In history, there are heroes and villains. What makes someone a hero? Maybe they helped make the world a fairer place. Or they stood up when somebody was being hurt. Heroes inspire us. We love to root for them. We want to be like them.

What makes somebody a villain? Sometimes, it was because they were violent. Or they were mean and ruthless. History is full of famous villains. 

But sometimes, it isn’t that simple. A lot of the people we read about in history books are both. Most people aren’t entirely good or entirely bad. Napoleon Bonaparte is a perfect example.

Napoleon is a very famous person from history. Many people would call him infamous. Infamous people are usually remembered for being a villain. But that’s not really fair. Napoleon’s life is a lot more complex than that. Sure, he did some terrible things. But he did some heroic things, too. In fact, he spent his whole life constantly jumping back and forth over the line that defines heroes and villains. 

History has pretty much decided Napoleon was a villain. But how about you? How will you judge him?

Napoleon Bonaparte was born about 250 years ago in 1769 on an island called Corsica in Europe. When he was born, the island was ruled by the King of France. This meant that Napoleon was born French. 

He left home to attend schools in France. This helped him learn to speak French. It also meant he could go to the best military schools. He must have done well, too, because he became an officer in the French army when he was only 16 years old. 

There was a lot going on in France at this time. In 1789, there was a big revolution. The French people did not like their king. He was living an extravagant life filled with food, wine, and gold, while they were starving in the dirty streets. Most people were angry that he wasn’t taking care of them like somebody in charge should do, so they overthrew him. 

Napoleon wasn’t in France while this was happening. He was taking a break from his career in the military and living back home in Corsica. But he was still paying attention. He listened to all of the political discussions going on around him. He started to agree with those who hated the king. He adopted their radical, revolutionary ideals. 

Eventually, Napoleon returned to Paris which was the center of the French government. The new leader of France, Maximilien Robespierre, needed Napoleon’s clever mind to lead his troops. You see, while France had been busy the past few years with their king, other countries saw this as an opportunity to invade. 

Under its new leader, France needed to prove to the world they were strong, that they were not a country to mess with. Napoleon was just the guy to send that message.

Maximilien Robespierre put Napoleon in charge of protecting France and its people from invasions. But there was a slight problem. The French army wasn’t in the best shape. In fact, it was pretty pathetic.

But Napoleon wasn’t worried. He knew he could lead them to victory. And he did. Not only did he defend France, he expanded it. In 1793, while he was fighting different battles around Europe, Napoleon was promoted three ranks in the French army within 4 months. 

He was proving to be a fierce leader. He was winning impressive battles. He became famous for his military tactics. Robespierre, the leader of France at the time, made sure everybody knew how much he appreciated Napoleon. He was fast becoming a hero to France.

However, while Napoleon was away fighting wars with other countries, things weren’t so great back home in France. Robespierre was turning out to be even worse than the king he’d replaced. He created some strict laws, and anybody who broke them was publicly executed. It was horrible. Overall, more than 17,000 French people lost their lives during his short period of rule. In fact, his rule from September 1793 to July 1794 was named the Reign of Terror because people were pretty much terrified of him. 

So history is pretty clear with this one: Robespierre was definitely more of a villain. 

But the French had just ditched a king that had been a lousy ruler. They knew what had to be done and how to do it. So they overthrew Robespierre, too. This was great for the French people but not so great for Napoleon. 

He had done all that work building strong troops, winning tough battles, and planning attacks. Unfortunately, he had done it all for Robespierre. And the whole country was now very unhappy with Robespierre.

Napoleon was now labeled as a villain, too, and he was put on house arrest. After about a year of being stuck at home, Napoleon was freed. Now he needed to earn back the trust of the new people in charge of France. 

Another new government was being set up in Paris. This time, they wanted a group of people in charge and a constitution, like the one we have in the United States. This would be a set of fair rules and laws to keep all French people safe. They planned a convention where the new leaders would meet to write the constitution.

Not everybody agreed with this, though. Some people even wanted a king back. These people were getting ready to attack the new government. 

Napoleon saw this as his opportunity to show all the new leaders of France how valuable he was. He showed up at the convention ready to protect anybody who wanted to attack it. And he did a great job. He thwarted the rebels outside and saved the new government of France. 

Once again, Napoleon was back on the hero list. He was given new positions and power in the military. He had control of French armies. Instead of staying back to help with the government, Napoleon knew that he belonged out on the front lines helping fight battles against other countries. 

Napoleon was pretty much a genius on the battlefield. He knew how to organize and rally troops brilliantly. He used smart tactics to turn a small, weak army into a powerful and victorious one. 

Napoleon was also very clever in deciding where and when to attack. He and his troops even went all the way to Egypt in order to prove just how strong they were. 

Even though he’d spent a lot of time away, the people back at home were celebrating Napoleon as a hero for all of his victories against their enemies. Napoleon was earning territory for his country and respect for himself. But outside of France, his popularity wasn’t soaring. The people and places he was conquering saw him more as a villain. They were victims of his violent and large-scale attacks.

But in 1799, Napoleon returned home to Paris triumphant. He was the man who couldn’t lose. He hoped to secure his place on the Hero List of History. But there was a slight problem.

Remember all the fighting and arguing about who should be in charge of France? Well, it was still happening when Napoleon got back. The leaders who had created a Constitution with Napoleon’s help were losing power and control. 

What should he do? Support the government that he’d backed three years ago? Or once again, side with the people.

Napoleon decided the time was right to really show everyone he was boss. And well, that he was ready to be the boss. Everybody loved him. They celebrated all of his brilliant victories. So, with the help of some close friends, Napoleon overthrew the French government…again. And he put himself in charge.

At first, he called himself the First Consul of France. This basically meant that he was a dictator. A dictator is somebody who rules over a country, kind of like a King, but they have all the power. No one has the ability to make decisions other than the dictator. 

A dictator is usually not a well-liked person because they have so much power over everybody. But Napoleon wanted to use his power to help the people in France. Most importantly, he wanted to make the country stronger than it had ever been. After all they’d been through, Napoleon wanted to make France better. 

Napoleon’s first actions as dictator were very positive. He made peace with the countries he’d been battling with. He also created a set of rules called the Napoleonic Code. Many of the things that Napoleon set up are still used in many parts of Europe today. 

Napoleon created public education, so that young people in France could go to school even if they had no money. He gave people religious freedom. Systems for businesses, banks, laws, and police were created. Napoleon was doing a lot of good! He was doing the kind of stuff heroes do. 

The rules in the Napoleonic Code promised some hints of democracy across Europe! Napoleon wanted the best people in charge. He wanted power to go to those with experience and ability instead of those with money or popularity. 

These reforms were good. People liked them. They liked Napoleon. In fact, Napoleon was starting to crave more and more power. He wanted to control everything happening in France. 

Eventually, Napoleon wasn’t happy with being just First Consul of France. Five years later, in 1804, Napoleon crowned himself as the Emperor of France. And he made sure to put his own crown on himself!

Like a king or a dictator, emperors have total power and control. However, by making himself an emperor, Napoleon changed two things. First, it meant that his children would inherit his power whenever he died. Second, it meant that Napoleon was most likely planning on invading surrounding countries to turn France into an empire. 

Napoleon was ready to get back on the battlefield and put his tactical mastermind to the test. He went up against the Austrians, the Russians, and the British in different battles across Europe. And most of the time, he won.

These battles are known as the Napoleonic Wars because his armies were fighting and invading many of the countries around them. At one point, Napoleon’s French empire spread across almost all of Europe. 

For close to ten years, Napoleon ruled successfully over a growing French empire. At this time, he was becoming known as both a hero and a villain. French people loved him, but all the other leaders in countries around France feared him. 

Then he made one really bad decision. He decided to invade Russia during the winter. His army was prepared for battle, but they were not so prepared for freezing cold temperatures. Many of them starved to death in the cold before they even met the enemy. 

Eventually, Napoleon and his army were outsmarted by the Russians, who were much more prepared for their own winter storms than he was. With no food, no supplies, and a depleting amount of men, Napoleon was forced to return home. 

Napoleon had lost many of his loyal men to the Russian winter. That wasn’t such a popular thing back home in France. There was nobody left to defend him within his own country. And the world outside of France already considered him a villain.

Those countries saw this as their chance to take him down once and for all. They invaded France. Napoleon had no army left. He was helpless to defend himself.

Napoleon’s enemies exiled him to a tiny island called Elba. Instead of an empire, now all Napoleon had was a small island. Of course, this wasn’t enough for him. About a year into his exile, Napoleon decided he would try once again to get back on that Hero List.

He escaped the island and sailed back to France with some of the supporters he still had. He marched into Paris. Crowds lined the streets, cheering for him to welcome him back. They missed his great success as emperor of France. Maybe he could still be a hero.

Napoleon easily took back control of the country and started building a new army for France. Though, this time, his enemies were prepared for him. They had all teamed up against him.

Napoleon’s great return to France only lasted 100 days before he was once again defeated by enemies and placed back into exile. He was exiled to a British controlled island much further away, so they could make sure he wouldn’t escape anymore. 

This time Napoleon stayed in exile. He died only six years later at age 51.

Napoleon did quite a lot in his short life. He was a general, a commander, a dictator, an emperor, a hero, and a villain. 

Next time you’re learning about all the people from history, think of Napoleon. Think of all the different things that he did. Think about how a French person would have written about him, and think of how one of his enemies would have written about him. Depending on who’s telling it, the story of a person can change a lot. 

So, what do you think? Was Napoleon a hero or a villain? Or maybe he was both? Either way there’s a lot we can learn from him. He saw the value of public education. He advocated (at times) for a fair government. But maybe the most important lesson? Never invade Russia during the winter!

Sources:

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The tournament was a much-anticipated event, and Sir Oliver had been training diligently for this day. He was determined to prove his worth as a knight and make his family and kingdom proud. With the sun’s first rays peeking over the horizon, he awoke, ready to embark on a journey that would test his courage, skill, and chivalry.

Sir Oliver donned his gleaming armor, which was adorned with a fierce lion emblem, symbolizing his family’s valor and strength. As he strapped on his trusty sword, he could feel the weight of responsibility and honor resting on his shoulders. With a deep breath, he headed to the village square, where a cheering crowd awaited his arrival.

The tournament grounds were gloriously decorated, with colorful banners fluttering in the breeze and the sounds of fun and laughter filling the air. Knights from far and wide had gathered to prove their strength and skill. The jousting field was marked with a long wooden tilt, a wooden barrier, where the knights would charge at each other on their powerful horses.

Sir Oliver’s heart raced with excitement as he climbed on his warhorse. Thunderstrike was a magnificent beast with a jet-black coat and a fiery spirit. The crowd roared with anticipation, knowing that this young knight was determined to make a name for himself.

A trumpet signaled the start of the joust, and Sir Oliver and his opponent prepared to face each other. They charged towards one another at an incredible speed, their lances held high. Then the two knights collided with a clash, but Sir Oliver’s lance found its mark, shattering his opponent’s shield.

The crowd erupted into cheers at Sir Oliver first victory. He nodded humbly, showing respect for his fallen opponent, a true knightly quality.

As the tournament continued, Sir Oliver faced more challengers, each battle testing his mettle and courage. The day wore on, and the sun’s rays began to cast long shadows over the field. Sweat dripped down his brow as he battled knights of all ages and backgrounds.

In the final round, Sir Oliver faced a skilled and honorable opponenent. The joust was a thrilling contest of skill and valor, but in the end, Sir Oliver’s lance hit true, knocking his opponent from his horse. He had won the tournament and the crowd’s adoration.

The people of the village cheered and applauded as they hailed their new champion, Sir Oliver. He was presented with a magnificent trophy, a golden chalice that shone as brightly as his armor. With humility and gratitude, he accepted his prize, but it was not the trophy that filled his heart with the greatest joy. It was the knowledge that he had upheld the code of chivalry throughout the tournament, treating his fellow knights with respect, bravery, and honor.

Knighthood first began to take shape and gain popularity in the early Middle Ages, particularly during the 9th and 10th centuries in Europe. Knights were more common in the Western and Northern parts of Europe, including what are now modern-day France, England, and Germany. 

**Chapter 1: The Birth of Knights**

Knights were like the superheroes of their era. Just as you might admire your favorite movie characters, people in medieval Europe looked up to knights. These brave men started their journey as young squires, like you, who learned the art of combat, chivalry, and honor. They trained hard, and when they became skilled and noble, they were finally knighted.

**Chapter 2: Suiting Up in Shiny Armor**

One of the most exciting things about knights was their armor. Imagine wearing cool, shiny armor like Iron Man! Well, knights had their own amazing suits of armor. There were two main types: plate armor and chainmail.

– *Plate Armor*: This was like a medieval Iron Man suit. It was made of metal plates that covered a knight’s body from head to toe, giving them excellent protection. But, it was also very heavy!

– *Chainmail*: This was like a super-strong, flexible, and lightweight shirt made of tiny metal rings. Knights wore this beneath their plate armor to stay safe in battle.

Knights’ armor wasn’t just for protection; it also had a unique design on the shield, banner, or helmet, representing their family or country. It’s like wearing your favorite superhero’s emblem on your shirt!

Knights didn’t spend all their time just looking awesome in their armor; they had a noble duty to protect their kingdom. They went on exciting adventures. These adventures were often battles, but we won’t get into the scary details. Instead, think of knights as the brave defenders of their kingdoms, fighting to keep their people safe. 

Imagine a grand sports event where knights would show off their skills, not in battle, but in friendly competitions. These were called jousting tournaments like Sir Oliver’s. Just like how you might compete in soccer or basketball, knights competed in these thrilling events.

The main event was the joust, where two knights on horseback charged at each other with long, pointy spears, trying to knock each other off their horses. It was like a medieval game of chicken!

Knights also participated in melees, where they fought with blunted weapons in mock battles. It was all in good fun and showed off their strength and skill. These tournaments were like the medieval version of your favorite sports, and people would gather from far and wide to cheer for their favorite knights.

Knights were not just strong and brave; they had a special code of conduct called chivalry. Chivalry was like a knight’s rulebook for being a true hero.

These are a few of the virtues:

– *Honor*: Knights had to be honest and fair, and they would never cheat or lie.

– *Respect*: They treated others with kindness and respect, especially those who were weaker or in need.

– *Courage*: Knights had to be brave in the face of danger, just like your favorite action heroes.

– *Loyalty*: They were loyal to their king, their country, and their fellow knights.

– *Helping Others*: Knights helped those in need, just like how you might help a friend or family member.

So, how does learning about knights relate to your life today? Well, the lessons of chivalry can be applied even now. You might not have a suit of armor or a sword, but you can be a modern-day knight in your own way.

– *Honor*: Always be honest and fair. Never cheat or lie to win.

– *Respect*: Treat everyone with kindness and respect, just like the knights did.

– *Courage*: Stand up for what’s right, even when it’s tough.

– *Loyalty*: Be loyal to your friends, family, and the people you care about.

– *Helping Others*: Always be ready to help those in need, just like a true hero.

You see, being a knight isn’t just about fighting battles; it’s about being a hero in everyday life. The code of chivalry can guide you in making the world a better place.

And so, our journey through the thrilling history of knights in medieval Europe comes to an end. Knights were the heroes of their time, protecting their kingdoms and living by the code of chivalry. They inspire us to be brave, kind, and honorable in our own lives.

You may not have a suit of armor or a trusty steed, but you have the heart of a modern-day knight. Just remember the lessons of chivalry and let them guide you in your adventures, big and small. You can be a hero in your own way, making the world a better place with your kindness, courage, and honor, just like the knights of yore.

So, young squire, go forth with the spirit of a knight in your heart and make your own heroic mark on the world!

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Pearl Harbor, a bustling harbor and home to the United States Pacific Fleet, was suddenly the center of something huge. This harbor was like a floating city with battleships, airplanes, and brave sailors. That morning, when many people were still in their pajamas, the sky echoed with loud noises and thick smoke, and the sea was in chaos. The heroes of Pearl Harbor, the sailors and soldiers, were faced with a huge challenge.

The attackers came from far-off Japan, and they wanted to surprise America and stop it from getting in their way. They thought it would be easier to do this when nobody was expecting it.

But why did Japan attack? It all began with a long and complicated history. Japan was a country that wanted to grow and be powerful. They felt that they needed more land and resources to do that. So, they started a war with China, called the Second Sino-Japanese War, in 1937. They wanted to take over parts of China to get more of what they needed.

Japanese planes swooped down from the sky like a flock of angry birds. They dropped bombs and torpedoes on the ships and the harbor. It was very loud, and the explosions made the water splash high into the air. The ships in the harbor suffered greatly.

One of the most famous ships that was hit was the USS Arizona. This mighty battleship was almost like a floating fortress, and it was named after the state of Arizona. When it was struck, a huge explosion occurred, and the ship sank beneath the waves. The heroes on board, many of whom were trapped, became a symbol of bravery and sacrifice.

Another ship, the USS Oklahoma, also faced a terrible fate. It was capsized by the torpedoes and turned upside down. Brave sailors worked tirelessly to rescue their friends trapped inside the ship.

The USS California and the USS West Virginia were also damaged, but they would eventually be repaired and returned to the fight.

The USS Nevada, though heavily damaged, managed to get underway. It was the only battleship that could move during the attack. Its heroic crew fought hard to prevent the ship from falling into enemy hands.

The heroes of Pearl Harbor didn’t back down in the face of this unexpected and devastating attack. They were brave, just like superheroes in a comic book.

American fighter planes, like the P-40 Warhawks, took to the air to engage the incoming Japanese attackers. In this epic dogfight, American pilots displayed incredible courage and determination as they fiercely defended their homeland. These brave men engaged the enemy, maneuvering through the sky with great skill, attempting to protect their ships and harbor from further destruction. While they faced overwhelming odds, their unwavering commitment and heroism left a lasting mark in the history of the attack on Pearl Harbor, as they fought valiantly in the face of adversity.

Many heroes displayed great courage during and after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

First, there were the brave men who were on the ships and in the airplanes. They had to be quick and smart to defend their country. They didn’t give up, even when things looked tough.

Then there were the amazing nurses. These were kind and caring women who worked in the hospitals. When the attack happened, they didn’t run away; they stayed to help the wounded soldiers and sailors. They worked tirelessly to make sure everyone was okay.

One of these nurses was named Annie. She said, “I’m here to take care of you. Everything will be okay.” She smiled and gave comfort to those who were hurt. Annie and many other nurses showed incredible kindness.

The President at the time, Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke these famous words on the radio, 

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy… the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” In his speech, Roosevelt expressed the shock and anger felt by the entire nation. He went on to say, “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.” With these words, he assured the American people that they would stand strong and united against this unexpected attack, and they would eventually prevail. Roosevelt’s speech became a rallying cry, inspiring Americans to come together and work toward victory in World War II.

After the attack, people from all over America heard about what happened at Pearl Harbor. They wanted to help too. Many young men joined the army and the navy to protect their country. They were devastated by the attack on Pearl Harbor, especially those who lost loved ones. But it also made them very determined. The people of America decided they would work together and become even stronger. They remembered the heroes of Pearl Harbor, and they were inspired to do their best for their country.

In the years that followed, America and its allies joined together to fight Japan and the Axis Powers in what became World War II. It was a tough time, but the brave spirit of the heroes at Pearl Harbor lived on. Men and women across the country built airplanes, ships, and tanks. They planted victory gardens to grow food and were careful how they spent their money. Some donated their money to help the war effort. Everyone did their part to help their country.

With time, the heroes of Pearl Harbor became a symbol of courage and unity. They showed the world what it meant to be brave and never give up, even when times are tough.

In the end, America and its allies won the war, and they celebrated their victory. The heroes of Pearl Harbor, the men, women, and nurses, were remembered as true American heroes. They showed that when people work together, they can overcome even the biggest challenges.

Today, people still remember Pearl Harbor every year on December 7. They gather to honor the heroes and remember the day that changed America. It’s a day to think about the importance of peace and working together.

If you visit Pearl Harbor in Oahu, Hawaii today, you can still see the battleship, USS Arizona sunken just below the surface of the water. I’ve visited there multiple times and am always shocked to think of what happened there, but also spend the time honoring those who gave their lives in service to their country. And now the USS Arizona Memorial, floating solemnly above the sunken battleship, is a powerful symbol of remembrance and honor in the heart of Pearl Harbor. The memorial, which stands as a graceful white structure, is designed to gently straddle the ship’s sunken remains. Visitors from all over the world come to pay their respects and remember the heroes who perished in this historic tragedy.

As you step onto the USS Arizona Memorial, a hushed reverence fills the air. You can see the clear waters through the openings on the floor, a solemn window into the past. Inside, a wall bears the names of the brave men who lost their lives on the ship, a poignant reminder of their sacrifice. The memorial serves as a place of reflection and contemplation, reminding us of the importance of peace and unity. It’s a place where we honor the heroes of the USS Arizona and all those who came together during and after the attack on Pearl Harbor, illustrating the enduring spirit of resilience and togetherness.

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Today, we are going to hear the tale of an amazing animal – a feisty Pointer dog nicknamed “Gunboat Judy.”  Judy lived during a terrible time in history, World War II, and her story is one of courage, survival, and loyalty.  Judy came from humble beginnings.  She was born in a kennel in Shanghai but rose to fame as a war hero, diplomat, and celebrity.  And like our previous stories on “Unsinkable Sam, the Battleship Cat” and “Jeep, the Flying Coyote,” the story of Gunboat Judy is truly amazing and inspirational.  So, let’s dive right in!

Judy, who was originally called “Shudi,” was born in February 1937 in a kennel in Shanghai, one of 7 adorable puppies.  That August, sailors from a British gunboat, HMS Gnat, visited the kennel looking for a dog.  They bought Judy and returned with her to the ship.  Judy didn’t know it at the time, but her life was going to change forever.

Like every puppy, Judy was inquisitive, rambunctious, and full of energy.  One day she became a little too excited and fell overboard into the Yangtze River.  The captain immediately stopped the ship and sent a small boat out to rescue Judy.   She must have felt very scared but she paddled bravely with her little paws until help arrived. Upon her safe return to the ship, the incident was noted in the captain’s log as a “man overboard exercise!”

The days ticked by and Judy grew accustomed to ship life and all the friendly sailors.  Then one night, Judy heard something strange.  The sailors were asleep and didn’t notice that a boat was drifting silently towards them in the water.  Judy heard it though, and didn’t like it.  She started growling, then barking.  Her barks awakened the sailors and alerted them to the dangerous pirates nearby.  Due to Judy’s actions, the pirates retreated and the seamen were saved.

Judy quickly became invaluable as a protector.  She would bark when she heard the approach of Japanese planes long before the crew heard them in the skies.  One day, a sailor took Judy for a walk outside a nearby city and Judy started running away, dragging the man behind her.  This action shocked the sailor and as he turned around, he saw a leopard behind them!  Luckily, they both escaped with their lives that day!

In November, the seamen took Judy to a party on a US ship, the USS Panay.  After the party, the British sailors returned to their boat, only to discover that Judy was missing.  They contacted the Panay but was told Judy was not there.  Eventually they learned that Judy had been kidnapped by the US sailors as a prank.  The British sailors were not amused.  They sailed back to the Panay, snuck onto the ship, and stole their brass bell.  They later contacted the Panay with one demand: “Give us our dog and we’ll give you your bell.”  Judy was returned within the hour!

The following year, Judy met another Pointer on a French gunboat and the crew decided that the two dogs should get married!  They held a wedding ceremony and later that same year, Judy had a litter of Pointer puppies!  The puppies were later gifted to French and American boat crews.

But war was approaching.  In September 1939, Britain declared war on Germany and Judy’s ship sailed to Singapore.  Two years later, they fought in the Battle of Singapore providing anti-aircraft fire and evacuating people from the island.  Poor Judy must have been frightened by all the Japanese airplanes diving at their ship and the gunship firing back at them.

A month later, on Valentine’s Day 1942, Judy alerted the crew that Japanese planes were approaching.  The sailors raced to their guns as the planes dove out of the sky, their engines shrieking as they dropped three bombs on the ship.  The captain ordered an immediate evacuation.  The sailors jumped into boats and paddled to a deserted island while Japanese planes shot at them from above.  Only when they arrived on shore did they notice that Judy was not among them.  One sailor rowed back to the flaming ship to find Judy and retrieve supplies.  He grabbed Judy, where she was trapped under some metal lockers, and rowed back to the island.  That night, the ship exploded and sunk out of sight.  Judy had been rescued just in time!

The crew quickly discovered that the island had minimal food and no fresh water.  But Judy saved the day again by digging and finding a fresh water spring!  At night, she stood watch over the sleeping soldiers, keeping deadly snakes at bay.  

Five days later, the sailors were rescued by a passing tongkang – a small supply boat – and they set sail in search of the British Navy.  They even trekked 200 miles across Sumatra.  Poor Judy.  She must have been tired and thirsty and hot, but she continued to protect her friends.  One day while they were trekking through the jungle, Judy was attacked by a crocodile.  She suffered an injury to her shoulder, which a sailor bandaged as best he could.  A short time later, Judy started barking furiously and saved the sailors from an attack by a Sumatran tiger!  She never let down her guard while in that hot, scary jungle, always alert for snakes, tigers, and other large predators.  Eventually they were caught by the Japanese and taken to a camp as prisoners of war.  The sailors hid Judy under empty rice sacks so the Japanese soldiers wouldn’t kill her.

Once in camp, Judy met Leading Aircraftman Frank Williams and they became quick friends.  Frank would save rice from his meager meals to share with Judy.  In return, Judy would bark at the Japanese guards to distract them from beating the prisoners.  This angered the guards, who aimed their guns at Judy.  Williams ran forward and intervened just in time.  He pleaded with the camp commandant to save Judy and make her an official prisoner of war.  In return, Williams would give the commandant one of her future puppies.  The commander agreed and Judy became the only animal prisoner of war and was registered as prisoner “81A.”

Judy was more than a protector in camp.  She also foraged in the nearby forest, bringing back rats and snakes for the prisoners to eat.  She had another litter of puppies and one was given to the camp commandant as promised, while another was smuggled into the women’s camp along with precious morsels of food.

In June 1944, the prisoners were transferred to Singapore aboard a Japanese ship.  Judy was stuffed into an empty rice sack and slung over Williams shoulders.  He had to hide her from the Japanese because dogs were not allowed on board and they might kill her.  It was blazing hot and the prisoners stood on the metal deck for 3 hours but Judy didn’t make a peep inside the sack.  

Three weeks later, the British torpedoed the Japanese ship and chaos ensued.  Fire, flames and screams filled the air.  Frightened men scrambled up and out of the sinking ship.  Williams grabbed Judy and pushed her out of a porthole to the water 15 feet below.  Then he lost sight of her.  He raced to the deck and jumped into the water, swimming for land.  Of the 700 prisoners on board the ship, 500 did not survive.

But Williams did survive.  He was recaptured and sent to another prison camp.  When he arrived, he heard stories of a dog who saved drowning sailors by dragging them to floating debris or brought debris to them to keep them float.  As fate would have it, Judy was plucked out of the water by other British sailors, who hid her from the Japanese prison guards.  About 4 weeks later, Judy and Williams were happily reunited in the camp!  

For the next year the prisoners worked building railroad tracks in the jungles of Sumatra.  Judy stood guard over them, barking at any large beasts that came near, such as tigers and elephants.  And her personality was changing in the prison camp.  Stated Williams, “She wasn’t that tame, obedient dog anymore, she was a skinny animal that kept herself alive through cunning and instinct.”  Judy became more aggressive towards the Japanese and Korean guards.  Williams would send her into the jungle to keep her out of sight, but one day a guard shot at her. The bullet grazed her shoulder.  Williams could do nothing but bandage the wound with a palm frond.  

When a lice infestation broke out in the camp, the guards were ordered to kill Judy.  Before they could do so, Williams sent her back into the woods, where she hid until the guards evacuated the camp several days later.  

The war was finally over!  The prisoners were rescued by allied troops and put on ships for home.  Again, Judy was smuggled on board and kept out of sight.

Upon landing in England, Williams and Judy became instant celebrities.  Judy was awarded the Dickin Medal – a WWII medal honoring animals – and a medal for valor.  She appeared with Williams on a BBC radio broadcast and at a victory celebration at Wembley Stadium in front of 82,000 people.  Newspapers hailed her as “Gunboat Judy.”  

Judy and Williams spent a year traveling England visiting the families of POWs and raising money for charities. In 1948, Williams accepted a job in East Africa and took Judy with him.  They stayed for two years and Judy had her third litter of puppies.  Then it was discovered that Judy had a tumor.  She underwent surgery but contracted an infection and passed away at the age of 14.  She was buried in an RAF flight jacket with her three combat medals.  Williams spent two months building a monument in her honor before leaving South Africa.

Judy’s legacy lives on.  She was featured in the children’s book, “The Judy Story” and on the British TV show, “Blue Peter.”  Her collar and Dickin Medal were put on display at the Imperial War Museum in London.  This medal reads: “For magnificent courage and endurance in Japanese prison camps, which helped to maintain morale among her fellow prisoners, and also for saving many lives through her intelligence and watchfulness.”

I think this is an incredible story of the special bond between humans and dogs.  Judy was shot, torpedoed, attacked by a crocodile, starved, kidnapped, and smuggled around Asia.  And yet she remained loyal to her friends and protected them fiercely from pirates, predators, and prison guards.  She’s a true inspiration, showing us that dogs can survive under the most extreme circumstances with intelligence, strength, and courage.  

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During the 1400s the people of this area were under the threat of nearby tribes. The kind at the time decided to turn and run, but fortunately one of his sons, a bold leader, decided to face the enemy instead. His name was Pachacuti (Patch-a–KOO-tee) and he quickly went to work uniting the nearby tribes in a large army to face the invaders. Pachacuti led the Incas into battle and after fierce hand-to-hand combat, they won! After becoming king and providing safety for his people, Pachacuti went to work on the new kingdom of united tribes. He organized the building of roads and city centers to improve the economy, temples to worship their gods, and stone walls and buildings to keep the people safe. And instead of being on the defense, he instead attacked nearby tribes who he worried might threaten their safety. After defeating other tribes, he added their soldiers to his army, and their people to his growing empire. They helped build new roads and cities, temples, and defenses. But if he could avoid battle, he would do just that and instead offer them gifts, so they would join his empire instead. The conquered tribes then paid taxes and little by little the Inca Empire grew. Eventually, Pachacuti’s empire spread into six countries that we know today as Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina. 

At the center of the empire was the capital city of Cuzco, in what is now known as Peru, with around 40,000 citizens and another 200,000 in surrounding areas at the time. The city was located high in the Andes Mountains and had a ruling class led by Pachacuti and a priestly class who organized the worship of their gods. The Incas were skilled farmers and artisans who mined gold, silver, copper, bronze, and other precious metals and used them to craft beautiful jewelry and bowls, and other tools. They also used these metals to decorate their buildings, many of which were covered in gold. They were also very advanced at designing fabrics and used them to make strong and colorful clothing. 

Skilled Inca engineers used advanced engineering to design their buildings. They were made of stone blocks and were often so perfectly measured that they didn’t need any kind of cement to keep them together. The rulers and priestly class used advanced math to keep track of the stars and other planetary bodies. They used astronomy to design their buildings, which meant different windows and features faced planets and stars according to the time of the year. The Incas worshipped the sun and build stone temples and in honor of the sun god, decorated their buildings with gold.

As Pachacuti conquered new tribes across South America, he got to work building palaces in all of the new lands. One of these new territories was high in the Andes Mountains and overlooking the Urubamba River Valley. Pachacuti decided this mountaintop would be the perfect place to build a palace for his family, so he could retreat there and enjoy some quiet away from busy cities like Cuzco. Basically, like a vacation home for a celebrity or the President in our day and age. From the top of the mountain, Pachacuti would also be able to view his empire in all directions and the tall peaks would keep him safe from his enemies. This is the palace that later became known as Machu Picchu which means “old peak.” 

Together with his engineers, Pachacuti figured out how to build a home in this very high, very steep place. Workers dug into the sides of the mountain and flattened it out into a series of large steps, known as terraces, where they could plant crops and build buildings. Peasants worked hard to clear and farm these terraces and planted maize (what we know as corn), beans, potatoes, and other crops on these wide steps or terraces. They also worked tirelessly to haul huge stones up the mountain to build walls and the palace itself. 

Of course, without water, the visitors to the palace wouldn’t survive, so the brilliant Inca engineers found a spring and designed aqueducts to move the water around the mountaintop and into fountains which the king, his family, and servants could use to drink and cook and bathe.

Once the construction project of Machu Picchu was complete, the king and his royal family often made the long trek from Cuzco to vacation there. Sometimes he had up to 100 family members and 500 servants living at the palace!

King Pachacuti loved nature and the stars, so when he designed Machu Picchu with his engineers, they included many works of art that reflected the beauty of the local nature and the animals of this region. They also designed a temple on the mountain and many of the buildings with the stars in mind, meaning certain windows faced certain stars or the sun and moon at different times of the year. Beautiful flowers and other plants were also cultivated on Machu Picchu to celebrate Pachacuti’s love of nature. 

During their time at the palace, the king and his family also spent time capturing and hunting animals. Some of these included deer, alpacas, and llamas. If you’ve ever seen a llama or alpaca they are a very funny-looking creature with a wooly body, long neck, and tall ears. They live and are able to climb and survive high in the mountains of Peru. The royal family feasted on the meat of deer and used the wool of llamas and alpacas for their beautiful clothing. But of course, Pachacuti wasn’t always at Machu Picchu. It was one of his many palaces and often he lived at Cuzco, the capital from which he ruled his growing empire.

As I mentioned earlier, people native to the Americas lived in North and South America for a VERY long time without anyone in the rest of the world, Europe or Asia, and beyond, even knowing they existed. This is what we sometimes call the New World, which the Old World didn’t know about. It wasn’t until Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas in 1492 that the knowledge of this new continent became really well known to Europeans. This was a time when the Incan Empire was thriving alongside major European empires like Spain, France, and England. 

After Columbus’s voyage, powerful empires like Spain decided they wanted in on the New World, too, so they immediately sent explorers to find out how to better their own situation. This era was called The Age of Discovery. The Spanish explorers who journeyed to the New World were called conquistadors and traveled there in search of new land, gold for their empires, and people with which to share their religion. 

The Conquistadors had heard about the Inca Empire and knew they had access to many mines. Especially mines containing their favorite precious metal, gold! They heard that the Incas had so much gold that they used it to decorate their temples, and other buildings, and to make beautiful jewelry. 

Francisco Pizzaro was one of the first conquistadors who wanted some of this gold to enrich himself and his beloved country of Spain. Upon landing, he declared the land of South America the property of Spain with no consideration for the people who already lived there – such as the Incas. And as you can imagine, the Inca Empire and its hoards of gold were immediately in his sights. 

At this time, Pachacuti was no longer the king of the Incas. Instead, they were ruled by a king named Atahuallpa (ah-ta-HUAL-pa), who had weakened the Incan Empire during a war with his brother. But Atahuallpa still had a very large army and seeing that Pizarro’s was very small, he assumed to defeat them very easily. He brought a small part of his army, 5,000, to the fight and didn’t even arm them. But what he didn’t know is that numbers aren’t the only important part of a battle. Technology made all the difference in this age, and he wasn’t prepared for Pizzaro’s more advanced weapons of war, such as guns, armor, and horses. 

Atahuallpa and the Inca soldiers had never seen a gun before. How did a device like this hurt someone from a distance? Why did it make such a loud, booming noise, and fire smoke and fire? For centuries, they’d only used spears and swords in battle. Needless to say, they were very unprepared to take on Pizzaro and his better-armed soldiers. When the Conquistadors started firing their weapons, the Incas were frightened and many were injured or died. Very quickly the battle was over and Atahuallpa had been taken captive by Francisco Pizzaro and the other conquistador soldiers. 

With Atahuallpa as his captive, Pizarro forced the Incas to bring him gold and they did for a very long time. The Spanish melted the beautiful gold jewelry and cups and bowls and other fine materials down into gold bars, which they sent back to Spain as a tribute to their own king. Pizarro took over the government in Peru and set up his own king, who followed his orders. Over time, the Incan Empire faded in power and glory. But back to the grand palace of Machu Picchu. By this time, the mountaintop vacation home had already started to lose its magnificence since no kings after Pachacuti lived there or took care of it as its creator did. Vines and moss grew over the stone walls, no one cultivated the terrace farms, and the beautiful buildings fell into disrepair and began to crumble with weather and age. Most Incas forgot it even existed, although the tales of this glorious mountaintop palace were still passed on, perhaps even treated as legend.

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Birth

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, to Mary and Augustine Washington in Westmoreland County, Virginia. If you’ve noticed President’s Day is in February, this is one reason why. George’s family was not extremely wealthy or poor but was in what was called a “middling class,” which had been growing in Virginia. George’s ancestors were from England and had moved to British Colonies in America. They were called the British Colonies because they were still ruled by Britain, not their own country yet. George’s father, Augustine, had a farm along the Potomac River and worked hard to make it a success. On the farm, they grew tobacco and had a mill for grinding wheat. When George was 5 the family moved up the Potomac River to the Little Hunting Creek Plantation and then later to the Ferry Farm, where little George spent most of his days growing up.  

Childhood

We know some things about George’s childhood, but not very much — which led to some myths about his childhood. One story said that he was so strong he threw a coin all the way across the Potomac River. Another said he chopped down his father’s favorite cherry tree and told his father about it because he would never tell a lie. These stories were made up, but we do know that George grew up helping on his family farm and was home-schooled by a local teacher where he learned math, geography, and Latin and read classic books. What George learned in books was useful, but most of his practical knowledge came from his days working on the farm, learning from the other workers, and the local woodsmen. 

When George was 11 his father passed away and his brother, Lawrence, took over the farm. George learned about the higher culture and how to act properly from his brother’s wife, Anne. 

Surveyor

Like many boys his age, George started his career very early, at age 16, when he became a surveyor. A surveyor is someone who uses different instruments to measure the size and layout of the land and make maps, so it can be bought and sold. In Virginia and the rest of The New World, there was a lot of lands, so the job of a surveyor was very important. George was soon traveling on his own, studying and surveying the land all over Virginia, and making maps. The experiences of being out on his own and camping every night made him tough and prepared him for later struggles in his life. George worked as a surveyor until he was 20 — when his older brother Lawrence died of tuberculosis. This made George the owner of his family’s farms, which was a very big responsibility for a 20-year-old. 

George loved the peaceful life of a farmer, but events nearby would soon change that. People from England lived in most of the Eastern coastal towns of the colonies, but many people from France, the French, lived and worked further inland as trappers and traders. For many years the English and French did not get along. As the French started to move into the land the English claimed as their own, the King of England became nervous that the French would take it over. He began sending soldiers to America to be sure this did not happen.

Major Washington

Around this time, George had become a major in the Virginia Militia. A militia is a small army run by a colony or state, and at the time the colony of Virginia had its own militia. George was asked by the king to take his small group of soldiers and tell the French living on their land to leave. By this time the French had built a fort called Fort LaBeouf and when George arrived with his soldiers, he did ask them to leave but the French politely refused! George hurried back to let his leaders know and then was told to return to attack the French at Fort Duquesne. A battle broke out and George’s army beat the French in one of the first battles of what became known as The French and Indian War. The French sent more soldiers and drove George Washington and his troops back to their fort, called Fort Necessity. Eventually, George and his troops had to surrender and leave the Ohio Valley. 

George was embarrassed at his loss, but word began to spread that he had fought valiantly against the French and his name began to be known through the American colonies and even in England. 

When the British General, Edward Braddock arrived from England with even more soldiers, George joined him with his militia and they left Fort Necessity to attack the French again. While marching on the road to attack the French, they were surprised by a French army which attacked them. The French and their Native American allies fired from the trees and the road. Bullets flew from every direction. The British soldiers scattered. They were unprepared for the attack. General Braddock was hit by a bullet and fell from his horse. George courageously rallied the troops and urged them to continue fighting. A bullet hit George’s horse and they fell over, but he jumped up and climbed onto another horse. Bullets flew through his jacket and hit his horse again. The fighting continued as the French and natives fired at the British from the cover of the trees and then swarmed them in the road. George climbed onto his third horse and kept fighting. He saw that there was no hope of winning this battle. He would have to escape or all of his soldiers would be lost. He ordered a retreat and the soldiers followed him away from the battle and back along the road. During their long march back to Fort Necessity, they were continually attacked from the woods but eventually made it back. The Battle of the Wilderness was a major loss, but George Washington was praised for bravely taking control of the situation and leading the soldiers out of danger.

French and Indian War

In August 1755 George was made commander of all of the militia troops in Virginia. He was only 23 at the time. His job was to protect the border of Virginia. Most of his soldiers were not well trained and lacked proper fighting gear. To make things worse, the Virginia government did not support him and his soldiers. After two years of this difficult duty, Washington became sick with dysentery and had to return to his home until he got better. 

In 1758 George rejoined his troops as commander and was ordered to take Fort Duquesne, which was held by his French enemies. Washington, with 6,000 troops made up of British soldiers and Virginia militia, attacked Fort Duquesne. The fighting was intense on both sides. Cannons boomed. Smoke filled the air. Musket balls zipped through the air. But Washington and the soldiers pressed on until they took the fort and the French fled or surrendered. Fort Duquesne was finally taken! It was a major victory for the British in the French and Indian War. Because they took the fort they were now in control of the Ohio River Valley. George Washington’s fame spread, but the fighting near his home was over, so like the soldiers who fought with him, George retired — which means he was no longer a commander and returned to his big farm in Virginia to continue taking care of it. But fortunately, it was one of George’s favorite things to do!

Martha Custis Washington

Not long after returning home, George met and married Martha Dandridge Custis, who was a few months older than he and had been married before. She had two children John and Martha, who went by the nicknames Jacky and Patsy. George came to love his adopted children, gave them lots of attention, and treated them as his own. Jacky and Patsy would end up being his only children as he and Martha never had any of their own children together. 

Martha Washington came from a wealthy family, so when she and George married he inherited even more land. He was also given land as a gift for his service in the French and Indian War. This all led to George becoming one of the richest landowners in all of Virginia. 

On his farm, George spent much of his time riding about, checking in on the workers, and was even known to take off his coat and get into the dirty work with them. He enjoyed horseback riding, fox hunts, and fishing. 

Mount Vernon

George was always interested in the latest scientific advances to improve his crops and to find better ways to raise animals and tend to his vast orchards of fruit trees. If you visit Mount Vernon today it is a beautiful plantation with a museum, crops still growing, flower gardens, and well-tended orchards. In fact, I visited it a few years ago with my wife and daughter and we had a great time walking through Washington’s home overlooking the Potomac River and strolling through the beautiful gardens.

Sadly, slavery was everywhere at this time in Virginia and other places in the American colonies. The slaves had been kidnapped from their homes in Africa and forced to work for no pay. Slavery was a horrible practice that didn’t end until after the Civil War. Like most of the farms in Virginia, over 300 slaves worked at Mount Vernon. Later in life, George was more open to ending slavery than other plantation owners. Sadly, he never decided to set free slaves during his lifetime, but after his death, he had all of his own slaves set free — but not Martha’s.

An interesting fact about George Washington is he had very bad teeth. Many times he complained about them aching and other problems. He had to have many of his teeth pulled over the years. For this reason, George wore dentures most of his adult life. Dentures are fake teeth that people wear to replace the real ones that were lost. Legend says that they were made out of wood, but the truth is that his dentures were made out of his lost teeth, some animal teeth shaped to look like human teeth and other metals. 

Far from Mount Vernon, life in the American colonies began to change. At this time the colonies were still part of the British Empire, controlled by King George and his parliament. After the French and Indian War, the King saw how expensive the war was and decided the colonies should pay for part of it. He began to tax items like stamps and later tea and other goods that they bought from England. A tax is when you add a cost to an item. For example, when they would go to buy tea, instead of it being $1 for a bag of tea, it cost $1.25. This made the people very upset. The King also told them they couldn’t buy and settle land past a certain point in the New World. This made them even more upset. As you can imagine, things were not going well between England and the colonies. Tune into our next episode, to learn about George Washington and the American Revolution, and His Presidency. In the meantime, when you’re not in bed look up pictures and videos of George Washington. Check out pictures of his beautiful Mount Vernon estate, and the clothes he wore which are in a museum, and see if you can find a picture of his false teeth! 

Work Ethic

Also, take some time to think about George Washington’s work ethic. This means that he spent his time improving his farm and making it a little better each day. He wasn’t afraid to get dirty to improve it. Think about how this applies to you with things that need to get done around your house. Can you help tidy your room each day or pick weeds in the yard — something I know we always need at our home. Hard work isn’t always fun, but after you’re done it feels good that you’ve done something challenging and chances are you’ll feel good that you made a little difference in your home, and as you see that things look better. The other day my son and I mowed the lawn together. It was the end of the day and we didn’t feel like doing it, but when we were done it looked so clean and nice, we had a great time playing around in it and enjoying it and the hard work was worth the beautiful result.

Also, think about George’s bravery as he went into battle. It can be hard to keep our wits about us during tough times. Think about ways you can stay patient and focused when someone makes you upset or you have to do something that requires bravery. I remember when I was younger I never liked to take the trash out in the dark. One time I had to just take a deep breath and tell myself “be brave!” and did it anyway. I was nervous, but afterward, I felt proud of myself for doing it! 

Listen to the audio

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Do you like to play board games?  Maybe you know of some popular games like Scrabble, Monopoly, Battleship, or Trouble.  Maybe you even have your own favorite board game that you play with your family.  One of my favorite board games is called “Clue.”  This game was created a long time ago, in 1944 by an Englishman, for people to play while they were huddled in underground shelters during bombing raids.  It was originally called “Cluedo” which means “I play” in Latin! It is a mystery game full of twists and turns, where players find clues and try to figure out who committed a daring deed with a household item, such as a fireplace poker, knife, or a walking stick, inside a spooky gothic house.  It is a game of cunning and conniving – of trying to figure out who is the villain and how to use clues to solve the mystery.  The characters have funny names like Professor Plum, Colonel Mustard, and Mrs. Peacock and you need to follow and remember their hijinks and clues during the game.  You need to be a super sleuth – or spy!    

Real Spies

During the time Clue was created, there were a lot of real spies.  But instead of playing a make-believe game, they were engaged in actual spycraft!  During WW II, US spies worked tirelessly and covertly – meaning secretly – to obtain enemy information, such as where the enemy was headed, where they would attack, how many planes, ships, or men they had, and other useful information.  And not all of these spies were men!  Women were also used as spies across Europe and Asia because they were so unexpected.  At that time, people did not think that women could be involved in the war, either fighting or spying.  So, women had the perfect spy cover!  They could act like a society lady, attending parties, and listening to war talk between men.  Or they could ride their bikes around town, stopping in shops and cafes to listen for war secrets.  And some even created news by writing fake radio announcements, newspaper articles, or postcards to confuse the enemy.  

Betty McIntosh – Spy

One such spy was Elizabeth “Betty” McIntosh who was born on March 1, 1915, in Washington, DC.  She was very brave and smart.  She knew how to speak Japanese and was working as a news reporter during the start of WWII.  Betty was stationed in Hawaii when Japanese planes bombed US ships docked at Pearl Harbor.  

The bombing of Pearl Harbor brought the US into the war and Betty moved to Washington, DC.  She kept busy writing articles about Eleanor Roosevelt, the President’s wife, and her war efforts.  She then interviewed a man working at the OSS – the Office of Strategic Services.  This was the US spy agency during WWII.  During the interview, she was asked if she would “like to do something more interesting.”  She was not told it would be spying – which was very sneaky of them!  She said, “I would like to do it if it involves going overseas.”  And they granted her wish!  

Betty reported for her first day of work and was fingerprinted – meaning they covered her fingers in ink and pushed her fingers onto a piece of paper, leaving fingerprints on the paper.  She was then told that she had to keep everything top secret and swear an oath – which she thought was strange because she didn’t even know what she would be doing yet.

Betty was then sent to a group called MO – Morale Operations.  Their entire job was to spread rumors.  Can you imagine that?  I’m sure all of us have been told by our parents and teachers not to tell lies or spread rumors.  But that was her new job!  She was taught how to start rumors and make them believable by mixing in bits of truth with lies.   She worked with other “spy craft” people, like radio announcers, artists, newspaper editors, cartoonists, and writers – people who had skills in writing and creating convincing stories and pictures.  Some of these spycraft people were captured Japanese soldiers who were artists and agreed to work with the allies.

Betty McIntosh Heads to India

Once Betty finished training in 1943, she was sent to India to spread false radio and news reports to Japanese soldiers who were getting very tired of fighting.  The Japanese government had told their soldiers that if they stopped fighting – or if they surrendered – they could never go home and they would lose their houses and savings.  This made the Japanese continue to fight very hard.  The US needed to find a way to let the Japanese soldiers stop fighting while keeping their honor.  So, Betty and the OSS created false Japanese military orders to surrender in one particular battle!  They had another spy capture a Japanese courier – a mailman – and put the false order in his mailbag.  This order was later read and believed by the Japanese officers!

Betty McIntosh in China

Betty then flew to China, where she started writing fake radio scripts and stories for the OSS.  One OSS radio worker acted as a fortune teller.  This fortune teller pretended to look at the stars and make predictions over the radio.  The Japanese loved to listen to these radio stories!  Betty was told she had to write a very scary, but believable story to scare the Japanese.  “What about an earthquake?” she said.  No, that happens all the time in Japan,” said her boss.  “Well, what about a Tsunami,” she replied.  “Nope, they have those, too,” he said.  “Well, I’ll think of something scary” replied Betty.  

She thought and thought, but couldn’t think of something truly scary.  So, she finally wrote the following announcement, “Something terrible is going to happen to Japan. We have checked the stars and there is something we can’t even mention because it is so dreadful and it is going to eradicate one whole area of Japan.” That same day, the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.  Betty didn’t even know this was going to happen and she was shocked – as well as everyone else who listened to her radio announcement!  She was asked, “How did you know about the bomb because it was top secret?”  She said, “I just made the story up!”

Betty McIntosh Returns to the US

After the war ended, Betty returned to the US and started writing for Glamour magazine.  But it was very boring writing about clothes and makeup after being a spy!  So, Betty returned to government work, assisting the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the State Department, and the United Nations.  She also wrote several spy books, including “Undercover Girl” and “Sisterhood of Spies” as well as several children’s books.

Still, Betty missed the thrill and excitement of working as a spy, so she asked for a job with the new US spy agency, the CIA, or Central Intelligence Agency.  She worked there for many years until retiring.  She signed an oath to never talk about her work at the CIA, so we will never know about her other spy exploits, but I’m sure they were exciting!  

Betty passed away at the age of 100 in 2015 after 40 years of working as a spy.  Before she died, she stated that her work as a spy was the most exciting time in her life.  

In 1982, the US started an annual celebration called Women’s History Month, which starts on March 1^st in honor of Betty’s birthday.  

Life as a Spy

What do you think of Betty’s life as a spy?  Would you like to be a spy?  What would be your spy name?  What kind of spy would you be?  Would you write stories, sneak behind enemy lines gathering information, or smuggle people to safety?  Or maybe you would do something else, like crack codes or decipher messages.

I think Betty’s story reminds us that women can do courageous, patriotic, and amazing things.  Betty traveled overseas and did important work for her nation during a time of great crisis to save US lives and shorten the war.  Maybe you can continue to honor Betty and other brave women by participating in Women’s History Month and learning more about courageous women who changed the course of history. 

The post History of Super Spy Elizabeth “Betty” McIntosh for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Close your eyes and imagine the stars shining brightly in the clear evening sky.  It’s nightime and the moon glows softly, then ducks behind passing clouds.  The air is warm and smells of flowers – the smell of spring.  We take flight, soaring above treetops and towns, buildings and monuments, over a bustling city until we reach a very quiet hillside.  We touch down on soft, green grass.  All around us are white stones gleaming in the moonlight.  They are called tombstones.  We are in a cemetery.  But not a spooky Halloween cemetery.  We are in a very pretty, green cemetery.  Two US presidents are buried here (William Howard Taft and John F. Kennedy), as well as astronauts, supreme court justices, and over 400,000 brave soldiers.  This place is called Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC in the United States.  Glance up the hill in front of you.  What do you see?  Do you see a large, square stone?  

Let’s go explore it!  

There is a soldier, all alone, walking back and forth in front of the large white stone.  It’s a female soldier!  She stands straight up and marches across a black mat.  She stops.  She clicks her heels together.  She turns to face the stone, waits, then turns and walks back to where she started.  Back and forth she goes, never stopping, or sitting down, or even scratching her nose!  But why?  What is she doing?

Let’s get a little closer, but be VERY quiet.  This is a special place and being quiet shows respect.  The stone that she is guarding is a tomb – that means a big grave marker that honors important people who are buried here.  The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers weighs 79 tons!  There’s engraving, or writing, on the back of the tomb that says:  “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.”  That means we do not know the name of the soldier buried here; their identification tags were lost in the war.  

Each side of the tomb shows three wreaths.  These wreaths symbolize various battles during WWI.  On the front of the tomb are three Greek figures, a man holding a dove, a woman holding an olive branch, and a man holding a sword.  They signify peace, victory, and valor.  

But who is the guard and why is she here protecting this tomb?

Since 1926 there have been US Army guards protecting the tomb day and night, 24 hours a day, in sunshine and rain, snow, and wind – and even hurricanes!  The guards never stop guarding the tomb.  It is their sworn duty to protect the unknown soldiers who died for our country.  This is a way to honor their service.

The female guard is returning.  You count her steps.  21.  She stops.  You count the seconds.  21.  She turns towards the tomb, clicks her heels, and waits for 21 seconds.  Then she clicks her heels, turns, waits another 21 seconds, then walks 21 steps back to her starting point.  Why is everything 21?  

Well, have you ever heard of a 21-gun salute, where soldiers fire 21 shots into the air during special military events?  That is the military’s signal that someone very important has passed away.  It is a great honor to receive a 21-gun salute.  It is quite loud, though, so be sure to plug your ears!

The guard carries a rifle in one hand, leaning it upon her shoulder as she marches stiffly and precisely.  The rifle is used to guard the unknown soldiers and the tomb from any danger.  

Her gloves are slightly damp to make it easier to hold the rifle.  The guard certainly does not want to drop her gun during a storm or a hurricane!

She is dressed in a blue uniform with a white shirt, black tie, and gold buttons on her jacket.  A black cap is perched precisely on her head.  Her boots are black and shiny – and make a clicking sound. I can see little metal pieces on her soles – and a metal piece on the inside of her heel.  That is what makes the clicking sound when she clicks her heels together!  Their dress motto is: “My standard will remain perfection.”

The sun rises and people start arriving.  You hear a tour guide speak quietly to a group.  He states there used to be four soldiers buried under the tomb – one from each war:  WWI, WW II, Korea, and Vietnam; now there are three.  The soldier from the Vietnam War was identified in 1998 by DNA testing – a scientific test which identifies you by your unique genes and chromosomes.  The soldier, a US Air Force 1^st Lieutenant, was returned to his family.  His tomb remains empty.

The guide states that the guards are changed, or go off duty, every 30 minutes during the summer, and every hour during the winter.  During the night, they are changed every two hours.  They do a ceremony called, “The Changing of the Guard.” It is very special ceremony, with marching, and clicking, and inspection of rifles and uniforms. 

But guarding the tomb is just one of their duties.  On their days off, they must polish their boots, clean their uniform, clean their rifle, do physical training, attend guard training, and cut their hair before their next shift.  That’s a lot of work!

Someone in the tour group raises their hand and asks how guards are selected.  The tour guide states there is a difficult application process for US Army soldiers.  Only the best of the best are selected to guard the tomb.  They are called Tomb Sentinels.  Most do not make it through to the end of the process.  It’s like trying to qualify for the Olympics – there are a lot of great athletes out there, but only the best make it to the Olympics.  And of the 1,000+ soldiers who have guarded the tomb, only 5 have been women.  

Why so few?  Well, in the past, women were not allowed to be in the military; they were thought to be too weak for war.  It was thought they couldn’t carry heavy backpacks or guns, or handle the stress of fighting.  But women have certainly proved them wrong!  Now they are soldiers, officers, sailors, pilots, radar operators, and even sentinels!  They love their country and want to protect it, just like men.

We are very lucky to see this female guard tonight – and to have these brave sentinels guarding our fallen heroes!

What do you think about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers and the guards who protect it?  Would you like to see this special place in Washington, DC, and view the Changing of the Guard ceremony?  Do you have someone in your family who served in the military? 

This tomb reminds me that we owe a big debt of gratitude to the soldiers who have protected our country and our freedom for hundreds of years.  They volunteered to join the military, to serve and protect, and to fight for the rights we have today.  Some never returned home, married, had children, or grew old.  That is the biggest sacrifice of all – giving up their life for us.  You can honor them by visiting military cemeteries and putting flags or flowers on their graves – or just saying “Thank you for your service” to a soldier you see on the street.  On holidays such as Memorial Day or Veteran’s Day, you can attend an event in my town in honor of them.  What about you?  Will you do something to honor our fallen soldiers this Memorial Day? 

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Close your eyes and imagine you are in a beautiful, Japanese garden. You see a small stream leading to a calm pond covered in bright pink flowers and water lilies. The green grass around you is cut short and all of the plants and shrubbery are neatly trimmed. Flowering trees are above you. You see a wooden footbridge and cross the pond to an open area with a grand temple in the middle. It’s designed in Japanese fashion with a peaked roof. Surrounding the temple are men and women holding wooden swords. A teacher is showing them how to use the sword, swinging it upward and then down. They all follow his instructions at the same time in a coordinated dance. Then they kick and swing the swords again. Past them, in the temple, you see a group cross-legged and meditating. You suddenly realize you are observing a group of Japanese samurais in training.

Have you ever heard of a “samurai”? A samurai was an ancient warrior in the country of Japan. You could compare them to the knights of Medieval Times, because they were warriors who wore armor, fought in battles, and lived a code of honor. But they were also different from knights in other ways which we’ll talk about today.

If you saw a samurai today they’d be wearing armor, a helmet, and carrying a long sword called a “katana.” They were known for their great strength and skill and speed and their incredible use of the katana sword. The first Samurai fought on horseback. For a long time, the soldiers in Japan were peasants – simple people who farmed the land and weren’t trained to fight. So when they fought in a battle, they weren’t very effective because their job was normally farming not fighting. At the time in Japan, some of the wealthier citizens had horses and decided they might be better warriors than the peasants. Horses gave them an advantage and using a bow and arrow from the back of the horse, these wealthy Japanese became very dangerous fighters. Soon, instead of peasants fighting, more and more of the soldiers became Samurai, fighting with swords and bow and arrows from horseback.

As the samurai trained harder and from a young age, they became known for their excellent skills with the katana sword. They disciplined themselves. Discipline means to have self-control. Daily they practiced riding horses, using the katana, and doing things that were very hard but made them stronger because they pushed their body and mind to their limits. They were similar to Spartan warriors in this way, too.

Some of the legendary samurai were women, too. Tomoe Gozen fought bravely during the clan wars. She was a skilled archer and swordsman, “a warrior worth a thousand” the legends say. She was a strong horseman and could ride down steep hills. In battle, she was sent out as a captain in the best armor and the best weapons to lead the other samurai – and “performed more deeds of valor than any of the other warriors.” 

Another well known general at this time was female samurai Hangaku Gozen. Female foot soldiers were also known to fight alongside the men during clan wars.

In the Pacific Ocean, Japan is an island located off the coast of China. At the time, a powerful people called the Mongols ruled China and wanted to rule Japan, too. In 1270 A.D. Kublai Khan, the leader of the Mongol army,  decided to attack Japan. He sent 40,000 soldiers and 90 ships to invade the island. But for many years, the Japanese Samurai had been preparing and training to defend their country. When the Mongols invaded, they were met by the fast and powerful Samurai who used their skills to defend Japan and stopped the invasion. 

For a time, Japan was also divided into power clans, or groups of people sort of like small cities or towns. The clans were ruled by a leader called a “daimyo” (dime-yo). The daimyo hired samurai to protect their clan. Often clans fought against each other for more land so many of the samurai battles over the years were between competing clans. Samurai became distinguished for their honor in battle. Honor meant their commitment to the samurai code or set of rules known as the “bushido.” They strictly followed the rules of a samurai or “bushido” which included courage, respect, self-control and righteousness, which means doing the right thing. In battle, the Samurai were taught to never surrender or back down, to continue fighting even when they were losing and to have courage even in the most fearful moments.

In 1582, a man named Oda Nobunaga was born to a powerful daim-yo in the Owari region. Growing up, Nobunaga was trained as other samurai to fight with the bow and arrow, sword, and learned to discipline himself after the “bushido,” the way of the samurai. After his father passed away, Nobunaga and his brothers fought to rule the clan and Nobunaga became the new leader. But he wasn’t content leading one clan, he wanted to grow the clan’s power and began conquering other clans nearby. He was a skilled military leader and organized his soldiers and samurai in a way that continued to win until he ruled many other clans. Nobunaga also made alliances with other powerful clans. An alliance is an agreement that they will work together. And eventually Nobunaga’s clans and alliances brought all of the clans together. Nobunaga eventually became the leader of half the clans in Japan, also called a “shogun.” He built a beautiful castle on a lake and lived there during his rule. From there he continued to organize and strengthen his armies and make laws that he believed were in Japan’s best interest. The rule of a powerful Japanese leader was called a “shogunate” and his rule was followed by powerful leaders such as Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa. Under Hideyoshi, all of Japan was united under a single leader or “shogunate.” This led the way for a unified Japan up until the single country it is today. 

Back to the samurai – with Japan united, the different clans and their dime-yo leaders no longer fought for control. Because there was peace between clans, the samurai weren’t needed for fighting. Also, gunpowder and guns were introduced to Japan, so the army became made up of regular soldiers and swords were replaced with guns. The samurai became workers for the new Japanese government. They still followed the code of the Samurai but weren’t needed for battle and taught others about the “bushido” code and how to have self-control and respect for others. 

Some of the samurai who didn’t want to become peaceful government workers and who no longer were needed by the clans became leaderless. These wandering samurai became known as “Ronin” (row-nin) who often became bandits or soldiers for hire. In one of the most famous Japanese stories, 47 of these Ronin lost their master after he was murdered. They band together and seek after his murderer until they get revenge. This legendary story was made into plays and later movies and comic books called “47 Ronin.” 

As we’ve mentioned before, the way of the samurai, the special code they followed that made them samurai was called “bushido.” Without bushido, they wouldn’t have had the discipline to train and act with courage during the toughest moments of battle. Even though you aren’t a samurai, you can take the best things from the bushido code and apply them to your own life. As we talk about the principles of bushido, think about how you might use them each day.

The first principle of bushido was rectitude or justice. This meant to act in a way that made sense, was rational, even when it was very hard to do so. Also, to treat others with fairness and honor.

The second principle was courage, which means acting on what is right even when it is hard. A samurai was determined to act even under difficult circumstances. If you’ve ever done something hard, when it wasn’t easy, you’ve demonstrated courage. And courage doesn’t always come easy, it takes practice! Next time something challenging comes your way say to yourself, “I can have courage, I can do it!” With each courageous step you take, it can become easier.

The third principle of bushido was mercy. This means showing love to others and being able to forgive.

Fourth, politeness. To treat others with respect, have good manners, and say kind things. 

Fifth, honesty. We all know what that means. Telling the truth even when it’s not easy.

Sixth, honor. This meant showing personal respect. Respecting yourself and having patience. This means taking a deep breath when you might get upset and finding ways to work through problems by keeping a cool head, rather than getting angry and losing ones temper. 

Seventh, loyalty. To the samurai this loyalty to their leaders, usually the daim-yo. For you, this might mean listening to your parents or sticking up for your family, siblings, and friends, and being there for them when they need your help.

Finally, eighth, self control. One of the most important because it helps with all of the other principles. This means being able to manage your wants. There might be something you really want, but you can ask yourself if you really need it. It’s important to be able to tell the difference between wants and needs. Needs are things you do need, like good food and sleeping each day. Wants might be a toy or watching a movie, which can be fun at times but aren’t really necessary all the time. Next time you want something, but don’t really need it, try saying “no.” And you’ll find each time you strengthen that part of your brain that has self-control. Also, eating healthy and getting good sleep help with self-control. 

Those are the principles of bushido, the way of the samurai. Like I said, think of ways you can incorporate these good teachings and others into your own life to have the strength of a samurai!

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Have you ever seen fish in a tank, aquarium, or in the ocean and wondered how they swim? And what would it feel like to be a fish, gliding through the water, seeing all of the interesting and exotic things a fish sees. The ocean covers around 70% of the earth’s surface and is extremely deep in some places. There are parts of the ocean we’ve still yet to explore. For a very long time, the size and depth of the ocean have fascinated people who have watched fish and wondered what it would be like to swim deep into the ocean and move about it freely. But humans can’t explore the ocean as freely as a fish. Can you think of a few things we need and don’t have naturally? To be able to breathe underwater like a fish is one. And a way to move around. Also, the deeper you go the more pressure surrounds you and human bodies can only take so much pressure. For a very long time, people have wondered if they could invent a way to move through the water and for longer periods of time like a fish. 

One of the early people to ask questions like this was William Bourne. Bourne was a British mathematician who in 1578 shared his idea for an enclosed boat that could go underwater, be submerged, and also be rowed underwater. This first idea for a submarine would be built of wood and covered in leather which is waterproof. It was a great idea and Bourne shared it with others but it wasn’t until around 50 years later that a dutch inventor named Cornelius von Drebel decided to take Bourne’s plans and build the underwater boat. When it was completed, Drebel’s submarine could go 12 to 15 underwater and was powered using oars that stuck out of the holes in its side. You can imagine how fascinating it would have been to see the first submarine at the time! It made several trials in the Thames River in England and it is believed that King James got to ride in it.

Once others saw Drebel’s idea, they were inspired to create their own submarines and as many as 14 different versions are known to have been created within a hundred years after Drebel’s. With each invention, new ideas were shared about how a submarine could function. Inventions typically work this way. Someone has an idea, others try it out, make changes, and continue to try new things and make changes and share their ideas, working towards the more advanced, modern versions of inventions we have today. This was the same with the airplane and computers, among all of the other technologies we have today.

During the American Revolution, an engineer had the idea to use a submarine to try and disable enemy ships. His name was David Bushnell and he constructed a very basic submarine made of wood and named it the Turtle. Only one person could fit inside it and after submerging it was designed to sneak up beside an enemy ship and then place a bomb on it. When the bomb went off, it would damage the ship’s hull and it would no longer be useful. It was an ingenious idea and the Turtle was able to float under the water and sneakily approach the ship, but once it got next to the ship the bomb attaching device didn’t work. This is the first known example of someone trying to use a submarine during war.

Another famous submarine inventor was American Robert Fulton, who later would go on to create some of the well-known steamships. But before steamships, Fulton was living in France and built a submarine which he called The Nautilus. Napoleon Bonaparte was the leader of France at the time and he paid Fulton to design and build the Nautilus. Unlike earlier submarines, the Nautilus was made of metal: an iron structure covered with copper sheets. The propellers were still hand-powered but it could move above and below water, since above water a mast and sail could be stood up. The Nautilus used a technology called ballast tanks. These tanks would take in water to go down and then push the water out when it needed to go up and float to the surface. It also had a rudder to steer the submarine and four people could fit inside. But this was still an early design, so for light, the sailors still had to use candles!

During the 1800s, updates and new innovations continued to make submarines faster and better at navigating underwater. Eventually, steam and diesel-electric power, and gasoline was used to move the submarines. Engineers also experimented with new ways the submarines could be used in war by firing torpedoes, which are underwater missiles. They also became bigger and could hold more people. The French navy built a submarine called the Narval which was propelled by a steam engine and was 111 feet long!

 By the time World War 1, also called The Great War, took place in the 1900s, technology had reached a point that very dangerous submarines sailed the ocean. Germany was known for its powerful submarines called U-boats, which were 300 feet long and could move at 13 knots on the surface and 7 when submerged. It was also armed with torpedoes and guns and was feared by its enemies. 

U-boats became even more powerful and dangerous by World War II. Germany built over a thousand U-boats. They were very advanced and moved in groups called “Wolf Packs” which attacked enemy ships moving supplies across the Atlantic Ocean. The United States Navy and others had to find ways to fight back against the German U-boats and eventually succeeded. During the Battle of the Atlantic 41 U-Boats were sunk so for a time they stopped attacking in the Atlantic. During World War 2 785 of the 1,000 German U-boats were eventually sunk.

Later, the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union began building nuclear-powered submarines, which were powered using nuclear fission, the same process used to power an atomic bomb. They sailed much faster, dove deeper, and used advanced sonar radar that could detect other submarines and ships above water. The Permit-class attack submarine was almost 300 feet in length, the size of a football field if you can imagine that! It could hold around 130 sailors who each had different jobs from captain to radarman, to cook or weapons specialist. They spent many days underwater patrolling the oceans. Can you imagine living underwater in a submarine for that long? These submarines were equipped with powerful weapons, some of them ballistic missiles which could fire up out of the water and enemy targets. 

Since that time, submarines designed for warfare have only improved. But today not all submarines are used by the military. Have you heard of a submersible? A submersible is a smaller submarine that is used to explore the ocean and its life. It’s designed to be carried on a ship out to sea and then lowered into the water where it can dive deep and learn more about the depths of the ocean. If you think about it, so much of the ocean is undiscovered which makes it a little like an alien planet, because there are species we haven’t found yet and places we haven’t visited. 

One of the most well-known submersible operators was a marine scientist named Robert Ballard. He grew up in San Diego, California, and living near the ocean was fascinated by it. He wanted more than anything to explore it and learned to scuba dive the first chance he got. As he got older, he went to school to learn more about the ocean and also became interested in submersibles. In the 1970s, Ballard helped build a three-person submersible that they named Alvin. Using Alvin, Ballard and his crew dove 9,000 feet to explore an underwater mountain range in the Atlantic Ocean. Did you know there are mountains under the ocean? They used Alvin to explore other places like thermal vents, which had plant and animal life in them, an entirely new discovery for scientists.

The next submersible Ballard and his team designed was called the Argo. But the Argo was special because it was unmanned and could go deeper and longer than a submersible with humans could. It could also send pictures up to the boat of what it was seeing. Ballard decided the main goal of the Argo would be to find the Titanic. If you’ve listened to our episode about the Titanic, you’ll know that the Titanic was a huge ocean liner that was sunk in 1911 after hitting an iceberg. For seventy years no one had yet to find the Titanic. It was in a very deep area of the ocean and they weren’t sure exactly where it lay to rest. It took many days of searching, but on an exciting day in 1985, Ballard and his crew saw images of the Titanic Argo sent to them deep from the bottom of the ocean. It was broken into two pieces and covered with coral and other sea life. But you can imagine how excited they were when they finally discovered the Titanic and were able to share their findings with the world. 

Later, Ballard returned to the Titanic in his submersible, the Alvin, so he could see it in person for himself. 

If you had a chance to take a voyage in a submersible or submarine would you? Are you interested in learning more about submarines and the ocean? If so, have your parents help you find some books about submarines at the library or find some good videos on the Internet. I loved learning about submarines because it just amazes me what people can do when they put their mind to accomplishing a goal and then get to work. Designing something takes time learning about the science behind it, and then experimenting and making changes until you get it right. This is the engineering process! And like the great inventors and engineers of the past you can start small with your own inventions, too!

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