General Tomoyuki Yamashita is remembered as one of Japan’s most prominent military leaders of World War II. He became famous for leading the Japanese invasion of Malaya and the capture of Singapore in February 1942, an unexpected victory that shocked the British Empire. Newspapers around the world called him the "Tiger of Malaya." Just four … Read more
Mi sedetti al gate numero sei dell’aeroporto regionale per due ore, guardando la batteria del telefono prosciugarsi insieme alla pazienza. Il mio volo dalla Florida era atterrato alle 11:40 in punto. Avevo mandato un messaggio a mio figlio David prima ancora che l’aereo raggiungesse la pista. “Sono atterrata. Gate sei. A presto. ” Le spunte … Read more
Mi fermo in mezzo al mio soggiorno mentre Amber, la moglie di mio figlio, strappa le mie foto dal muro, mentre novanta miei parenti mi fissano in un silenzio opprimente. È il mio sessantottesimo compleanno. Mio figlio Justin mi porge dei documenti con la mia firma falsificata. “Ci hai trasferito la proprietà della casa il … Read more
In the summer of 1909, a 33-year-old educator from Louisville stepped off a train in a small American town carrying little more than a notebook and a letter of introduction from the Carnegie Foundation. He was not a doctor and had never set foot in an operating room. His name was Abraham Flexner, and over … Read more
On the evening of December 11, 1936, a man sat before a microphone at Windsor Castle and told the world he was leaving. His voice was calm, his diction precise. He said he had found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility without the help and support of the woman he loved. The … Read more
Russell Concincaid měl pravidlo, které si přinesl z dvacetileté služby u námořní pěchoty a které se vešlo na nálepku na nárazník, i když by si ji nikdy nedal: Nekřič, buď si jistý. Byl to operátor speciálních jednotek, raider, muž, který strávil kariéru tím, že byl nejklidnější v místnostech, kde klidu bylo poskrovnu. Bylo mu dvaačtyřicet, … Read more
On the night of May 11, 1969, a six-man American reconnaissance team northeast of Quan Loi base camp found itself surrounded by roughly 30 enemy soldiers closing in from every direction. Rain had driven off the gunships meant to support them, the radio was fading, and reinforcements were not coming. Team leader Sergeant Orman Crabtree … Read more
Seisoin Venesataman huoltorakennuksen edessä avaimet kädessäni, kun Reijo Vainio, mies, joka oli vuokrannut minulle venepaikkaa 108 vuoden ajan, astui esiin laatikkopinon takaa, tarttui käsivarteeni niin lujaa, että siitä jäi mustelma, ja veti minut alas vanhan syöttikalapakastimen taakse. Älä liiku, hän hengitti. Älä sano sanaakaan. Sinun täytyy kuulla jotain. Ja Jumala, minua auttakoon. Sinun täytyy kuulla … Read more
On December 7, 1941, a battleship still carried on Japanese naval books as “Battleship No. 1” fired nine shells from her 18-inch guns across 32. 5 kilometers. That ship, later named Yamato, was built to a width of 127 feet—so broad she could not fit through the Panama Canal, which had locks only 110 feet … Read more
In 1846, as the Mexican-American War loomed, a 16-year-old Samuel Chamberlain arrived in San Antonio, Texas, after a turbulent journey that began with his expulsion from a Christian school in Boston for repeated fights, some involving his teachers. His route took him through Illinois, St. Louis, and New Orleans before he landed at Port Lavaca, … Read more