Category: Note

On August 6, 1819, Norwich University was founded in Vermont as the first private military school in the United States. Pictured is a squad of Norwich Army ROTC cadets on an air movement via a 10th Mountain Division Blackhawk helicopter, in 2021.  (U.S. Army photo by PFC Ethan Scofield.) — August 6, 1699, HMS Roebuck, captained by “explorer and pirate”  William Dampier, landed at Shark Bay, Western Australia on the first British scientific expedition to Australia. — August 6, 2011, a U.S. CH-47D Chinook military helicopter operating with the call sign Extortion 17 (spoken “one-seven”) was shot down while transporting …

On August 5, 1775, the Spanish packet boat San Carlos entered San Francisco Bay for the first time. It was under the command of Lieutenant Juan Manuel de Ayala.  He and his crew of 30 men spent six weeks surveying the bay from its shallow southern end to the northern end of what is now known as Suisun Bay. — August 5, 1861: President Lincoln signed the first US personal Income Tax into law.  It levied 3% of incomes over $800. — On August 5, 1846, the Oregon territory was divided between the United States and Britain at the 49th …

On August 4, 1821, the first edition of the American magazine “The Saturday Evening Post” was published. — August 4, 1914: The United States declared neutrality on the outbreak of WWI. — On August 4, 1961, Spokane, Washington reached an August record high of 108°F. — Today’s feature article is a guest piece that was too short to qualify for the judging in the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. We are now seeking entries for Round 114 of the contest. More than $900,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, …

August 3, 1900: Firestone Tire and Rubber Company founded in Akron, Ohio, by Harvey Firestone. — On August 3, 1963, Warner Bros. Records released a single of Allan Sherman’s novelty song “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (A Letter from Camp)”, set to music of Amilcare Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours” from his 1876 opera “La Gioconda”. — August 3, 1914, Germany and France both declared war on each other, formally beginning the First World War. — On August 3, 1829, Gioachino Rossini‘s last and greatest opera “Guillaume Tell” (William Tell) premieres at Salle Le Peletier in Paris. — Today’s feature article …

On August 2nd, 1973, American Graffiti, directed by George Lucas and starring Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howard premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival, Switzerland. — August 2, 1909, the Army Air Corps was formed as Army took first delivery from the Wright Brothers. — August 2nd was the birthday of Peter O’Toole (1932–2013). When his name is mentioned, Lawrence of Arabia immediately comes to mind. But one of my favorites was his 1971 film titled Murphy’s War. That film had some very memorable seaplane flying scenes. — August 2, 1972: Gold hit a record $70 per Troy ounce in …

I’m pleased to announce that a new prize has been added to the First Prize package, for the SurvivalBlog writing contest. The good folks at HSM Ammunition in Stevensville, Montana are now providing a $250 gift certificate, starting with this latest writing contest round that begins today (Round 114.)  The certificate can be used for any of their products. If you haven’t tried their ammo, take a look at their website and check out their broad line of top-quality newly-manufactured cartridges.  They even make mild “Cowboy” loads that are suitable for antique revolvers. — August 1st is celebrated as Swiss …

The first ascent of K2 was made by an Italian expedition led by Ardito Desio on July 31, 1954. — And on July 31, 1958, the Anti-Chinese uprising began in Tibet. — Today’s feature article is a guest piece by fellow blogger Mrs. Alaska. Because it will also be posted to her blog, it will not be part of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. We are now seeking entries for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $900,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking …

On July 30, 1419: First defenestration of Prague: anti-Catholic Hussites, followers of executed reformer Jan Hus, stormed Prague town hall and threw the judge, mayor, and several city council members out the windows. They died in the fall or were killed by the crowd outside. — July 30, 1869: The Charles, considered the world’s first “oil tanker”, departs from the United States headed for Europe with a bulk capacity of 7,000 barrels of oil. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 113 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: …

On July 29, 1609, Samuel de Champlain shot and killed two Iroquois chiefs at Ticonderoga, New York setting the stage for French-Iroquois conflicts for the next 150 years. — Please say a prayer for Pastor Chuck Balwin. He underwent emergency abdominal surgery about six weeks ago, and he is slowly recovering. — Today’s feature article is a review written by SurvivalBlog staffer Tom Christianson. — We are now seeking entries for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $900,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, …

On July 28, 1794, French Revolutionary figure Maximilien Robespierre and 22 other leaders of “the Terror” guillotined to thunderous cheers in Paris. — On July 28, 1932, U.S. Army troops, using tanks, cavalry, and tear gas demolished and burned the shanty town set up near the U.S. Capitol by unemployed Bonus Army protestors. — July 28th is also the anniversary of the outbreak of World War I, in 1914. This war irreparably changed geopolitics and set the stage for both World War II and the Cold War. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 113 of …

The first test flight of the F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter took place on July 27, 1972, at Edwards Air Force Base, California. McDonnell Douglas Chief Experimental Test Pilot Irving L. Burrows was at the controls. — July 27th is the birthday of Captain Samuel Whittemore (born in 1694, died February 3, 1793). He was an English-born American farmer and soldier. He was eighty years of age when he became the oldest known colonial combatant in the American War of Independence. — On July 27, 1377 there was the first example of a quarantine. In the city of Rugusa (now …

On July 26, 1803, the horse-drawn Surrey Iron Railway (SIR), arguably the world’s first public railway, opened in south London. — On July 26th, 1931, a swarm of grasshoppers descended on crops throughout the American heartland, devastating millions of acres. Already in a bad drought, Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota suffered tremendously. The swarms were said to be so thick that they blocked out the sun and one could shovel the grasshoppers with a scoop. While America has not seen infestations on such a scale since then, North Africa and parts of the Middle East continue to experience them. — …

On July  25, 1850, Gold was discovered in Oregon, on the Rogue River. — On this day in 1797, Horatio Nelson lost more than 300 men and his right arm during the failed conquest attempt of Tenerife (Spain). — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 113 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2,000. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can …

On July 24th, 1704, English and Dutch troops occupied Gibraltar. — The late Jerry Ahern passed away on this day, July 24th, 2012. His survivalist novels created an entire genre. — On July 24th, 1567, Mary Queen of Scots was forced to abdicate. Her 1-year-old son became King James VI of Scots. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 113 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could …

On July 23, 1745 Charles Edward Stuart, “the Young Pretender” or Bonnie Prince Charlie, landed at Eriskay Island, Hebrides beginning the final Jacobite Rebellion. — On July 23, 1777 Polish military leader Casimir Pulaski arrived in Marblehead, Massachusetts, to volunteer in the Continental Army cavalry. — Also on July 23, 1777: King Louis XVI of France and his Foreign Minister clandestinely agreed to supply the United States with munitions in its war of secession from England. — On July 23, 1944 Battle of Kursk (“Koersk”) ended. This massive tank battle in the USSR was a defeat for the Nazis, with …