By Christmas of 1914 the war in Europe had been raging for 5 months. A 500 mile long line of trenches stretched from the North Sea, France and Belgium to the Swiss border- the trenches sometimes as close as 100 feet apart. Here we share a number of documented stories of moments of truce beginning on Christmas Eve- when men from opposing armies met in the no man's land between the trenches to exchange tobacco, buttons, and even handshakes before returning to their posts. In some places along the front, men played football (soccer) using whatever was available.

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Few history buffs are aware of the existence of enlisted entertainers (MOS 442) or TEAM SNAFU. Bob O'Connor's novel Jeep Show follows the life of Jim Tanzer as he follows front line combat infantry to the border of Germany and puts on a last-minute Christmas show for the service members and civilians trapped in Bastogne on Christmas Day 1944. Jeep Show reflects extensive research on wartime culture, soldier sland, and daily life in the army for enlisted men, as well as the Battle of the Bulge and the defense of Bastogne which occurred 80 years ago as the Germans mounted their last ghreat offensive puch against the Allies.

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In the winter of 1915-1916 Jack and his wife Charmian London sailed their Snark to Hawaii, It was a bittersweet return to paradise for both of them, Jack have come there twice before, one of those times with Charmaine. But this was his last year of life, and he wanted to spend it on the islands he loved the most. In what we call part 1, Charmian adds a preface and Jack begins a two part story of how Hawaii became an American territory- taking time to extoll the virtues of their terrific surfing and fishing sports, as well as their heavioy Japanese demographics.

Link to Best of Jack London (APPLE PODCASTS): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-best-of-jack-london/id1656939169

Links to Best of Jack London (SPOTIFY) https://open.spotify.com/show/2HzkpdKeWJgUU9rbx3NqgF

"the Mysterious Death of Edgar Allen Poe"-On September 7, 1849, Edgar Allen Poe, at the top of his career, kissed his fiance goodbye at his home in Richmond, VA, and began a business trip to Philadelphia. He then dropped out of sight for a week, he was found in Baltimore on October 3rd, inside a bar-turned-polling place, drunk and disheveled, wearing clothes that did not fit him, and unable to speak clearly. He was rushed to a hospital, where he lingered on the edge of insanity for nearly one week,before dying. Theories as to the cause of his death have abounded for decades. His doctor had ordered him not to drink, fearing that a lesion close to his brain could lead to his death. Others suggested he was forced to drink alcohol at the polling place and was a victim of "cooping", by which innocent bystanders were grabbed off the street and forced to drink, then vote multiple times. Still others suspect a variety of causes, from murder to rabies. Even more mysterious is the fact that until recently, and for 80 years, a cloaked man was seen visiting the original grave of Poe every year on the same date, where he would leave three roses and a half drunk bottle of cognac behind. Will he come back next year? Credits: Monica Gil performs Annabel Lee (YouTube) Christopher Lee performs "The Raven" WBAL-TV Baltimore News Report on "the Poe Toaster"

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In December of 1914,71 year-old decorated CivilWar Major, accomplished journalist, and famous author Ambrose Bierce wrote his Niece and his secretary to tell them he was going to Mexico to cover the Mexican insurrection led by Pancho Villa and others.He felt likely thathis fate would be probably be that of being lined up against a wall and shot- as these insurrectionists were quick-tempered killers. Not long after, Bierce disappeared completely, and years of searches have not brought any concrete evidence of what happened to him- but the legend told by those who daid they saw him or knew of him in his last days tells the story very much like the one he envisioned.

This is his story.

In 1907 Navy had been losing every year to Army in the annual Army-Navy football game.Finally they tasked Charless A Zimmerman, the new band leader, to devise a song that would put Navy over the op if it was played during the game. Zimmerman came though and Anchors Aweigh was born. Play this podcast before every Army Navy game and Navy will win. They have every year I have played this. Crank it up during the two music sections and they will win by 10 points.

Just sayin.....

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On a sping day in 1986 two people walked into the Cokeville Elementary School in Cokeville Wyoming and held 154 children and adults hostage in a 50' X 50' room for 2 1/2 hours, claiming that this was a revolution, and that they wanted a ransom payment of $2 million dollars for every child in the room. They entered the building with a gas bomb capable of blowing the side of building out easily if it were detonated. The wife of this crazed husband wife team accidentally triggered the bomb in the crowded room. Shrapnel from the blast peppered the walls but miraculously, only one of the four explosive devices ignited despite the gas flames that shot the woman across the room, and most of the blast went straight up through the ceiling. Other than the man and wife, who died, not another person was killed, although one was shot and many were burned. Some said it was an incredible piece of luck. But as the children's stories began to come out in the days and weeks that followed- their lives were saved by much more than luck. Their story follows-

Trailer for TC Christensons “the Cokeville Miracle” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLwaKDaW5ZY

Interviews with students and parents; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj9j6L694X4

Book: the CokeVille Miracle: When Angels Intervene by Hartt and Judene Wixom ;

https://www.amazon.com/Cokeville-Miracle-When-Angels-Intervene/dp/1462117619/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542396721&sr=8-1&keywords=cokeville+miracle+book

Armstrong, Jamie. LDS Living“The Astonishing True Story Behind The Cokeville Miracle Movie” published at www.ldsliving.com/the-Cokeville-miracle/s/79933 Co.Ag Music “Rage” Copyright Free

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On July 4th, 2026, in fact, all that year, America's Liberty Bell and all its brothers and sisters in every state will be ringing out loud and clear to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. There are many stories surrounding the original Liberty Bell, its crack, and its many renditions both here and abroad, as well as how it is perceived with love and respect by most Americans. It was first given the name 'The Liberty Bell" by the abolishionist movement as they fought for their freedom, and the women's Liberty Bell, which they called the Justuce Bell, was there when they cheered the passage of the 19th amendment giving them the vote. It was there behind the head of Abraham Lincoln as he lay in an open casket on his final trip home. The story of the Liberty Bell is OUR story, and a big part of what makes America special.

Check out our two new 1001 podcasts (1001True Crime From Another Time and 1001 Stories From The Gilded Age) wherever you listen topodcasts as well as at our new website www.bestof1001stories.com.

Don't forget to visit www.tomlovesthelibertybell.com to discover the location and story of the Liberty Bell in your state.,and plan now to give it a ring between now and July 4th, 2026. (Yes, Hawaii, you are there too).