11 JAN 2001 – In an unexpected move the US Army unveils its newest slogan. After criticism of only advertising during male only televised sports, the Army broadcast its newest commercial during the airing of a new Friends episode. The move was to engage a wider audience, and to help shake to image of an all male fighting force. The…
25-26 December 1776 – With an aim to raise low morale across the Continental Army, General George Washington leads a small force across the Delaware River to attack Trenton, New Jersey. Within the town was an isolated Hessian force, German auxiliaries in service of the British military, of around 1,400 soldiers. Washington’s plan of attack involved…
13 December 1952 – The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are moved from the Library of Congress to the National Archives. The move was in order to place the Charters of Freedom, The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, all in one location for public access. The move was accompanied with a parade and…
7 December 1941 – At 7:55 am 183 Japanese aircraft would attack the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor located on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The intent of the Japanese attack was to disable and destroy as much of the American fleet as possible, in order to allow the Japanese as little interference as possible as…
25 November 1783 – Evacuation Day. On this day in 1783 the last of the British Army left New York following the end of the Revolutionary War. After the Battle of Long Island, in 1776, the city had remained in British control with the British flag flying above Fort George till the British evacuation. During the British occupation…
15 November 1969 – During operations in the Barents Sea, the USS Gato, a nuclear powered submarine, would collide with the Soviet submarine K-19 at a depth of around 200 feet. The collision would completely destroy the sonar in K-19s forward areas and mangle its front torpedo tube doors. The K-19 would quickly have to return to port…
10 November 1775 – During the Second Continental Congress a resolution would be passed that “two battalions of Marines be raised”. The Continental Marines would serve as a landing force for the recently created Continental Navy. The Continental Marines would be commanded by Captain Samuel Nicholas, who is recognized as the first Commandant of the Marine Corps. The Continental Marines would go on to serve…
2 November 1783- Upon the end of the Revolutionary War and America gained its independence, the Continental Army was reduced in size. General George Washington would put forth plans for a peace time army, comprised of a small regular army, a well trained militia, a system of arsenals and a training academy for officers and engineers.…
25 October 1944 –The submarine USS Tang would sink during her fifth and final war patrol during WW2. The USS Tang was sunk by a malfunctioning torpedo that she had fired, when fired it quickly turned left back towards the USS Tang, the submarine attempted to evade but was still struck violently. Only nine Sailors survived to…
20 October 1950 – The 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team conducts the first airborne operation during the Korean War. The Regiment would jump near the North Korean towns of Sukchon and Sunchon. Their mission was to capture North Korean officials fleeing Pyongyang and to rescue captured American Soldiers in the area as well. Paratroopers of the 1st and 3rd Battalions…
10 October 2001 – The first US death during Operation Enduring Freedom. US Air Force Master Sergeant Evander Andrews would die in a forklift accident while constructing an airfield in Qatar. In total over 2,200 US Service Members died during the duration of Operation Enduring Freedom. 11 October 1951 – During the Korean War the USMC would officially put helicopters…
6 October 1781 –The last battle. After some initial skirmishes and movements the Continental Army under General George Washington began the siege of British forces, under Cornwallis, at Yorktown. A combined American and French force would begin digging trenches ever closer to the British defenses in order to bombard them with artillery. After several days of bombardment …
30 September 1949 – The Berlin Airlift officially ends. The Berlin Blockade was one of the first international crises of the Cold War. Due to conflicting relations with the Western Allies after WW2, the USSR cut off all supply routes to West Berlin from the Allies. With the population of West Berlin being cut off from all food,…
20 September 1777 – The Paoli Massacre. Following American retreats after the Battle of Brandywine and Battle of the Clouds, George Washington left a force under the command of Brigadier General Anthony Wayne behind to harass British troops moving towards Philadelphia. At this time Philadelphia was the capital of the newly born USA. General Anthony Wayne camped his force fairly close to British troops…
15 September 1945 – The US Department of War issues figures showing that a total of 7,306,000 soldiers (including a small number of Allied forces and civilians) and 126,859,000 tons of war cargo have been moved from American ports to all fronts between December 1941 and August 31, 1945. 15 September 1950 – Operation Chromite. After a string of hard…
During the early morning of 11 September, 19 hijackers would take control of four commercial aircraft. All aircraft were originally headed for the west coast, thus loaded heavy with fuel for the flight. The four aircraft were American Airlines Flight 11 and 77, along with United Airlines Flight 93 and 175. At 8:46 AM, five hijackers…
9 September 1942 – During her second patrol as a weather ship for the US Coast Guard the USCGC Muskeget would disappear after sending a report without a trace. The USCGC Muskeget was on loan from the US Navy during WW2 and had a crew of 114. At the time it was unknown what at happened to the ship and all crew…
30 August 2003 – In conjunction of with Operation Mountain Sweep, US Army forces with the Afghan National Army conducted Operation Viper. The purpose of the operation was to find suspected Taliban fighters and supporters in the mountains of Zabul Province and neutralize them. Members of the 10th Mountain Division, 5th Special Forces Group and around 1,000 ANA…
This Week in Army History – 8/23 – 8/29 25 August 1814 – During the War of 1812, British forces would attack and set fire to Washington City, present day Washington D.C. The attack and subsequent burning of Washington was in retaliation of American attacks, and burning, on the Canadian cities of York and Niagara. The US Capitol,…
9 August 1921 –In order to assist the returning American veterans of WW1, Congress creates the Veterans Bureau. The Bureau consolidated the Bureau of War Risk Insurance, Public Health Service and the Federal Board of Vocational Education under one roof. Two other agencies were left separate, the Bureau of Pensions of the Interior Department and the National Homes…
