Abandoned Rear

the military, after all. Known for his leadership across Europe and the Mediterranean during World War Two, George S. Patton elicited pride in his ranks. By all accounts, he was brash, strict, and had a fierce reputation. He frequently inspired his troops with sensational, vulgarity riddle speeches that shocked allies. In battle. He believed in the most aggressive tactics possible, earning him

the nickname Old Blood and Guts. Over the years, many of his actions on and off the battlefield where met with criticism from superiors and allies alike. Off the field, he enjoyed polo, a sport he played with violent, reckless abandoned, causing him frequent head injuries. Some suggest those injuries explained his erratic behavior. Others believe that he'd just always been

a colorful personality. Either way, I think it's fair to say that the famed general was no stranger to controversy, and though most incidents are attributed to his days in World War Two, Patton found himself involved in a memorable incident during the First World War, when he served as a captain under General Pershing. He rose through the ranks quickly and earned a promotion as a lieutenant colonel with a U. S. Army Tanks Corps. He set up a training school, choosing the small town of Borg due to

the copious amounts of mud. He also designed and organized practically every detail. Then he led his newly trained men and their tanks into battle twice, earning a Distinguished Service Cross for bravery under fire during the second mission. His work with the Tank Corps impressed Pursing so much that he received a second promotion to colonel. Patton had become quite the hero around Bourg, and one day the mayor paid him a visit. The man was visibly distraught. Naturally,

Patton asked him what was the matter. Through a flood of tears, the mayor explained that an American soldier had died and that pattent superiors had failed to inform him of the tragedy. Taken aback by the man's deep sorrow and not wanting to discuss a soldier's death with a relative stranger, Patton asked the mayor to wait for him while he checked on a few details. When he returned, the mayor insisted that Patten accompanied him to the soldier's grave.

The two made their way to the location near the training camp, and the mayor wept again as he pointed toward the rectangular earthen mound of mud and dirt. The mayor had already placed a makeshift marker at one end of the mound, with the words abandoned rear carefully stenciled on a wooden cross. As the mayor went on about the fallen hero, Patton instantly understood what had happened. The mayor expressed his deepest sympathy for losing such a brave man.

Unsure how to handle the situation or even what to say, Pattent thanked him for his kindness and concern, and that excused himself. It would be twenty six years before Patton would visit Borg again. To his surprise, the residents had never forgotten the fallen hero. They had been so moved by the soldier sacrifice that they maintained the site, providing a proper monument which carried the same message as that temporary marker abandoned rear. To the townspeople, the unknown soldier

had become a local hero of sorts. Patton was deeply embarrassed. You see, he had never told them the truth. The mayor had mistaken a simple mound of dirt for an actual, unmarked grave. For once, Pattent was at a loss for words. He later sheepishly admitted during an interview the secret he had kept all those years. There was no unknown soldier. All his men had been accounted for that day, and all had been alive. The mayor's tears and deep sadness

hadn't been about a man at all. Patton just didn't have the heart to tell him his men had made the mound to fill in the camps Latrine. Open just about any medicine cabinets in America and you're likely to find chemist Maurice Traneers invention. And while it's brought relief to millions of consumers, sometimes the advertising outshines the product.

In a flu epidemic rage across America, Hubbardsley, the president of Miles Laboratory, heard a rumor that, despite this, the employees at the local Elkhart, Indiana newspaper were all healthy. This intrigued Beardsley because the rest of the town had been struck hard, including the laboratory that produced a variety of medical remedies. Curiously, Beardsley stopped by the newspaper to investigate. Sure enough, he found that the employees were busily going

about their day without so much as a sneeze or cough. Dumbfounded, he asked the editor how the staff had avoided getting sick. The editor explained that the staff had taken a combination of two everyday medicines. Those who had a mild case of the flu symptoms no longer showed any symptoms at all. Seeing an opportunity, Beardsley returned to the lab and asked Trenear to recreate the concoction. Later, on a cruise, Beardsley handed out free samples to passengers who felt under the weather.

He handed out one hundred pills and was elated that every One of the recipients said that they experienced relief from a variety of symptoms, ranging from headaches and pains to upset stomachs. The product officially debuted in ninety one, and although effective, it would be the marketing that catapulted its als. The product even became the sponsor of two radio shows, sort of an ancestor of sponsors on podcasts, and then in nineteen fifty one, the popular medicine was

bestowed with acute mascot who promised quick relief. The mascot appeared in over two hundred commercials, various celebrities from Sammy Davis Jr. To Buster Keaton, all saying the catchy new jingle that has ever since become iconic. A variety of music artists saying the jingle as well, from big band to rock artists, including the jingles creators the band The Circle, which had two top forty hits. But by nineteen sixty nine,

public opinion had changed. The remedy became associated with something old people took for a fresh take, the company embarked on some rather hilarious and memorable commercials Over the years. More celebrities appeared in commercials, including Terry Kaiser of Weekend at Bernie's Fame, Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts. In one animated commercial, a man sits opposite stomach. The stomach, narrated by Gene Wilder, accuses the man of trying to irritate him.

In the end, both man and stomach agreed to try the product if the other is willing. Yet another commercial depicts an incarcerated man who, after eating prison food, bangs his metal cup to demand a product. Soon, even the guards join in. The commercial became so popular that the actor made a later appearance on the Tonight Show of Johnny Carson just to reenact the skit. Viewers began to comment that the company's commercials were even better than the

TV shows they appeared within. One depicts a man who laments that he's eaten the whole thing. Another has eaten far too many of a fictional Italian dish, with jingles of plot, plot, fizz, fizz, and famous catchphrases of try it, you'll like it. You've probably guessed that this product is alka selzer oh and the original active ingredients consisted of aspirin, sodium bicarbonate, and citric said today, though the aspirin has been replaced with a seat a menafin the active ingredient

in Thailand. All what you might not have known is that Speedy the Products six inch tall mascot became so famous that a limited edition plastic doll was even released, or that the original figure was insured for one thousand dollars and kept in a Beverly Hills Bank vault. And the rest of those plastic replicas in two thousand twelve, one of them sold for six thousand dollars. If you ask me, that shouldn't have the seller a lot of spicy meatballs. I hope you've enjoyed today's guided tour of

the Cabinet of Curiosities. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, or learn more about the show by visiting Curiosities podcast dot com. The show was created by me Aaron Manky in partnership with how Stuff Works. I make another award winning show called Lore, which is a podcast, book series, and television show and can learn all about it over at the World of Lore dot com. And until next time, stay curious. Yeah h