Native American World War II Veteran, Final Member of Unit, Dies at 101
As the number of remaining World War II veterans continues to dwindle, Gilbert “Choc” Charleston, one of the last Native American WWII soldiers and the final surviving member of his unit, died on Thanksgiving night at age 101. The news of Charleston’s passing was confirmed by the Choctaw Nation, of which the veteran was a […]
The Only Army Unit to Fight in Five of the Marine Corps’ Bloodiest WWII Battles — Including Iwo Jima
From Guadalcanal to Okinawa, the Marine Corps earned its reputation for tackling some of the bloodiest battles of World War II’s Pacific Theater. What few remember is that the U.S. Army usually fought alongside the Marines through some of the fiercest battles in history. However, only one Army regiment — the 147th Infantry — stood shoulder […]
Overhauled Army Caisson Unit Conducts First Funeral Service at Arlington Following Suspension
The dark shapes of seven horses came into view across Section 62 at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday morning, returning to the hallowed grounds the sounds of clopping, huffing and the turn of wheels that had gone virtually unheard there for the last two years. The Army’s Caisson Detachment, a ceremonial horse unit that transports […]
Troubled Caisson Unit Makes Appearance at Carter Funeral as Horse-Drawn Services Remain Suspended
A horse-drawn procession carried President Jimmy Carter’s remains to the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday during his state funeral, marking the first time the troubled unit has been used since the Army announced its suspension nearly two years ago. The Caisson Platoon, a specialized element in the Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, also known as the Old […]
US Army Honors Nisei Combat Unit that Helped Liberate Tuscany from Nazi-Fascist Forces in WWII
ROME — The U.S. military is celebrating a little-known part of World War II history, honoring the Japanese-American U.S. Army unit that was key to liberating parts of Italy and France even while the troops’ relatives were interned at home as enemies of the state following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. Descendants of the second-generation […]
Army Fires Commander of Germany Air Defense Unit Activated After Ukraine Invasion
In October, the Army stood up a new key air defense unit in Germany as a reaction to Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. But after only six months, the unit’s commander has been fired. Lt. Col. Eric Ackles, commander of 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, was relieved of command Monday, the service confirmed […]
Russell Hamler, Thought to Be the Last of WWII Merrill’s Marauders Jungle-Fighting Unit, Dies at 99
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The reputed last member of the famed American jungle fighting unit in World War II nicknamed the Merrill’s Marauders has died. Russell Hamler, 99, died on Tuesday, his son Jeffrey said. He did not give a cause of death. Hamler was the last living Marauder, according to a biography published by the […]
Medic in Black D-Day Unit, Long Denied the Medal of Honor, Gets Wide Backing for Nation’s Highest Military Honor
They haven’t waited in Normandy, or in smalltown Virginia, or at First Army Headquarters in Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, to honor the D-Day heroism of then-Cpl. Waverly B. Woodson Jr., a combat medic with an all-Black unit who is under consideration for the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor. The visitor center at the […]
Army and Marine Corps Units Awarded Presidential Unit Citation on 2nd Anniversary of Afghanistan Withdrawal
Two years after the chaos of the Afghanistan evacuation, the Pentagon has announced that many of the Marine Corps and Army units involved in the effort will be honored with a Presidential Unit Citation, the highest distinction that a military unit can receive. Members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground […]
Murdered or Missing: The Army Stands Up a Cold Case Unit to Tackle Unsolved Crimes
The Army labeled Pvt. Gregory Wedel-Morales a deserter when he went missing in 2020. His remains were found a year later, buried in a grassy field near a grocery store outside of Fort Hood, Texas. When Pvt. Amanda Gonzales was 19 years old, pregnant and serving in Germany as an Army cook in 2001, she […]