Columns/Opinions

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz is best known for his plan for the defeat of the Japanese eet at the battle of Midway, June 3 to 7, 1942. Midway was a naval carrier air force battle where the combating ships were never in sight of each other. e entire battle was carried out by naval aviation of both sides. e U. S. Navy broke the back of the Japanese Navy by sinking four of their 10 carriers. It was sweet revenge as these were four of the six that had brought airplanes to the attack on Pearl Harbor. e American Navy lost only one carrier, the USS Yorktown and one destroyer the USS Hammann. e battle was set up by an intelligence unit that broke the Japanese naval code. Once Admiral Nimitz knew where and when the Japanese planned to strike he set in motion a plan to trap their naval forces. His plan created the false impression that the U. S. carriers were hundreds of miles away and not a threat to them.

It’s no secret my husband Roy buys the groceries at our house 95 percent of the time. And he doesn’t mind which is good news to me because that is a dreaded chore of mine. He’s been doing this for years, even back during the day Perry’s was located next to Brookshire’s where Smith Furniture is now. It’s also no secret that Roy hates phones of any kind and will leave them in the car even though it’s highly likely I will call him when he goes. Of course, back in the day I would have him paged at Brookshire’s or would give the person who answered the phone a message of what I forgot on the list. Before cell phones and Randy Smith was the manager at Brookshire’s, Randy even went next door to Perry’s to tell Roy he needed to bring something else home because Randy was afraid he would miss Roy when he came in the store. I didn’t ask Randy to do that but that’s how small towns are. People are just accommodating – or most people.

We had lived here only five years before going to state in 1980. I knew we were destined to do great things that year when Byron Linwood kicked the field goal to beat the Mount Pleasant Tigers with no time left on the clock. That season did so much for the community -and this season is no different. What a year we’ve had. The band was invited to Chicago and represented our small town and everyone chipped in to send them. The Pirates are the new Area Champions and played their hearts out Friday night up against an undefeated team that I swear had two first offensive teams and two first defensive teams. Our guys never gave up and out played them in the first half and in “heart” the entire game. And the Canton game was especially memorable because the junior high band stepped in and played for the high school band while they were away in Chicago. They were just unbelievably awesome. But there are others in this community who are major contributors.

Many people when thinking of seaman think of the northeast, with their whalers, lobstermen, and cod fishermen. Texas is not a place many would think they would find seafaring men, however they would be wrong. Texas has a coastline approximately 3,360 miles long. Fishing, crabbing, shrimp trawling, oyster harvesting and sport fishing are major industries in Texas. Sailors and water craft along the Texas coast are as common as fleas on a hound dog. So it is not a real surprise that many Texans have graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. Three notable graduates Ross Perot, former Cowboy’s quarter-back Roger Staubach and Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Admiral Nimitz was born in Fredericksburg, Feb. 24, 1885. He was Commander-in-Chief of Naval Operations of the Pacific Fleet. He played a key role in the defeat of the Japanese fleet during WWII. His families are part of the German settlers in and around the Fredericksburg area.

The Walker Colt

Things that go wrong in the night

Have you heard that newspapers are dying? Or the written word in general? I’ve been hearing this for more years than I care to count, but both statements have not only been proven untrue, but ridiculous.

Newspapers printed on newsprint and books printed on paper are dying off slowly. This is true and it’s something we are all going to have to come to terms with eventually. Do I think it’s coming in the next five years…10? No, but I do believe it’s coming.

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t embrace what’s coming next. I do not own an e-reader, but I have read books on my phone. I, like many people, get most of my information via my phone. I no longer watch the TV for news because I don’t have to, but I still visit my local news station’s Facebook page to find out what’s going on in my neck of the woods.

There comes a day where you make a choice to either help out humanity, or watch it as it crumbles. Today I am going to do my part. I've put together some of my favorite “Life Hacks” to help out with… hacking life… or whatever.

•Can’t find that pesky needle in that jumbo hay stack? I've got a match that says otherwise. Grab some marshmallows because that needle is about to find itself.

• There - a place or idea

   Their - shows possession

   They’re - contraction for “they are”

   To - not sure how to describe this but it's not rocket science

   Too - means “excess of” or “also”

   Two - a number..2

   Your - shows possession

   You’re - contraction for “you are”

   Lose - opposite of win

   Loose - opposite of tight

   Access - having “rights to”

   Excess - a lot of

   Weather - the condition outside

   Whether - a decision “whether or not”

   Then - used for time

Grandpa at Chickamauga

In 1863 my Great-grandfather Amos Ellis was administrator/principal of the Livingston, Texas public schools. In May of 1863 one of my Great-uncles Gabriel Barfield was grazed by a Union minie ball on his backside.

My other Great-uncle Richard Ellis who was also there at the Battle of Chancellorsville wrote home about it and set my Great-grandmother Patience Ellis on her ear. She demanded my great-grandfather go and fetch the boys home.

No amount of explaining to her about army regulations, about desertion or that they would not come home anyway, made any difference to her.  He had to go get them and bring them home.

Much to his chagrin, Amos had no choice but to go. He managed to put her off until the end of the school year but after that he could no longer avoid it.

Grandpa’s journey Part 4

By Ellis Knox

reporter@campcountynow.com

In 1863 my great-grandfather Amos Ellis, was 40 years old. He was administrator/principal of the Livingston, Texas public schools. In May of 1863 one of my great-uncles Gabriel Barfield was grazed by a Union minie ball on his backside.

My other great-uncle Richard Ellis, who was also there at the Battle of Chancellorsville, wrote home about it and set my great-grandmother Ellis on her ear. She demanded my great-grandfather go and fetch the boys home.

This is part four of how my great-grandfather journeyed with the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, and how he came to be at Gettysburg, and later how tragedy befell him at the battle of Chickamauga.

Grandpa Ellis was with Longstreet’s Corps and they were in Chambersburg, PA only 18 miles from Cashtown, PA and 25 miles from Gettysburg.