› added 8 years ago

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TIL: The Guatemalan Special forces, the Kaibiles, are infamous for forcing recruits to raise a puppy, bonding with it and then killing and eating it. Recruits are also shot and forced to perform field surgery on themselves, and they also have to drink water out of recently fired artillery shells.

Gm7j TIL that Sean Baker, a Military Policeman at Guantanamo Bay, was ordered to impersonate a prisoner in a secret training mission for US Soldiers to practice extracting uncooperative inmates from their cells. He was beaten so hard he suffered from major seizures caused by traumatic brain injury.
AD7Nw TIL of Project 100000, a recruitment effort during Vietnam that brought in mentally and physically unfit people for service to fill the ranks. Many brought in had a 5th grade level education and were considered mentally challenged.
BLbD TIL Four Presidents of the U.S. were members of the ‘Whig Party’ (1833-60). The Whigs supported the supremacy of Congress over the Presidency. The party was ultimately destroyed by the question of whether to allow the expansion of slavery to the territories.
mx1VO TIL In the 1940s, U.S. Researchers Infected Hundreds of Guatemalans With Syphilis. The Victims Are Still Waiting for Treatment.
QJx6d TIL that Boris Karloff does not sing, "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" in the famous Dr. Seuss film, How The Grinch Stole Christmas. It was performed instead by Thurl Ravenscroft, the voice of Tony the Tiger. Thurl's role went completely uncredited. Boris won a Grammy for his performance.