"Sports Images of the 20th Century"

The good, the bad, the highs, and the lows of sports. Enjoy! (Only one question: Where are the soccer and cricket highlights?)

"A Short History of the 20th Century"

I found this was especially interesting given its focus on the 20th Century. What do you think?

"Eight Minute History of the United States"

What is missing here? What changes would you make? Would you use different music?

The Fascinating Story of Doug Hegdahl (from National Museum of Americans in Wartime website)

The man called “the stupid one” by his POW captors had a secret…

Written by Will Armstrong, History Associates Incorporated

19-year-old Seaman Apprentice Doug Hegdahl wasn’t your everyday Prisoner of War. Assigned to an ammunition handling room aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Canberra, Hegdahl was blown overboard by the blast of the ship’s guns as they fired on North Vietnamese positions in April 1967. As his ship sailed on, he was left adrift in the Gulf of Tonkin without a flotation device.

A North Vietnamese boat eventually picked up Hegdahl, who quickly dumbfounded his captors. With no identification, they assumed he was a covert operative, refusing to believe his true story. Hegdahl, however, began playing dumb. By playing up his humble rural South Dakota roots and claiming to be completely illiterate, he made himself appear useless to the North Vietnamese.

The Vietnamese moved Hegdahl from prison to prison before he ultimately wound up at the notorious “Hanoi Hilton.” It would prove to be a huge mistake for the North Vietnamese. There, Hegdahl met USAF Lt. Joe Crecca, an F-4 pilot who had been shot down in November 1966. Assuming that Hegdahl, so young and apparently useless to the enemy, would be a logical candidate for early release, Crecca helped him memorize the names and other vital information of more than 250 prisoners held in North Vietnam.

Hegdahl continued to keep his true aptitude hidden from his captors, who began referring to him as “The Incredibly Stupid One.” So unconcerned were they about Hegdahl’s activities that they allowed him to roam free around the prison courtyard—where he mentally recorded his most minute observations. While the North Vietnamese observed Hegdahl mindlessly sweeping the sidewalks, his fellow prisoners listened to the coded messages embedded in his sweeps. His American cellmate, Navy Lt.Cmdr. Dick Stratton, observed him disabling five North Vietnamese trucks by putting dirt in the gas tanks.

In August 1969, Hegdahl was indeed released by his captors. Of the three American POWs released that day, Hegdahl was the only one who was considered a legitimate “early release” by his comrades back in the Hanoi Hilton. Lt.Cmdr. Stratton, his superior, had ordered him to go. What the Vietnamese thought would be a propaganda coup quickly turned sour, when the unassuming Doug Hegdahl promptly revealed the names of his fellow POWs to American intelligence officials. He was the first to expose the harsh living conditions and brutal treatment that were a part of life at the Hanoi Hilton. At the Paris Peace Talks in 1970, he was present to confront his former captors directly.

After the war, Hegdahl served as a Navy survival instructor. He has never forgotten the list of names. Said his former cellmate, Dick Stratton, “’The Incredibly Stupid One’, my personal hero, is the archetype of the innovative, resourceful and courageous American Sailor…As long as we have the Dougs of this world, our country will retain its freedoms.”

The National Museum of Americans in Wartime honors the service of Doug Hegdahl and all other Americans who have served the cause of freedom.

By Elizabeth Newberry on March 16th, 2009 |

There is a film somewhere that goes into further detail about Hegdahl. I will try to find out the name for any who are interested.

Voices from the Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident (1979)

I found this fascinating. Be forewarned that you will need to be a good listener to get the most out of this. What do you notice about the various responses that are given to the incident? Do you have any other reactions?

For more on the actual event you might consult the following on the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission page: Voices from the Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident 1979.

The Fall of Saigon (1975)

NOTE: This video replaces the former one that is no longer available. For this reason, not all of the comments already posted may seem relevant to the new content. NOTE FOR THE ORIGINAL VIDEO CLIP: This short clip does a nice job not only of discussing the Fall of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) but also of providing an overview of the entire war. Based on our study of the Vietnam War, is there anything that wasn't mentioned that you feel should be included? Do keep in mind that this is meant to be a brief summary of the war. (I apologize for the sound fade at the end. In short, you hear that Saigon falls to the North Vietnamese in 1975).

The Watergate Scandal (1972-1974)

The Washington Post (online edition) has a very good series of web pages on the Watergate scandal. View the information at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/watergate/index.html

Kent State Shootings in Ohio (May 4th, 1970)

This is an extensive collection of images related to the incident at Kent State. The first song you hear is Ohio by Crosby, Still, Nash, and Young (we listened to it in class). You guys can help me identify the other song in the presentation. As we discussed in class, this event did much to solidify anti-war feelings among America's young people at the time.

Questions Surrounding Apollo 11

The following comes from the How Stuff Works website (link at
http://science.howstuffworks.com/lunar-landing.htm)
Was the Apollo 11 Moon Landing a Hoax?
Some skeptics still believe that the Apollo 11 lunar landing was simply a movie studio hoax staged by NASA. In 2001, the Fox television network aired a program that gave the hoax theory second wind.

Guests on the show suggested that NASA didn't have the technology to pull off a lunar landing in the late 1960s. They noted that the pictures of astronauts sent back from the moon didn't show stars in the sky. A NASA expert refuted this by explaining that the stars wouldn't have shown up on film because the foreground image (the astronauts' space suits) was so bright.

People who are still unconvinced by the overwhelming evidence of man's landing on the moon can visit the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., where samples of rocks taken from the moon's surface are on display.

You might enjoy exploring this topic a bit more on your own.

Apollo 11 Lands on the Moon (July 20th, 1969)

The historic significance of this moment is clear. Still there were many who felt this was all part of a government hoax (more on this in another post). Can you imagine watching this on a TV in 1969? You might be able to understand how some viewers might have been skeptical given that this took place almost 40 years ago.

Apollo 1 Tragedy (1967)

What do you think? This incident certainly points out just how dangerous the job of an astronaut can be. For those of you who read or are reading The Right Stuff, feel free to add your remarks.

"Troops Patrol L.A." (The Watts Riots of August 1965)

This is a newsreel reporting the famous Watts Riots of 1965. If you are interested, I would encourage you to read a little bit on the riots after you view this (the research database is a good place to start). Did you find any information that contradicted the video? Do you feel the video gave an accurate portrayal of the event?

"I Have a Dream" Speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. (August 28th, 1963)

This is one of the most famous speeches of the 20th century. As you listen to the speech, you might reflect on some of the following questions. Can you see why many describe King as charismatic? Which lines make the biggest impact on you as you listen today? Also, did you know that Mr. Clark (who works in the Middle School) was there as a young man? You may want to ask him what he remembers about the speech when you see him.