Jul 11 1945
For the first time, Napalm powder is mixed with gasoline and sprayed on live human beings. This feat is achieved by U.S. Army forces against the Japanese on Luzon in the Philippines.
In grand Internet tradition, I now give you the recipe to produce this horrible substance: Take styrofoam, add benzene and gasoline; ignite; pour on [insert ethnic slur here].

Kim Phuc June 1972

"The Girl In The Photo", was accidentally burned by her own countrymen, who were fighting her future countrymen.The only American participants of any nature were the journalists who reported the event and made her famous, and the doctors who saved her life.
If left to the care of her countrymen it is unlikely that the little girl would have lived to market forgiveness to anyone. But American doctors saved her and Americans made her famous enough to forgive them for an accident in which no American participated.

When the photo was taken and first published, the truth was published with it. It was an all-Vietnamese accident, at a time when American soldiers had been withdrawn almost completely from participation in ground action. Peter Arnett, Fox Butterfield, and Christopher Wain were three who independently reported on the incident at the village of Trang Bang, when it happened in 1972. Their news reports showed it to be an accidental bombing by the Vietnamese Air Force, during an all-Vietnamese fight. The other reports of the time said the same and film footage taken that day clearly shows a Vietnamese Air Force Skyraider making a highly photogenic low level run, dropping four canisters of napalm with the journalists and South Vietnamese soldiers standing on the road near the village as spectators. The film depicts a casual group, not seeking shelter from either the aircraft or enemy fire, and almost makes it appear that the bomb run was made for the benefit of the film crews.

Somehow, talking about my holidays (which I initially intended to do) seems ludicrous.