The Soldier Nobody Knew: America's Unknown of 1921
On November 11, 1921, an unidentified American soldier from World War I was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in a state funeral led by President Harding.
Tagged: military
"Love Day": The Invasion of Okinawa Begins
On April 1, 1945, more than 50,000 U.S. troops stormed ashore on Okinawa, opening the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War.
The Army Medal of Honor Is Born
On July 12, 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed the bill creating the Army Medal of Honor — America's highest award for battlefield valor.
150 Against 4,000: The Night They Held Rorke's Drift
On January 22, 1879, about 150 British soldiers held a mission station in South Africa against some 4,000 Zulu warriors through a night of hand-to-hand fighting.
"It Is Well That War Is So Terrible"
On December 13, 1862, Union troops launched wave after wave of frontal assaults against Confederate defenses at Marye's Heights, in one of the Civil War's most one-sided battles.
Four H-Bombs Over Spain: The Palomares Broken Arrow
On January 17, 1966, a mid-air collision over Palomares, Spain, scattered four American hydrogen bombs across a farming village and the sea — and started an 80-day hunt.
Washington's Spectacles: The Speech That Saved the Republic
On March 15, 1783, George Washington defused a near-mutiny of unpaid officers with an unannounced appearance and a famous line about his spectacles.
A Pen Stroke for Equality: The End of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
On December 22, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' ending the ban on openly gay service in the U.S. military.
Known But to God: The Unknown Soldier Comes Home
On November 11, 1921, an unidentified American soldier from World War I was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in a state funeral led by President Harding.
Born in a Bar: The Marine Corps' Tun Tavern Birthday
On November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress ordered two battalions of Marines raised — and recruiter Samuel Nicholas set up shop at Philadelphia's Tun Tavern.
The Civil War's Last Battle — Fought After the War Ended
On May 13, 1865, Union and Confederate troops fought the last land battle of the Civil War in Texas — more than a month after Lee surrendered.
The Day America Came Home From Vietnam
On March 29, 1973, the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam, ending America's direct role in the war.
The Purple Heart: Born on August 7, 1782, for the Common Soldier
On August 7, 1782, George Washington created America's first military decoration — a purple cloth heart honoring ordinary soldiers, not officers.
The Stroke of a Pen That Desegregated America's Military
On July 26, 1948, President Truman signed Executive Order 9981, ending official segregation in the U.S. armed forces — and the Korean War would prove it worked.
The Dawn Attack That Started the Korean War
At 4 a.m. on June 25, 1950, North Korean troops stormed across the 38th parallel, igniting a war that still shapes the world today.
Operation Barbarossa: History's Largest Invasion
On June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union with more than 3.8 million troops — the largest military offensive ever launched.
Pickett's Charge: The High-Water Mark of Gettysburg
On July 3, 1863, some 12,500 Confederates marched across open ground at Gettysburg in Pickett's Charge — and the tide of the Civil War turned.
The Battle That Ended America's Dream of a Short War
On July 21, 1861, hundreds of civilians came out to watch the Civil War's first major battle near Manassas, Virginia — and ended up fleeing for their lives as the Union army broke.