On October 17, 1781, a British office waiving a white handkerchief approached the besieging forces at Yorktown to ask the French and Americans for terms of surrender. 

Army Sergeant Max Thompson received the Medal of Honor for single-handedly attacking a series of German emplacements despite being wounded himself.  

Junior Van Noy received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic leadership during fighting in New Guinea, when he stayed at his machine gun post despite being wounded, and slaughtered half of the attacking Japanese.  

Pappy Boyington received the Medal of Honor for his heroic leadership over the Pacific, leading his Marine fighter squadron against superior Japanese forces and always leading by example. 

General John Burgoyne surrenders to General Horatio Gates at the Battle of Saratoga, the key American victory that saved the Revolution and brought the French in to support American.           

Pretty incredible Marine Corps story… Ralph Talbot earned the Medal of Honor posthumously for his leadership flying over France in World War I. He was the first Marine aviator to earn the award, but his navigator/observer in the action for which he earned the MoH, Gunnery Sergeant Robert Robinson, also earned the MoH. Talbot joined the Navy from Yale in … Read More

Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier on this day!

Garrett Morgan, an African American inventor, received a patent for the first gas mask ever created.

Mary Ludwig Hayes, known as Molly Pitcher, who fought in her husband’s place after he was shot down at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778, swabbing and loading Continental Army cannons during the American victory, was born on this day.

Samuel Woodfill, an Army legend, received the Medal of Honor for his heroic leadership in France in World War I, when he led his company in over running several German machine gun emplacements, killing the enemy with rifle, pistol and pick ax.