"These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the Continue Reading
World War II
Battle of the Bridge: A Company, 1-505th at La Fiere Bridge
75 years ago, units of the American Paratroopers had already landed behind German lines in France. One such unit was the 505thParachute Infantry Continue Reading
Paratroopers of WWII: Double Volunteers
When soldiers are asked why they volunteered for the paratroopers, their responses come in many forms. Many men signed up to be in the Airborne Continue Reading
Roots of Airborne Success: The Parachute Test Platoon
The American Airborne concept first suggested in World War I, became a need heading into World War II. The war started years before direct American Continue Reading
D-Day: Rangers Lead The Way
One of the highlights of my last trip to France was the three days I spent in Normandy, the site of the D-Day invasion. As a professional military Continue Reading
Veteran Voices Part 1: Don’t Let Silence Be the Story of Your Life
by David Chrisinger Anyone who has studied war or its after-effects in any depth has probably heard simply that “war is hell.” That’s it. Nothing Continue Reading
Enemy Vets
by Frank Pauc This first appeared in Frank’s blog on October 28, 2021 [and HJ on November 2, 2021]. It is republished here with Continue Reading
The Mark of Those Lost, and Those Left Behind
I was on a plane into Dulles after 911. When the plane approached the gate, the captain made an announcement. "Please remain seated as we are carrying Continue Reading
Hope in Hell: Letters from Inside Auschwitz
"Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory, there would be no civilization, no society, no future." — Auschwitz survivor and author Elie Continue Reading
You Are What You Eat
Maybe some of you remember registering for the draft agonizing if you were a conscientious objector or not. You were reminded that you don't get to Continue Reading
A Happy Accident: The National Museum of the Pacific War
My friend and I were looking forward to the Band of Brothers 20th-anniversary symposium at the National World War II Museum when we received a Continue Reading
Merrill’s Marauders on their Final Mission: Get in the Fight!
This first appeared in The Havok Journal on July 27, 2020. ______________ Popularly known as the "Merrill's Marauders," this storied unit is partially Continue Reading