World War II 10/13

Oct 16, 20213 min read

This Day in History: USS Kearny is torpedoed by a German U-boat

On this day in 1941, USS Kearny participates in an emergency rescue mission—and it would be attacked by the Germans. But wasn’t the...

This Day in History: Doris Miller, an “improbable American hero”

tara

Oct 12, 20213 min read

This Day in History: Doris Miller, an “improbable American hero”

On this day in 1919, an “improbable American hero” is born. Doris “Dorie” Miller was the grandson of slaves and the son of poor Texas...

This Day in History: Leon Vance, a hero who helped make D-Day possible

tara

Oct 11, 20213 min read

This Day in History: Leon Vance, a hero who helped make D-Day possible

On this day in 1946, an American pilot is awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery over the skies of northern France. Lt. Col. Leon...

This Day in History: George Wahlen at Iwo Jima

tara

Oct 5, 20214 min read

This Day in History: George Wahlen at Iwo Jima

On this day in 1945, a Corpsman is awarded the Medal of Honor. Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class George E. Wahlen’s citation that day...

This Day in History: John Cromwell, a captain who went down with his ship

tara

Sep 10, 20213 min read

This Day in History: John Cromwell, a captain who went down with his ship

On this day in 1901, a hero is born. Captain John P. Cromwell would become the most senior submariner to receive the Medal of Honor...

This Day in History: Calvin Spann, Tuskegee Airman

tara

Sep 6, 20213 min read

This Day in History: Calvin Spann, Tuskegee Airman

On this day in 2015, Lt. Calvin J. Spann passes away at the age of 90. Decades earlier, he’d been one of the original members of the...

This Day in History: Leonard Roy Harmon, WWII hero

tara

Aug 31, 20212 min read

This Day in History: Leonard Roy Harmon, WWII hero

On this day in 1943, USS Harmon is commissioned. It was the first U.S. Navy warship to be named after a black American. The destroyer was...

This Day in History: Elizebeth Friedman, WWII codebreaker

tara

Aug 26, 20213 min read

This Day in History: Elizebeth Friedman, WWII codebreaker

On this day in 1892, the future Elizebeth Friedman is born. Elizebeth would go on to become an expert codebreaker, even cracking Nazi and...

This Day in History: The WWII Bombing of Hiroshima

tara

Aug 5, 20212 min read

This Day in History: The WWII Bombing of Hiroshima

On this day in 1945, Americans drop an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The bombing came not too long after Japan had...

This Day in History: Forrest L. Vosler's bravery over the skies of Germany

tara

Jul 29, 20213 min read

This Day in History: Forrest L. Vosler's bravery over the skies of Germany

On this day in 1923, a hero is born. Forrest L. Vosler would go on to serve in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. His...

This Day in History: George S. Rentz & his Navy Cross

tara

Jul 25, 20213 min read

This Day in History: George S. Rentz & his Navy Cross

On this day in 1882, a hero is born. George S. Rentz would go on to become the only Navy Chaplain to receive a Navy Cross during World...

This Day in History: David C. Waybur single-handedly takes out a tank

tara

Jul 17, 20212 min read

This Day in History: David C. Waybur single-handedly takes out a tank

On this day in 1943, a U.S. soldier engages in an action that would earn him the Medal of Honor. Would you believe that he took out a...

This Day in History: The top-secret Manhattan Project

tara

Jul 16, 20213 min read

This Day in History: The top-secret Manhattan Project

On this day in 1945, the world’s first atomic bomb is detonated in New Mexico. The top-secret Manhattan Project had succeeded....

This Day in History: Roy W. Harmon, Medal of Honor recipient

tara

Jul 12, 20213 min read

This Day in History: Roy W. Harmon, Medal of Honor recipient

On this day in 1944, a U.S. soldier engages in a heroic action. Roy W. “Bill” Harmon would later receive the Medal of Honor for his...

This Day in History: William Nakamura & Frank Ono's bravery in WWII

tara

Jul 3, 20213 min read

This Day in History: William Nakamura & Frank Ono's bravery in WWII

On this day in 1944, two soldiers engage in an action that would earn each a Medal of Honor. William K. Nakamura and Frank H. Ono were...

This Day in History: The Battle of Cherbourg

tara

Jun 25, 20213 min read

This Day in History: The Battle of Cherbourg

On this day in 1944, Allied forces bombard Cherbourg, France. It had been mere weeks since the D-Day landings—but Allied leaders were...

This Day in History: Americans raise a flag over Okinawa

tara

Jun 22, 20212 min read

This Day in History: Americans raise a flag over Okinawa

On this day in 1945, Americans raise a flag over the Japanese island of Okinawa. The nearly three-month battle to capture the island was...

This Day in History: Arthur Jackson, the “one-man Marine Corps”

tara

Jun 14, 20213 min read

This Day in History: Arthur Jackson, the “one-man Marine Corps”

On this day in 2017, a hero passes away. Arthur “Bull” Jackson is known for his courageous service during the World War II Battle of...

This Day in History: Nazi saboteurs invade the United States

tara

Jun 13, 20213 min read

This Day in History: Nazi saboteurs invade the United States

On this day in 1942, four Nazi saboteurs invade mainland America. They’d traveled across the Atlantic aboard a German submarine, coming...

This Day in History: The Janitor who was a Medal of Honor recipient

tara

May 19, 20213 min read

This Day in History: The Janitor who was a Medal of Honor recipient

On this day in 1918, a hero is born. William “Bill” Crawford is perhaps best known for shocking cadets at the Air Force Academy in the...

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