Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia on this day in 1865, when his troops were trapped by the imminent link up of two massive Union armies. On April 8, General Geroge Custer, commanding the 3rd Division of Phil Sheridan’s Cavalry Corps, had seized the supply train at Appomattox. Lee’s only hope lay in breaking out past the … Read More
April 8 John Crews Medal of Honor
John Crews earned the Medal of Honor in the closing days of World War II when he single-handedly silenced two German machine gun positions though badly wounded himself. Honor and remember him. Crews started the War as an MP, overseeing German prisoners in North Africa, but by 1944 he was in the infantry. Crews also received the Silver Star for … Read More
April 5 Sadao Munemori Medal of Honor
Sadao Munemori, a Private First Class in the 100th Infantry Battalion, known as the “Go For Broke” unit made up of Japanese-Americans, earned the Medal of Honor posthumously on this day in Italy, when he made numerous single-man rushes on German machine gun nests that had pinned down his company. Honor and remember him! Munemori had knocked out two positions … Read More
April 4 Paul Ray Smith
Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith earned the Medal of Honor posthumously on this day in Iraq, when he led outnumbered American soldiers against a determined and overwhelming Iraqi force. He was killed while manning a .50 cal in the open, beating back the enemy troops. Honor and remember him!
April 3 Walter Wetzel Medal of Honor
Walter Wetzel earned the Medal of Honor posthumously on this day in Germany, when he alerted and rallied his fellow soldiers to an impending attack, and then threw himself on a German grenade to save his buddies lives. We should honor and remember him today. Wetzel was part of the 8th Infantry Division, which had fought from Normandy through to … Read More
April 2 The Bridge At Dong Ha
Marine Captain John Ripley earned the Navy Cross on this day in 1972, when he swung hand-over-hand under the Dong Ha Bridge, setting charges to blow the span and block a North Vietnamese column during the Easter Offensive. He carried crimping charges in his teeth and dodged enemy fire to set 500 pounds of explosives. A legend in the Marine … Read More
April 1 Invasion of Okinawa
American forces launch Operation: Iceberg, the invasion of Okinawa OTD in 1945. Honor and remember the 12,500 Americans who died in this campaign.