Artillery

After weeks of reconnaissance, on the morning of July 1, 1970, the North Vietnamese started firing mortars at the firebase. The began to besiege the Americans, in the firebase. During the siege that held on for 23 days, 75 US servicemen were killed. The battle for the hilltops raged for days. The 101st was surrounded, outnumbered almost ten to one and running low on supplies. It was only the high ground and the bravery of its defenders that kept the enemy from overrunning the FSB Ripcord. Major…

The trebuchet was used to hurl large stones at castles in the medieval era. The trebuchet was a new war machine that terrorized castles throughout the British isles. With it’s origin dating back to China in 300 B.C., the trebuchet was used primarily by the French until the twelfth century. During the Siege of Dover, the French attacked the British stronghold at Dover. Once King Edward the first of Britain laid his eyes on this weapon he knew he must construct one for Britain. He told his master…

Millions of young men have gone through life-altering experiences in their time in World War I. In Erich Maria Remarque’s novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, Paul Bäumer, a 19-year-old German soldier, narrates his personal memoirs of this war. As he is forced to mature from a young boy to an experienced warrior in order to survive, Paul is left permanently scarred from the throes of war and his attitude towards life is forever changed. Paul is used as an example for all of the young soldiers…

1a. Tenterhooks Due to its versatility and economic value, tenter hooks are one of the most interesting objects from the past. The hooks are believed to originate from England and first composed of in the 17th century. Ever since then, Archaeologists have found over 270 tenterhooks in James Fort. Tenter hooks, composed of iron or wooden tenders, and spanning from one to two inches long, were used to dry clothes after they have been washed and pounded. Wool, for example, was hung on wooden…

During 1914 all the way to 1918 the people left confined in their homes were surging with nationalism, grief and sorrow. Women found out of their husband’s deaths, mothers mourned their sons and children lost their father. In history the Western Front attracts most of the attention and the home front sometimes is forgotten. Such a crucial part that greatly influenced the outcome of the war cannot be sidelined. The war took its toll on the British economy. The war was getting heavy and the only…

Charles Baudelaire's "Duellum" has been translated many times, and below there are five excerpts that act as examples of these numerous translations. This essay will attempt to assess each of the five translations from different translators to ascertain as to which stands out among the five translations. In evaluating which is the best translation, special attention will be paid on the diction, rhythm, metaphors, rhymes, and similes utilized in each poem. These details will help shape the…

The small group of eight eager and young Soldiers stepped out of their vans, not knowing exactly what to expect. They had taken one of the biggest steps in their careers, putting them as the first line of defense in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The sky was mostly clear on this warm, sunny September morning in the Midwest United States, with a few light fluffy clouds listing lazily by. Each of them had a different vision of the future as they nervously waited for their new…

In order to test calibration, mortarmen fire their artillery guns upon uninhabited areas. Shortly before Tim moved on from infantry, the mortarmen mistakenly fired upon a village, wounding thirty-three villagers. After this accident, Tim recounts his final involvement as an infantryman. Less than an hour after…

War has a dark, funny way of underlining the incongruities of warfare. Irony has a strong presence in Erich Maria Remarque's novel, All Quiet on the Western Front. Set in the German lines of the Western Front in the First World War, Paul Baumer and other young men, such as Albert and Müller, volunteer to be soldiers after their schoolteachers persuaded them. At the front, they admire Kat for his practical skills and reliable instincts. On the opposite is Himmelstoss, a largely inept leader who…

Conflicts that are solved by military confrontations always come with devastating consequences for combatants and civilians alike. This is mainly because of the enormous levels of carnage and destruction that occurs in the course of reaching amicable solutions to disputes. The protagonist in Soldier’s Home took part in World War I, which was fought on an unprecedented scale in the history of civilization. War plays a crucial role in any States development towards a peaceful coexistence (Tzu 63).…