John Kinsel Sr, one of the last Navajo Code Talkers died Saturday at age 107.
Kinsel was one of about 400 Navajos who became Code Talkers during World War II, using the Diné language to develop a code that was deemed “unbreakable.” According to a 2022 story from the Associated Press, Kinsel was one of just three Code Talkers still alive. The others are Peter MacDonald and Thomas Begay, both of whom are still alive.
“Beyond (Kinsel’s) legacy of a warrior, he was also a proud Navajo man who upheld the values of his heritage while serving his country with distinction,” Navajo Nation speaker Crystalyne Curley said. “As we honor his life, we extend our deepest sympathies to his family, loved ones, and the entire Navajo Nation. May his spirit rest in peace, and may his memory continue to inspire generations to come.”
Kinsel was born and lived in Lukachukai, Arizona, a small town located in between the town of Many Farms and the Arizona-New Mexico state line on the Navajo Nation. Kinsel served as a Code Talker in the 9th Marine Regiment and the 3rd Marine Division during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Pete Rose, MLB’s all-time leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053) and singles (3,215), died yesterday at his home in Las Vegas. He was 83.
Rose, who earned the nickname Charlie Hustle, played in the Majors from 1963 to 1986, starting and ending with the Cincinnati Reds with stints in Philly and Montreal. Over his 23 year career Rose won three World Series championships, three batting titles, one Most Valuable Player Award, two Gold Glove Awards, and the Rookie of the Year Award. He made 17 All-Star appearances in an unequaled five positions (second baseman, left fielder, right fielder, third baseman, and first baseman). He won two Gold Glove awards as an outfielder.
RIP Pete Rose 😢
⚾️ Career .303 AVG ⚾️ 4256 career Hits ⚾️ 44 GM Hit Streak ⚾️ 17x All-Star ⚾️ 3x Batting Title ⚾️ 3x World Series Champpic.twitter.com/mmyvdQ53Pq
Later in his career, while he was managing the Reds, Rose was accused of gambling on sports including baseball. A. Bart Giamatti, then the commissioner of Baseball put Rose on the Permanently ineligible list, banning him from baseball. The BBWAA, the organization that runs the Hall of Fame balloting, declared no person on the permanently ineligible list could appear on a HoF ballot, effectively banning Rose from the Hall.
Major League records:
Most career at-bats – 14,053
Most career plate appearances – 15,890
Most career hits – 4,256
Most career singles – 3,215
Most career times on base – 5,929
Most career outs – 10,328
Most career games played – 3,562
Most career winning games played – 1,972
Only player to play at least 500 games at five different positions – 1B (939), LF (671), 3B (634), 2B (628), RF (595)
Most career runs by a switch hitter – 2,165
Most career doubles by a switch hitter – 746
Most career walks by a switch hitter – 1,566
Most career total bases by a switch hitter – 5,752
Most seasons of 200 or more hits – 10 (shared)
Most consecutive seasons of 100 or more hits – 23
Most consecutive seasons with 600 or more at-bats – 13 (1968–1980) (shared)
Most seasons with 600 at-bats – 17
Most seasons with 150 or more games played – 17
Most seasons with 100 or more games played – 23
National League records:
Most years played – 24
Most consecutive years played – 24
Most career runs – 2,165
Most career doubles – 746
Most career games with 5 or more hits – 10
Modern (post-1900) NL record for longest consecutive-game hitting streak NL – 44
Modern record for most hitting streaks of 20 or more consecutive games – 7
Milton Teagle “Richard” Simmons fitness personality and public figure, known for his eccentric, flamboyant, and energetic personality has died. He was 76.
Simmons was born in New Orleans to ‘Showbiz’ parents. He became obese during his early childhood and adolescence. He began to overeat and became overweight as early as the age of 4. At 15, he weighed 182 pounds. As a young adult art student, he had appeared among the “freak show” characters in the Fellini films Satyricon (1968) and The Clowns (1970), and he eventually reached a peak of 268 lb.
Upon moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s, he developed an interest in fitness. He established gyms, and his interest in fitness helped him lose 123 lbs. He opened his own exercise studio, originally called The Anatomy Asylum, where emphasis was placed on healthy eating in proper portions and enjoyable exercise in a supportive atmosphere. Later renamed “Slimmons”, the establishment continued operations in Beverly Hills and Simmons taught motivational classes and aerobics throughout the week.
Simmons published 11 books and several dozen videos during the course of his career.
Simmons died on July 13, 2024 at his home a day after his 76th birthday.
Shelley Duvall, best known for her portrayals of Wendy Torrance in The Shining and Olive Oyl in Popeye – both released in 1980 – died this morning. Duvall died in her sleep at their home in Blanco, Texas of complications of diabetes, Dan Gilroy, her life partner of more than 30 years, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Born in Texas, Duvall began acting after being discovered by director Robert Altman, who was impressed with her upbeat presence and cast her in the black comedy film Brewster McCloud (1970). Despite her hesitance towards becoming an actress, she continued to work with Altman, appearing in McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) and Thieves Like Us (1974). Her breakthrough came with Altman’s cult film Nashville (1975), and she earned widespread acclaim with the drama 3 Women (1977), also directed by Altman, for which she won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress and earned a nomination for the British Academy Film Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Sutherland’s breakthrough role was as prisoner #2 Vernon L. Pinkley in 1968’s the Dirty Dozen. He also played Hawkeye Pierce in 1970’s MASH. In all he appeared in more than 200 movies, TV shows and theatrical productions.
Sutherland was married to and divorced from actresses Lois Hardwick and Shirley Douglas (the mother of Kiefer and his twin sister, veteran Hollywood postproduction supervisor Rachel Sutherland) before he became romantically involved with Racette.
Survivors include his four sons, actors Kiefer Sutherland, Rossif Sutherland and Angus Sutherland and CAA executive Roeg Sutherland; four grandchildren; and his partner/wife since 1972, actress Francine Racette.
Baseball Great Willie Mays died yesterday of heart failure. He was 93.
Mays made his pro baseball debut with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1948 when he was 17. He played with Birmingham until 1950, when he signed with the then-New York Giants upon graduating high school. Mays first played with the Giants in 1951, winning National League Rookie of the Year and helping the Giants win the pennant.
Willie was selected to the All-Star Game 24 times. He won the National League Most Valuable Player award twice. His 660 career home runs were second to Babe Ruth at the time of Mays’ retirement. Mays won 12 Gold Glove Awards. He led the National League in stolen bases four times. Mays led the National League in home runs four times. He was the first player in National League history to have 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season. Making his career stats all the more remarkable is that Mays missed most of the 1952 and all of the 1953 seasons as the Army drafted him following the 1951 season.
Louis Anthony Conter, the last survivor of the USS Arizona, has died. He was 102. Conter was born in Ojibwa, Wisconsin on September 13, 1921. He enlisted in the US Navy on 15 November 1939 and completed basic training in San Diego, California. He boarded the USS Arizona on January 24, 1940, with the rank of Quartermaster 3rd Class.
Conter was on watch on the quarterdeck station between the third turret and main deck, when the ship was attacked by a squadron of Japanese torpedo planes and bombers at 8 am. About five minutes later, Arizona was struck by a 1,760-pound bomb between the first and second turret, which ignited the ship’s ammunition magazine. The following explosion blew off the ship’s bow and lifted the battleship out of the water.
As the ship burned and started to sink, it was hit by more Japanese projectiles. Meanwhile, Conter was aiding fellow wounded sailors, keeping them from jumping in the burning oil covering the water’s surface. When Conter was already knee deep in water, the Captain gave the order to abandon ship and Conter took to the lifeboats. Arizona sank in 9 minutes, taking the lives of 1,177 of her crew. Her 334 surviving crew struggled to escape the burning ruins, of which Conter saved several by pulling them out of the water into his lifeboat before rowing to shore. Following the attack, Conter spent several weeks helping to put out fires and recovering the bodies of the fallen.
Shortly after the attack on Pearl, Lou attended flight school, getting his wings in November 1942. He participated in several bombing raids in Black Cats – a black painted PBYs used for night bombing – in the South Pacific. He was shot down twice during the war but managed to use a raft to row to shore on both occasions. Conter went on to serve in the New Guinea campaign and the European theater at the end of the war.
After the war, Conter joined the reserves and wound up seeing action in Korea aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard. He retired from the Naval service in 1967 as a Lieutenant Commander.
After his retirement from the Navy, Conter pursued a career as a real estate developer in California. Conter wrote a book about his life titled The Lou Conter Story in 2021; he turned 100 the same year. Following the death of Ken Potts in April 2023, Conter became the last known survivor of the sinking of the USS Arizona.
He died in Grass Valley, California on April 1, 2024, at the age of 102.
Colonel Roger Donlon, the first recipient of the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam war died yesterday at the age of 89. Donlon was born January 30, 1934 in Saugerties NY, the 8th child of 10.
He attended the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University for a year. He joined the United States Air Force in 1953 and was admitted to West Point in 1955, but resigned for personal reasons. He re-enlisted, this time in the United States Army, in 1958, went to Officer Candidate School, and served as a general’s aide. In August 1963 he joined the Special Forces.
Retired Army Col. Roger H.C. Donlon poses next to the bust supporting his Medal of Honor after a ceremony held in his honor at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., on Dec. 5, 2018. Donlon, the first American to receive the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War, died Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, at the age of 89. (Sean Hall/U.S. Army)
In May 1964, Donlon’s team was sent to Vietnam where they established an outpost at Nam Dong, about 15 miles from the border with Laos. Early in the morning of July 6, 1964, the base was attacked by a large force of Vietcong. Under then Captain Donlon’s leadership, the two-battalion attack was repelled. Donlon received the Medal of Honor for his actions.
President Lyndon Johnson presented Donlon with the nation’s highest honor for bravery in combat during a ceremony at the White House on Dec. 5, 1964.
Medal of Honor Citation
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army. Place and date: Near Nam Dong, Republic of Vietnam, July 6, 1964. Entered service at: Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. Born: January 30, 1934, Saugerties, New York. General Orders No. 41: December 17, 1964.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while defending a U.S. military installation against a fierce attack by hostile forces. Capt. Donlon was serving as the commanding officer of the U.S. Army Special Forces Detachment A-726 at Camp Nam Dong when a reinforced Viet Cong battalion suddenly launched a full-scale, predawn attack on the camp. During the violent battle that ensued, lasting 5 hours and resulting in heavy casualties on both sides, Capt. Donlon directed the defense operations in the midst of an enemy barrage of mortar shells, falling grenades, and extremely heavy gunfire. Upon the initial onslaught, he swiftly marshaled his forces and ordered the removal of the needed ammunition from a blazing building. He then dashed through a hail of small arms and exploding hand grenades to abort a breach of the main gate. En route to this position he detected an enemy demolition team of 3 in the proximity of the main gate and quickly annihilated them. Although exposed to the intense grenade attack, he then succeeded in reaching a 60mm mortar position despite sustaining a severe stomach wound as he was within 5 yards of the gun pit. When he discovered that most of the men in this gunpit were also wounded, he completely disregarded his own injury, directed their withdrawal to a location 30 meters away, and again risked his life by remaining behind and covering the movement with the utmost effectiveness. Noticing that his team sergeant was unable to evacuate the gun pit he crawled toward him and, while dragging the fallen soldier out of the gunpit, an enemy mortar exploded and inflicted a wound in Capt. Donlon’s left shoulder. Although suffering from multiple wounds, he carried the abandoned 60mm mortar weapon to a new location 30 meters away where he found 3 wounded defenders. After administering first aid and encouragement to these men, he left the weapon with them, headed toward another position, and retrieved a 57mm recoilless rifle. Then with great courage and coolness under fire, he returned to the abandoned gun pit, evacuated ammunition for the 2 weapons, and while crawling and dragging the urgently needed ammunition, received a third wound on his leg by an enemy hand grenade. Despite his critical physical condition, he again crawled 175 meters to an 81mm mortar position and directed firing operations which protected the seriously threatened east sector of the camp. He then moved to an eastern 60mm mortar position and upon determining that the vicious enemy assault had weakened, crawled back to the gun pit with the 60mm mortar, set it up for defensive operations, and turned it over to 2 defenders with minor wounds. Without hesitation, he left this sheltered position, and moved from position to position around the beleaguered perimeter while hurling hand grenades at the enemy and inspiring his men to superhuman effort. As he bravely continued to move around the perimeter, a mortar shell exploded, wounding him in the face and body. As the long awaited daylight brought defeat to the enemy forces and their retreat back to the jungle leaving behind 54 of their dead, many weapons, and grenades, Capt. Donlon immediately reorganized his defenses and administered first aid to the wounded. His dynamic leadership, fortitude, and valiant efforts inspired not only the American personnel but the friendly Vietnamese defenders as well and resulted in the successful defense of the camp. Capt. Donlon’s extraordinary heroism, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
Donlon wrote two books about his experiences in Vietnam, “Outpost of Freedom” and “Beyond Nam Dong”.
His other decorations include:
Combat Infantry Badge
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Meritorious Service Medal w/ one Oak Leaf Cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal w/ two Oak Leaf Clusters
Funeral arrangements have not been announced at this time.
Jimmy Buffett died from lymphoma on September 1, 2023, at the age of 76. The singer’s death was announced on his social media pages and on his website. In a statement released by the family, they said “Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs. He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”
James William Buffett was born in Pascagoula Mississippi on 25 Dec 1946. After attending Auburn and Pearl Community college, Jimmy graduated with a BA in History from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1969. Buffett began his musical career in Nashville in the late 60s. In the early 1970’s Buffet moved to Key West and started to develop his ‘beach bum’ persona.
In addition to his music, Buffett owned or was affiliated with several business ventures. The chain of Margaritaville restaurants being the best known, but included LandShark beer, a range of spirits and a couple of real estate ventures, namely a pair of Margaritaville themed retirement communities.
Buffett also appeared in several movies and TV shows. His uncredited appearance in Jurassic World has gone viral today. He plays a tourist during the Margaritaville Pterodactyl scene.
Vince Speranza, a member of the 101st Airborne division during WWII died on 2 August. He was 98.
Vincent J. Speranza was born on March 23, 1925, in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, New York. He spent his childhood on Staten Island in a large and extended Italian family during the Great Depression. He had three brothers and four sisters. He graduated from high school in January 1943.
In 1943, after graduating from high school, Speranza enlisted in the United States Army. He tried to join at the age of 16, but had to wait until he was 18. Speranza was sent to Camp Upton in New York where he stayed until being sent to Fort Benning in Georgia where he trained for the infantry with the 87th Infantry Division, later volunteering for the Parachute Infantry, that he joined after completing a stint in Parachute School.
Speranza was sent to Europe with Company H, 3rd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. His unit arrived in France and would later fight in the Battle of the Bulge. Speranza’s first engagement was during the Siege of Bastogne where he operated a machine gun from a foxhole in a forward position outside of the town.
During the siege, he visited a wounded comrade at the field hospital set up in a local church, where his friend asked for a drink. Searching through the ruins of the town, he found a working beer tap and filled his helmet for lack of any other container. On delivering the beverage and returning for a second load, he was discovered by a medical officer and reprimanded. Here Vince tells the story in his own words:
Speranza spent a total of 144 days in combat and was discharged in January 1946. His highest rank was Private first class.
Speranza was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
After the war, Vince returned to New York and became a teacher at Curtis high school on Staten Island. In 2014, Vince published NUTS! : A 101st Airborne Division Machine Gunner at Bastogne.
