Posted on 09/18/2019 5:42:41 AM PDT by fugazi
Today’s post is in honor of Spc. Chazray C. Clark, who was killed by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province on this day in 2011. The 24-year-old native of Ecorse, Mich. was assigned to 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
1862: A day after the bloody Battle of Antietam, Gen. George B. McClellan blows yet another opportunity to capture Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, perhaps ending the Civil War. While Lee abandons his invasion of Maryland and turns south, McClellan allows the significantly outnumbered Confederates to withdraw to Virginia without pursuit.
1906: As revolution sweeps Cuba, the auxiliary cruiser USS Dixie (AD-1) disembarks a battalion of Marines at Cienfuegos to help protect American-owned plantations.
1941: In preparation for World War II, 19 divisions of soldiers – 400,000 troops – participate in a series of massive exercises in Louisiana. In addition to learning how to direct and supply such a large force, Gen. George Marshall’s growing army is testing the effectiveness of combined-arms mechanized units that would be facing the German military and their (so-far) unstoppable blitzkrieg tactics.
26 soldiers will die during the maneuvers, but the Army gains experience that will prove invaluable during the upcoming war. Among those participating are future commanders Dwight Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, Mark Clark, and George Patton, who says “If you could take these tanks through Louisiana, you could take them through Hell.”
1942: Over 4,000 Marines of the 7th Marine Regiment land at Guadalcanal and join the battle, along with much-needed supplies. Maj. Gen. Archer A. Vandegrift’s men had dubbed the invasion “Operation Shoestring” as the Navy only managed to unload half of the supplies on Guadalcanal before departing. After suffering heavy casualties, the Marine 1st Parachute
(Excerpt) Read more at victoryinstitute.net ...
MacArthur wanted Pelelieu to fulfill his I Shall Return promise even though the Philippines should have come later. I’d hate to be one of those who died over his vanity.
How to describe “brass ball.”
” Pfc. Arthur J. Jackson moves forward through a barrage of heavy enemy fire. He reaches a pillbox containing 35 enemy soldiers, pinning them in with automatic weapons fire, then hurling white phosphorous grenades and explosive charges into the position, killing all of its occupants. He then turned his attention to two nearby positions, silencing them as well.
Although advancing alone and in the face of heavy fire, Pfc. Jackson continued on to wipe out a total of 12 positions and neutralized 50 enemy soldiers, contributing “essentially to the complete annihilation of the enemy in the southern sector of the island.” Jackson was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.”
Appreciate this post.
Thank you.
How about all those G.I.s and Filipino Scouts he sacrificed to earn himself a Medal of Honor?
If they showed a guy in a movie doing what Pfc. Jackson did, people would think it was unrealistic that one man could do all that. Incredible.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
