TogetherWeServed.com Archives - Page 2 of 56

Landmines in Vietnam

Horrific stories and pictures from all around the world often show that large numbers of civilians are the main landmine casualties and continued to be so years after the warring factions have left the battlefield. Even today, with a multitude of mine-clearing methods and equipment, de-mining efforts remain challenging and risky. This is particularly true in cases where records were not kept on exact locations for any or all landmines. Landmines Still Endanger Civilians After Wars On land...

Lt. Michael Murphy, U.S. Navy (2000 – 2005)

Global War on Terror, Profiles in Courage

On June 28, 2005, deep behind enemy lines east of Asadabad in the Hindu-Kush of Afghanistan, a very dedicated four-man Navy SEAL team was conducting a counter-insurgency mission at the unforgiving altitude of approximately 10,000 feet. Lt. Michael Murphy was the officer in charge of the SEAL team. The other three members were Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Danny Dietz, Sonar Technician 2nd Class Matthew Axelson and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell. Their assignment was to capture or kill...

WW2 – The Bombing of Balikpapan

Battlefield Chronicles, World War II

In the early morning hours of August 13, 1943, twelve US B-24 Liberators from the 380th Bombardment Group (also known as the Flying Circus), began a low approach over the harbor of Balikpapan, Borneo. They were about to break records for the longest bombing run in history. Their 17-hour non-stop flight would take the Japanese completely by surprise and result in destruction in Balikpapan. The Bombing of Balikpapan Breaks Records Intelligence had suggested that Balikpapan refineries were...

Vietnam War – Battle of Camp Bunard (1969)

Battlefield Chronicles, Vietnam War

Gazing out the open cargo doors of the Huey flying over Phouc Long Province, boyish-looking Specialist 4 Robert Pryor took in an endless landscape of mountains, meandering rivers and rolling hills covered with dense evergreen vegetation, bamboo thickets, and triple canopy tropical broadleaf forests. The forbidding wilderness had an odd virginal beauty. It was also one of the most dangerous places in South Vietnam. This sparsely populated highland plateau, nestled along the Cambodian border...

A Fox In Winter by J. Logan Nicholson

Military Book Reviews, Vietnam War

Every now and then, a book slips past any convention of war stories, battlefield memoirs, and action-packed retellings of America's greatest hits and instead says, "Hey, sit down, grab a drink, and think about how you got here." J. Logan Nicholson's A Fox In Winter is one of those books. A Fox In Winter — Beyond the Usual War Stories Don't let the woodland critter on the cover fool you. This isn't a Disney flick. It's a sharp, witty meditation on life's stages, told through the instincts...

The Star-Spangled Drinking Song

Military Myths and Legends, War of 1812

In April 1814, the Sixth Coalition defeated the French at Toulouse, finally forcing the abdication of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor. The war in Europe was finally over, so the victorious British Empire could finally turn its attention to North America. The result would not only drastically change America's fortunes in the ongoing War of 1812, it would lead to the modern equivalent of Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" becoming the U.S. national anthem. The Star-Spangled Banner Emerged From...

Out of the Darkness : Navy Seals

Profiles in Courage, World War II

On June 6, 1943, the Naval Combat Demolition Unit (NCDU) training school was established at Ft. Pierce, Florida. Training candidates came from rugged, physically capable Marine Raider and Navy Scout and Construction Battalion volunteers with previous swimming experience. Demolition work was emphasized without restriction. Grueling nighttime training conducted in the snake- and alligator-infested swamps of Florida produced a specimen of a man who was at home with mud, noise, exhaustion, water,...

Service Reflections of SGT Julie Bryson Muster, U.S. Army (1972-1998)

Army Reflections, Cold War

Facing a dead-end life with limited opportunities and wanting to break free from my circumstances, I enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1987 with a clear vision: to go to college and become someone meaningful. Growing up in challenging conditions from ages 5-12 in group and foster homes in Ohio, with abusive, alcoholic, and addicted parents, I experienced firsthand what it meant to have few options and little encouragement. The Army represented my pathway to transformation – not just a career, but a chance to build the foundation for higher education and personal growth. Military service offered structure, purpose, and the GI Bill benefits that would make college possible. I was determined to use my service as a stepping stone to earn my master’s degree in criminal justice and ultimately create a life of meaning, helping others along the way. The Army wasn’t just an escape from a difficult past; it was my deliberate choice to forge a better future and prove that circumstances don’t define destiny.

AE2(AW) LaTonya N. Davison, U.S. Navy (1996-2010)

VA Military Memories Competition

Do You Remember Your Drill Sergeants/Instructors Names From Basic Training? Recount Any Specific Memories of Your Drill Sergeants/Instructors and How They Shaped You as a New Recruit:

Picture it. Great Lakes, IL, 1996. This towering 6-foot-something man walks into the barracks bay, informing us he’ll be our division commander for the next 8 weeks. Intimidating from the jump, it took only a few days to realize he had a perfectly crafted persona to make sure we quickly established discipline and respect. Fred Pharr from North Carolina, who would later become the Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic Force Master Chief, would be whipping 83 women into shape and making them into sailors.

AFN Jamie Farr, U.S. Army (1957–1959)

Celebrities Who Served, Vietnam War

Jamie Farr, best known for his iconic portrayal of Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger on the classic television series *M*A*S*H*, brought an irreplaceable sense of authenticity to the screen—largely inspired by his real-life service in the United States Army. While millions remember him for his comedic antics and cross-dressing attempts to secure a Section 8 discharge, Farr’s genuine military experiences were far removed from the character he played, rooted instead in duty, discipline, and personal...

WW1 – When Johnny Comes Marching Home

Battlefield Chronicles, World War I

When war raged through Europe in the summer of 1914, the American public wanted nothing to do with it. Not our war, they said. President Woodrow Wilson agreed. He pledged neutrality for the United States.

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