Resources on History – Military
Winston Churchill was born November 30, 1874. He tops most lists of the twentieth century’s greatest leaders, the consummate man of word and action. From May 1940 to America’s December 1941 entry into World War II, Churchill’s leadership rallied Britain against Nazi domination. Of all the countries of northern Europe, only Britain stood between Hitler and freedom. It’s hard to imagine England resisting Germany’s onslaught without Churchill. British resistance was not a given. Other options were available, and many favored a negotiated peace. For readers wanting to become familiar with Churchill’s life but unable to invest the time it takes to read a lengthy biography, I recommend Winston Churchill: A Life by the late military historian John Keegan. This brief biography comes…
Read MoreStill clearing materials off an old blog and here’s a powerful movie I watched several years ago. Sophie Scholl – The Final Days is a remarkable film about a courageous young Christian in Hitler’s Germany. She actively and publicly opposed the Nazi war machine. In 1943, she, along with two other members of the White Rose resistance group, were arrested by the Gestapo, tried, and beheaded. Sophie was 21. This movie (in German with English subtitles) is a testimony to Christian faith, humble prayer, physical and moral courage, and family devotion. The film’s director is an atheist. Nevertheless, it is one of the finest Christian films I’ve seen, a tribute to the work of movie makers who are faithful to…
Read MoreBefore I close down an old blog, I wanted to move over a few movie recommendations. HBO’s Taking Chance is the story of Marine Lt. Colonel Michael Strobel (Kevin Bacon) who escorts the remains of Lance Cpl. Chance Phelps, killed in Iraq, from Dover AFB to their final resting place in Dubois, Wyoming. There’s not a wasted moment in the film. Gracefully and poignantly, the story unfolds: a Marine’s ultimate sacrifice, the enduring devotion of his comrades in uniform, and the expressions of honor and respect shown a fallen hero by ordinary citizens as his body is escorted home. The Wall Street Journal’s Dorothy Rabinowitz wrote: “It was impossible to imagine, beforehand, all the ways a film like Taking Chance . . .…
Read MoreTake a few minutes of your Memorial Day to listen to the story of Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez. Truthful, earnest, and orderly speeches, backed up by the speaker’s physical and moral courage, compel an audience’s attention. Seargeant Benavidez exemplifies each of these virtues as he speaks after receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor. Of the many speeches I showed my rhetoric and debate students at Westminster Christian Academy, this one became a class favorite. After President Reagan’s summary of his battlefield valor, Mr. Benavidez speaks.
Read MoreJoshua Chamberlain is best remembered as the hero of the battle of Little Round Top at Gettysburg. Today I want to remember him as the author of a remarkable letter. A Bowdoin College professor, Chamberlain possessed no formal military experience when he enlisted after the outbreak of the Civil War. However, he proved himself a quick study in the art of leadership, rapidly rising to the rank of colonel of the 20th Maine. The young leader established himself an able field commander. His clear thinking, personal courage, and command presence under fire were critical in repulsing the Alabama 15th’s attempt to take Little Round Top on July 2, 1863. Had the Confederates succeeded, leaving the Union left flank exposed, the withdrawal of the northern army from Gettysburg would have been…
Read MoreTomorrow is the 50th anniversary of the death of Winston Churchill, arguably the greatest leader of the 20th century. This brief video contains footage of his state funeral. In yesterday’s National Review Online, Victor Davis Hanson argues that “the United States has never owed more to a foreign citizen than to Winston Churchill, a monumental presence 50 years after his death.”
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