In my writing you will most assuredly note my discontent and disappointment with the fact that most people (especially younger people) do not know their history (“their” as in personal AND on a grander scale). I suppose it would be important to first note the collective apathy associated with History these days as a qualifier to this lack of knowledge.  I feel this is a fairly recent phenomenon, as I do believe that our not-so-distant American ancestors celebrated our past and attempted to understand it in a manner which is now seen by far too many as misguided white-centric / male-centric story telling which masks a sinister tale. The word History itself somewhat reveals that plotline (His. Story.) for better or worse. On the other hand, our country is often referred to as her; all semantics for the most part as I see it. Evaluating the past by the utopian standards of the present is a potential thought boomerang that will eventually impugn the present. Interesting to think about as we consider some of our current values and habits.

This disinterest is a real shame, and it will become the genesis for an entire generation of naïve / groundless people who WILL in turn pass on this ignorance to future generations. When you lose touch with your national story, you lose touch with yourself, when you lose touch with yourself, you create no legacy for those who come later. Sooner or later, national pride is eroded and lost. This is a fatal flaw which is not easily corrected. We are engaged in that intellectual digression currently. There are far too many who see America as a bad, tainted country and they desire to make their reality a universal reality. I wholeheartedly beg to differ.  

 Our American story is a good, perhaps great story; it is not however, a perfect story. No country and no civilization have a perfect story. History is often messy, bloody, cruel, and unfair; the story of America is no different. Be that as it may, our path from inconsequential English colony to the most powerful country the world has ever known is worth knowing on a level beyond the silly hyperbole that now impacts our national identity to a noticeable degree.

I can site several examples of instances when something akin to divine conclusion played a role in moving America forward (sometime directly and sometimes quite indirectly). A slightly different outcome, had circumstances been altered only a little, could have threatened the status quo as we know it. Perhaps in small ways only, but perhaps in far more significant ways that are beyond our ability to extrapolate and imagine. Consider the following examples, give it some thought, and ponder these “divine conclusions” which are such important, yet common aspects of historical study. Sometimes the inexplicable happens, and this is difficult to comprehend and evaluate. Yet it is important that we attempt to do both.

Most everyone has heard of Lewis and Clark and their iconic expedition into parts unknown. The standard story is one of exploration and discovery into the then largely mysterious interior of North America or known then as the Louisiana Purchase Territory (1803-1806), championed by our third President Thomas Jefferson; their journey ultimately opened the door for an expansion of this country from the then populated Atlantic to the sparsely populated Pacific and all points in between. This land in the middle, especially at that time, was a complete unknown to all but a few intrepid trappers and traders (and of course the many indigenous tribes who called it home).

 Most everyone probably also knows that they were accompanied on the journey by a young Indian woman, Sacagawea*** who was the “wife” of one of the main interpreters for the Corp of Discovery (52 strong), as they were known. Sacagawea has become a larger-than-life figure in recent years, as she is seen as the guide who leads the Lewis and Clark expedition through parts unknown and dangers unanticipated, on a successful journey to the Pacific Ocean and back. That story has lost a little luster of late as it is not much of a stretch to consider The Bird Woman as an accomplice in the crime of stealing the land from the various Indian people. Revisionist history that I am in turn compelled to revise a bit myself.

Before I get on with the inexplicable part of the story, allow me to first clarify some of the details and separate some of the fact from fiction / myth. Sacagawea was the wife of French-Canadien trapper Toussiant Charbonneau. He most likely attained a spot on the coveted roster because his teenage wife was Shoshoni and fluent in their language. She also spoke a little Hidatsa as she had been a captive of the Hidatsa since approximately 1800. She and a small band of Shoshoni had been attacked somewhere in Montana (near present day Great Falls) by the Hidatsa. Most were killed (men, women, and children), while Sacagawea, a few other young women, and four boys were taken captive. Being taken captive was not a pleasant thing as one might imagine. Charbonneau won her in a wager back at the main Hidatsa village in North Dakota. Not exactly a romantic love story by any stretch of the imagination but a change of fortune for the teenager which most likely seemed a much better fate than captivity with her tribe’s enemies and the possibilities this entailed, not that she had a choice in the matter.

Lewis and Clark entered a world of continual warfare and struggle as they traversed the interior of this country. The native tribes they encountered heard a new message from these white strangers telling them that the land was theirs now (the Americans) and that they needed to stop fighting with one another and look forward to trading (mostly animal furs) with their new masters. It must have been an astonishing moment for them. These strangers had peculiar ways, impressive weapons, iron implements, and what must have seemed incredible arrogance. Not difficult to deduce however, that these were a powerful people and the native people lived in a world in which power reigned supreme.

 The most powerful tribes had the best land for hunting, the most horses, access to water, and in turn the best chance for survival in general. These benefits were often won by blood. The pecking order was maintained by constant warfare, strategic alliances, opportunistic trade, wealth in horses, and a variety of factors that favored the few. The militarily superior had the best cards on the table, while the least powerful militarily had to exist on the fringes. It was The Garden of Eden for the Corp of Discovery, yet it was also a land embroiled in complex hierarchical struggles and periodic, no quarter, violence. So much for the peaceful, children of nature that romantic writers such of Rosseau sought to celebrate. If this ideal ever existed, it certainly wasn’t in the Great Plains of North America in the early 19th century. Rousseau and the Noble Savage – Culture/Nature (ncsu.edu)

As Lewis and Clark make their way through the country they are amazed by all that they see. Sacagawea is seeing much of this land for the first time as well. She proves to be a valuable member of the expedition, and amazingly even births a baby in route (birthed by Lewis amazingly). The expedition faces a real moment of crisis when they realize there is not an all-water navigable route to the west coast and that those mountains in and around the Continental Divide are much more daunting and formidable than they had ever dared to contemplate. The Bitterroots lie ahead and there is no way they are going to cross them without horses to carry their supplies through the difficult mountain passes. Even if they can somehow procure horses, it is getting late in the summer season (1805) and soon snow will block those passes until the spring thaw of 1806. For the expedition this is not an option they can choose, time is of the essence as they are not provisioned for such a delay. Find horses now or there is no historic Lewis and Clark expedition that becomes a part of our national legacy. It would have ended its westward probe then and there most likely. What happens next is nothing short of remarkable in the annuals of U.S. History. The historian Dayton Duncan described it as such.

“Coincidence that would strain credulity in a fictional account.”

 After much difficulty in locating and communicating with the Shoshoni people of the area, tenuous contact is finally made. These people obviously speak Shoshoni, are distrustful and fearful of their neighbors near and far, and basically live a life of abundant caution (they are not one of the powerful few). The mountainous area they have chosen to live is a direct consequence of that caution. Though curious about these white people who are now among them, trust is a much larger hurdle to overcome. Truthfully, it would have been just as easy to kill them and take all of their useful stuff (such as guns, and iron tools). The Shoshoni are no strangers to sudden and opportunistic violence, it is in fact the norm for them and most of the Indian tribes they encounter along the way, as alluded to by Lewis and Clark in their journals. The members of the Lewis and Clark expedition are also men of the frontier and not unacquainted with sudden hostilities. A truly explosive combination to be sure.  

Instead, it just so happens that Sacagawea is the sister of Cameawhait, who is the leader of this band of Shoshoni. Strangely, it takes them a bit of time to cross paths after contact with the Shoshoni, as Sacagawea is merely the wife of Charbonneau and not one of the party’s decision makers.  This uncanny reunion proves to be an immediate mitigator of the tension which unsurprisingly existed between the two groups. As a result, Lewis and Clark are able to procure the horses they need (in fact must have) to continue their journey (late August 1805). Sacagawea’s Shoshoni language also proved to be a large help in facilitating translation between the two parties.

As mentioned, I feel it is fair to say that Lewis and Clark’s journey may have in fact ended in the foothills and mountains of Idaho / Montana if this teenage girl had not been a member of the Corp of Discovery. The history of the West would have looked much different, had this simple act of getting horses to pack their supplies not occurred. One could argue that it would have merely delayed what ultimately occurred. Who knows. Other European powers were eying western North America at the time and the first foothold is often the best foothold. If not for Sacagawea, the first foothold may or may not have occurred. It certainly would have come to pass differently, perhaps much differently.

World War II (1941-1945 for America) is considered the seminal event of the 20th century by most historians and for good reason. Had the Germans, Japanese, and Italian coalition triumphed in this epic worldwide struggle, it is quite difficult and a bit frightening to fathom the direction the world would have subsequently taken. Suffice it to say, the world would have looked quite different, and the concept of a free, self-governed society would have simply vanished, at least for a while. There were several major turning points in the war which ended up going in the favor of the Allies and these swings of fortune didn’t necessarily come about as the result of superior forces, strategy, leadership, or bravery, although all of those intangibles played a significant role.  What turned the tide, and won the day, in these examples, can be credited in large part to the vicissitudes of, you guessed it, the weather!

When most of us hear the term Pearl Harbor, we immediately see images in our mind’s eye of the devastating surprise attack by the Japanese on Sunday morning, December 7th, 1941. We can literally see the black and white images of smoking battleships and destroyers devastated by the Japanese pilots in two deadly waves which cost the lives of 2,403 American servicemen and the destruction / damage of much of the Pacific Fleet. These images have been shown many times over the years and most of us know that Pearl Harbor ushered America’s entrance into the war. What many perhaps don’t realize, the nascent Axis Powers war machine had been at full throttle since the latter part of the 1930’s. Germany was sweeping through Europe and Japan was doing the same in East Asia. It was a scary, dire moment in time for America, as well as much of the world that stood in the path of this devastation either directly or indirectly. The world had been further shocked when in August of 1939, Germany and Russia signed the German-Soviet nonaggression pact, promising to remain at peace with one another for the next ten years.

There had been hope that Russia would decide to join the Allies (although technically America wasn’t a participant yet) and create a second front for the Nazis and their Italian allies to defend. When France falls to Germany in late June of 1940 with only minimal resistance, things are looking pretty grim for Western Europe. America’s entry into World War II on the heels of Pearl Harbor in 1941 provides the first glimmer of hope for a beleaguered England which is virtually standing alone against the onslaught of the Nazi war machine. It was at this moment that Hitler makes a fateful decision to turn on Josef Stalin and the Soviet Union (in violation of the recent treaty) and broaden the scope of its world domination ambitions. Treacherously, they take an unprepared Soviet Union completely by surprise. Hitler believes they can sweep through Moscow and take the capitol just as they had crushed all who had previously stood in their way. In the late summer of 1941, the German Army sweeps across the Soviet Union so confident in their ability to finish the job, and finish it quickly, they even fail to include winter provisions. An astonishing blunder born of pride and arrogance; nevertheless, they nearly pull it off.

What their hubris failed to anticipate was the stubbornness of the Russian people and the unpredictability of the weather, with the latter being the most integral part of the massive change of fortune that was about to occur. Funny things sometimes happen when victory is all but assured. The German relentless war machine would learn this the hard way. If they had been able to take Moscow and ultimately defeat the Soviet Union, the complexion of the war would have looked much different virtually overnight. It would have provided a treasure trove of supplies, natural resources such as oil, and allowed the Germans the ability to fight the war on one front. Importantly, it would have freed up hundreds of thousands of soldiers to concentrate on Western Europe. I’m not sure the war would have been winnable for the Allies had the Soviet Union capitulated at that time. And they came oh so close.

Historians use 60 million as an estimate for total war deaths (civilian and military) during the course of World War II. A shocking, truly unfathomable number which most people unfortunately fail to realize (and this doesn’t include the many injured of course). Consider the fact the Soviet Union lost an estimated 24 million (more than half were civilians)!!! By way of comparison, the United States lost 418,500 and yet it was a time in which many Americans of the period knew someone killed in the war. It was a time of great grief and mourning across the globe, yet no single country comes close to the loss of life experienced by the Soviet Union. The Germans threw everything they had at Stalin and the Red Army as they knew the war was lost if their big gamble proved unsuccessful. In case you are interested, Germany lost approximately 8 million citizens. Research Starters: Worldwide Deaths in World War II | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans (nationalww2museum.org)

Back to the fall and winter of 1941… Just as victory seemed all but assured, the Forces of Nature had other plans in mind. First came the rains and the mud. German tanks become paralyzed in lakes of muck and were unable to advance; the mud was six feet deep in some spots. And yet the Germans pressed on knowing the winter was coming and that they were not provisioned to face it (think Lewis and Clark and the Bitterroots). What they didn’t expect nor anticipate was a winter for the ages which would inflict pain and suffering befitting the brutality and treachery of their actions and intentions. Temperatures fell to -40 below in some places. Tanks and equipment were frozen in place, and many became inoperable in those places where they could move. Soldiers froze and died in the elements, and countless weather induced delays afforded the Soviet soldiers with enough time to call up reinforcements and entrench, a perfect storm of futility from the perspective of the German Army. And this weather induced failure, at precisely the right time, just might have saved the free world.

 The Germans would regroup and attempt to defeat the Soviets in subsequent years (with more utterly horrific loss of life on both sides), yet they never came as close as they did outside of Moscow in late 1941. Interestingly, at the end of the war, there are pictures of smiling German soldiers surrendering to American soldiers knowing that capture by Soviet forces was essentially a death sentence or worse. **** 1945 was a long way off in the winter of 1941, there was much fighting to do and many lives to be lost before proverbial light at the end of the tunnel began to appear.

The successful D Day invasion*** in early June of 1944 certainly wasn’t the end in any formal sense. It can be argued however that it was clearly, the accelerated beginning of the end for Germany. Without the aid of our good friend Mother Nature (once again), this risky move to liberate France could have easily ended in disaster and delayed the end of the war by several years. The Germans knew they were coming, what they didn’t know was when and where. What they also didn’t know, the British and Americans had far better meteorologists than they did. Moreover, they didn’t appreciate the ability of mere weather to surprise and for lack of a better word, “help” the Allies accomplish a modicum of surprise in what was one of the most obvious offensives of the war. This has a familiar ring when you remember the winter of 1941 on the road to Moscow. The Nazis knew they were coming and under normal circumstances would have been quite ready for them, aided by the reliability of the “high ground” (a soldier’s best friend) and a natural defensive topography that bordered on impregnable. Anyone who has seen The Longest Day and Saving Private Ryan has more than a little understanding of this reality.

Both sides used meteorologists to help them understand when to attack (Allies) and when to expect to be attacked (Germans). The English Channel was notorious for capricious, severe weather which included high surf and gale force winds; in this particular case, the whims of weather could mean life and death as well as success and failure in a complex matrix of military expediency. It just so happens that the Allies came when the Germans least expected them. This is noteworthy and the story behind this fortuitous turn of events is fascinating and thought provoking.

 The initial day for the attack (which had been in the planning for several years) was June 5, 1944. British meteorologists agreed that a storm that would include the aforementioned harsh conditions was likely to be in play on the appointed date. Interestingly a full moon was also crucial, so the three-day window of the 4th through the 6th was not something that could be altered from the perspective of the Allies’ brain trust. Commanding General and future President Dwight D. Eisenhower, based on counsel from British weather experts, makes the decision to postpone the invasion for 24 hours. A risky, risky, move as the weather was expected by many, including the Germans of course, to offer no possibility of attack until at least the middle of the month. So confident were they in this assessment that Nazi commanders called away many potential combatants. Even Field Marshal Erwin Rommel left the defenses so that he could be with his wife on her birthday and personally present a pair of Parisian shoes as a special gift.

British officer Captain James Stagg*** is not a name that many would know (but it should be), yet his ability to foresee the conditions with amazing clarity led to the initial postponement and the subsequent green light that anticipated a brief but vital lull in the weather and created a situation whereby the Germans were taken by surprise, undermanned, and lacking in key leadership which led directly to the Allies’ triumph of the beaches of France on June 6th, 1944. Stagg in fact had to overrule the opinion of the top American meteorologists when it mattered most.  The loss of life was still frightful, especially on Omaha Beach and the weather was certainly not perfect, yet it was good enough to allow for the invasion against a foe that had enough advantages. This quirk of fate more than likely provided the difference which allowed for victory on THAT PARTICULAR DAY. I say “that particular day” because ANOTHER DAY, (later in the month or one day earlier) may have not been good enough for the herculean task that this brave coalition of soldiers were called upon to do. Baseball might be a game of inches, war on the other hand is a contest of timing and will in which fate seems to reward the brave, well prepared, and sticklers for detail. Staggs was most certainly a man of detail and precision.

Weeks later, Stagg wrote a memo to General Eisenhower mentioning that a delay pushing the invasion of Normandy until later in the month would have subjected the invading force to the worst weather in The Channel in two decades. Eisenhower, simply wrote on the report, “I thank the Gods of war that we went when we did.” The Free World is forever grateful for the turn of events.

We simply need to know these stories and be able to make the connections as to how seemingly random and inconsequential events turn into consequential pieces of a puzzle which ultimately reveal the whole. What if Sacagawea wasn’t along on the Lewis and Clark journey? What if the weather hadn’t taken a harsh turn for the worst when Germany was about to lay a stranglehold on much of Europe? What if the weather hadn’t allowed for a successful beachhead on the shores of Normandy when the end of the war was within grasp?

Possibly nothing would be different as we await the turn of the calendar and the beginning of a new year. Something tells me that if these events hadn’t unfolded the way that they did, Covid and Political Correctness might in fact be the least of our worries. Hindsight is always 20/20, yet sometimes I get the feeling that all is progressing exactly as it was intended to progress.  

Divine Conclusions- (my definition)- “something of God that progresses imperfectly, though finishes superbly in the end.”  

You probably have your own. For me, this is how I reconcile much of what I learn in History.

Dedicated to the memory of Robert “Bob” Essick and Tom Oki. (See “A Love Story” for details on the lives of these two great men)

Thomas M. Cook

12/31/2021