The Founding and Evolution of the USMC When was the Marine Corps established and when is it’s birthday celebrated? The U.S. Marine Corps was established on November 10, 1775. This date is celebrated annually as the Marine Corps Birthday, signifying the Corps’ rich legacy and commitment to serving the nation. It represents a tradition of […]
USS Barb has been called a “Pacific killer sub par excellence.” Here’s some of the story. The USS Barb was on its last war patrol. She and her crew had served six patrols in the European Theater, and had been in the Pacific for 19 months. The Barb racked up one of the most outstanding […]
Location: Bastogne, Belgium Date: December 22, 1944 Four German soldiers approached American lines at Bastogne, Belgium in December 22, 1944. Major Wagner of the 47th Panzer Corps was coming to deliver a typed message demanding American surrender. The message, as you can imagine, was not too polite. Among other things, it pointed out that the […]
Location: Omaha Beach WWII. Surrounded by steep cliffs and heavily defended, aerial bombardment did little damage to the defensive fortifications. Rough surf was hard on the landing craft, and only 2 of 29 tanks reached the shore. It was a bloodbath.At the spearhead was, John Spalding, in command of a 32-man platoon. He was a […]
Location: Iraq Operation Iraqi Freedom As a truck filled with 2000 pounds of explosives barreled into camp, two Marines, lightly armed, took heroic action. 150 men and their families will forever be thankful for their sacrifice. We celebrate the bravery of these two young men. Their names were Johnathan Yale and Jordan Haerter; Johnathan was […]
On July 31st, 2017 James C. McCloughan, receives America’s highest military honor. President Donald Trump had the special privilege of presenting the 71 year old Vietnam veteran with the Medal of Honor at the White House. McCloughan reported to Army basic training in Kentucky in September 1968. On his last day of training the 23 […]
If you’ve watched movies from the 40’s and 50’s then you’ve most likely seen Jimmy Stewart in starring roles in It’s a Wonderful Life, Rear Window, The Spirit of St. Louis, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and more. He was a kind, soft-spoken, and down to earth guy with a distinctive drawl that helped […]
Location: Hilltop Base somewhere in South Vietnam 17 Americans and 410 South Vietnamese troops came under attack at 4 AM. Special Forces Sergeant First Class Adkins was there.Adkins was blown from his position with shrapnel burning in his back. Shaking it off, he fought back with his own mortar fire. Adkins got word that 2 […]
If you have ever wondered how Chicago’s O’Hare Airport got its name, here is the American hero it’s named for. Three months after Pearl Harbor, the US Navy’s aircraft carrier Lexington, known as the “Blue Ghost,” was carrying out the dangerous task of penetrating enemy waters. The carrier’s radar picked up enemy bombers inbound, and […]
What battle was the biggest, bloodiest battle that Americans fought in WW2? The Battle of the Bulge It lasted 41 days from December 1944 to January 1945, and spanned territory in three countries. On December 16, the German army launched a counteroffensive that was intended to cut through the Allied forces in a manner that […]
Lieutenant “Jack” Lee had a reputation as a fearless and aggressive leader who had led his tank company through France, Germany and Austria. Lee was described as “bright and inquisitive” young man who was a star football player and an avid cavalry rider. These skills helped him gain an exceptional talent for maneuvering Sherman tanks. […]
