Bob Collins
Chris Ring, swimming the length of the Mississippi River to call attention to Gold Star families, is reaching his first major city on the swim. He’ll put into Minneapolis today. Read more →
MPR News Reflections and observations on the news
War
(Update to this post here. ) “Ready! Fire! Aim!” is the way things work on social media and this week it took its toll on SuperAmerica when Facebook and Twitter repeated a second-hand allegation without even considering asking the question, “is this true?” It started with a post (since deleted) on Twitter and Facebook from Read more →
This video, from 2013, might be the most shocking video of an aviation disaster ever recorded.
A Boeing 747 crashed while taking off from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. Read more →
It’s taking Chris Ring, the Navy veteran who is swimming the length of the Mississippi River in a show of support for the families of soldiers killed in combat, a bit longer than expected because he’s running into so many families. He’s fine with that. Read more →
With all the glorification of war that takes place during the nation’s sporting events, maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea if a sports team around here pays homage to guy wearing a banana outfit while riding a Segway.
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Nicolas Winton has died, and if you don’t recognize the name, you might recognize this unbelievable moment from a video that raced around the Internet a few years ago. Read more →
Last week, the newest addition to the green space on the Minnesota Capitol grounds was completed when work on the Minnesota Military Family Tribute was finished. Read more →
Long-time readers of NewsCut know we have a particular fondness for those who challenge themselves on long-distance endeavors. We have a new addition. Read more →
White House photographer Pete Souza, who is a great storyteller visually and with words, has today’s must read blog post. Read more →
Last year, the remnants of a World War II airplane were found in a boneyard in Wisconsin.
The Douglas C-47, originally built in Wisconsin, was on its way to being turned into a more modern turboprop airplane. The Oshkosh company that owned it didn’t know its lineage.
If that had happened, a significant piece of U.S. history would have been lost. Read more →
When you’re 99 years old, a veteran Marine, and you paid your dues to this country, shouldn’t you be allowed to go ‘home’ in your final days?
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Accompanying the usual Memorial Day observances these days is an increasing criticism that Americans are not paying enough attention to the sacrifices of the military. Writing in today’s New York Times, op-ed columnist Charles Blow gives voice to the tension that arises on days like Memorial Day — is it really possible to properly observe Read more →
If you’ve ever attended a Twins game and sat upstairs behind home plate at the Metrodome, the chances are pretty good that you know Wally Englund, 85, of Richfield. For 14 years he was an usher at the Dome and other sports facilities in the Twin Cities.
But only his wife, a few family members and some season ticket holders who’ve become his close friends over the years know the secret that, until recently, he couldn’t talk about: He is still suffering from his time in the South Pacific during World War II. Read more →
Many veterans of World War II aren’t veterans at all. They were volunteers. And they’d like to be remembered too. Read more →
The Defense Department pays NFL teams to honor service members on game day. The Vikings have pulled in more than $600,000. How patriotic is that? Read more →