The U.S. Navy was founded on October 13, 1775. Except for a 7 year period in the late 1700’s, it has been an increasingly powerful fighting force, protecting not just American interests but also guaranteeing the liberty of free people the world over. This is a fact that a lot of people don’t recognize but should.
P.S. As Canadians perhaps we could convince our loyal opposition to send out Happy Birthday wishes to all the men & women of the U.S. Navy?! 🙂
Well, they also fought our glorious forefathers in the Royal Navy.
Just wait until all the crybabies start bawling over 1812 all over again.
Hey Canucks, it was the British we fought, not you. Unless you still jump when the queen sneezes?
WE say “Achoo”
waves
From time to time, it seems I have to remind Canadians and our Neighbours….that territory wise the US lost the War of 1812….the war aims of the US were to end interference by the Royal Navy with US commerce and to annex Canada.
The anexation of Canada was a fail and by treaty the Royal Navy agreed to not interfere with American Shipping and the US agreed to outlaw importation of African Slaves……
That said…trade continued…even prior to the War of 1812, the US was the major market for Canadian wheat, flour, whiskey from Ontario and later more Canadians served on both sides during the War of Northern Aggression than in the War of 1812.
Many US citizens enlisted in the Canadian forces prior to 1917 and 1941…..
20 Canadians went south and enlisted for every US draft-dodger who fled to Canada during the Viet Nam experience….
…and we suffer because of the cowards who hid in the BC interior ever since.
I have met a few of them in my life and everyone of them is a sniveling coward who should have been sent packing when they arrived.
The US military is greatest civil rights organization on the planet.
glenn I agree.
If the U.S. goes down, heaven help us all…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah_Tattnall
It might still be a powerful fighting force, but I believe under Reagan, the fleet was 600 ships strong, and now it is down to about 400. I am sure it is still up to the task, but it hasn,t been growing in strength in the last 20 years. That said, God bless those ships, and those who sail on them.
Reminds me.Way back as a pup(1968),a family with 2 lovely daughters and a son suddenly moved into our small farming town in south NB.They had the wierdest accents!!! Turned out,according to the local rumourmonger,they were US draft dodgers.
As it REALLY turned out,after spending a few summers with them in Calais,Maine….they were only dodging the useful idiots who were calling the two oldest sons baby killers,etc.Unfortunately,they could not defend themselves as they had both given their lives…WILLINGLY…(no draft)in the “Nam.
To this day,this family still resides in NB,and are productive,caring,useful citizens.And oh yeah….for full disclosure,I happily married one of the lovely daughters,and she still proudly supports my service to Canada,and our son’s to the US!!And a regular guest at our home here in Edmonchuk now is one of those Canadians who fought in ‘Nam.(DO NOT ask him where he was in ’68..lol)
I think by now we should all (Americans and Canadians) be capable of looking back on the War of 1812 without the usual silly hubris so many folks on both sides insist on bringing to any discussion.
And overall, the U.S. Navy acquitted itself rather credibly in that war, giving our own Royal Navy a few bloody noses.
“Our own Royal Navy”?
Yes indeed. Because in 1812, the Canadian colonies and their inhabitants were – British.
From a former officer of an even older Navy (the oldest fighting force in the world, date of formation ill-defined) the very best of birthday wishes to our greatest ally. Be proud of your traditions and your record.
why do you glorify John F Kennedy and John Kerry?
Im really confoosed here. can someone @ SDA explain the constant flow of contradiction gushing forth? here’s a hint: start with the word HYPOCRITE.
…and we suffer because of the cowards who hid in the BC interior ever since.
I have met a few of them in my life and everyone of them is a sniveling coward who should have been sent packing when they arrived.
Posted by: FREE at October 13, 2011 11:24 AM”
tell me this freebie, truly, do tell, what gain would there be for the draft dodgers to enlist and get killed in the most unpopular war the USA has ever been engaged in?? hmmmm? did YOU lay down your life so that nguyen van thieu could continue to oppress the citizens, rig elections and finally make off with a bunch of gold bullion in 1975? hmmmm????
Minuteman
It’s not just a numbers game. The kit the US Navy operates today is … incredible.
A single carrier battle group is arguably a greater concentration of naval power than any other nation can bring to bear.
The US has 10 Nimitz-class carriers (one is in refit); if I remember rightly that is up from seven full-sized carriers during Reagan’s time. That is still enough to take on every other Navy in the world at the same time – and win. They might lose a carrier or two, if the British and French gang up for example, or if the Russians actually managed to put enough functioning ships to sea. But they would obliterate every other Navy in the end.
The carrier in the picture has about as many functioning jets as the RCAF.
Ships of the Confederate States.
“The Ships of the Confederate States section of the Online Library provides ready access to pictures of ships and named craft which served the Confederacy during 1861-1865.
These include ships of the Confederate States Navy, the navies of the various individual states of the Confederacy, privateers commissioned by the Confederacy or any of the Confederate States, and other vessels that served the purposes of the Confederate States.
This page lists all Named ships of the Confederate States whose photos are available in the Online Library.”
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-us-cs/csa-sh/csa-name.htm
The American and British navies largely fought to a draw on Lakes Ontario and Erie, with one side or the other being dominant at different times depending on the ability to build ships and keep them afloat. None of the fleets ever exceeded the size of a small squadron. Mark Zuehlke, “For Honour’s Sake”, probably the best book on the 1812 war and talks about the campaigns and battles briefly and considerably on the peace process.
sasquatch, two fellows, one a school mate and the other a work mate for a while, died in Vietnam. About 1970 some of our regiment were invited to the Buffalo Garrison May Day ball and there were two tables with VC booby traps displayed on them at the entrance to the officer’s mess. The two Marine Sargents explaining the display items were Canadian.
Justthinkin, good on you.
Hopefully for the sake of western civilization and democracy the US Navy stays strong. Although I get nervous about the future if the numbers of citizens of the type involved in the “Occupations” increase to the extent that the security of the US is compromised. Think Rome.
Happy Birthday to he U.S. navy! The US navy, like the Canadian navy, is legendary for it’s tenacious deeds, it’s brave sailors and it’s ‘attitude’. Men of the Sea are tough and sometimes crusty but seldom cowards; they make a living on the ocean and the ocean is a dangerous and unpredictable entity.
The war of 1812 – the Conservatives are daring the Dippers to fight against the funding. End of story, IMO. The Quebec French settlers and the Indian people fought that ‘war’ with the British; the implication is ‘we’ won. It is fun to watch the Dippers squirm – bear with us fellow Americans. I have always thought that western Canadians would have been a lot better off if America, with that wonderful Constitution, had won.
Congratulations to the US Navy!
Without the US Navy there would be global piracy, no free trade and no free shipping lanes. There would a lot be a lot of regional wars going on a continual basis.
There is no more imposing presence in history than that of the silhouette of a hostile Nimitz class aircraft carrier group on the horizon. People adjust their decisions and get their affairs in order; right now.
@ Minuteman might appreciate this glimpse into one version of the future of the US Navy.
@ sasquatch said:
I often laugh to myself over the uneven exchange we Yanks enjoyed with our northern cousins during those years. They got our weaklings and cowards, while we received their warriors and entrepreneurs. Thanks, eh, for all of them. They continue to be delightful treasures. Sorry about those misfits. Don’t elect any to Parliament or you’ll never be rid of them.
Congratulations to the US Navy, and I’ll raise a glass to the Scot that was responsible, John Paul Jones.
Thankfully, among the 42000 factories outsourced since 1992 none were from the US military. Canada has no military to speak of as we could not put one fighting division into the field in case of war. We have more generals than tanks and under 100 flyable fighter planes. Three subs and a few destroyers. All to defend the second largest country on the planet with one of the smallest populations.
The only reason we are still free (relatively) is because it’s in the best interest of our best friends to protect us from outside threats.
Happy 236th birthday US Navy. Just ignore this coming 1812 celebration we are going to spend 20 million on to show you how tough we are. Anyway, that was the British and not us. We are not even allowed to ride bicycles without helmets or play with pointed lawn darts. We have really mellowed.
Happy 236th birthday with many many happy returns.
God bless the United States of America
Bill Gannon
Yeah…that’s what the recruiting officer said when I showed up.
American recruits generally had their papers done up and were then told to go home and wait for a call…
Canadians were put up in a hotel and usually shipped out within a day.
I recall our(Canadian & Brit) vets speaking very respectful of the US volunteers into their ranks.
Me…I got fast tracked to the airborne(airbourne)…and a commision….
My opinion is these OWS people are playing with fire when they invoke violent rhetoric….there are a lot of vets out there….hares/lions?
“Let me speak proudly: tell the constable
We are but warriors for the working-day;
Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirch’d
With rainy marching in the painful field;
There’s not a piece of feather in our host–
Good argument, I hope, we will not fly–
And time hath worn us into slovenry:
But, by the mass, our hearts are in the trim;”
Act 4 Scene 3…HenryV
Willian Shakespeare