DocJock
Joined: 2/03/05 Posts: 15,584
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Posted Fri, Jul 06 2:14 pm
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In response to What a great story (blue and gold 4-ever)
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...Burma Road operational to supply China until they were aided by the U.S. military when we entered the war in 1941.
Vinegar Joe Stillwell led the American forces, and he wasn't called Vinegar for nothing.
While he was an energetic, fearless and inspirational commander who picked up the Chinese language in a matter of months, he embarrassed the Pentagon by speaking his mind, even if the subject of his ire was an ally,
referring to the Chinese President as irredeemably corrupt.
President Truman joined the war of words when the communists took over China despite a mountain of U.S. aid, by proclaiming that Chang couldn't fight his way out of a Chinese whore house.
As you wrote, b & g, it was a bloody campaign fought over inhospitable mountain terrain where danger lurked around every corner.
There was a UCLA football connection during the Red Sanders Era.
The Redman had a drill where players not only held heavy blocking bags but actually attacked would-be-blockers by striking first. It was called, running the Burma Road. Football veterans of that period can tell you about it.
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