The Shorty Club

Welcome to the Shorty Club!

In this cozy corner of contemplation, where the air is thick with the aroma of?bourbon?and the gentle wisps of a?cigar, we gather to muse upon life’s curiosities. Here, there are no rigid rules, no prescribed paths—just the ebb and flow of conversation, like the amber liquid swirling in our glasses.

Bourbon Whiskey: Our faithful companion, aged to perfection, whispers tales of oak barrels and distant Kentucky hills. Each sip carries the weight of history, the warmth of camaraderie, and the promise of shared secrets.

Cigar in the Ashtray: Resting gracefully, its ember glowing like a distant star, the cigar invites reflection. Its fragrant tendrils weave stories of contemplation, of pensive evenings spent unraveling the threads of existence.

And so, my fellow Shorty Club members, let us raise our glasses—whether they hold bourbon or simply the elixir of thought—and toast to the musings that bind us. Here’s to wit, wisdom, and the delightful randomness of it all. ??P.S. If you happen upon a particularly intriguing topic, feel free to share it with the club. We’re all ears (and taste buds).?

November 11, 2024

The hulking grey 368-foot steel ship plowed through the rough and icy waters of the North Atlantic with determination. This former cruise ship, which had once elegantly ferried passengers between Miami and Boston during the pre-war years, had been converted into a spartan troop transport, stripped of all its former amenities. Now, its decks and holds were packed with 750 troops and 130 crew members, moving through the open waters as part of a convoy known as SG-19.

It was January 29, 1943, and the convoy was about to enter a notoriously dangerous stretch of sea known as “Torpedo Junction” on its way to bases in Greenland. Submarine attacks on troop transports were a constant threat, and everyone aboard knew that German U-boats lurked in the area. So real was this concern that the ship's captain had ordered everyone to sleep in their clothes and life jackets the previous night.

As a fierce storm subsided and the waters calmed, the likelihood of a torpedo attack only increased. The stillness of the night was shattered just before 1 o’clock in the morning by a violent explosion on the starboard side as a torpedo tore into the ship’s steel hull. The deafening roar of the blast, mixed with the chilling sounds of men screaming and the acrid stench of gunpowder, filled the air. Ice-cold seawater gushed into the ship, drowning many in an instant. It is estimated that one-third of those on board perished in the initial moments of the attack.

The survivors were thrown into disarray, wandering through smoke-filled passageways, desperate for safety. As the ship listed precariously to nearly 30 degrees, panic set in. Many never made it to the upper decks. Those who did often found themselves without life vests, having ignored the captain’s crucial orders. Lifeboats, fouled by ice or rendered useless by the ship’s increasing tilt, were difficult to deploy. With no other choice, survivors leapt into the frigid water, hoping against hope for rescue.

Amid the chaos, several survivors later recounted the extraordinary bravery of the ship’s chaplains. These four men, knowing full well that giving up their life vests meant a certain death sentence, handed them out to others. As the ship sank further beneath the waves, the chaplains locked arms and prayed in unison, their voices a beacon of hope and faith until the very end.

Within just 25 minutes, the ship was swallowed by the icy waters. During this short span, Coast Guard ships from the SG-19 convoy initiated rescue operations, ultimately saving 230 souls.

On Veterans Day, we pause to remember and honor the sacrifices of all veterans. This story epitomizes the self-sacrifice of four US Army chaplains—Reverend George Fox, Rabbi Alexander Goode, Father John Washington, and Reverend Clark Poling—who were bound by a higher calling not only in faith but in service to their country. Each was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Purple Heart, and a Special Medal for Heroism authorized by Congress in 1961.

There are countless stories like this throughout our history, highlighting the remarkable courage of those in harm’s way defending our freedom. This Veterans Day, let us remember that in times of war and peace, those who put on the uniform and swear an oath to our nation deserve our utmost respect and gratitude.