torpeybill

Famous Birthdays - Celebrity Real Names: Celebrity Birthday Listings. Find out which celebr...

2011-01-29T01:48:00.000-05:00

Famous Birthdays - Celebrity Real Names: Celebrity Birthday Listings. Find out which celebr...: "Celebrity Birthday Listings. Find out which celebrities you share your Birthday with! - IS today your birthday? Search today's or anyones bi..."

Right Pulls Knife, Left Commits Hari-kiri

2010-12-14T02:01:00.002-05:00

President Barack Obama (image left) has bent over so far backward in appeasing the right wing’s dream of attaining huge tax cuts for the wealthy that America -- if not the president -- will pay a dreadful price.

Republicans may have pulled a knife on Democrats in the so-called “tax deal” or “compromise” on legislation giving millionaires and billionaires huge tax cuts, but Democrats will be committing hari-kiri if we succumb.

Putting America an additional $858 billion in the hole, of course, is the Republicans’ idea, not the president’s, but it is the president who will take the blame for the higher deficit in the short run. Most Democrats, of course, hoped to let the tax cuts to expire on Jan. 1 as President George W. Bush and Republicans in Congress had agreed.

President Obama’s “compromise” extends those cuts another two years (when Republicans would no doubt try to make them permanent.) Democrats have been urged to approve the legislation on grounds it will create jobs and be good for the economy. The legislation offers tax relief for all taxpayers, reduces Social Security taxes in 2011 and extends jobless benefits for many longterm unemployed.

In time, despite the U.S. Senate’s 83 to 15 trial vote to approve the controversial tax bill, Republicans will feel the verdict of history. In the meantime they revel in their temporary achievement. At the time, many Democrats feign content with the so-called compromise. Most believe the “compromise” to be neither wise nor fair, even, I’m sure, by many who voted it. Senate leader Harry Reid (image right) is among those who fell victim to the Republicans’ extortion and urged it approval.

President Obama tried to bolster support by calling upon former President Bill Clinton to fortify his effort to have the tax cuts approved by congress. Many Democrats, however, believe Obama caved in unnecessarily to the Republicans. He could have fought harder and longer.

Extension of the huge tax cuts for the wealthy is neither the best way to create jobs in America (they did nothing to create jobs in the 8 years of the Bush Administration.) Nor is the addition of more than $800 billion to the deficit necessary or wise. It is clear to Democrats that Republicans plan to use the deficit as an excuse to cut social benefits for the middle class including Social Security, Medicare and health care.

The president has stated that it’s the “nature of compromise, sacrificing something that each of us cares about.” While his statement is true, there is a significant difference between “compromise” and “extortion.” Republicans have been saying – and voting – “no” ever since his election in 2008. Their insistence on giving exorbitant tax cuts to the millionaires and billionaires while the poor and middle class suffer in an era of declining wages and unemployment, is definitely not “compromise.” Republicans refusal to approve any legislation unless and until the wealthy are granted outrageous tax cuts amounts to nothing less than legal extortion.

Unless President Obama reverses course, begins acting like a Democrat, and starts using his veto pen against the coming Republican onslaught against the middle class, he will lose one important vote in New York (mine.) I may be a lifelong Democrat, but I will not take part in the destruction of the American middle class.

2010-09-23T07:16:00.004-04:00

2010-07-24T22:44:00.003-04:00

2010-05-30T20:25:00.018-04:00

Government Versus Corporations

Corporations

Corporations are headed by boards of directors selected for one major purpose: They know how to make a profit, and nothing -- that is, “nothing” -- is more important. Corporations operate under the economic system called capitalism under which the United States generally operates in a significantly modified form.

Corporations hand pick a president, chief executive officer, vice presidents for every little thing, department heads, managers, supervisors, foremen, group leaders and anyone else they need to insure that the organization makes a profit and continues to keep the profit growing higher every quarter.

They hire workers to do their bidding, and they operate on one common philosophy: It’s my way or the highway! Unlike government, corporations have only “the market” and, to some extent, the stockholders, to keep them on the straight and narrow.

Corporations obtain huge sums of money from citizens (through sales, including government contracts) to operate their enterprise, but it’s called “profits,” not “taxes.” Some of that money is used for production (in corporations that actually produce something) but much of it goes for the large salaries required to keep the money coming in – and for often huge profits pocketed generally by its major stockholders (including the corporation’s leadership) and wealthy investors.

The legal obligation of the corporation is not to serve citizens (or even customers), rather its obligation is to do everything in its power to return a profit – the quicker and the larger the better – to its stockholders.

Government

Government is run by those who are elected by its citizens to represent their interests. The president, the Senate and the House of Representatives all work in concert with the judiciary to provide for the needs of citizens.

In the United States that means that government operates under the restraints of the U.S. Constitution and its preamble…“ in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense,[1] promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity…”

Unlike corporations, government is run not for profit, but for the single purpose of serving its citizens.

Through its elected officials, government raises money through a wide variety of taxes. The money goes only for those expenses approved by the duly elected representatives of the people. Most generally these include such big ticket items as education, highways and the military as well as programs designed to insure the health and welfare of the American people such as Social Security and Medicare.

Commentary

The common call of anti-government critics is for government to be run like a corporation. Aside from being impossible (the purpose of government is diametrically opposed to that of business,) it would be a travesty for any government to ignore the fundamental needs of its citizens.

Government critics always zero in on the issues of high taxes, inefficiency, overspending and so-called “giveaway” programs, such as welfare and social security. Because these same critics are rarely heard criticizing tax favoritism for corporations or the outrageous spending for unwarranted international adventurism it leads one to believe the critics are being circumspect. It appears to be their true objection that the tax money is going to the underprivileged and elderly, not simply that “taxes” are too high.

The bottom line is that business is business, government is government.

Business is not government. Government is not business.

If you sincerely criticize taxes as being too high, then criticize profits and executive salaries as being too high. If you criticize government officials are untrustworthy and corrupt, then criticize corporation titans as untrustworthy and corrupt.

If business is business, then fair is fair.

The Fighting Hogans

2009-03-14T18:43:00.022-04:00

Only 17 days after President Franklin D. Roosevelt told America there had been a “sneak attack” on Hawaii’s Hickam Field by the Japanese Empire, William Francis Hogan, my uncle, (image right) became one of America’s fighting men. His first full day in the U.S. Navy was on Christmas Day 1941.

Uncle Bill made the ultimate sacrifice for his country in the early morning hours of Sept. 5, 1942 when his APD-4 ship, the USS Gregory (DD82), and its sister ship, the USS Little (DD79), came under fire in a surprise attack from superior Japanese forces near Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

The versatile, high speed transport ships patrolled the waters around the hotly contested islands performing “routine” duties such as moving men, ammunition and supplies wherever they were needed.

Encounters with the enemy were common and the sounds of gunfire in the distance were routinely heard. The area later gained notoriety as "Iron Bottom Sound" because of the many tons of both allied and enemy shipping sunk there.

A day earlier, on Sept. 4, Uncle Bill’s ship had delivered a marine raider battalion onto Savo Island.

The Gregory, along with the Little, plied the inky black waters of the channel between Guadalcanal and Savo Island on their way back to anchorage at Tulagi amid a low haze. Because conditions obscured all the landmarks in the area, it was decided to stay on patrol rather than risk steaming blind through the channel.

As the ships slipped through the waters in darkness at 10 knots, three Japanese destroyers, the Yudachi, Hatsuyuki and the Murakumo, moved unnoticed on their mission to bombard shore positions.

Shortly before 1 a.m., the sound of gunfire echoed through the night and those on duty saw gun flashes in the distance. The sound and sight of gunfire was not an uncommon aboard the Gregory. Some crew members thought was merely some far off action or a Japanese submarine.

But at 12:46 a.m. everyone aboard was alerted or awakened by the sound of General Quarters. Each man took to his battle station.

The Americans were considering whether to depart the area quietly, undetected, or to close for action. But the decision was quickly taken out their hands when a Navy pilot, who also had observed the gunfire, dropped five flares nearly on top of the Gregory and the Little.

Silhouetted against the blackness of the night, the ships were seen clearly by the Japanese destroyers. Radar quickly revealed there were four targets, including three destroyers, which apparently had been joined by a cruiser. Japanese searchlights were soon scanning the Gregory. Almost immediately, shells began raining down on the American transports. The battle was joined.

The APD’s were built as destroyers, but traded some of their firepower for speed and to make room for cargo and carrying troops. They were obviously outnumbered and outgunned.

Crew members of the Gregory saw a large explosion on their sister ship, and now the Japanese guns were trained on them. Under the glare of the searchlights, the Gregory took hits almost immediately. But one of the searchlights was darkened by the Gregory’s return fire.

According to the reports of survivors, two boilers had burst on the Gregory and the bridge took a direct hit. The pilot house exploded. The galley deck house was ablaze and the ship was listing and sinking.

Surprised, outgunned and overmatched, the Gregory was all but dead in the water less than three minutes after the flares revealed their position

The order to abandon ship was given by the Gregory’s skipper, Lt. Commander Harry F. Bauer, himself badly wounded. The crew was scrambling to get the lifeboats in the water. Meanwhile Bauer ordered two men to go to the aid of a crewman who was shouting for help. Commander Bauer was never seen again. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.

By this time, most of the ship’s crew was in the water, but shrapnel was flying everywhere. Some men abandoned their lifeboats and took to the water. For a while, the Japanese shelling stopped and some men considered going back to the ship, but the bombardment soon resumed. This time their target appeared to be the men in the water, not the ship.
Some 40 minutes after the battle began, the Gregory sank, stern first. Two hours later, Little followed the Gregory down.

All but 11 of Gregory’s crew survived, six of them swimming all the way to Guadalcanal. It took them all night long.

My uncle Bill was among six men reported dead on the ship before it went under. One of the surviving crewmen reported seeing his body as he prepared to abandon ship. Records indicate he was just 25 years old.

Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz spoke of the gallantry of the men of the Gregory and the Little.

"Both of these small vessels fought as well as possible against the overwhelming odds,” Nimitz said. “With little means, they performed duties vital to the success of the campaign."

The Gregory received two battle stars for its service in World War II.

Some 50 years after Gregory was lost, in July, 1992, a sunken U.S. Navy high-speed transport was discovered on the sea floor off Lunga Point. While its identity remains uncertain, it’s believed the ship is either the Gregory or the Little. The Gregory was named after Admiral Francis Hoyt Gregory, a native of Norwalk, Conn., who was born on Oct. 9, 1780.

About Uncle Bill and the Hogan Family

My Uncle Bill was the son of an Irish immigrant, Michael J. Hogan, who came to American from Dungarvan, County Waterford, in 1906. Better known as Shamus O'Brien, Michael became a widely known prize fighter out of Yonkers, N.Y., and a lightweight champion in Ireland.

Shamus was married to Adelaide Searles Hogan . In addition to William Francis Hogan, after whom I was named, the couple had seven other children, two of whom, Adelaide and Gilbert, died as infants in the influenza outbreaks of the early 1900s.

All four of Shamus’ sons served in the military. In addition to Uncle Bill, John and Michael (known as “Mitch,”) were Navy men. Although family members have little information about their military exploits, it is known that John's service included time in Africa and Mitch served aboard the USS Charles R. Ware. Edward Hogan’s service was with the Army Air Corps, where, if memory serves me right, he won his wings.

Shamus and Adelaide's daughters, Elena (Helen) Hogan Torpey, my mother, had worked as a riveter for Eastern Aircraft Co. in Tarrytown, N.Y., during the war. Mary (Mae) Hogan Dropauer, whose husband, Richard, had been wounded in the invasion of Iwo Jima, also was a working mother.

Helen, my mother, given an opportunity, proudly asserted that she was “Rosie the Riveter,” a fictional patriotic character that originated with one of my mother’s co-workers at Eastern Aircraft. Rosie was created in 1942 to promote the value of women in the workforce and she later gained great fame from Norman Rockwell’s image in the May 29, 1943 issue of the Saturday Evening Post.

Surely, with four sons serving gallantly in World War II, and one making the ultimate sacrifice, the Hogan family could fairly be called “the real Hogan heroes.”

According to Eddie Cantwell, who wrote of Shamus O’Brien on the Waterford County Museum site in Dungarvan, Ireland, “Today his name (William F. Hogan) can be found engraved on three monuments, one in Getty square, Yonkers, the second at Fort McKinley in the Philippines, and a third, which has been erected recently at a location on the coast of the Solomon Islands.”

I was only six years old when Pearl Harbor was attacked, but I remember the day clearly. Uncle John came to our house to tell of the bombing of Hickam Field. Without hesitation, I went to my bedroom where I strapped on my cap guns and declared I was ready to fight.

My memories of Uncle Bill are a little hazy, but I clearly remember the day he took me for a walk down Ludlow Street in Yonkers – the street where I lived when I was born. We strolled all the way down the street almost to the Hudson River, where there was a helicopter parked behind a chain link fence that he knew I would love to see. The small 'copter apparently was being stored there. I was thrilled.

I knew Uncle Bill had a girlfriend, “Bunny,” because I lived with Shamus’ estranged wife, Adelaide (my “Nana,”) who often spoke of her. I also remember greeting Bunny on one occasion, making a foolish remark that had taken her somewhat aback. Recently, one of my cousins told me that Uncle Bill had married Bunny, but I never was aware that he had been married.

I will never forget the sad day when Uncle John came our house on Warburton Avenue in Yonkers to inform Adelaide that Uncle Bill’s ship had been reported lost. the New York Daily News. He brought with him the New York Daily News that featured a picture of the ship.

I was living with Nana at the time. As I lay in my bed that night, I got little sleep as a Gold Star mother mourned her young hero.

For several weeks before that black day, Uncle Bill’s letters to Nana were read aloud in our home. In his letters, Uncle Bill spoke proudly of participating in Naval gun battles against the enemy. I remember he specifically boasted of killing at least two of the enemy in firefights.

I still possess Uncle Bill’s Purple Heart among my souvenirs. Although the ribbon is moth eaten, and I know the military will replace it at no cost if requested, I’ll continue to treasure it as is.

Somewhere near the time of Uncle Bill’s death, Shamus came calling on his estranged wife, possibly to console her . But Adelaide refused to acknowledge his repeated knocks on her door.

Nana took her son's death very hard, of course. A Gold Star hung in her window throughout the war. Uncle Bill’s picture, in his Navy uniform, stood on an end table in her living room for the rest of her life. She steadfastly refused to even look at anything marked “Made in Japan.”

I had lived with Nana for at least eight years, and throughout that time I never recall any discussion of her tragedy. Her grief was so great that she never talked of it, and she never attended a single funeral.

Following are the reports of 10 survivors of the Gregory obtained by my cousin Tabitha, granddaughter of my Uncle Mitch, through federal Freedom of Information sources and the Military Personnel Office in St. Louis. Other facts and declassified information she obtained came from Ted Rankin, who had served with Uncle Bill. Additional information came from Curtis Clark of San Diego and the National Organization for Veterans reunion.

Battle Report of Surprise Night Action”

Report of Ensign Alvin L. Gallin, Feb. 8, 1952

(1) At 0056 on the morning of Sept. 5, 1942 I was awakened by the sound of gunfire. I began dressing, and when the general alarm sounded at 0058, reported to my battle station on the after deck house. Firing could still be heard, but I could see no flashes. Almost immediately thereafter a flare burst about 1,000 yards off the port bow. Events then followed in rapid succession. A searchlight about 2000 yards off the starboard quarter illuminated the U.S.S. Little, then on our starboard bow, turning right. Three salvos were fired; the Little burst into flames. I ordered Gun #3, the after 4” 50 cal. gun to train on the light and commence firing. Gun #3 had a misfire, and did not go off. The Gregory turned left at the time, and put the enemy astern of us. Then a ship behind that which was firing at the U.S.S. Little commenced firing at us. I ordered Gun #3 trained on it, and then told the Gun Captain to fire percussion. Gun #3 commenced firing. The enemy then illuminated us with a searchlight which swept forward.The second round from Gun #3 carried away the searchlight tower. They dropped one salvo just short of the fantail and ceased firing. The ship which had been firing at the Little illuminated us, and another just forward of the port quarter began firing at us. Apparently #3 had fired about five rounds. I noticed that the ship was dead in the water. I turned around and looking forward: the bridge and galley deckhouse were ablaze. This was my first realization that the ship had been hit. I ordered the after life rafts cut away and started forward to see what had happened. Just forward of the after deck house the ammunition and repair parties were standing fast. I gave the order to set all depth charges on safe, and continued forward. Amidships, the boats were being lowered to the rail. I gave the order to stand by the boats. Men were coming out of the engine rooms; the fire room air lock was open, but no one was coming out. Going further forward, I saw that the port after side of the well deck was ablaze,and one man was fighting a gasoline fire on the auxiliary radio generator with a CO2 extinguisher. There were two men lying dead near the radio shack. The enemy was not firing at the time. I went up to the bridge, and discovered that it was abandoned. The port wing of the bridge was a flaming shambles, slippery with blood. The Executive Officer and the control talker were on the deck, dead. I could not reach the pilot house. I started aft, passing the word to abandon ship. I sent half the after ammunition party forward to look for wounded, and order the rest into the boats. Gun #3 was still firing, but I ordered the crew to abandon ship. I started forward again, and met Mr. Heine at #1 skids. We thought we were the only officers left and decided to rendezvous the boats off the port beam. I went to the bridge again. Two men were carrying Mr. Decker from the bridge and one told me there were none left alive. Returning amidships I found that two boats were gone, and one was at the rail, filled with about 40 men. The ship had had only three boats. Mr. Heine and I got into the boat. Then Mr. Heine returned aboard to lower the boat. Hiter, a yeoman, came aft and said there were still some wounded aboard. Mr. Heine told me to lie alongside, and went forward. I ordered the boat engine started, but apparently flying shrapnel had disabled it. Shelling then commenced again; much shrapnel was flying about. I ordered the men to abandon the boat and swim as far from the ship as possible. Francis, the cook, and Mr. Decker appeared to be dead. I jumped in the water with the coxswain, and began swimming. The enemy was on the port bow and quarter, illuminating and firing. The water around me was covered with six splash salvos; shrapnel was flying through the air. It seemed to me that the enemy was firing up a ladder which continued well beyond the ship. I could see three ships ablaze, leading me to believe that one of the enemy was burning; I did not see any of the enemy ships. I estimate the total elapsed time from General Quarters to have been about 20 minutes. I gathered a group of men about me and continued away from the ship. We were about 1,000 yards from the ship when the firing ceased. Woods, BMlc, USCG and I started back to the ship for a raft. We had gone about 50 yards when a row of five flares was laid down the port side of the ship. Believing the enemy was circling, we turned back but could not find the original group. We were in the water until about 0800 the next morning, when a landing boat recovered us. We had gathered a group of six men during the night, and had alternately tried swimming south toward Guadalcanal and huddling together to keep warm. The moon and current were used as indications of direction.

(2) I believe that every man did his best in the face of overwhelming odds. There was no panic at any time. The ship was abandoned in an orderly manner. The Gun Captain of #3 gun, Kristof, and his crew deserve special mention, as does Wagner, the gunner’s mate who set all charges on safe.

Charles R. Young, WT2c – Bridge

I had the watch in the fire room, heard several shells burst and heard #2 blower slow down, saw that steam line to it was ruptured. Shell came through port side forward, a couple above water line and hit #1 boiler. I pulled emergency fuel oil trips a second before both boiler fronts fell in. Left fire room – abandoned ship. Had to feel way out of fire room. Full of steam and smoke. Made sure all boiler stops were secured.

David L. Burton, QM2c

I had just taken the mid-watch and about 0055 I logged gunfire on port bow. We awoke the Captain and went to General Quarters. We were on course 130 degrees steering on the stern of the Little. A starshell burst on the port bow about 2,000 yards away. Little changed course to 280 degrees and we followed. I had the wheel as that was my General Quarters Station. The enemy ships spotted the Little with a searchlight and opened fire on their starboard quarter. We came to port with a full left rudder and the second ship spotted us opening fire and we opened with our anti-aircraft, and a few seconds later with our main battery. Someone gave the word we’re afire on the well deck, most everyone on the bridge seemed to be on the port side and the word to abandon ship was passed. We had a direct hit on the port wing of the bridge, exploding in the pilot house knocking me to the deck with several others. I got to my feet made my way to the starboard wing of the bridge and jumped. After I was in the water I seemed to be all right. I heard Mr. Wilson call and tried to get him but couldn’t make it. I saw Mr. Dyer, P.R. Smith, Kirkman and Mr. Fair.

Clarence C. Justice, BM2c - #2 Gun

I was sleeping on the well deck when someone called me for General Quarters. When I awoke I heard guns firing, but I thought it was just another sea battle, a good piece off. I dressed in a hurry as usual for general quarters and went to Gun #1 but Adamski was there and I asked someone what was going on. About that time the Little burst into flames so I ran to my gun. As soon as I got there a shell hit us on the bridge and we lost all communications. Povlich, S2c, was missing so I told Connors to take the trainers seat. He trained around to starboard and I loaded. Granberry, SC2c, was the only loader. I had Metzger and West but they were hit by schrapnel. About this time, Povlich manned his station and he tried to fire by auxiliary generator. He tried to fire by percussion, but the enemy was out of the line of fire. We had been hit at least twice. A shell hit under the gun and knocked me off the after deck. I entered the galley passageway, a shell hit #2 stack and one in the troop space. I went back to the gun but no one was there and helped them because the Captain was wounded. The Captain said it was no use to stay with the ship. He went over the side on the well deck and Ellis and I followed him. Ellis got him in tow by his kapok and we got a little way out from the ship. Things quieted down for a while and the Captain asked us to take him back to the ship, but one of the Jap ships pulled up closer and started shelling the ship again. Most of the shells were hitting right around us. Then someone yelled that he was drowning and that he couldn’t last much longer. The Captain made Ellis let him go and to go look for him. I followed to help look. We never found him so we came back and yelled for the Captain but he never answered. One of the shells or the sharks must have got him.

Robert W. Zarecor, GM5c

As I went to my station on the galley deckhouse they were firing on the beach. It stopped and one or two flares dropped near the Little, which was ahead of us. Then a searchlight picked her up and she was hit and set afire being fired upon from the starboard side. A searchlight on the port side of us picked us up and were were hit by the galley. I saw the top of the #2 stack go then the bridge. Men were going over the side from the bridge and galley deck. I started down the ladder to the well deck but it was in flames so I went down by #1 stack on the starboard side, made my way aft where there were quite a few men. I saw Duzy in the steering engine room hatch complaining that someone fired a gun and nearly took his head off. Made my way forward again and Mr. Gallin was calmly telling the men to lower the boats and abandon ship. I made the boat in #3 skids.

Joseph J. Roletti, CMM (AA)

At 2245 I relieved the watch and about 0057 General Quarters sounded. It went long after (unintelligible)…to get out of the engine room, by that time, smoke was coming down the ventilator. We got to top side and saw the ship had lost headway so we dropped two life rafts by the engine room. Lowered #3 boat which 31 men got in and started to move away from the ship as it was still being fired on and shrapnel was flying around us.

Chester M. Ellis, Cox

I manned my General Quarters station, all gun crew was there, got one range that was all from control. We broke out ammunition and loaded the gun. Granberry broke out the shell and put into the gun. The gun captain (Justice) reported ready one. There was a hit through the galley and about half the crew disappeared. I set range down lower between 2,000 and 3,000 and there was the pointer left (Pickett) and two loaders, Granberry and West. I think Povlich was still at his seat but not sure. Someone on the starboard MMs was knocked down and got up and started to fire his gun. By that time there were hits all over the bridge and deckhouse. At least 10 or 15. The ship had stopped and the gun could not bear. Someone was saying “Abandon Ship.” Everyone started toward the port life raft. There was a hit under it and they turned and went to the starboard side. Wood was on the port side. We tried to get the key out, could not so cut lines. Wood and I pushed one over, was intending saving other for wounded men on the bridge and well deck when I found the captain. He was on the well deck sitting on the bulwark right aft the bridge. Justice had started back up the Galley deck house and come back. I had told the captain we had a life raft but I got back. Wood had thrown it over, it looked as if he had been jarred off. There was no one around so Justice and I went off too. I called to the captain, He answered. We went over to him and asked how he was. He said not bad, just his legs. It looked like it was over so we got an order from the captain to swim slowly toward the ship. Just as we started, they began to fire again. So he said lets get out of here. Someone said help can’t swim. The captain worried about his men. The captain said go give him a hand. I started back and he started calling Justice. He got no answer so I turned and started back calling him. Didn’t get an answer and could not find him. A piece could have hit him. Among the people I saw dead was Hogan, Drazba, Smith, R.C. (Executive Officer) in the legs and stomach, two men in the wheel house, someone on deck.

Frank A. Duzy, MM2c

At approximately 0100 Sept. 5, 1942 the General Quarters alarm sounded. Before it sounded the ship was making 2/3 speed. Nugent, MM1c, relieved me and I went topside and aft to the steering engine room, which was my GQ station. I put the JV phones on and reported ready to the engine room; the fire room also reported manned and ready. I noticed then that we were making a fast speed. A short time later I heard gunfire. I stuck my head out of the hatch and saw the U.S.S. Little burning, then a ship with her searchlight on us was approaching us from the starboard quarter. I heard us get hit from him up forward, less than a minute later #6 depth charge gun went off. We were on fire forward and I saw two sailors in the water by the port side near the propeller guard. I heard a seaman shout for someone to throw out a life preserver. I then noticed that the ship stopped and no searchlights were trained at us. I took off the phones, secured the steering engine and shifted to hand steering. Then I went up on topside to see what was going on. There wasn’t anyone on the after deck house so I went forward. There was a boat alongside so I got in. The boat was already loaded so we left the ship. After we left the ship two searchlights were trained on the ship and then they were firing again. There was at least three enemy ships.

Thomas C. Ingle, CMM (AA)

I was awakened by the General Quarters. We reported ready for GQ at about 0058 and started making all possible speed. It seemed like at once the ship was being shelled. We lost contact with the bridge and steam pressure dropped to zero. The engine room started filling with smoke and as there was nothing we could do we abandoned the engine room. On topside we cut loose the life rafts and stood around the starboard side of the after deck. A fire was blazing in the port galley passageway. Block was there and asking me if there was pressure on the fire main. This was impossible of course. I observed the Assistant Engineer (Mr. Gallin) quietly giving orders to lower all boats. Thirty one men including myself left the ship in #3 boat. Strange, Slc, was very helpful and cool, in that he attended the wounded and saved lives in the boat.

Walter T. Adamski, BM1c

I was gun captain on the #1 battery gun. I had the 00-04 watch so my gun was already manned when GQ went. Orders came from Control to train to starboard and pick up target. Then came commence firing. We fired two rounds to starboard and then I went and secured #1 MG, which was swinging loose. When I got back to the gun we were bearing on our own bridge so we could not fire. We were hit on the forecastle in the paint locker which went up in flames. We seen the men from control abandon ship just after we fired our second salvo. My gun crew left the ship when we could not bear anymore to starboard. The gun crew was very cool and calm.

Probe the Bush Administration?

2009-02-20T22:10:00.010-05:00

President Barack Obama, rightly, is reluctant to threaten the success of his agenda by supporting efforts to investigate the numerous allegations of illegal action by former President George W. Bush.

Republicans, of course, oppose the idea. Some Democrats, like the president, would rather take a positive outlook and avoid long, partisan-plagued battles in the halls of Congress or in the courts. Some would take a long step away from the confrontational tactics of President Bush and, earlier, of Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich toward a more nonpartisan era.

As leader of the Free World, President Obama is saddled with the responsibility of keeping the United States militarily strong and economically viable. It is not his role to take on the politically suicidal job of bringing former Bush Administration officials to justice for illegal activities.

Congress has both the power and authority to do just that -- and it should.

Those who want to see Congress investigate the Bush Administration are putting much of their hopes on Senate and House Judiciary committee Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and John Conyers, D-Mich.

Leahy and Conyers want the truth. It's their role, as Congressional leaders, to conduct investigations when things go wrong and to create legislation that will prevent such missteps in the future.

A few of the most pressing allegations that Congress would undoubtedly probe:
* Illegally invading the sovereign country of Iraq
* Obstructing justice in outing CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson
* Illegal detention of American and foreign captives
* Secretly authorizing torture and rendition
* Announcing his intention to violate the law with Signing Statements
* Misleading Americans in attempting to destroy Medicare
* Spying on Americans with court orders
* Directing telecommunications companies to create illegal database of private telephone numbers and emails.
* White House involvement in politically motivated hirings and firings in Bush's Justice Department.

Republicans already have made it clear they have no interest in bipartisanship. They have taken their role as the "loyal opposition" very seriously by attacking President Obama relentlessly on virtually every move he has taken during his first days and weeks in office.

The president's stimulus proposals have come under incessent attack, as has his appointments of Attorney General Eric Holder and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's decision to abandon his nomination as Health and Human Services secretary.

"Investigations are not a matter of payback or political revenge. It is our responsibility to examine what has occurred and to set an appropriate baseline of conduct for future administrations," Conyers said.

2009-02-20T21:44:00.003-05:00

Remembering Shamus O'Brien

2009-02-15T20:42:00.009-05:00

-------------------------Remembering Shamus O'Brien
The crowds were enormous. Friends and admirers and entire families arrived at Flynn Memorial Home in Yonkers, N.Y., afternoons and evenings for three days to pay tribute to Michael Joseph Hogan, better known as Shamus O'Brien (image left) the alias he used in the boxing ring throughout his long and illustrious career. He was a rugged, battle-scarred lightweight boxer lovingly hailed as the “Yonkers Favourite.”

He came from the Gold Coast of Ireland as a young lad to seek his fortune in America. He was my grandfather, but I knew him only casually from a few chance meetings long after his fighting days were over.

At his wake, I was a young man of 24 when I stood amazed to see the outpouring of love for this man, long after his days of glory. I watched, and greeted young and old as they paid their respects to my grandfather day after day at the memorial home.

Later, as I watched the mile-long funeral procession motor through Getty Square, I began to understand just how much impact this young Favorite Son had had on the people of Yonkers. In those early years after the turn of the 20th Century, prize fighting was to millions what radio was in the 1930s and 1940s, and what television became later to people everywhere.

I remember Shamus' eldest son, John Hogan, who followed the young fighter's exploit closely, telling me that it was Shamus’ wish to have the cortege meander through Getty Square before heading out to St. Joseph's Cemetery. It was a wish that opened my eyes to the depth of his love for the "City of Gracious Living" on the Hudson and its denizens.

It was through my uncle John that I learned my grandfather had died of pneumonia on April 13, 1959 at the age of 68. Shamus, who was born on Aug. 6, 1890, had entered St. John’s Riverside Hospital with heart disease and arteriosclerosis.

At that time, I was a first term student at New York University in Washington Square. It was only two months before my marriage to Ruth Dugdale of Darien, Connecticut. Uncle John took me along with him to the Yonkers Herald Statesman in Larkin Plaza where he told Shamus’ story to an obituary writer.

Based on available records, Michael "Shamus" Hogan was the son of Michael Hogan and Ellen (Meade) Hogan, one of five children. The family lived in a thatched cottage near the Atlantic Ocean in Dungarvan on the "Gold Coast" of Ireland. The area was once known as Wise's Point, or just "The Point."

As a boy in Dungarvan, Shamus was well-known in Gaelic football, emigrating from Ireland in 1906 when an uncle reportedly paid his passage on the RMS Umbria destined for New York

According to an article by Eddie Cantwell written for the Dungarvan Museum Society, Shamus became a household name, not only in Yonkers but also in Pennsylvania and many other venues around the United States. Many of his 400 bouts, an unusually large number in any fighter’s career, took place in and around the Harlem, N.Y.

Rugged in appearance, and good looking, Shamus "would hang around the street corners with his friends after work." He was "scrapping all the time" and he embraced the lifestyle of the time. After only a few years in the new world, undoubtedly catching many of the boxing matched that were held in those days around New York, he took part in a volunteer boxing exhibition staged for the prisoners at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, N.Y.

Shamus' career has an uncanny resemblance to the great champions of the world of boxing portrayed in a number of Hollywood biographical films. In many parts of the United States, he became a household name in boxing circles, but the great championships eluded him. He battled often against the best fighters in hundreds of matches in various weight classes.

While his career spanned nearly two decades, the Irish stalwart's record, given in one estimate as 24-44-12, failed to reflect his toughness and tenacity -- or even his potential. It's generally felt that his achievements could have been far greater had his career been managed better.

“Hogan’s life story could well be scripted for a film,” Cantwell said. "Indeed, his career bears quite a remarkable resemblance to some of the more popular boxing films of recent years.”

My fondest memories of my famous grandfather came on those occasions when, as a young boy “hanging around” Getty Square (image left, early 20th Century), Shamus and I would meet by chance. Getty Square, where Shamus was a familiar figure in the 1940s, was a bustling shopping area marked by three five-and-ten cent stores at a busy five-way intersection. Whenever he saw me, Shamus, with obvious delight, would take me into Nedick’s to buy me an orange-aid and a hot dog.

Shamus' appearance marked him as a prize fighter, his face revealing the scars of his trade, along with battered, cauliflower ears. He looked to be down on his luck, but even then I could see his eyes light up when he saw me. He'd shuffle in his pockets for coins that seemed to me to be his last dime. For me, these were memorable moments. I had had heard on the grapevine that he was staying at the time in a bunk at the Salvation Army – one of the many reasons that I have such a high regard for that truly charitable organization.

Michael "Shamus O'Brien" Hogan was married to Adelaide Searles (my grandmother) with whom he had eight children, John, Michael "Mitch", Edward,, William, Elena "Helen" Torpey (my mother), Mary "Mae" Dropauer, and two infant twins, Gilbert and Adelaide, who died in the tragic influenza outbreak of the early 1900s.

Shamus began his boxing career in the bare-knuckle days when boxing matches were fought “to the finish.” The great John L. Sullivan (image left) was perhaps the best known fighter of the bear-knuckle era. Prize fighters in those days frequently fought to “no decision,” and Shamus was no exception. Shamus often went up against the best fighters of his era – and he competed in a number of weight categories, although he was fundamentally a lightweight . His overall record, according to the best information available, was something like 24-44-12, but this didn't come close to reflecting his toughness or the many bouts he fought for which no record exists.

"Money was lost and fortunes made on the backs of combatants who fought until only one was left standing," said Mr. Cantwell of the Dungarvan Museum. "Many of Hogan's fights were fought at the Raven Athletics Club in New York City, where he had done his training."

My uncle John told me that Shamus could take a lot of punishment, but but getting him to go down was quite another thing. Shamus went up against the legendary middleweight champion Benny Leonard (image right) three times or more, at least once to a "no decision" on Feb. 11, 1916 in Syracuse, N.Y. He was KO'd by Leonard, however, only five weeks later on St. Patrick's Day in New York City. Bouts in those days were often extralegal, resulting in often incomplete record keeping and a major reason that fighters used an alias.

In his obituary, Shamus was reported to be a “trial horse” for up and coming young fighters. He developed into an opponent for champions, a tough contest for any of them. In addition to Benny Leonard, Shamus, at 135 pounds, fought any and all comers, including welterweight Mickey Walker (early In his career), middleweight Rocky Kansas, welterweight champ Pete Latzo, featherweight champ Johnny Dundee, Pinky Marshall, Jack Britton, George K. O’Chaney and negro champ Leo Johnson – all to the finish in “no decision” fights. Shamus was widely considered “a good fighter, win or lose .”

The 1911 boxing poster became available to me a few years ago after my daughter, Catherine, noticed it on the wall of Archie Moore's Restaurant (image left) at 188-1/2 Willow St., New Haven, Conn. The restaurant, which has been in business for more than a century, has no connection, surprisingly, with its namesake, the famous light middleweight.

Of course, I rushed to the restaurant for dinner, anxiously inquiring of the owner, Bob Fuchs, how the poster featuring my grandfather happened to be displayed in the dining room. As it turned out, the owner's grandfather, "Irish Paddy," was one of the fighters listed in the preliminary fights. (Note: In the poster (image below, right), Shamus is pictured on the left side of the poster, not on the right side, where his opponent, Yorkville lightweight champion Eddie Smith is shown.)

Much of Shamus’ training, according to my Uncle John, took place in upstate New York in the town of Newburgh, where Shamus had been a bartender in his later years. Earlier he was an iron worker and had been employed in construction.

After fighting in various locations around the country, he hung up his gloves in 1922, but not before returning to Ireland to win the lightweight title in his native country.

One copyrighted report in the New York Times of Jan. 3, 1912 reports on a tough contest between Shamus and Young Sam Langford of Mount Vernon, N.Y. The match was termed "one of the best bouts ever held" at the local sporting club. Shamus floored his opponent midway through the 10-rounder, but Sam, who was literally "saved by the bell" in the fifth round, came back strong. The fight ended in a draw.

Throughout the 1940s, I had lived with my grandmother, Adelaide Hogan, Shamus' estranged wife. I was sent me to live with "Nana" across town in south Yonkers after my parents, Joseph C. and Elena "Helen" Torpey, apparently found me too much to handle after I was left back in second grade for excessive truancy. By then, Shamus was no longer in the picture. It's a story I don't know, although I was told of one large purse won by Shamus that resulted in turmoil at home when my grandmother learned that Shamus, apparently in the excitement of the moment at ringside, had donated the entire amount to charity.

It was while I was living with "Nana" on Warburton Avenue in Yonkers that my uncle John came to the house one day to deliver the bad news: Nana's son, Bill Hogan, who had signed up for Navy after Pearl Harbor, was presumed lost when his ship, the U.S.S. Gregory, was reported to have been sunk near Guadalcanal on Sept. 5, 1943. Uncle John had brought with him a copy of the New York Daily News featuring a picture of the ship. It was somewhere near this time that Shamus knocked on our door persistently, but his an apparent attempt at reconciliation had been unceremoniously rebuffed.

Shamus was a communicant of St. Peter’s Church at the corner of Riverdale Avenue and Ludlow Street, across from Flynn Memorial. It happens that I was born on Ludlow Street in 1935 and graduated from St. Peter's School in 1950. Shamus was an honorary member of the National Sports Alliance, the Raven Athletic Club and the Billy Gray Association.

His father, Michael Hogan, died when Shamus was just 6 years old after his life boat crew attempted to rescue people who were drowning after their ship broke its anchor in a storm off the coast of Ireland in 1896. Only five of the 23-man crew, along two passengers, the captain's wife and daughter, survived. The story of the sinking of the ill-fated Moresby in Dungarvan Bay is recorded in the Website of the Waterford County Museum Michael was thrown overboard in the storm, was severely injured and dragged to shore. He succumbed to his injuries 17 days later.

After arriving in the United States from Ireland, the Hogans eventually settled on Moquette Row in Yonkers, where the giant Alexander Smith carpet factory, located on Nepperhan Avenue, housed some of its large number of employees. My father, Joseph Torpey, had been a weaver there in the 1930s and early 1940s. After World War II, when General Motors began building airplanes in Tarrytown, N.Y., my mother, Helen Torpey, worked as a riveter. She often proclaimed herself to be "Rosie the Riveter."

According to family members, Shamus was known by many as “friendly” and “outgoing.” It's clear he was "well liked." He nevertheless disappointed his family in Ireland, especially his mother, by his failure to visit or even contact them.

Favorite Posts: Celebrity Commentary Education Golf Government Humor Judicial System Politics Stock Market Transportation Newspapers

Who Was This Guy Bing Crosby, Anyway?

2009-02-08T22:26:00.009-05:00

Harry Lillis 'Bing' Crosby: May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977

It’s appropriate, I think, for my first contribution of original content to my first (and only) Blog to be devoted to Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby, the multi-talented entertainer whose contributions to the world of entertainment are legion.

Bing, who was born on May 3, 1903 in Tacoma, Wash., began his unparalleled career in the late ‘20s, became an icon in radio and movies in the ’30s and was on top of the world throughout the ‘40s, when he recorded the largest selling single of all time, “White Christmas,” starred in five of his seven “road” pictures with Bob Hope and won an Oscar for “Going My Way” (1944.)

But I don’t idolize Bing because he was extraordinarily successful for more than five decades. I am one of Bing’s many fans simply because I admire his melodic voice and his uncanny ability to bring a song to life. I admire his movies because his wonderful personality comes through unerringly and consistently, making each one of his dozens of movies great to watch despite some flimsy plots.

Bing has been gone since Oct. 14, 1977, when he died of a massive heart attack following a round of golf at the LaMoraleja Golf Course near Madrid, Spain.

It’s understandable that today’s younger generations know Bing Crosby, if at all, only through his Christmas songs, particularly “White Christmas.” But it is sad that his reputation was maligned so viciously by his first son, Gary, when Gary authored his book, Going My Own Way in 1983, which portrayed his father as strict and cold-hearted. That book followed on the heals of an extremely negative book that totally lacks credibility, Bing Crosby: The Hollow Man published in 1982 by Shepherd and Slatzer.

Gary Crosby, I think, is best described by his cousin, Howard Crosby, a business executive, who addressed him on the Bing Crosby Internet Museum when he said, “My cousin Gary was a liar and a drunk. Period.”

Howard is the son of Bing’s brother, Ted, one of seven children of Harry and Catherine (Harrigan) Crosby.

Just this week Howard said the following on the Internet Museum: “I think Bing was the favorite of lots of the other singers who came before him. Of all of them, Dean Martin may have said it best, at the time of Bing’s death. He said something like, 'From now on, every time a popular singer steps in front of a microphone, he will have to pass through the shadow of Bing Crosby.' ”

Bing, himself, had seven children, four with his first wife, Dixie -- Gary (born 1933, died 1995), twins (born 1934) Phillip (who died in 2004) and Dennis (who died in 1991), Lindsay (born 1938, died 1989), and three children with his second wife, Kathryn -- Harry Lillis Jr. (born 1958), Mary Frances (born 1959), and Nathaniel (born 1961).

Crosby picked up the nickname “Bing” as a boy when he was an avid reader of a comic, “The Bingville Bugle.” He also became known as the The Old Groaner, El Bingo, Le Bing and Der Bingle.

Just to mention a few amazing statistics about The Groaner: He charted 368 records from ’27 to ’62 under his own name and another 28 as a vocalist with numerous bandleaders – for a total of 396. For comparison, Paul Whiteman had 220, Frank Sinatra, 209) Elvis Presley, 149, Glenn Miller, 129, Nat “King” Cole, 118, Louis Armstrong, 85, the Beatles, 68.

You may have heard some of Bing’s 22 Gold Records: “SweetLeilani,” “New San Antonio Rose,” “White Christmas,” “Silent Night,” “Sunday Monday or Always,” “Pistol Packin’ Mama” (with the Andrews Sisters, “Jingle Bells” (with the Andrews Sisters, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Swinging on a Star,” “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral,” “Don’t Fence Me In” (with the Andrews Sisters, “I Can’t Begin to Tell You,” “McNamara’s Band,” “South America Take It Away” (with the Andrews Sisters, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” (with AlJolson),“Whiffenpoof Song,” “Now Is the Hour” (Maori Farewell Song), “Galway Bay,” “Dear Hearts and Gentle People,” “Play a Simple Melody” (with Gary Crosby, “Sam’s Song” (with Gary Crosby) and “True Love” (with Grace Kelly).

Maybe you’ll recognize a few of Bing’s Top 40 hits: “Out of Nowhere,” “Just One More Chance,” “ At Your Command,” “ Dinah (with the Mills Brothers),” “Please,” “Brother Can You Spare A Dime,” “You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me,” “Shadow Waltz,” “Little Dutch Mill,” “Love in Bloom,” “June in January,” “Soon,” “It’s Easy to Remember,” “Red Sails in the Sunset,” “Pennies from Heaven,” “Sweet Leilani,” “TooMarvelous for Words,” “The Moon Got in My Eyes,” “Remember Me,” “Bob White” (with Connie Boswell), “I’ve Got a Pocketful of Dreams,” “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” (with Connie Boswell), “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby,” “Sierra Sue,” “Trade Winds,” “Only Forever,” “White Christmas,” “Moonlight Becomes You,} “Sunday Monday or Always,” “San Fernando Valley,” “I Love You” (Porter), “I’ll Be Seeing You,” “Swinging on a Star,” “A Hot Time in the Town of Berlin” (with the Andrews Sisters), “Don’t Fence Me In” (with the Andrews Sisters), “It’s Been a Long Long Time,” “I Can’t Begin to Tell You,” “Now Is the Hour,” Far Away Places,” and “Play a Simple Melody” (with Gary Crosby.)

Bing Crosby captured the heart of America on radio, beginning in 1929 with his “Old Gold Presents Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra" from New York. He went on to broadcast from The Cocoanut Grove with Gus Arnheim in Los Angeles, with CBS in New York; he was the “Cremo Singer,” and subsequently had radio shows for Chesterfield, Woodbury Soap, Kraft, Philco and General Electric

On the silver screen, Bing was a Top 10 box office star from 1944 to 1949. After winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1944 for his portrayal of Father Chuck O’Malley in Going My Way, he won nomination as Best Actor for his performances in The Bells of St. Mary’s, 1945, and in The Country Girl, 1954.

While he played light comedy in many of his movies, including the seven “road” pictures with Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour, he also showed his dramatic acting ability in a number of films, such as Little Boy Lost, 1953, The Country Girl, 1955, Man On Fire, 1957, and Stagecoach, 1966; for his seven zany Road films in which he starred with Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour. In addition to his feature films, Bing appeared in a number of short comedies and made numerous cameos, and guest appearances. He was reluctant to get into television, but eventually had his own show, briefly, and then starred in several made-for-TV shows. The short-subject films he made with Mack Sennett, 1931-32, were classics and played a big role in bringing The Groaner to the attention of the public. The Sennett films were: “I Surrender Dear,” “One More Chance,” “Dream House,” “Billboard Girl,” “Sing Bing Sing,” and “Blue of the Night.”

Bing’s movies, starting with “King of Jazz” in 1930 and ending with “Stagecoach” in 1966, features many of his songs. Here’s some of my favorites:

The Big Broadcast, 1932, with Stuart Erwin, George Burns and Gracie Allen

Going Hollywood, 1933, with Marion Davies, Fifi D’Orsay, Ned Sparks, and Stuart Erwin.

We’re Not Dressing, 1934, with Carole Lombard, Leon Errol, Ethel Merman, and Ray Milland.

Mississippi, 1935, with W. C. Fields, and Joan Bennett

Rhythm on the Range, 1936, with Frances Farmer, Bob Burns, and Martha Raye.

Pennies from Heaven, 1936, with Madge Evans, Donald Meek, Edith Fellows, and Louis Armstrong.

Waikiki Wedding—1937 (black & white). A Paramount Picture directed by Frank Tuttle starring Bing Crosby, Shirley Ross, Bob Burns, Martha Raye, George Barbier, Leif Erikson, and Anthony Quinn. Songs include: “Sweet Leilani,” “Blue Hawaii,” “In a Little Hula Heaven,” and “Sweet Is the Word for You.”

East Side of Heaven—1939 (black & white). An Independent Production for Universal Pictures directed by David Butler starring Bing Crosby, Joan Blondell, and Mischa Auer. Songs include: “Happy Birthday,” “Sing a Song of Sunbeams,” “Hang Your Heart on a Hickory Limb,” “That Sly Old Gentleman,” and “East Side of Heaven.”

Rhythm on the River, 1940, with Mary Martin, BasilRathbone, and Oscar Levant.

Birth of the Blues, 1941, with Mary Martin, Brian Donlevy, Carolyn Lee, and Jack Teagarden.

Holiday Inn, 1942, with Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale, and Walter Abel.

Road to Morocco, 1942, with Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Anthony Quinn, and Dona Drake.

Star Spangled Rhythm, 1942, with Betty Hutton, Victor Moore, Eddie Bracken, and Walter Abel.

Going My Way, 1944, with Barry Fitzgerald, Frank McHugh, Stanley Clements, Jean Heather, and Rise Stevens.

Here Come the Waves, 1944, with Betty Hutton, Sonny Tufts, Ann Doran, and Gwen Crawford.

The Bells of St. Mary’s, 1945, with Ingrid Bergman, Henry Travers, Dickie Tyler, and Joan Caroll.

Blue Skies, 1946, with Fred Astaire, Joan Caulfield, Billy de Wolfe, and Olga San Juan.

Welcome Stranger, 1947, with Barry Fitzgerald, Joan Caulfield, and Wanda Hendrix.

Emperor Waltz 1948, with Joan Fontaine, Roland Culver, and Richard Haydn.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, 1949, with Rhonda Fleming, William Bendix, and Sir CedricHardwicke.

Top o’ the Morning, 1949, with Barry Fitzgerald, Ann Blyth, and Hume Cronyn.

Riding High, 1950, with Coleen Gray, Raymond Walburn, William Demarest, Frances Gifford, and Charles Bickford.

Mr. Music, 1950, with Nancy Olsen, Charles Coburn, and Ruth Hussey.

Here Comes the Groom, 1951, with Jane Wyman, FranchotTone, and Alexis Smith.

Just for You, 1952, with Jane Wyman, Bob Arthur, Natalie Wood, Cora Witherspoon, and Ethel Barrymore.

Little Boy Lost, 1953, with Nicole Maurey, Claude Dauphin, and Christian Fourcade.

White Christmas, 1954, with Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera Ellen, Dean Jagger, and Mary Wickes.

The Country Girl, 1954, with Grace Kelly, and William Holden.

Anything Goes, 1956, with Donald O’Connor, Zizi Jeanmaire, Mitzi Gaynor, and Phil Harris.

High Society, 1956, with Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and Celeste Holm.

Robin and the Seven Hoods, 1964, with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Falk, and Barbara Rush.

Stagecoach, 1966, with Ann Margret, Michael Connors, Alex Cord, Red Buttons, Van Heflin, Slim Pickens, and Stephanie Powers.

Bing began dabbling in television in 1948, but broke through the medium when he hosted The Edsel Show with such guests as Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and Rosemary Clooney. He contracted with ABC-TV andbegan making a couple of “specials” a year. He starred in a situation comedy in 1964 for just one season.

He played host frequently on the Hollywood Palace variety shows from 1964 to 1970. In 1971 he starred in the TV movie Doctor Cook’s Garden. He made numerous newspaper and television advertisements, including those with Minute Maid and Shell.

Bing became a fixture on television in the 1960s and ‘70s when his Christmas “specials” soared to popularity. Many Bing fans in the United States probably don’t realize how popular Bing has been around the world. Der Bingle was cited by Yank Magazine as the entertainer who did most for morale of the troops during the World War II war effort. His popularity in the UK is unmatched.

Bing was an avid golfer, about a two handicapper, fisherman, hunter and horseman. He took his recreation seriously, as he did his profession -- despite his apparent easy manner of singing and acting. Lee J. Cobb and Bing turned down the role of Lt. Columbo on TV, and the part was won by Peter Falk. Bing had other plans.

Bing’s legacy has suffered over the years, however, despite great popularity and immense talent. Aside from Gary’s book, the publicity over his comments to Barbara Walters in her infamous 1977 interview with Bing added salt to the wound. For the uninitiated, Bing came from a devout Catholic family and took his religion seriously. When Walters asked him what he would do if one of his sons declared he was living with a girl without the benefit of marriage, Bing responded that he would never speak to him again. “Aloha on the steel guitar,” Bing said, memorably.

Most of Bing’s records, primarily 78 RPMs, and his movies, primarily filmed in black and white – although his “Holiday Inn” movie was just released in “colorized” format – are available on tapes and on CDs. Many clips can be found on youtube.com and on many sites on the Internet.

“Santa Cros” has been featured for the two weeks preceding Christmas on an exclusive channel on “Crosby Christmas Radio” on Sirius and XM satellite radio.

“The Crooner” is remembered every year around Christmas time because he was so prominent for so long during yuletide, but he’s remembered all year ‘round by his many fans, particularly those in the United States, England, Canada and Australia.

There a several important organizations that keep Bing’s legacy alive, including The International Club Crosby which puts out Bing Magazine three times a year and the Bing Crosby Internet Museum established and maintained by Steven Lewis since 1996. The ICC is the longest continuously active fan club in America. Other Crosby organizations include Bing’s Friends and Collectors and The Victorian Bing Crosby Society (Australia.)

For everything you ever wanted to know about Bing Crosby (and don’t be afraid to ask), Gary Giddens has put out what Crosby fans consider “the bible:” Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams -- the Early Years 1903-1940 published by Little, Brown in 2001.

The Crosby family has come under some criticism over the years, often from avid Bing fans, for not promoting Der Bingle's legacy more than they have, but there seems to be a renewed interest among several family members. A new Website bingcrosby.com has been created by the family, Bing's widow, Kathryn, has been performing a show of Bing remembrances at various locations, a chain of Bing Crosby Restaurants was started in California, and Bing's niece, Carolyn Schneider, has written her memories in a book, "Me And Uncle Bing" Things are looking up!

I am thankful for the wonderful resources of the Bing Crosby Internet Museum and its founder, Steven Lewis, for much of the information on this Blog. While my memories of Bing’s matchless voice and personality are vivid, my recall of dates, titles and details require this very reliable resource.

If you stop back at this Blog, you’ll likely see more about Bing Crosby in the days to come.

-- William F. ‘Bill’ Torpey

Did You Ever See a Dream Walking? (1933)

I'm Hummin'-I'm Whistlin'-I'm Singin' (1934)

Brother Can You Spare a Dime (1932)

Bing Crosby 'The Day You Came Along' (1933)

Bing Crosby 'Sweet Georgia Brown' (1932)

Bush Legacy, Obama Hope

2009-02-08T22:22:00.000-05:00

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------John McCain and George W. Bush.

Contrary to what you hear the talking heads say on television, the legacy of George W. Bush will not be tied to the fate of the beleaguered country of Iraq or to the democratization of the Middle East.

Former President Bush illegally, and unnecessarily, invaded the sovereign country of Iraq in what he referred to as a “War on Terror.” Sadly, his actions were endorsed both by his Administration and Republicans in Congress as well as by many Americans who believed he had the national security of the country at heart. Disappointingly, Democrats in Congress voted for the war resolution, generally relying on the expression in that resolution that there would be diplomatic efforts by the President. President Bush chose to ignore the request of the weapons inspectors who found no evidence of weapons of mass destruction.

Even if Iraq were to become a model of democracy (a desirable but unlikely outcome), an objective observer of history would have to endorse the illegal invasion and occupation of a foreign country in order to assign credit to President Bush.

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, image above left, defeated Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona by a decisive margin. It was a clear repudiation of the failed Bush Administration.

Obama, the 44th president of the United States, received 66,882,239 votes (53 percent of the popular vote) and 365 electoral votes to McCain’s 58,343,671 votes (46 percent of the popular vote) and 173 electoral votes. That’s an 8,538,559 majority of popular votes for Obama. The new President’s overwhelming victory also significantly increased Democratic majorities in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives.

President Obama inherits an economy in chaos on the heels of collapses in the real estate and mortgage markets, the banking meltdown and the stock market dive that combined to put the government into record deficits, business in a tailspin and consumers losing their homes and their savings. President Bush’s policies of deregulating business and industry, his efforts to privatize Social Security and virtually every industry, the uncontrolled spending and anti-labor attitude, not to mention a belligerent, aggressive stance in international relations had more than a little to do with the financial problems in the United States and the world today.

In the 110th Congress, the Senate was composed of 49 Democrats and 49 Republicans with two independents, Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, both of whom caucused with the Democrats. In the new, 111th Congress, there are 57 Democrats with the same two independents caucusing with the Democrats and 41 Republicans.

The Democratic count includes Al Franken whose tentative victory in Minnesota is being challenged by Norm Coleman. In the 110th Congress, the House of Representatives was composed of 233 Democrats and 202 Republicans. In the 111th Congress, the new House will have 257 Democrats to 178 Republicans, a pickup of 34 seats for the Democrats.
The statements of President Bush speak for themselves.

If you were on the planet over the past eight years you are familiar with them. There are many of them, including many funny, foot-in-mouth quotes, but here’s just four that show the general flavor of his thinking:

*"If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator."

*“Every nation in every region now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.”

*“I'm the commander — see, I don't need to explain — I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being president.”

*“See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda.”

It would take volumes to hash over the most grievous faults of President Bush, so I’m offering here only the alleged high crimes and misdemeanors detailed by Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich in the articles of impeachment filed with Congress on June 9, 2008.

On June 9, 2008 U.S. Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio put forward 35 articles of impeachment in a resolution against President George W. Bush detailing charges of high crimes and misdemeanors. The House buried the action by voting, 251-166, to send the articles to the House Judiciary Committee. Kucinich previously had introduced articles of impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney that suffered the same fate.

Rep. Kucinich’s resolution of impeachment gives a comprehensive list of the allegations against President Bush. Here is an index of the articles of impeachment:

Article I
Creating a Secret Propaganda Campaign to Manufacture a False Case for War Against Iraq.

Article II
Falsely, Systematically, and with Criminal Intent Conflating the Attacks of September 11, 2001, With Misrepresentation of Iraq as a Security Threat as Part of Fraudulent Justification for a War of Aggression.

Article III
Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction, to Manufacture a False Case for War.

Article IV
Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Posed an Imminent Threat to the United States.

Article V
Illegally Misspending Funds to Secretly Begin a War of Aggression.

Article VI
Invading Iraq in Violation of the Requirements of HJRes 114.

Article VII
Invading Iraq Absent a Declaration of War.

Article VIII
Invading Iraq, A Sovereign Nation, in Violation of the UN Charter.

Article IX
Failing to Provide Troops With Body Armor and Vehicle Armor

Article X
Falsifying Accounts of US Troop Deaths and Injuries for Political Purposes

Article XI
Establishment of Permanent U.S. Military Bases in Iraq

Article XII
Initiating a War Against Iraq for Control of That Nation's Natural Resources

Article XIIII
Creating a Secret Task Force to Develop Energy and Military Policies With Respect to Iraq and Other Countries

Article XIV
Misprision of a Felony, Misuse and Exposure of Classified Information And Obstruction of Justice in the Matter of Valerie Plame Wilson, Clandestine Agent of the Central Intelligence Agency

Article XV
Providing Immunity from Prosecution for Criminal Contractors in Iraq

Article XVI
Reckless Misspending and Waste of U.S. Tax Dollars in Connection With Iraq and US Contractors

Article XVII
Illegal Detention: Detaining Indefinitely And Without Charge Persons Both U.S. Citizens and Foreign Captives

Article XVIII
Torture: Secretly Authorizing, and Encouraging the Use of Torture Against Captives in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Other Places, as a Matter of Official Policy

Article XIX
Rendition: Kidnapping People and Taking Them Against Their Will to "Black Sites" Located in Other Nations, Including Nations Known to Practice Torture

Article XX
Imprisoning Children

Article XXI
Misleading Congress and the American People About Threats from Iran, and Supporting Terrorist Organizations Within Iran, With the Goal of Overthrowing the Iranian Government

Article XXII
Creating Secret Laws

Article XXIII
Violation of the Posse Comitatus Act

Article XXIV
Spying on American Citizens, Without a Court-Ordered Warrant, in Violation of the Law and the Fourth Amendment

Article XXV
Directing Telecommunications Companies to Create an Illegal and Unconstitutional Database of the Private Telephone Numbers and Emails of American Citizens

Article XXVI
Announcing the Intent to Violate Laws with Signing Statements

Article XXVII
Failing to Comply with Congressional Subpoenas and Instructing Former Employees Not to Comply

Article XXVIII
Tampering with Free and Fair Elections, Corruption of the Administration of Justice

Article XXIX
Conspiracy to Violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965

Article XXX
Misleading Congress and the American People in an Attempt to Destroy Medicare

Article XXXI
Katrina: Failure to Plan for the Predicted Disaster of Hurricane Katrina, Failure to Respond to a Civil Emergency

Article XXXII
Misleading Congress and the American People, Systematically Undermining Efforts to Address Global Climate Change

Article XXXIII
Repeatedly Ignored and Failed to Respond to High Level Intelligence Warnings of Planned Terrorist Attacks in the US, Prior to 911.

Article XXXIV
Obstruction of the Investigation into the Attacks of September 11, 2001

Article XXXV
Endangering the Health of 911 First Responders.

Here is the link that is the source of this outline. It provides a more detailed and comprehensive index of the charges: http://chun.afterdowningstreet.org/amomentoftruth.pdf

Here are some Barack Obama quotes from brainyquote.com:
* “Americans... still believe in an America where anything's possible - they just don't think their leaders do.”

* “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

* “I don't oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war.”

* “I don't take a dime of their [lobbyist] money, and when I am president, they won't find a job in my White House.”

* “I know my country has not perfected itself. At times, we've struggled to keep the promise of liberty and equality for all of our people. We've made our share of mistakes, and there are times when our actions around the world have not lived up to our best intentions.”

* “I think when you spread the wealth around it's good for everybody.”

* “If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists - to protect them and to promote their common welfare - all else is lost.”

* “It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to where we are today, but we have just begun. Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today.”

* “Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and the war on terrorism have reduced the pace of military transformation and have revealed our lack of preparation for defensive and stability operations. This Administration has overextended our military.”

* “The Bush Administration's failure to be consistently involved in helping Israel achieve peace with the Palestinians has been both wrong for our friendship with Israel, as well as badly damaging to our standing in the Arab world.”

* “There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.”

Can President Obama bring peace, security and the good old American dream back to America?

Let’s hope so.