Abraham Wald and WW2 Data!

During World War II, fighter planes would come back from battle with bullet holes. The Allies found the areas that were most commonly hit by enemy fire. They sought to strengthen the most commonly damaged parts of the planes to reduce the number that was shot down.

A mathematician, Abraham Wald, pointed out that perhaps there was another way to look at the data. Perhaps the reason certain areas of the planes weren’t covered in bullet holes was that planes that were shot in those areas did not return. This insight led to the armor being re-enforced on the parts of the plane where there were no bullet holes.

The story behind the data is arguably more important than the data itself. Or more precisely, the reason behind why we are missing certain pieces of data may be more meaningful than the data we have.

Remembering Pearl Harbor

On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese Imperial Navy launched a surprise attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

More than 2,000 Americans were killed amid the bombings, which destroyed a significant number of US battleships and airplanes.

In a speech to Congress the following day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called the day of the attack “a date which will live in infamy.” Shortly thereafter, Congress passed a declaration of war against Japan, casting the United States into World War II.

Pearl Harbor Day of Remembrance

This Wednesday marks an important day in our country’s history – it is the National Pearl Harbor Day of Remembrance, commemorated each year on December 7^th. On this infamous day in 1941, Japan attacked the Hawaiian base of America’s Pacific fleet, killing more than 2,400 people. It was a surprise attack – the U.S. was engaged in peace talks with Japan when they launched 350 warplanes to attack our country. 

330 U.S. planes and 19 ships were damaged or destroyed. The attack united Americans in a call to war and pushed the United States into World War II as we declared war on Japan. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial and Pacific Historic Parks in Honolulu are making plans for this year’s 81^stCommemoration. The theme is Everlasting Legacy and focuses on the sacrifices made by Americans who served in World War II. It was mostly young Americans who died that day, and who served during the war, and today we commonly call them the “Greatest Generation” – their sacrifice and bravery saved our country and brought peace back to our world. December 7^th is a good day to learn more about the history that has shaped our country and the sacrifices made by generations before us and still being made every day by servicemen and women deployed around the globe to help keep peace.

48 Of My Comrades Are Buried There // D-Day 75 WWII Normandy Battlefield Return

103-year-old Herb Stern reflects on his time serving in World War II with CBS News correspondent David Martin.

The true “Price” of Freedom…

Screaming Eagles…….Still Screaming….

Discussing freedom, independence with 100-year-old WWII veteran.

100th Birthday; let’s do better….

WW2 Hero Sheds Tears

Not our normal type of post…. But so so so very important……

Friends, try to consider this deeply…..Today was the 100th birthday for a World War II hero, Carl Dekel.
Here he is Speaking the stone cold truth…
”We haven’t got the country we had when I was raised, not at all,” Dekel said. “Nobody will have the fun I had. Nobody will have the opportunity I had. It’s just not the same. And that’s not what our boys, that’s not what they died for.”

“People don’t realize what they have… the things we did and the things we fought for and the boys that died for it, it’s all gone down the drain. Our country is going to hell in a handbasket,” Dekel said.

Our thoughts on this… Let’s embrace the trusted values of the “greatest” generation…We need to collectively do better… Enough is enough….

Remembering the heroes of D-Day… FDR’s Prayer….,

At 9:57 pm on D-Day, June 6, 1944, FDR sat in front of a microphone in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House waiting to begin a national radio address. 

Earlier in the day the President had held a press conference in the Oval Office for over 180 reporters. While providing few details on the invasion, Roosevelt expressed confidence about its success. Now he wanted to speak directly with the public. 

FDR’s address took the form of a prayer. He had composed it during the weekend before the invasion, with assistance from his daughter, Anna, and her husband, John Boettiger. The text was released in advance so Americans could recite it with him. Roosevelt’s “D-Day Prayer” struck a powerful chord with the nation. Printed copies were distributed and displayed widely throughout the remainder of the war.