An Army Howitzer is now firing a super high-speed, high-tech, electromagnetic Hyper Velocity Projectile, initially developed as a Navy weapon,  an effort to fast-track increasing lethal and effective weapons to war zones and key strategic locations, Pentagon officials said.  A round cost about $25,000. [Source: Scout Warrior | Kris Osborn| January 1, 2016 ++]

Know the Symptoms of a blood clot deep in your leg. A physical exam and other tests can help doctors determine whether you've got a blood clot. Symptoms include:

    Up until George Albert DeLong decided to enlist in the United States Navy to "see the world" in January 1941, he had lived in Annville, Pennsylvania. He had graduated high school less than a year before that. He  had a job in a local factory. When he started out in the Navy, he had no idea that, within the first year, he would survive one of the worst attacks the United States has ever faced.

    DeLong went to Quartermaster school in California after his recruit training and then was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, a battleship in the Pacific Fleet. The ship was stationed in Pearl Harbor and, when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941, he was trapped on board, along with seven other men. In describing his experience on that fateful day, DeLong remembered that "[t]here was a moment of panic when we first realized we were trapped…we looked at each other in stunned silence." They did not know what had happened yet, but they all decided together to stay where they were rather than risk getting stuck trying to move. Luckily, none of them were seriously injured.

    The group tried to shift to a higher position and "started fighting off the incoming water." Then, everything tipped over and all of the enormous machinery - "TONS of machinery" - that they had thought was secure fell. Water came in through the air vents into the small area where they were waiting for help, and they used a rolled up mattress to stop it, after first trying to use clothes and blankets. DeLong recalled that they "didn't dare go near the water." Their flashlight wasn't working properly, especially by the end, which left them in the dark. Then, someone made a joke, which really helped all of their morale, "set[ting] a tone that kept everybody on an even keel."

    As they waited to be rescued, DeLong remembered that “[t]here was just a little pin-point of light up there which was our first indication they were out there – just a little nail-hole or something. …When we saw it, we KNEW they were out there; before this it had SOUNDED as if they were there a dozen times; but this was the first time that we actually knew.” The rescuers cut a small hole to get them out because “[t]hey were afraid they were going to burn the oil in the sides there.” When everything was ready, the rescuers “reached down under our armpits and pulled us up one at a time and handed us up to the guy on the next perch.”

    The whole time that this group of eight men was trapped, they “had no idea of time.” Later, they discovered that they had been there for about 32 hours. As soon as they were rescued, they went to the USS Solace for medical attention, “and met the Captain on the quarterdeck. He came over and said, ‘Get the brandy!’” Everyone in the group was exhausted from their ordeal, but, before they went to sleep, they were fed and informed of the attack. When DeLong discussed this experience, he recalled that, while he was trapped, his first thoughts were about his mom. Rather than being angry or upset about the situation for his own sake, he was worried about how much pain it would cause for his mother. He tried to minimize the significance of this selflessness by attributing it to his young age and the fact that “at that time [he] was without ties and responsibilities,” but this just shows that he was modest in addition to being extremely empathetic. He also expressed gratitude to everyone who “participated in the rescue.”

.  [Source:  VAntage Point | Veterans Legacy Program | December 11, 2016 ++] 

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What 1916 Was Like
¦    Fuel for cars was sold in drug stores only.
¦    Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub and only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
¦    The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
¦    More than 95 percent of all births took place at home
¦   Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write.
¦   Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
¦   Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at local corner drugstores.
¦   Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.
¦   There were about 230 reported™ murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A.

 [Source: VFW Post 10132 | Rich McMeekin | January 3, 2017 ++]