1980: The Iran-Iraq War this week

Iran and Iraq went to war this week in 1980.    It was a horrible war that went on for almost 8 years.

Sadly, population centers in both countries were devastated and Iraq employed chemical weapons, such the blister agent mustard gas from 1983 and the nerve gas Tabun from 1985.  

Later, Iraq attacked the Kurds to the north.

So Iraq used chemical weapons in that war?   I thought that he didn't have them!   

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

1620: Remember the Mayflower

 

History is ugly but it is also beautiful. The Mayflower is one of those beautiful chapters.

This week, we remember one of the most important dates in the history of the US and religious freedom.    

It started when a group of people boarded the Mayflower in 1620.  They landed at the tip of modern Cape Cod 66 days later.

It is such a beautiful story, especially when one remembers that half of the colonists died in the new land.  Nevertheless, they persevered and eventually celebrated what we now call “Thanksgiving.”

Long live the Mayflower.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

We remember Patsy Cline (1932-1963)

Patsy Cline was born on this day in 1932.  She was only 30 when killed in a plane crash in 1963.  

In the 1980’s, I discovered “Crazy”, a great country song.   It got me to read and inquire about Patsy’s music.    

Today, I’m a big fan of her music.  She also recorded “I fall to pieces” and several other country hits! 

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

2014: The story of "Pedro Pan" with Victor Triay, Cuban American author

The story of "Pedro Pan" with Victor Triay, Cuban American author....Listen in now at http://t.co/y9bZehxPWK. #BlogTalkRadio
— Silvio Canto, Jr. (@SCantojr) September 12, 2014

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

World War II: The outbreak of war and the invasion of Poland in 1939

The story of World War II, part 3 of our series.........the outbreak of war after the invasion of Poland...

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

September 2, 1945 and the formal end of World War II

On September 2, 1945, Japan formally surrendered.  And there was a lot of kissing and celebrating all over!

There were many great songs recorded in the 1940's, specially about the soldier at war and the girl back home.    

In 1945, Kitty Kalen and Harry James recorded one of the great tunes of that era.    It was titled "It's been a long long time" and you can now get it on a digital version:

"Never felt that you would be standing so close near to met there's so much I feel that I should say but words can wait until some other day 

Kiss me once, then kiss me twice, then kiss me once again,It's been a long, long time!  

Haven't felt like this my dear, since I can't remember when,It's been a long, long time! 

You'll never know how may dreams I dreamed about you,or just how empty they all seemed without you 

So, kiss me once, then kiss me twice,then kiss me once again,It's been a long, long time!"

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

September 1, 1963: Curt Simmons the last pitcher to steal home!

On this day in 1963, Curt Simmons stole home, or the last pitcher to do so.  He dashed home in a squeeze play aborted at the last second.  Nevertheless, Simmons was safe.

Wouldn't you love to see a video replay of that steal?  Wonder if they have one somewhere?

Overall, he won 193, lost 183 with a very good 3.54 career ERA.  He also completed 163 games.  He started 2 games in the 1964 World Series.  

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.