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Think You Can Be a Navy SEAL?

(This riddle is from a book written by retired Navy SEAL Clint Emerson, titled, “Deadly Skills Puzzle and Activity Book” to help people practice their observation and analytical skills)

Complete the grid. Every tree has one tent either above, below, or beside it. No tent can be in a square touching another tent (even diagonally). The numbers beside each row and column tell you how many tents are in that row or column. Can you fill in all the tents?

Answer:

You gotta be kidding Twins, Jimbo and Bob, come across a U.S. Air Force recruitment table at a local Memorial Day Parade. The recruiter looks at Jimbo and says, “What skills can you bring to the Air Force?” Jimbo looks at him and says: “I’m a pilot!” The recruiter gets all excited, turns to his aide and says: “Let’s get him the paperwork so he can start training ASAP.” The recruiter then looks at Bob and asks: “What skills to you bring to the Air Force?” Bob says: “I chop wood!” “Son,” the recruiter replies, “we don’t need wood choppers in the Air Force. What do you know how to do?” “I chop wood!” “Young man,” huffs the recruiter, “you are not listening to me. We don’t need woodchoppers – this is the 21th century!” “Well,” Bob says, “you hired my brother!” “Of course, we did,” says the general. “He’s a pilot!” Bob rolls his eyes. “So what?! I have to chop it before he can pile it!”

MEMORIAL DAY TRIVIA

1. What was the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery before it became a cemetery? a. It was Thomas Jefferson’s farm b. It was an army base c. It was Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s plantation d. It was a hunting grounds

2. Who did the U.S. fight in the War of 1812? a. Mexico b. Spain c. France d. Britain 3. On June 6, 1944, American troops invaded the beaches of Normandy during World War II. What country is Normandy in? a. France b. Japan c. Italy d. Poland

4. What was Woodrow Wilson’s campaign slogan when he ran for re-election in 1916? a. Peace, Progress, Prosperity b. Secure Our Homeland First c. Don’t Swap Horses Midstream d. He Kept Us Out of War

5. Which U.S. soldier was the highest-ranking officer captured by North Korean troops? a. Major General William F. Dean b. Lt. General Levon D. Smeth c. Lt. General Jean McArthur d. Sergeant John McCain

6. In which war did the U.S. suffer the most deaths?

a. World War II b. Vietnam War c. Civil War d. World War I

7. In World War II, who was the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces who directed the D-Day invasion and announced its start by saying, “OK, we’ll go”?

a. Dwight D. Eisenhower b. George S. Patton c. Matthew B. Ridgway d. Douglas Macarthur

8. Which of the following was the U.S.’s longest war?

a. Vietnam War b. World War II c. Revolutionary War d. War in Afghanistan

1.C- In 1964, as the Civil War raged and thousands of soldiers were dying, the Union government needed a cemetery to bury its dead. The Union occupied Arlington and the Arlington Estate of Confederate General Robert E. Lee was the most suitable property in the area. The property was high and free from floods, it had a view of the District of Columbia, and it was aesthetically pleasing. Denying Robert E. Lee use of his home after the war was also a valuable political consideration. 2.D- The War of 1812 is often considered to be the “forgotten war.” Some facts that were not forgotten: The White House and Capitol were burned to the ground during the invasion of Washington, D.C.; First Lady Dolley Madison garnered fame for saving a portrait of George Washington before flames engulfed the president’s home; and in 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star Spangled Banner” while watching the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor. 3.A 4.D 5.A- On July 20, 1950, Major General Dean became separated from his men during battle. He hid alone in the woods around the countryside during the day and traveled at night for over a month. On August 25, 1950, after a hand-to-hand struggle with fifteen North Koreans, he was captured. General Dean had no contact with the outside world until he was interviewed on December 18, 1951 by an Australian, Wilfred Burchett, who was a correspondent for Le Soir, a French left-wing newspaper. This was the first time that anyone had any idea General Dean was alive since being reported missing in action. He was released in 1953 and showered with military and civilian honors. General Dean, however, insisted he was no hero but “just a dogface soldier.” 6.C- 625,000 soldiers died in the Civil War, amounting to 1.988% of the total population of 32,000,000 American citizens. The second deadliest war was World War II, in which we lost 405,399 soldiers, amounting to .307% of the total population. 7.A- Plans were delayed for a couple days because of bad weather, until Gen. Eisenhower finally gave the order. 8.D

Wisdom Key 

6-8 correct: You are a war buff!

3-5 correct: You are wishy washy. You probably think the

Cold War has something to do with a beer commercial. 0-2 correct: You dodged the intelligence draft.