Paul Allen passed away this week, and I'll admit I knew very little about him. As I read about his passing and his life I learned that he was an ocean explorer and a WWII historical enthusiast.
Several months ago he and his crew found the U.S.S. Lexington aircraft carrier about two miles down on the bottom of the Coral Sea.
I already knew quite a bit about the Battle of the Coral Sea between the U.S. Navy and the Japanese fleet. Many ships on both sides were lost along with a great many lives.
When I was vacationing in Australia a couple of years ago, we made a point to go to the north of Australia (they call it the tropics) to see the Great Barrier Reef.
We stayed in the lovely small town of Port Douglas and ventured forth from there. The ocean (Coral Sea) is within easy walking distance and we went there several times.
As I stood on the beach and looked out across the Coral Sea I reflected on that battle of WWII, knowing that it happed right out there albeit 500 miles (800kms) away and well over the horizon in 1942.
My daughter and her husband were born in the 60's so when I told them about it they more or less shrugged.
For me it was a historical moment just to be there.
This is looking out across the Coral Sea from Four Mile Beach as the "kids" took a selfie.
This is the fantastic Great Barrier Reef from a helicopter ride we had booked.
Several months ago he and his crew found the U.S.S. Lexington aircraft carrier about two miles down on the bottom of the Coral Sea.
I already knew quite a bit about the Battle of the Coral Sea between the U.S. Navy and the Japanese fleet. Many ships on both sides were lost along with a great many lives.
When I was vacationing in Australia a couple of years ago, we made a point to go to the north of Australia (they call it the tropics) to see the Great Barrier Reef.
We stayed in the lovely small town of Port Douglas and ventured forth from there. The ocean (Coral Sea) is within easy walking distance and we went there several times.
As I stood on the beach and looked out across the Coral Sea I reflected on that battle of WWII, knowing that it happed right out there albeit 500 miles (800kms) away and well over the horizon in 1942.
My daughter and her husband were born in the 60's so when I told them about it they more or less shrugged.
For me it was a historical moment just to be there.
This is looking out across the Coral Sea from Four Mile Beach as the "kids" took a selfie.
This is the fantastic Great Barrier Reef from a helicopter ride we had booked.
