RED WHITE & BLUES

03/13/2026

March 13, 1942, the Quartermaster Corps of the U.S. Army begins training dogs for the newly established War Dog Program, or "K-9 Corps"

03/12/2026

Medal of Honor Monday: Army Col. Jack Jacobs

By Katie Lange

Army Col. Jack Howard Jacobs was just a first lieutenant when he saved more than a dozen lives during an intense firefight in the swamplands of Vietnam. His actions during that incident and throughout his deployment made him one of the most decorated soldiers of the war, including the nation's highest medal for valor.

Jacobs was born Aug. 2, 1945, in Brooklyn, New York, to Rebecca and David Jacobs, a World War II veteran. He had a brother and a sister.

The family lived in Queens for a time before they moved to Woodbridge, New Jersey, in the mid-1950s, when Jacobs was in sixth grade. He loved baseball and was focused on his academics.

After graduating from Woodbridge High School, Jacobs attended Rutgers University, where he earned a bachelor's degree. During his studies, he married a woman named Karen, and they went on to have two children.

Jacobs also took part in the school's ROTC program. After graduating in 1966, he was immediately commissioned into the Regular Army as a second lieutenant assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division.

However, when his unit, the 3rd Brigade, was ordered to deploy to Vietnam in September 1967, he received separate orders to serve as an advisor for Vietnamese infantry battalions. In a 2002 Library of Congress Veterans History Project interview, Jacobs said he was selected for the role because of his college degree. He petitioned to go with his unit instead, but his request was denied.

Prior to his deployment, Jacobs spent 13 weeks learning Vietnamese and the country's culture — lessons he said proved extremely useful when he arrived as the assistant battalion advisor for a South Vietnamese army battalion.

Jacobs said the first few months of his deployment were spent conducting many patrols, and at first, they made very little contact with the enemy. But that all changed after the Tet Offensive kicked off in late January 1968.

By March 9, 1968, Jacobs' battalion was part of an operation in the flat swamplands and rice paddies of Kien Phong Province in the Mekong Delta, near the Cambodian border.

"We received some intel that the enemy was probably going to be located in a specific place, so they mounted an operation that included my battalion attacking from boats over what passed for a beach — it was actually a riverbank," Jacobs said in his 2002 interview.

But as his battalion advanced, it came under intense mortar and machine gun fire from a massive Viet Cong presence that was positioned in well-fortified bunkers. Jacobs' battalion tried to get into an attack formation, but they were halted by more devastating enemy fire. Jacobs, who was with the command element of the company in the front, quickly called for and directed airstrikes onto the enemy.

"We were caught in the middle of this ambush," he said. "A lot of people were killed and wounded."

The intense enemy fire caused heavy casualties to the command group, including injuring the company commander. Jacobs himself had suffered a head wound that impaired his vision, but he quickly assumed command, ordering the soldiers to withdraw to somewhere more covered where they could set up a defensive perimeter.

With no regard for his own safety, Jacobs returned to the open area despite the intense enemy fire to evacuate a seriously wounded advisor. He managed to get the man to a wooded area where he administered lifesaving first aid. Jacobs then returned to the fire-strewn area to evacuate his wounded company commander.

"The enemy had come out from its positions and were killing the wounded and taking weapons," Jacobs said. So, he continued his mission, dodging bullets to make repeated trips across open rice paddies to evacuate more wounded and their weapons. Three times, he was able to drive off squads of Viet Cong, singlehandedly killing three enemy combatants and wounding several others.

"When I finally had my wits about me, I decided I would go along the tree line myself … and be able to engage them effectively, because they were looking in another direction," Jacobs told the VHP. "Eventually, I sat down in a wooded area and physically couldn't get up."

Jacobs was evacuated to a hospital, but not before he'd saved the lives of one U.S. advisor and 13 Vietnamese soldiers. Thanks to his actions, the South Vietnamese company he was with reorganized and fended off the enemy forces.

When Jacobs recovered and returned to the U.S., he served as a company commander at Fort Benning, Georgia. That's where he learned he had been nominated for the Medal of Honor — a commendation that left him "stupefied" and "astounded."

On Oct. 9, 1969, then-Capt. Jacobs received the nation's highest medal for valor from President Richard M. Nixon during a White House ceremony. He'd also earned three Bronze Stars and two Silver Stars during his deployment, making him one of the most decorated soldiers of the war.

Jacobs continued his military career. The Army sent him back to Rutgers to get a master's degree in international relations and comparative politics, a subject he later taught at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Jacobs voluntarily returned to Vietnam for another deployment in July 1972, continuing his role as an advisor, this time for the 1st Vietnamese Airborne Battalion. He returned to the U.S. in January 1973 after suffering minor injuries from an artillery round.

From there, Jacobs worked his way up the ranks, eventually commanding his own battalion in Panama in the early 1980s. He went on to teach at the National War College in Washington before retiring as a colonel in 1987 after 21 years of service.

In his 2002 VHP interview, Jacobs said he thinks the medal makes its recipients modest.

"I think everybody who receives the Medal of Honor receives it in his heart for all the soldiers with whom he served," he said. "Receiving the award has made me a different person — made me a better person, a more thoughtful person."

In regard to his Medal of Honor actions, Jacobs also reflected, "I hope that if I had it to do all over again, knowing what I know now, that I would have the fortitude to do it again."

After retirement, Jacobs worked in investment banking and real estate development, and he also served as a military analyst for NBC News. He currently serves as an advisor for the Code of Support Foundation, a nonprofit that provides assistance to veterans and military families.

In 2008, Jacobs published a memoir, "If Not Now, When? Duty and Sacrifice in America's Time of Need." In 2020, he was inducted into the Army ROTC Hall of Fame.

Jacobs divorced but eventually remarried a woman named Susan, and they had a son. The couple currently lives in Far Hills, New Jersey.

03/04/2026

Medal of Honor Monday: Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jack Williams

By Katie Lange

As a hospital corpsman in World War II's Pacific theater, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jack Williams' job was to save the lives of the Marines who fought around him. During the bloody Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945, Williams saved more than a dozen Marines and sacrificed his own life so they could live. His selflessness led him to receive a posthumous Medal of Honor.

Williams was born Oct. 18, 1924, in Harrison, Arkansas, to William and Dorothy Williams. He had a younger sister named Fern.

During high school, Williams worked at a local theater and was a member of the Future Farmers of America. As World War II raged during his senior year, he registered in the Selective Service System but didn't wait to be drafted. As soon as he graduated in June 1943, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve.

Within a few months, Williams had completed training to become a hospital corpsman. By May 1944, he'd reached the rank of pharmacist's mate 3rd class and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division.

In late December 1944, the division deployed to Hawaii and began training for the invasion of Iwo Jima, a tiny island in the Pacific with strategic airfields that could better position the Allies for an assault on mainland Japan.

Williams' unit arrived off the volcanic island's coast in mid-February and was part of the first assault waves to land there. Over the next several days, the 28th Marines took part in efforts to isolate and secure Mount Suribachi, where the now-iconic photo of Marines raising a U.S. flag was taken.

On March 3, 1945, the unit had moved into rugged terrain to continue fighting an entrenched enemy. Williams had already given aid to more than a dozen wounded Marines, but when he saw his friend, Marine Corps Pfc. James Naughton, lying in no-man's-land after being wounded in a fierce gr***de battle, he ran to him.

Williams dragged Naughton to a shallow depression and knelt to give him first aid, using his own body as a screen from the continued enemy fire, which hit Williams in the abdomen and groin three times.

Williams was momentarily stunned, but he quickly recovered and finished aiding Naughton before applying bandages to his own wounds.

Despite needing urgent medical attention himself, Williams continued his work. He stayed in the perilous, fire-swept area to help yet another Marine he found there. Through his pain and profuse bleeding, Williams dressed that man's wounds before trying to make his way to the rear of the fight to get aid for himself. Along the way, he was struck down by a Japanese sniper bullet.

Williams collapsed and later died, giving his life to help his fellow warfighters survive. For his sacrifice, he was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor, presented to his mother at the family home March 8, 1946.

Williams is buried in Springfield National Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri.

In total, 27 Medals of Honor were awarded to men who fought on Iwo Jima, the most of any World War II battle. Aside from Williams, three other pharmacist's mates received the medal: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Junior Pierce, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class George Wahlen and Navy Petty Officer 1st Class John Willis.

To honor Williams, the Navy commissioned a guided missile frigate, the USS Jack Williams, in 1981. The ship was in service until 1996, when it was sold to Bahrain's navy. According to the Central Arkansas Library System's Encyclopedia of Arkansas, the ship's bell was removed after service and now resides in the lobby of the county courthouse in Harrison.

Just a few years ago, Williams' hometown also opened the Jack Williams Veterans Resource Center as a place to serve local veterans.

03/02/2026

Two American Heroes Awarded Medal of Honor During State of the Union

Feb. 24, 2026 | By C. Todd Lopez

Tonight, in the nation's capital, two heroic Americans were honored with the country's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.

At the conclusion of his State of the Union address, President Donald J. Trump announced that Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover and retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams were both medal recipients.

Slover, still on active duty, earned the medal for actions last month in Venezuela, while Williams — now 100 years old — received the medal for actions during the Korean War in 1952.

In early January, Trump announced the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, following a successful overnight joint U.S. military mission in Venezuela's capital of Caracas.

Both Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro, were captured by U.S. military forces during that raid, and the two are facing criminal court proceedings tied to a 2020 indictment from the Justice Department on multiple federal charges, including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.

Slover was part of the military effort to capture Maduro during that raid Jan. 2, Trump said. He was responsible for planning a helicopter mission involving a CH-47 Chinook.

"Slover planned a mission and was the flight lead in the cockpit of the first helicopter," Trump said. "Eric steered the Chinook under the cover of night and descended swiftly upon Maduro's heavily protected military fortress."

The area, Trump said, was heavily guarded by thousands of soldiers.

"While preparing to land, enemy machine guns fired from every angle, and Eric was hit very badly in the leg and hip — one bullet after another," Trump said. "He absorbed four agonizing shots, shredding his leg into numerous pieces."

Despite those injuries, Trump said, Slover pressed on to deliver commandos to the drop zone, where the mission could be carried out.

"[Delivering] the many commandos who would capture and detain Maduro was the only thing Eric was thinking about then," the president said.

"Even as he was gushing blood ... Eric maneuvered his helicopter with all of those lives and souls to face the enemy and let his gunners eliminate the threat — turn the helicopter around so the gunners could take care of business — saving the lives of his fellow warriors from what could have been a catastrophic crash, deep in enemy territory."

After safely landing the helicopter in the right location so the mission could continue, Eric told his copilot, also wounded, to take over.

"The success of the entire mission and the lives of his fellow warriors hinged on Eric's ability to take searing pain," Trump added.

During the State of the Union address, Army Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, commander of the Joint Special Operations Command, put the medal around Slover's neck.

The president said there would be a separate event, at the White House, where he would present the medal to Slover.

Nearly 75 years in the making, retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams was also awarded the Medal of Honor. Williams served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, the president said. His combat actions in Korea earned him the Medal of Honor.

"In the skies over Korea in 1952, Royce was in the dog fight of a lifetime — a legendary dog fight," Trump said. "Flying through blizzard conditions, his squadron was ambushed by seven Soviet fighter planes. It was his first aerial combat of the war. And despite being massively outnumbered and outgunned, Royce led the takedown of four enemy jets and almost destroyed the others — vanquishing his adversaries while taking 263 bullets to his own plane and being seriously hurt."

For over 50 years, the president said, that mission had been kept secret — Williams didn’t even tell his wife.

"But the legend grew and grew," Trump said. "But tonight, at 100 years old, this brave Navy captain is finally getting the recognition he deserves. He was a legend long before this evening."

First Lady Melania Trump placed the Medal of Honor around Williams' neck.

The president also honored other military heroes during the address. Among those were Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott Ruskan, a rescue swimmer, who was awarded the Legion of Merit for his rescue efforts during a flood last year in central Texas. Ruskan is credited with saving more than 160 lives.

Additionally, two National Guardsmen were awarded Purple Hearts. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe were shot while on patrol in Washington, Nov. 26, 2025.

Beckstrom died from her injuries just a day later. She was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, with her parents accepting the medal on her behalf. Wolfe was severely injured but has since recovered. He was present at the Capitol to accept the award.

American Golden Age

This year, the United States will mark 250 years as a nation, and Trump said the United States is stronger than it has ever been.

"Members of Congress and my fellow Americans, our nation is back, bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before," he said. "Less than five months from now, our country will celebrate an epic milestone in American history: the 250th anniversary of our glorious American independence."

On July 4, Trump said, the United States will mark two and a half centuries of liberty, triumph, progress and freedom, Trump said, adding the best is yet to come.

"You've seen nothing yet," he added. "We're going to do better and better and better — this is the golden age of America."

02/25/2026

Medal of Honor Monday: Army Staff Sgt. Clifford Sims

By Katie Lange

Many Medal of Honor recipients come from humble beginnings, but perhaps none more so than Army Staff Sgt. Clifford Chester Sims, who spent much of his early life with nowhere to call home. Sims grew into a humble and thoughtful man, so when an explosive device threatened his fellow soldiers in Vietnam, he didn't hesitate to give his life to save theirs.

Sims was born June 18, 1942, in Port St. Joe, Florida, as Clifford Pittman. He was orphaned at an early age and sent to live with his stepfather's family, according to an account from his wife, Mary, in a 2015 The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper article out of Clarksville, Tennessee.

However, that family already had many children, so Sims decided he wouldn't stay. To get by, he either spent the night with acquaintances or in an old, abandoned bus shelter in Panama City, Florida, The Leaf-Chronicle article reads.

At age 13, however, the young man was adopted by James and Irene Sims and took their family name. Through all that adversity, he continued his education and made it to high school, where he became inseparable from his girlfriend, Mary. They married on Christmas Day 1961, just a few months after he enlisted in the Army.

Sims initially served with the 82nd Airborne Division. In 1965, the unit was sent to the Dominican Republic to protect American interests there during the country's civil war.

Once Sims returned to the U.S., and as the Vietnam War was escalating, he was transferred to the 101st Airborne Division, where he was assigned to Company D of the 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment — known as the Delta Raiders.

Shortly before Sims was deployed to Vietnam in late 1967, he and his wife adopted a young daughter, named Gina, who was born to his wife's sister.

Sims was not in Vietnam long before the Tet Offensive began, when North Vietnamese troops and their Viet Cong sympathizers flooded into South Vietnam in an onslaught that caught American and South Vietnamese troops off guard.

While U.S. and South Vietnamese troops were able to retake most of the territory the enemy had taken rather quickly, the fight over Hue City — known as the Battle of Hue — led to weeks of urban combat. That is where Sims gave his last full measure of devotion.

On Feb. 21, 1968, Sims' squad was assaulting a heavily fortified enemy position in a densely wooded area when they came under heavy enemy fire. Sims furiously led his squad in an attack against their aggressors, helping free a platoon that had been pinned down and nearly overrun.

Sims was then ordered to move his squad to provide cover fire for the company command group while linking up with another platoon that was under heavy enemy pressure.

After they had moved about 30 meters, Sims noticed that a brick building stocked with ammunition was on fire. An explosion was imminent, so Sims immediately moved his squad away from it, but not before the stockpile blew and injured two of his squad's soldiers. Still, Sims' prompt actions kept more people from getting hurt.

The squad continued through the dense woods while under fire. As they neared a bunker, they heard a noise no one ever wanted to hear — the sound of a hidden b***y trap being triggered.
Without hesitation, Sims quickly yelled a warning and threw himself on top of the device as it exploded. He sacrificed his life so his fellow soldiers could live.

"Sims saved the lives of at least three of his squad and two of the company headquarters by absorbing the shock of the blast himself," Sims' commander, Army 1st Lt. Cleo Hogan, later wrote in an eyewitness statement. "Sims made the greatest sacrifice a soldier can make … and no mark of tribute can be too great."

For his valor, Sims' wife and daughter received the Medal of Honor from Vice President Spiro Agnew during a White House ceremony on Dec. 2, 1969.

Three other men also received Medals of Honor for their actions during the Battle of Hue: Army Staff Sgt. Joe Ronnie Hooper, Marine Corps Sgt. Alfredo Gonzalez and Army Chief Warrant Officer Frederick Ferguson.

Sims is buried in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida.

His name has not been forgotten. A state veterans nursing home in Springfield, Florida, and the garrison headquarters building at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, are both named in his honor. And since 2019, the Florida county where Sims grew up has celebrated every June 18, his birthday, as Clifford Sims Day.

02/14/2026

02/12/2026

Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Offers New Hope for Veterans

(Family Features) For generations, America’s veterans have borne not only the visible scars of battle but also the hidden wounds of war. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, traumatic brain injury and anxiety have long haunted those who served, often with devastating effects on their quality of life and their families. While traditional treatments have helped, many veterans continue to suffer in silence – left behind by a system struggling to meet their needs.

However, science is now reopening doors once closed, and therapies previously dismissed are being reconsidered with fresh eyes. Among them are psychedelic-assisted treatments, which have revealed potential in clinical trials to address the most severe mental health conditions afflicting veterans.

The FDA’s Role
Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved only one psychedelic-based medication: a ketamine nasal spray to treat depression. However, other compounds are gaining the attention of researchers, clinicians and veterans alike. Psilocybin – the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms” – and a drug similar to L*D have both earned FDA “breakthrough therapy” status for their potential to ease depression and anxiety, sometimes after only a single dose.

In 2017, M**A-assisted therapy was identified as a potential breakthrough treatment option for PTSD; ultimately, the FDA declined to grant full approval. This setback underscored not a failure of science, but the complexity of studying powerful compounds under existing regulatory frameworks. For veterans, it was a disappointment, yet it also spotlighted the urgent need for continued research and funding.

Veterans and Research at the Forefront
One compound has captured national attention: ibogaine, a psychedelic root traditionally used in ceremonies in central and west Africa. Early studies with special-operations veterans have found improvements in PTSD, depression, anxiety and overall functioning – especially for those living with the effects of traumatic brain injury.

Recognizing this potential, DAV (Disabled American Veterans) is championing these new approaches. At its 2025 National Convention, the organization hosted a groundbreaking psychedelics roundtable that brought together researchers, veterans, advocates and even a former NFL player to discuss the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapies.

The century-old organization supports research into these treatments, pointing out that traditional therapies can fail for as many as 60% of those who try them. It’s also advocating for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make psychedelic treatments available once they receive FDA approval.

“We are experiencing a watershed moment in medical research as psychedelic-assisted therapies have revealed true potential in clinical trials to treat severe mental health conditions,” said Barry Jesinoski, DAV’s National Adjutant. “This glimmer offers veterans contending with not only PTSD but depression, traumatic brain injury, anxiety and more hope in a world where the status quo is failing them.”

A New Mission
The promising results of these treatments spurred some states to commit funding toward research into psychedelic therapies or conduct legislative hearings to explore their role in advancing this science. The VA is now conducting studies on M**A and psilocybin.

While more research is needed to fully understand their risks, benefits and best applications, for DAV, psychedelic medication represents both hope and responsibility. By advocating for rigorous research and ensuring veterans’ perspectives are central to the conversation, the organization is working to accelerate progress while safeguarding integrity.

Whether through psilocybin, M**A, ibogaine or future discoveries, the mission is clear: fund the research, pursue the science and ensure America’s veterans are given every chance to heal. Learn more at dav.org.

02/12/2026