USS Ostrich (AMS-29)

USS Ostrich (MSC(O)-29/AMS-29/YMS-430) was a YMS-1-class minesweeper of the YMS-135 subclass built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was the third U.S. Navy ship to be named for the ostrich.

History

Ostrich was laid down 10 November 1943 as YMS-430 by the Tacoma Boat Building Co. of Tacoma, Washington; launched 23 March 1944; and commissioned 10 October, Lt. R. G. Bates in command.

After shakedown, she sailed for Pearl Harbor 19 December as part of a screen for a small convoy. She arrived 28 December and sailed 4 January 1945, escorting a convoy to Eniwetok. She then sailed to Ulithi arriving 5 February. She remained in the area until departing 14 June for Okinawa to engage in Minesweeping operations.

YMS-430 remained there until 8 September, when she departed for Japan. Arriving at Wakayama, she remained in Japanese homewaters, clearing Japanese harbors and waters of mines, until 16 February 1946, when she sailed for home. She arrived at San Pedro, California, 2 April, and shortly after departed for Charleston, South Carolina, arriving 3 July. There YMS–430 was immobilized and placed in reduced commission due to a lack of personnel.

USS Gull (AMS-16)

USS Gull (MHC-46/AMCU-46/AMS-16/YMS-324) was a YMS-1-class minesweeper of the YMS-135 subclass acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent ships from passing.

History

The second ship to be named Gull by the Navy, AMS-16 was launched as YMS-324 by the Al Larson Boat Shop, Terminal Island, California, 14 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. William Toman; and commissioned 28 February 1944, Lt. B. F. Silviera, USNR, in command.

After shakedown and minesweeping training, YMS-324 sailed from San Pedro, California, 20 June 1944 via Pearl Harbor and reached Guadalcanal 1 August to prepare for the coming invasion of Peleliu. She put in at Peleliu and swept her first enemy mine 14 September, the day before the famous 1st Marine Division stormed ashore, and for the next month continued minesweeping operations there and at Ulithi. Sailing from Ulithi 14 October for the attack on the Ngulu Islands, the ship swept mines under enemy fire without damage or casualties and subsequently continued her duties at Ulithi until departing 19 March 1945 for Okinawa. YMS-324 aided in clearing the approaches to Okinawa, and remained in those waters until the fall of 1945, returning to San Pedro, California, 20 September 1945, 15 months to the day from the time she left.

USS Kite (AMS-22)

USS Kite (MSC(O)-22/AMS-22/YMS-374) was a YMS-1-class minesweeper of the YMS-135 subclass built for the United States Navy during World War II.

History

Kite was laid down as YMS-324 on 31 January 1943 by the Weaver Shipyards in Orange, Texas, and launched 17 February 1944. She was completed and commissioned on 31 May 1944 with Lt. (j.g.) Robert A. Harris in command.

After shakedown out of Little Creek, Virginia, and minesweeping operations in Massachusetts Bay, YMS-374 cleared Boston, Massachusetts, 30 September and steamed toward the Pacific war zone. The minesweeper arrived Pearl Harbor 18 November and following formation sweeping maneuvers, sailed 22 January 1945 escorting LST Flotilla 21 to Saipan.

YMS-374 participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima, arriving off the island 17 February. She cleared lanes for landings scheduled 2 days later. Following the invasion, YMS-374 made antisubmarine patrols, escorted support ships, and laid smoke screens before retiring to the Philippines and arriving Leyte 8 March.

Cossack host

A Cossack host (Ukrainian: Козаче військо, kozache viysko), sometimes translated as Cossack army, was an administrative subdivision of Cossacks in Ukraine. The word host is an archaic word for army.

List of hosts

Imperial Russia

The Cossack host consisted of a certain territory with Cossack settlements that had to provide military regiments for service in the Imperial Russian Army and for border patrol. Usually the hosts were named after the regions of their dislocation. The stanitsa, or village, formed the primary unit of this organization.

Host (song)

"Host" is a song by British indie rock band The Crocketts. Credited to Davey MacManus and The Crocketts and produced by Charlie Francis, "Host" was featured on the band's 2000 second album The Great Brain Robbery, and released as its first single on 3 April 2000.

Composition

Writer and vocalist Davey MacManus has provided the following explanation of the song's meaning:

Reception

In their review of The Great Brain Robbery, magazine Welsh Bands Weekly described "Host" as an "addictive" song, claiming that it "sticks around inside your head for days ... and the pretty guitar sound is just so addictive".Kerrang! awarded the single four out of five Ks in their review, describing the song as "a slightly melancholy number ... a timely reminder that life can be amazing, even when it hurts".

Music video

The music video for "Host" was directed by Ralph Brown and produced by Mark Williams, both of whom also perform in the video. The video was filmed in Brighton on the request of Williams, including a number of "rich and red" theatre interiors on the West Pier. Williams describes the theme of the video as "a ghost story", and says that the inspiration came from listening to the lyrics of the song.

Maître d'hôtel

The maître d'hôtel (French: "master of hotel", pronounced: [mɛːtʁə d‿otɛl]), head waiter, host or maître d' (US /ˈmeɪtər diː/) manages the public part, or "front of the house", of a formal restaurant. The responsibilities of a maître d'hôtel generally include supervising the waiting staff, welcoming guests and assigning tables to them, taking reservations and ensuring that guests are satisfied.

In large organizations such as hotels or cruise ships with multiple restaurants, the maître d'hôtel is often responsible for the overall dining experience including room service and buffet services, while head waiters or supervisors are responsible for the specific restaurant or dining room they work in.

In restaurants where food is partly prepared at table, the maître d’hôtel may be responsible for such operations as boning fish, mixing salads and flambéing foods.

See also