Dr. Frank Blazich, Jr.

Returning items to storage I pulled for a tour. Among them these flying goggles, formally owned/worn by Rear Admiral William A. Moffett (1869-1933).

Blush. And I promise it would a class in something other than pigeons... well, the first class anyways 🤪

WWII soldier’s bracelet lost in France returns to Houston family after 80 years An Armistice Day ceremony reunited a Houston woman with her father’s WWII bracelet.

And another belated post I need to share! WWII soldier’s bracelet lost in France returns to Houston family after 80 years www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

And in other good news, Air University restored my book's page which was taken offline earlier in the year because I happened to talk about women and African Americans in my manuscript. I know, the horror ... the horror. www.airuniversity.af.edu/AUPress/Disp...

I am woefully behind on postings here (sorry!). But to make up for it, here are two gems from the official AEF art collection from 1918: "Argonne Forest" by Capt Wallace Morgan and "American-French Conference, wine cellar, Chateau Thierry" by Capt George M. Harding.

Two dog harnesses/collars. One for the famed Sergeant Stubby, and the one for a the dachshund of Kaiser Whilhelm II. Both still have their tax tags attached, fittingly enough.

Still waiting on my institution to sign off on things :( :(

Sorry for being so quiet of late. Tons going in.... meaning I owe a lot of posts.

Even Max Rebo turned him down.

a drawing of a pigeon holding a $20 bill in its beak. the background is a bunch of dollars. purple text says "yeah can i get a uhhhhhhhhh crumb"

a photo of a pigeon holding a $20 bill in its beak

share the money pigeon for 10,000 years good luck 💸🍀🤞

Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours....

When the dandelion went to war: An American prisoner of war's story During the Great Depression, Henry T. Chamberlain ate dandelions to survive. During his military service, he did it again.

Today is the 83rd anniversary of the surrender of American and Filipino forces on Bataan peninsula. Every time I see a dandelion in my yard, I think of Henry T. Chamberlain and all the Battling Bastards of Bataan. Lest we forget. americanhistory.si.edu/explore/stor...

A clash one might say?

This is the Butler Medal, 1 of 197 examples privately funded by Maj Gen Benjamin Butler to recognize distinguished courage by the U.S. Colored Troops. The engraver of this medal, Anthony Paquet, also engraved the Medal of Honor. The motto translates to “Freedom will come to them by the sword."

With a change in metal composition, this specimen would aid in the delivery of 175 bronze Type 1 Navy MOHs in mid December 1862, an example of which is on the right. These were the first Medals of Honor officially produced for presentation to recipients. (Pt2)

For National Medal of Honor Day, I offer some amazing items. On the left is a silver prototype of the the Navy MOH delivered to the Navy Department on 1 Oct 1862. This is the oldest extant example of the medal which exists today. (Pt 1)

I was asked to articulate the obvious here at work.

Ukraine will need major rebuilding when war ends − here’s why the US isn’t likely to invest in its recovery with a new Marshall Plan Trump wants Ukraine to repay the US for the military aid it sent Kyiv. Once upon a time, the US was more generous: It rebuilt Western Europe after World War II.

theconversation.com/ukraine-will...

I let the conservators borrow the hero pigeons for condition assessment and the next thing I know the birds are out getting their photos taken. Yeesh!

I have the original text and images stored on my computer. I can dig it up and post a PDF.

Articles I wrote for the US Navy on Black Seabees in WWII over ten years ago have been "404ed". How mighty white of "leadership." Perhaps they can show me on the doll where history hurt them....

A fun comparison of Cher Ami's breastbone with the 3D printed replica. Rather remarkable to see the technology at work & the finished project.

Got to work with a super rare Medal of Honor (Tiffany Cross) then saw something else which has me flabbergasted.
These are Civil War type 1 Navy Medals of Honor. Note the actual medal... one of these is silver & most likely a prototype of what became the bronze medal.

I find I suddenly have a wealth of new followers but I've been remiss in posting up history content. I'll try to rectify this in the coming weeks.

Behold, the 3D printed Cher Ami breastbone, in original and enlarged size!

Nothing like sitting in my office working on paperwork and seeing a mouse run across my carpet in broad daylight. Eh, guess he got the memo about being back at work five days a week.

Now cataloged, I recently collected the uniform shirt, Purple Heart, Air Force Commendation Medal, & other insignia from the late USAF TSgt Leonard P. Matlovich. In 1975, he became the first service member to come out as homosexual, launching the effort to allow all homosexuals to serve openly.

I have the full 3D rendering files of Cher Ami's breastbone should anyone wish to print one at home. Just ask and I can send you a link to them.

Handsome chap :)