I only just saw it

Yep! That's what I was referring to. As Havoc said Washington D.C. is a city in a Federal District that houses the Federal Government, but doesn't belong to a State nor is it ruled by a State government. Hawaii can only be reached by plane or ship. Alaska is basically the same as Hawaii, although you can drive there by way of Canada, mainly in the summer. That is why we say 48 contiguous states. I live one property away from the Northern boundary of the U.S in the lower 48 and about an hour and a half from the most North West corner of the 48 states. Both Alaska and Hawaii were admitted to the Union in the late 1950's. To confuse matters, the U.S. still has some Territories, Commonwealths and Possessions - some with Congressional representation and some (I believe) don't have. Some of those are Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, plus some more. I think Britain and a few other countries are in the same situation with Territories, etc.

I think Britain and a few other countries are in the same situation with Territories, etc. France is in the same situation. Apart from continental France (that the French call "Metropole" or "Hexagone") and Corsica (which is an island, but is still in Europe), it has some overseas departments (départements d'outre-mer or DOM, in French, that is Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Caribbean Sea, French Guiana on the northern coast of South America, and Réunion in the Indian Ocean) and some overseas territories (territoires d'outre-mer or TOM in French, that is French Polynesia ad Wallis and Futuna in the southern Pacific Ocean, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic Ocean, Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy in the Caribbean Sea, and New Caledonia in the southwest Pacific).

I wonder if the governments that be did some dividing of those South Pacific Islands after WWII to prevent Japan from re-claiming them. :dunno Sounds like some research. I remember New Caladonia from the TV show Baa Baa Black Sheep. When I lived on a Marine Base for a few years, the streets were named after many of those islands and battles Wake, Iwo Jima, Bouganville, and Midway. My father used to fly to many of those islands. He told us stories of the Gooney Birds.

Thanks girls for the explanation. Frances I did not know that France had so many overseas departments. Gaff, I did not know what Gooney Birds are, I looked it up : an albatross bird. Again something I know. Wauw girls this site is so instructive. I love to do research. But Gaff, I do not understand what you ask about those South Pacific Islands ?

During WWII the South Pacific Islands were the location of battles between Japan and the U.S. and Allied troops. I was just curious if the reason France and U.S. have territories there, was because it was divided after WWII. I don't know for sure or if they were Pre-War territories. It would require some research.

I wonder if the governments that be did some dividing of those South Pacific Islands after WWII to prevent Japan from re-claiming them. :dunno Sounds like some research. I remember New Caladonia from the TV show Baa Baa Black Sheep. Actually, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, and French Polynesia have been French since before WWII.

I was figuring that some of the islands reverted back to the original countries that claimed them after Japanese occupation. Either that, or I would guess a few were never occupied. Thanks for the info.

My parents finally got the chance to watch my copy of this last night. For some reason, my dvd wouldn't work in their DVD player at home. Anyway, they are on the road and decided to watch it in their RV. Both of them thoroughly enjoyed it (Dad didn't even fall asleep which he does frequently in front of the television) and wondered why they hadn't made the effort to watch it before this. Tack on another two fans. :mrgreen:

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