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Military Campaign Stories

Sgt Alvin York – An Unlikely Hero

Sgt Alvin York – An Unlikely Hero

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Alvin Cullum York was one of the most decorated United States Army soldiers of World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nests, killing at least 25 enemy soldiers, and capturing 132 during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. He was also a conscientious objector. Alvin York Grows Up in Rural Tennessee Shaped by Hardship York was born on December 13, 1887 to William and Mary York of Pall Mall, Tennessee and raised in a two-room log cabin in a rural backwater in the northern section of Fentress County. He was the third oldest of a family of eleven children.  Like many families in the county, the York family eked out a hardscrabble existence of subsistence farming supplemented by hunting. York's father, also acted as a part time blacksmith to provide some extra income for the family.  In the wake of his father's death in 1911, York, as the eldest still living in the area, was forced to aid his mother in raising his younger siblings. To...

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Maj Audie Murphy, U.S. Army (1942-1969)

Maj Audie Murphy, U.S. Army (1942-1969)

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He wanted to join the Marines, but he was too short. The paratroopers wouldn't have him either. Reluctantly, he settled on the infantry, enlisting to become nothing less than one of the most-decorated heroes of World War II. He was Audie Murphy, the baby-faced Texas farm boy who became an American Legend. Audie Murphy Begins Life in Hardship and Early Responsibility The sixth of twelve children, Audie Murphy, was born in Kingston, Hunt County, TX, on June 20, 1925. The son of poor sharecroppers, Emmett and Josie Murphy, Audie grew up on a rundown farm and attended school in Celeste. His education was cut short in 1936 when his father abandoned the family. Left with only a fifth-grade education, Murphy began working on local farms as a laborer to help support his family. A gifted hunter, he was also able to feed his siblings from game animals he shot. Though he attempted to support the family on his own by working various jobs, Murphy was ultimately forced to place his three youngest...

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Taco Rice and the Legacy of Marines on Okinawa

Taco Rice and the Legacy of Marines on Okinawa

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In 1984, Matsuzo Gibo added traditional Mexican-style spices to ground beef and put the spicy meat mixture on a bed of rice, then added lettuce and shredded cheese. He started selling it from his food stall as a quick lunchtime meal. The simple dish, now known the world over as "taco rice," conquered Okinawa faster and with far less resistance than the U.S. military did during World War II.  How Taco Rice Became a Beloved Dish Near Camp Hansen Gibo, who died in 2014, was the owner of the Parlor Senri food stall outside of Camp Hansen's Gate 1 in Kin Town, Okinawa. Being just a mile away from the gate, his primary customer base was U.S. Marines and had been for a long time.  The fight for Okinawa was the last major battle of World War II and was also one of the war's bloodiest. On Apr 1, 1945, the United States landed Marines and soldiers on the island. It was the largest amphibious landing of the Pacific War.  For a little over three months, the United States, with Allied naval...

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Everything You Never Knew About the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Everything You Never Knew About the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

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On Oct. 3, 1921, the protected cruiser USS Olympia put to sea for a final assignment. She left with a reputation already carved into naval history and with orders that carried more weight than any broadside. Her destination was Le Havre, France. Her charge was a single coffin bearing the United States' Unknown Soldier of World War I.  USS Olympia Prepares for a Historic Voyage Olympia had been a headline from the day she touched water. Launched in 1895, she was the largest ship yet built on the West Coast. Designers gave her speed, armor, and heavy guns that invited comparison with the ships of Britain's Royal Navy, the obvious yardstick of the era. It was fitting that such a storied vessel should carry this precious cargo. In January 1898, Commodore George Dewey stepped aboard and hoisted his flag. Four months later, the United States was at war with Spain, and Dewey led the Asiatic Fleet toward the Philippines with Olympia in the lead. At Manila Bay, from her bridge, he gave...

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Service Reflections of SGT Troy Horn, U.S. Army (1990-2007)

Service Reflections of SGT Troy Horn, U.S. Army (1990-2007)

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I’ve traced my family history back to the Battle of Hastings – my family has chosen military service for as far back as I have been able to trace. I guess it’s in the blood. But really, my decision to enlist in the Army was deeply shaped by the unwavering support and inspiration from my family and friends. Growing up, I was surrounded by loved ones who valued service, discipline, and patriotism, with many sharing stories of their own experiences or expressing admiration for those who served.

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5 Unsung Heroes of the U.S. Marine Corps

5 Unsung Heroes of the U.S. Marine Corps

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When it comes to famous Marine Corps veterans, everyone remembers Lewis "Chesty" Puller, John Basilone, Sgt. Maj. Daniel Daly, and a slew of other legendary devil dogs. But to celebrate the Marine Corps' 250th birthday, it's important to remember that the Corps has no end of heroes, many of whom fade away further and further with time.  So we don't forget the Marines who fought with distinction, but may not have been as quotable as Chesty, as political as Smedley Butler, or as smart as John Glenn, here are a few more worth remembering.  1. Brig. Gen. Joe Foss Joe Foss earned his wings in March 1941, months before America officially entered World War II. After Pearl Harbor, the young Marine aviator shipped out to the South Pacific and joined the Cactus Air Force over Guadalcanal, where the air was thick with heat, malaria, and Zeros. Across three brutal months, he hunted enemy bombers and fighters, sometimes limping home with holes in his Wildcat, ditching in the drink and getting...

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WW II – Buna Gona: MacArthur’s Jungle Slugfest in the Pacific

WW II – Buna Gona: MacArthur’s Jungle Slugfest in the Pacific

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The first full year of World War II was a hard-fought one for the Allies in the Pacific Theater. In 1942, Thailand, the Philippines, Guam, Wake Island, Malaya, Singapore, Hong Kong, and more were in Japanese hands, as were tens of thousands of American, Australian, and British prisoners of war. In January of that year, Rabaul fell to the Japanese, alarming Australians as Imperial Japan advanced on Papua New Guinea.  Buna Gona Forces Japan to Halt Its Advance The enemy reached the heights overlooking Port Moresby, New Guinea's largest city, but advanced no further. American landings on Guadalcanal and the threat of an Allied assault on the other end of New Guinea forced the Japanese to make some hard decisions.  American and Australian forces had checked the overland thrust across the Owen Stanley Range on the Kokoda Track by late September 1942, then turned the Japanese around at Ioribaiwa and chased them back through Isurava and over the jungle-sawtooth ridges to the Papuan north...

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The Birth of the Gatling Gun

The Birth of the Gatling Gun

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It's not difficult to realize the benefit of slinging more lead at the enemy. Whether it's more lead than they're shooting at you, or just more in general, a high rate of fire is necessary for inflicting more damage and keeping the enemy in check. Napoleon, Oda Nobunaga, and Gustavus Adolphus were just a few of the legendary military minds who advocated for more bullets faster. When the Industrial Revolution began to affect war and combat, it led to a slew of new developments on the battlefield. How weapons were loaded, how they fired, and, eventually, what they fired, were all transformed. The developments led to breechloading weapons, rifled barrels, and cartridges. It wouldn't be long before someone figured out how to industrialize the entire rifle.  Gatling Gun Emerges from an Inventor’s Unusual Motivations That was Richard Jordan Gatling's creation: A miracle weapon cranked by a lone gunner, mowing down ranks and changing the battlefield overnight. It makes for...

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The Most Decorated Enlisted Sailor in Navy History

The Most Decorated Enlisted Sailor in Navy History

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In the history of the United States Navy, only seven men have earned all of the big three valor awards: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, and Silver Star. Six were World War II officers, including one aviator. The seventh was James Elliott "Willy" Williams - considered the most decorated enlisted man in the history of the Navy. James Williams Joined the Navy at Sixteen James Williams, a Cherokee Indian, was born November 13, 1930, in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Two months later he moved with his parents to Darlington, South Carolina where he spent his early childhood and youth. He attended the local schools and graduated from St. John's High School.   In August 1947, at the age of 16, Williams enlisted in the United States Navy with a fraudulent birth certificate. He completed basic training at Naval Training Center San Diego. He served for almost twenty years, retiring on April 26, 1967, as a Boatswain's Mate First Class (BM1). During those years, he served in both the Korean War and...

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Five Military Myths Busted

Five Military Myths Busted

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There are many misconceptions and myths about the military floating around out there. Here are five common military myths busted. Military Myths About Joining to Avoid Jail If you get in trouble with the law, then your only option is the military. Ever heard the old saying, "Go to Jail or Go to the Military." Can a criminal court judge sentence a person to military service as an alternative to jail? Can a prosecutor mandate that someone joins the military as an alternative to criminal prosecution? Well, a judge or prosecutor can do whatever they please (within the limits of the law for their jurisdiction), but that doesn't mean the military branches are required to accept such people, and they don't. The military actually has to know about any run-ins with the law, no matter how minor. All branches of the military-run FBI background checks on all prospective members. However, just because you have a glitch in your past doesn't necessarily mean you can't join the military....

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Together We Served by Bill Sheehan

Together We Served by Bill Sheehan

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Bill Sheehan has led a fascinating career, working in film and television in New York and Hollywood since 1978. He worked on the film crews for movies like Steven Seagal’s 1990 action hit, “Hard to Kill” and 1984’s “Romancing the Stone.” Sheehan is most proud of his years working for actor-director Michael Landon, in which he not only served on the crew for television staples like “Highway to Heaven” but also often as the first aid medic.  Sheehan’s Vietnam Memories in Together We Served First aid might be an unusual skill for your average cinematographer, but not for Bill Sheehan. Before his turn on movie and TV sets, he was a Navy hospital Corpsman, and he had Marines to take care of. Between 1968 and 1969, he was a combat Corpsman with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. After leaving the Republic of Vietnam, Sheehan has said he tried to forget his experiences there. He eventually re-examined his reasoning, deciding not only to revisit his time in the jungles, but also asking other...

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Bravo Troop 3rd Squadron,61st Cavalry Regiment

Bravo Troop 3rd Squadron,61st Cavalry Regiment

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"Destroyers" (Battle of Kamdesh)By: A3C Michael S. Bell "…That he which hath no stomach to this fight,Let him depart; his passport shall be made,And crowns for convoy put into his purse;We would not die in that man's companyThat fears his fellowship to die with us.Henry V, Act IV, Scene III The 61st Cavalry Regiment (1941-45, 2004-2024) was part of the United States Army; motto: "Forging Destiny." The 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment existed until mid-2024, this one being last of the 61st’s original four subordinates. On 3 Oct 2009, an Afghan insurgent force of about four hundred attacked the fifty-four Soldiers of Bravo Troop at COP (Command Outpost) Keating during what is now known as the "Battle of Kamdesh." Eight Soldiers fell and twenty-two were wounded in that obscure part of Nuristan whilst defending the COP for over twelve hours of close-quarter combat. Nuristan ("Land of Light"), also spelled as Nurestan or Nooristan, known as Nuriston and historically known as Kafiristan...

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