Morris “Moe” Berg (March 2, 1902 – May 29, 1972) was an American professional baseball player, scholar, and spy. Although he played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher for teams including the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, and Boston Red Sox, Berg was better known for his intellect and later, his work with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II. Fluent in multiple languages and educated at Princeton and Columbia, Berg became a unique figure in American history: a man who excelled in sports, academics, and espionage.
The time a Soviet TU-16 (BADGER) bomber crashed into the sea after buzzing a U.S. aircraft carrier. See the actual video of the crash of the aircraft at the end of this post.
Featured picture shows the helmet of Pliyeev, the pilot of a Soviet TU-16 (BADGER F) that crashed his aircraft into the North Sea on May 25, 1968.
Continue reading “The time a Soviet TU-16 (BADGER) bomber crashed into the sea after buzzing a U.S. aircraft carrier.”
Early on June, 17, 2017, the United States Navy destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) collided with MV ACX Crystal, a Philippine-flagged container ship, about 80 nautical miles (92 miles) southwest of Tokyo, Japan; 10 nautical miles (12 miles) southeast of the city of Shimoda on the Japanese mainland (Honshu).
The accident killed seven Fitzgerald Sailors. Their bodies were recovered from the flooded berthing compartments of the ship. At least three more of the crew of nearly 300 were injured, including the ship’s commanding officer, Commander Bryce Benson.
Continue reading “Remembering the Crew of USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62)”
The history of the Cryptologic Technician community is filled with stories of dedication, sacrifice, and service in defense of the nation. Among those stories is that of Cryptologic Technician Interpretive Second Class (CTI2) Chad M. Kueser, whose courage and resilience embody the finest traditions of military service.
Continue reading “CTI2 Chad M. Kueser (Ret.): A Warrior’s Sacrifice and Unyielding Determination”
Nearly 60 years ago, Israel attacked the U.S. Navy ship. Finally, a congressman has paid tribute to the victims and survivors.
On June 8, 1967, the American Navy’s ship the USS Liberty was attacked by Israel, killing 34 and wounding at least 171.
On June 8, 2026, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) said, on the House floor,
“It’s my great honor, maybe one of the biggest honors of my lifetime, to stand here on the floor and do something that’s 59 years overdue, to recognize the survivors and those who gave their lives on the USS Liberty 59 years ago today, when they were viciously attacked by IDF [Israel Defense Force] jets and also after that by torpedo boats.”
Continue reading “Massie Recognizes USS Liberty Attack. Here’s Why That Matters”
In the summer of 1962, Vietnam was on the minds of almost all high school graduates and prospective employers. My dream job at the time was to become an accountant with the railroad. I had been turned down for employment just because of Vietnam. While I had held a variety of jobs, including foreman in a roofing company, construction was not what I wanted to do. So, I took a temporary job bussing tables at a local restaurant In Huntington, WV, my home town and the place where I grew up. Several weeks later I joined the Navy on 30 August 1962. During discussion with the recruiter I requested a good school as part of my contract. Which school was a matter of discussion at some future date but I thought I wanted to be a Yeoman. As it turned out, selection as a Communications Technician was going to be the best thing to happen to this young and innocent graduate who was from a poor family. I arrived in Pensacola, FL in April 1963. After learning Morse code, I was placed in Class 01T with a graduation in October.
Continue reading “The Story of CTRCS Paul E. Rickman, USN, Ret. and Agent Orange, (Repost December 31, 2018)”
Station HYPO 