Tidbits
August 17, 1943
General George S. Patton wins the race to Messina, Sicily, beating British General Montgomery by a few hours. Messina was supposed to be a British victory, but Patton would have none of it. When told it was supposed to be for Montgomery and the British, Patton reportedly said “What do you want me to do? Give it
back?”
Patton was the real deal. Although nicknamed “Old blood and guts”, his command suffered the fewest
casualties because of his style of never letting the enemy rest.
In WWI, Patton was in command of part of the Meuse-Argonne battle in September 1918. He was severely wounded when shot thought the left thigh. He stayed on the battlefield commanding his troops. He then completed his reports and filed them at headquarters, before he reported to the hospital. When the Purple Heart was reestablished in 1932, he received one for his actions in WWI.
Patton was also an excellent marksman and athlete. He competed in marksmanship in the 1912 Olympics and was on the team in 1916, but those Olympics were cancelled because of WWI.
August 19, 1812
The U.S.S. Constitution wins the nickname “Old Ironsides.” The U.S.S, Constitution was launched in 1795 and was built by ship builder Joshua Humphrey, known as the father of the American Navy. Her hull was made of three layers of live oak totaling 21 inches thick. Humphreys realized the
American Navy was no match for the British Navy. So, he built the U.S.S Constitution heavier than any other frigates so she could more than match them, and yet still escape slower, more powerful British ships in the line. The Constitution was a 44-gun frigate, but sometimes carried 50 cannons. Her top speed was about 15 mph. The service life of the U.S.S. Constitution was estimated at 15 years when she was built.
On October 21, 2023, she will be 228 years old. She is the oldest ship in service, and the oldest ship still afloat.
On this date in 1812, she engaged the British frigate, Guerriere. The Guerriere’s cannon
balls just bounced off the U.S.S. Constitution’s heavy live oak sides “as if they were made of iron”. Old Ironsides reduced the Guerriere to a floating wreck in short order. Her victory spread through the streets of Boston and
throughout the United States. The victory lifted American morale. The invincible British Navy was not so invincible after all.
August 20, 1794
The Battle of Fallen Timbers.
Despite the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War and ceded the Northwest Territories to the United States, the British had not
abandoned their forts along the United States’s northwestern frontier. At that time, the Northwest Territories included Ohio, and what was to become Indiana. The British kept inciting the Shawnee and other American Indian
tribes. President Washington had had enough. He dispatched General “Mad” Anthony Wayne to deal with the latest threat from Chief Blue Jacket of the Shawnee. General Wayne took care of the problem, along with 3000 U.S. Troops. The total problem was not solved. It would take the War of 1812 to finally convince the British to leave the United States
alone.
August 21, 1858
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates begin in Freeport, Illinois. The debates centered around the issue of
slavery. All the debates were three hours long. Lincoln argued against the spread of slavery, and Douglas argued that the states should decide for themselves. Lincoln went on to win the election of 1860. By the time the inauguration took place on March 4, 1861, seven states had already seceded from the Union and the Confederate States of America had been formed.
August 22, 1992
The Standoff at Ruby Ridge. Randy Weaver had been targeted by the Feds for selling a sawed-off shotgun to an undercover agent. The story is that the feds hired Weaver to saw off the shotguns.
One day before, August 21, 1992, a U.S. Marshal encountered Weaver’s 14-year-old son Sammy and his dog, on a road near the Weaver house. The marshal shot and killed the boy’s dog, and the boy shot the marshal. A gun battle
broke out and the boy was killed. The marshal also died.
The next day the FBI joined the ATF
in laying siege to the Weaver home. In the home was Randy Weaver, Vicki Weaver, Kevin Harris and Weaver’s daughter Sarah. The Weaver family were going out to a shed to prepare Sammy’s body for burial, when an FBI sniper, Lon Horiuchi shot and wounded Randy Weaver and Kevin Harris as they were running for the Weaver home. Vicki Weaver opened the door for the others and the FBI sniper shot and killed her, while she was holding the door for the others. Mrs. Weaver was holding a baby at the time. The baby was unhurt. This whole episode was a class A mess.
August 23, 1945
Marcario Garcia become the first Mexican National to win the Medal of Honor. Marcario’s family moved to the United States when he was a baby. He had not become a U.S. citizen yet.
August 23, 1947
The first Little League World
Series is played. The two teams were the Maynard Midgets from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and the All Stars from Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. In those days there were 12 teams participating. All the teams but one were from Pennsylvania. There was one team from Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The ISRA will have a booth at
Conservation World Illinois State Fair
August 10-20 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily
Drop by and join up!
Conservation World at the Illinois State Fair
Sporting Clay Fundraiser for the ISRA
Hosted by Jack Miller of the X-Line Shotgun
Club
Saturday, August 26, 2023, from 2 – 6 pm
X-Line Shotgun Club
4800 East Exline Road, Kankakee, IL 60921
East of Kankakee, Illinois
Cost is $30 ($15 for targets; $15 for ISRA donation). Hamburger soup and homemade bread, provided by Big Jack! Prizes & split-the-pot
raffles.
The ISRA would like to thank Jack Miller and X-Line for this help!
At the Range
All classes and events are open to the public & all
range members, unless otherwise noted.
*****
Massad Ayoob’s MAG 40 Class
October 5, 6, 7 and 8
Massad Ayoob will be back teaching.
A Must Have
Class!
For every person concerned about self-defense,
concealed carry license holders, and concealed carry instructors.
Please click here for details on how to sign up.
Don’t wait to sign up – it’ll fill up fast!
Hotels near the ISRA Range
*****
ISRA Smallbore & F-Class Rifle League – Range – Aug 17
The Great 2023 Shootout – Range 10 – 8:00-4:00 – Aug 19
Defensive Tactics for Concealed Carry Level III – Range 11 – 8:00-8:30 – Aug 19
Project Appleseed – Range 9 – 8:00-5:00 – CANCELLED – Aug 19
761st Gun Club Youth Class – Range 1, 2 & Clubhouse – 11:00-3:00 – Aug 19
ISRA Academy NRA RSO Class – Clubhouse & Range 1 at Noon – 8:00-5:00 – Aug 20
ISRA Bullseye Match & Combat Match – Bullseye Range 1 & 2 Until Noon – 8:00-Noon; Combat Range 2 – 1:00-Until Finished – Aug 20
Project Appleseed – Range 9 – 8:00-5:00 – CANCELLED – Aug 20
Handgun Drills – Range 10 – 8:30-5:30 – Aug 20
Springfield Armory Pistol Match 2023 – Range 11 – 8:30-12:00 – Aug 20
Vintage Military Rifle League – Range 5 – 3:00-5:00 – Aug 21
Tuesday Night Irregular Rifles – Range 3 & Pavilion – 11:30-Dusk – Aug 22
Benchrest League – Range 4 – 8:00-Dusk – Aug 23
F-Class Rifle League – Range 3 – 8:00-5:00 – Aug 23
Paper Steel League – Range 11 – 5:00-Dusk – Aug 23
The ISRA Range offers great classes
and leagues,
for shooting enthusiasts!
Interested in joining a league? Just show up 15 - 30 minutes early.
Range memberships are available.
A day at the ISRA Range is always a great day!
