The Secretary of the Navy is hereby authorized to cause to be struck bronze medals commemorative of the naval and other engagements in the waters of the West Indies and on the shores of Cuba
This letter has become one of the most influential in history.
After the fall of Bataan and Corregidor in 1942, many Filipino and American soldiers who had escaped capture took to the hills and jungles to continue the fight as guerrillas.
Soon after Pearl Harbor, with the US gearing up for full war production, many shortcuts and substitutions were developed to speed equipment getting to the troops. One was the decision to produce desperately needed canteens made of porcelain.
A mechanical ambush device was accidentally triggered, resulting in the deaths of four platoon members.
The logistics of the Vietnam War required constant resupply of ammunition, fuel, medical supplies, and other essentials. The Chinook’s cargo space and external hooks made it invaluable in this role.
In the United States, National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed on the third Friday in September. It honors those who were prisoners of war (POWs) and those who are still missing in action (MIA).
