Monthly Archives: March 2025

Meeting of November 18, 2025

Join us at Harry’s Hofbrau in Redwood City on Tuesday, November 18. Harry’s opens at 11 am for cafeteria style lunch; our meeting will start promptly at 12 noon. See the MEETING INFO menu item for directions. This month’s topic is

Mark Lindberg on “America’s Entry into World War I”

The upcoming program on America’s entry into World War I will explore the critical events and dynamics surrounding the United States’ involvement in the global conflict. It will begin by examining the events leading up to the war, setting the stage for the complex international tensions that drew the U.S. into the fray. The presentation will then delve into the specific circumstances surrounding America’s entry, highlighting the pivotal moment in 1917 during President Woodrow Wilson’s second term when the U.S. officially joined the conflict. Attendees will learn about the initial state of the U.S. military, its limited capacity at the outset, and the massive expansion that followed to meet the demands of the war. The program will also cover the decisive impact of the U.S. arrival in early 1918, which shifted the momentum toward the Allies, culminating in victory within six months, accompanied by striking battlefield photos from Mark’s 2015 WWI Tour. Finally, the presentation will reflect on the lessons learned from the war and its profound effects on the post-war world, offering insights into how this conflict reshaped global history.

Mark Lindberg grew up in Jamestown, North Dakota where he obtained his Private Pilot’s license on his 18th Birthday while working summers driving a Redi Mix truck for his father’s local contracting company. After obtaining additional aviation ratings, Mark worked as a Flight Instructor while attending the University of North Dakota and graduating in Mechanical Engineering.

Upon graduation in Mechanical Engineering, Mark spent 5 months of training in La Crosse, Wisconsin in commercial air conditioning equipment sales and was then transferred to the Bay Area. During the first several years in the Bay Area, Mark attended the evening MBA program at Santa Clara University graduating in 1976 in Finance.

Although regularly visiting friends and relatives in North Dakota, the weather convinced Mark to remain in California. In May of 1977, Mark flew to England on an airline, rented a Cessna-150(G-BBJW), and celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Lindbergh’s 1927 flight to Paris with a flight from Biggen Hill, UK to Le Bourget airport in Paris.

His career included both commercia HVAC, Real Estate acquisitions and investing along with part time flight instruction. In 2015, Mark received the FAA “Wright Brothers Master Pilot” Award for 50 years of flying without an accident or violation. Mark is a 30-year member and past President of the Kiwanis Club of Mountain View, a 15-year member of the Mounted Patrol of San Mateo County, and a 5-year volunteer at the Wings of History Museum in San Martin, CA. He enjoys golf, horseback riding, historical travel, and photography while writing and speaking on a variety of subjects. Website: marklindberg.com.

Meeting of June 17, 2025

Nick Marinaro on “The Maritime Landscape During the Civil War and Pivotal Naval Battles, 1861–1865”

Join Nick Marinaro for an engaging exploration of the naval theater of the American Civil War, a critical yet often overlooked aspect of the conflict. This talk will examine how the Union and Confederacy vied for control of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and key Southern rivers, shaping strategic and economic outcomes. Highlighting groundbreaking innovations in naval warfare, Nick will discuss the introduction of ironclad ships, sea mines (torpedoes), revolving gun turrets, and the Confederacy’s pioneering use of the submarine H.L. Hunley. The presentation will focus on three pivotal battles:

  • USS Kearsarge vs. CSS Alabama (June 1864): A dramatic duel off the coast of France that showcased Union naval superiority.
  • Battle of Hampton Roads (March 1862): The historic “Clash of the Ironclads,” featuring the USS Monitor vs. CSS Virginia, marking the dawn of modern naval warfare.
  • Battle of Mobile Bay (August 1864): A decisive Union victory, led by Admiral David Farragut, that sealed the Confederacy’s fate in the Gulf.

Discover how these battles and innovations reshaped maritime strategy and influenced the course of the Civil War. Don’t miss this deep dive into a transformative era of naval history!

Nick Marinaro was born and raised in Fresno, California, and has had an interest in the Civil War since elementary school. He graduated from Clovis High School and Stanford University with a degree in Human Biology. His 38 year professional career was with the Stanford University/City of Palo Alto Fire Departments, retiring as Fire Chief. Nick has been a member of the Lions Club for 23 years and is the President of the Peninsula Council of Lions Clubs and Treasurer for the Lions Veterans Charities. He is a Board Member of the Palo Alto/Stanford Historical Association (PAST) and the Treasurer of the Peninsula Civil War Roundtable.

Meeting of May 20, 2025

Dana Lombardy on “The Battle of the Bulge”

Dana Lombardy is back for part 2 of his presentation on the other World War Two 80th anniversary battle in Western Europe. This time Dana explores the Battle of the Bulge, America’s largest land battle in Europe. Dana created an illustrated history and worked with fellow Hall of Fame game designer Steve Jackson to update Steve’s classic game One-Page Bulge. How close did the Germans come to winning their last major offensive in Europe?

Dana Lombardy was an Associate Online Editor for Armchair General and now does research, writing and design through LombardyStudios.com Dana appeared on television nearly twenty times, including multiple episodes of The History Channel’s “Tales of the Gun” series. He has contributed as an editor, cartographer, graphic artist and designer on many books, games and magazines, was Publisher of Napoleon Journal from 1996-2000, published nine issues of World War One Illustrated, and was consulting historian for the Armistice Centennial exhibit in the San Francisco War Memorial Veterans Building lobby (now on display on the second floor).