US Military History Throughout The Years

Short bits of history you know and some you may not!

• The Unknown Soldier: Sunday, October 23, 1921 – Four unknown American Soldiers would be brought from the cemeteries of sine-Marne, Meuse-Argonne, Somme, and St. Mihiel to the Hotel de Ville in France. All had died during battles American forces took part in, with all attempts to identify them having failed. Sergeant Edward F. Younger was selected to pick one of the Soldiers to represent the 77,000 Americans that died during the war and be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. SGT Younger would enter the mortuary room where the unknowns were held, selecting one after a few minutes of silent thought. The Unknown would be brought back the USA and would be the first Soldier to be buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on 11 November 1921. During the ceremony President Harding would award the Unknown with the Medal of Honor and Distinguished Service Cross, with foreign dignitaries adding more medals. The Unknown Soldier of WW1 is accompanied currently by Unknowns from WW2 and the Korean War.
• Ace of the Fabled Fifteen: Tuesday, October 24, 1944 – During the Battle of Leyte Gulf Commander David McCampbell becomes the US Navy’s “Ace of Aces” by achieving Ace status twice in one day. McCampbell was the Commander of Air Group 15, the Fabled Fifteen and was in the USS Essex. As already an Ace by this time, and the CAG, he wasn’t supposed to be flying. When a group of 60 Japanese planes appeared him and his wingman would go up. They were it to go up, as the majority of the rest of the aircraft that would have been able to support him were already flying against other enemy formations. Between the two of them they would take down 15 enemy aircraft, using up all their ammo and landing without any fuel left. McCampbell would take down 9 aircraft with his wingman taking down 6. Commander McCampbell would receive the Medal of Honor for his actions, among other feats he accomplished earlier in the war and set the US single mission aerial combat record.
• USS Tang: Wednesday, October 25, 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 be rescued, being captured by the Japanese and held as POWs for the rest of the war. The captain Richard O’Kane would receive the Medal of Honor for actions during the USS Tang’s final patrol. The USS Tang was the most successful submarine during WW2 sinking 116,454 tons, an amount equated to the 33 enemy ships she sunk during her 5 patrols.

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