In September 1944 nine US airmen were shot down over Chichi Jima, a small island 700 miles south of Tokyo, Japan. Of these nine men, only one evaded capture by the Japanese. […]
After Escaping Cannibals, Dealing With Politicians Was Easy
The Cavalry Charges Into History
Few military maneuvers instill as many thoughts of heroism and daring as the cavalry charge. Rushing at full speed against an onslaught of enemy forces has inspired such poetic works Alfred, Lord […]
Did One Wrong Word Cause the Hiroshima Bombing?
Readers of Commonplace will not be surprised to learn that one little mistranslation from one language to another can be embarrassing. Whether it is one misplaced letter when cheering General Douglas MacArthur, an incompetent […]
Did Dr. Doom Help Design the Atomic Bomb?
Readers of Marvel Comics know that the nefarious Dr. Doom will go to any lengths in his power-hungry desire to conquer the world. It is worth taking a second look, therefore, to […]
The Man Who Survived Two Atomic Bombs
Tsutomu Yamaguchi could tell you stories about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was working for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and on August 6, 1945 his work took him […]
An Island of Gallantry
The George Cross is the second highest award of the United Kingdom honours system. It is awarded for gallantry “not in the face of the enemy” to members of the British armed […]
James Doohan — A Hero in the 20th Century as Well as the 23rd
Actor James Doohan (1920-2005) is mostly known for the 23rd century exploits of his character Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in Star Trek. Less widely known are his heroics in the 20th century — […]
The Devil is in the Details
General Dwight D. Eisenhower was unquestionably experienced when it came to military matters, but in 1952 he was a novice concerning politics. In the midst of his first campaign for the presidency, one […]
Archaeologists Should Read Warning Labels
In something that sounds very much like the plot of an Indiana Jones movie, a curse may have been released by the opening of an ancient tomb.
The Last Soldier
Officially, World War II came to an end on September 2, 1945 with the surrender of Japan. For Teruo Nakamura, the war would continue for another 29 years, 3 months, and 17 […]
His Politics Weren’t the Only Thing that Smelled
According to his medical records, Adolf Hitler suffered from uncontrollable flatulence and took up to 28 different drugs to try to control the embarrassing condition. source
Lucille Ball: Mistress of Comedy and Counter-Espionage
Lucille Ball (1911-1989) was not only one of the undisputed geniuses of comedy, starring in I Love Lucy, Life With Lucy, and more than 80 motion pictures, but she also played an […]
The Last of Those Who Gave The Last Full Measure of Their Devotion
While records are sometimes sketchy and inconclusive, the following is a list of the last surviving veterans of the United States’ wars and major military operations. War of Independence — John […]
Truman and the Two Generals
Any study of the Korean War would be incomplete without looking into the conflict between President Harry Truman and General Douglas MacArthur. Truman’s firing of MacArthur was a pivotal event in American […]
You’ve Heard of Flying Reindeer; What About Pollyanna, the Reindeer of the Deep Seas?
Pollyanna, with officers of the HMS Trident The British submarine HMS Trident had an unusual crew member for part of its World War II service: a reindeer named Pollyanna. The Trident was […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 