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On this day in history, June 1st 1918, a battle began that inspired two of the most Marine-like catch phrases ever uttered. This was the Battle of Belleau Wood, which not only quickly became significant in Marine Corps lore, but also drove home the point that the US was willing to pull its share of the fight -- even if we had a lot to learn.
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On this day in history, May 14th 1918, an incredible act of heroism was performed that earned perhaps the most badass nickname ever bestowed upon a US Soldier. 102 years ago (William) Henry Johnson, fighting for his country, his friend, and his life, gained the moniker "Black Death".
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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 April 16th 1865, Easter Sunday, the last large scale engagement of the American Civil War was fought in Columbus, GA. Columbus is known to most current service members as the town immediately outside the gates of Fort Benning. US Army Fort Benning itself is the home of the Infantry branch, and more recently has become home to the Armor Branch, morphing into the Army's Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE).
Click below to read more! On this day in history, April 11th 1900, some (presumably) bored cavalry trooper stood in a line and turned in his carbine to be upgraded at the arsenal. And this pictured carbine MAY have been one of those. On this day, the 6th Cavalry Regiment turned in their Model 1896 carbines, presumably receiving fresh new Model 1899 carbines in return, shortly before shipping off to China.
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! 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.
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! |
Jon K.Weapons collector, history buff, Army officer, Pug enthusiast. Archives
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