The Best Pearl Harbor Tour from Honolulu

Above, the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Anyone visiting the Hawaiian islands should include Pearl Harbor as a "must" in their itineraries. 

This especially goes for people who are interested in World War II history. 

When I went to Hawaii in 2016, a visit to Pearl Harbor was included. While there, we screened a video on the Pearl Harbor attack before boarding the shuttle boat to the USS Arizona Memorial. 

DestinationLess Travel posted an article on the best Pearl Harbor tour from Waikiki.

They begin it with:

How do you even begin to understand a place as significant as Pearl Harbor? In my experience, taking a tour makes the experience easier to navigate and more meaningful.

Visiting Pearl Harbor is one of the most important things to do in Honolulu, especially if you want to learn more about what happened on December 7, 1941, and its impact on Hawaii, the United States, and the world.

When I visited Honolulu with my family, we took this Pearl Harbor tour from Waikiki and thought it was a really simple and well-organized way to visit the memorial. So, I’ve written this honest review to share exactly what the tour was like, what I loved, and a few things to know before you book.

To read more, go here.

Remembering Those Who Have Fallen

Have a safe Memorial Day.

Above, the USS Missouri and the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

"Victory At Sea" First Two Episodes

As tomorrow is Memorial Day, to salute those who have fallen in defense of freedom, here are the first two episodes of the acclaimed television series, Victory At Sea. 

They are: Episode 1, "Design For War" and Episode 2, "The Pacific Boils Over"

Why The Winchester Model 1894 Refuses to Die!

Episode 5: WWII-Era .30-30 | Why The Winchester Model 1894 Refuses to Die! video by Bald Guys With Guns.

Summary:

The Winchester Model 1894 in .30-30 is one of the most legendary rifles ever made — and in this episode, we break down why.

Our rifles date back to the World War II era, and we take a deep dive into what makes them special, both historically and on the range. We go over the videos we’ve made with these rifles, including competitions, review footage, and some unforgettable (and hilarious) moments — including the case for why this might actually be Santa’s go-to rifle.

We also talk about:

Why the .30-30 is still relevant for hunting today

What makes lever-action rifles so fun to shoot

How these classic rifles perform in modern shooting scenarios

Whether you're a fan of classic firearms, lever guns, or just enjoy watching us run these rifles through different challenges, this episode has something for you.

General George S. Patton's Actual Movie Speech In His Own Voice

The actual voice of Gen. George S. Patton sounded nothing like George C. Scott in the movie Patton. But it was rip-roaring nonetheless.

Thanks to Band of Brothers TV, we can hear Patton's voice giving a speech, many phrases were used in the movie.

Here's Gen. George S. Patton in his own voice. Beware, it is explicit:

The Shotguns of WWII: Model 1897 and Model 1912

Above, the Winchester Model 12 shotgun I bought last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is interesting that shotguns were very effective during World War II, especially in the Pacific Theater.

Winchester's Model 1897 and Model 1912 shotguns terrified Japanese soldiers, with good reason.

War History Online posted an interesting article on the use of shotguns during World War II.

They begin it with:

Aside from a flame thrower, there are few close-range weapons as deadly as a shotgun. Shotguns are terrifyingly effective at short ranges, as their shot spread does not need to be precisely aimed to score a hit. At longer ranges, a shotgun peppers the target with fast-moving metal balls, while at close ranges shotguns can effortlessly inflict horrific wounds. For these reasons, the shotgun has found itself at home in close quarters combat in wartime, sometimes controversially. Until the 1960s the United States’ shotguns of choice have been the Winchester Model 1897 and 1912.

Both of these shotguns started life as commercially-sold firearms but quickly proved themselves on the battlefield.

To read more, go here. 

The Day Japan Faced the Winchester M12

During my university days at Cal State Long Beach, I took a World War II history class. 

The class mainly had us view the television documentary show, World At War. At no time during the class was the use of shotguns in the Pacific theater of World War II mentioned, either in lectures, in the videos or in books. 

Above, your truly taking possession of the Winchester Model 12 shotgun. 

Recently, a spate of videos have been uploaded in YouTube on the topic of shotguns in the war. I have posted one several days ago. I have another posted below.

It is specifically about the use of the Winchester Model 12 shotgun during the war. I bought a Model 12 a year ago and it is fun to shoot.  

Japanese Forces Stunned by the Power of 12-Gauge Shotguns!

 "Japanese Forces Stunned by the Power of 12-Gauge Shotguns!" by Voices of War.

Summary:

In the Pacific jungles of World War II, Japanese forces faced a weapon they never expected — the 12-gauge shotgun. What was meant for hunting turned into a devastating close-range battlefield equalizer.

Discover how U.S. Marines used raw stopping power, speed, and surprise to dominate close-quarters combat — leaving Japanese troops shocked and unprepared for the brutal effectiveness of this underrated weapon.

 

81st Anniversary of D-Day

HONORING OUR HEROES: Today marks the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings — the pivotal moment of World War II spearheaded by thousands of allied soldiers storming the French coastline that eventually led to the collapse of Adolf Hitler’s regime. pic.twitter.com/xz0CnZ4WKq

— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 6, 2025

The Truth of John Wayne's WWII Military Exemption

Above, John Wayne with the troops in Viet Nam.

There have been many detractors questioning John Wayne's exemption from military service during World War II.

The official John Wayne Facebook page has posted the following to set the record straight:

Though many questioned John Wayne’s exemption from military service during World War II, the decision was not entirely his fault. Duke was classified as 3-A (family deferment) due to his age (34) and family status at the time of Pearl Harbor. Despite this, he repeatedly wrote to John Ford, asking to be placed in Ford's military unit, but Ford continually postponed it until after one more film.

Wayne did not try to prevent his reclassification to 1-A (draft eligible), but Republic Pictures, where he was under contract, fought hard to keep him. President Herbert J. Yates even threatened Duke with a lawsuit if he left, and Republic intervened with the Selective Service to request his deferment.

During the war, John Wayne dedicated his time to supporting the troops, serving Thanksgiving dinners at the Hollywood Canteen, touring with the USO in the South Pacific, and portraying the American soldier with dignity and courage. After Christmas 1942, he began a three-month USO tour across Australia, New Britain, and New Guinea.

Decades later, Duke continued to visit troops on the frontlines, including in Vietnam, where he spent time with soldiers in the trenches. It was a way for him to engage with everyday soldiers on a personal level, offering morale and support during an active conflict.

 

Oops! "In Harm's Way" Jeep Blooper

 A little while ago, I noticed something on Facebook. It is a video clip from the 1965 movie, In Harm's Way starring John Wayne and Kirk Douglas.

It shows a Jeep approaching Wayne and George Kennedy. It is supposed to be a South Pacific base during World War II. The Jeep shown did not exist at the time. It is a Willys Jeep M38A1 that was first produced in 1952. I should know, I have one.

It was spotted by the front fenders. I have the movie on DVD, but I never noticed this until today. 

Here's a screenshot of the Jeep from the movie:

Here's my 1952 M38A1:

The Jeeps during World War II all (different models) had flat fenders. It is anachronistic for the era.

Rifles of World War II

Above, the Winchester 94 made its way into Allied soldiers
hands. Mine, above, is a 1962 vintage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Rifles used by the Allied forces and the Axis during World War II were many and of different makes. 

Some of them are collectors items today.

AOL (of all places) has posted the different rifles used during World War II. Included is the Winchester Model 94 lever-action. It is number 57 on the list of 69.

They begin with:

As horrible as the Second World War may have been, there can be no question that one of the defining aspects of the war was the weapons put into the hands of troops around the world. With every rifle earmarked for a soldier, there was a likelihood this soldier would be placed on a battlefield and told to capture an essential objective for both the Allied and Axis powers to win the war.

To see them all, go here. 

Explore Navajo Interactive Museum

Above, the Navajo Code Talker statue in Window Rock, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's a place I'll need to visit the next time I am in Northern Arizona.

It is the Explore Navajo Interactive Museum in Tuba City. Within the museum are exhibits of the World War II Navajo Code Talkers.

RV Travel has posted an article on the museum.

It begins with:

Located in Tuba City, Arizona, the Explore Navajo Interactive Museum offers visitors an engaging and immersive experience of the rich history and culture of the Navajo Nation.

Among its many exhibits, the museum pays homage to the incredible Navajo Code Talkers of World War II. The Code Talkers have always interested my husband and me, so we were excited to include this amazing museum on our RV itinerary. If you’re traveling through Northern Arizona, this interactive museum is a destination you won’t want to miss. Here’s why you should plan a visit.

To read more, go here.

Trump Invited To Commemoration of Atomic Bombings

Above, the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan have invited President Donald Trump to their cities to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings that led to the end of World War II.

The Japan Times reported:

The mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have requested that U.S. President Donald Trump visit the atomic-bombed cities this year to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the attacks and the end of World War II.

“We hope that you will listen to the voices of civil society, visit the atomic-bombed cities, listen to the firsthand accounts of the hibakusha and fully grasp the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and accept the hibakusha’s earnest desire for peace,” Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui and Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to the new U.S. president.

The mayors emphasized Washington’s key role in reining in the proliferation of nuclear weapons as “tensions continue to worsen” across the globe ahead of the anniversary of the attack on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, and on Nagasaki three days later.

The U.S. bombings of the two cities killed an estimated 214,000 people, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of World War II.

Above, the hypocenter monument in Nagasaki. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 2024

Today marks 83 years since the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, leading to the U.S. entry into World War II.

USA Today has historical photos of the attack. To see them, go here.

Above, the sunken hulk of the U.S.S. Arizona in Pearl Harbor. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back From The Clampout

Around 2:30 this afternoon, I got back home in Jamestown, New Mexico from the fall clampout with Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus.

The clampout was held in Bouse, Arizona, which was part of Gen. George S. Patton's Desert Training Center. It was quite hot during the daytime hours. Sierra remained at home minding the store.

We had a plaque dedication for a new plaque along with a rededication of an older plaque that was relocated a small park. In fact, the park holds s everal clamper plaques along with some military vehicles. It has to be the biggest collection of clamper plaques outside of Murphys, California. They were placed in various years by the Lost Dutchman and/or Billy Holcomb and Squibob Chapters.

The new and old plaques commemorate the A & C Mercantile store, the oldest business in Bouse.

A few photos:

Above, the old plaque is below the new one. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the A & C Mercantie store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a row of past ECV plaques. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a WWII tank on display at the park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, getting the dedication set-up. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, yours truly at the plaque dedication.

Above, the reading of the plaque. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

John Wayne and The Draft

In recognition of the 82nd anniversary yesterday of the John Wayne movie, Flying Tigers (1942), the official John Wayne Facebook page addressed Wayne's draft exemption during World War II.

They wrote:

“Don’t try to win this war all by yourself.” —John Wayne as Captain Jim Gordon in Flying Tigers⁣​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Today marks the 82nd Anniversary of the release of Flying Tigers (1942). This was John Wayne's first role as a pilot. The New York Times called the film “a first rate aerial circus chock-full of exciting dog fights” adding, “Mr. Wayne is the sort of fellow who inspires confidence.”

Though many had questioned John Wayne's getting an exemption from military service during World War II, it was not entirely his fault. Duke was exempted from service due to his age (34 at the time of Pearl Harbor) and family status, classified as 3-A (family deferment). He repeatedly wrote to John Ford, asking to be placed in Ford's military unit, but Ford consistently postponed it until after he had finished one more film.

John Wayne did not attempt to prevent his reclassification as 1-A (draft eligible), but Republic Pictures was emphatically resistant to losing him; Herbert J. Yates, President of Republic, threatened Duke with a lawsuit if he walked away from his contract and Republic intervened in the Selective Service process, requesting his further deferment.

 

Who Owns Jeep?

Above, my 1952 Willys Jeep M38A1 in Six Mile Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This morning, I was perusing around the Internet on what news, if any, has surfaced concerning Jeep.

I stumbled on an article posted by TopSpeed with the title, "Who Owns Jeep?" Curious, I took a look and found it interesting.

It begins with:

Answering the question of who owns the Jeep brand should be pretty straightforward, and in a way, it is: Stellantis is the current owner. However, who Stellantis is and how Jeep came under the auto group's umbrella is a complex tale with more twists and turns than an M. Night Shyamalan movie. Well, one of his good movies, anyway. Jeep vehicles have always been popular, but for whatever reason, the brand has been sold over and over again, with 10 different companies owning it.

Starting out as a humble general-purpose military vehicle during WWII, the Jeep really hasn't changed that much from a design perspective. A 2024 Jeep Wrangler is not radically different from a 1945 Willys-Overland CJ, and that's because the utilitarian design is both exceptionally cool and timeless. The Jeep brand branched out into other segments with SUVs, crossovers, and trucks, but the CJ/Wrangler is the star that has carried the automaker for over 80 years.

In its journey from soldier to 4x4 superstar, the Jeep has shared the road with the AMC Pacer, Dodge Viper, Mercedes-Benz SL500, Fiat 500, and Maserati MC20. Since the history of Jeep ownership is a bit like a thriller, this story has some darkness as well. Every company that has acquired the Jeep brand eventually faced financial difficulties, leading some to speculate about the "Jeep Curse." The reality is, Jeep keeps changing hands because it is a dynamite brand that is often copied, but never equaled.

To read the full article, go here. 

Japanese Photographer Spotlights WWII Native American Code Talkers

Above, the Navajo Code Talker statue in Window Rock, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In recent years, the famed Native American (Navajo) code talkers used during World War II have been receiving much recognition.

It has come to light that a Japanese photographer has been chronicling the code talkers' lives since then.

Kyodo News reported:

Until the 1960s, few knew of a special unit of Navajo code talkers in the U.S. Marine Corps who helped ensure the secrecy of U.S. military communications in the Pacific theater during World War II.

For the past several decades, however, their story has been chronicled by a photographer from Japan, the country with which they were at war, who has not only celebrated their pivotal wartime contributions but also shed light on the complex legacy of cultural suppression they endured.

The young Native American men experienced combat in several battles including the Battle of Okinawa, which raged for nearly three months until June 1945 and is widely considered the war's bloodiest conflict in the Pacific theater.

 To read more, go here.

D-Day Plus 80

80 years ago today:

From Wikipedia:

The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day, it is the largest seaborne invasion in history.