Sunday, August 9, 2015

282 Quiz Answer



                                    The Battle of Thermopylae
The battle took place in 480 BC, in which an outnumbered Greek force including the famous 300 Spartans, among others, held off an overwhelmingly larger force of Persians.
(Also for Three Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "E" is for "embarrassment")

The following scenelet might suggest to you a well-known military operation…
 “You served as platoon sergeant at the time of the battle?”
“That’s right, general.”
“I haven’t been able to get much satisfaction from the officers so I thought I’d try a non-com.”
“I’ll do my best, sir.”
“You understand what this looks like – not just to our country but to the entire world?”
“Well, I believe that once they’re aware of the actual situation they can more easily understand our difficulties.  The terrain…”
“Is that it?  The terrain?  Every officer I spoke to wailed on irritatingly about the terrain; I thought a sergeant might give me some better information.”
“But sir, the terrain was the problem.  None of us had ever seen anything like it before.”
“Don’t you understand?  There’s always a problem with the terrain in any operation.  That doesn’t mean you can decide to pack up and go home.  What do I care about the terrain anyway, sergeant?  You were serving in a unit of several hundred thousand troops and the enemy, according to the latest information, consisted of a few hundred.  It’s ridiculous that they had you stopped.”
“You mention information, general.  We evaluated the enigmatic info we were given and that is all we had to go on.  Turned out that info was incorrect.”
“As often happens during wartime.  Again, we can’t get away from the ludicrous fact: a quarter million of you and a couple of hundred of them.  It wasn't a battle, it was an embarrassment."
“I know you don’t like hearing about it, general, but could I explain just why the terrain was so important in this operation?”
“Oh, all right.”
“They call it a pass.  It was actually more of a path.  And it was so narrow; in some places a couple of yards across.  We had cliffs on one side and the ocean on the other.  We sort of jammed our troops into this narrow path and when they emerged at the other side, the gruesome fact was the enemy could pick them off.”
(Sighs) “Well, I guess there’s no help for it.  It’s my job now to go and try to explain this to the emperor.”

(The answer will be posted Saturday.)
 

27 comments:

Altonian said...

Could this be a de-briefing held after the Battle of Thermopylae, where 300 Spartans, plus a few others, defeated the vast Persian army that was trying to conquer Greece?

Berowne said...

Altonian starts us off with the first right answer.

naturgesetz said...

Sound like Thermopylæ.

Berowne said...

Another correct answer, this time from naturgesetz.

Roger Owen Green said...

I had several thoughts. Gallipoli?

Gail said...

I am at a loss. It could fit the Battle of Thermoplyae or the Battle of Sharpsburg during the Civil War.

You know far more than I. I enjoy visiting. I learn so much from your posts. Thank you.

Berowne said...

Gail has just coughed up the right answer.

Kathe W. said...

Gettysburg?

Deepa said...

I never find answers to any of the quizzes, though i try everytime

kaykuala said...

Operation Pugilist perhaps

Hank

Unknown said...

Embarrasment is not such a bad thing if one can see the opportunity of learning from it

Melody (abcw)

Truedessa said...

hmmm..operation Terrain or hemmed in..

Truedessa said...

Berowne,

I am hoping you will share another story soon. I so enjoy them.

Berowne said...

And I have to admit I enjoy comments like yours; thanks.

Gemma Wiseman said...

Simply no idea about the answer... Operation Pumpernickel maybe?

Roger Owen Green said...

I'm pretty sure it has to do with the Khyber Pass, then. But what battle? Probably one Kipling referred to in the story that became The Man Who Would Be King.

Berowne said...

A good guess. Not the right guess but a good guess.

Trubes said...

The Battle of Navarre ?

Best wishes,
Di,
ABCW team.

Obsessivemom said...

No clue this time round but I do like your story-telling.

BeatAboutThe Book

brudberg said...

Could it be the battle in the Teutoburg Forest.. ?

Sharp Little Pencil said...

I would have to cheat and research this on Google. Mrs. Barlow didn't raise any cheaters, so I will have to pass! Glad to be back with you and your wonderful quizzes, Berowne! Amy

Berowne said...

Welcome back, Amy! I try to wrte 'em so they can't be googled. Good to have you wih us again.

Photo Cache said...

Making my weekly visit.

My ABC WEDNESDAY

Old Egg said...

All I can think of this week is the parting of the Red (Reed) Sea and the drowning of the Egyptian Army.

Berowne said...

No question, this was a tough one this week...

Sheilagh Lee said...

no idea

Su-sieee! Mac said...

All I think of is Pres. Bush and the supposed WMDs in Iraq.

 
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