May is an introspective month on the calendar each year in the United States as it concludes with Memorial Day. As I reflect on Memorial Day this year, my thoughts take me back to World War I. This month’s post wasn’t easy to write, and may not be comfortable to read, but it’s a storyContinue reading “Repatriation: The Bodies of War”
Category Archives: Military
A Civil War Chaplain’s Story
This is the fourth and final post in a series on the American Civil War. In this series, I described the three combat arms used during the Civil War to accomplish military objectives (cavalry, infantry, and artillery) to include the story of a Spaulding family member who served in each of these roles. In thisContinue reading “A Civil War Chaplain’s Story”
A Civil War Artilleryman’s Story
This is the third in a series of four posts on the American Civil War. In this series, I describe the three combat arms used during the Civil War to accomplish military objectives (cavalry, infantry, and artillery). With each post, I also include the story of a Spaulding family member who served during the CivilContinue reading “A Civil War Artilleryman’s Story”
A Civil War Infantryman’s Story
This is the second in a series of four posts on the American Civil War. In this series, I describe the three combat arms used during the Civil War to accomplish military objectives (cavalry, infantry, and artillery). In the final post of the series, I’ll describe the role of the Civil War chaplain. In today’sContinue reading “A Civil War Infantryman’s Story”
A Civil War Cavalryman’s Story
This is the first in a series of four posts on the American Civil War. In the first three posts, I will describe the three combat arms used during the Civil War to accomplish military objectives. These roles include: cavalry, infantry, and artillery. In the final post of the series, I’ll describe the role of theContinue reading “A Civil War Cavalryman’s Story”
Memorial Day – The Dash in the Middle
Memorial Day will be observed this year on May 29, 2023. Memorial Day has always been special to me as a veteran of 22 years in the U.S. Navy. I live in Northern Virginia about 20 miles west of Arlington National Cemetery. Each year over Memorial Day weekend, my wife and I visit Arlington toContinue reading “Memorial Day – The Dash in the Middle”
Sons of the Founding Fathers
Do you remember career day in elementary school? Do you recall how you admired the fireman telling his exhilarating stories of extinguishing ravenous fires while saving lives? Perhaps you recall your pride in sharing with friends what your parents did for a living? Let your mind now wander back to late 1700s America for aContinue reading “Sons of the Founding Fathers”
The Last Soldier
I recently discovered an amazing book – The Last Men of the Revolution by Rev. E.B. Hillard, published in 1864. In his book, Hillard describes his journey to embark with two photographers to visit, photograph, and interview the six known surviving veterans of the American Revolution. Take a moment to reflect on this accomplishment – today, we can grasp inContinue reading “The Last Soldier”
An Unsung Hero – The Story of Joseph Warren
When you think about the names that shaped the American Revolution that birthed the United States of America, who comes to mind? Immediately, you think of names like General George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. In addition to these remarkable men, there were many lesser-known patriotsContinue reading “An Unsung Hero – The Story of Joseph Warren”
Veterans Day Reflections
Each year on November 11th, we observe Veterans Day which had its beginnings with Armistice Day. The Armistice, that brought an end to World War I, was signed in France, at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918 which was the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Twenty years later in 1938, Armistice Day becameContinue reading “Veterans Day Reflections”
Fortitude 