Little Egypt Heritage Articles eduda tsunogisdi © Bill Oliver 4 March 2007 Vol 6 Issue: #09 ISBN: Pending O’siyo, Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt, “Weather” Does the weather dictate whether we feel secure? In many areas of our broad county March came in like a ‘lion’, and I’m sure we hope it will calm down and go out peacefully as a ‘lamb’. Students huddled in an Alabama school as a tornado ripped past causing debris to come crashing down on them. Kansas has a tornado website (1*). Some severe weather types are: hurricanes, tornados, lightning storms, volcano showers, earthquakes, avalanches, and landslides. Tornados are tight, very tight hurricanes, and they include cyclones. The force of these winds can be illustrated by a picture I once saw of a 33rpm plastic record sticking half way into a telephone pole. Sometimes large hail falls with strong winds and when it does it can become a deadly projectile. Ranchers in Nebraska and Kansas tell stories about hail storms that had killed their cattle because they were trapped in an open field during a thunderstorm. In other parts of the world hail weighing over two pounds and the size of grapefruit have been reported. Lightning has struck near enough to me that thoughts of the house moving off its foundations were quite real. Mt. St. Helens exploded the day following our eldest son’s graduation from the University of Idaho. Day became night, cattle didn’t know what to do, and my family used matches and lighters to read the writing on tombstones. Ash covered the sky so heavily as to block out the sun. When Pompeii was visited by my shipmates and I in 1952 we saw the harsh results of being too close to an erupting volcano. Avalanches burying people have hit the news of late. Some of these folks were rescued and some were not. Movies have shown tons of sliding snow cutting large trees that were in the path. In California, almost yearly, liquid earth floods highways and often allows entire ranch homes to join in the ‘slide’. One year in Dana Point, while visiting my Father, we saw nearly half a restaurant hanging out where the earth slid away. They closed the place for safety reasons. Earthquakes in California shook Dad a couple of times knocking dishes and pictures off the shelves and while soldering my first computer during the summer of 1970 we felt tremors in southern Michigan. Not only did I have the strange feeling of vibrating sideways, I missed applying solder where it was needed. The epicenter was somewhere in Kentucky, as I remember. “The terms ‘hurricane’ and ‘typhoon’ are regionally specific names for a strong ‘tropical cyclone’. A tropical cyclone is the generic term for a non-frontal synoptic scale low-pressure system over tropical or sub-tropical waters with organized convection (i.e. thunderstorm activity) and definite cyclonic surface wind circulation (Holland 1993).” (2*) I’ve experienced a hurricane or three in Bermuda, in North Carolina, and off Cape Hatteras. Powerful winds for sure. And, just when you think it might be all over due to a great calm that comes, the other half hits you. Hurricanes have an ‘eye’ in the center which is very calm. That ‘eye’ can even let the sun shine through. Such severe storms sometimes make the news. On the 27th of February 1943, in Bermuda, a navy motor launch foundered during a storm with the loss of a number of men and officers. Platoon Sergt. Clarence Robert Oliver, U.S.M.C., a master of the ‘blinker system’, proved to be ‘invaluable’ in a rescue party which put out in a gale in a motor launch, recovering four bodies and rescuing 28 survivors. In spite of the possibility of being washed overboard, Sgt Oliver personally put four survivors on board the rescue boat. “The Commendation written by Lt Commander John G Kenlon, U.S.N. stated: “1. On the night of Feb. 27, 1943, a motor launch foundered while returning to its ship. When word was received of the accident a party was immediately formed to perform the dangerous task of rescuing survivors. In spite of the fact that all boats had been secured and a full gale was blowing you volunteered to proceed with the party to aid in the rescue. The party consisted wholly of volunteers and it was expected that your services would be particularly valuable since you understood the blinker system. “2. Upon arriving at the scene of the disaster, you assisted materially in rescuing survivors still in the water. You did personally put aboard four survivors found on Watch Island in spite of the danger of being washed overboard from the bow of the motorboat. Later, you, accompanied by G. E. Townsend, gunner’s mate third class, of shore patrol headaquarters, put aboard four bodies and 24 survivors. You are highly commended for your valuable assistance and outstanding courage throughout. “3. Your behavior and conduct were in line with the fine traditions of the Marine Corps.” For the St Patrick’s Day ball for the benefit of the Bermuda War Veterans Association relief fund, Platoon Sergeant Oliver coached and led a close order drill team of Marines which won enthusiastic applause for an exhibition drill before a distinguished crowd/audience. You just never know what your reaction will be when faced with violent weather. My Father’s reaction just days later, was to demonstrate a close order drill before the Island Governor and guests with the calm of the ‘eye of a hurricane’ . e-la-Di-e-das-Di ha-WI NV-WA-do-hi-ya NV-WA-to-hi-ya-da. (May you walk in peace and harmony) Wado, Bill -=- 888 PostScript: "Myths are universal and timeless stories that reflect and shape our lives ..." Alexander McCall Smith, Dream Angus (1) http://www.tornadochaser.com/2000stormcenter.htm (2) http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/A1.html A new site, called BSM or Black Swamp Memories, is being developed: http://blackswampmemories.org/ Did you notice the mosquito? Archived articles: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index?list=ilmassac