CMH Profile picture
May 27 7 tweets 4 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
27 MAY 1944 – BATTLE OF BIAK ISLAND BEGINS #WWII

As GEN Douglas MacArthur’s forces advanced towards the Philippines, they required airstrips which could accommodate heavy bombers. The airfields on Biak Island, at the western end of New Guinea, made the island a prime target. Image
On 27 MAY the 41st ID began its attack when the first wave landed as planned, but strong currents pushed follow-on units west of their designated beaches. The Japanese garrison was surprised and offered little early resistance.
#USArmy #TRADOC #WW2 #WW2History #Armyhistory Image
The heat, thick vegetation, rugged terrain, and Japanese entrenched in caves in a 200-foot-high cliff slowed the U.S. advance, but 162d Infantry Regiment patrols had reached within 200yards of the airfields by the following morning.
#ShermanTank #MilitaryHistory Image
The 162d was repulsed by a strong counterattack, fighting an unseen enemy until ordered to withdraw in late afternoon. Another enemy counterattack supported by light tanks followed the next morning but was quickly broken by the 162d and the U.S.’s superior M4 Sherman tanks.
The enemy regrouped for another attack as the Americans recognized the necessity of clearing the high ground. The 41st ID received reattachment of its 163d RCT and reinforcement with the 34th RCT of the 24th ID by 1 JUN. Image
Meanwhile the 186th Infantry, which occupied the plateau overlooking the landing beaches, pushed westward. As the 162d along the coastal road pinned the Japanese defenders down, the 186th attacked the East Caves from the rear.
Fighting devolved into a bloody struggle for every foot of the island as the Japanese defenders fought to the death, their casualties mounting to more than ten times the American killed in action. Biak Island was completely secured by mid-AUG. Image

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with CMH

CMH Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @USArmyCMH

May 29
MEMORIAL DAY HISTORY - "THESE HONORED DEAD"

Memorial Day was established as a national holiday to remember those people who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces. It is currently observed every year on the last Monday of May.

#Armyhistory #MemorialDay Image
The observance of Memorial Day originated with the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), an organization of veterans who served in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Revenue Cutter Service during the American Civil War, as a special day to honor their fallen comrades. @TradocCG
It was first called "Decoration Day," because it began as a day set aside, separately in both the North and South, when the widows and orphans of the dead would gather at the graves of their loved ones to decorate them with flowers and other remembrances. @ArmyChiefStaff Image
Read 7 tweets
Apr 6
6 APRIL 1917 U.S. DECLARES WAR ON GERMANY - #WWI

Congress formally declared war against the German Empire on 6 April 1917 bringing America into WWI which had been raging in Europe for almost 4 years. The United States later declared war on Austria-Hungary on 7 Dec 1917. Image
On 31 January 1917, Count Johann von Bernstorff, Germany's Ambassador to the United States, notified U.S. Secretary of State Robert Lansing of his country's intention to resume unrestricted submarine warfare the following day.
In response, Pres Wilson addressed Congress on 3 Feb to announce that he had severed diplomatic relations with Germany. Throughout Feb and Mar German submarines attacked and sank several U.S. flag vessels resulting in the loss of many American passengers and merchant seamen. Image
Read 7 tweets
Apr 6
6-7 APRIL 1862 - BATTLE OF SHILOH - #CivilWar
Rebel forces launched a surprise attack against the U.S. Army of the Tennessee encamped near Pittsburgh Landing, Tennessee, in the vicinity of the Shiloh Church. The battle lasted two days, and resulted in a victory for Union forces. Image
After U.S. forces penetrated the Confederate outer defense line by capturing Forts Henry and Donelson, President Abraham Lincoln ordered Major General Henry Halleck to coordinate the operations of the four western armies.

#Armyhistory #USArmy #Shiloh #TRADOC #MilitaryHistory Image
The Armies of the Ohio and the Tennessee advanced against Johnston's Confederate army at Corinth, Mississippi. Buell moved to Savannah, TN, on the Tennessee River, and Grant moved to Pittsburg Landing nine miles below Savannah. Image
Read 6 tweets
Apr 5
M48 PATTON MAIN BATTLE TANK - END OF THE VIETNAM WAR 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION

Part of the Patton family of main battle tanks, the M48 saw widespread use by the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, providing crucial infantry support, particularly in intense urban combat. Image
Originally developed in the early 1950’s as a first-generation main battle tank, the M48 was quickly modified in several variants. The model which was most common in the Vietnam War was the M48A3, developed in the late 1950’s.
#TRADOC #Armor #VietnamWar #Armyhistory #USArmy
Although it was superseded by the M60 tank in the early 1960’s, the M48 performed well in Vietnam, where the scarcity of tank-on-tank combat allowed the slightly behind-the-times M48 to shine in infantry support and convoy defense roles.
#VietnamWarHistory #VietnamVeterans Image
Read 5 tweets
Apr 5
U.S. ALLIES IN VIETNAM - END OF VIETNAM WAR 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION

Although the U.S. was the main military supporter of South Vietnam, combat troops from South Korea, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand fought in the Vietnam War as well.
#Armyhistory #USArmy #TRADOC Image
South Korea was the second-greatest contributor of forces, sending over 300,000 soldiers to Vietnam from 1965 – 1972, where they earned a reputation for combat efficiency. By the end of 1972, most foreign forces in-country were South Korean.
#VietnamWar #VietnamWarHistory Image
Australian advisors assisted the ARVN as early as 1962, and both Australia and New Zealand began sending ground combat elements in 1965, with their troops often serving together. Australia sent 60,000 soldiers over the course of the war, while New Zealand sent 3,000. Image
Read 5 tweets
Apr 5
5 APRIL 1945 - PO VALLEY CAMPAIGN BEGINS - #WWII

On 5 April 1945, Allied forces pushed across the Po River Valley, and, as German resistance crumbled, made rapid advances which ended with the surrender of the German forces in Italy on 2 May 1945.
#armyhistory #USArmy #TRADOC
After another slow, arduous advance over rugged terrain, in poor weather, against a determined, well-entrenched, and skillful enemy, by April 1945 the superbly led and combat-hardened Allied 15th Army Group enjoyed overwhelming numerical superiority on the ground and in the air.
On the evening of 2 May, the 15th Army Group headquarters, commanded by General Mark Clark, transmitted the cease-fire orders throughout northern Italy, and the remaining Axis forces laid down their arms within the next forty-eight hours.
#POValley #MilitaryHistory @USArmy
Read 5 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

:(