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- Pete
- New Jersey
- Since my first trip to Gettysburg as a young boy, I've been captivated by History. I get it from my mom. Although she passed away when I was just 13, she still had an influence on me. All our family vacations were stitched around some historical site. So, history geeks are in my blood. I'm a graphic designer by profession and a semi-amateur painter. I love to explore history through my paintbrush. I've also done living history to get a first hand feel for "what it was like". Looking at history through the eyes of the common man (or woman) and understanding the personal, human drama is really the spice that flavors the historical stew!
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Monday, September 29, 2008
Ridin' with the Geek
I don't get out of the office much anymore, so I jumped at the chance to participate in a Staff Ride conducted by Brigadier General (promotable) Nick Justice which took place at Monmouth Battlefield State Park on 25 September. The park is doing just fine since the state nearly shut it down back in April.
In preparation for the event, each participant was given reading material related to the battle and a personality to portray. My assignment was Brigadier General Edward Mathew who commanded the British Foot Guards at Monmouth. Mathew instituted some changes to the Guard's uniforms for service in America and since I'm a visual type anyway, I produced this gouache study to illustrate them. So this is what "my command" would have looked like on June 28, 1778. Pretty cool, huh?
Now, I've spent countless hours out on that battlefield - heck, I've slept there numerous times - but I've never had a detailed tour of it. This was a rare chance to, a. get a tour and b. participate in a staff ride. As you'll see, the weather was iffy. A nor'easter was blowing in and the cool, gray and windy weather was in marked contrast to the 96 degree heat the soldiers suffered with during the battle. Indeed, as many succumbed to the sun as did to shot and shell.
Our little class trip started with a pre-brief the day before the "ride". Pictured below is the scene I encountered as I entered the conference room. A sand table of sorts marks all the key terrain features and is populated by toy soldiers representing the troop movements. Even our tour guide, Dr., COL (retired) Jim Johnson has donned the uniform of an ensign in a New York Continental Line regiment.
COL Johnson did a fantastic job explaining the battle to us in terms we could all understand. He has taught at the US Military Academy at West Point and it showed. Jim has a way of making history sound more like a story and less like a lecture. BG Justice reminded us that the point of a staff ride is to take lessons learned from the past and apply them to what we do now. That gave us something to think out before the "ride" the next day.
We started our grown up class trip at 8:15am when the bus left from Fort Monmouth to Monmouth Battlefield. The first stop was the visitors center where resident historian, Gary Stone gave us an overview. After that, it became predominantly a walking tour of the ground. At each stop, key figures were called on to explain their roles in that particular stage of the battle. As we followed the footsteps of the soldiers you could see, in your minds eye, that battleline on the ridge ahead suddenly erupt in fire and smoke. You could hear the balls as they buzzed by or made that sickening thump that told of another casualty. I think all of us experienced an emotional response to what we learned out there.
This wouldn't be the venue for a full history of the Battle of Monmouth, but here's some photos to give you an idea of what we saw last week.
Gary Stone points to key terrain features
The scene were General Charles Lee met Washington and near where "my" guards were ambushed by the Americans.
A view from the Parsonage Farm where some heavy fighting took place.
The view from Perrine Ridge where most of Washington's Army was arrayed.
Ok, so what of lessons learned? We had an after action review and here's what I got out of it. Both Washington and Clinton (the British commander) achieved their objectives. Neither really wanted a big battle. Clinton marched his army to New York and arrived intact. Pretty simple. Washington was eager to show off his newly trained army. Baron Von Steuben famously introduced a standard drill manual and taught it to the army during the long winter at Valley Forge. At Monmouth, Washington put on a show. His army, for the first time, went toe-to-toe with the British and didn't run. That was all he wanted.
As a graphic designer, I see this as "re-branding". He wanted to change the brand message of his Continental Army from brave, but bumbling amateurs, to brave, efficient, professional soldiers. That is a timely thought for me. The product I support is changing from just an army thing to a Joint (meaning Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines) product. In the coming year I will have to "re-brand" our project accordingly.
Except, I don't have a Von Steuben.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Giant Grid Iron Greats
The new NFL season officially started last night with my beloved New York Giants beating the Washington Redskins at home. Of course I got to thinking about last year's Giants and their truly historic run to the Superbowl and their improbable victory over the previously unbeaten New England Patriots. Go Big Blue! Then the history geek in me became a little nostalgic about the old time Giants.
I just love old fashioned football as evidenced in this 11"x14" oil painting I did recently called "Smashmouth". Leather helmets and iron men. That's what I'm talkin' about! Not many NFL teams have a more rich history than the New York Giants, which is probably a big reason the I like them. The other is that they used to practice close to where I grew up. That was always a thrill for me. Enough about my history and let's take a look at some of the notable Giants from the past, shall we?
"Tuffy" Leemans was a Hall of Fame running back for big blue from 1936 to 1943. He was a dependable tailback who also played some fullback. Once in a while he was a passer as well as a receiver (presumably not on the same play). The Giants honored him and his achievements with "Tuffy Leemans Day" at their old stadium, The Polo Grounds. The day they picked: December 7, 1941. The Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor kinda stole his thunder. Tuffy was going to join the Navy in 1942 but a head injury left him deaf in one ear. After football, he ran a duck pin bowling alley down in Maryland. Anyone know what a "duck pin" is? Oh yeah, and his real name was Alphonse. No wonder they called him "Tuffy".
Jack Lummus was another NY Giant on the field for "Tuffy Leemans Day". Jack was a two way end out of Baylor University. 1941 was his first pro season. It was also his last. In January of 1942 he had left football the join the Marines. In 1945 he took part in the famous assault on the island of Iwo Jima and won his country's highest military award; the Congressional Medal of Honor. Lummus' citation reads like a John Wayne movie. He survived two grenade blasts while single handedly taking out a couple of enemy pill boxes. Then, as he urged his men on, 1st LT Jack Lummus stepped on a land mine that blew off his legs. The surgeon that attended him quoted Jack: "Well, I guess the NY Giants have lost the services of a damn good end." Then he died.
John "Shipwreck" Kelley was billed as the fastest man in the south during his college years in Kentucky. I suppose that could be taken two ways. He lived in an 18 room mansion on Long Island Sound and was known to cavort with the rich and famous of his day. There were bull fights with Pablo Picasso, golf with the Duke of Windsor, an African safari with Ernest Hemmingway and dates with Tallulah Bankhead. How did this guy have time for football? Shipwreck was also chums with Herbert Hoover and did a little spying for him during WWII. A regular James Bond in shoulder pads!
So, I guess what I like about the old school grid iron greats is that it wasn't all about football for them. What I wouldn't give to break just one huddle with some of those guys. The closest I'll get is a trip to Past Time Sports. Their reproduction old fashioned athletic gear is gorgeous!
Enjoy the football season, whoever you root for, and do a little digging into the history of your favorite team. You never know what interesting anecdotes you'll find.
GO BIG BLUE!
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