TogetherWeServed.com Archives - Page 5 of 63

WW2 – The Bombing of Balikpapan

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.

Service Reflections of SP5 John Beaumonte, U.S. Army (1966-1968)

Army Reflections, Vietnam War

The Summer of 1966 was a big decision for me to volunteer for the draft. My grades in college weren’t that great, considering I had just completed my freshman year and at 19 was undecided on a major. Feeling the pressure of Uncle Sam coming to get me, I decided to pick my report date of induction rather than continue with deferments. The decision was mine alone.

Service Reflections of RM2 Tim Roach, U.S. Coast Guard (1962-1966)

Coast Guard Reflections, Vietnam War

I would give most of the credit for my decision to join the Coast Guard to my uncle. He was in the Coast Guard during WWII and often talked about his experiences while patrolling the beaches on horseback along the New Jersey shores. I was in high school during my senior year in Corpus Christi, Texas, in the fall of 1961. My high school counselor informed me that I would not be able to graduate because I had failed to earn credits in algebra during my ninth-grade year. To put it mildly, I was never a fan of school.

Service Reflections of LtCol James J. Davies, U.S. Marine Corps (1966-2003)

Marine Reflections, Vietnam War

I was raised to love my country. My military roots go back to the American Revolution on my maternal side. I have always loved history and embraced a love of Country when I was young. Both my father and his father (who immigrated from Wales, UK) were fiercely loyal to the US. I was born toward the end of World War II, so patriotism was high, and this carried through in my education.

Service Reflections of LtCol James J. Davies, U.S. Navy (1965-1996)

Navy Reflections, Vietnam War

I don’t know what drew me to the Navy, but I’ve always had a powerful sense of patriotism and wanted to serve my country in some way. The Vietnam War was heating up during my junior year of high school, and I wanted to quit school so that I could do my part, but my father wouldn’t let me. On June 22, 1965, the day I turned 17 1/2, he did allow me to join the Naval Reserves. I attended drills every Tuesday night and on some weekends until I graduated and reported for active duty on June 22, 1966, at Naval Station, Long Beach, CA.

Service Reflections of SFC Thomas Reid, U.S. Army (2001-2021)

Army Reflections, Global War on Terror

My decision to join the Army was deeply influenced by the legacy of service in my family—especially my father, grandfather, and uncle, all of whom served as Vietnam veterans. Growing up, I saw the strength, discipline, and humility they carried from their time in the military. They didn’t often talk about their experiences, but when they did, it was clear how much serving meant to them and how it shaped who they were. Their sense of duty, sacrifice, and commitment to something greater than themselves inspired me to follow in their footsteps. For me, joining the Army is not just a personal goal—it’s a way to honor their legacy and continue the proud tradition of service in our family.

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.

MENU