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United States Marines in the Civil War

United States Marines in the Civil War

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Although it was absolutely critical to the Union's grand, overarching plan to defeat the Confederate States, we don't hear much about the U.S. Navy during the Civil War, save for a few critical battles. We tend to hear or see even less about the Marine Corps' role in preserving the Union. The simple truth is the Marine Corps was just so small (around 3,000 Marines) compared to the Union Army, and as a result, didn't fight large-formation battles.  U.S. Marines Showed Value In Union Strategy Most importantly, the Corps was struggling to define its role in the U.S. military, but that doesn't mean Marines did nothing of significance during the war. The Anaconda Plan, the Union strategy that would split the Confederacy in two and control the Mississippi River while strangling its ability to trade, get supplies, and sell valuable cotton in foreign markets, required a considerable naval force. It also needed men with the unique skill set of both a land and sea force. That's where the...

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А1С Kurt Russell, U.S. Air Force (1969–1975)

А1С Kurt Russell, U.S. Air Force (1969–1975)

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Kurt Russell is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors, known for a career that spans action, drama and westerns. From Escape from New York to Tombstone and The Hateful Eight, he built a reputation for portraying resilient, grounded and disciplined characters. Long before becoming a screen icon, however, Russell served in the California Air National Guard, an experience that helped shape his work ethic and sense of responsibility. While his military service did not involve combat, it represented a formative chapter in his life. TogetherWeServed honors Kurt Russell by highlighting his time in uniform, his early years and the lasting legacy he built both on and off the screen. Kurt Russell’s Early Life and Roots Kurt Vogel Russell was born on March 17, 1951, in Springfield, Massachusetts, to Louise Julia Russell, a dancer and Bing Russell, an actor and former professional baseball player. Raised in a household that blended creativity and athletics, Kurt developed interests in both...

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New Veteran Buddy Link Feature – Connect With Veterans in Your Neighborhood for Friendship and Support

New Veteran Buddy Link Feature – Connect With Veterans in Your Neighborhood for Friendship and Support

Those who have served share a unique bond that remains with them throughout their lives. Veterans thrive in the company of other Veterans, simply because the unique culture of military service is common to all. To provide an easy way for TWS Members to connect with other Veterans in their neighborhood, Together We Served has launched its new, free easy-to-use service called 'Veteran Buddy Link', a free, easy-to-use service specially designed to enable Veterans to seek the camaraderie of other Veterans in or around their Zip Code. Click the button below to find a Veteran Buddy Connection near you! Read About Other Military Stories If you enjoyed learning about the journey of the New Veteran Buddy Link Feature, we invite you to read the stories of other remarkable soldiers and their heroic deeds on our blog. In addition to our profiles of celebrities who served, we share military book reviews, veterans’ service reflections, famous military units and more on the TogetherWeServed.com...

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Break in the Chain-Intelligence Ignored by W.R. Baker

Break in the Chain-Intelligence Ignored by W.R. Baker

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W.R. "Bob" Baker's "Break in the Chain — Intelligence Ignored: Military Intelligence in Vietnam and Why the Easter Offensive Should Have Turned Out Differently" is both a war story and an indictment. It's part memoir from the cramped intel bunkers of I Corps in 1972, and part after-action review of how a major enemy offensive can roar through a command system convinced that it "can't happen here." Break in the Chain shows how one analyst made a difference Baker isn't an armchair critic parachuting into history decades later. He graduated first in the Army's inaugural Intelligence (Order of Battle) Analyst course at Fort Huachuca in 1971 and was sent straight to Da Nang, where he became the sole trained intelligence analyst in the 571st Military Intelligence Detachment/525th MI Group, effectively the only U.S. intelligence unit still operating in I Corps at the time of the Easter Offensive.  After Vietnam, he worked as a forward-area watch analyst and electronic order of battle...

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2LT Alan Alda, U.S. Army (1956-1956)

2LT Alan Alda, U.S. Army (1956-1956)

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Alan Alda is a name that instantly brings to mind the quick-witted, irreverent Army surgeon Hawkeye Pierce from the Emmy-winning series MASH. But there is more to Alda than Hollywood fame and clever one-liners. Long before he was making audiences laugh on television, Alda served in the United States Army Reserve, a chapter of his life that quietly shaped the authenticity he brought to one of TV’s most beloved characters. That combination of real-life experience and natural charisma helped MASH stand out, giving the show a depth that reached well beyond typical sitcom humor. Alan Alda Grew Up in Manhattan and Studied at Fordham Alan Alda was born Alphonso Joseph D’Abruzzo on January 28, 1936, in the vibrant heart of Manhattan, New York. Creativity ran in his veins, his father, Robert Alda, was a performer who moved seamlessly between burlesque, theater and film, while his mother, Joan Browne, held the family together despite struggling with schizophrenia. Alda’s childhood was a mix of...

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Capturing Skunk Alpha By Raúl Herrera

Capturing Skunk Alpha By Raúl Herrera

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In "Capturing Skunk Alpha: A Barrio Sailor's Journey in Vietnam," author Raúl Herrera does something a lot of Vietnam books promise but very few deliver: he keeps you at "deck level" the whole time and still shows you the bigger war. Capturing Skunk Alpha Brings the War Down to Deck Level On the surface, it's the story of one mission: the July 1967 hunt for a North Vietnamese resupply trawler, codenamed "Skunk Alpha," and the small Swift Boat, PCF-79, that helped stop it cold off the coast of Quang Ngai. A Navy patrol plane spots a "suspicious trawler" heading toward a shoreline with no port as a four-ship task force forms inside the 12-mile limit. When warnings are ignored, PCF-79 is ordered to open fire, leading to a nighttime ship-to-ship brawl that ends with the trawler forced aground at the mouth of the Sa Ky River, more than 90 tons of ammunition and supplies denied to VC and NVA forces. That alone would justify a book; it's the kind of compact, kinetic action story that...

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The Christmas Truce of 1914

The Christmas Truce of 1914

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War makes great fertilizer for legends. The worse the fighting gets, the more people cling to stories that prove human beings haven't completely forgotten how to act like human beings. The Christmas Truce of 1914 is one of those stories: a rare moment of peace in one of the ugliest wars in history. But over the last century, the truce has picked up a lot of baggage. Along the way, there was one big soccer match, everyone along the Western Front joined in, and it became a magical day when World War I "stopped." The real story is a lot more complicated, and in a way, more impressive. Christmas Truce Begins Without Orders The Truth By December 1914, World War I was only a few months old and already a nightmare. What was supposed to be a quick war had bogged down into trenches stretching from the North Sea to Switzerland. Men lived knee-deep in mud, under constant artillery barrages, staring at the same enemy sandbags day after day. Nobody in charge planned a Christmas break....

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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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Gary Sinise Foundation

Gary Sinise Foundation

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What is the relationship between the Gary Sinise Foundation and veterans? There are many non-profit organizations and charities that endeavor to support veterans, particularly those wounded in the line of duty. The Gary Sinise Foundation’s mission statement is, “We serve our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need...by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities.” Together We Served takes a closer work at the efforts the Foundation is making to support the veteran community. Gary Sinise: From Lieutenant Dan to Veterans Advocate Born in 1955, Gary Sinise is an American actor. He got his start in theater and small television roles. He first attracted substantial attention for directing, producing, and starring in the 1992 film Of Mice And Men, adapting the classic John Steinbeck novella. Shortly after, he made a huge impression as the double amputee Lieutenant...

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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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Veterans Day: Honor a Veteran on TogetherWeServed

Veterans Day: Honor a Veteran on TogetherWeServed

In United States, Veterans Day is observed on November 11 of every year as a federal holiday. On the eleventh hour of November 11, 1918, fighting ceased during World War I. This was seven months before the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, which marked the official end to the conflict. Because of these origins, the nation celebrates Veterans Day as we recognize it today and takes time to honor America’s veterans “for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.” The U.S. holiday began as a celebration of the end of WWI. But in the wake of even deadlier conflicts, November 11 became a day to honor all military veterans. Besides just thanking veterans for their service (which you should absolutely do!), why not use the holiday as an opportunity to learn more about its history and about our veterans themselves? Origin of Holiday It occurs on November 11 every year in the United States in honor of the “eleventh hour of the...

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250th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps

250th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps

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Happy 250th birthday, United States Marine Corps! From the earliest days of the Continental Marines to present-day missions, the Marine Corps continues to stand as a symbol of courage and resilience. Celebrations this year span the globe, highlighting the Corps’ storied past and ongoing commitment to readiness. The Birth of the U.S. Marine Corps On November 10, 1775, the United States Marine Corps was established by the Second Continental Congress, which authorized “two Battalions of Marines” to support and strengthen the U.S. Navy during the Revolutionary War. Captain Samuel Nicholas was appointed to lead recruitment efforts at Philadelphia’s Tun Tavern, a lively tavern and brewery on Water Street that became the iconic birthplace of the Marines. Though the original building is long gone, Tun Tavern holds a special place in Marine Corps history, and a commemorative marker still designates the site as the Marines’ official origin. Though the Marines served valiantly during the...

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