Poppies 4 Patriots

04/19/2021

New Electronic Field Trip

04/03/2021

During WWII, the N***s hid $3.5 billion of stolen art. The Monuments Men were artists, historians, and curators charged with tracking down the stolen loot. Learn more about these looted valuables here: https://go.fold3.com/holocaust_art

03/27/2021

Today is Medal of Honor Day. Fly your flag in honor of some of our nation's heroes. Read about Medal of Honor recipients here: http://fnote.it/6xhd

03/27/2021

26 MARCH 1943 - SECOND LIEUTENANT ELSIE OTT, ARMY NURSE CORPS -


On this date in 1943, Army Nurse Corps (ANC) Second Lieutenant Elsie Ott became the first woman to receive the U.S. Air Medal.

Stationed in India with the U.S. Army Air Forces, she was assigned to an air evacuation unit. On 17 January 1943, within about twenty-four hours of arriving at her new unit, Lieutenant Ott was aboard an aircraft in route from Karachi, India, to Washington, D.C., with five patients bound for Walter Reed Army Hospital. She was a member of the flight crew that made the first ever intercontinental evacuation of patient by aircraft.

Counting intermediate stops, the flight took one week, whereas evacuation by hospital ship would have taken about three months. During the flight, Lieutenant Ott kept detailed notes that improved patient care as the Army continued to develop its innovative aero-medical evacuation procedures.

This was the first aerial evacuation flight in nursing history. It was also the pioneer movement of transporting wounded soldiers by air over such a great distance (11,000 miles). For her meritorious service, Lieutenant Ott became the first Army nurse and first female soldier awarded the Air Medal.

ALSO SEE

https://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/resmat/wwii/prologuePTO/default/sec01.html

https://history.army.mil/html/books/072/72-5/index.html

03/27/2021

03/24/2021

The Sentinels of the Army’s 3d. U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) are iconic figures at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. However, the Tomb was not always guarded. After its creation in 1921, the Tomb sat unguarded for several years. As the site became popular with tourists as well as mourners, instances of disrespectful public behavior led the Army to employ civilian guards. By 1926, many in Congress, the military, and the American public were calling for the establishment of a permanent military guard at the Tomb. (These first guards were not members of The Old Guard, which began its 24/7 watch at the Tomb in 1948.)

On March 24, 1926, Major General Fox Connor, the Army’s deputy chief of staff, sent a memorandum to the adjutant general, explaining: “The Secretary of War desires that orders be issued establishing an armed guard (rifle) at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Arlington Cemetery…. If practicable, orders should be issued by telephone this afternoon in order that the guard may begin tomorrow morning.” Per these orders, the first armed military guard began duty at the Tomb on the morning of March 25, 1926.

Visit https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/TUS-100 to learn more about the Department of Defense’s yearlong Tomb of the Unknown Soldier centennial commemoration.

Pictured: Reportedly the first permanent armed military guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, March 25, 1926. (Library of Congress)

03/24/2021

Happy National Puppy Day! As mascots in the Navy, some puppies were issued ID cards. This pup named Apache had the rate of "Dog1c". Note the signature with a paw print and fire hydrant.

03/23/2021

03/20/2021

You could consider this a birthday of sorts for the as it was in 1941 that the War Department officially established the 99th Pursuit Squadron (later renamed the 99th Fighter Squadron). The unit was activated three days later and became the first squadron of all-Black pilots in the US military. That makes it the 80-year anniversary of the unit today, which is still around in the USAF! Do you know what the unit is called today and what they fly?

03/20/2021

In honor of , we are sharing the stories of the many prominent women laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Beatrice V. Ball.

During World War II, Ball enlisted in the U.S. Naval Women’s Reserve (known as the Navy WAVES) in 1942. She soon transferred to the Coast Guard, after it formed its Women’s Reserve (SPAR) in November 1942. Barr joined as a lieutenant, becoming part of the first SPAR company, and she served as an intelligence officer in Washington, D.C., New York and Miami. She returned to civilian life when the military disbanded SPAR after the war. However, Ball re-enlisted in the regular Coast Guard during the Korean War. She was promoted to the rank of commander in 1956 and remained in the Coast Guard until her retirement in 1961. Throughout her military career, Ball helped pave the way for women to serve as regular members of the Coast Guard.

She is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 8.

03/17/2021

Happy Founders Day!

Today is USMA’s Birthday!
President Thomas Jefferson signed the act establishing the United States Military Academy on March 16, 1802!

So as Founders Day begins, the West Point Museum is proud of the Cadets who continue to study and train with the support of their family, friends and faculty.

Go Army, Beat Navy!

West Point Department of History, U.S. Army Center of Military History, West Point Museum , U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, U.S. Army, West Point Parents