On this day in history, March 25th 1945, General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (probably) led the final Japanese assault during the battle for Iwo Jima. Unlike earlier battles, where Japanese forces had conducted terrifying large scale but tactically foolish banzai charges, General Kuribayashi had ordered the defenders of Iwo Jima to forgo such attacks and engaged in a more deliberate defense.

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On this day (March 13th) in 1922 Captain Everett Brooks, the commander of Company E of the 29th Infantry Division, drafted a report to the Infantry School's Director of Experiment. His company had received 30 experimental short bayonets for field evaluation and comparison against the standard issue 16" m1905 bayonets in use on the m1903 rifle. The experimental bayonets were 8.5 inches long, double edged, and lacked a fuller.
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"It's more likely for a snake to smoke a pipe than for the FEB to go to the front and fight". -- Basically a Brazilian version of "When pigs fly".
On this day in history, 21 February 1945, the Forca Expedicionaria Brasileira (Brazilian Expeditionary Force) conclusively put that saying to rest when they, alongside American forces (including the 10th Mountain Division), defeated dug-in German defenders at the Battle of Monte Castello in Italy.

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On this date, 16 January 1942, the 26th Cavalry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) conducted the last horse mounted combat charge by an American formation (room for argument exists if SF riding into battle on horseback in 2001 counts as a "charge" -- I say no).

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​When it comes to the Battle of the Bulge, most people (including myself) seem to concentrate on a small number of iconic stories. Whether it is the succinct snarkiness of the famous "NUTS!" response to a surrender demand (and the subsequent rescue of the 101st by Patton's Third Army), the heroic front-line defense by units such as 28th Infantry, or German commandos wearing US uniforms, all of these stories capture the popular imagination and dominate the history books.
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Somewhat lost in these great stories is that, as the new year dawned, the US was ready to punch back and take the initiative from the Germans. On this day, 03 January 1945, the 3rd Armored Division (SPEARHEAD) launched a counter offensive designed to drive southeast, link up with Patton's army, and trap the overextended Germans behind a wall of steel. From the 3rd through the 9th, Spearhead ground eastward, pushing against stout resistance from German rearguard elements determined to slow the American advance. After a brief respite Spearhead resumed the lead on 13 January, battling village-to-village until they were relieved on the 21st for rest and rehabilitation.

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On this day (14 November) in 1965 elements of the United States Army's 1st Cavalry division conducted the first large scale helicopter air assault in history by landing in the Ia Drang valley in the central highlands South Vietnam. Their goal was to fix in place and destroy North Vietnamese Army regiments believed to be in the area.

On this day in history, 19 October 1842, elements of the United States Navy and Marines heroically seized a fort in Monterey, CA (then a Mexican possession) from the Mexican defenders. There was only one blemish to this story... we weren't at war with Mexico and taking of the fort occurred as part of a misunderstanding!

On 08 October 1918, Corporal Alvin York of the 82nd Division performed arguably the greatest American feat of individual bravery during the First World War (another notable contender, and much less known, is Henry Johnson, AKA "Black Death" of the Harlem Hellfighters -- I'll write about that badass when I get the right relics).

The ACU is dead. Long live the ACU! It is now officially “military history” so I shall post about it: On this day in history, the Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) uniform has finally and mercifully been completely phased out of Army service, replaced instead with a uniform in the Operation Camouflage Pattern (OCP). Of note the uniform will still be referred to as the Army Combat Uniform (ACU).