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!

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On this day in history, January 28th 1909, US troops started leaving Cuba after a 2+ year occupation -- but they weren't leaving all of it. Pursuant to a 1903 lease that built upon earlier agreements, the US retained indefinite control of 45 square miles of Cuban land and water for a naval facility and coaling station.

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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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So Allie and I just finished watching the final season of "The Man in the High Castle", an alternate history of what might have been if the Axis won WW2. The show is based on a 1962 novel with the same premise by Phillip K. Dick. But dire prognostications about "what could happen" if America lost were happening almost 20 years before Dick published his work.

To me, American Locomotive is the king of terrifyingly dark WW2 advertising. They had a run of various adverts in 1943 that are designed to shock the reader with the consequences of defeat and inspire (or coerce) them into throwing their full support behind the war effort.

I am aware of 6 advertisements, all of which I have collected and presented here. While all are striking, the most stark to me the one where we the viewer are staring down the barrels of a Japanese firing squad while the rising sun flies over the capitol building.
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Do any of these give you the willies, even just a little bit, despite WW2 being so far in the past?

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.

Long before the WW2 era Army decided to name everything the M1 (rifle, carbine, smg, helmet, etc), the Army used year of adoption as their naming convention.
This led to some pretty silly results, with many different types of gear sharing the same model designation.
I present to you the:
-m1917 Rifle
-m1917 Trench Knife
-m1917 Bolo Knife
-m1917 Helmet
-m1917 Bayonet
-m1917 Revolver (There were two revolvers, a S&W and a Colt variant both named m1917)
Not pictured are the m1917 Cartridge Belt, the m1917 Machine Gun, and a host of others.
While today’s system isn’t perfect (I.e. the M9 is both a pistol and a bayonet), it is a little less repetitive than the pre-ww1 system. But just to keep things wacky we’ve gone hog wild with acronyms. So instead of “Model 1983 Light Truck” we have the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), and instead of “Model 19XX Scout Optic” we have the Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System (LRAS3).
Damn it, bring back the year designations...

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).