As a child we played “war” a lot. And why wouldn’t we? It was on television and in movie theaters. I was also given books about World War II. Somehow the Battle of Britain managed to be among the most talked about event. Perhaps it is our closeness to our mother country that brought their experience … More The Supermarine Spitfire: To Be, Or Not to Be?
Conflict is a constant. Here is a 20th century exhibit. At the end of the Munich Crisis in 1938, a last ditch effort to avoid the Second World War, after all the other concessions had been made in favor of Germany, Neville Chamberlain asked Adolf Hitler to sign a pledge not to go to war … More I have here, from Herr Hitler, a piece of paper.
Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it. George Santayana -1905 This famous statement could be attributed to my guest, lawyer and author James D. Shipman in 2017. Bitter Rain is the title of Jim’s fourth historical novel and the second in a row concerning the Second World War. As we learn … More The James D. Shipman Interview
Democracy’s arm late. Much later than regimes run by strongmen. Because the rate of development of new war fighting aircraft in the 1930’s was a lot like the development of software in the last few decades; pre-war Britain saw lots of entrants to the market, few successes and a whole lot of loss due to … More Albatross of the Battle of Britain
Under heavy escort and in complete secrecy, Prime Minister Winston Churchill is driven to the offices of his therapist. “Good afternoon Mr. Churchill, it is good to see you again.” Thank you doctor Freud, although I might say it is not always good to see you. “How have things been going since I saw you … More Winston Churchill Gets Some Counseling
Following the heroic if occasionally inaccurate The Longest Day, the next film to recount the events of June 6, 1944 was entitled The Big Red One, starring Lee Marvin and Mark Hamill. The film traces the experience of this unit, landing in North Africa, then Italy and finally invading northern Europe and comes close to … More D-Day: Part 2, Now We Can Look
The Longest Day was released in 1962, scarcely 18 years after the event. Like most of the WWII films of the 1960’s era, the screenplay seems to require that the actors recite the facts of how the soldiers seem to be there along with the strategic and political complexities of the day, all stated in … More D-Day in Film- Part One- Speeches on the Beaches
I have had the pleasure of representing Veterans, most often in the estate planning context. Sometimes I think my courtroom tales curl the toes, but the truth is the conflict we address day in and day out is without bloodshed. The tales these men tell evidence more at stake and a privilege to hear. An older fellow … More Representing Veterans: They Have Seen More Than Anyone Should
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like movies. Movies take you away to some other place than your life for two hours, then allows you to return to the relative safety of the theater lobby. Most of the time the movies are about conflict. Often about war. There is something about conflict that is a compelling story. We … More In Harm’s Way
We few, We Happy Few We band of brothers For he that sheds his blood with me today shall be by brother; Be he ne’re so vile, this day shall gentle his condition: And gentlemen now in England now a-bed shall think themselves cursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap while any … More The Greatest Generation
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