Tag Archives: World War I

December 6, 2017

The Halifax Explosion of 1917

Posted by rkcunningham
in labor history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The Halifax Explosion of 1917

Today is the 100th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion, one of the worst maritime disasters in Canadian history. Two thousand people died and 9,000 were hurt when the SS Mont-Blanc, full of a cargo of explosives, collided with the SS Imo, a Norwegian … Continue reading →

August 15, 2015

Chemical conflict

Posted by rkcunningham
in american history, military history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Chemical conflict

The morning dispatches bring the unwelcome news that chemical weapons may have been deployed this week in the Mideast, a reminder that the weapons, though long held considered beyond the pale, remain a threat. And, truth to tell, it was not long … Continue reading →

January 20, 2015

Q&A with Behind the Gas Mask author Thomas Faith

Posted by sfast
in american history, author commentary, interviews, military history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Q&A with Behind the Gas Mask author Thomas Faith

Thomas I. Faith is a historian at the U.S. Department of State. He answered some questions about his book Behind the Gas Mask: The U.S. Chemical Warfare Service in War and Peace. Q: When was poison gas first utilized as method … Continue reading →

November 11, 2014

“The word ‘discomfort’ is a weak description”

Posted by rkcunningham
in american history, military history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on “The word ‘discomfort’ is a weak description”

American troops first faced poison gas on February 2, 1918. German artillery units used the cover of a heavy afternoon fog to lob shells filled with phosgene and diphosgene on men serving in the 1st Division of the American Expeditionary … Continue reading →