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The Christy Collection

Military Stories and Articles

Heroic Pilot Just Managed to Land and Save His Buddy’s Life

Heroic Pilot Just Managed to Land and Save His Buddy’s Life

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Being launched off the flight deck of an aircraft carrier is a normal routine, but adrenaline junkie pilots love the radical feel of about 4 Gs. On July 9, 1991, an A-6 Intruder modified to be a refueling aircraft was shot off the Abraham Lincoln in the Persian Gulf. Lieutenant Mark Baden was the pilot and had his friend and navigator (BN), Lieutenant Keith Gallagher beside him. It was Gallagher's birthday, and he advised Baden when they returned it would be his 100th trap recovery on an...

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The Battle of Iwo Jima

The Battle of Iwo Jima

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The Battle of Iwo Jima was an epic military campaign between U.S. Marines and the Imperial Army of Japan in early 1945. Located 750 miles off the coast of Japan, the island of Iwo Jima had three airfields that could serve as a staging facility for a potential invasion of mainland Japan. American forces invaded the island on February 19, 1945, and the ensuing Battle of Iwo Jima lasted for five weeks.  In some of the bloodiest fighting of World War II, it's believed that all but 200 or so...

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Nick Adams, U.S. Coast Guard (1952-1954)

Nick Adams, U.S. Coast Guard (1952-1954)

Academy Award-nominated actor Nick Adams led a troubled life after clawing his way up from the bottom. His service with the Coast Guard set him up for success. Nick Adams, U.S. Coast Guard (1952-1954) Nick Adams, of the US Coast Guard between 1952 and 1954, came from humble beginnings to try and make a Hollywood star of himself. Cohort of James Dean and Elvis Presley, Adams also came to an unfortunate end chasing their caliber of fame. Nevertheless, he was a dutiful member of the Coast Guard...

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Desi Arnaz, U.S. Army (1942-1945)

Desi Arnaz, U.S. Army (1942-1945)

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Before Desi Arnaz was the co-star and producer of I Love Lucy, he was a member of the US Army. Together We Served looks at his life and service. Desi Arnaz, U.S. Army (1942-1945) Desi Arnaz of the US Army between 1942 and 1945 is perhaps most famous for his starring role as Ricky Ricardo opposite his real-life spouse Lucille Ball in the foundational modern TV sitcom I Love Lucy. Desi was already on his way to becoming a star when he was drafted into the US Army, but his time as a soldier gave...

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David ‘Sinbad’ Adkins, U.S. Air Force (1979-83)

David ‘Sinbad’ Adkins, U.S. Air Force (1979-83)

David Adkins, aka Sinbad, got his start in comedy competing in US Air Force talent shows. Together We Served follows his career from Wichita to Hollywood. David ‘Sinbad’ Adkins, U.S. Air Force (1979-83) David ‘Sinbad’ Adkins, of the US Air Force between 1979 and 1983, is better known for his body of work as a comedian and film & TV actor. Prior to this success, however, Sinbad spent some time in the military. Together We Served examines how a failed basketball prospect became one of the...

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Neil Alden Armstrong, U.S. Navy (1949-52)

Neil Alden Armstrong, U.S. Navy (1949-52)

Neil Armstrong, first man on the Moon, began his career in aeronautics by serving in the US Navy flying missions over Korea. Together We Served honors a legend. Neil Alden Armstrong, U.S. Navy (1949-52) Neil Alden Armstrong of the US Navy between 1949 and 1952, is better known as the first man to walk on the Moon. His iconic announcement ‘One small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind,’ and first steps on an extraterrestrial body were broadcast to over 650 million people: around a...

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Bennie Adkins, Vietnam Warrior & Hero, Dead at 86

Bennie Adkins, Vietnam Warrior & Hero, Dead at 86

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By George Winston Presented with the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in 2014, Bennie Adkins distinguished himself as a war hero during three tours of duty between 1963 and 1971, later creating a charitable foundation to help returning veterans to attend further education and settle into civilian life. President Obama said at the time, 'to be honest, in a battle and daring escape that lasted four days, Bennie performed so many acts of bravery we actually don't have time to talk about...

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The Day the South Nearly Won the Civil War

The Day the South Nearly Won the Civil War

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It has become an accepted historical fact that the South could not have won the American Civil War. The North's advantages in finance, population, railroads, manufacturing, technology, and naval assets, among others, are often cited as prohibitively decisive. Yes, the South had the advantage of fighting on the defensive, this with interior lines, but those two meager pluses appear dwarfed by the North's overwhelming strategic advantages, hence defeat virtually a foregone conclusion. But if...

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Last Night I Dreamed of Peace

Last Night I Dreamed of Peace

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The Diary of Dang Thuy Tram At the age of twenty-four, Dang Thuy Tram volunteered to serve as a doctor in a National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) battlefield hospital in the Quang Ngai Province. Two years later, she was killed by American forces not far from where she worked. Written between 1968 and 1970, her diary speaks poignantly of her devotion to family and friends, the horrors of war, her yearning for her high school sweetheart, and her struggle to prove her loyalty to her country. At...

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The Passing of “Rosie the Riveter”

The Passing of “Rosie the Riveter”

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Rosalind P. (Palmer) Walter passed away at the age of 95. She is known to millions as the original inspiration for the "Rosie the Riveter" character. She is appreciated by many for her years of service and support for public broadcasting. Walter grew up in a wealthy family in Long Island. Her father was Carleton Palmer, who was president and chairman of E.R. Squibb and Sons (which is now part of Bristol Myers Squibb). Squibb and sons sold penicillin, which was in high demand due to the war....

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Chamberlain’s Lost Medal of Honor Found in a Book

Chamberlain’s Lost Medal of Honor Found in a Book

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By Richard Sisk The long-lost Medal of Honor belonging to the "Lion of Little Round Top" has been found. The Medal awarded to then-Colonel (and later Maj. Gen.) Joshua L. Chamberlain, for his "distinguished gallantry" in leading the 20th Maine volunteers on the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, came by mail to the Pejepscot Historical Society in Maine in July from a donor who wished to remain anonymous. Historians from the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, and the U.S....

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SOG. The Secret Wars of America’s Commandos in Vietnam

SOG. The Secret Wars of America’s Commandos in Vietnam

By John Plaster John Plaster (The Ultimate Sniper), a retired Army major, served three tours with the secretive "Studies and Observation Group," aka SOG, during the Vietnam War-a background he has put to good use in this authoritative and insightful look at the now-defunct commando unit. Plaster does much to illuminate both this frequently misunderstood group and its extraordinary participants. Made up entirely of volunteers, SOG tackled a wide range of vital and dangerous duties, including...

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Soldier and Writer
Lt Col Michael Christy (USA) Ret.
All articles contained in this Blog were written by Together We Served’s Chief Editor, Lt Col Michael Christy, and published in TWS’s monthly Dispatches Newsletter.
Lt Col Christy’s military career spanned 26 years, beginning in 1956 when he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Following two years active duty, he spent another two years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. In 1962, he joined the Army National Guard and in 1966 was called up for active duty with the U.S. Army. After an 18 year distinguished Army career, Lt Col Christy retired from military service in 1984.
Lt Col Christy saw action in Vietnam with Special Forces Units, including the renowned Delta Force, and was awarded two Silver Stars, six Bronze Stars (three with Valor), and two Purple Hearts.
As a military consultant and accomplished writer, Lt Col Christy has contributed to several TV military documentaries, including those found on the History Channel, plus significant military history publications, including Vietnam Magazine.”