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Originally Posted by Adam the Ant
First "Naval War" during which the ships did not see each other. Just planes versus planes. Totally historic and innovative.
There's something mystical about dueling to the death, with an enemy you can't see. Recognizing the radar warning tone, as your harbinger of doom. I'd think the anonymity, makes it easier to eliminate the enemy, but makes dying, much more agonizing. Every take-off is a journey, into potential mortality.
Navel Air Wings must be interesting psychological studies. The quintessential adrenalin addict, as savior of the world. I can hardly imagine anything as exciting as a night landing on a moving carrier. Guess I'm an adrenalin addict too.
Wait a minute. There is something more exciting. War, and the best of warfare would have to be the naval battle. Safe and seriously insecure simulataneously. I get chills when I watch footage of the great battleships and cruisers of WWII. I would've loved being on the USS Yorktown at Midway. Let's not forget Bull Halsey. He was a tough-no-nonsense kind of commander, who tiptoed his way through the Atlantic, fighting under command of MacArthur.
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Unfortunately for Nimitz, he didn't have a tenth MacArthur's charisma. He was totally overshadowed. But Mac still owns him despite his greatness.
For a man with pride, (as anyman of this caliber would be), it must have been difficult to live with MacArthur's noteriety, day in and day out. Somehow Nimitz managed it. Guess he wasn't consumed with ego.
What I really loved about Nimitz, was his keen instincts. The man was a marvel, at coming to the correct conclusion, without corresponding total information. And subsequently implementing his judgement, despite personal risk. He was keenly intuitive, and couragous. Overwhelming pot odds for success, in any individual venture.
But who wouldn't love McArther? Do you belive, had Eisenhower given him free reign, we'd have had nuclear war, with Russia and China? What about the thirty-eighth parallel? When MacArther crossed it, was he provoking the Chinese, or did he really consider it a tactical decision? He's both hero and anti-hero. This reminds me of "The White Cliffs of Dover" and I haven't a clue why. Anyone know the referrence? The relevance?
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Salamis was awesome. Too bad Thermistocles isn't as well remembered as that that dude in the movie "300".
Funny thing, I haven't a clue who portrayed him in the movie, don't actually recall him heing portrayed at all. But I think about Thermistocles occasionally. And wonder what else, the Oracle told him.
Can you imagine the battle?
Rainy night, everyone's senses stuck on, "on", and enhanced by adrenalin. Mind racing, teeth on edge. Sea rocking you into lulls of contemplation. The impending confrontation an everpresent presence in the back of your mind. Officers shouting orders, preparing the ship for seaworthiness in battle. Darkness broken only by flickering flame, shadowing all your efforts with foreboding. Eagerly awaiting morning's revelation, and dreading it's portent, with equal emotion.
I love everything Greek, and need a painting of this. Any suggestions?