Category: American Countryside
January 20, 1981
January 20th, 1981 was inauguration day in the U.S. It was also the day a 444 day hostage crisis ended in Iran…
Trigger on the War
For those of use old enough to remember the events of 1979 and 1980, we may recall the plight of 52 U.S. hostages held in…
The Attack on the Embassy
Rocky Sickmann was in a position to change the course of U.S. history. If he had pulled the trigger on his weapon, perhaps the last…
Guarding the Embassy in Tehran
In 1979 Rocky Sickmann received his first assignment at a Marine Security Guard. He knew it could be a challenge, but perhaps he didn’t fully…
Joining the Marines
Rocky Sickmann grew up in a rural area not far from St. Louis. He had never ventured too far from home, but then he saw…
The Very Large Array
In the early 1980s this flat, desolate rangeland saw a major change. Now it is not only home to herds of cattle, but it is…
Seeing Light Years Away
Being able to see far ahead helps one plan for the future. Here on the barren plains of New Mexico they can see for 12…
The Final Duel
Dueling was a way to solve serious disputes early in our nation’s history. However it’s this duel in 1859 that’s said to have ended the…
The Ship that Became a Building
Many 19th century immigrants came to the U.S. on ships. When these enterprising men arrived, they found a unique use for their boat…
The Western End of the Pony Express
The eastern end of the Pony Express was in St. Joseph, Missouri. You can still go and see the stables yet today. So where was…