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The Christy Collection

Military Stories and Articles

LCpl Richard A. Barnhart, U.S. Marines (1981-1985)

LCpl Richard A. Barnhart, U.S. Marines (1981-1985)

Did Any of Your Parents or Grandparents Serve? What Facts or Stories Do You Remember About Their Service?:

My Dad served in the Marine Corps from 1962 to 1966. Went to Vietnam. Never really said much about it but did share two funny stories with me: Supplies were coming in, and a couple of extra hands were needed for transport. Dad was told to drive trk# xyz and said that they picked up 10 truckloads of frozen steaks and beer. He was driving a beer truck. Says that on the way back to their camp, someone had the bright idea of diverting a few trucks to their own camp, so when they reached the ‘fork in the road’ leading to their camp, every other truck peeled out of the convoy and to the fork in the road. Turned out that of the three trucks, one was loaded with steak; the other two were loaded with beer. (Even back then, Marines had their priorities, lol) said they ate really well that night and had enough beer to last them a couple of days….

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Service Reflections of SGT James Casey, U.S. Army (1971-1979)

Service Reflections of SGT James Casey, U.S. Army (1971-1979)

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I was honored to serve when my country called on me. I really didn’t think they would draft me. I was hoping to get some college behind me to have more options. I did not have good grades in school; my dad had me working at “The Big Cone” fast food restaurant, which we owned when I was fourteen to sixteen years old, so I didn’t have time to study; it was after school every day till 10 pm and every weekend. At seventeen, on September 8, 1968, I was in a single-car crash that claimed four friends: Max Pearson, Mickey Rushing, Nancy Ingram, and Kathy Lewis. I was not driving, and Mickey was driving. I was the only survivor. I made no plans to avoid the draft; in fact, I thought I would not be accepted, even if I tried to enlist, because of my injuries, both physical and mental, from the accident. What a miscalculation on my part! I believe I went through BCT and AIT with a compression fracture at the eighth thoracic vertebra from the car crash less than three years earlier. The crash and injuries are clearly documented on my entrance physical exam. I guess it was true that “All you need is a trigger finger.” Project 100,000, also known as McNamara’s Misfits or McNamara’s Morons, was a DOD program in the 1960s to recruit soldiers who would previously have been below military physical and mental standards. The number mobilized was 320,000-354,000, and they died at three times the rate of others serving in Vietnam. The program ended in December 1971.

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SFC Paul Ray Smith, U.S. Army (1989–2003)

SFC Paul Ray Smith, U.S. Army (1989–2003)

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Despite the years of civil war and insurgency that followed, the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq was a well-planned and well-timed operation, so successful in its initial phases that American and Coalition forces had captured Baghdad within just three weeks. Major combat operations famously ended on May 1, 2003, in less than two months. But despite the speed and skill of the Americans, it was not without considerable effort – or losses.  SFC Paul Ray Smith: A Soldier's Journey One of those...

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The Gunner and the Grunt: by Michael Kelley and Peter Burbank

The Gunner and the Grunt: by Michael Kelley and Peter Burbank

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“The Gunner and the Grunt” is a unique Vietnam War memoir because it’s actually two memoirs. Two men from Massachusetts join the Army to do very different jobs, train for those jobs, and both go to Vietnam to serve their country. The book is written in two distinct voices, both members of the same reconnaissance unit, the 1st Cavalry Division, providing two very different perspectives of the war. One flies an armed helicopter above, while the other pounds the ground through the jungles below.

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The Lost Battalion

The Lost Battalion

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The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the final push of World War I on the Western Front, lasting from Sept. 28, 1918, until the end of the war, Nov. 11, 1918. The allied forces of Britain, France, and the United States advanced all along the front, making the largest offensive in U.S. military history, involving more than 1.2 million troops. It was also the deadliest, inflicting 350,000 casualties in less than seven weeks. The allies made relatively major gains, considering the course of the war...

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The Battle of Guilford Courthouse

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse

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The Revolutionary War Battle at Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina is not just an important moment for American independence; it's a good lesson for everyone to remember. There are times when, no matter how hard you fight or how badly you want to win, you might still lose. But that loss could lead to an even more important battle—and a greater, more important victory. The British Strategy Before the Battle at Guilford Courthouse After its 1777 loss at the Battle of Saratoga, the British...

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The Ship That Wouldn’t Die

The Ship That Wouldn’t Die

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The USS Laffey (DD-724) was laid down 28 June 1943 by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine. She was launched 21 November; sponsored by Miss Beatrice F. Laffey, daughter of Medal of Honor recipient S1c Bartlett Laffey. Commissioned 8 February 1944, Cdr. F. Julian. Becton as her first "Captain". The USS Laffey's Heroic Beginning After shakedown, the Laffey traveled the world in the war effort. She was off the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. Off Cherbourg, France where an unexploded shell bounced off...

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To Hear Silence by Ronald W. Hoffman

To Hear Silence by Ronald W. Hoffman

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Five years ago, the author returned to Vietnam on a battlefield tour with his wife, Nancy. In a conversation with the guide, Bill Stilwagen, he mentioned how his unit had accomplished a lot in its first 13 months in-country, yet when he looked on the internet, he couldn’t find anything. Stilwagen challenged him by saying, “Why don’t you write a book about it?” Hoffman took the challenge seriously.

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Service Reflections of LTC Stephen Smith, U.S. Army (1985-2022)

Service Reflections of LTC Stephen Smith, U.S. Army (1985-2022)

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There is no doubt in my heart that it was the Lord God and the encouragement of a dear/beloved friend who influenced my decision to join the US Army. Here is the quick story: In our senior year in high school, we had the opportunity to attend George T. Baker Aviation Technical School, a trade school where we would become aviation sheet-metal and power-plant mechanics. After a year at the trade school, my buddy on a particular day saw an Army commercial on TV, “Be All You Can Be In The Army” campaign. Influenced by the TV commercial, he went to the recruiter’s office and signed up. The following week, when I saw him at the trade school, he told me that he had joined the Army. I remember plainly saying to him, “Are you mad!” My buddy explained to me the military incentive the Army was offering him once he completed Basic Training. I was so encouraged by what he shared, especially the financial incentives the Army was offering for college (The GI Bill). Pondering what my friend had told me, I prayed to God for guidance and direction about joining the Army. Given the peace, the following week I went to the recruiter’s office and signed up, and joined!

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

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

What Was Your Most Proud Moment From Your Military Service? What Made This Especially Memorable For You?:

Picture it, Atsugi Japan, 2003. I’m a ‘lowly’ E-5 aircraft electrician in VR-46 out of Marietta, GA, hand-picked for what’s known as a “Khaki Det (Detachment)”. The maintenance crew was all lower enlisted, chosen as the best mechanics and aircraft handlers in the command to accompany senior enlisted and officer maintenance administration and flight crew. I was one of 4 lower enlisted members of our 19 person crew.

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SrA Angela Hawks, U.S. Air Force (1992-1996)

SrA Angela Hawks, U.S. Air Force (1992-1996)

What Was Your Most Proud Moment From Your Military Service? What Made This Especially Memorable For You?:

Of all my experiences, sounding Taps at military funerals remains the most poignant and memorable. And it’s an experience that continues to this day, 30 years after my time in the Air Force. As a woman in service, it was particularly meaningful to be entrusted with this solemn duty. The military has changed significantly over the years, and I’m proud to have played a part in that evolution. The emotion in the air is still palpable grief, gratitude, and a profound sense of loss. Each time I play, whether for an active duty member or a veteran, I’m struck by the weight of their sacrifice. It’s a deeply emotional connection, one that has only deepened over the years, solidifying my understanding of the true cost of freedom and the importance of honoring those who serve. It’s a privilege to continue this tradition, representing not only the Air Force but also the growing number of women who contribute so much to our armed forces.

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1LT William R. Belisle, U.S. Army (1969-1974)

1LT William R. Belisle, U.S. Army (1969-1974)

What Was Your Most Proud Moment From Your Military Service? What Made This Especially Memorable For You?:

ARMY COMMISSIONING On a beautiful summer weekend in 1968, I graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), located in Massachusetts. College graduation for the Class of 1968 was scheduled for two days. An ROTC Commissioning Ceremony was held on Saturday, June 8. On Sunday, we went through the formal college graduation ceremony and got our diplomas. Before the Commissioning Ceremony on Saturday, our Army Green ROTC attire was transformed into Class “A” Army uniforms. Stripes were sewn on the legs of our trousers and the sleeves of our blouses. We replaced all our school emblems and badges with brass appropriate for Active Duty U.S. Army uniforms. We each wore Officer’s insignia and a Gold Band on our caps. We were to make sure our uniforms and haircuts were of the highest caliber. Missing, however, was any rank on our shoulder epaulets! Our gold Second Lieutenant rank would be pinned on after the ceremony.

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