Some of the most popular WW2 sniper rifles

World War II may be one of the darkest moments in history, but there are those who look back fondly at it in appreciation of its valuable lessons as well as the various memorabilia from the era. Today, we feature some popular sniper rifles used in WW2. John F Eilermann Jr.

1) American Springfield 1903A4 with M73 scope

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Introduced in 1943, the Springfield Model M1904A4 sniper rifle was actually a version modified off the basic M1903A3 Springfield infantry. With its longer barrel, it was the perfect weapon to use for long range, unlike its predecessor which was used more for medium range assaults. This gun was used extensively in the battle of Normandy. John F Eilermann Jr.

2) Soviet Mosin-Nagant Model 1891/30 with PU scope

The Red Army, as the Soviets were known, were well-known to have initiated the sniper battle during the war. The Soviet Mosin-Nagant Model 1891/30 was the rifle that was produced in the greatest number, compared to its counterparts. One legend refers to it as the exact rifle model that a popular German sniper chose to use for the whole duration of the war after he picked it up on the battlefield by accident. John F Eilermann Jr.

Image source: military.wikia.org

3) British Lee Enfield No. 4 MKI (T) with No.32 scope

Standard No. 4 rifles gained a lot of popularity because of their accuracy during factory tests. For better handling, these were modified and outfitted with a wooden cheek piece. Only then was this referred to as the British Lee Enfield No. 4 MKI. Its sight mounts were designed to fit with a No. 32 3.5x telescopic sight, making it one of the most magnified views among rifles of the day. This gun was known as one of the most comfortable guns to use during the war. John F Eilermann Jr.

Literature 101 – The elements that make a story

As with painting and song, there is an art to masterful literature. Often, the struggle of a writer lies in how to start off the story the proper way. In this blog, you will have an insight into some key elements that make a story, aimed for a better understanding which hopefully leads to a methodical approach in writing. John Eilermann St. Louis .

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1. Protagonist
The protagonist is the lead character of the story. Typically, the protagonist has inward and outward goals that the audience is aware of. This is the character whose side the audience will take, by way of empathy and understanding. Also, it is important that this character has flaws to make him relatable. A great story is usually one with an interesting protagonist. John Eilermann St. Louis

2. Conflict
It is important for the lead character to undergo some form of transformation in order for him to become more appealing. Nothing does this better than a conflict that the character tries to address with a resolution, which makes the story a success. Conflict can come internally with the character, or externally, in the form of factors outside the character’s head. This could be challenging situations, obstacles, and even other characters. John Eilermann St. Louis .

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3. Inciting Action
An inciting action is an event in the story that spurs all of the characters into motion. This typically develops early on, not later than the first two or three chapters of your story. The inciting action is what leads the character to actualize the series of choices that he will be making, which will develop his character along the way until the climax of the story. John Eilermann St. Louis

A look at the post-war careers of three WWII veterans

John Eilermann. The Second World War was a harrowing period in world history. As many countries strived to rebuild their economy after the war, people started to innovate and build their own careers. Here are three WWII veterans who established successful post-war careers.

Image source: Theguardian.com

Sam Walton

John Eilermann.
Walmart is known for being the largest retail company in the world. But for those who are not familiar with the company’s history, it started out as Walton’s Five and Dime by Sam Walton who served as a former Army intelligence officer. He co-founded what would eventually become a chain of hypermarkets with his brother Bud who served as a Navy bomber pilot. Sam started the company with his savings from the Army and a loan from his father-in-law.

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Yogi Berra

The renowned New York Yankees catcher was called to duty at the start of his career in the major league. But what today’s fans might not know is that he was a veteran of the D-Day invasion as part of a Navy craft that launched rockets at the enemies while they were on Omaha Beach. Thankfully, he was able to resume his career after the war. After playing in 14 World Series and becoming a big league manager, he became a powerhouse in baseball. The legendary American catcher was also known for his memorable statements such as “it ain’t over ’til it’s over” and “when you come to a fork in the road take it”. John Eilermann.

Tony Bennett

Born Anthony Dominick Benedetto, the crooner and artist was called to duty in 1944 during the last stages of the Second World War. He joined the front line a year after as part of the 63rd Infantry Division in France and Germany. Later on, he and his team helped in the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp at Landsberg, Germany where other prisoners of war were also held. After the war, he continued to study and practice his vocals. In 1949, as his music career was taking off, he started using the name Tony Bennett. A few years later, he released a string of hits such as “Rags to Riches”, “Because of You”, and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”. John Eilermann.

 

Five ways to encourage beginner readers to keep going

Having budding readers allows a person to experience the magic of reading once again. However, a beginning reader may not be having as much fun as an experienced one for certain barriers. Reading is a skill that must be sharpened through time and effort. John Eilermann St. Louis.

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One way to encourage a beginner to read more is to understand where they are at when it comes to the actual skill. Reading aloud allows a newbie reader to hear themselves while processing the words as they read them. This way, a confident reader will know when to step in and correct pronunciations. When a child gets stuck on a word, instead of repeating it to them, slow down. Coaching requires one to stop and wait for a few seconds to pass, think how to help, and then share a strategy. John Eilermann St. Louis.

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Suppose a child struggles to decode words, which would cause them to slow down, model fluency. Parents and guardians must read aloud to their child throughout the day to encourage confidence and fluency. Allow the beginner reader to read books they have already mastered. This way, they can be confident and have a sense of independence. John Eilermann St. Louis.

When it comes to picking new books to master, pick ones that best suit their level. There is nothing more intimidating than reading a book that is way beyond one’s skillset. Books that are just right for the child’s level can help them improve on their reading and develop a love for it. John Eilermann St. Louis.

 

Lower body workouts for explosive performance on the field

For athletes, there are no days off. High-performance athletes need to train the way they do to keep their numbers improving by the day. Football players have days on the field and days at the gym. Here are key lower body workouts for optimal performance. John Eilermann.

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Box blast improves explosive power in the legs and hips, something incredibly important when trying to create space from opponents. Remember to explode through the front leg. The power should come from the hip to the knee, then to the ankle. 10 repetitions each side would be a good starting point. The trouble areas for most football players are the ankles, knees, and hips. Base rotations help develop power in these areas. Bend knees slightly and angle the feet out a bit. Jump off the floor and rotate the hips opposite to where the arms are rotating. John Eilermann.

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Squat jumps build an athlete’s explosive power while teaching them to land softly. With knees behind the toes, do a vertical jump. Be sure to land softly on the starting position to protect the hips, knees, shins, and ankles. John Eilermann.

Foam rolling may not belong to the list of explosive workouts, but it sure does miracles to an athlete’s tired muscles. It ensures that any spasms, knots, and imbalances formed by heavy and repetitive motion are rolled out through deep compression. Rolling along with areas that may feel pain, tightness, and tension, improves an athlete’s recovery time. John Eilermann.