famous military units Archives - Page 9 of 30

America and the 1812 Overture

At the end of almost every July 4th fireworks show, there's a grand finale. Many times, that finale of explosions is accompanied by a stirring rendition of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture." It seems a natural fit for independence day: a rousing theme that ends with a volley of cannon fire and chiming bells. The only problem is that the theme, though based on a war, has nothing to do with the United States and certainly nothing to do with the War of 1812. The only thing the U.S. has...

LTJG Robert (Bob) William Barker, U.S. Navy (1943-1945)

Celebrities Who Served, World War II

Bob Barker, renowned for his charismatic presence on television screens as the beloved host of "The Price is Right," is a man of many talents and accomplishments. Beyond his illustrious career in the entertainment industry, Barker's life story includes a remarkable chapter that often goes unnoticed: his dedicated service in the military. Robert or ‘Bob’ William Barker who served in the US Navy Reserves between 1943 and 1945, is best known for hosting the iconic game show The Price Is Right...

Sgt. John McVeigh, U.S. Army (1942-1944)

Profiles in Courage, World War II

The port of Brest was a critical objective for the Allied forces fighting in France after D-Day. To break out of their relatively small portion of France, the Allied liberators needed 37 divisions by September 1944, along with the 26,000 tons of materiel to supply them. To make this happen, they needed Brest and its port. The Overlooked Battle: the Battle for Brest Given its importance, it's surprising that the Battle for Brest is often overshadowed in D-Day history. Admittedly, a lot...

The War of 1812 – The Battle of Bladensburg

Battlefield Chronicles, War of 1812

During the War of 1812, the young United States was still asserting its independence from Britain despite its earlier military victories in both the Revolution and the Barbary War. In 1813, Americans captured and burned the capital of Upper Canada, the city of York (modern-day Toronto). It was a tactical victory but did little to win the war - and it would cost them in a big way. The Battle of Bladensburg and Its Significance The British would finally bring a significant force to bear against...

VA Updates: Veteran Benefits – Earned By Veterans, Not An Entitlement

VA Guidance Articles

Serving in the military has several features. These include solid training, leadership opportunities, and competitive compensation. Generally less recognized are the various monetary veteran benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for those who served honorably. These are earned benefits, not entitlements. Veterans should be aware of these benefits, how they can be accessed, and, most importantly, how they can be used to improve post-service life. The Most Used Veteran Benefits...

Lt. Col. Rob Riggle, U.S. Marine Corps (1990-2013)

Celebrities Who Served, Global War on Terror

When we think of Rob Riggle, we might envision his hilarious comedic performances or his charismatic on-screen presence. However, before he became a household name in the entertainment industry, Riggle served his country with distinction in the United States Marine Corps. Rob Riggle born on April 21, 1970, in Louisville, Kentucky, possessed a deep sense of duty and patriotism from a young age. After completing his high school education, Riggle decided to pursue a career in the military and...

A Veteran-inspired Watchmaker Brought Back the Iconic Watch A-11 that Won World War II

Military Myths and Legends, World War II

Timing can be critical when conducting a military operation. During World War II, it wasn't just the men in combat who depended on accurate timing. The rest of the millions of Allied service members and potentially the entire free world relied on precision watches. Like many things produced during World War II, the A-11 watch was developed for use by the U.S. military. The A-11 Watch Was Designed to Be the Timepiece that Survived the War Like most critical supplies, the Allies knew that...

Civil War – The Battle of Stones River

Battlefield Chronicles, Civil War

It was cold at the turning of the year in Murfreesboro, right in the middle of the state of Tennessee. The little town nestled under a crook in the arm of the Stones River, near where the water rushed and chattered over a long shallow ford. The Civil War had raged across the country for nearly two years. At the end of December in 1862, the Union force called the Army of the Cumberland was maneuvering into position to challenge the Confederacy's Army of Tennessee. Opposing Forces of the Battle...

The Unbearable Weight of Medieval Knight Armor

Military Myths and Legends

Somewhere along the way, film and television got it into their heads that the medieval knight armor were so heavy that it restricted their movement. One common belief is that the armor was so heavy that knights going into battle had to be hoisted onto their horses with the help of a crane. While going into battle fully protected by armor would be important to a soldier of any era, those of us who have worn body armor in combat will tell you the body armor also has to be functional. After...

PVC Anthony Dominick Bennett (Tony Bennett), U.S. Army (1944–1946)

Celebrities Who Served, World War II

Anthony Dominick Benedetto (born August 3, 1926), known professionally as Tony Bennett, is an American singer of traditional pop standards, big band, show tunes, and jazz. Tony Bennett is a jazz legend, with a career spanning over half a century. He is also a painter, and the founder of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens, New York. But did you know that before entering the music business, he served in the United States Army? He was sent to Europe to participate in the...

Did Your Cell Phone Pay for U.S. Wars?

Military Myths and Legends, Spanish-American War

Wars are expensive, and there was a time when the United States paid for them with money instead of going into debt. Back in those days, however, the American government collected revenue very differently. Those old-timey methods of paying the bills led to more than 100 years of telecommunications excise taxes, including cell phone taxes that some believed were still paying for America's 1898 war with Spain. Congress did originally pass an excise tax to pay for the Spanish-American War, but it...

WW2 – The Allied Invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky)

Battlefield Chronicles, World War II

The July 1943 invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) was a masterstroke of military planning and execution. It freed much of the Mediterranean Sea for Allied shipping, inflicted more than 175,000 casualties on the Axis forces, took down Benito Mussolini’s government, and knocked Italy out of the war. It’s stunning, in retrospect, to consider that it almost didn’t happen. The Planning and Execution of Operation Husky American planners believed invading anything but the Italian mainland...

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