Today, June 6, marks the 82nd anniversary of DDay.
This week, June 3-7 marks the 84th anniversary of the Battle of Midway.
This week, June 3-7 marks the 84th anniversary of the Battle of Midway.
Remembering two important World War 2 events
- Thread starter Kinch
- Start date
The Big 12 and Iowa State footprint played a significant role in both events.
Frank Jack Fletcher, commander at Midway, grew up in Marshalltown and his boyhood home is still there. He fought the first three carrier battles in the history of the world and came out a victor in all three.
And Dwight Eisenhower, commander of the allied forces in Europe was from Kansas and he married a Boone girl. His trip along the.Lincoln Way and Lincoln Road generated his support for the Interstate Highway System.
Should do a memorial in the Iowa State Campus for both families.
Frank Jack Fletcher, commander at Midway, grew up in Marshalltown and his boyhood home is still there. He fought the first three carrier battles in the history of the world and came out a victor in all three.
And Dwight Eisenhower, commander of the allied forces in Europe was from Kansas and he married a Boone girl. His trip along the.Lincoln Way and Lincoln Road generated his support for the Interstate Highway System.
Should do a memorial in the Iowa State Campus for both families.
Many of these men (kids actually) were killed in the first wave at Normandy.
Richard Best sank two Japanese Carriers at Midway. He was injured during the battle and forced to retire. He said “it was sweet revenge of Pearl Harbor.” He died in 2001.
The victor at Midway
In later years there was a push to posthumously award Spruance a fifth star.
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Any history buffs should go see Pressure. I know they took liberties in the film, but the basic story tells of actions prior to D-Day and the humility of a man under pressure.
Had never heard of this guy before. Looked up his bio. Medal of Honor and Naval Cross. He was a badass.
June 22 will be 81 years since the Japanese were defeated at Okinawa
Captain John Fuller.
Iowa State engineering grad of 1941
At D-Day and Battle of the Bulge
He was the editor of the Bomb.
Iowa State engineering grad of 1941
At D-Day and Battle of the Bulge
He was the editor of the Bomb.
Kinch, hey. No doubt like you, I've been reading WWII histories for decades, particularly about the PTO. If there's an argument to be made between Fletcher and Spruance, let's do it another day. These two men were outstanding American warriors, today we celebrate them and all those who fought with them.
Here's another Iowan I'll bet you agree, Kinch, that few people likely are aware of, Hampton's Admiral William D. Leahy, the nation's senior ranking military officer in WWII. He was FDR's milirary Chief of Staff (forerunner of chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, it appears.) America's first five-star flag officer.
As part of the run-up to D-Day, he traveled home to Hampton as part of the plan to deceive Germans of D-Day's timing; if he was taking time to travel to Iowa, maybe the invasion wasn't yet on.
Should friends here wish to know more about Leahy, Wiki:
en.wikipedia.org
You know, with Sioux City's Harry Hopkins, a chief FDR aide, living in the White House for part of WWII, some influential Iowan's at the highest levels of American government during the war.
Here's another Iowan I'll bet you agree, Kinch, that few people likely are aware of, Hampton's Admiral William D. Leahy, the nation's senior ranking military officer in WWII. He was FDR's milirary Chief of Staff (forerunner of chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, it appears.) America's first five-star flag officer.
As part of the run-up to D-Day, he traveled home to Hampton as part of the plan to deceive Germans of D-Day's timing; if he was taking time to travel to Iowa, maybe the invasion wasn't yet on.
Should friends here wish to know more about Leahy, Wiki:
William D. Leahy - Wikipedia
You know, with Sioux City's Harry Hopkins, a chief FDR aide, living in the White House for part of WWII, some influential Iowan's at the highest levels of American government during the war.
It appears in December 1944, Durning was a survivor of Malmedy, where German soldiers masacred unarmed American soldiers. Man. . . .
Malmedy massacre - Wikipedia
thanks. I took down my post because like you said this is a day of remembering our nations finest. Glad you mentioned Leahy, some scholars said he was the second most powerful man in the world. Glad we can honor Iowans who played a huge role. Thanks for your input. Did not know the story of him going to Hampton.Kinch, hey. No doubt like you, I've been reading WWII histories for decades, particularly about the PTO. If there's an argument to be made between Fletcher and Spruance, let's do it another day. These two men were outstanding American warriors, today we celebrate them and all those who fought with them.
Here's another Iowan I'll bet you agree, Kinch, that few people likely are aware of, Hampton's Admiral William D. Leahy, the nation's senior ranking military officer in WWII. He was FDR's milirary Chief of Staff (forerunner of chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, it appears.) America's first five-star flag officer.
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As part of the run-up to D-Day, he traveled home to Hampton as part of the plan to deceive Germans of D-Day's timing; if he was taking time to travel to Iowa, maybe the invasion wasn't yet on.
Should friends here wish to know more about Leahy, Wiki:
William D. Leahy - Wikipedia
You know, with Sioux City's Harry Hopkins, a chief FDR aide, living in the White House for part of WWII, some influential Iowan's at the highest levels of American government during the war.
