Administration, Cold War, Vietnam

The Domino Theory

                                                   7 APRIL 1954                                           THE DOMINO THEORY In March 1938, (then) LCOL Dwight D. Eisenhower watched Hitler convince the Austrians to join an Anschluss (alliance) with Nazi Germany.  Seven months later Hitler annexed the Sudetenland (eastern Czechoslovakia).  The whole of Czechoslovakia fell Read More

Naval Aviation

Admiral Moffett and AKRON

                                                  3-4 APRIL 1933                                  ADMIRAL MOFFETT AND AKRON RADM William A. Moffett was one of our most energetic and determined Naval aviators, whose particular interest was the rigid-framed lighter-than-air (LTA) ship.  Moffett faced an uphill battle however, as zeppelins were widely thought Read More

Administration, WWI

The Virgin Islands

                                                 31 MARCH 1917                                            THE VIRGIN ISLANDS World War I had been tearing Europe apart since the summer of 1914.  Here, we struggled to stay neutral, despite the sinkings of American merchant ships carrying cargoes to the Allies.  To most Americans, WWI Read More

Destroyers, WWII Pacific

USS HALLIGAN

                                                 26 MARCH 1945                                                   USS HALLIGAN The bloody and bitter fight for Iwo Jima had barely begun to quiet before the next target on the relentless march toward Japan was determined–Okinawa.  Here the Marines expected yet another tenacious fight to the death Read More

Administration, WWI

The Yeomanettes

                                                 19 MARCH 1917                                             THE YEOMANETTES By the Spring of 1917 the “Great War” had been raging in Europe for several years and a yet neutral America was being drawn ever closer to the fray.  Noting the gathering war clouds, Congress had Read More

Civil War, Gunboats

EASTPORT Before Fort de Russy

                                              12-14 MARCH 1864                                EASTPORT BEFORE FORT DE RUSSY The year 1863 had seen a turn in the Civil War in favor of the Union.  A Confederate foray into the north had been reversed at Gettysburg and the last Rebel stronghold on Read More

Naval Aviation, Vietnam

“Top Gun”

                                                  3 MARCH 1969                                                      “TOP GUN” During the Korean Conflict US warplanes dogfought MiG-15s, with the superior American jets and well-trained US pilots scoring kill ratios as high as 12:1.  But by the Vietnam War two decades later, Communist aircraft technology had Read More

Land Ops, Revolutionary War

Leslie’s Retreat

                                              26 FEBRUARY 1775                                               LESLIE’S RETREAT The garrisoning of Royal troops in the private homes of Boston residents risked the discovery of weapons and munitions stores hidden by Patriot colonials.  Such stores were secretly moved out of the city, prompting periodic expeditions Read More

China Station, Gunboats

“The Sand Pebbles”

                                              21 FEBRUARY 1900                                            “THE SAND PEBBLES” Factional turmoil in 1920s China surrounding the emergence of the Nationalist Chinese movement led multiple western nations to protect their citizens and commercial shipping on China’s rivers with naval forces.  Richard McKenna’s novel The Sand Read More