Yesterday, I had an opportunity to visit Ops-Core’s new factory in Boston for a personal tour by founder David Rogers. I saw a whole slew of cool things but first, I thought you’d enjoy a glimpse at some of the items in their library.
The shelves in the lobby contain a variety of head protection items from a variety of sources, but the developmental Artisent and Ops- Core artifacts in particular, are awesome. In addition to a couple of OFW/FFW models there are also technology demonstrators with early versions of features that are now standard in Ops-Core helmets.
We all have much to owe Stephanie L Kwolek, who invented the basic Kevlar compound while working for DuPont in 1964. Amazingly, she was attempting to develop a material to replace steel radial belts in tires when a polymer she was working didn’t quite come out right. On a hunch, she had it spun into fiber that turned out to be five times as strong as steel as well fire resistant. Further development resulted in the Kevlar family of aramids we know today, although it took a decade for the material to be introduced into soft body armor. Eventually, Ms Kwolek was honored with a National Medal of Technology in 1996 for her work that has resulted in countless lives saved.
DuPont continues to develop the material discovered by Ms Kwolek. Just last week, they announced that the millionth vest made from Kevlar XP had been manufactured and they recently launched DuPont Kevlar AS450X, specifically engineered for greater comfort to the body armour wearer while protecting against multiple threats including bullets, knives, spikes, bullets and blunt objects as well as DuPont Kevlar XP S104, a water repellent fabric that offers enhanced bullet stopping power and reduced back face deformation, even in hot and humid climates and wet conditions.
Born on July 31, 1923, in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, Stephanie L Kwolek passed away in Wilmington, Delaware, on 18 June, 2014 at the age of 90.
I am proud to have served in your ranks. I served in the 88th ARCOM, DLI, 3rd ID and 3rd SFG(A) in logistics, communications and intelligence positions.
Please, feel free to share something about your or a family member’s Army service in the comments.
Originally developed in late 2001 for an Urgent Operational Requirement from Army SOf deployed to Afghanistan for an 7.62 x 39 AR-style carbine that accepts AK magazines, the Knights Armament Corp SR-47 was recently dusted off due to renewed military interest in the design.
Today marks a different anniversary. In the early morning hours of 25 April, 1980 President Carter announced to a stunned world that the United States had undertaken an ambitious raid into Iran to liberate 52 American hostages held illegally at our Embassy in Tehran. Unfortunately, that raid, named Operation Eagle Claw was unsuccessful and we lost 8 American servicemen. Join me in remembering their sacrifice.
But, this failure was the watershed event that created, over the next several decades the world’s preeminent Special Operations capability; USSOCOM and it’s components. We wouldn’t be where are today with the determination of that fledgling task force. Join me in remembering those that paved the way.
You’ve probably heard about Paul Revere’s ride and the ‘shot heard round the world’. April 19th, Patriot’s Day, marks what we consider the beginning of the American Revolution, well over a year before the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Interestingly, I grew up in the 70s and 80s watching ABC’s Schoolhouse Rock series on Saturday mornings and regularly seeing this little gem. Sure, it’s a little off on the facts, but can you imagine one of the major networks playing something so patriotic today? It’s not even 40 years on. Such a shame that, as a people, we don’t look at our country the same way anymore.
Each Patriot’s Day, I remember those men at Concord and consider what it must have been for them to stand there in the face of the world’s greatest army and take up arms in the defense of their colony from oppression.
Consider this:
This militia came together on that morning to protect their arms from seizure by an oppressive government. That is a fact. It’s not meant to be inflammatory or support an agenda, but it will upset some nevertheless.
“Stand your ground. Don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.”
-John Parker
Captain of Militia
As the initial volleys of fire were exchanged near daybreak on Lexington Green, colonial volunteers fell back in the face of over 500 occupying British troops. But as the battle moved on to Concord the tide turned, and the redcoats were routed as more and more colonists joined the fray.
As the British troops withdrew through Concord they were reinforced. Now boasting a strength of 1700 men, they remained no match for the determined colonists who forced them to retreat to the safety of Charlestown in Boston. The militiamen continued their pursuit which transformed into the Siege of Boston.
Today, join me in remembering those American warriors who pledged their lives to give us our hard fought freedoms and this great land.
