by Paddy Kelly
The primary influence for telling this story is William Manchester, a consummate historian who understands, and has taught me, the significance of the inter-relation of historical facts, meaning that nothing stands alone. For example, our fathers were taught and learned important points in history such as the USS Maine being blown up by saboteurs, Teddy Roosevelt charging up San Juan Hill to win the battle and the war, about the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor and how important it was to get the Communists out of Hollywood before they brainwashed the country.
The USS Maine was not blown up by Spanish or Cuban saboteurs, Teddy never charged up San Juan Hill, there is recently released documented evidence that FDR knew about Pearl Harbor at least two weeks beforehand, and the Thomas-Rankin and Truman-McCarthy witch hunts and HUAC were about stopping the Writer’s Guild of America from gaining inroads into screen credit and decent pay, and had nothing to do with communists taking over Hollywood.
So, because these and hundreds, if not thousands, of other events are still taught in the American school systems as fact, to some extent the victor does get to write the history, but sooner or later some nosy, educated writers like William Manchester and Gore Vidal, or journalists like Woodward and Bernstein will happen along and piss off a bunch of people by finding out and telling the truth.
It is from the narration of the burning of the Hindenburg and the story of the Normandie that I came to understand the significance of knowing about those who came before us. I came to understand that you are what you are because of Genetics. You are where you are because of Geo-Politics. However, you are who you are because of the Genetics of Geo-Politics, which is History.
Glossary
Automat – A self-serve eating establishment whereby the customer is required to insert coins into slots adjoining small compartments with glass doors which contain the desired food item. Horn and Hardart’s were the pioneers in this food service technique and popularised it throughout the greater New York area for more that twenty years.
Beeline – To move in a straight line towards something; interpreted to mean move swiftly towards a given location or person.
Bozo – A popular American clown figure.
DE’s – Destroyer Escorts. Smaller than a Destroyer.
Flipped – “Flipped Your Wig”, to have gone crazy.
Goim – One who is not Jewish; not of the faith. Usually Christians.
Grapevine, The – A source of unfounded gossip; rumours. In naval terminology, “The Scuttlebutt”.
G.W. – Short for The George Washington Bridge.
INS – Immigration and Naturalisation Service.
Lead pipe cinch – An absolute sure thing. An event whose outcome is 100% certain.
Maxine, Patty and Leverne – The three Andrews Sisters.
OJT – On the Job Training.
Regular Coffee – The most common way to take your coffee in New York City at the time, with milk and sugar.
Savvy – To understand or comprehend.
Schmoe – A looser.
Schmuck – A sucker.
“School’s out, Satch!” – Wise-up. In the Bowery Boys films, Satch was the reflective/comic relief character who always had to be told the score.
Scutch – Short for Scucheem, American mispronounciation of Sfaccimme. Sicilian for son of an unmarried, pregnant woman in heat. A son-of-a-bitch or bastard. To annoy, aggravate or purposely irritate.
Shadow Box – To compete against oneself; interpreted to mean to a waste of time.
The Silver Clipper – Joe DiMaggio, famous New York Yankee team member who in 1942 earned 96 hits in 56 consecutive games. Second husband of Marilyn Monroe.
Singing Randy Movie – Merriam Morrisson’s, (John Wayne), attempt to break into cowboy movies. Randy was a singing cowboy who gave the audience a number before, and sometimes after, killing the bad guy, and winning the girl. It was an effort to compete with Gene Autrey and Roy Rogers.
“The skinny” – The story, the lowdown, the dope, what’s going on.
Yoohoo – A popular chocolate soda/drink
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