'm sure the Hawk could have taken out a "tree rat" if he was really hungry, but the price he would have to pay apparently was not worth the effort...unlike Doves, Pigeons, and Sparrows, those Squirrels have teeth.

Last Winter, the Hawk only showed up on a couple of occasions, I had however noticed, if this indeed was the same bird, that he had grown over the previous 4 winters, and had become a quite strong looking and attractive bird.  So it was yesterday I let Reagan, the 13 1/2 year old Airedale, out for her Noontime duties, I had already given the birds and Squirrels their morning ration of feed seed, and corn....when Reagan began scratching on the back door, I let her in, as I opened the door, there he was, the Hawk, on top of the arbor, ripping apart the remains of an unlucky Sparrow.  Unlike past years, the Hawk didn't fly when Reagan was out, and he looked at me as I stood in the doorway, but didn't bother to cease his feeding.  This gave me the opportunity to run back in and grab the small Nikon.....

Putting the camera on auto~focus, I began to snap photos of the feeding predator.  As he stayed, I moved forward, finally getting more than a dozen photos, as he finally jump onto the high wires, and eventually flew into the neighbors tree filled yard to the west.  The point and shoot Nikon, although I enjoy the ease of its workings, is not best for outdoor close-up shots, my hands just are not that steady these days, and I didn't have the time to set it on the mini tripod...so out of the 16 total photos, perhaps 5, after working with them on my computer imaging studio, came out worthwhile....I particularly like the one above with him sitting in the tree staring down at me...done feeding, but not happy that I rushed his meal with my intrusion.

70 years ago today_____

Over seven years before I was born in Van Wert, Ohio, The Japanese attacked the Hawaiian outpost of Pearl Harbor.  Historical stories differ, and as more evidence is uncovered, it remains a question just how much of a "Surprise Attack" the invasion really was.

Was FDR well aware of the coming attack?  Was he indeed wanting the attack to happen so he could toss the US into the second World War?  Or was this FDR shining moment, an opportunity to save his long lasting, but ultimately failed Presidency, after all the Great Depression, for all of his Socialist Engineering, was still gripping America.   Perhaps a combination of all these theories and more....As a student of American History, especially the Civil War and WW2. {both to me, much more interesting than "my war, Vietnam" or any other, including WW1, in American History}...I have my thoughts, but admit, I really don't know the thought process of the ultimate progressive mind of Franklin D. Roosevelt....a man I consider right down there with Wilson, Carter, LBJ, and the current Assclown Kenyan, as the five worst Presidents in US History.

Regardless, whatever the reason or cause for our entrance into the Second World War, Pearl Harbor was the catalyst of our going to war...and like Americans back then{not so today}, we were going to war to win it...and we did.  America, my ego included, won WW2 pretty much by ourselves, sure we had help, from the Brits, Canadians, Aussies, and Russians...but make no mistake, if not for the American GI, the war would have been lost......there can be no argument on that fact.

So looking at today, what would happen if we are attacked, by Iran, China, or even North Korea?  Here is a hint, especially if the current Islamic Camel Fornicator is in office...NOT A DAMN THING!  

Barack Insane Obama, his Administration, the Media, and his supporters, haven't the guts or balls to fight anybody...they are cowards to the Nth degree.   Any attack on America would, under his lack of leadership, go unpunished.  The diplomats would be called in...and it would end there.  As long as anti Americans are in charge of America, and the Media cheers them on{being America haters for the most part itself}, we are in deep dung.....it is indeed time for a change.  The question is, is it too late?

Something to think about on this 70th anniversary of the Attack{surprise or not} on Pearl Harbor:

back later>>>>

Photos-The Large Marsh Hawk made its return to our back yard yesterday, feeding on the noisy Sparrows that feed at the station and arbor that sit along the fence.....and would we have the same "guts" today as we had 70 years ago?  I think not, Hell today we can't even call the Japs "Japs"...no politically correct you know, you know we would not be able to call the Islamics invaders what they are, "Stinking Terrorists", let alone fight them...such is America in the days of Obammy.....

Pearl Harbor Day 12/07/41 and Basketball Blow Out!

I slid home on icy roads after Dartball last night...another disappointing evening of tossing.  After two plus hours of running up and down a basketball court, my legs and body are not quite up to par tossing the large wooden and feather darts 20 feet with great accuracy.  We win just one of three at Rockford Methodist and drop to 3 wins 12 loses, while I get two measly singles and my average falls to a Spartan .313, still tops on the team, but showing just how bad a first half we have had.  More on the basketball part of the evening later in this posting.

December 7, 1941_____

I always have fancied myself as a History Buff...especially American History.  I  find most interesting the Civil War and World War II  periods of America.  In the case of the World War II and the Depression before hand, are a time, for better or worse, that America came of age....the current situation of the Republic, in my opinion, is America at it's worst.  A bloated, lazy, populace in which we see people on Government Unemployment for as much as 3 years, after the latest "extension" is passed in the next couple weeks or so.  A President, who if even a legally born citizen, which is doubtful, is a hard core American hating Marxist, and has surrounded himself with people of like minds.  America, unless we change our ways, has seen it's better days fall behind us.  We are becoming a nation of witless slaves, an "entitlement" society at it's worst....much like Europe, and we soon will be passing them in our dependence on "The Nanny State"....that is our lot, it seems.

That also was quickly becoming the case in the 1930s under FDR...he was the forerunner to Barack Insane Obama...but war came a-calling, and put a damper on Roosevelt's plan for a Socialist Obedient Society...December 7th of 1941 was a wake-up call:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqbAzj8SVIA&NR=1

In the 1930s and early 1940s Germany and Japan were today's Islam.  Back then we knew exactly who the enemy was....in today's politically correct world, Americans, especially those on the left side of the aisle, refuse to see, or admit they see the enemy...and unless that changes, we, as a nation and a republic, are doomed.

On to lighter fare.......

What do you do when it's a blow out?______

Last night I worked a Junior High double header here in Celina, before heading off to Rockford to toss Darts.  In the early part of the season, I have officiated several "blowouts" of girls Junior High games and High School JV as well.  Scores of 49-10. 36-10, 26-8, etc.  None more so than last nights opening 7th grade boys game.  A much taller home squad pulled out to a 39-0 lead midway through the 4th quarter, after leading 23 zip at the half.  Yep, you are reading it right...39-0!  And the team they were beating has a proud history on the basketball court, with several State Champions crowed in both boys and girls action.   But last night, being the first game of the boys season, was not going well for the visitors.

I've been asked before, "What do you do, or how do you officiate a game that is completely out of hand"?

Some officials/umpires would answer "Just like it was a tie game".  Not me...especially in a lower level game.  You have to let things go...well, you don't have to let things go, but sometimes, it seems necessary to me.  Do you call the same, traveling, moving screens, common fouls, etc, on a team down 39 points with a few minutes left...do you call them the same on the team up by the same.

I don't believe you try to help out the team that trails...but you have to use some common sense.  If the calls are obvious, you make the call...if it's is "iffy" or "border line", I tend to let it go, especially if no safety factor is involved.  The team that's ahead, you use that as a learning tool as well...you make the call, so they know, that during a tie or close game, those calls are going to be made.  It's a slippery slope, but I'm not one to believe you can call all things equal, in a 39-0 blow out.

As for last night's game...the trailing team got a foul call that went their way, scored 2 free throws with about 3 minutes left, and that was it...the final was 45-2.  The 8th grade contest saw no such problems, and the home squad pulled away in the last few minutes and won a hard fought 33-25 contest.  Tonight, as luck would have it, I travel to the school of the teams on the losing side last night....hopefully, the contests, especially the 7th grade game, will be a much more competitive, in which I can officiate "straight forward".

69 Years Ago Today....I salute the few men that remain from the Jap attack on American Soil.  Those events and fault will be discussed by future generations of "historians"...but there can be no doubt that the face of America was much different 3 generations ago, and the question of whether we can return to our former glory and mindset is still up in the air.

back later>>>>

Photos-The West Virginia on 12/7/1941, Dartball last night was another in a long season thus far, and the Newspapers of December 8, 1941, did not worry about being "Politically Correct"...those headlines would not be seen in today's limpwristed press...not even on Fox News.

Weekend Bugs/Radio Days The D-Day Invasion

The weekend "flu" by to say the least...a recap is in order{only because I have little else to talk about}.


Friday afternoon I got a knock on the door, open it and see my old buddy from my High School and Montezuma living days, Bob Jones....I had exchanged e-mails with Bob, but had not seen him since our get together with Don "Rat" Boyce and his wife at the local Bob Evans, back in September...Jonsey was out and about and we had a nice 90 minute or so sit down talk about the current state of the world in our aging eyes, and times past. He departed and agreed that our next get together with Rat and our wives would happen in March, hopefully the weather will be somewhat warmer.

With Bob gone, it was time to get ready for the first of my 2 weekend JV games, this one at Lima Bath in the prelude to the WBL game with Kenton. The game went OK, just the usual complaining and "The was a terrible call" shouts from coaches and fans...if they didn't bitch, you would think something was really wrong. I worked with Dan Minnich, who has been umpiring baseball since our early days...this was our first basketball game together, although we have done many games on the ball diamond together. Game complete, I got home, downed a couple of Extra Stout Guinness brews, and hit the sack.

Saturday morning I awoke to a cold and clear morning...and the beginnings of what I thought was a routine head cold of my own. Damn! All the winters without a cold of any substance, and since I took up basketball....bam! I manage a couple or more a season....I hate em'!

As the day moved on, the cold lingered on, but not bad{I thought}, so I headed off to my second JV game of the weekend at Spencerville, against Delphos St. Johns. Interesting game...these 2 schools are about 8 miles apart on State Route 66, but had not played basketball during the regular season since 1945. I felt pretty good, despite the cold, and made it up and down the floor in the 22 point St. Johns win. Delphos also won the varsity game...I headed home, down a couple of brews and headed to bed, the cold was hanging on.

Reagan awoke at 4am and let us know she had to go out...early, real early. Patricia got up, with a cold of her own, and said she would rest on one of the recliners down stairs, as her head was "stuffed"...Anissa{home for the weekend} got up soon after, as did I. Seems I was no having a time getting enough air into my lungs to get back to sleep...

As the morning progressed, my breath intake did not get better/the blood pressure and heart rate were up, way up....so about 11 I decided, that with the local clinic closed until 6 and no Doc Bergman's office open...I would gut it up and head to the Emergency Room...was this an "emergency"? I didn't think so in the sense, but I knew I wasn't getting enough air to take care of business...so off we went, all 3 of us. Patricia and me to see the ER Doctor, and Anissa to keep us company...

Bronchitis....and the Flu____

In my 60 years I had never been diagnosed with Bronchitis....the ER Doc asked, "any history of Asthma"? Nope, only Sam, our oldest son has a history of Bronchitis, but none here....until yesterday. So I had bronchitis, Patricia the Flu...so we both get a shot, I get an inhaler, and both a prescription for an antibiotic. Off to Wally World, since our regular pharmacy was closed for Sunday as well....about this time, Patricia's flu had come into my life. After getting home, I sat and watched the Ohio State win over Minnesota, then headed to bed for another 5 hours. By 8 o'clock I was tired but breathing and feeling better...stayed up until 11, and headed back to the sack, got up at 7 this morning, feeling about half assed better. Still weak, but I can breath, and actually see the keyboard.

I wonder when Obama's Meal pieced Health Care plan is passed, will I, being 60, be able to do this.....? And they will pass Health Care, one piece at a time, no matter if we like it or not.

I will take it easy for the day, but should make it to Dartball tonight....no basketball games until tomorrow, a JH double header at St. Henry, but will stay on the Medication and take it one hour or so at a time....and see how things improve.


Radio Daze_____

Those who read this blog on occasion know that before my days at the Health Department(retiring in 2002), and as a RV Delivery guy, and Sports Official, I worked in radio full time for a few years and part time for another 2 decades. In addition to Civil War and WW2 history, I also am a fan of Old Time Radio History...the radio before the crap music that is played out today on the FM side. Bad Music, bad voices catering to "diversity" is the product that calls itself radio these days. It wasn't always so. From the 1930s through the early 50s, before TV took center stage, radio is where we as a nation got our news and most entertainment from. I guess that is why I like XM Radio and it's old classic program channel, #165, on Old Time Radio Classics".

Forward to this morning, I flip on the and heard a show with and announcer named George Hicks. I had never heard of this guy, but being the inquisitive type I am, I immediately Google "George Hicks". Seems old George was a long time broadcaster with the Blue Network(now ABC), and did everything from Variety to Comedy show announcing...but his most famous work would come during World War II when he was a newscaster based in London, and was aboard a ship, and broadcasted from same, that took part in the D-Day Invasion...he broadcast what is considered to be the most famous Radio Broadcast ever:

http://www.otr.com/hicks.html

If you have a Windows or other media player you can listen to the original 13 minute version on the above site.

You tube version can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K7aaB7O7SM

For all the bad the Internet brings, it can indeed have a wealth of useless and useful information.

That's it for now....for the remainder of the day, I will run a few errands, rest up, and probably head north of town to Mt Tabor Church for our last road dartball games of the season...home for the last 2 weeks of the regular season, and we host the playoffs and tournament at St. Johns. On a similar note, I now lead the league in batting average at .443, but seldom play well on the Tabor board...so we will see how that works itself out.

back later>>>>

Photos-Bob Jones and me, in the summer of 1968, in the Jones living room, the night before I headed out to the Air Force...Bob headed for the Navy a few weeks later and we both served in Vietnam by 1969. Me, "Rat" Boyce, and Bob back in September of 2009....the 40 years have flown by in a blinding light speed. Radio Broadcaster George Hicks, who may have given the most famous radio broadcast in the history of WW2....The D Day Invasion on June 6, 7, 1944.

Will the Real Neville Chamberlin Please Stand Up?

Just like the original Hitler Appeaser, Obama and Jimmy Carter are doing their best impressions in the face of Islamic Terrorists....and the lap dog media goes along in lock step---All Hail Obama! They shout!

Out of the Past~World War II in Texas

We finally got a little rain Sunday night and yesterday...but in Celina, just a little, we remain dry for the most part, with the drought still in place. The humidity was pretty intense as I headed off to do a Freshman Football game between Celina and it's arch rival, St. Marys. Good game, with the visiting Roughriders coming out on top of the local Bulldogs 14-12....the Celina Freshman team is pretty good, but once again, St. Marys finds a way to win...such is football in the rivalry, it's been one sided for the past decade. No games for me until Saturday, a welcome break of sorts, for the first time since the season, now entering the half way point, began.

Sam called from Columbus, yesterday marked his first game, a Junior Varsity contest, in the Columbus City League....said it was different, just like city folks are different from us "country bumpkins"....classes begin at Ohio State tomorrow, and his life in Columbus, at age 27, begins anew. For the next month he will be coming home on weekends to do games around here...this in addition to his Columbus games, and his work for the Big Ten Network and the OSU Athletic Department. Hopefully he will have time for his class study, because it appears he will be busy, to say the least.

Uncle Harry Anspach, a look back at WW2____

I don't really remember much about Harry, he was my Uncle, but by marriage to my dad's sister, Eva...Harry was not a blood relative, but according to mom he was a decent guy....Harry was divorced from Aunt Eva in the 1950s and passed away in the 1960s if my memory serves me correctly.

I know Harry was a Veteran of World War 2, and was into sending postcards by the hundreds from the places he was stationed stateside{I don't believe Harry was overseas during the war}...Some of them ended up being quite valuable, the old "real photo postcards", those featuring real photographs of places he visited or was stationed. I still have some, others I sold on Ebay for pretty good money. Anyway this is about Harry and his attachment at San Antonio, Texas. I have mountains of paper and postcards to go through, but if I remember correctly Harry was stationed at Fort Sam Houston during the 1941-43 period of the war.

Names and Places from Fort Sam Houston 1943____

The Squadron name remains in my stacks of paper and memories in the basement....but I do have the names and locations of the men in the photograph from 1943( or maybe 41 or 42) located at the top of the story...I have "Googled" the names and have found some, like Otis H. Hall, from Shamrock, Texas, still alive....last information on Otis is that he's in his early 90s and residing in Amarillo, the pearl of the Texas Panhandle...not far from his hometown of Shamrock. I was stationed in Basic Training at Amarillo, and have been through Shamrock, located on I-40 many a time while delivering RVs west.

I have the names, but not in the exact order or location, on the photo...but wanted to put the names on this blog, just in case some of my meager, 75-125 visitors on average per day, might accidentally come on a name they recognize.

The Names_______

Here are the names{some no doubt spelled incorrectly} and hometowns of the men on the photograph...Fort Sam Houston 1943(?)

Clyde Beeler

1321 West First Street

OK City, Oklahoma

----------

Jerry Lyon

Box 2394

Little Rock, Arkansas

----------

Otis H. Hall

Box 524

Shamrock, Texas

------------

Bill Nicholl

84th and 27th St.

Salt Lake City, Utah

--------------------

Don Lembeke(sp?)

Newcastle, Nebraska

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Harold D. Nichols

Pullman, Washington

------------

Paul Boman (Roman?)

Snoqualmie, Washington

-----------------

Jay Allen

General Delivery

Newark, Arkansas

------------

Sam Duro

Akron, Michigan

--------------

Captain C. Guinn

E1514 9th

Spokane, Washington

------------

William W. Reco(Rico, Riceo, Reeco? not really sure, but don't believe it's Reco)

Jackson, Michigan

---------------

Robert Greeco(? another one that I doubt I have right)

Newark, NJ

---------------

Jim McVey

Philadelphia, PA

-------------

Hugo Lindgren

416 5th St.

Coronado, California

---------------

Harry Anspach

Scott, Ohio

--------------

Carl Smith

Stearns, Kentucky

---------------

Fred Reo

2965 Northwestern

Detroit, Michigan

------------------

Frank Corso

67 St. James Place

Brooklyn, NY

---------------

Charles J. Jase

New Britain , CT

There you have them, the men, who long ago served their country and were stationed at a Army Base in south Texas...most, like Uncle Harry, I am sure have passed on, others, like Otis Hall may still be alive...as a Veteran of an unpopular war called Vietnam, I salute these men.

Back Later>>>>

Photos-The men at San Antonio whose names appear above and "Uncle" Harry Anspach at the family cottage near Coldwater, Michigan, in the later 1940s, after his service was up. And the portrait photo shot of him and my dad's older sister Aunt Eva when the were married in San Antonio. {Double photos Click to Supersize}