Category: Note

November 16th was the birthday of Michael D. Echanis (born 1950, died September 1978), a former United States Army Special Forces and 75th Ranger Battalion enlisted man. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with “V” device as a LRRP in the Vietnam War. He was born and raised in eastern Oregon. Echanis was killed while working for the CIA in Nicaragua in 1978 in a plane crash along with his colleague Charles Sanders and members of the Nicaraguan armed forces. There was conjecture that the plane was destroyed in flight by a saboteur’s bomb. JWR’s novel Survivors …

Today is birthday of David Stirling. (15 November 1915  – 4 November 1990.)  He was a Scottish officer in the British Army, mountaineer, and the founder of the Special Air Service (SAS). He saw active service during the Second World War. — On this day, Charles Dickens published the final installment of A Tale of Two Cities in Dickens’ circular.

On November 14th, 1985, the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano erupted in Colombia, killing more than 20,000 as nearby towns are buried in mud, ice and lava. Scientist studying the volcano believed an eruption was imminent and had recommended an evacuation of the area which was largely ignored, resulting in the high number of casualties. — Today, we present another product review by our Field Gear Editor, Pat Cascio.  This is one of the unusual weeks where we have two articles written by him. — Some uncivil words were used in a string of off-topic comments, on Tuesday and Wednesday.  I …

Here is a Hong Kong protest update, courtesy of our Editor-at-Large, Michael Z. Williamson, quoting his friend Marc Adkins, who in turn was quoting a local friend “on the ground”, in the city: “Hong Kong Chinese University (HKCU) is under Siege by the Hong Kong Police Force. The reason behind this is if they managed to take over HKCU, they will have access to Hong Kong Internet Exchange (HKIX), which is located within HKCU. The HKIX serves as a hub to 99% messages that [are] sent and received through Internet within Hong Kong. If HKCU is fallen, every Hong Kongers’ …

November 12th, 1950 was the birthday of RLI Corporal John Alan Coey (died 19 July 1975). He was the first American volunteer soldier killed in Rhodesia. — Today is the birthday of USMC Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph “Dan” Daly (born 1873, died April 27, 1937). He was one of only nineteen men (including seven Marines) to twice receive the Medal of Honor. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 85 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3,000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark …

Today is the birthday of General George S. Patton, Jr. (born 1885, died December 21, 1945). — November 11th is of course Veteran’s Day. If you value your freedom, then thank a veteran. — Today is the birthday of Hugh Everett (born 1930, died July 19, 1982), the American physicist who first proposed the many-worlds interpretation (MWI) of quantum physics, which he termed his “relative state” formulation. — November 11th also marks Rhodesia’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI), in 1965. Remember Rhodesia. — Ready Made Resources is running a big Veteran’s Day sale on White Phosphor AN/PVS-14 night vision monoculars. …

November 10th is remembered in the United States as the “birthday” of the U.S. Marine Corps. — Coincidentally, the 10th is also the birthday of the late Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov, born in 1919, died December 23, 2013. He didn’t design a lot of different guns, but one of his few designs was the prototype for what turned out to be the world’s most widely produced assault rifles. SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 85 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3,000 gift …

November 9th (1938) was “Kristallnacht”. Be forewarned, folks: Once a group in any society has been singled out for ridicule and persecution, then they can be systematically attacked, physically. Someday it may be “Constitutionalists” who are targeted. — I just got word that Palmetto State Armory (one of our affiliate advertisers) is having a Veteran’s Day Weekend sale on their M4-style Complete AR Lowers with MagPul MOE Edition black furniture with six-position buffer tubes, for just $149.  If you can afford to, then I recommend that you buy several. This is a great deal. Just type “7065” in their search …

Today is the 105th birthday of actor/director/producer Norman Lloyd.  He was born November 8, 1914. His most recent film role was in 2015. Hang in there, Norman! — Natchez Shooters Supplies (one of our affiliate advertisers) just announced a four-day special promotional sale:  10% Off Orders of $99.99+. Be sure to use Promo Code:  P191108. And if you want to order a lot or primers and powder, they are also running another promotion: Free HAZMAT On Orders $150+. For that deal, use Promo Code:  FH191108. You must pick one promo, or the other–you can’t use both. Though they are best known …

November 7th is the anniversary of the death of actor Steve McQueen (born March 24, 1930, died November 7, 1980). The many well-publicized exploits in his tempestuous life and his enduring persona are well known. However, the end of his life is actually the most noteworthy part of his legacy, even though it seldom gets much publicity outside of Christian circles; he came to Jesus after he had been diagnosed with mesothelioma. He died with his forefinger pointing to his key verse in his Bible– Titus 1:2. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 85 of …

Today in 1977, the Toccoa Falls Dam in Georgia gave way and 39 people died in the resulting flood. The dam was an earthen dam constructed across a canyon in 1887 and had a 55-acre lake that was 180 feet deep. The dam had recently been inspected and approved, but in the early morning hours it gave way. Water flooded down the canyon at speeds approaching 120 mph. Below, residents of the Christian and Missionary Alliance College had no time to evacuate as the small community was wiped out. — November 6, is the anniversary of the day that B-24 …

On this day in 2009, 13 people were killed and more than 30 others were wounded–nearly all of them unarmed soldiers–when a U.S. Army officer went on a shooting rampage with a pistol at Fort Hood, Texas. The massacre was carried out by Major Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, was the worst mass murder at a U.S. military installation. In the Fort Hood shooting, Hasan reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar!” After his capture, Hasan said that “Muslims should rise up.” He was later sentenced to death. — I’ve recently learned that SurvivalBlog has been penalized through de-ranking by search engine algorithms, …

November 4th is the birthday of Medal of Honor recipient John Basilone. He was born in 1916 in Buffalo, New York. — On this day in 1979, student followers of the Ayatollah Khomeini sent shock waves across America when they stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran. The radical Islamic fundamentalists took 90 hostages. The students were enraged that the deposed Shah had been allowed to enter the U.S. to seek medical attention. Just a few days later, the provincial leader of Iran resigned and the Ayatollah Khomeini took full control of the country. Two weeks later, all non-U.S personnel as …

On November 3, 1903, Walker Evans, the American photographer best known for his portrayal of America during the Great Depression, was born. — I’m still running short of articles to fill out the current round of the SurvivalBlog nonfiction writing contest. Please write an article at least 1,500 words long, and send it in. The prize packages for the top three judged articles are amazing! There are more than $12,000 worth of prizes.

On November 2, 1917, British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour submitted a declaration of intent to establish a Jewish homeland known as the Balfour Declaration. While Arab hostilities and the outbreak of World War II delayed the desired outcome, the Nation of Israel was eventually re-established in 1948. — Today we present Part 1 of an article by regular contributor “Old Bobbert.”  Because this article primarily references other already published articles, it is not eligible in the Writing Contest judging.