written by Todd DePastino On August 7, 1782, George Washington created what would become known as the “Purple Heart.” It was NOT, strictly speaking, the first US military decoration. Nor was it awarded for wounds suffered in war. But the Badge of Military Merit was of immense significance because, unlike almost all other awards
VBC member and Military Historian Jeff Ballard sent this wonderful photo from the American Memorial on Guadalcanal in the Soloman Islands last week. Note the latest VBC Magazine Jeff is holding. Jeff was there for the 81st Anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal, which occurred in August 1942. The battle was an early pivotal
written by Todd DePastino Former USAF pilot Dick Westerhoff recently mentioned that when he flew the F-104 in the late 1950s, the ejection seat fired downward out the bottom of the aircraft. If you think that sounds like a bad idea, you're right. It was. Dick's Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was the leading
By Todd DePastino Do you know this Marine? We think he's Richard L. henry, Jr., who served in the USMC Combined Action Program CAP 3-3-6. John Suzadail wants to thank him for saving his life in 1970. Seventy-three-year-old Vietnam War veteran John Suzadail is on a quest to find his long-lost comrade,
written by Jerry Augustine Jerry Augustine of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade in Vietnam preparing for an ambush patrol in 1966 with a 10 cent mirror purchased in downtown Tay Ninh (Courtesy Gerald Augustine). In November 1966, during my fourth month in Vietnam with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, I received a letter from Salvatore
Viviana Hall is an Argentine-born American poet who recently sent us an unpublished poem, "For Freedom," she wrote in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. FOR FREEDOM by Viviana Hall Author of the Book “Poems of Love” Alone Under dark skies Awaiting the Bear She stands The winds of war are blowing Fields of golden wheat Burnt Drinking water Polluted Entire cities Destroyed Schools Hospitals Train stations Shelters Under attack Thousands of
