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Another move means another house to decorate. Fortunately since Allie collects trench art, likes my propaganda posters, and doesn't mind a bunch of bayonets hanging on the wall in my study we are able to keep the "Live, Laugh, Love" stuff to a minimum!
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On the night of 14 August 1945, rogue Japanese officers made a last-minute attempt to stop the transmission of a surrender message by Emperor Hirohito. If they would have been successful in continuing the war they would have likely doomed the Japanese people to use truly last-ditch weapons such as this "Pole Bayonet" in the defense of their home islands.
Click below to read more! On this day in history, June 18th 1916, National Guard units were mobilized for service along the Mexican border. While the whole Pancho Villa Punitive Expedition is extremely fascinating in its own right, what makes it even cooler to me is that the pictured rifle was actually there in the Texas scrub.
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On this day in history, 27 April 1945, the Lapland War officially came to a close. Most folks who are only casually aware of WW2 history probably don't have Finland pop into mind as an Axis co-belligerent. Fewer likely know the reason for this alignment, which was driven primarily by Finland's belligerent, communist, and land-grabby neighbor -- the Soviet Union. Fewer still (including myself until quite recently) are aware that the Finns eventually turned on their former German allies in the last year of the war in a bid to retain Finnish independence from a resurgent Red Army.
Click below to read more! The Request for the American Enfield -- And a Tangential Personal Connection to History (Model 1917)4/19/2020 April 19th, 1917. Less than two weeks after the US declaration of war on Germany, General Crozier -- the US Army's Chief of Ordnance -- clarified his request for authority to secure additional small arms for the war effort. Weapons produced outside of the national armories were desperately needed to make up for the dramatic shortage of m1903 rifles and m1911 pistols. The goal was to put serviceable, and somewhat standardized, weapons in the hands of the AEF Soldiers and Marines that would soon be sent overseas to join the fight.
Click below to read more! 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.
Click below to read more!  "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. Click below to read more! The recently acquired crown jewel of my US weapons collection was in fact a fairly mediocre sniper rifle when in service. But that's OK because it is part of the history of the exigencies of war, and it is still a pretty excellent example I'm stoked to have! All documents are thanks to the great work of Andrew Stolinski of the Archival Research Group, and are used with permission. Make sure to check ARG out!
Click below to read more! 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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Jon K.Weapons collector, history buff, Army officer, Pug enthusiast. Archives
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