Today in military history: Confederate victory at Chickamauga
On Sep. 20, 1863, the Confederate Army of Tennessee defeated the Union Army at Chickamauga Creek — the “River of Death” according to the Cherokee. The Union Army of the…
Today in military history: The War of 1812 begins
On June 18, 1812, the War of 1812 began. Impressment of American sailors, a desire to expand American territory, and some good, old-fashioned high-seas fighting created enough tension between young…
Today in military history: Battle of Alamance preludes Revolutionary War
On May 16, 1771, the Battle of Alamance ended the War of the Regulation, a colonial war that some say was the start of the American Revolution. By 1771, tensions…
Today in military history: Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps is formed
On May 15, 1942, the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) was created, granting women official military status. Thousands of women enlisted, but it would be another year before the “auxiliary”…
Today in military history: Israel declares independence
On May 14, 1948, Israel declared independence, triggering an invasion from neighboring Arab states. After World War I, the British and French divided the former Ottoman Empire territory in the…
Today in military history: 173rd Airborne Brigade deploys to Vietnam
On May 3, 1965, the 173rd Airborne Brigade deployed to South Vietnam. They were the first U.S. Army ground unit committed to the war that would rage on for eight…
Today in military history: Hitler commits suicide
On April 30, 1945, Adolf Hitler committed suicide by chewing a cyanide tablet and shooting himself in the head. Overkill? Or not enough kill? I’ll leave you to judge. His…
WATCH: Today in military history, Germans test Luftwaffe on Guernica
On April 26, 1937, Hitler’s army tested their powerful Luftwaffe Air Force on the town of Guernica in northern Spain. At the height of the Spanish Civil War, the small…
Today in military history: The B-52 BUFF makes its first test flight
The B-52 Stratofortress, also known as the Big Ugly Fat F*cker, or BUFF, first flew all the way back on April 15, 1952. Yeah, that’s right. Today, the B-52 is…
Today in military history: Abraham Lincoln is shot
On April 14, 1865, five days after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse and effectively ended the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln was fatally shot by John…