After the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu was able to eliminate the last major challenge to his bid for the shogunate. As the highest authority in Japan next to the Emperor, Ieyasu ushered in a largely peaceful and stable era that lasted for over two centuries. There was small-scale violence and rebellion by commoners, but the days of endemic warfare had thankfully ended. Samurai who had trained their whole lives and identified and prided themselves as warriors now needed to pursue other occupations.Sakamoto Ryoma, the Tokugawa ReformistSakamoto Ryoma, 1866-7. Source: Wikimedia CommonsWhen asked to name one of the founders of modern Japan, one name often comes to mind: Sakamoto Ryoma. He was a samurai who grew up in the Tosa province in the late 1830s. His family was of a lower rank, so they could not progress up the social ladder much under the rigid structure of the shogunate. The Tosa province had fought in the Western Army at Sekigahara and was relegated to a far-flung, poorer domain as a punishment and to prevent the likelihood of future uprisings.One of the tipping points for the distrust of the shogunate was its perceived weakness in response to Commodore Matthew Perrys show of force in 1853. This ultimately led to Sakamoto Ryoma helping to usher in the Imperial Restoration.His first major contribution to the cause was the mediation of the Satcho Alliance between Takamori Saigo of the Satsuma province and Takayoshi Kido of Choshu. Together, they created a naval trade organization named Kamiyama Shachu that aided the alliance in building an independent, modernized navy. The idea was to prevent the subjugation of Japan by foreign forces, because two centuries of isolation had led to widespread technological stagnation, and the recent Opium Wars in China had shown what the West was capable of.Although no single person can be credited with the modernization of Japan, Sakamoto Ryoma played an undeniable part. Were it not for his efforts, the Satcho Alliance and the creation of Japanese naval power might not have occurred.Hasekura Tsunenaga, the Religious AmbassadorHasekura with Ship, by Claude Deruet, 1615. Source: Wikimedia CommonsHasekura Tsunenaga was a retainer of the daimyo Date Masamune of the Mutsu province. Date was known for his enthusiasm toward Western culture and used this attribute in the service of the Tokugawa regime. At the time, Spain dominated the seas in Southeast Asia, and Tokugawa wanted to enter diplomatic and trade relations with Spain for even greater wealth.Tsunenagas father, Tsunenari, came under charges of corruption and conspiracy and was executed. In this situation, normally, the transgressors entire family would be put to death as well, but Date Masamune gave Hasekura a chance to restore his honor. Hasekura took the position of leader for the Keicho Embassy, containing 180 people. The group departed Japan in 1613, landing in Mexico, where the embassy received a warm welcome and cemented the beginning of ties between Mexico and Japan.After a short stay in Mexico, the Keicho delegation sailed across the Atlantic, landing in Spain and securing a trade deal with King Philip III. Then they traveled to Rome, where Pope Paul V received Hasekura Tsunenaga and was so pleased by the Japanese response to Christianity that he soon named Tsunenaga an honorary Roman citizen, and also agreed to send missionaries to Japan to teach Catholicism.Unfortunately, Tsunenaga came back to a Japan that had, under Tokugawa Hidetada, taken a much more exclusive stance toward foreign influence: European trade had been restricted to Dejima, a man-made island off Nagasaki. Christianity had largely been repressed on penalty of death or exile. Although Tsunenagas efforts did not initially bear fruit, they made a favorable impression on the West.Miyamoto Musashi, the Sword SaintSelf-portrait of Musashi, 1640s. Source: Shimada Art MuseumMiyamoto Musashi, born Miyamoto Bennosuke of Harima province, hardly needs an introduction. Anyone familiar with Japanese history has likely heard his name in connection with winning numerous duels in the pursuit of perfecting his swordsmanship.Musashi often receives credit for creating a fighting style that used the katana and wakizashi together, but he was not the first person to come up with this idea. As a swordsman, Musashi was known for his unorthodox approach to fighting and disdain for the conventions of duels. He wrote about this in his treatise Go Rin no Sho (The Book of Five Rings). In the book, Musashi advocated for a fluid approach to fighting and advised warriors not to have a favorite weapon, among other things.Musashis text serves as versatile advice centuries after his death to people from all walks of life. The Ground Book lists the qualities of being honest with oneself, consistency in effort, efficiency, and a broad knowledge base. The Water Book advises flexibility in both body and mind, and to never go completely still. The Fire Book teaches that one should consider the environment to act most effectively; in a modern business context, that could mean learning about the market conditions, for example. Wind and Void, meanwhile, are more philosophical and analyze weaknesses in others based upon experience.A week before he died in 1645, Musashi wrote a short text titled Dokkodo (The Way of Aloneness), as a dedication to his student Terao Magonjo. It was a series of precepts by which to live a focused, fulfilled life. They echo many Buddhist teachings, such as holding no permanent attachments, asceticism, and acceptance of reality without holding onto any desire.Yamamoto Tsunetomo, the Warrior-PhilosopherThe monk Bodhidharma sat in meditation, by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, 1886. Source: Ukiyo-e.orgMost of the modern understanding of Edo-period bushido comes from a book called Hagakure, compiled by an 18th-century samurai named Yamamoto Tsunetomo, although the actual author of the book was Tashiro Tsuramoto. Tsunetomo served as a low-ranking retainer for Nabeshima Mitsushige, a daimyo of Hizen province, but did not get a distinguished position. Despite this, Tsunetomo remained loyalloyal to the point that he requested permission to commit seppuku upon Nabeshimas death.This practice, known as junshi, had been outlawed, though many samurai practiced it anyway. Tsunetomo then began working on Hagakure. The name translates to Hidden Leaves, which can allude to either the fact that the book was never meant to be read or the lamentation of the supposed decline of the samurai warrior spirit. One of the most well-known parts of the book advocates daily meditation upon ones own death as a means of overcoming fear of it in order to live life to the fullest. This is a noble goal, though with a morbid and sobering process. Unlike Go Rin no Sho, Hagakure is not organized in any way; it is simply a collection of thoughts and ideas that Tsunetomo wrote, based on traditional advice.Tsunetomos work had a dark influence. The concepts of absolute loyalty, fearlessness in the face of death became part of nationalist war propaganda. It fueled some of the worst atrocities the Japanese military committed before and during World War II, which the Japanese government has still not acknowledged.Shinmi Masaoki, the Modern DiplomatThree Japanese Ambassadors of the first Japanese mission to the US, from left to right, Norimasa Muragaki, Masaoki Shinmi, and Tadamasa Oguri. Source: Wikimedia CommonsIn 1853, when Commodore Perry forced Japan to open its ports to America, the Tokugawa shogunate witnessed the comparatively vast military power of the United States and capitulated, not wanting Japan to suffer the same fate as China had during the Opium Wars. After the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, the shogunate appointed Shinmi Masaoki to lead the first Japanese embassy to the West since Hasekura Tsunenagas journey to Rome two centuries prior. He traveled to Washington, D.C., stopping in San Francisco and New York as well after passing through Panama.Shinmi Masaoki met with President James Buchanan, presenting him with a copy of the treaty, beginning cultural exchange between the United States and Japan. Descriptions by onlookers express marvel at the exotic appearance of the Japanese, especially because they wore their swords and the traditional samurai garb.Furthermore, the embassys aim was to demonstrate to the world that the Japanese had begun to develop a modern navy. The Kanren Maru was one of Japans first modern steam-driven warships.William Adams, the NavigatorGravestone of William Adams/Miura Anjin. Source: Wikimedia CommonsWilliam Adams was the first Englishman to land in Japan, and his story is well-known thanks to James Clavells bestselling novel Shogun. He was born in Kent and spent his early life learning the craft of shipbuilding and sailing. Adams worked for a predecessor of the Dutch East India Company; his expedition sailed out of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, landed in Japan in 1600 on the Liefde, the only surviving ship of the five that started out.Tokugawa Ieyasu interviewed Adams, learned what he could of the relations between England and other European nations, recognized him as an asset to the government, and made him a retainer whose task was to train the army in the use of artillery. In 1605, Adams was granted the title of hatamoto, a direct vassal, for his services. William Adams helped to bolster Edo-era Japans naval forces, building some of the first Western-style ships that carried samurai such as Hasekura Tsunenaga on voyages around the world.

Facebook/POMOSTThe skeletons were found side by side with various artifacts of war.Archaeologists in Poland have discovered a mass grave containing the remains of 18 Nazi paratroopers from World War II. The discovery also yielded numerous weapons, medals, and tools.The grave was found by locals in the southwestern village of Kolice, who then notified the Pracownia Bada Historical and Archaeological Research Laboratory (POMOST). According to Fox News, POMOST was able to determine that these remains belonged to members of Nazi Germanys air force, known as the Luftwaffe, due to their dog tags and a steel artifact that was engraved with the symbol of the Luftwaffe buried beside them.Facebook/POMOSTA steel tool etched with the symbol of the Luftwaffe.The dead had been laid beside one another and according to Tomasz Czabanski, president of POMOST, the soldiers were likely killed in 1945. There was a lot going on here. Many individual graves have been discovered in this area.Czabinski added that the locals have been helpful in identifying and notifying his team about historical finds. It also very often happens that they come and look at excavations, tell their stories and thats how we learn about yet other unidentified graves.Facebook/POMOSTThis rusting anti-aircraft sight would have been fitted to an MG rifle.Also found were a spare anti-aircraft sight for an MG rifle, a Spanish Cross, and a pocket watch. But perhaps the most historically fascinating find was the Spanish Cross, a distinguished award that denoted bravery during the Spanish Civil War. Adolf Hitler backed Spanish dictator Francisco Franco with the Condor Legion of the Luftwaffe during that time. Kolice was more than mere territory for the Germans during World War II, as just a few miles north the Nazis had established a Luftwaffe base. Thus, its believed that these paratroopers were likely stationed there.The base was eventually attacked by Joseph Stalin when the Red Army advanced in January 1945, but not before a panicked Germany demolished the base and left only a small number of troops behind to stay and fight the Russian onslaught.Facebook/POMOSTThe Spanish Cross was given to German soldiers who fought in the Spanish Civil War for Hitlers dictatorial ally, Francisco Franco.As the very first country to be invaded by Nazi Germany in September 1939, Poland is naturally littered with remnants of the war. Recently, an invaluable diary written by an SS officer was discovered there. Some believe that the historical document might contain the location of Nazi treasure worth billions of dollars today.A few weeks after the discovery of the diary, archaeologists unearthed a treasure chest filled with silver including goblets and cutlery near the remains of a 600-year-old castle once occupied by the Nazis during the war.As for the remains of these 18 soldiers, their bones will be analyzed before being put to rest in a military cemetery in the city of Wrocaw.Next up, read about how 300 soft tissue remains from executed prisoners of the Nazis were found buried in Berlin. Then, take a look at 25 tragic photos of the forgotten genocide in Nazi-occupied Poland.The post The Skeletal Remains Of 18 Nazi Soldiers Were Found In A Mass Grave In Poland appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Chainsaws are great for cutting down trees, pruning overgrown bushes, or even carving ice. But the reason why chainsaws were invented might shock you.The answer goes back to the 1800s and its unsettling. Indeed, chainsaws were not invented by inventive landscapers but instead were created by doctors and surgeons.Sabine Salfer/Orthopdische Universittsklinik FrankfurtThe chainsaws original use was nothing short of gruesome.Of course, that meant these fast-rotating blades werent originally used on trees, but rather the first chainsaws played a role in childbirth.Why Chainsaws Were InventedChildbirth has presented a bevy of challenges throughout human history. Though childbirth is safer now with a global rate of 211 maternal deaths per 100,000 live ones, an alarming number of women and babies have succumbed in the past.A mother dying before childbirth was such a challenge in the Roman era that a law was actually put into place which decreed that physicians must attempt a dangerous procedure known as a Cesarean on dead or dying mothers in order to save the baby.Unknown/British LibraryA 15th-century depiction of physicians performing a cesarean section.Dubbed a Cesarean for the fact that it was Emperor Caesar who allegedly wrote the law, the procedure required a physician to cut open a dying mother and remove the infant. For centuries, cesarean sections were a last resort as it was unlikely that physicians could save the lives of both mother and child, so the procedure prioritized the babys life over the mothers.But rumors claimed that a cesarean section could save both lives. In 1500, a Swiss veterinarian reportedly saved his own wife and child with a C-section, though many treated the tale with skepticism. Then in the 19th century, medical advancements like hygiene hinted at the possibility of saving both mother and child during a cesarean. But in an era before anesthetics or antibiotics, the abdominal surgery remained intensely painful and perilous.It didnt help that the surgery had to be completed either by tearing into the womans uterus by hand or using scissors, neither of which were often fast enough to spare the mother pain or save the babys life.J. P. Maygrier/Wellcome CollectionAn 1822 medical text shows where doctors could make an incision to perform a cesarean section.Indeed, the same year that the medical chainsaw was invented, Dr. John Richmond published this horrifying tale of a failed cesarean. After hours of labor, Richmonds patient was at deaths door. Feeling a deep and solemn sense of my responsibility, with only a case of common pocket instruments, about one oclock that night, I commenced the cesarean section, Richmond related.He cut into the woman using a pair of scissors. But Richmond still could not remove the child. It was uncommonly large, and the mother very fat, Richmond explained, and having no assistance, I found this part of my operation more difficult than I had anticipated.Over the mothers agonizing cries, Richmond declared a childless mother was better than a motherless child. He declared the baby dead and removed it piece by piece. After weeks of recovery, the woman lived.Richmonds horrific story helps answer the question of why chainsaws were invented originally as a more humane alternative to the C-section.The First Devices That Replaced C-SectionsJohn Graham Gilbert/Wikimedia CommonsDr. James Jeffray, who is credited with inventing the chainsaw. Jeffray ran into trouble for reportedly buying bodies to dissect.Around 1780, Scottish doctors John Aitken and James Jeffray came up with what they hoped would be a safer alternative to C-sections. Instead of cutting into the abdomen, they would cut into the mothers pelvis in order to widen her birth canal and remove the baby vaginally.The procedure was known as a symphysiotomy, which is no longer practiced today.But a sharp knife was often not fast and painless enough to perform this surgery safely. So Aitken and Jeffray consequently envisioned a rotating blade that could cut through bone and cartilage, and thus, the first chainsaw was born.Initially small enough to fit in a doctors hand, the original chainsaw was more like a small serrated knife attached to a hand crank. And though it sped up the process of widening a laboring mothers birth canal, it too proved too dangerous for most doctors to attempt.However, Aitken and Jeffray were not the only doctors of their era to innovate with medical chainsaws. About 30 years after Aitken and Jeffrays invention, a German child named Bernhard Heine began experimenting with medical devices. Heine came from a medical family, his uncle Johann Heine manufactured artificial limbs and orthopedic devices, for instance, and so he spent most of his childhood learning how to construct different orthopedic tools.While his uncle focused on the technical side of orthopedics, Heine studied medicine. After gaining surgical training, Heine specialized in orthopedic surgery. Thats when he saw a way to blend his medical training with his technical skills.In 1830, Johann Heine invented the chain osteotome, a direct ancestor to the modern chainsaws of today.Osteotomes, or tools used to cut bone, used to be chisel-like and hand operated. But Heine added a chain to his crank-powered osteotome, creating a faster and more effective device.The Original Uses Of ChainsawsWikimedia CommonsA demonstration of how physicians used the chain osteotome to cut through bone.Johann Heine considered the medical applications of his invention carefully, and therefore it came to be used for a variety of surgeries. Heine added guards on the edges of the chain to protect the surrounding tissue, so surgeons could now cut into the skull without causing bone splinters or destroying soft tissue. It vastly improved any medical procedure that required cutting through bone, such as 19th-century amputations.Before the chain osteotome, surgeons used a hammer and chisel to take off a limb. Alternatively, they might use an amputation saw that required jarring motions. The medical chainsaw simplified the procedure and improved results.Consequently, the osteotome became incredibly popular. Heine won a prestigious award in France and earned an invitation to Russia to demonstrate the tool. Manufacturers in France and New York began making the surgical instrument en masse. Samuel J. Bens/U.S. Patent OfficeThe patent filed by inventor Samuel J. Bens in 1905. Bens realized an endless chainsaw with a looping chain could help loggers cut down redwood trees.In the case of amputation, the medical chainsaw certainly surpassed a hammer and chisel. Yet in childbirth, the chainsaw was not the best solution to an age-old problem. Instead, sterile surgical environments, anesthesia, and access to more advanced medical care saved more lives in childbirth.And in 1905, an inventor named Samuel J. Bens realized that the medical chainsaw could cut through redwood trees even better than it could bone. He filed a patent for the first recognizably modern chainsaw.Thankfully, the era of using chainsaws to help women survive labor was short-lived.After this look at why were chainsaws invented and what the chainsaws original use was, read about James Barry, the famed 19th-century doctor who was secretly born a woman. Then learn about these fascinating accidental inventions.The post The Gruesome Reason Why Chainsaws Were Invented appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Sussex ConstabularyJohn George Haigh, the English serial killer known as the Acid Bath Murderer.In February 1949, police raided a warehouse in West Sussex, owned by John George Haigh, following the disappearance of a local woman. Inside, they found several 40-gallon drums and containers of concentrated sulfuric acid. Outside, they found 28 pounds of melted human body fat, part of a human foot, human gallstones, and part of a denture.The horror of the crime scene was instantly clear to investigators. Haigh had murdered someone, then dissolved their body in acid. But as they soon found out, Haigh had used this method to murder at least five other people.This is the chilling story of John George Haigh, the Acid Bath Murderer who dissolved his victims in acid.The Early Life Of John George HaighBorn on July 24, 1909, in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England John George Haigh grew up in a highly religious, conservative family. Haigh was discouraged against making friends, and forbidden from any entertainment aside from reading the Bible. That said, he was a talented piano player as a boy. But as a young man, he soon drifted into a life of crime.In his 20s, Haigh started committing financial fraud and was imprisoned in 1934, 1937, and 1941. He also began to learn about the law, including the idea of corpus delicti. This means body of the crime, and is the idea that a crime cannot be proven through a confession alone it also requires evidence. Haigh interpreted this to mean that a murder could not be proven without a body. He also began to experiment with dissolving mice in acid. Trinity Mirror / MirrorpixJohn George Haigh was charming to those who knew him, but he had a secret dark side. Indeed, Haigh believed he had come up with the perfect crime. The bodies of mice dissolved in acid in just 30 minutes, and Haigh suspected he could use the same method to get rid of human remains. After all, he believed that if investigators could not find a body, he would not be charged with murder. For his first victim, John George Haigh targeted a wealthy former friend and employer named William McSwann. Haigh had learned that McSwann had a lucrative job collecting rent from his parents tenants, and Haigh wanted it.The Victims Of The Acid Bath KillerIn 1944, John George Haigh lured McSwann to a basement and beat him to death. Then, he dissolved McSwanns body in a 40 gallon drum of acid.The plot turned out just like Haigh had hoped after two days, McSwanns body was gone and Haigh was able to pour the remains of the acid into the sewer. In the aftermath, he more or less took over McSwanns life. Crime and Investigation reports that Haigh quietly took over McSwanns landlord duties, and he began to plot the murders of his next victims: McSwanns parents.At first, McSwanns parents Don and Amy seemed to believe it when Haigh claimed that their son had fled to Scotland to avoid being drafted in WWII. But as the war came to an end, and he didnt return, they became more suspicious. And so Haigh killed them as well. As hed done before, Haigh destroyed their bodies in acid and poured the sludge into the sewer. He then stole their pension checks and took over their properties, which Haigh sold for a tidy sum. According to the University of Cambridge, Haigh was then able to move into a luxurious hotel in Kensington. To those who knew him at the time, Haigh seemed charming and wealthy, with a taste for fine suits and cars. But Haigh was also a gambler. And by 1947, hed run low on cash. To maintain his lifestyle, he needed more victims. Local Studies CollectionThe Onslow Court Hotel in Kensington, a luxurious hotel that John Haigh was able to afford by robbing and murdering his victims.After feigning interest in a house that was for sale, Haigh murdered the houses owners, Dr. Archibald Henderson and his wife, Rose Henderson. As hed done before, Haigh lured the couple to a secluded location, murdered them, and dissolved their bodies in acid. But though Haigh was able to then steal the Hendersons assets, he quickly killed again. But John George Haighs next victim, a widow named Olive Durand-Deacon, would be his last. The Arrest And Execution Of John George HaighJohn George Haigh crossed paths with Olive Durand-Deacon in 1949 at the hotel where they both lived. Deacon, an aspiring inventor, had an idea for artificial fingernails for women. Haigh told her he could help her develop her idea, and invited her to his workshop in Crawley, West Sussex.When Durand-Deacon arrived, Haigh murdered her like hed murdered his other victims, and dissolved her body in acid. But then he made a mistake. Though Haigh had poured his other victims into the sewer, he didnt have easy access to a manhole at his workshop. So he dumped Durand-Deacons remains in his backyard.Haigh then sold Durand-Deacons jewelry and had her fur coat cleaned. But her disappearance had not gone unnoticed, and investigators soon arrived at Haighs workshop door. Upon examining the backyard, they found piles of acid sludge and human remains. There, at Haighs workshop, was 28 pounds of human body fat, three gallstones, part of a left foot, 18 fragments of human bone, and the remains of Durand-Deacon dentures.John George Haigh was arrested. Though he gave conflicting statements about what had happened to the widow, he finally declared: I will tell you all about it. Mrs. Durand-Deacon no longer exists. She has disappeared completely and no trace of her can ever be found again. I have destroyed her with acid. You will find the sludge which remains at Leopold Road. Every trace has gone. How can you prove murder if there is no body?Sussex ConstabularyA police photograph of John George Haigh.But Haigh had misunderstood the concept of corpus delicti. Without this defense, he attempted to portray himself as insane, claiming that he had murdered his victims in order to drink their blood. This was somewhat difficult to prove, as Haigh had left no physical evidence of his victims behind. And Haigh had also suspiciously asked a detective if he had a better chance of being released from a psychiatric hospital than from a prison.In the end, a jury took just 30 minutes to find Haigh guilty. He was sentenced to death, and hanged on August 10, 1949. So what was really the motivation of the Acid Bath Killer? To this day, its unknown for certain. Possibly, Haigh was driven by financial gain. Possibly, he liked the thrill of getting away with murder, or the act of murder itself. Maybe he was even telling the truth when he told investigators that hed been driven by a desire to drink human blood. But it seems likely that John George Haigh was simply a psychopath, with little consideration for human life. Murder, for him, was a way to money and power, which he seemed to value above all else.The really interesting thing that emerges from the letters he wrote to his parents [from prison] is that he rarely addresses the question of his actual crimes, Friedrich Loesel, Director of the Institute of Criminology at Cambridge and an expert in forensic psychology, told Cambridge University. Losel continued: Nor does he write about his hanging. He also exhibits delusions of grandeur he is proud to read about himself in the papers, for instance. These are typical indicators of psychopathy. There is also very little evidence he understood the emotional impact of what he had done; it is as if he hears the tone but does not understand the music.Now that youve read about John George Haigh, the Acid Bath Murderer, read about the gruesome history of serial killer Edmund Kemper. Then, check out the story of Carl Panzram, the most cold-blooded killer in American history.The post John Haigh, The Acid Bath Killer Who Dissolved His Victims In Vats Of Sulfuric Acid appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Charles Jackson French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his bravery.On a pitch-black night in 1942, the waters of the Pacific Ocean near Savo Island and Guadalcanal suddenly lit up with gunfire. Within minutes, two American ships on patrol were sunk by Japanese destroyers. And as sharks circled below, and Japanese soldiers fired from all around, a Black mess officer named Charles Jackson French leaped into action.French, one of the only uninjured sailors, discarded his waterlogged clothing, tied a rope around his waist, and started to swim. For six to eight hours, he tugged a raft filled with injured sailors behind him, pulling them to safety.But, while his heroic story was later made public, Charles Jackson French received little recognition during his life. Instead of a medal, he was sent a letter of commendation.It wasnt until recent years and long after his death at the age of 37 that this hero finally received his due.I Want To Do My PartBorn on September 29, 1919, Charles Jackson French spent his early years in Foreman, Arkansas. At the time, Black and white pools were segregated, making it difficult for Black people to find opportunities to learn to swim. Swimming World Magazine speculates that French may have learned to swim by visiting the citys stone quarries and the Red River.However he learned to swim, Frenchs days in Foreman were numbered. After his parents died, he left Arkansas and moved in with his married, older sister Viola in Omaha, Nebraska. And by the time he was 18, French decided to strike out on his own and enlist in the U.S. NavyThe Navy, like swimming pools across the country, was strictly segregated. As a Black man, French had virtually no other choice than to work as a mess attendant. In that capacity, the U.S. Navy Office Of Information reports that French spent four years the USS Houston, serving meals to the white sailors, cleaning their tables, and keeping the mess hall spick and span. French returned to Omaha when his deployment ended in November 1941, but he wouldnt stay in Nebraska for long. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, French promptly re-enlisted.I want to do my part, because Im already trained and I can start right away, French said at the time.He had spent his last tour cruising around the Pacific. But this time, Charles Jackson French would see significantly more action. Charles Jackson Frenchs Heroism During World War IIPublic DomainCharles Jackson French was assigned to the USS Gregory, which was destroyed in September 1942.Following his reenlistment, Charles Jackson French was assigned to the USS Gregory as a Stewards Mate 1st class. According to Swimming World Magazine, Frenchs rank was elevated above a mere mess mate, but he and others were still derided in the Black press as seagoing bellhops.After six months at sea, however, French would prove that he was much more than a bellhop seagoing or otherwise. Then, on September 5, 1942, the USS Gregory and the USS Little were attacked by Japanese destroyers around 1 a.m. while patrolling the waters near Savo Island and Guadalcanal. The U.S. Navy Office Of Information reports that the Gregory, outgunned, sank after just three minutes. Its surviving men were plunged into shark-infested waters as the Japanese fired on them.But French leaped into action. The 23-year-old helped injured sailors onto a makeshift raft and when U.S. Navy Ensign Robert Adrian told him that the current would pull the raft toward a Japanese-occupied island volunteered to jump in the water and pull the raft in the other direction. Adrian told him it was impossible. French, according to Adrian, replied: Just keep telling me if Im goin the right way.He shed his waterlogged clothes, tied a rope around his waist, and started to swim. For the next six to eight hours, French tirelessly swam as sharks got so close that they sometimes brushed against his legs. At sunrise, an American scout finally spotted him and the others and sent rescue. War Gum Trading Card CompanyA depiction of Charles Jackson Frenchs heroism.But Frenchs ordeal didnt end there. As he later recounted, as recorded by Chester Wright in Black Men and Blue Water, French and other uninjured soldiers were taken to a rest camp by their rescuers, who wanted to separate French from the white sailors. To Frenchs surprise, the sailors insisted that French stay with them as a fellow member of Gregorys crew.Them white boys stood up for me, French emotionally told Wright.The story of Charles Jackson Frenchs heroism was later made public by Adrian, who described it on a radio program called It Happened in the Service in October 1942, according to Swimming World Magazine. Adrian had never learned Frenchs full name he and the others only knew him as French but he fully credited him for their rescue that day. I can assure you that all the men on that raft are grateful to mess attendant French for his brave action off Guadalcanal that night, Adrian said. The story was soon picked up by the national news, and Charles Jackson French was identified by NBC. He was celebrated across the country, featured in a comic strip, and lauded by the Black press. Adrian and other white Americans owe their LIVES to a black man whom he identified as a mess attendant named French,' the Pittsburgh Courier, a Black newspaper, wrote after French was identified. The newspaper continued: Although Mess Attendant Charles Jackson French of Arkansas was not in a heroic job, he MADE a heroic job out of it. He who had been looked down upon as a caste man, frozen in status, suddenly was looked up to as a SAVIOUR.Though rumors spread that Charles Jackson French might be awarded the Navy Cross, he was given only a letter of commendation from Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., the then-commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet. French may have been denied the medal because a Silver Star was awarded to one of his superiors and it was unprecedented to award a higher medal to a subordinate. But the Omaha World-Herald noted some decades later that future president John F. Kennedy had been given the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for a similar act of bravery.Charles Jackson French, on the other hand, was slowly forgotten.The Legacy Of Charles Jackson FrenchU.S. NavyCharles Jackson French salutes while next to his sister Viola at a Creighton University football game on Oct. 31, 1942.After his service on the USS Gregory, Charles Jackson French didnt rest on his laurels. He returned to his role in the mess on the USS Endicott and the USS Frankford, and witnessed D-Day and the invasion of southern France. After World War II ended, French faded from the public eye. Black Past reports that he suffered from alcoholism and depression, and passed away on Nov. 7, 1956, in San Diego, California. He was only 37 years old. But since then, theres been a push to give this forgotten World War II hero his due. In April 2021, a post about French from the International Swimming Hall of Fame revived his story. And a year later, Rear Admiral Charles Brown, the Navy public affairs officer, presented eight of Frenchs relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal just like Kennedys. It will inspire generations of sailors, Brown said at the medal ceremony, reported by the Omaha World-Herald. Its a story of the best of who we are.French has been honored in other ways, too. A training pool at Naval Base San Diego was named after French, and a post office in his hometown of Omaha also bears his name. In life, French wasnt honored like he deserved. Wright notes that his death didnt merit even two paragraphs in the San Diego press when he died. But finally, after six decades, his heroic acts during World War II are finally being recognized and rewarded.Ive always felt glad to be a proud American, his nephew, Roscoe Harris, told the Omaha World-Herald, after attending his uncles medal ceremony. The 89-year-old added: I was happy to see that, as an American Black man, (French) got recognized.After reading about Charles Jackson French, discover the story of Doris Miller, the ships cook who became a naval hero during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Or, discover the forgotten stories of some of Americas most impressive Black war heroes.The post The Little-Known Story Of World War II Hero Charles Jackson French And The 15 Sailors He Saved appeared first on All That's Interesting.

The PlayStation 2 released at the turn of the new millennium, where stylistic standards across the spectrum of entertainment were changing and evolving. While there were plenty of games in previous generations I would happily call cool, as a millennial myself, I cant help but be drawn to the PS2s particular flavor of cool. Its what I grew up with, after all. It wasnt just about mascot platformers or driving tanks anymore. The PS2s games offered a tour of the entire coolness spectrum, with the library all but guaranteed to have at least one title that made you say, Whoa, thats cool.

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This review was created in partnership with Oneisall,who compensated us for our time and editorial work. However, our opinions and ratings remain entirely our ownwe only recommend products we genuinely believe in, and all assessments reflect our honest experience and testing.In this articleOneisall 3.5L Cordless Stainless Steel Pet Water FountainOneisall 5L Automatic Cat FeederOneisall Air Purifier for Homes with PetsBringing It All TogetherView 3More +Less -When your cats are as spoiled as mine are, youre always on the lookout for new and interesting ways to improve their health and lifestyle, whether it be a cosy new bed, exciting treats, or puzzles and games to keep their minds and bodies active. But when you live with a multitude of furry family members, such as the five cats and five dogs that share my household, you also start looking for ways to make your life a little simpler.When we recently, finally, faced the reality that our home gym was doing nothing but gathering dust, we decided to turn it into something that would be guaranteed to get plenty of use a dedicated cat room. No longer would I have to share my office with litter boxes and hairballs, and our cats would at long last have one room in the house where, thanks to a dog gate, they could chill out knowing they wont be disturbed by our overly affectionate canines. So, of course, we wanted to kit out the room with feline-friendly furniture, including shelving, potted cat grass, and a wide range of beds for them to ignore in favor of cardboard boxes.Next on the priority list were some products that were going to make our lives a little easier. Being already familiar with some of the amazing products from Oneisall, like their impressive range of grooming vacuums and water fountains, we decided to test out a few products to see how they stood up to the demands of our discerning clowder. So we have recently introduced the 3.5L Cordless Stainless Steel Pet Water Fountain, the 5L Automatic Cat Feeder, and the item I have been most looking forward to trying, the Oneisall Air Purifier for Homes with Pets.Having used these products for a couple of weeks now, Im going to share with you my reviews of these Oneisall Pet Tech Products, and let you know if they live up to the hype.(SPOILER ALERT: They do!)Lets take a look at each of the products and how the Oneisall can help Transform How You Pet.Oneisall 3.5L Cordless Stainless Steel Pet Water FountainFountain Final VerdictI give the Oneisall 3.5L Cordless Stainless Steel Pet Water Fountain a solid 4.9 out of 5 stars.Quality: 5/5Design: 4.5/5Value: 5/5Ease of Use: 5/5Cat Appeal: 5/5 Check Price on Oneisall Check Price on AmazonFrom the outset, the features that stood out about this drinking fountain for me were the sensor setting, the virtually silent operation, and the fact that it can (but doesnt have to) function cordlessly.Why Use A Water Fountain?With many cats consuming a diet consisting partially, if not entirely, of dry kibble, it is extremely important that we encourage them to drink as much water throughout the day as possible. We have come to realize that there are a number of features that will encourage (or discourage) a cat from choosing to drink from the sources we offer, with bowl size and material, water quality and temperature, bowl location, and water motion being key factors. The best materials for both hygiene and feline preference are ceramic and stainless steel.How Does OneInAll Compare to Other Fountains?My previous experience with pet water fountains has shown me that cats definitely gravitate towards moving water, as this appeals to their instincts for selecting fresh, non-stagnant water sources. However, each of the fountains I have previously used has been fiddly, cumbersome, and a pain-in-the-butt to clean. What struck me immediately about the Oneisall design is how simple it is to put together and take apart, with very few nooks, crannies, or moving parts that are prone to developing slimy buildup.Another bonus is the noise, or more accurately, the lack thereof. My previous cat drinking fountains have either had a noisy cascade or mechanical whirring, while the Oneisall fountain is basically silent. Unless youre standing right next to it, you wont hear a thing.How Does It Work?The water fountain is super easy to set up. It has a single stainless steel bowl with a compact pump design, and an easy to access filter means that cleaning is straightforward and involved absolutely no swearing on my part. There is a window on the front so you can easily keep an eye on the water level, and a warning light to let you know when the filter needs replacing. Hot tip the light came on for me immediately after setting it up, but you just have to double-click the function button to reset!You have the option of having the fountain run intermittently or on the motion-activated setting, which worked really well as soon as the cats started to approach. This saves the battery, which is charged using a universal USB-C cable. Because of the intermittent or motion sensor functions, the battery should last up to 60 days before you need to charge it again.If your cats are well-behaved and not prone to chewing power cables, you also have the option of leaving the unit plugged in and having the fountain running continuously. Being cordless, you can position the bowl anywhere, which is great for cats that require a nice, quiet spot to drink at their leisure.Compared with the price of similar drinking fountains on the market, the 3.5L Cordless Stainless Steel Pet Water Fountain from Oneisall sits in the mid-range, which is a great value for the quality of the product and features. Check Price on Oneisall Check Price on AmazonAny Negatives?If Im being pedantic, there are only two things that I have taken points off for; neither of them being about the function or quality of the unit.The brushed stainless steel is purportedly resistant to fingerprints, but I did not find that to be the case. My only other gripe was that the master unit (the bit on the top) is an off-white color, and a true white would have been better. But, all in all, I was very impressed by this water fountain, and my cats are as well!Next on my Journey of the Oneisall Tech Products is the Automatic Cat Feeder.Oneisall 5L Automatic Cat FeederAutomatic Feeder Final VerdictThe Oneisall 5L Automatic Cat Feeder gets 5 out of 5 stars.Quality: 5/5Design: 5/5Value: 5/5Ease of Use: 5/5Cat Appeal: 5/5 Check Price on Oneisall Check Price on AmazonOn first impressions, the Oneisall 5L Automatic Cat Feeder might look a little clunky compared to some other, more streamlined competitors, but in my books, this was actually a positive. Many of the automatic feeders Ive tried in the past seem to have spent a lot of time and money making sure their design had plenty of aesthetic appeal, but the result was often a tricky design that was neither easy to set up nor easy to maintain. Plus, it passed my personal test of can I set it up without reading the instruction manual?Once Id put the unit together (which took around 2 minutes), I did have to open the instruction book to find out how to program it, which was very straightforward.Similar to the water fountain, the automatic feeder can be cordless (with 4 x AA batteries, not included) or plugged in with the USB-C cord and power adapter.One very clever addition to the setup is the inclusion of a slot for a silica pouch inside the lid of the container to help keep the dry kibble fresh and moisture-free. Simple yet effective.https://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Oneisall-Auto-Feeder.mp4Why Use An Automatic Feeder?We know that cats are somewhat less demanding on our time than dogs, and being able to stretch their own legs and take themselves to the toilet means that they can often survive without their human servants for a day or two, provided all their needs have been met. With free-flowing fresh water and plenty of clean litter boxes, adding an automatic feeder into the mix is a great way to ensure your felines are receiving appropriately spaced meals while you disappear for an overnight trip.But automatic feeders are not just for when you go away. If, like me, you have a house full of kitties whose stomachs start grumbling before the sun rises, you might appreciate having those starving mouths being fed while you stay warm and comfortable in bed.What I loved about the programming is that it is set up in portions, so you can adjust the amount of food dispensed at different meal times (up to four separate meals per day), so you just need to work out how much each cat should be eating. And if youre going to be away for a day or two, you can split their daily allowance into four separate feeds to make sure they dont eat everything at once! There are two bowls one on either side of the tower with removable stainless steel inserts for easy cleaning.My AdaptationNow heres why I particularly like the way this unit is designed (but this isnt quite following the designer spec!).I have five cats. I could purchase three separate units, but when I feed my cats dry kibble, I do something called scatter feeding no bowls, just a large tray. This allows them to chase and forage, and slows them down so no one eats too much. This is the first time I have been able to adapt an automatic feeder to allow scatter feeding, and I am so happy!I removed the bowls and simply placed the tower in the cats usual scatter feeding tray, so at meal times, the food was dispensed into the tray, and the cats could enjoy their meals at leisure. Do be aware that without the bowls attached, the unit is a little unsteady; this is not something recommended by Oneisall, it is simply something that I personally found really useful for my clowder. To solve the wobbly issue, I steadied the legs with some Blu-Tack (sticky-putty), but its important to be sure your kitty wont munch on it!The only other thing I would point out is that you cant control the volume of your here kitties! voice message, so its best to err on the side of quiet unless you want to wake yourself up every morning! Check Price on Oneisall Check Price on AmazonIt goes without saying (at least it should!) that this type of unit is only suitable for dry kibble, so dont try stuffing your cats wet food into the tub. It will not end well!Like the water fountain, the Oneisall Automatic Cat Feeder is very reasonably priced and very affordable if you need to purchase more than one to feed your household. I am a huge fan, and so are my cats.Oneisall Air Purifier for Homes with PetsAir Purifier Final VerdictI gave the Oneisall Air Purifier an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 starsQuality: 5/5Design: 5/5Value: 5/5Ease of Use: 5/5Effectiveness: 4/5 Check Price on Oneisall Check Price on AmazonYou might remember that I was particularly excited to try out the Oneisall Air Purifier for Homes with Pets (yes, thats what counts as excitement in my life!). The reason for this is that with five cats and five dogs, my house contains a LOT of pet hair, dust, and dander. Vacuum cleaning is, at the bare minimum, a daily ritual. Although I dont suffer from allergies (thank goodness, given my career choice and number of pets!) I am extremely conscientious about keeping my home free of odors and allergens, and was hoping that the addition of an air purifier would take a bit of the load off.The air purifier is neat, compact, and very unobtrusive, and I like that both sides are functional, effectively doubling the normal surface area. After a few weeks in operation, the filters had collected an impressive amount of dust and hair, though perhaps not quite as much as I had hoped. The fact that part of the filter is easily cleaned is a huge plus, as it means that you get a lot more bang for your buck with each filter replacement. Check Price on Oneisall Check Price on AmazonThe unit is really quiet unless you manually turn the fan up, which I do not recommend, and heres why:In my excitement upon first unpacking the air purifier, I thought I would expedite things by turning the fan up to max. This did not end well for me. As I had positioned the unit in the room with my cats litter boxes, the strong air suction essentially drew the ammonia-laden air right out of the boxes and into the atmosphere, with highly unpleasant results! Lesson learned, I returned the unit to its original automatic setting, and things improved within hours. So learn from me just stick with the automatic setting, it knows what its doing!I have noticed a reduction in the amount of fur wafting around the house, and have even managed to skip vacuuming on some days, so I can definitely see that the Oneisall Air Purifier for Homes with Pets would be a great addition to many pet households. For someone like me, with this many furry creatures, you would probably need something about ten times the size to see really dramatic results, or invest in at least five or six units to have dotted around the house. Now, if Im being completely honest, at full price, that simply wouldnt be an option for me, but with the multi-buy deals that Oneisall currently has going, its actually very doable!Bringing It All Together Check Price on Oneisall Check Price on AmazonOneisall Final VerdictI gave the Oneisall product line a 4.9 out of 5 stars!I love my cats and take pride in my position as their carer and provider, but its nice to have a bit of help around the house to take a little of the burden away from time to time, especially if it means the occasional late morning and a little less house cleaning! What I really like about the range of products from Oneisall is that they are simple to use, are very reasonably priced, and they do what they say on the box, which is why Im giving the range 4.9 out of 5 stars overall.If youd like to make your life of feline servitude a little easier too, you can head to Oneisall.com, or if youd prefer, you can also find the 3.5L Cordless Stainless Steel Pet Water Fountain, the 5L Automatic Cat Feeder, and, the item I have been most looking forward to trying, the Oneisall Air Purifier for Homes with Pets on Amazon.