#TDIDCH: July 26, 1947 – POTUS Harry Truman signs into law the National Security Act, one of the most important pieces of legislation in American history. Most of provisions will not take effect until September 18, 1947.
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The visionary National Security Act was a MASSIVE restructuring of the American government and military. It served as the framework for today's military and for most foreign policy making ever since.
The bill did the following:
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1⃣Established the Department of Defense with its own Secretary to oversee and unify the Army & Navy.
With the burgeoning Cold War with the Soviet Union, Truman knew we could no longer isolate land and sea power in separate departments.
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2⃣Did away with the Department of War and replaced it with the Department of the Army. The Army, already a military service, was now its own military department and would now have a presidentially-appointed civilian Secretary.
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3⃣Established the White House-based, civilian-run National Security Council to coordinate all agencies of foreign policy and to advise the President.
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4⃣Established the CIA, our first peacetime non-military intelligence agency, to gather intelligence and carry out covert operations in foreign nations.
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5⃣Gave us the @usairforce as a separate military branch!!! [And deactivated the US Army Air Forces]
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6⃣ Created the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the position of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. The JCS was to consist of the Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Staff of the (new) Air Force, and the Chief of Naval Operations.
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All year we're celebrating the 70th anniversary of the XVIII Airborne Corps reactivation on Fort Bragg, NC (May 21, 1951) under Gen John Leonard (this man).
The Corps, deactivated at the end of WWII, was reestablished during the early Cold War to focus on the Soviets
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To commemorate the past 70 years since our rebirth, we posed current Sky Dragon Soldiers in authentic uniforms and kit worn by their predecessors from the seven major periods of service since reactivation.
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When the 🆕 XVIII Airborne started in 1951, the Sky Dragon Soldier wore this plain uniform. This Soldier [kept out of the Korean War to focus on Europe] was prepared to jump behind the Soviet front lines and fight his way forward to meet with friendly mechanized forces
The 10th Mountain Division opened the Afghanistan theater in 2001, deploying to Uzbekistan and then Bagram in the months after 9/11 as the first conventional HQ there.
It is fitting then that 10th Mountain is the final conventional HQ out of Afghanistan.
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In between, the 10th Mountain has gone in and out of Afghanistan repeatedly.
The Climb To Glory division’s commitment throughout our war in Afghanistan is exemplified by one Soldier in particular.
That Soldier is this man, Jeff Becker.
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Jeff Becker, a combat engineer, deployed with 10th Mountain to Afghanistan right after 9/11.
First In.
He fought in Operation Anaconda as a young buck sergeant.
Today saw a milestone moment in the lifespan of one of our Army’s reliable, rock-steady organizations: the blue-and-white colors of the @10MTNDIV changed hands for the 30th time.
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Over its lifespan, some of our Nation's most important leaders and most memorable characters commanded the 10th Mountain Division.
Let's consider some of the Soldiers who have led the Climb To Glory Division.
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LLoyd Jones, the first commander, assumed the 10th Light Division (Alpine) in July, 1943.
Lloyd Jones, set in motion this grand institution, developing a division of tough Soldiers.
#TDIDCH: July 5, 1950 - Over the previous 4 days, #TDIDCH has been following the movement of Task Force Smith from Japan into Korea. 71 years ago today, saw the Battle for Osan, the first engagement between the US and North Korea during the Korean War.
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TF Smith was the lead US force during this battle.
To recap the preceding days: Dawn on Sunday, 25 June 1950, North Korean People’s Arm) crashed through the 38th Parallel into democratic South Korea; 8th Army sends a delaying force of 400 (TF Smith) into Korea by sea
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July 5, 1950 - Early, early morning: Task Force Smith moves out of Pyeongtaek in dozens of trucks in blackout condition in a pouring rain. The men reach their position at 3 a.m and are dug in by daylight.
18th Airborne Corps Patch Week™️ continues. The first patch we're going to cover is this one.
The story of the 82nd Airborne Division patch is wrapped up in myth and misunderstood history. So, let's explain it.
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The story of this patch goes back to the summer of 1917. The 82nd Division (25 years before it was Airborne) formed on Camp Gordon, Georgia for WWI. The new division needed an insignia.
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This was the unit patch. What did this design mean? Nothing at all. This was simply the shipping label used to mark the 82nd Division's equipment on boats headed to France. Eben Swift, 1st Division commander, lazily appropriated this shipping label for the unit patch!