In late 1776, morale in the Continental Army was at a low after losses at the Battle of White Plains in October and at Forts Washington and Lee in November.
Chased by the British, General George Washington retreated across New Jersey and into Pennsylvania.
General Washington led his men across the icy Delaware River and on a ten-mile march into Trenton, New Jersey, where they surprised a garrison of 1,500 Hessians.
On December 26, behind schedule and with only one third of his men because of a nor’easter, the Americans arrived on the outskirts of Trenton around daybreak. Washington splits his force into two columns.
One, commanded by Major General Nathaniel Greene, attacked from the north and a second, under Major General John Sullivan, attacked from the west to cut the line of retreat to the south.
The army that the British thought was all but defeated destroyed a major garrison and suffered very few casualties in a battle that was over in about an hour.
On September 5, The Royal Navy, attempting to sail up the Bay to Gen. Cornwallis, is met by French warships at the mouth of the Chesapeake. In this Battle of the Capes, the British fleet is soundly defeated trapping British troops without supplies and much-needed reinforcements.
On September 12, 1918, the American Expeditionary Forces under Commander General John J. Pershing launched its first major offensive in Europe as an independent army.
The U.S.-led attack occurred in the Saint-Mihiel salient, a triangular area of land between Verdun and Nancy occupied by the German army since the fall of 1914.
The Saint-Mihiel salient was strategically important as it hindered rail communications between Paris and the eastern sections of the front—eliminating the salient was necessary before the final Allied offensive of the war could begin.
Today, we salute and honor the #Veterans of the #OperationDesertStorm. Listen as SFC (Ret.) Fred W. Brown Jr. recounts his experience from thirty years ago.
Let's celebrate their service! Share a photo or a story or your favorite #DesertStorm Vet.
By January 1991, the allied coalition against Iraq had reached a strength of 700,000 troops, including 540,000 U.S. personnel and smaller numbers of British, French, Egyptians, Saudis, Syrians, and several other national contingents.
On this day in 1944, Sgt. Alfred Nietzel fought tenaciously to repel a German counter-attack during WWII. Realizing he desperately needed reinforcements, Nietzel ordered his men back to the company command post to secure aid.
Nietzel remained alone in the forward position, using his machine gun to cover their movements and hold off the German advance. After expending his ammunition, Nietzel began firing his rifle into the attacking ranks until he was killed by an enemy grenade.
Nearly 70 years later after his heroic actions, Nietzel’s Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded to the #MedalofHonor by President Obama, March 18, 2014. Robert Nietzel accepted the posthumous award on behalf of his cousin, Sgt. Alfred B. Nietzel.
Out of 24 Soldiers awarded the #MedalofHonor during the Valor 24 ceremony in 2014, Master Sgt. Jose Rodela was one of only three living recipients to receive the medal for his actions during the Vietnam War.
On Sept. 1, 1969, Rodela’s battalion came under an intense barrage of mortar, rocket and machine gun fire.
Despite wounds to his back and head, Rodela repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire as he single-handedly assaulted and knocked out the B-40 rocket position.