On this day in 1982, a groundbreaking ceremony is held for a new national memorial. Its design would spark debate—but it would also soon become one of the most powerful places of remembrance in America.   Indeed, over the course of the past several decades, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., has become a place of reverence and healing for many.   The Memorial might never have existed but for Jan C. Scruggs, a Vietnam War veteran.  The years after the war were

On this day in 1967, the first female Marine assigned to duty in a combat zone lands overseas. Barbara Dulinsky had volunteered for the mission, despite its inherent dangers.   It wasn’t just any combat zone, you see. MSgt. Dulinsky had volunteered to go to Vietnam.   Dulinsky had then been serving in the Marine Corps for nearly two decades. She’d advanced steadily through the ranks until she was a Senior Drill Instructor for female Marines at Parris Island, South Carolina.  

On this day in 2003, a Medal of Honor recipient passes away. Delbert O. Jennings had rescued 8 men from behind enemy lines in Vietnam—to say nothing of pulling his men through a 3-hour battle against the Viet Cong. “He was literally all over the place, pulling men out of trouble, prodding others, rallying any man he could touch,” Brig. Gen. S.L.A. Marshall wrote in a Medal recommendation for Jennings. The determined staff sergeant had done this while struggling against stomac

On this day in 1968, a hero engages in an action that would earn him the Medal of Honor. Jack Howard Jacobs was a self-described “city kid” from Brooklyn who never expected to become a military hero. He was, however, the son of a World War II veteran, and he knew the importance of service. He signed up for the Army after graduating from Rutgers because “it was my obligation to serve,” but he expected “that I would serve three years, and then get out and go to law school.” Twe

On this day in 1971, a hero receives the Medal of Honor. Gordon Roberts had been serving in the 101st Airborne, just as his father had done during World War II.    Then-Specialist Fourth Class Roberts’s bravery came on July 11, 1969, in the A Shau Valley. “Delta company, which was our sister company,” Roberts later explained, “the battalion commander and his headquarters . . . were surrounded and very much in danger of being overwhelmed.” He would later learn that 78 of the 8

On this day in 1969, a hero engages in an action that would earn him the Medal of Honor.  Oscar Austin’s little sister wasn’t surprised. He’d always been a hero to her.   Their mother had been single, supporting her family with her job at a laundry. Little sister Lolla remembered the many ways in which Oscar would pitch in to help with his five sisters during those days.   “He cared about people. He respected elders,” Lolla said. “I don’t want to make him a saint, but how he

On this day in 1967, a hero engages in an action that would earn him the Medal of Honor. Maybe none of James H. Monroe’s friends and family were surprised by his heroism?   “If there was such a thing, he was an ideal American boy,” the registrar at his old high school remembered. One of his junior high teachers agreed: “As a teacher for 31 years . . . he was one of the best.” In an interesting twist given today's holiday, this Medal recipient shares a name with a United State

On this day in 1968, a hero engages in an action that would earn him the Medal of Honor. Nevertheless, Johnny Lee Canley wouldn’t receive that Medal until decades later.   Would you believe that he joined the Marines in 1953, when he was only 15 years old? He used his brother’s paperwork to get in.   On January 31, 1968, Canley was a Gunnery Sergeant serving with Alpha Company, First Battalion, First Marine Regiment. About 150 Marines from his company would help take back Huế

On this day in 1969, a hero receives the Medal of Honor. The Vietnam veteran had rescued two downed aviators from a nearly impossible situation.   Then-Lt. Clyde E. Lassen (USN) simply refused to give up.   “We had a good idea our chances were about nil,” one of the downed aviators, John Burns, would later say. “If it hadn’t been for the people who were picking us up doing what they had done, it would have been nil,” the other aviator, John Holtzclaw, agreed.   Lassen’s heroi

On this day in 1968, a hero engages in an action that would earn him the Medal of Honor. Was Gary Wetzel an unlikely hero? As a teenager, he’d been in the habit of skipping school a lot. He joined the Army when he was 18 because it was “either . . . get a job or join the service, so I chose to join the service.”   Either way, the Army was blessed to have Wetzel. The young soldier went to Vietnam, where he was assigned to an ordnance outfit. But Wetzel wanted something more. H

On this day in 1992, the “Father of Naval Special Warfare” passes away. Phil Bucklew has been credited with laying the groundwork for many aspects of today’s naval special forces, including the Navy SEALs.   The former Cleveland Ram had been coaching a football game when Pearl Harbor was attacked. News of the Japanese assault was soon announced over the stadium’s loudspeakers. “We were down in the bar [after the game],” he later described, “and someone said, ‘Let’s all join t

On this day in 1969, a hero receives the Medal of Honor. Webster Anderson once said that “[p]art of a man’s duty is to continue fighting until he can’t fight any more.”   He’d lived up to those words on October 15, 1967, during the Vietnam War.   Then-Staff Sergeant Anderson was serving with an artillery battery of the 101st Airborne Division in Quang Tin Province when his base was attacked. It was about 3:00 in the morning, and the Vietnamese had attacked with overwhelming n

On this day in 1948, a hero is born in Pennsylvania. William R. Prom would go on to become a Lance Corporal in the Marines and a Medal of Honor recipient. Prom may have been a hero, but he was also just an American boy who dreamed of being a professional baseball player. Or, if that didn’t work out, perhaps he could be a police officer. He put these dreams on hold when he signed up for the Marines late in 1967, just as his best friend was preparing to go to college. Prom soon

On this day in 1943, a future Medal of Honor recipient is born. Allan Kellogg would go on to become a United States Marine, serving in...

On this day in 1949, a future Medal of Honor recipient is born. Kenneth “Kenny” Kays was perhaps an unlikely war hero. In fact, this...

On this day in 1993, a recipient of the Air Force Cross passes away.  It’s been said that Duane D. Hackney “made a habit” of heroism...

On this day in 2024, Corporal Daniel “Duke” Heller receives a Navy Cross for his actions in the Vietnam War. It had been nearly 56 years...

On this day in 1916, the future Martha Raye is born. You may know this talented entertainer for her long career in television and movies,...

On this day in 2008, a hero passes away. Ed “Too Tall” Freeman is best known for his service as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He would...

On this day in 1964, a U.S. Navy pilot takes a hit during a bombing run. LTJG Everett Alvarez, Jr. bailed out of his plane, only to be...