Henry "Hank" Esslinger, 1957-2015

  I met Hank (also known as Critter, Security Minister Sholo Crittumbo, and several variations of same) online in the popular gaming forum The Miniatures Page. He was a valued member of that online community, not least because he always stayed out of the sometimes nasty mudslinging that takes place there. He was friendly, kind, humorous and caring. I learned that he was staying nearby a few years ago and invited him over to the house, and we had a great evening. He met my wife and sons, and charmed her. He always kept up with my boys afterwards, and their accomplishments.

  I only saw Hank in person two other times. Once was at a gaming convention held aboard the Battleship Texas. We spent most of that day hanging out and playing games. The other was at the Texas Renaissance Faire, where he worked every fall. Other than that, our contact was through TMP, Facebook, and occasional phone calls and texts.

   Hank died suddenly over night on January 14th/15th. As I write this, I haven't learned the cause of death. He was a great guy, and a good friend. The world was a better, brighter, happier place with his big heart and ready wit in it. He will be missed by many.

Lest We Forget...

I May Blush.

   I am extremely proud to announce that Victoria's Boys in Red has been nominated twice for the "Stylish Blogger" Nominations. I am sure there are blogs out there that will collect more (in fact, I believe one of my nominators has garnered three nominations so far!), but for me this is most gratifying. I've always treated my blog as a fun little add-on to my gaming, and a way to share ideas with my fellow VSF nuts out there, but really, I am honored to be chosen for an award. Especially since I have felt that my blog entries of late have lacked a lot of panache.

  The Stylish Blogger Award is given from one blogger to another. A sort of "attaboy" from your fellow enthusiasts, I suppose. It's definitely a viral, zombie-like spread of goodwill so it's too good to pass up. I was awarded mine last week, and have been thinking a little on who to nominate myself. There are four rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person giving you the award
2. Share seven things about yourself
3. Select 10-15 blogs who you think deserve this award
4. Contact these bloggers and let them know about the award

1.   In response to my nominators:

   The two bloggers that nominated me for the award are Eli from I See Lead People and Ruardih from The Ooh Shiny Complex.  I See Lead People has over 200 followers now, and is a great place to cadge a few ideas. I even have posting privileges there! The Ooh Shiny Complex is also full of a variety of topics, as, like me, the owner seems totally incapable of focus in his efforts. But his wanderings are brilliant, so I suppose we can forgive him that small foible (as if we weren't all like that).

2. Seven Things About Me:

1. I teach US History in an economically disadvantaged middle school.
2. I am a recent (2 years now) convert to the Catholic Church.
3. I love Doctor Who (Baker and Tennant), zombies and Star Wars. Han. Shot. First.
4. I have a semi-rare skin condition and therefore do not go out in the sun without SPF 1 Million - it burns us, my precious!
5. I have been gaming in one form or another for over 25 years.
6. I am teaching my sons to drive (15-year-old) and paint (12-year-old).
7. I think a neat desk is a sign of too little to do.

3. 10-15 blogs to choose:

  Wow, this one is hard. I follow a lot of really good blogs, and I would have nominated I See lead People first of them all, and Ooh Shiny Complex as well! But a few of my other choices would have to be (in, mind you, no particular order):

Armored Ink - Run by Sir Alfrik, a man I think is a virtual genius in the terrain and conversion field. Especially for VSF. He has a great ability to see new troops from old minis. Definitely check it out.

Yours In a White Wine Sauce - Possibly the central blog for the VSF genre. As Eli put it, "A great news site for new products, pieces of media or just that cheeky bit of pluck, this is a great blog for steampunks everywhere." Couldn't say it better myself. And the blog title is worthy of a style award all by itself.

Khurasan Miniatures - Yes, it is primarily a commercial for their products. I don't care - I love the blog. Loads of good fluff material for the excellent minis that Khurasan produces. I have probably a hundred of their minis awaiting a turn on the paint table.

Dampf's Modelling Page - Loads of great wargaming material here, especially if you like stuff that is just a half a bubble off from history. Tony, the Dampfpanzerwagon himself (it means steamtank, by the way), has some good stuff, and he tends to back his projects with some storyline. Which is what I like!

VSF and 15mm Wargaming - Are you noticing a trend, here, folks? I follow a lot of VSF-themed blogs.

Dropship Horizon - What Yours In a White Wine Sauce is for VSF, I think Dropship Horizon does for 15mm Sci-fi. This is the starting point for any 15mm Sci-Fi, with gobs of photos and reviews of products. There are other good 15mm sci-fi blogs; for my vote, this one is the best.

The Armchair General - This one I was slightly conflicted on nominating. Not because it isn't a dashed good blog, because it is! No, I was conflicted because I am connected to this blog by way of working on When the Navy Walks. So, I opted for full disclosure and a nomination.

Steampunk Scholar - Run by a Canadian university English professor, this blog details his work and passion for defining steampunk as a literary genre. You can get gobs of good book ideas from it. And books lead to new ideas, I find, so it spurs a lot of creativity.

One More Gaming Project - This blog is produced by Chris Palmer, one of the creators of one of my favorite gaming rulessets, GASLIGHT. Lots of neat stuff here, as well. I especially like his Aeronef landing zones.

Rule 4: I will be notifying the recipients of my nominations tonight and tomorrow.

   For the record, this is what Eli said about this blog. It darned near made me blush. Thanks buddy!

   Victoria's Boys in Red - Another blog brought to you by a buddy of mine, VBIR is a great blog that shows off one man's brilliant vision of his VSF universe. Mr. Womack presents to you bits and pieces collected from all corners of the miniatures market recruited into his own world. But it's not just about miniatures at VBIR. There are great bits of background material detailing the troops, creatures, equipment and background of Mr. Womack's universe.

Disaster in Africa!

January 22, 1879

   This morning, at the foot of the mountain of Isandlwana in the Natal Colony, five companies of the First Battalion, 24th Regiment and one company of the Second Battalion, along with four hundred Native levies were killed virtually to the last man by warriors of the Zulu king Ceteshwayo.

   This same afternoon, another company (B Co., 2nd Batt.), consisting of 139 men, officers and other ranks, was besieged at the mission station at Rorke's Drift, only six miles as the crow flies from the scene of Lord Chelmsford's crushing defeat. Between four and five thousand Zulus who had not fought at Isandlwana (and were therefore still fresh) surrounded and assaulted the hastily prepared defenses of the mission.

   The siege lasted all afternoon, overnight, and into the morning. In the end, the British suffered 31 casualties, seventeen of them dead. Over three hundred Zulus were killed. In recognition of the valour shown by the defenders, 11 were awarded the Victoria Cross, the kingdom's highest military honor.

   Tonight, I'm drinking beer, wearing a pith helmet, and watching ZULU on DVD.

Lest We Forget...

In America, today is Veteran's Day. It was once known as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of the First World War, then simply known as the Great War.

In the United Kingdom, it is Remembrance Day. More solemn, I think, than Veteran's Day. More like our Memorial Day, which is a day to commemorate the fallen.

Most of my readers like to play at war with little toy soldiers. A harmless enough pastime. But let us never forget that real wars, unlike those we fight in an afternoon across the tabletop, leave real casualties: wounded, maimed, mad and dead. Their sacrifice - their willingness to sacrifice - is what we honor on this day.

So to all veterans, of any branch of service, in any conflict or in peace, and of any nation friendly to the United States (that especially includes you Brits and Commonwealth types!), you have my most profound gratitude, and the gratitude of my wife and two sons, who live in peace and safety thanks to you.

I wish that the only wars we still fought were those on tabletop, but mankind just doesn't seem to be wired that way. Maybe one day we'll get a software upgrade that will resolve the 'bug'. Until then, thanks again for watching out for the rest of us, ladies and gentlemen of the armed services.

Armed Forces Day (UK)

Okay, so technically speaking, yesterday was Armed Forces Day for the United Kingdom.

So, I suppose this is a belated honor, but:

To the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen of the United Kingdom:

In 1940, you stood alone against the Nazis.

Now, you stand with your allies against terrorism.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

LEST WE FORGET!

D-DAY

Sixty-five years ago today, many thousands of young Americans, British, Canadian, French, Polish and other soldiers began the liberation of Europe from the clutches of the Nazi Third Reich.

Many died in those first few desperate hours, clawing a toehold on the beaches of Normandy in France.

For all those who fought, thank you from a grateful world. Without your struggle and sacrifice, our world would be a much lesser place.

San Jacinto Day!

Battle of San Jacinto

April 21, 1836.

A small army of half-trained Texican militia, led by General Sam Houston, and out for revenge after the fall of the Alamo, falls upon the encamped Mexican Army of the dictator Juan Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. In minutes, the Mexican Army is routed by the surprise attack. Santa Anna himself is captured and forced to sign surrender documents which grant Texas its independence.

Aggie Muster

21 April is also Aggie Muster, a day in which every former student of Texas A&M University who has passed on during the previous year is remembered. Aggies will gather tonight all around the world to call the muster, and answer "here." Once an Aggie, always an Aggie. I thank God for letting me be a Texas Aggie.

The most famous of these ceremonies took place on the island of Corregidor in 1942 during World War II. 25 Aggies gathered there while the island was still under attack by the Japanese. Only 12 would survive the war.

Remember the Alamo!

Anniversary of Malevolent Mexican Massacre at Mission!

Today is the anniversary of the beginning of the fateful siege of the old Spanish mission in San Antonio. The Alamo had been occupied by Texican freedom fighters after the city was captured. Occupied by less than 200 men, it was besieged by a force of Mexicans ten times greater. And yet, they refused to surrender or flee.

Some may call Travis a fool, who threw away his own life and the lives of his followers for a chance at fleeting glory. Others say he was a patriot, willing to sacrifice his very life for freedom.

For 11 days the outnumbered Texicans would hold out. Finally, low on ammunition, they were unable to repulse the final assault on the walls of the mission. The Mexicans killed every man of fighting age in the mission, even to the sick and wounded.

Even though he had ordered the mission abandoned and destroyed, General Sam Houston took advantage of the delay of the Mexican advance by the defenders of the Alamo. He used the time to put distance between his fledgling army and the forces of the dictator, Santa Anna. The time thus gained was used to maneuver Santa Anna, self-styled "Napoleon of the West", into making camp on the banks of the San Jacinto River.

[Editor's Notes: Yes, its a bit jingoistic. So were the times back then. Most of it is true. But, if all you know about the Alamo is the story told in the movies... well, you're missing out on some good stuff. Oh, by the way, I really liked the alliterative title on this one. How about you?]

[OOC] Lest we forget...

Gentlemen, a glass.

In remembrance of an attack on our nation exactly 67 years ago today.

To the men and women who gave their lives defending our nation from the totalitarians of the mid-20th century, my deepest and sincerest gratitude.

To those who survived the war (such as both of my grandfathers, since deceased), my humble thanks.

May God grant your rest bring you peace, in the knowledge that you secured freedom for two generations around the world.

Amen.

[OOC] Salute

Gentlemen and ladies,

Today of all days I would like to express my profound gratitude to our veterans, of all our conflicts and our peactime forces.

Without your sacrifice, and that of our remembered fallen, this nation - this world - would be a much different, and I think, lesser place.

I would especially like to mention my family and friends who I know have served:

Jimmy Womack, Vietnam
George Womack, WWII
Sherman Loyd, WWII
their brothers (all seven of them) WWII
my grandmothers' brothers (again, six served), WWII and Korea
Jim Stewart, USN
Susan Stewart, USN
Kristian Pfeiffer, USMC
Patrick Fitzgerald, USMC
James Blanton, US Army

There are others I know I am forgetting to mention, as well as many more ancestors, stretching back to the American Revolution (Jesse Womack, Burke Co., Georgia militia). Please don't take it as a slight.

Ladies and gents, the (virtual) beer's on me.

Sincerely and respectfully,

James L. Womack