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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Have you ever imagined what it must be like to be President of the United States? You’d have to govern an entire country! Just think, you would sign laws that affect over 300 million people. You would be in charge of one of the strongest militaries in the world. You would give speeches to millions of people!

Now, imagine if you had to do all of that from a wheelchair. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the thirty-second President of the United States, had to use a wheelchair because his legs were paralyzed. This meant that he couldn’t walk or even stand. How did that happen, you may be asking? And how did he still become president regardless of his challenges despite that? Let’s rewind and find out!

Roosevelt grew up on a large farm in New York State. Since he lived in the country, Roosevelt was taught at home by tutors when he was young. Because of this, he didn’t have a lot of friends his age, and he was very shy. 

But Roosevelt was close with his family. He also had a distant older cousin named Teddy who he really admired. Teddy was outgoing and popular. When Roosevelt started high school, Teddy announced that he wanted to become a politician. A politician is someone who gets elected to a government position. 

That sounded pretty cool to Roosevelt. He decided he wanted to be a politician just like his cousin. What he didn’t realize is that to be a politician, he’d have to talk to large crowds of people. He’d have to get those crowds to like and trust him. That meant A LOTa lot of socializing.

There was one big problem: Roosevelt was not particularly social. He had a hard time making friends. He preferred to spend his time reading books and studying. He studied so hard, in fact, that he got accepted into Harvard just as his cousin Teddy had done. Harvard was a top college and a good choice for people who wanted to study law. 

While Roosevelt was in his first year at Harvard, his cousin Teddy became the most important politician in the country: he was elected President of the United States. If you want to learn more about Teddy Roosevelt be sure to look up our episode about him. Roosevelt was proud of his cousin, no doubt. But how could he compete with him? Roosevelt decided to work even harder. He was determined to keep up with his superstar older cousin and forge his own path to the presidency. 

As president, Teddy made hundreds of decisions every day! People counted on him to keep the country safe. To be elected, he’d had to convince millions of people that he was the best person for the job. But Teddy had always been popular.

Being popular was not something Roosevelt had ever been very good at. 

He was not athletic. He always cared more about grades than being cool. How could he get his classmates at Harvard to like him? He hatched a plan. He started to join clubs and meet people. He even became the editor of the Harvard Crimson newspaper!

As editor of this newspaper, Roosevelt reported on events that happened not just on campus but around the world. He began to learn more about politics and the government. He started to realize which politicians he agreed with and which ones he didn’t. His cousin Teddy was a Republican, but Roosevelt decided he would prefer to be a Democrat.  

Roosevelt married a woman named Eleanor and graduated with a law degree. He was ready to give politics a try. So, when he was twenty-eight, he ran in an election to be a state senator for New York and won. As a senator, Roosevelt helped create and vote on laws for his state. Being a state senator was a good first step. But Roosevelt still had more work to do. 

After only one two-year term as a state senator, Roosevelt received a life-changing call! It was the new President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson. Wilson asked Roosevelt to move to Washington D.C. to help run the United States Navy. This was huge! Roosevelt was excited to take this job. 

His dream of being president suddenly seemed within reach. Roosevelt’s career was moving in the right direction. He was getting experience in politics and learning about different parts of government. He was meeting important politicians. He was even gaining popularity among Americans. His dream of being president was within reach. 

Then, in 1921, Roosevelt went to New York for a family vacation. One day, he was relaxing on a boat, when without warning, he fell into the ice-cold water. His legs felt numb. Soon after that, he felt lots of pain in his back and his legs. He started to lose control of his body. He couldn’t even move his face. For a short period of time, he was almost entirely paralyzed and unable to move any parts of his body.

The doctors told Roosevelt that he had a disease called polio. This disease affected his spinal cord, which is what allowed his arms, legs, and all the other parts of his body to move. It was unusual for an adult to get polio. Since there was no cure for it, Roosevelt thought that he would never be able to move again.

How was Roosevelt ever going to control a country or command a military if he couldn’t move? He couldn’t stand. He couldn’t walk. He couldn’t even wave or smile at people. It seemed like his political career was over.

However, Roosevelt did not want this disease to decide when he should retire. He wanted to stay in politics. He was determined wanted to become president. Roosevelt decided that he would fight to recover to reach his goal. Nobody knew how long it would take or if it was even possible! And he’d be away from politics for a long time. Would anybody remember him after he was away for so long?

He needed people to remember his name. He had an idea. His wife, Eleanor, was well-liked and very intelligent. Maybe his wife could help remind people of his accomplishments in political circles. Plus, he could write letters to important politicians all over the country. He would make sure he wasn’t forgotten.

It took Roosevelt years to recover. He had to work hard to regain the use of his body parts. Roosevelt had to learn how to move again by swimming. Since he weighed less in the pool, it was easier for him to try lifting his arms and legs again. At first, he needed a lot of help, but he did get stronger. He had braces fit for his legs that allowed him to stand up.

By 1928, Roosevelt had made a lot of progress. He had built back a lot of his muscles, but he was still paralyzed in his legs. He realized he would never be able to walk again. Could he be the powerful, admirable figure that past presidents like his cousin were known for if he was stuck in a wheelchair?

Roosevelt did what he’d always done: use his intelligence and determination to make progress his hard work. In 1928, seven years after he first got sick, Roosevelt made his political comeback as Governor of New York. 

This same job title had belonged to his older cousin Teddy almost 30 years earlier. Roosevelt’s path to the presidency was back on track. 

Just like Teddy, Roosevelt was well-liked by the people of New York. He ran for re-election in 1930, and he won again. He liked being governor, but still, he wanted a promotion. He wanted to be president.

In 1932, Roosevelt ran for president of the United States. He won the election by beating Herbert Hoover. He became the thirty-second President of the United States, joining the long line of famous, powerful presidents, including his older cousin Teddy.  

Roosevelt didn’t let a wheelchair stop him. He did all of the things that presidents are supposed to do. He showed his country and the world that he was a strong and capable leader. When he gave speeches, Roosevelt used leg braces, a cane, and usually the arm of a family member to walk to the podium. Instead of using the bulky, ugly wheelchairs of the time, Roosevelt built his own sleek wheelchair using a dining chair with bicycle wheels attached to it. He could even climb stairs using just the strength of his arms like a gymnast!

Roosevelt showed the country that a disability did not mean he couldn’t be just as powerful and admirable as any other president. In fact, he served nearly four terms, making him the longest-serving president in history! 

Fortunately, a few years later, a scientist named Jonas Salk discovered a cure for polio. His vaccine made it so no one had to go through what President Roosevelt did. 

Roosevelt’s path to the presidency was not an easy one. But he never gave up on his dream or his desire to match Teddy’s success. Sometimes, being the younger cousin isn’t such a bad thing, after all. 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/theodore-roosevelt/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/franklin-d-roosevelt/

https://www.fdrlibrary.org/fdr-biography

https://millercenter.org/president/fdroosevelt/life-before-the-presidency

https://www.cdc.gov/polio/what-is-polio/index.htm

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Roosevelt-D-Roosevelt/Paralysis-to-presidency

https://www.ducksters.com/history/us_government/senate.php

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/teaching-wiki/roles-and-responsibilities-of-the-president

https://millercenter.org/president/fdroosevelt/life-before-the-presidency

https://kids.kiddle.co/Politics

https://www.fdrlibrary.org/polio

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What if I told you coyotes could fly?  Don’t believe me – think I’ve lost my mind?  Well, I’m here to tell you that I know of a coyote who COULD fly – and his name was Jeep!  And Jeep wasn’t any cartoon coyote.  No, this was a tried and true, real-life American Coyote!  And how did he fly without wings, you may ask?  Well, in a plane, of course!  And here’s his story:

A very long time ago, in May 1944, there lived a mother coyote in a dusty field in the state of Texas.  The mother coyote had a litter of coyote pups and tended to them between scouting trips for food.  She and other coyotes liked to sneak up to nearby farms in search of tasty rabbits, hens, chickens, and mice.  The farmers hated the coyotes and wanted to get rid of them; they didn’t want their farm animals attacked by these pesky scavengers.  So, they tried to scare them away or kill them.  

One day, a farmer found a baby coyote near his farm.  The coyote was no more than two weeks old and must have wandered away from his den-maybe in search of his mother or food.  The farmer gave the baby coyote to a teenage boy named John Crump, and told him to get rid of it.  At the time, John was a pilot in training at a nearby airfield and was working on the farm for extra money.  

John was tender-hearted and loved animals.  He just couldn’t bring himself to kill such a cute, furry little creature.  So, what did he do?  He took him home and started to raise him himself!  He decided to call the coyote “Jeep,” after the magical dog in the Popeye cartoons.

John was a very busy young man.  On top of helping out on the farm, he was also taking flying lessons while attending high school.  He loved flying and wanted to join the Army Air Force.  His dream was to join the war effort and fly planes over Europe.  World War II was raging in Europe at the time and pilots were needed to help the British fight the Nazis.  John graduated high school early and joined the Army Air Force.  He was ordered to board a beautiful ship called the Queen Elizabeth – a huge passenger ship converted – or changed – into a military troop ship.  His orders were to sail to England to join other pilots fighting in the war.  

John was very excited, but he didn’t want to leave his new furry friend, Jeep, behind.  Jeep might be killed by angry farmers or die of starvation.  John decided to take Jeep on the ship with him.  He stowed him away in his bags and carried him on board.   

And you might wonder what little Jeep thought about all of these changes in his young life – being taken away from his family, raised by a young man, then lugged onto a rolling ship. He must have been frightened and more than a little confused!  A rolling ship with hundreds of humans in tight corners is NOTHING like the vast dusty fields of Texas living with other coyotes!

Well, whatever Jeep thought, he and John survived the ocean crossing and eventually landed in England. They then traveled to Ipswich to join the 356^th Fighter Group at Playford Hall, near RAF Martlesham Heath Airfield.  This was HEAVEN for John and Jeep!  Playford Hall was no dusty farm or bleak metal shed on a slab of concrete.  No!  Playford Hall was a gorgeous brick mansion set in the middle of green lawns and blooming gardens.  And it even had a moat!  It was the perfect home for Jeep, a young, rambunctious coyote!  He could chase squirrels, birds, butterflies, and frogs!

Jeep loved his new home and he loved John.  Jeep sauntered behind John as he went back and forth across the lawns or down the road to the airfield.  And everyone at Playford Hall liked Jeep as well – he became their new little mascot and they gave him his own dog tags, log book, and medical records!  

Soon it was time for John to take to the skies and fly missions over England and Germany.  He jumped in his P-47 Thunderbolt plane, ready to fly into the skies and away towards Germany.  But Jeep wanted to go, too!  John tried to tell him to stay on the ground, but Jeep wasn’t having any of it.  He jumped up on the wing and right into the cockpit, landing on John’s lap!  It was a tight fit, but Jeep wasn’t moving.  Wherever John was going, so was Jeep!  

The war was raging and officers were yelling at the pilots to get into the air, so John decided to take Jeep on the flight with him.  He closed the hatch and started the engines.  Within seconds they were roaring down the airfield and lifting into the sky.  Below them, the rolling green hills and country lanes slowly disappeared from view as they headed across the English Channel towards Germany.  

The plane was very noisy, cold, and rattled a lot, but that didn’t bother Jeep.  He was just happy to be with John.  When John wasn’t steering the plane or turning various knobs, he would joke with Jeep and rub his ears, which made him very happy.  John and Jeep soared through the sky for hours on their dangerous bombing mission before returning home to Playford Hall.  Jeep was so excited to get out of the tiny cockpit after the long flight and stretch his legs – plus find something to eat.  

Jeep and John took 4 more wartime flights together and even posed for pictures taken by other pilots.  One picture shows Jeep sitting on John’s lap in the open cockpit.  John holds him up to the camera and smiles, but Jeep is more interested in surveying the ground below them.  Another picture shows Jeep sitting on a 500-pound bomb attached to the plane.  He is staring up at John, ears back, and howling!  He looks so happy.  John stands closely beside Jeep, smiling at the camera while decked out in his pilot suit, helmet, goggles and air mask!  

Jeep became the first – and possibly only – flying coyote, and the first coyote to join the war effort in support of the allies!  

Unfortunately, on October 28, 1944, while on base, Jeep was hit by a military vehicle and died.  John was devastated and many men mourned the passing of this dear, four-legged wartime companion.  Jeep was honored with a military funeral and buried on the beautiful grounds of Playford Hall.  Next to his resting place is a blue plaque that reads, in part: “Jeep Coyote.  Here lies in honored glory a native American who flew in combat and died on foreign soil in the service of his country.”

Jeep may have had a short life but he had a full, adventurous life!  How many coyotes do you know who found a loving friend, traveled on a luxury ocean liner, sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, lived in an English mansion, gained many other friends, AND flew in planes?  None!  Jeep was one of a kind and was sorely missed by John.  When John received a different plane later in the war, he painted the image of a howling coyote on its side in honor of Jeep. And shortly before John passed away, he returned to England and paid one last visit to Jeep on the grounds of Playford Hall.  

What a wonderful story of friendship and adventure!

So, what do you think of this coyote and his friend John?  Would you like to have a coyote as a pet?  Do you think it was a good idea to take the coyote away from Texas, sail across the sea, and raise him by an airfield with trucks and planes?  Would you like to take a ride in a plane with a coyote or some other animal?

I think this is a reminder that animals are amazing creatures and that special bonds can be formed between all kinds of wildlife and man.  Like “Unsinkable Sam,” the battleship cat we discussed in another episode, this coyote lived an amazing life during a historic time in history.  And even though his life was short, he was well-loved and his sweet, loyal nature touched many lives.  

What about you?  Have you ever had an amazing friendship with an animal?  If so, I would love to hear from you.  Click this link and complete the form.

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Tonight, we’re going to hear the tale of a very special animal.  One that is smart and cunning and likes to roam around at night.  One with keen eyesight, superior stalking skills, and sharp claws that can quickly capture its prey.  Do you know what it is?  No, it’s not an owl, a fox, or a tiger.  It’s smaller and might be living inside your house right now!  It’s a CAT!  And did you know that cats are rumored to have 9 lives?

Well, I don’t know if they really do have nine lives, but I know of one cat who was truly remarkable – and survived three truly scary events.  Here’s his amazing story:

Germany, 1941

Many years ago, in 1941, a tiny stray kitten was born in Germany.  The kitten was black with glowing eyes and white patches on his chin, chest, and paws.  Without an owner, he didn’t have a name.  He looked cute – but also spooky, too, like Casper the ghost – always sneaking around on dark nights with glowing eyes and a white belly!  Or maybe people liked to call him “Tuxedo” or “Boo.”

Well, let’s call him “Boo” for now.  Boo enjoyed life immensely in Germany – he loved stalking crickets in green meadows, chasing mice in dark alleyways, and flushing birds out of bushes.  He also liked wandering the streets searching for friendly shopkeepers with fresh food or bowls of crème. 

One day, Boo followed the scent of fish along the banks of the river to a nearby port.  He saw giant ships lined up in a row with men coming and going carrying boxes and crates and bags.  They were walking up wooden gangplanks onto the ships.  Boo thought this must be where they kept all the good food, so late one night he stalked silently up a gangplank, nearly invisible in his black fur. He snuck quickly along the deck and down some stairs, following the smell of food coming from somewhere deep in the ship.  He slunk along dark passageways, his whiskers grazing the cold metal walls until he came to a brightly lit room.  Inside were men, laughing and eating.  Their forks scraped their plates as they shoveled mounds of fish into their mouths and slurped coffee – and MILK!  Boo was so excited – this seemed like heaven on Earth – a whole room full of FOOD!  He inched into the room and skittered under a table.

Then he waited.  And waited.  And waited.  No food fell to the floor and no one seemed to notice him.  This was getting annoying.  The food smelled so delicious and his tummy was rumbling.  So, he started to meow.  Faintly at first and then with more gusto.  Finally, a young sailor heard him and peeked under the table.  Boo glared at him with big, glowing eyes.  The man laughed and threw a piece of fish on the floor.  Boo gobbled it up and meowed for more.  Soon, he was feasting on a whole plate of fish.

Other sailors gathered ‘round, laughing and joking about a cat on board.  But they had lots of questions, too.  Who did he belong to?  How did he get on board?  Would the captain let them keep him?  One sailor rushed off to ask the captain and came back a few minutes later.  “We can keep him!” he shouted.  “The captain said he can stay on board and catch the mice!”  The room erupted in cheers and laughter!

The Battleship “Bismarck”

Boo’s new home was the 41,000-ton German Battleship called the Bismarck, a prize ship of the Nazi Navy or “Kriegsmarine.” A day or so later, it sailed out of port for the open sea.  Boo had never been on a ship before.  He couldn’t understand why the ground seemed to sway below his paws.  This made stalking mice a little trickier, but he soon got his “sea legs” and enjoyed chasing the rodents around the ship.

One day, Boo heard lots of yelling and running – and then loud booms.  Suddenly the ship shook like thunder and started to tilt.  Sailors screamed and ran through the hallways as water rushed into the rooms, rising quickly.  Boo didn’t know what was happening, but he didn’t like it.  And he REALLY didn’t like water.  And this was very cold water.  Boo followed the sailors and raced up metal steps. He saw big waves of water rushing across the deck.  Men were jumping into the water and shouting at others.  Boo didn’t know what to do, but he knew he couldn’t stay on the ship – it was slowly sinking below the waves.  Boo saw a piece of wood floating in the water nearby.  He crouched and sprang into the air, landing on the wooden plank.  It was hard holding on at first, but he dug his claws into the wood and held on.

Soon the ship sank out of sight below the water, along with many of the men who had become his friends.  Boo huddled on the plank for many hours, rocking in the waves, exhausted and alone.  Was he ever going to get off the plank?

The Battleship “Cossack”

Many hours later, another huge battleship came into view – a British battleship called the Cossack.  Someone saw Boo floating on the plank and hoisted him onto the ship.  They wrapped him in a scratchy blanket and took him to a room like the other ship, filled with food and men.  These men’s voices sounded different.  But the food tasted the same – delicious! The men started calling him “Oscar” – probably because he was rescued from a German ship and “Oscar” was a common German name.  

The British sailors made a little swinging hammock for Boo – now Oscar – and wrote his name on the side. In no time, he was curled up in the hammock, purring and licking his paws in utter contentment.  The sailors laughed and clapped each other on the back.  They had a lucky mascot on board!

For the next several months, Boo, now Oscar, sailed the oceans – the warm Mediterranean and the chilly North Atlantic.  He stalked mice and curled up on laps.  Life seemed perfect again – until it wasn’t.  Several months later, Oscar heard another loud boom, followed by a violent shudder, and the now-familiar sound of running and screaming.  The ship had been hit by a torpedo!  Once again, Boo was running for his life and jumping onto another floating plank.

HMS Ark Royal

On October 27, 1941, just a few days before Halloween, Oscar the black cat was found floating near Gibraltar and was picked up once again by British sailors on yet another ship, the HMS Ark Royal, a battleship that had helped to sink the Bismark, his first home.  When the sailors heard of Oscar’s adventures on other battleships, they gave him a new name, “Unsinkable Sam!”

This third ship was considered very lucky – it had survived several near misses and the Germans thought they had sunk her numerous times.  But “Unsinkable Sam” (or Boo or Oscar) couldn’t catch a break.  Once again, his new home, the HMS Ark Royal, was hit by a torpedo within two weeks.  Unsinkable Sam was enraged.  Why did this keep happening to him?  He hated everything about ships and water now.  He just wanted to be on dry land.  

Once again, he was found floating on a plank in the water, and eventually picked up hissing and growling but unharmed.  He was delivered to the Governor’s house in Gibraltar.  He was finally on the solid ground surrounded by trees and birds.  No more fish, mice, or battleships for Boo!

While at the Governor’s house, he heard the words “World War II” spoken a lot.  Was that what all the ships and noise and water were about?  Well, one day he heard the Governor state that “World War II” was over and everyone was leaving the island of Gibraltar to go home.  But where would Boo go?

Belfast, Ireland

He was soon put into a crate and transported to Ireland.  His new home was in Belfast at a “Home for Sailors,” the perfect place for war veterans like Boo, or Oscar, or Unsinkable Sam.  And that is where he spent the remainder of his days, stalking crickets and chasing birds. He lived happily for 14 more years, until November 1955, when he passed away in peace and comfort, in a house filled with love.

The Legend of Unsinkable Sam

So, what do you think of Boo’s – or “Unsinkable Sam’s” story?  Do you believe that cats have nine lives?  Do you believe the myth of black cats crossing your path and bringing bad luck? Do you believe this cat was a blessing or a curse to the battleships and sailors?

I think this cat was very lucky.  He survived three battleship sinkings where many men did not.  On his first ship, the Bismarck, only 139 sailors survived out of 2,200, while 139 sailors died after the sinking of his second ship, the Cossack.  But that wasn’t the cat’s fault.  He just happened to be aboard battleships in the middle of a war. But he was lucky and survived it all, finally finding a home where he enjoyed peace and comfort for many years.

What can we learn from Unsinkable Sam?

I think this story reminds us that we may experience difficult times in our lives, but there is always a way out, a way to move forward to reach brighter days.  If you just hang on, like Boo, Oscar, or Unsinkable Sam did on those planks in the ocean, better days will come.  He was such a brave little cat, and a survivor, too.  

What about you?  Are you facing any challenges in your life?  What can you do to change things for the better, like reaching out to family and friends, teachers, or other adults, to ask for help?  There is always a life raft waiting to bring you to shore – all you need to do is grab it – like Boo or Oscar or Unsinkable Sam!

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsinkable_Samhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsinkable_Sam

https://allthatsinteresting.com/unsinkable-sam

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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. 

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Imagine your dad or mom has just told you a magical story about a kind giant who brings pleasant dreams to children. As you close your eyes, you think about the giant–what he might look like, what you would do if you met him. Just then, you hear a gentle tapping on your open window, and a bamboo pole pokes through! A puff of air whiffs out of the tube in your direction. This is like the story you just heard! You wonder with excitement if it’s the friendly giant, blowing sweet dreams into your room. 

When Lucy Dahl was a little girl, this very thing happened to her. As a grown-up, she told a TV interviewer about it. Lucy’s father, Roald Dahl, told her the story of the big, friendly giant who puffed sweet dreams into the minds of children as they dropped off to sleep. He wrote that story, The BFG, and many others, as one of the most famous children’s authors of the twentieth century. Lucy and her siblings were lucky enough to hear many of his tales as bedtime stories.

Born in 1916, both of Roald’s parents were from Norway. They spoke Norwegian at home, and his mother told him Norwegian fairy tales as a child. They even named him after a famous Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundson, who was the first person to reach the South Pole. But his father, Harald, was convinced that England had the best schools in the world, and so that is where they lived. Harald was wealthy due to his work in the shipping industry, and the family lived in a very large house in Wales, which is in the southern part of the island of Great Britain. 

Despite the family’s wealth, Dahl’s childhood was sad at times. His older sister died of an infection when he was three, and his father passed away from an illness only a few weeks later.  This left his mother, Sophie, suddenly alone to raise 6 children, but she decided to stay in England so her children could attend school there, as Harald had wished. 

Unfortunately, some of the schools Roald attended were not quite what a loving parent would hope for. Roald loved to pull pranks, which didn’t go over so well with his elementary school’s headmaster. Once, he put a dead mouse in a jar of gobstoppers at a local candy shop. He and his friends thought the owner was mean-spirited and grumpy, and that may have been true, but the dead mouse may have taken things too far. The owner went to the headmaster of the school to complain. But what happened next should never have happened. The headmaster definitely took things too far: he punished Roald and his friends by hitting them!

Fortunately, Roald’s mother Sophie was a loving parent. She didn’t approve of the headmaster hitting her son, even though it was legal back then, and she told him so. She also took Roald out of that school and sent him to a boarding school–that is, where the students actually live at the school–the next year. 

Although Sophie wanted to improve her son’s situation, the boarding school was no better. Roald was watched over by another strict and cruel headmaster, and most of the other adults at the school, from the teachers to the nurse and dorm supervisor, followed his example. Roald wrote to his mother every week, but because the headmaster read the letters, he never wrote anything bad about the school. 

Though his school experiences were pretty awful on the whole, Roald did have happy times during his childhood. At one school, the students got to “test” Cadbury chocolates that the company provided. Roald dreamed of working in a candy lab, where he would invent a new candy that would impress Mr. Cadbury himself. Maybe this reminds you a little of Dahl’s book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! 

Summers were another happy time for Roald. His family spent every summer in Norway, where they would visit with his grandparents and share a huge feast, then vacation on a remote island. There, they would fish, boat, swim, and relax as a family.  

When he finished school, Roald didn’t want to continue on and go to college–understandable given how terrible his experiences with school had been so far. Instead, he wanted to travel the world. He found a job with the Shell Oil Company that took him to live in Tanzania. 

When World War II started, Roald joined the Royal Air Force to train as a fighter pilot. His service took him to many more countries: Iraq, Egypt, and Greece among them. But in September of 1940, something terrible happened: Dahl crashed his plane in the Egyptian desert. He managed to crawl away from the wreckage, but his skull was fractured and he had been blinded. He was rescued and taken to a hospital, where he slowly recovered and his eyesight returned. He was released from the hospital in February 1941. 

The air force returned Dahl to flying planes. They sent him to fight in Greece, where he took part in the Battle of Athens. He described fighting in these aerial battles as “an endless blur of enemy fighters whizzing towards me from every side”.  Can you imagine being in a tiny airplane, with lots of other planes swooping and buzzing past you? 

Soon after his time in Greece, Dahl began having headaches and blackouts related to injuries from the crash. This time, the air force sent him back home to England. He couldn’t fly a plane when he might suddenly get a terrible headache or lose consciousness. He took a diplomatic job for the British in the US but didn’t like it. The work felt unimportant after fighting in the war.

But one thing did happen while Dahl was working in Washington DC that would change his life, and the lives of millions of young readers, forever. Dahl met a famous novelist named CS Forester. Forester asked Dahl to write about some of his war experiences, which Forester planned to turn into a story for the magazine The Saturday Evening Post. So Dahl wrote down his adventures as a fighter pilot. When Forester got Dahl’s version of the story, he liked it so much, he decided to publish it just as Dahl had written it, instead of rewriting it himself. Without really trying, Roald Dahl was suddenly a writer!

Dahl would go on to do all kinds of writing. He wrote short stories for grown-ups, some of which were turned into television shows. He wrote scripts for two movies. One of these was the children’s movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, about a family’s special car. You might be surprised to learn that the other was actually for the 1967 James Bond movie You Only Live Twice! 

But of course, Dahl is best known for his beloved children’s books. If you’ve read them (and I do recommend you read them), you know that his books are wildly imaginative, funny, exciting, and sometimes a little scary. 

Many of Dahl’s children’s books started out as stories he made up and told his own children when they were young. These stories were full of magic and whimsy, like a fantastic chocolate factory, giants who bring dreams to children, gnome-like creatures who live in trees, and a giant peach that carries a boy and his insect friends across the ocean. Roald was inspired by the English countryside around his home, by the Norwegian fairy tales his mother told him, and by people he’d met over the years. The hero of his books is almost always a child. Usually, they have to face adults who are unfair, even cruel. But of course, the child wins in the end by using their intelligence, imagination, and kindness. There’s always at least one adult who is kind and who is on the child’s side, though often it’s the child who helps this grown-up with their problems, instead of the other way around! 

Does this sound a little like Dahl was recalling his own childhood? Like his characters, he had to face some scary and unfair grown-ups, though he also had his kind and loving mother to come home to. He enjoyed having fun and playing pranks, just like many of the children in his books, and just like them, he was strong enough to get through these tough situations.

Millions of Dahl’s books are still sold every year. Many have been made into films over the years, including Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach  and The Fantastic Mr. Fox. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was made into a film twice!  Matilda was also turned into a Broadway musical. Every year on his birthday, September 13th, fans around the world celebrate Roald Dahl Day by dressing up as characters from his books, throwing parties, and putting on performances inspired by his writing. 

Roald Dahl faced many hard situations in his life, but always kept his sense of humor and wonder. Sometimes, reading about someone who overcomes a scary situation can help us face our own challenges in real life. Whether it’s performing on stage, jumping off the diving board, or going to a new school, new experiences can be both exciting and scary. As Dahl put it, “Most of the really exciting things we do in our lives scare us to death. They wouldn’t be exciting if they didn’t.” Dahl knew that sometimes, life throws up challenges, but that there was also magic and wonder in it. It’s important to keep looking for the magic, even when the world seems ugly and dark. Again, Dahl himself put it best: “watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.” And just like the children in Dahl’s books, you can get through hard situations, and you can find those unlikely places where beautiful things await you.

Sources

https://www.thebookseller.com/insight/eight-facts-about-roald-dahls-books-364066

https://www.roalddahl.com/roald-dahl

https://www.roalddahl.com/create-and-learn/join-in/roald-dahl-day

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Dahl

Interview with Lucy Dahl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvd_JiNXdz4&t=1s

Dahl, Roald, 1984. Boy: Tales of Childhood. Puffin Books, New York.

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Close your eyes and imagine you are cold and sitting in the back of the boat. The sky is cloudy and many airplanes are flying overhead. The water from the chilly ocean is splashing into your boat and as you look ahead you see a beach which you and your team of soldiers must invade. Bombs explode in the water around you. Your boat tries to navigate through spikes and landmines that are guarding the water leading up to the beach. A boat nearby you is sinking from an explosion. “Out of the boat! Out of the boat!” someone shouts. The ramp to the front of the boat goes down and you rush out with the other soldiers. You are very scared, but you know in order to win the war this beach must be taken back! It is D-Day and you are one of the Allied soldiers preparing to take Normandy Beach in France.

For many years Hitler and the German Army controlled France and many other countries in Europe. The main goal of the Allies was to kick Hitler and his army out of France and take the fight to Germany. The Allies were made up of many countries, but the main ones were the United States, England, France, Russia, and Canada. D-Day was one of the most important missions of the war because it would take place on the beaches of France where the Allies would start taking back Europe from Hitler. 

The United States General Eisenhower was made command of the D-Day operation in January 1944. The Allies knew they wanted to attack, but weren’t sure where. And part of the plan was to trick Hitler into believing the attack would be from somewhere else, so he wouldn’t be able to concentrate all of his forces in one place. The Allies used many tricks to go about this such as spies, secret agents, fake tanks, and fake radio messages. They even put one of their best generals, George Patton, in different area to confused Hitler. Over 3,200 reconnaissance missions were used to prepare for D-Day. Reconnaissance means to to spy on the enemy and do research to decide how to act next. The original name of the mission was Operation Overlord, and only later referred to as D-Day.

The plan was to attack the Germans on Normandy Beach. 5,000 ships and 11,000 airplanes were used during the attack. After the ships brought in the soldiers, the plan was to put them all on amphibious vehicles, move them to the beach, then the soldiers would attack the Germans guarding the beach.

But the morning before they started the attack the Allie’s planes dropped bombs on the Germans guarding the beach. French people living in a town nearby were awoken to the sound of bombs. A French villager lived near a house overlooking the beaches. He said: “I saw light coming from two bombs that exploded at the ridge of the cliff.” The Allies were doing everything they could to make sure the soldiers coming in on the beach would be safe.

The night before the invasion 24,000 soldiers also parachuted out of planes and landed behind the German army to help the troops who would be landing on the beach. These soldiers were called “paratroopers.”

One of the paratroopers was named Bob Nobles. He and his 16-man team flew in a plane across the English Channel. Just after midnight the light inside their plane told them it was time to jump out. They all lined up and one after another jumped out of the back of the plane. He said “By the time my parachute opened, I was on the ground!” He landed in a farmer’s field all by himself and took off his parachute. Then he hurried off on foot until he came across another paratrooper. “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!” the other paratrooper shouted. “I’m from Indiana! But I forgot the password!” They were supposed to have a password to know who was on their side and who was the enemy. Bob laughed as they looked for the rest of the teammates. But most of the other paratroopers had missed the drop zone, the place they were supposed to land.

These paratrooper missions proved to be very dangerous and a challenge in some cases where the soldiers landed in the wrong place or were captured or shot as soon as they landed. But in other cases the soldiers were able to regroup and take bridges and help the soldiers who would be landing on the beach the next day. 

The original plan was to attack on June 5th, but the weather was very bad, so it was put off until June 6th. In a message to troops before they left, General Eisenhower told them, “The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory…. We will accept nothing less than full victory!”

On June 6th 1944 starting at 6:30 a.m. the amphibious vehicles took the Allied troops from the ships to the beach. Amphibious means something that works in water and on land. These vehicles were designed to float like a boat and drive like a car!

Over 100,000 Allied soldiers attacked the beach at the same time! They were from many different countries like the United States, England, and Canada. The invasion was the largest amphibious landing and assault in history!

For many months the German Army had prepared for an attack on the beach. They had built many defenses armed with machine guns, barbed wire, land mines, so attacking the beach was extremely dangerous. 

One of the soldiers, Colonel Moulton, was on the amphibious landing craft with his soldiers. He told them to fire smoke bombs into the sky so they would be hidden from the enemy machine guns. It helped some, but their landing craft was still smashed up and some of the soldiers died when they hit the beach. Telling his story many years later, he said that the “Germans built concrete strong points in the villages and we landed right in front of one,” which caused much harm to his fellow soldiers.

Another soldier, Harry Timmins, said that when their landing craft came on the beach “the noise was more than you could possibly imagine. There were explosions all around us in the sea and the shells and mortars were kicking up sand all over the beach. A couple of buildings were on fire and the guns on our boat also joined in the barrage and deafened us.”

Many soldiers lost their lives as they came out of the landing vehicles. In some places the water was too high, so sadly they sank with all their heavy gear on. 

Another soldier, Robert Watson remembered that nothing went quite as planned. Everything took longer than expected and his landing craft was taking on a lot of water. “Landing craft were exploding all around me,” he remembered and got very sick in his boat. He remembered someone yelling “Get to the beach!” Then their craft hit a floating mine and they had to climb onto another craft to get the rest of the way to the beach. After he finally got to the beach he said, “I was scared my ammunition wouldn’t work” because it was wet. But he was able to fire shots without any problem and started firing at the enemy. The company of soldiers he started with had 62 soldiers. Only 36 of them were left after the attack. Many of his friends never made it to the beach. 

The beaches were given different codenames. Omaha Beach and Juno Beach had the most casualties. A casualty is when someone is hurt or dies in battle. By the end of the morning over 4,000 soldiers had died during the intense battle! 

By the time the battle was done the Allies had taken the beach and started moving into France. It was one of the most dangerous battles of World War II, but also one of the most important as well. Now that the Allies were in France they had shown the world and Hitler that they were very strong and would be able to win the war. The war continued on for many more days, but because of the sacrifices made on D-Day there was hope for the people of France and people all around the world that the war would come to an end.

Do you know anyone who has served in the military? Take some time to think about their bravery in deciding to serve and what courage it must take to decide to put your life on the line for your country. Think about those who gave their life on D-Day and how many of the freedoms you have exist, because someone else has given up their own time and sometimes even their life. There is a quote that says “Freedom isn’t free.” Freedom is often something that has to be fought for. Because of this, we shouldn’t take our own freedom for granted. Think about what you might do to keep freedom strong wherever you live. This might mean learning more about government and your local leaders. This might mean learning about different laws and voting when you are the right age. It might also mean serving in the military as well. Whatever you do to help, remember that freedom is a wonderful thing that not everyone has; and something we should never take for granted.

The post The History of D-Day: Operation Overlord for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Close your eyes and imagine you are a soldier flying in a plane high above the ocean. Outside you hear the plane’s propellers turning and strong winds rushing past the windows. It is the middle of the night and down below the ocean is dark and cold. Sitting around you are other soldiers, men and women with dark clothes and large backpacks. They look nervous and you feel nervous too. You check your gun and tighten a parachute which is also on your back. 

The year is 1944 and you are in the middle of World War 2. Nazi Germany has invaded France. France’s allies England and the United States and other countries are working to help France and many other countries be free again. If the battle can be won in France there might be a chance to beat the Nazis and make the world a safe place again. You look around at the other soldiers, but remember you and the others here are no ordinary soldiers. You are part of England’s Special Operations Executive, commandos which are a combination of a soldier and a spy. You have trained many months to be a commando and it’s finally your chance to help the people of France. 

“Everyone ready?” a voice calls from the back of the plane. You look out the window and see that you are above land now. This is France. You and the other soldiers stand up and walk toward the back of the plane. In the front you see one of the most famous commandos — a woman named Nancy Wake. The back doors to the plane open. You watch as Nancy walks to the back of the plane and jumps out into the cold night. Soon you jump out, too, and are are falling down, down toward the ground.  At the right moment you pull your parachute and are yanked up into the sky. You look across the French countryside and float downward until your boots hit the ground and you roll, then hurriedly wrap up your parachute. 

Nancy Wake and the other commandos are running low across a grassy field to the cover of trees. Someone whispers that a German patrol is nearby. You quietly hurry on until you are hidden deep in the woods. Everyone huddles together and pulls out their backpacks. You see that Nancy is safe and are glad to have such a brave woman leading your team. You know with her help you can accomplish your dangerous and very important mission. 

Nancy Wake was born in Wellington, New Zealand. A couple years later her family moved to Australia. There she went to school until the age of 16 when she left home and found a job as a nurse. Working as a nurse, she was able to save some money and with the help of an aunt, was bought a plane ticket to New York City. There she learned how to become a journalist. A journalist is someone who writes stories for the newspaper. To Nancy being a journalist was an adventure. She loved to travel and learn about new people and places. One of the places she visited was Austria. While she was in Austria a powerful leader named Adolf Hitler had become very powerful. Hitler’s country of Germany was nearby Austria. In Austria Hitler’s followers, the Nazis, were hurting people they did not like, such as the Jews. When Nancy saw how horribly the Nazis treated these people, she realized Hitler was very dangerous.

Nancy moved to Paris, France one of her favorite places in the world. She loved the city and the people and eventually married a Frenchman named Henri Edmond Fiocca. While Nancy was living in France, Hitler’s army invaded the country. Hitler wanted to control France, but Nancy did everything to try and stop him. She joined a group called The Resistance. She helped soldiers escape France and sent secret messages to help The Resistance. Nancy was very careful, so for a long time the Nazis didn’t know she was a spy. She was very sneaky and for this reason the Nazis called her “The White Mouse.” Her job was very dangerous, but Nancy knew that fighting against the invaders was the right thing to do, so she did it anyway. The Nazis wanted to catch Nancy so badly that they offered 5 million French dollars to anyone who would turn her in. 

Soon it was too dangerous for Nancy to stay in France, so she snuck out of the country, hiding in the back of a coal truck, just before the Nazis caught her. From France she went to Spain and then to England, which was a country safe from the Nazis. Nancy could have lived a safe life in England far from her enemies, but she knew she needed to keep fighting to keep the world free. In England Nancy joined England’s spy group called the Special Operations Executive. There Nancy trained to be a soldier and a spy, also known as a commando. She learned to shoot a gun, use a radio, and be sneaky, which she was already pretty good at. But Nancy worked very hard and tried to be very cheerful. When other soldiers were sad she made funny jokes and cheered them up. The other soldiers like to be around Nancy. 

Once Nancy and the other soldiers were trained, a plane flew them across the ocean to France where they jumped out and parachuted down to the ground. Many Nazis were in France so they were careful and spent much of the time in hiding. There Nancy and the other soldiers helped The Resistance. They gave them guns and other supplies, blew up bridges, recruited more people to the Resistance. Once they even attacked a Nazi base. Nancy and the other commandos weren’t afraid to complete dangerous missions to help free the people of France.

To keep in touch with England the commandos used radio and special codes. One night the codes were destroyed by the enemy and the next closest radio station was very far away. Many would have given up, but Nancy decided she could ride a bike to the other radio. So she jumped on her bike and rode almost 200 miles. She had to pass many Nazis along the way, so it was a very dangerous journey, but Nancy was brave and believed in her cause. After delivering the message to be sent, Nancy got back on her bike and rode all the way back to her team.

While Nancy and the other commandos were helping The Resistance, the Allied Armies fought Hitler’s army on the battlefield until chasing them out of France. Nancy was excited to see France free again and proud to have been one of many to make it happen. 

After the war Nancy received many medals for her bravery. Later she wrote a book about her life and adventures during the war and called it “The White Mouse.” Nancy moved into a hotel in France where the owners and others helped take care of her, because of all she had done to help their country. Nancy Wake’s bravery inspired many women and men for years to come. 

Like Nancy, you can do things even when you’re not sure how they’ll turn out. Sometimes we only want to do the things we know about — this is called staying inside our comfort zone. But it’s also good for us to get outside of our comfort zone and try new things like Nancy did. We can stand up for what we believe even when it might be scary. If you see someone picking on someone else, you can tell them this is wrong and stand up for them. You might wonder if you can be as brave as Nancy, but remember she was once a child just like you. 

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Close your eyes and imagine a short man with gray and white hair that sticks up off his head and grows in all directions. He has a big mustache and wears a coat that is rumpled, pants that are short, and socks that don’t match. But he has a kind smile on his face and deep, thoughtful eyes. This is what Albert Einstein looked like. And it might be easy to judge him by his funny appearance, but Einstein is one of the most famous scientists of all time. And many of his big ideas changed the world! But where did Albert Einstein come from? What was his childhood like? What was his life like? Listen closely, because it all starts in Ulm, Germany on March 14, 1879 when Albert was born.

Albert was quiet and very shy as a child. It took him longer to say his first words than most kids. His parents thought this meant there was something wrong with him. They took him to the doctor, but the doctor said everything was just fine. As a child, Albert liked to play by himself. He played with blocks and built towers of cards. He was very curious and often sat and just day-dreamed. His parents thought this meant he had some kind of problem, but really he just liked to sit and think and dream and make things on his own. 

Albert also liked the play the violin. Often he and his mother played together. Albert’s mind was always imagining and wondering about the world around him. He went to school, but wasn’t learning the things that interested him, so he started searching for answers on his own. He read and found many of his answers in books and by asking others. His parents began to see how curious and bright he was and appreciate his talents, even though he was quiet and shy. 

In high school, Albert struggled in school. Kids had to sit perfectly still, wear uniforms, and march in line. If they asked questions they were punished. His teachers told his parents he’d never do anything useful in life because he was so disobedient by asking questions and speaking out of turn. These years were very frustrating for Albert, because he was curious and wanted to learn. Math was one of his favorite subjects. His parents found a book about geometry, the study of shapes, and he taught it to himself. 

Eventually, Albert was told to leave his school, because he refused to stop asking questions and wouldn’t blindly obey his teachers. He moved with his family to Italy and there spent his time hiking in the mountains and learning on his own. He read about great scientists and astronomers like Copernicus and Galileo who had great ideas. But because their ideas were different than what was believed, they were treated poorly. Albert understood these scientists because he felt he was being treated the same way. In Italy, he wrote his first scientific paper, but it received very little attention because he was young and no one thought someone his age would have great ideas. In Italy, he decided to move to Zurich Switzerland to study physics.

There he loved the Swiss people and his new college. He was able to ask tough questions and talk about them with his classmates. There he met a woman named Mileva who was also a big thinker. They enjoyed their time together and were later married. 

In Switzerland, Albert started working at the patent office. When someone comes up with an idea for a new invention, they draw up the plans and get a patent — which means no one else can take their idea. Albert’s job was to read about all of the new inventions and approve them. He enjoyed this job and was able to work so fast that he could take off early and spend time hiking and thinking. These were some of Albert’s happiest years of his life. So many marvelous ideas came to him at this time. He started writing scientific papers about his ideas and published five of them. These included big ideas about space travel and electricity. Albert was known for wearing the same wrinkled clothes every day and didn’t comb his hair, so it stuck up all over the place. He liked to spend time deep in thought rather than taking care of himself. People began to know him for his big ideas and recognized him for his funny appearance.

As Albert became more popular, he finally got his dream job — teaching physics for the university. Now he was able to spend all of his time thinking and teaching his students. The students loved their quirky professor. He was able to take difficult ideas and explain them in a simple way.

One of his big ideas was called The Theory of Relativity. This idea was that all things move at different speeds except for light. Think about how as a car passes it’s moving at a different speed as it drives by. But if you’re inside the car it doesn’t appear to be moving at all. So speed is “relative” to where you are. Another example is that the Earth is flying around the sun and spinning at incredible speeds, but because you’re standing on the Earth it doesn’t appear to be moving at all.

 Another of Einstein’s big idea was that not only are the planets moving around the Sun, but the Sun is moving through the galaxy as well, it just doesn’t appear to move because our planet is moving around it.

Some funny things about Albert is that even though he was a scientific genius he was often absent-minded, which means he forgot simple things. For example, often when he went out he forgot his keys, lost his bags, and forgot to eat. He was so focused on what went on in his wonderful brain that he often didn’t consider what was going on around him. He found simpler ways to live his life, so he could focus all his energy on thinking. For example, he wore the same clothes every day and only buttoned his top button because it took less time and energy. He often wore socks that didn’t match, his clothes were rumpled and his hair stuck all over the place. But his fans loved it and people all over the world talked about this brilliant, quirky genius.

Albert’s next job took him back to Germany, but over the years he and his wife were growing apart. He was so busy being a professor and speaking around the world that he didn’t give Mileva and his children the time they needed. Mileva decided not to move him and they divorced. Albert admitted he was not always a good father and chose writing his papers and teaching over his family responsibilities. 

While Albert was living in Germany, World War I started. He was sad to see soldiers marching down the street because he knew what war did to people. He refused to support the war and the leaders of Germany were upset at him. He could have gone to jail, but he stood up for his beliefs anyway. When World War I ended Albert was very happy.

In Germany, Albert met a woman named Elsa. They grew close and she spent her time taking care of him, making sure he ate and shaved and didn’t lose his keys. They were married. Albert loved Elsa and she loved him. 

By this time, Albert was so popular it made his life difficult. You might think being popular is a great thing, but for people who are very famous, you can’t walk anywhere without people talking to you or wanting a picture or asking for your autograph. Albert loved being alone, so this was very hard for him. He was offered a lot of money to speak and do other things, but he refused. For him, his research and his ideas were more important than money or fame.

Sadly, new problems began in Germany. Albert Einstein was Jewish, which is a race and religion. Many Jews who lived in Germany wrote to Albert and asked him to defend them because they were being treated badly. Their shops were taken from them and they were often beaten up by non-Jews. The Nazis, who had taken control of Germany, falsely blamed all their problems on the Jewish people. They burned their books and many Jews started leaving Germany. Albert spoke out against the Nazis and refused to leave even though his life was at risk. Hitler, the powerful leader of the Nazis, said Albert was a spy and eventually Albert realized it was too dangerous for him to stay. He and Elsa moved to the United States and became a professor at Princeton University in New Jersey. 

Albert’s years at Princeton were hard. He was sad to see what was happening to Jews in Germany. Then sadly Elsa died. Albert often kept to himself and played his violin. He also didn’t have as many big ideas as when he was younger.

One of Albert’s most famous ideas was an equation, E = MC2. It basically said that all things are energy. Even the hard walls around you, your body, mass are energy, too, but just in a different form. He also had the idea that if an atom could be broken it would cause a HUGE explosion, called a nuclear explosion. He worried that the Nazis might create a nuclear bomb and use it against the United States and her Allies. Even though he hated the idea that such a weapon would ever be used, he wrote President Roosevelt and told him that the United States must create the bomb first. Eventually, the United States did create an atomic bomb and used it against its enemy Japan. For the rest of his life, Albert wondered whether he should have ever shared his ideas about a nuclear bomb. But he also thought the consequence of the Nazis making it first would be even worse. 

After World War II ended, Einstein spent many years speaking out against atomic bombs. The United States and Russia had made thousands of them and it made the world a very dangerous place. Fortunately, after World War II nuclear bombs were never used. 

Albert Einstein spent the last years of his life growing old while living in Princeton, New Jersey. His hair was now white and grew widely in all directions. He was still a quirky and funny sight to see with his rumpled, mismatched clothes. He continued to play his violin and go on walks around his home. He often stopped to help people in need or invite them into his home. He was a very gentle, kind person who had changed the world with his ideas but didn’t care about money or being famous. He just wanted the world to be a peaceful place. On April 17, 1955 Einstein passed away while thinking through a problem and writing equations on a piece of paper. To his last day, he was a thinker! 

Spend a moment thinking about what it was like to be Albert. When he was young he loved to go on walks and observe the world around him. He saw everything through the eyes of wonder and curiosity. The world to him was an exciting, mysterious place. He loved to understand how it worked and dream about how the parts he didn’t understand might work. His imagination led to some of his amazing ideas. You can wonder, too. Remember in the times when you might be bored, it’s ok to be bored. Say it out loud “it’s ok to bored!” When you’re bored, you can take a deep breath and look closely at the world around you. It’s the perfect chance to see things with new eyes. 

Even though Einstein became very famous, he didn’t care about having lots of money and expensive things. He wanted the world to be fair and peaceful. He also wasn’t perfect. No one really is. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. Einstein wasn’t a very good father, but he ended up helping the world in many other ways. 

If you want to learn more about Albert Einstein we shared our favorite videos and books on our website, BedtimeHistoryStories.com. Be sure to check it out.

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