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Ritchie Boy Secrets: How a Force of Immigrants and Refugees Helped Win World War II
by Beverley Driver EddyIn June 1942, the U.S. Army began recruiting immigrants, the children of immigrants, refugees, and others with language skills and knowledge of enemy lands and cultures for a special military intelligence group being trained in the mountains of northern Maryland and sent into Europe and the Pacific. Ultimately, 15,000 men and some women received this specialized training and went on to make vital contributions to victory in World War II. This is their story, which Beverley Driver Eddy tells thoroughly and colorfully, drawing heavily on interviews with surviving Ritchie Boys.The army recruited not just those fluent in German, French, Italian, and Polish (approximately a fifth were Jewish refugees from Europe), but also Arabic, Japanese, Dutch, Greek, Norwegian, Russian, Turkish, and other languages—as well as some 200 Native Americans and 200 WACs. They were trained in photo interpretation, terrain analysis, POW interrogation, counterintelligence, espionage, signal intelligence (including pigeons), mapmaking, intelligence gathering, and close combat.Many landed in France on D-Day. Many more fanned out across Europe and around the world completing their missions, often in cooperation with the OSS and Counterintelligence Corps, sometimes on the front lines, often behind the lines. The Ritchie Boys&’ intelligence proved vital during the liberation of Paris and the Battle of the Bulge. They helped craft the print and radio propaganda that wore down German homefront morale. If caught, they could have been executed as spies. After the war they translated and interrogated at the Nuremberg trials. One participated in using war criminal Klaus Barbie as an anti-communist agent. Meanwhile, Ritchie Boys in the Pacific Theater of Operations collected intelligence in Burma and China, directed bombing raids in New Guinea and the Philippines, and fought on Okinawa and Iwo Jima.This is a different kind of World War II story, and Eddy tells it with conviction, supported by years of research and interviews.
Quick & Easy Recipes for a Gathering
by Gooseberry PatchGatherings are full of all the things we love...getting together with family & friends, sharing conversation and laughter, and eating delicious food.Whether you're celebrating a birthday or anniversary, hosting the kids' friends for a slumber party, or getting a few people together for a casual game night or backyard movie night, Quick & Easy Recipes for Gatherings will help you make it memorable. Fill the appetizer table with creamy dips and spreads, crunchy snack mixes, spicy chicken wings and savory sausages...there's something for everyone! Or make family night special, sharing a yummy dip with chips while watching sports on television. For heartier appetites, platters of sliders or sandwich loaves, cheesy nachos and saucy ribs are just the ticket. Cook up a big pot of chowder or bake a comfort-food casserole, and round out the menu with a big veggie-packed salad. Dessert is really the star of the show...a sheet pan chocolate cake or sweet fruit tart will feed a crowd.You can plan a whole party menu with the recipes in this book, jazz up your tried & true favorites with one or two new-to-you treats, or even cook up a fun weeknight meal for the family. They're all so easy, you'll spend less time in the kitchen! You'll also find helpful entertaining tips to make planning a breeze. So start making your guest list...every day's a party when we gather together! 246 Recipes.
Behind Bars: True Crime Stories of Whiskey Heists, Beer Bandits, and Fake Million-Dollar Wines
by Mike GerrardBehind Bars is filled with stories both ancient and urgent of what happens when alcohol meets crime, from illicit stills in the Scottish Highlands to moonshine in the USA, rum smuggled by Caribbean pirates to the roaring times of Prohibition, current-day gangs selling millions of dollars&’ worth of fake Bordeaux, and the often-unsolved cases of people walking into a liquor store, stealing whiskey bottles worth tens of thousands of dollars, and walking out, never to be seen again.Award-winning travel and drinks writer Mike Gerrard takes readers on a centuries-long journey highlighting the most bizarre – and expensive – alcohol-related crimes all while revealing the inside world of spirits, how they have been distilled, legislated, imbibed, and infused into our culture for hundreds of years. Featuring colorful tangents and detailed appendices, Behind Bars will whet the whistle of any curious reader. Spanning the stories of ancient wine swindlers in Pompeii to the modern radiocarbon-dating techniques used by today&’s cutting-edge scientists to investigate suspect bottles of expensive alcohol, from million-dollar robberies of wine cellars buried deep underground to whiskey rings surrounding the highest reaches of the Presidency, Gerrard smartly and swiftly reveals that the link between alcohol and crime is a never-ending story.
Autumn in a Jiffy: All Your Favorite Flavors of Fall Updated with Photos
by Gooseberry PatchThere's a nip in the air and the leaves are turning...it's autumn again! Back-to-school, homecoming, hayrides, county fairs, trick-or-treating and Turkey Day...so much fun, but so much to do! Updated with 22 photos, Autumn in a Jiffy is just what you need...over 240 speedy recipes shared by moms like you. Most recipes are made with eight ingredients or less and are perfect for your busy family life. Are the kids too rushed to eat breakfast? They'll be on their way in no time when you serve up Bubble Breakfast Pizza and Banana-Oat Breakfast Cookies. At lunchtime, Pop's Harvest Chili and Easy Meatball Hoagies will fill hungry tummies. You'll find lots of quick ideas for weeknight dinners your family will love...some ready in 30 minutes or less! Put a fresh spin on old favorites with Taco-Filled Peppers and Super-Simple Chicken Manicotti. Jazz up the Thanksgiving table with Sweet & Spicy Broccoli and Slow-Cooker Scalloped Potatoes.For tailgating and party snacking, Corn Dog Muffins and Candy Corn Crispy Balls are sure to be a hit. And there's always time for dessert! Tuck Marbled Chocolate Bars into lunchboxes and wow 'em at get-togethers with Autumn Spice Streusel Cake...yum! Look for the sweet and funny family memories sprinkled throughout, plus timesaving kitchen tips and holiday ideas to make every day special. 242 Recipes.
A Kids' Guide to Building Forts
by Tom BirdseyeAn entertaining guide for building safe and fun forts—outside, inside, at the beach, and in snow country.Ages 8-14
Southwest Table: Traditional Cuisine From Texas, New Mexico, And Arizona
by Dave DewittA food-history cookbook celebrating the spirit and flavors of what is now the American Southwest.
Schooner Integrity
by Frank MulvilleThe Integrity was one of the best known American sailing craft of the 1960s; built ina famous boatyard in Dartmouth, New England, not far from where Slocum built the Spray, she was the dream boat of her owner, Waldo Howland. She cruised the West Indies and crossed the Atlantic to visit Ireland and the English south coast. Then she was sold and there began a chain of events which led to adventure, chicanery and eventually tragedy. Abandoned by a scratch crew in a gale, drifting dismasted round the ocean, boarded and stripped; taken in tow by a Fleetwood trawler and sailed into Turks Island: the subject of an endless legal battle for salvage: mysteriously sunk at her moorings on the day she was to be auctioned: refloated and sold--a leaking hulk swinging to her mooring.It was here that Frank Mulville came on her and with his small yacht Iskra offered to tow her to Cat Island, further up the Bahamas chain. The only man able to tell the story of her last voyage, Frank was to meet Waldo and also members of the crew who abandoned her; he has pieced together the whole story and given a first-hand account of its climax.
The Skulking Way of War: Technology and Tactics Among the New England Indians
by Patrick M. MaloneDuring the brutal and destructive King Philip's War, the New England Indians combined new European weaponry with their traditional use of stealth, surprise, and mobility.
Desert Storm Air War: The Aerial Campaign against Saddam's Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War
by Jim CorriganThe air campaign that opened the Gulf War in January 1991 was one of the most stunning in history. For five weeks, American and other Coalition aircraft pounded enemy targets with 88,000 tons of bombs. Sorties—more than 100,000 of them—were launched from bases in Saudi Arabia, from aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea, and even from bases in the United States. The skies over Iraq and Kuwait were filled with a dizzying array of new and improved weapons—Tomahawk and Hellfire missiles, stealth aircraft, and laser-guided smart bombs—and the results were impressive. The Coalition swiftly established air superiority and laid the foundation for the successful five-day ground campaign that followed. The results were also highly visible as the American people watched the bombings unfold in grainy green video-game-like footage broadcast on CNN and the nightly news. The overwhelming success of the Desert Storm air campaign has made it influential ever since, from the &“shock and awe&” bombing during the Iraq War in 2003 to more recent drone operations, but the apparent ease with which the campaign was won has masked the difficulty—and the true achievement—of executing such a vast and complex operation. Using government reports, scholarly studies, and original interviews, Jim Corrigan reconstructs events through the eyes of not only the strategists who planned it, but also the pilots who flew the missions.
Italian Crafts: Inspirations From Folk Art
by Janet D'Amato Alex D'AmatoThe folk artists of Italy have created some of the most beautiful crafts in the world: laces, mosaics, leatherwork, quilting, and wood inlay are among the most well-known.In this vintage book, originally published in 1977, Janet and Alex D&’Amato explore these traditional Italian crafts as well as others not so well known, such as tambour (a kind of crocheting worked directly into a fabric), straw marquetry (a mosaic-like craft done with tiny pieces of straw), wood carving and quillwork.They explain each craft as it was originally practiced, then adapt it to make contemporary craft pieces. The projects include an embroidered full length apron, a bobbin lace wall hanging, a straw marquetry box, jewelry, and many more. Also included are instructions for a Presepio (a traditional Italian manger scene) and a Pinocchio marionette.Italian Crafts will teach you the traditional folk arts of Italy, and will inspire you to use those folk arts in new and creative ways. There are line drawings and photographs throughout this unique book.
Best Ever Casseroles
by Gooseberry PatchIt seems we&’re all crazy for casseroles! Homestyle and all-American, the oven-to-table recipes in Best-Ever Casseroles are the dishes we grew up loving…tried & true favorites we want to share with our families today. Take a peek inside…Country Coffee Cake and Baked Apple Pancake can easily be popped into the oven and if you like breakfast with a little more kick, make Zesty Sausage Burritos. Chicken Mozzarella and Beef & Potato Casserole are ideal for toting to potlucks. And kids will love Cheeseburger & Fries Casserole and Betty-getti…even the name makes us giggle! Oven-Bake Ragout and Homestyle Pork Chops will have everyone asking for seconds, while Dilly Tuna Casserole and Deep Sea Delight are deliciously easy to prepare. Our veggie casseroles are chock-full of flavor…Tangy Corn Casserole and Summery Herbed Tomato Pie are so tasty! No matter what the occasion…dinner for a new mom, a family reunion or neighborhood block party, the recipes in Best-Ever Casseroles are simply delicious and always welcome. Let's get cooking! 206 Recipes and 20 photos
Last Man Down: USS Nautilus and the Undersea War in the Pacific
by David W. JourdanSS-168—the USS Nautilus—was the flagship of Submarine Division 12 operating out of Pearl Harbor throughout World War II. It was commissioned July 1, 1930, before international naval treaties limited future submarine size, and thus was among the largest submarines in the U.S. fleet. Over a football field in length and displacing 4,000 tons submerged, the boat was able to carry a large crew, ample cargo, two dozen torpedoes, cruiser-sized six-inch caliber guns, and cruise as far as 25,000 miles. She could dive to three hundred feet—though her crew was known to take her deeper. Throughout 1942–45 the Nautilus engaged the enemy in fourteen different patrols, from the Battle of Midway to the liberation of the Philippines, earning fourteen battle stars. Her skipper, William H. Brockman, Jr., received not one but three Navy Crosses for heroism, the first for fighting through 42 depth charges at Midway. Nautilus did everything a submarine can do and was involved in most of the major actions of the Pacific theater. In Last Man Down, historical events documented in deck logs and patrol reports are told through the voices of the men who lived them.
In the Steps of The Great American Herpetologist, Karl Patterson Schmidt
by A. Gilbert WrightKarl Patterson Schmidt was one of America&’s most influential naturalists. In his special field of herpetology—the study of reptiles and amphibians—he made fascinating discoveries about the habits of snakes and their environment.This biography follows his exciting career from his boyhood in Lake Forest, Illinois, through his college days at Cornell, his participation in geological expeditions, his first job as a herpetologist at the American Museum of Natural History, and his later expeditions which took him all over the world.As you trace the path of Schmidt&’s career, you can follow his footsteps with a series of fun projects including: Finding Reptiles and Amphibians and Assembling a Scrap Book of Herpetological Pets. All the equipment you need is inexpensive or easily made. With patience and persistence you can find reptiles and amphibians wherever you happen to live.
Geronimo: Twenty-Three Years as a Prisoner of War
by W. Michael FarmerWhen Geronimo and his warriors surrendered to the US Army, General Miles made a number of promises for the surrender terms that were in fact false. Geronimo: Prisoner of Lies provides insights into how Chiricahua prisoners of war lived while held in captivity by the United States Army in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as seen through the eyes of their war leader Geronimo. The indignities and lies they suffered, and how they maintained their tribal culture in the face of great pressure to change or vanish entirely, are brought to life and provided new context through this book.
Day Trips® from Orlando: Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler (Day Trips Series)
by John KumiskiRediscover the simple pleasures of a day trip with Day Trips from Orlando. For local travelers seeking new adventures in their own backyards, as well as vacationers, it offers hundreds of exciting things to do, see, and discover within a two-hour drive.
Ultimate Level of Horsemanship: Training Through Inspiration
by Al Dunning Tammy LeroyAl Dunning is a 30-year legend in Western riding competitions, and this, his first training book, is an invaluable self-help guide for riders of all levels. Dunning shares his winning insights on handling and training a horse, including body language, voicing commands, feeding, equipment, and competition. Dunning has helped train trainers across the nation, and his unique ideas have never before been collected in book form. With full-color photographs throughout by noted Western photographer Robert Dawson, and Al Dunning&’s insights about natural horsemanship, this will be a must-have for horse lovers everywhere.
Surviving the Trail: Five Essential Skills to Prepare Every Hiker for Adventure's Most Common Perils
by Dr. Rob ScanlonEquip yourself with the knowledge to avoid common hiking hazards and stay safe on the trailThe statistics are difficult to believe, but every week more than ten hikers die and at least another two hundred require rescue in North America, amounting to more than 500 lives lost and more than 10,000 people rescued every year. Analysis reveals they span the full spectrum of trail experience. The silver lining among this alarming data reveals that most hiker deaths and rescues come from just a handful of preventable causes. This presents an opportunity for this book to make a significant impact. Despite a number of articles published over the years in the attempt to raise trail-goers&’ awareness of this issue, the data remain unchanged. Every week, hundreds continue to fight to survive among avoidable circumstances while awaiting overwhelmed and understaffed wilderness rescue teams. The most common reasons for hiker death and rescue are falling, drowning, dehydration, heat injury, hypothermia, and a lost hiker. Many hikers venture out inadequately prepared, possess a limited skill set, and exhibit poor decision-making when problems arise. That&’s what Dr. Scanlon&’s Surviving the Trail is intended to prevent and—if something untoward happens—ameliorate.
A Priest, A Prostitute, and Some Other Early Texans: The Lives Of Fourteen Lone Star State Pioneers
by Don BlevinsThis unique collection of short biographies of the Lone Star State&’s most colorful characters includes headliners Father Miguel Muldoon, the Irish-Spanish Catholic priest and diplomat who helped convert Protestants in order to settle Austin, and six-foot-two prostitute and hotelkeeper Sarah Bowman, who fought as bravely as a man among the Rangers and was buried with full military honors. These are just two of the pioneers who helped build the state amidst wars with Seminoles and Mexicans, gold rushes, and cavalry formations. These fourteen vivid accounts of extraordinary lives are like no other history of Texas and will reach a wide audience of readers who love to read about real people.
Princess: The Early Life of Queen Elizabeth II
by Jane DismoreIn November 2017 the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. As a 13-year-old Princess, she fell in love with Prince Philip of Greece, an ambitious naval cadet, and they married when she was 21; when she suddenly became Queen at 25, their lives changed forever. Philip has been her great support, but fortunately she also had a solid foundation that helped prepare her for a life dedicated to duty. With previously unpublished material and unique memories from friends and relatives who have known her since childhood, this book looks afresh and in richer depth at her life as Princess, glittering yet isolating. Vivid detail and anecdotes reveal more about her, the era in which she grew up and the people who shaped her life. The archives of royal confidante Lady Desborough and Private Secretary Sir Alec Hardinge reveal unseen letters from the Princess and the royal family, giving intimate insights into their lives and minds. Here is her sadness at the death of her nanny, Alah; her joy in her children; her melancholy as a young wife when Philip returns to his ship; the sensitivities of her father. Here too is the Princess with the aristocratic Bowes Lyons, her mother&’s family, who featured significantly in her life, yet rarely appear in books. The author sheds new light on anomalies surrounding the birth of her mother who, it has been asserted, was the daughter of the family&’s cook. The strain of wartime on the royal family is highlighted in new material contrasting the stance of the Princess&’s uncles, the Duke of Windsor and David Bowes Lyon. In contrast with her upbringing, Philip&’s early life was turbulent, although their lives shared some interesting parallels. Lady Butter, a relation of Philip and friend of the Princess, recalls time spent with each of them; and unpublished documents show how intelligence agencies considered the socialist influence of the Mountbattens on Philip and thus on the royal court.More importantly, Princess traces how an &“ordinary country girl&” suddenly found herself in the line of succession to the crown at age ten when her Uncle, the Duke of Windsor, abdicated the throne to his brother Albert (&“Bertie&” to family and friends), the once and future King George VI. Breaking new ground for a future English monarch, she became the first female member of the royal family to serve on active duty during World War II, and broke tradition by sending her children away to school rather having them privately tutored. Indeed, by the time of her coronation in 1953, she had already achieved a &“broad and solid background from which she could draw during the rapidly changing times of her long reign. Out of a little princess they made a Queen.&”
St. Augustine and St. Johns County: A Historical Guide
by William R AdamsSome of the oldest historic sites in the United States are in and around St. Augustine, Florida—the Ancient City. From Fort San Diego in the north to Dixie Highway in the south, this book will guide you to all the best places in mainland St. Johns County—as well as many more on Anastasia Island. And in the Ancient City itself, discover more than fifty sites—from the Castillo de San Marcos and the City Gate to the National Cemetery and Lincolnville.Based on professional historic surveys, this guide provides maps and directions as well as visitor information and accurate historical narrative for each site. You can easily follow the trail of four hundred years of history, as each section is organized geographically.
Ghosts of Boston Town
by Holly NadlerRanging from the 18th century to the present and from Beacon Hill to windswept Cape Ann, Holly Nadler's collection of true ghost stories from Boston and its environs offers a varied sampling of supernatural phenomena. Many of these tales offer a satisfying dose of ghoulish and frightening details; others are colored with a certain poignancy or even humor.
Mestengo: A Wild Mustang, a Writer on the Run, and the Power of the Unexpected
by Melinda RothExhausted by her job as a political press secretary, Melinda Roth found the courage to escape. Her goal: a simpler life in rural Illinois that would let her pursue her passion for writing. But then real life intervened. A fire at a neighboring farm and a misinterpreted gesture of kindness transformed her into the reluctant caretaker of a homeless menagerie of animals. Roth, coauthor of the New York Times-bestseller From Baghdad with Love, writes vividly, movingly, and often humorously of the chaos that descended into her life. One of her new tenants was a wild mustang, broken but not bowed, his restless spirit propelling him to escape the fences and pens that enclosed him—a far different life than before he was violently captured by a government-sponsored &“round-up.&” Ultimately these two fiercely independent characters each provide the catalyst for the other&’s life-changing and life-affirming decisions.Mestengo is a captivating, emotional account that taps into readers&’ love of animals: Marley and Me meets The Horse Whisperer. An entertaining and delightful read, it is a cinematic, sometimes tense, but always beautiful story of the power of healing.
Longstreet Highroad Guide to the Vermont Mountains
by Rick Strimbeck Nancy BazilchukThe indispensable guide to the best the Vermont mountains have to offer.
Mathematics of Everyday Life
by Alfred S. Posamentier Christian SpreitzerTwo experienced math educators help the average reader discover not only the everyday usefulness of math but the fun that comes from mastering the basics of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and more. If you think of mathematics as a series of pointless classroom exercises without much relevance to real life, this book will change your mind. As the authors show, math is deeply embedded in almost every aspect of daily life--from managing your personal finances, making consumer purchases, and sharpening your computational skills, to learning to apply mathematical concepts that will give you a better grasp of both ordinary and extraordinary events and help you better appreciate the world we live in. With some basic geometry under your belt, you'll discover that there is an optimal point on a soccer field from which to shoot a goal. And you'll be more clever with the gears of a bike. If you like to play cards or go to the casino, knowing something about probability will give you an edge. You'll also have an enhanced understanding of the "whispering effect" inside the Capitol rotunda, why a car's headlights are so bright, and even why sewer covers are round. After reading this entertaining and instructive book, you'll come away with a whole new awareness of how elegantly mathematics explains everyday experiences and observations--from present day items to classical art and architecture.
Eighty-Eight Years on a Maine Farm
by Will Penney Minnie PenneyChronicling nearly nine decades of life and work on a Maine farm, this memoir by Will and Minnie Penney presents a wonderful look back at rural life before and during the Depression, in the heady post-war years, and late, as family farms began to give way to larger industrial farms. The Penney's adapted to change by adjusting the way they farmed, focusing on fewer crops, adding dairy cows to their stock, even harvesting trees from the woodlot and cutting them into lumberwith the farm's lumber mill. Through it all the Penney's toughed it out and thrived on their slice of Maine heaven.The Penney Farm in Belgrade, Maine, remained in the family for more than one hundred and fifty years. Eighty-Eighth Years on a Maine Farm is part Will Penney's personal memoir and part Minnie's diary. Together, they show readers just what everyday life on a busy Maine farm was like.