In World War II alone, some 16 million Americans donned U.S. military uniforms. From 1775-2024, more than 1,300,000 Americans have died in war. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_military_casualties_of_war
For me, a civilian who never served, this 'holiday' is not a time to wildly party hearty (although I did when I was young).
It is a time of special remembrance. From Revolutionary War patriot graves until today, with American forces deployed around the globe, we are - for all our missteps and sins - the great power that holds the worst human authoritarians at bay. We do not have as our national goal to ravage and conquer territories near us (rest easy, Canada). At times in the past we were that nation; we are not that nation today.
I'm rambling, I do apologize. My thought in creating this thread was to hope friends here might post their favorite stories about veterans, from whatever time and moment. I'll start with Earnest E. Evans, October 1944, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, what was the largest naval engagement of WWII and possibly in world history.
The key to this story is Adm. Halsey taking the feint of IJN carriers spotted to the north, and the main U.S. fleet was on it's way with the big Essex Class carriers, battleships (Iowa and New Jersey included) and a slew of other combatants. This left Gen. MacArthur's landing force on Leyte island (Philippines) guarded only by a handful of small ships, including escort carriers.
By the gods, what a story, we Americans can do Cdr. Evans honor by knowing it.
I look forward, with anticipation, to stories others might post in this thread.
Evans
Evans story in a more folkstyle telling
For me, a civilian who never served, this 'holiday' is not a time to wildly party hearty (although I did when I was young).
It is a time of special remembrance. From Revolutionary War patriot graves until today, with American forces deployed around the globe, we are - for all our missteps and sins - the great power that holds the worst human authoritarians at bay. We do not have as our national goal to ravage and conquer territories near us (rest easy, Canada). At times in the past we were that nation; we are not that nation today.
I'm rambling, I do apologize. My thought in creating this thread was to hope friends here might post their favorite stories about veterans, from whatever time and moment. I'll start with Earnest E. Evans, October 1944, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, what was the largest naval engagement of WWII and possibly in world history.
The key to this story is Adm. Halsey taking the feint of IJN carriers spotted to the north, and the main U.S. fleet was on it's way with the big Essex Class carriers, battleships (Iowa and New Jersey included) and a slew of other combatants. This left Gen. MacArthur's landing force on Leyte island (Philippines) guarded only by a handful of small ships, including escort carriers.
By the gods, what a story, we Americans can do Cdr. Evans honor by knowing it.
I look forward, with anticipation, to stories others might post in this thread.
Evans
Evans story in a more folkstyle telling
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