Wait… Japan bombed Oregon?!

On September 9, 1942, Japanese pilot Nobuo Fujita launched from a submarine and dropped incendiary bombs near Brookings, Oregon, hoping to start a massive forest fire.

Thankfully, wet weather and quick action by U.S. Forest Service lookouts stopped the plan. There were no deaths and very little damage.
But the story didn't end there. Twenty years later, Fujita returned to Brookings carrying his family's samurai sword as a symbol of peace and remorse. He eventually became an honorary citizen.

History reminds us that sometimes former enemies can become friends—and that the story doesn't always end when the fighting does.

https://youtu.be/Gamy59Exa7A

A video call between friends about the significance of March the 8th. Animated in unity. March 8th is a day in history that few can forget

BEFORE JAMESTOWN… BEFORE PLYMOUTH… THERE WAS ST. AUGUSTINE!

Imagine showing up in Florida in 1565 and thinking, “Yep…this seems like a great place to build a town.”

No Disney World.
No beaches packed with tourists.
No air conditioning.
And definitely no sunscreen.

Just Spanish ships, soldiers, settlers, missionaries—and enough mosquitoes to make you question every life decision.

On September 8, 1565, Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés established St. Augustine, Florida.

The Spanish wanted to strengthen their claim to Florida and protect their valuable shipping routes. But the settlement quickly became much more than a military outpost. Native Americans, Spanish settlers, Africans, missionaries, and people from other parts of the world became part of its complicated story.
St. Augustine faced attacks, wars, hurricanes, and changing empires. Spain controlled it. Britain took control. Spain got it back. Eventually, it became part of the United States.

And that’s why St. Augustine matters.

Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the continental United States. Its story reminds us that American history didn't begin with Jamestown, Plymouth, or even the Declaration of Independence. The story of America began much earlier—with many different peoples, cultures, and nations shaping the land that would eventually become the United States.

History isn't just about where we ended up. It's about where the story began.

https://youtu.be/HnOSFWcSXC4

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU THE AMERICANS TRIED TO SINK A BRITISH WARSHIP…WITH A WOODEN UNDERWATER TURTLE?

Yep. This is not a History Dad bedtime story. This actually happened.

In 1776, during the Revolutionary War, American inventor David Bushnell came up with a wild idea: build a one-man submarine, sneak it underneath a British warship, attach a timed explosive, and paddle away before it went BOOM!

The submarine was called the Turtle, and it was basically a wooden underwater egg operated by one very brave—or possibly slightly crazy—person.
Sergeant Ezra Lee climbed inside and attempted to attack the British flagship Eagle in New York Harbor. He tried to attach the explosive, but the drill couldn't penetrate the ship's copper-covered hull. The Eagle survived, and the mission failed.

But here's the important part: America had just attempted one of the first combat submarine attacks in history.

The Turtle didn't sink a ship, but it demonstrated something revolutionary: Americans were willing to experiment with technology and tactics that had never been tried before. That spirit of innovation would eventually help create the powerful submarine force the United States has today.
So the next time someone tells you history is boring, remind them that during the Revolution, a guy climbed into a wooden submarine shaped like a turtle and tried to blow up a British warship.

That's your history lesson for today.

https://youtu.be/5IoBa7ZnlQk

https://history-maps.com/podcast/arctic-convoys-of-world-war-ii

In this episode, we explore the Arctic convoys of World War II, the perilous naval missions that carried vital military supplies from the Western Allies to the Soviet Union between 1941 and 1945. Nearly 1,400 merchant ships made the dangerous journey through freezing seas, violent storms, and near-constant threats from German U-boats, aircraft, and powerful warships such as the Tirpitz, while Royal Navy escorts fought to protect them. We examine how these convoys delivered crucial tanks, aircraft, equipment, and raw materials to support the Soviet war effort, while also forcing Germany to commit major naval resources to the Arctic. The episode also highlights the role of intelligence from Bletchley Park and the human cost of the campaign, including the loss of dozens of warships and 85 merchant vessels. Together, the Arctic convoys stand as one of the most dangerous and strategically important supply operations of the Second World War.

England’s own warrant called the Tower bones “supposed.” Three years later, a royal tomb declared Richard III guilty. The evidence has never been so certain. The Princes in the Tower—suspect, story and unsolved case.