Jim's Site : PHOTOS

Jim's Site
PHOTOS


AMERICAN HERO WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER GENERAL GEORGE PATTON - 3RD ARMY TANK DIVISION [228 Images] ALL CONTENT IS STRICTLY FOR VIEWING ONLY AND IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR COPYING OR REPRODUCING. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO COPY ANYTHING ON THIS WEBSITE! THANK YOU. George Smith Patton, Jr. General, U.S. Army 1885-1945 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1885 Born in San Gabriel, California, on 11 November. 1897 Enrolls at Stephen Cutter Clark's Classical School in Pasadena, California. 1904 Attends VMI in preparation for West Point. Enrolls at West Point the same year. 1905 Due to deficiencies in mathematics, he repeats his Plebe year at West Point. 1909 Attains the rank of Cadet Adjutant. Graduates 46th out of a class of 103. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Cavalry. Reports to the 15th Cavalry at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. 1910 Marries Beatrice Ayer. 1911 Beatrice Patton, Jr. is born. 1912 Places fifth in the Olympics' Military Pentathlon in Stockholm, Sweden. 1913 Attends the French Cavalry School and studies French sword drill. Becomes the U.S. Army's first "Master of the Sword." Designs the U.S. Army's M1913 saber. Graduates from the Mounted Service School at Fort Riley, Kansas. 1914 Graduates from the Advanced Course at the Cavalry School at Fort Riley, Kansas. Writes the U.S. Army Saber Regulations of 1914. War Department refuses permission to serve with the French Cavalry in WWI. 1915 Buys the famous Ivory-Handled Colt .45 "Peacemaker" revolver. Reports for duty at Fort Bliss, Texas where he meets General Pershing. Ruth Ellen Patton is born. 1916 Serves as aide to General Pershing in the Mexican Punitive Expedition. Commands the first use of mechanical vehicles in combat (two Dodge touring cars). Kills "General" Cardenas, head of Villa's bodyguard, using his new Colt .45. Carves two notches in the Ivory Grips of his Colt .45 revolver. Promoted to First Lieutenant. 1917 Boards ship to France on 28 May as General Pershing's aide. Transfers from the Cavalry to the fledgling Tank Corps. Organizes the American Tank School at Langres, France. Trains the 304th Tank Brigade--the first 500 soldiers in the U.S. Tank Corps. Promoted twice to the temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel. 1918 Leads the 304th Tank Brigade in combat at St. Mihiel on 26 September. Wounded in action by machine gun fire during the Meuse-Argonne offensive. Receives the DSM, DSC, Silver Star, and Purple Heart. Promoted to the temporary rank of Colonel. While recuperating from his near fatal wound, WWI ends on 11 November. 1919 Returns to the United States. 1920 Reverts to permanent rank of Captain when the Tank Corps is dissolved and the tanks are assigned to the infantry. Promoted to permanent rank of Major the day after reverting to pre-war rank of Captain. Immediately leaves the almost non-existent Tank Corps and returns to the Cavalry. Begins playing Polo with a vengence. 1920s-1930s Two tours in Hawaii. A tour of duty in the Office of the Chief of Cavalry (War Department). Three tours of duty with the 3d Cavalry at Fort Myer, Virginia. 1923 George Smith Patton, III is born. 1924 Graduates from the Command and General Staff School. 1932 Graduates from the Army War College. 1935 Promoted to permanent rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Writes a prophetic paper on the possibility of a Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. 1939 Promoted to permanent rank of Colonel. Considers retiring from the U.S. Army. 1940 Promoted to Brigadier General in July. Assumes command of the 2d Brigade, 2d Armored Division at Fort Benning, Georgia. 1941 Promoted to Major General in April. Assumes command of the 2d Armored Division at Fort Benning, Georgia. 1942 Appointed to create the Desert Training Center near Indio, California on 1 April. Assumes command of the 1st Armored Corps at the Desert Training Center. Plays a leading role in the planning of Operation Torch. Commands the Western Task Force during the Allied invasion of North Africa. Enters Casablanca and occupies French Morocco. 1943 Assumes command of II Corps on 4 March following its disastrous defeat at Kasserine Pass on 19 February. Rejuvenates II Corps and wins victories at Gafsa and El Guettar. Promoted to temporary rank of Lieutenant General on 12 March. Assumes command of Seventh Army and invades Sicily on 10 July. Captures Palermo on 22 July. Captures Messina on 16 August, beating Montgomery. Victory in Sicily is spoiled by the announcement of the "slapping incidents." 1943-1944 Precluded from higher command because of the slapping incidents. Used as a "secret weapon" to fool the Germans into thinking he's planning an invasion of the Pas de Calais area of France. 1944 Assumes command of the U.S. 3d Army in July. Begins the amazing "breakout" from Normandy, fighting four directions at once. Captures Avranches on 1 August. Captures Le Mans on 8 August. Heads north toward Nancy and Metz (most heavily fortified part of the West Wall) on 13 August. Kept from destroying a surrounded German army at the "Falais Gap." Montgomery closes the "gap" to late and allows much of the German army to escape. 3d Army continues its amazing advance eventually moving faster, going farther, killing and wounding more enemy, seizing more land, and capturing more prisoners than any other army in history. Reaches the Seine River at Mantes on 19 August. French 2d Armored (attached to 3d Army) enters Paris on 23 August. Patton and the 3d Army are not allowed to take the city due to politics. Runs out of gasoline and other essential supplies near the Meuse River because the majority of supplies are diverted to Montgomery for "Opeation Market-Garden" in Holland. Begins the Lorraine Offensive in spite of lack of gasoline and supplies. Operation Market-Garden is deemed a failure. Montgomery fails to take his objectives during 17-25 September. SHAEF disregards numerous warnings from 3d Army about the German buildup in the Ardennes. The Battle of the Bulge starts on 16 December. Despite the worst winter in years, on 20 December Patton diverts 3d Army from eastward attacks, turning ninty degrees to the north, and attacking the Germans in the Ardennes. Most historians agree that no other commander and no other army could have accomplished this incredible feat. Patton publishes his famous "Prayer Card" to all 250,000 men of 3d Army on 21 December. Weather conditions improve greatly on 23 December. Patton relieves Bastogne on 26 December. Patton's actions at the Battle of the Bulge (the German's Ardennes Offensive) help to crystallize the "Patton Legend." 1945 Montgomery finally begins an attack against the German "bulge" on 3 January. 3d Army reaches the Rhine River near Coblenz on 3 March. Stealing Montgomery's thunder, 3d Army crosses the Rhine River on 22 March, 1 day before the British in spite of "Monty's" massive buildup and preferential treatment. Patton stops in the middle of the Rhine River near Oppehneim to urinate on 24 March. Promoted to temporary rank of full 4-star General in April. Continues his drive across southern Germany and into Czechoslovakia. Germany surrenders on 8 May--"Victory in Europe Day." Begins an on-going argument for a combined campaign of Allied-German forces to push the Communist Russians back to their pre-war borders, correctly stating that the Allies have simply swapped the Nazis for the Communists in Eastern Europe guaranteeing their continued enslavement. Begins his duties as Military Governor of Bavaria. Returns to the U.S. for a Bond Drive, giving speeches from Boston to Los Angeles. Returns to Germany at the end of the Bond Drive. Removed from command of 3d Army in October following his criticism of "de-nazification" policies. Assumes command of the 15th "Army" which exists only on paper. Suffers a neck injury on 9 December in an automobile accident near Mannheim, Germany. Dies from an embolism on 21 December at the 130th Station Hospital in Heidelberg, Germany. Buried on 23 December in the American Military Cemetery at Hamm, Luxembourg. View Album

AMERICAN WAR ERA POSTERS I [398 Images] VARIETY OF POSTERS View Album

AMERICAN WAR ERA POSTERS II [610 Images] EXTENTION OF ALBUM I View Album

DESERT STORM PICTURES [310 Images] 1990 Hussein accuses Kuwait on 17 July of oil overproduction and theft of oil from the Rumailia Oil Field. 1990 On 25 July US Ambassador to Iraq, April Glaspie, tells Hussien that the Iraq/Kuwaitt dispute is an Arab matter, not one that affects the United States. 1990 Hussein invades Kuwait on August 2. President Bush freezes Iraqi and Kuwatti assets. The United Nations calls on Hussien to withdraw. Aug 6,1990 Economic sanctions are authorized. Aug 7, 1990 Secretery of Defense Cheny visits Suadi Arabia. The 82nd Airborne and several fighter squadrons are dispatched. Aug 8. 1990 Iraq annexes Kuwait Aug 9, 1990 The UN declare's Iraq's annexation invailid Aug 12, 1990 The USA announces intrediction program of Irai shipping. Aug 22, 1990 President Bush authorizes call up of reserves. Aug 25, 1990 Military interdiction authorized by the UN Sep 14, 1990 Iraqi forces storm a number of diplomatic missions in Kuwait City. Nov 8, 1990 Bush orders aditional deployments to give "offensive option" to US forces. Nov 20, 1990 45 Democrats file suit in Washington to have President Bush first seek Congressional approval of military operations. (eventually thrown out) Nov 22, 1990 President Bush visits the troops for Thanksgiving. Nov 29, 1990 UN Security Council authorizes force if Iraq doesnt withdraw from Kuwait by midnight EST Janu. 15. Nov 30, 1990 Bush invites Tariq Aziz to Washington and offers to send Secretary of State James Baker to Baghdad. Jan 9, 1991 Baker and Aziz meet in Geneva. The meeting is 6 hrs, but no results. Jan 12, 1991 Congress votes to allow for US troops to be used in offensive operations. Jan 15, 1991 The deadline set by the UN Resolution 678 for Iraq to withdraw. Jan 16, 1991 First US government statement of Operation Desert-Storm made. Marlin Fitzwater announces, "The liberation of Kuwait has begun..." The air war started Jan 17 at 2:38 a.m. (local time) or January 16 at 6:38PM EST due to an 8 hour time difference, with an Apache helicopter attack. US warplanes attack Baghdad, Kuwait and other military targets in Iraq. Jan 17, 1991 Iraq launches first SCUD Missle attack. Jan 30, 1991 US forces in the Gulf exceed 500,000. Feb 6, 1991 Jordan King Hussein lashes out against American bombardments and supports Iraq. Feb 13, 1991 US Bombers destroy a bunker complex in Baghdad with several hundred citizens inside. Nearly 300 die. Feb 17, 1991 Tariq Aziz travels to Moscow to discuss possible negotiated end to the war. Feb 22, 1991 President Bush issues an ultimatum of Feb 23 for Iraqi troops to withdraw from Kuwait. Feb 23, 1991 Ground war begins with Marines, Army and Arab forces moving into Iraq and Kuwait. Feb 25, 1991 Iraqi SCUD missle hits a US barracks in Saudi Arabia killing 27. Feb 26, 1991 Kuwaiti resistence leaders declare they are in control of Kuwait City. Feb 27, 1991 President Bush orders a cease fire effective at midnight Kuwaiti time. Mar 3, 1991 Iraqi leaders formally accept cease fire terms Mar 4, 1991 Ten Allied POWs freed Mar 5, 1991 35 POWs released Mar 8, 1991 First US combat forces return home. View Album

ENDURING FREEDOM [72 Images] Outstanding pics View Album

FOREIGN AIRCRAFT [146 Images] MORE PICTURES WILL BE ADDED SOON View Album

FOREIGN LAW ENFORCEMENT [22 Images] MORE PICTURES TO BE ADDED SOON View Album

FOREIGN MILITARY HELICOPTERS [62 Images] MORE PICTURES WILL BE ADDED SOON View Album

IRAQI FREEDOM [615 Images] Timeline February 2001 Only one month after the first Bush-Cheney inauguration, the State Department's Pam Quanrud organizes a secret confab in California to make plans for the invasion of Iraq and removal of Saddam. US oil industry advisor Falah Aljibury and others are asked to interview would-be replacements for a new US-installed dictator. On BBC Television's Newsnight, Aljibury himself explained,"It is an invasion, but it will act like a coup. The original plan was to liberate Iraq from the Saddamists and from the regime." March 2001 Vice-President Dick Cheney meets with oil company executives and reviews oil field maps of Iraq. Cheney refuses to release the names of those attending or their purpose. Harper's has since learned their plan and purpose -- see below.. Oct / Nov 2001 An easy military victory in Afghanistan emboldens then-Dep. Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz to convince the Administration to junk the State Department "coup" plan in favor of an invasion and occupation that could remake the economy of Iraq. And elaborate plan, ultimately summarized in a 101-page document, scopes out the "sale of all state enterprises" -- that is, most of the nation's assets, "� especially in the oil and supporting industries." 2002 Grover Norquist and other corporate lobbyists meet secretly with Defense, State and Treasury officials to ensure the invasion plans for Iraq include plans for protecting "property rights." The result was a pre-invasion scheme to sell off Iraq's oil fields, banks, electric systems, and even change the country's copyright laws to the benefit of the lobbyists' clients. Occupation chief Paul Bremer would later order these giveaways into Iraq law. Fall 2002 Philip Carroll, former CEO of Shell Oil USA, is brought in by the Pentagon to plan the management of Iraq's oil fields. He works directly with Paul Wolfowitz and Douglas Feith. "There were plans," says Carroll, "maybe even too many plans" -- but none disclosed to the public nor even the US Congress. January 2003 Robert Ebel, former CIA oil analyst, is sent, BBC learns, to London to meet with Fadhil Chalabi to plan terms for taking over Iraq's oil. March 2003 What White House spokesman Ari Fleisher calls "Operations Iraqi Liberation" (OIL) begins. (Invasion is re-christened "OIF" -- Operation Iraqi Freedom.) March 2003 Defense Department is told in confidence by US Energy Information Administrator Guy Caruso that Iraq's fields are incapable of a massive increase in output. Despite this intelligence, Dep. Secretary Wolfowitz testifies to Congress that invasion will be a free ride. He swears, "There's a lot of money to pay for this that doesn't have to be U.S. taxpayer money. �We're dealing with a country that can really finance its own reconstruction and relatively soon," a deliberate fabrication promoted by the Administration, an insider told BBC, as "part of the sales pitch" for war. May 2003 General Jay Garner, appointed by Bush as viceroy over Iraq, is fired by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. The general revealed in an interview for BBC that he resisted White House plans to sell off Iraq's oil and national assets. "That's just one fight you don't want to take on," Garner told me. But apparently, the White House wanted that fight. The general also disclosed that these invade-and-grab plans were developed long before the US asserted that Saddam still held WDM: "All I can tell you is the plans were pretty elaborate; they didn't start them in 2002, they were started in 2001." Nov / Dec 2003 Secrecy and misinformation continues even after the invasion. The oil industry objects to the State Department plans for Iraq's oil fields and drafts for the Administration a 323-page plan, "Options for [the] Iraqi Oil Industry." Per the industry plan, the US forces Iraq to create an OPEC-friendly state oil company that supports the OPEC cartel's extortionate price for petroleum. Our Team's Investigations into the economic plans for Iraq General Garner BBC Report \| Secret U.S. Plans for Iraq's Oil BBC Report - Secret U.S. Plans for Iraq's Oil Aired March 17, 2005 SECRET U.S. PLANS FOR IRAQ'S OIL The Bush administration made plans for war and for Iraq's oil before the 9/11 attacks sparking a policy battle between neo-cons and Big Oil, BBC's Newsnight has revealed. Two years ago today - when President George Bush announced US, British and Allied forces would begin to bomb Baghdad - protestors claimed the US had a secret plan for Iraq's oil once Saddam had been conquered. In fact there were two conflicting plans, setting off a hidden policy war between neo-conservatives at the Pentagon, on one side, versus a combination of "Big Oil" executives and US State Department "pragmatists." "Big Oil" appears to have won. The latest plan, obtained by Newsnight from the US State Department was, we learned, drafted with the help of American oil industry consultants. View Album

IRAQI WAR HEROES [37 Images] WELCOME HOME HEROES. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR YOUR BRAVERY. THANK YOU. View Album

IWO JIMA [32 Images] Iwo Jima The Battle On Monday, February 19, 1945, U.S. Marines hit the sands of Iwo Jima. The battle for Iwo Jima can be described in many ways. Most simply, 70,000 Marines routed 22,0000 Japanese in a 36 day battle. It bore little resemblance to today's' modern warfare. It was a fight of gladiators. Gladiators in the catacombs of the Coliseum fighting among trap doors and hidden tunnels. Above ground gladiators using liquid gasoline to burn the underground gladiators out of their lethal hiding places. The Marines had overwhelming force and controlled the sea and air. The Japanese had the most ingenious and deadly fortress in military history. The Marines had Esprit de Corps and felt they could not lose. The Japanese fought for their god-Emperor and felt they had to die fighting. The Marines were projecting American offensive power thousands of miles from home shores with a momentum that would carry on to create the Century of the Pacific. The Japanese were fighting a tenacious defensive battle protecting the front door to their ancient land. The geography, topography and geology of the island guaranteed a deadly and bizarre battle. The large numbers of men and small size of the island ensured the fighting would be up close and vicious. Almost one hundred thousand men would fight on a tiny island just eight square miles. Four miles by two miles. If you're driving 60 miles an hour in your car, it takes you four minutes to drive four miles. It took the Marines 36 days to slog that four miles. Iwo Jima would be the most densely populated battlefield of the war with one hundred thousand combatants embraced in a death dance over an area smaller than one third the size of Manhattan island. From the air the island looked like a bald slice of black moonscape shaped like a porkchop. All its foliage had been blown off by bombs. The only "life" visible on the island were puffs of "rotten egg" stinking sulphur fumes coming from vents that seemed connected to hell. Correspondents in airplanes could see tens of thousands of Marines on one side of the island fighting against a completely barren side of stone. On foot it was a morass of soft volcanic sand or a jumble of jagged rock. The Marines sought protection in shell holes blasted by the bombardment. Foxholes were impossible to dig, either the sand collapsed in on you or your shovel failed to dent the hard obsidian floor. Bullets and mortars would come from nowhere to kill. The Marines would come across a cave or blockhouse and shoot and burn all its defenders to death. They would peer into the cavern and assure themselves no one was left there to hurt them. They'd move on only to be shocked when that "dead" position came alive again behind them. The Marines thought they were fighting men in isolated caves and had no idea of the extensive tunnels below. A surgeon would establish an operating theater in a safe place. With sandbags and tarp he'd build a little hospital and treat his patients away from the battle. Then at night when he lay down exhausted to sleep he'd hear foreign voices below him. Only when his frantic fingers clawed through the sand and hit the wooden roof of an underground cavern would he realize he had been living atop the enemy all along. The days were full of fear and nights offered terror. The Marines were sleeping on ground that the Japanese had practiced how to crawl over in the darkness, they knew every inch. Imagine sleeping in a haunted man- sion where the owner is a serial murderer who knows the rooms and stairways and trapdoors by touch and you are new. Then you can imagine the tortured sleep of the Marines. Experienced naval doctors had never seen such carnage. Japanese tanks and high caliber anti-aircraft guns hidden behind walls of rock and concrete ensured that the Marines would not just be cut down, but cut in half or blown to bits. A seventy five year old veteran of Iwo Jima would still reflexively open his bedroom window in 1999 after dreaming of the battle once again. Fifty four years after the battle the stench of death still filled his nostrils. The bodies lay everywhere. Young boys who had never been to a funeral became accustomed to rolling another dead buddy aside. Kids full of life worked on burial duty unloading bodies from trucks stacked with death. Mothers back home would tear open the ominous telegrams with trembling fingers. The survivors would remember sailing away and seeing the rows and rows of white crosses and stars of Davids. Almost seven thousand. Today there are still over six thousand Japanese dead still entombed under the island, dead where they fell in their tunnels and caves. Recently two hundred sixty were excavated, some mummified by the sulphur gases, their glasses sitting straight atop preserved noses, hair still on their heads. Military geniuses predicted a three day battle, an "easy time." Some of the nicest boys America would ever produce slogged on for thirty six days in what would be the worst battle in the history of the US Marine Corps. Generals conferred over maps while tanks, airplanes, naval bombs and artillery pounded the island. But it was the individual Marine on the ground with a gun that won the battle. Marines without gladiator's armor who would advance into withering fire. Marines who would not give up simply because they were Marines. A mint in Washington would cast more medals for these Iwo Jima heroes than for any group of fighters in America's history. America would embrace these heroes, but they were enthralled by an image of heroism, by a photo. Millions of words would be written in the US about 1/400th of a second no one on Iwo Jima thought worthy of remark at the time. Thousands would seek autographs from three survivors who felt "we hadn't done much." Battles would be fought over that image, some dying early because of their inclusion, some living bitterly because of their exclusion. But that would all come later. After two battles were fought on Iwo Jima, one for Mt. Suribachi and the southern part of the island the other for the northern part. And after one hundred thousand individual battles, personal battles of valor and fear, of determination and dirt. --Author Unknown View Album

JIM'S ALBUM [22 Images] Pictures Log In to View Album

KOREA WAR PICTURES [335 Images] 15 Aug 45 - Korea divided into US and Soviet occupation zones along 38th parallel 26 July 47 - President Truman's National Security Act creates US Department of Defense 15 Aug 48 - After supervised elections, US military government turns over power to Republic of Korea 25 Jun 50 - North Korean People's Army invades South Korea - UN calls for an end of aggression Sign erected by 1st Cavalry Division at 38th Parallel showing where the Korean conflict began Photo: US Army 27 Jun 50 - UN asks member countries to aid Republic of Korea - US announces intervention. North Korea attacks Seoul airfield. 28 Jun 50 - US bombers attack troops in Han River area - North Korean army captures Seoul 30 Jun 50 - President Truman orders ground forces into Korea and authorizes Air Force to bomb North Korea 5 Jul 50 - Near Osan, Task Force Smith troops fight for the first time and suffer heavy casualties 18 Jul 50 - US Cavalry lands at Pohangdong - US aircraft destroy key oil refinery in Wonsan 22 Jul 50 - Battle for Taejon ends with heavy US losses and retreat 4 Aug 50 - Pusan perimeter established in southeastern Korea 13 Aug 50 - First UN counterattack collapses 15 Aug 50 - Four-day battle of "the Bowling Alley" - UN forces hold back North Korean offensive 15 Sep 50 - Inchon landing of UN forces 29 Sep 50 - UN troops complete recapture of Seoul 7 Oct 50 - UN forces cross 38th parallel - UN sanctions defeat of North Korea and attempted reunification 14 Oct 50 - Chinese Communist troops cross Yalu River into Korea 19 Oct 50 - UN captures P'yongyang, the North Korean capital 1 Nov 50 - Chinese attack in force near Unsan 24 Nov 50 - General Douglas MacArthur's final "Home by Christmas" offensive begins 11 Dec 50 - End of Chinese strike against marine and army divisions at Chosin Reservoir - marines retreat 4 Jan 51 - Seoul captured by Chinese 25 Jan 51 - UN forces resume offensive 11 Feb 51 - Chinese counteroffensive begins north of Hoengsong 1 Mar 51 - UN line reaches between the 37th and 38th Parallels 18 Mar 51 - UN forces retake Seoul 11 Apr 51 - MacArthur recalled - General Matthew Ridgway given command 13 Jun 51 - UN forces dig in on the 38th Parallel 10 Jul 51 - Truce talks begin at Kaesong - Communists break off talks six weeks later 6 September 1951 Korean laborers unloading empty shell casings at the 2nd Infantry Division Ordnance Salvage Dump Photo: US Army 23 Sep 51 - UN forces take Heartbreak Ridge after 18-day battle 27 Nov 51 - Truce talks resume at Panmunjom 28 Mar 53 - North Korean and Chinese leaders agree to POW exchange 18 Apr 53 - Three-day battle of Pork Chop Hill ends in victory for UN forces 26 Apr 53 - Full peace talks resume at Panmunjom 14 Jun 53 - Communist offensive pushes Republic of Korea troops south 18 Jun 53 - South Koreans release 27,000 North Korean POWs, who refuse repatriation 25 Jun 53 - "Little Truce Talks" secure Republic of Korea's acceptance of armistice. Chinese launch massive attacks against South Korean divisions. 10 Jul 53 - Communists return to negotiations 27 Jul 53 - Cease fire signed - fighting ends 12 hours later 4 Sep 53 - Processing of POWs for repatriation begins at Freedom Village, Panmunjom -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs June 2000 As we mark the 50th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, we present important facts about the veterans of that war period, June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955. View Album

LAW ENFORCEMENT [259 Images] If you would like to add some law enforcement photos to my site, send them to jimspolice@yahoo.com. Please send your name, agency and a brief description of your photo. Thank you. View Album

MARINE CORPS SNIPERS [9 Images] View Album

MARINE CORPS WOMEN [5 Images] There is not enough that I can say about these outstanding women who serve our country! I salute all of you!!!! View Album

MARINE HISTORY - BATTLES - WARS [48 Images] Marine Corps History The United States Marine Corps trace its heritage the the British Royal Marines. Although the current ranks of the Royal Marines number quite small compared to today's US Marines (7,000 vs. 175,000), both Corps of Marines have stood side by side in conflicts around the globe and maintain their close ties. Both Corps of Marines frequently have liaison officers on exchange with each other. The USMC emblem was loosely modeled from the Royal Marines. Neither Corps' emblems incorporates a shield signifying defense, unlike those of other services. During the war of 1812 with England, the British burned nearly every public building in Washington (including the White House and the Capital). The Marine Barracks were spared the burning out of respect. Ancient Marines: The first documented use of marines as a class of soldier in a standing army belongs to the Greeks and Romans. Themistocles, leader of the Athenians, issued a decree that his navy "enlist Marines, twenty to a ship" to turn back a Persian attack. Rome had special legions of "Milites Classiarri" or "soldiers of the fleet". Roman Marines served through out the remainder of the empire's life, not only at sea but also on land. During the Dark Ages, Vikings performed many ship to shore raids. Although not as orthodox as their predecessors, their amphibious tactics would qualify them as Marines. Royal Marines: October 28, 1664 is the birthday of the Royal Marines. The Royal Marines were formed during the early stages of the Second Dutch War. King Charles II sanctioned the formation of the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot, the first Regiment to be formed specially for service afloat. He decreed "That twelve hundred land souldjers be fortwith raysed, to be in readinesse, to be distributed into his Fleets, prepared for Sea Service [where] twelve hundred men are to be putt into One Regiment". The regiment was raised mainly from the Trained Bands of the City of London from which the Royal marines derive the privilege of marching through the City of London with Colours flying, drums beating and bayonets fixed. As early as 1740, England had raised four battalions of 3,000 men for service against Spain. These men were known as "Gooch's Marines", after their leader Colonel William Gooch. In 1741, Gooch's Marines secured Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as a British fleet base. (US Marines landed and secured Guantanamo Bay, Cuba from the Spanish later in June of 1898) Another name associated with Gooch's Marines is Admiral Edward Vernon. He was taken by a young Marine officer in the regiment for a home he built at Little Hunting Creek, Virginia; he called it 'Mount Vernon'. The officer was Lawrence Washington, and upon his death the home passed to his younger brother, our first president. The Continental Marines: November 10, 1775 is the celebrated birthday of the US Marines. After several attempts by the American colonies to work out some sort of reconciliation between the Crown and the American people, the Colonial Congress decided to take a sterner attitude. A committee of the Congress drafted a resolution to create a new military unit, called the Continental Marines. Captain Samuel Nicholas This resolution was drafted in a popular Philadelphian inn called Tun Tavern, and was later approved by the entire legislative body. The owner of the tavern, Robert Mullan, was named a Marine Captain, and the owner of another tavern, Samuel Nicholas, was designated commandant of the Continental Marines. 1776, March - Nicholas' Marines land on New Providence Island, Bahamas. In 13 days they secure 2 forts, occupy Nassau, control the Government House, seize 88 guns, 16,535 shells and other supplies. Returning from the raid, they encountered a British ship. Marines engaged the ship with muskets and assisted in manning the broadside cannon. 1776, December - Nicholas' Marines assist Washington's Army in the second battle of Trenton (the first recorded joint Army-Marine engagement). Later that spring, Washington incorporated some of the Marines in to artillery units of his reorganized Army 1778, January - Marines sail down the Mississippi and secure New Orleans to keep British traders out. 1778, April - A Marine detachment under the command of John Paul Jones makes two raids on Great Britain soil (the 1st in 700 years). 1783, January - Marines board and seize the British ship Baille in the West Indies 1785, June - After the end of the American Revolutionary War (Jan, 1783), the last of the nations warships are sold. The Continental Marines go out of existance, along with the Navy. 1798, July 11 - President John Adams officially signs a bill in to law, creating the US Marines Modern U.S. Marines The role of the United States Marines has changed immeasurably since it began. Never before have Marines faced challenges like today. The scope, frequency and speed today's missions must be executed are unlike anything that has been done in the past. USS Wasp, a multi-mission amphibious assault ship On any given day 173,000 Marines are deployed away from their home bases. Since the end of the Persian Gulf Crisis (in 1991) through 1998, the Marines were "sent-in" over fifty times. On average, the Marine Corps is called upon once every five weeks. Four separate Marine Expeditionary Units (Special Operations Capable) deploy for six months, each having an average strength of 2,200 Marines and Sailors. Consisting of three to five amphibious assault ships, they move freely across the high seas without clearances or other diplomatic restraints. They represent the United States most flexible means of exerting force abroad. The flight deck of an amphibious assault ship can accommodate a variety of helicopters, as well as the AV-8B "Harrier" and the MV-22 "Osprey". Its "wet well" deck can launch air-cushioned landing craft (LCAC's) and assault amphibian vehicles. LCAC's can deliver Marines and their equipment at sprint speeds of 50 knots. These machines can traverse 70 percent of the world's coastline. Landing Craft, Air Cushioned (LCAC) For a quarter of a century, Marines have maintained their own aviation equipment. the HERRIER, world's premiere vertical/short takeoff and landing aircraft. Marines do not have the luxury of choosing where to fight. From tropical jungles, blistering deserts or arctic cold, the Marine Corps trains to fight in all climates. Marine Expeditionary Units are completely self sufficient. All deployable Marine units are trained for combat in the surf-line. As more and more fighting and unrest in cities and built-up areas arise, Marines must have the option to use deadly and non-lethal weapons. View Album

MILITARY VETERANS [10 Images] THIS SECTION IS DEDICATED IN HONOR TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY DURING WAR AND PEACE. THEY SHALL ALWAYS BE HONORED, REMEMBERED AND COUNTED AS THE ONES WHO KEPT OUR COUNTRY AND PEOPLE SAFE FROM HARM'S WAY, AND FOR FIGHTING TO PROTECT THE VERY FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS WE AS AMERICANS HAVE TODAY. IT IS SAD THAT SOME SOLDIERS GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR US ... THEIR VERY LIVES! View Album

NAVY [405 Images] NAVY SEALs View Album

NAVY SEABEES [26 Images] View Album

NAVY SEALs [141 Images] OUTSTANDING View Album

POLICE PICTURES [160 Images] POLICE officers around the world have given so much for the world and at times even lose their lives in the course of their duties. Police officers generally go where no one else cares too. They are usually the first responders to any emergency or life threatening situation risking their lives in doing so. Police officers are special people and there is not enough that can be said for their heroics. God Bless them all and keep them safe. View Album

SPECIAL FORCES [55 Images] ELITE US ARMY FORCES View Album

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS PAGES [252 Images] Somewhere around 1776 a bunch of hard corps people got together and formed one of the best fighting forces in the world and that the Marines have continued to honor their tradition and add to their earned history. These warriors are truly remarkable! Semper Fi to all. God Bless you and pray that God keeps you safe and out of harm's way! View Album

US AIRCRAFT [187 Images] View Album

US MILITARY HELICOPTERS [194 Images] View Album

US MILITARY TANKS [18 Images] THE MAIN BATTLE TANKS FOR THE USA ARE THE M1A1 ABRAMS AND THE M1A2 ABRAMS TANK. THEY HAVE PROVEN TO BE THE BEST TANK ON THE BATTLEFIELD FROM WAR REPORTS. View Album

US POW - MIA [2 Images] This is a new album I have created in honor of our soldiers who never made it back home due to either being captured as a POW or MIA. The US has promised to do everything in their power to find these soldiers or what happened to them. View Album

VIETNAM - MILITARY POLICE [14 Images] PICTURES View Album

VIETNAM PICTURES [397 Images] 1954 May 7, 1954 The Jungle http://davidonline.4mg.com/vietnam.htm Courtesy of David Pye. The first couple of days and nights were a shock to the system. There were virtually no wild animals here, as they had all been killed with the constant fighting. The jungle was very dense, hot, humid and quiet. All we ever did was follow the person in front and make sure the person behind was still there, sometimes the jungle was so dense that we'd only travel a few hundred metres in a day. Most of the time it was simply boredom - walk a few steps, then wait 10 minutes - walk a few more steps, then wait again, and so on, and very rarely did we know what we were doing. Very little of the training in Australia applied here, we were both individuals and part of the group in a huge jungle so dense that we didn't know where anyone else was except the ones directly in front and behind. In the late afternoon we would stop somewhere for the night, we were set up in two's along the circular perimeter of our harbour position with the M60 machine guns evenly spaced around the perimeter. We would be in two's given a certain position in the circumference and shown our arc of fire, then it was a matter of clearing the ground for a space to sleep, cleaning weapons, cooking some food (if possible), finding the way to the gun position and finding where the next person was that you had to wake up after your stint on the gun at night. For a half hour before last light everything was packed up and we "stood to", as this was the most likely time for an attack. Then it was straight to sleep broken by a couple of hours on the gun. We slept where we were positioned, sometimes it was on ants nests, rocks, mud or whatever happened to be there, it was a matter of smoothing the ground as much as possible, laying down a groundsheet and in the wet, trying to put up a "hootchie" (this was a waterproof sheet that was used as a sort of roof/tent). We were supposed to keep our boots on all night, but I used to take mine off when sleeping. I was damned if my toes were going to get eaten away by some scabby fungus or footrot shit. At night my pack was packed ready to go and used as a pillow, rifle placed next to me in the same spot every night and boots next to it. When it was your turn for watch, the person waking you up did it very quietly and carefully, no-one wants to get shaken roughly when you're asleep in a war zone. It was usually so dark that it was a matter of crawling along a rough path feeling along a piece of string until you came to the gun position. Every night we all took turns as sentry/guard, two at a time usually for two hours at a time. Sitting together behind the gun, not talking, just listening, trying to see in the usually pitch black and looking forward to going back to sleep. At night, when on guard at the machine gun and you heard a noise, you fired first and asked questions later. No friendly forces moved around in the jungle at night, simply 'cause you couldn't see diddly squat', so if there was a noise - you fired. Quite often (sometimes too often) someone would hear a noise and start blasting away, this would result in everyone else getting woken up with a heart rate of about a million beats a minute and a bucket load of adrenalin pumping through your veins, you'd grab your weapon, face outwards looking into a pitch black jungle and lie there quietly listening. If you heard a noise to your front you had to decide whether to fire or not, if you fired and there was someone there then they'd see the flash from your rifle and could have shot back, and there may have been more of them than you. This type of incident happened to all of us regularly, as there were always strange noises at night, especially when you're sitting in a jungle at night, when imagination and fear become very real. Jungle warfare isn't like in the movies where the fearless jungle fighters hack their way through the jungle with machettes on well worn paths. The first person (the forward scout) had to make his own path using a pair of secateurs, quietly cutting one branch at a time while keeping his eyes open for any VC, and all that the rest of us did was to follow along. It was always hot and humid, we rarely spoke and when we did it was always in a quiet whisper. One of the greatest pleasures was when we'd halt for several minutes and we could snatch a few minutes rest by sitting or lying on the ground just to take the weight of the pack off our shoulders. If you've ever watched any jungle war movies and all of a sudden the bad guys shoot at the good guys and then the good guys dive into the jungle and straight away know where to shoot at the bad guys. It wasn't quite like that, the jungle was so dense that most times it was only possible to see the person a few metres in front and behind you. If shots were fired, you wouldn't know where they came from and while lying on the ground in a tropical jungle you can see stuff-all apart from dirt. And you most certainly DO NOT stick your head up and look around to see who's shooting at you. If someone is dressed in dark colours and is standing still in a tropical jungle, you can most times pass within a few metres and not see that person. This wasn't a war where there was a "front line", the North Vietnamese Regular Army consisted of very professional and skilful soldiers and were a force to be reckoned with. Whereas the Vietcong (VC) could be anyone, even young women and boys, and were extremely hard to find. They could be the person you talk to during the day, and then the same one you shoot at in the jungle. The end result of this was that most of us simply followed the person in front through the jungle while whoever was forward scout would quietly lead the way with safety catch off and eyes and ears wide open. For us this was a war of boredom, we just walked, stopped..walked, stopped...walked, stopped, and after doing this for a few weeks, I got so bored and pissed off because NOTHING ever happened, that I used to hook my rifle through the webbing straps to take the weight of it (so did most of the others). If we had gotten into a contact it would have taken several seconds just to get the rifle untangled. Despite the difficulties and hardships of living in an inhospitable jungle, everyone got on very well with each other, our world was our small group of 20 year olds. We lived together and relied totally on each other, especially the person you "slept" with, at night, the two of you were alone in a black, noiseless jungle. Probably one of the worst things about the jungle were the bugs. In the dry season there were red tree ants (weaver ants) that made nests in trees and if you brushed against them you would be instantly covered with hundreds of biting ants, there were ticks, which caused a painful red lump, but were more of a nuisance than anything else, scorpions, large (jumper) ants, termite nests, a thing called an RTA bug (the rumour was that if you were bitten you were Returned To Australia), spiders, centipedes and snakes. Then in the winter there were the leeches and even mud crabs. 1965 January 1 - February 7, 1965 Vietcong forces mount a series of attacks across South Vietnam. They briefly seize control of Binh Gia, a village only 40 miles from Saigon. Two hundred South Vietnamese troops are killed near Binh Gia, along with five American advisors. The South Vietnamese lost 200 men at Binh Gia February 7, 1965 A U.S. helicopter base and advisory compound in the central highlands of South Vietnam is attacked by NLF commandos. Nine Americans are killed and more than 70 are wounded. President Johnson immediately orders U.S. Navy fighter-bombers to attack military targets just inside North Vietnam. February 10, 1965 A Vietcong-placed bomb explodes in a hotel in Qui Nonh, killing 23 American servicemen. One of the American dead is carried to a waiting transport February 13, 1965 President Johnson authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder, a limited but long lasting bombing offensive. Its aim is to force North Vietnam to stop supporting Vietcong guerrillas in the South. March 2, 1965 After a series of delays, the first bombing raids of Rolling Thunder are flown. April 3, 1965 An American campaign against North Vietnam's transport system begins. In a month-long offensive, Navy and Air Force planes hit bridges, road and rail junctions, truck parks and supply depots. April 7, 1965 The U.S. offers North Vietnam economic aid in exchange for peace, but the offer is summarily rejected. Two weeks later, President Johnson raises America's combat strength in Vietnam to more than 60,000 troops. Allied forces from Korea and Australia are added as a sign of international support. May 11, 1965 Two and a half thousand Vietcong troops attack Song Be, a South Vietnamese provincial capital. After two days of fierce battles in and around the town, the Vietcong withdraw. June 10, 1965 At Dong Xai, a South Vietnamese Army district headquarters and American Special Forces camp is overrun by a full Vietcong regiment. U.S. air attacks eventually drive the Vietcong away. June 27, 1965 General William Westmoreland launches the first purely offensive operation by American ground forces in Vietnam, sweeping into NLF territory just northwest of Saigon. General Westmoreland August 17, 1965 After a deserter from the 1st Vietcong regiment reveals that an attack is imminent against the U.S. Marine base at Chu Lai, the American army launches Operation Starlite. In this, the first major battle of the Vietnam War, the United States scores a resounding victory. Ground forces, artillery from Chu Lai, ships and air support combine to kill nearly 700 Vietcong soldiers. U.S. forces sustain 45 dead and more than 200 wounded. September - October 1965 After the North Vietnamese Army attacks a Special Forces camp at Plei Mei, the U.S. 1st Air Cavalry is deployed against enemy regiments that identified in the vicinity of the camp. The result is the battle of the Ia Drang. For 35 days, the division pursues and fights the 32d, 33d, and 66th North Vietnamese Regiments until the enemy, suffering heavy casualties, returns to bases in Cambodia. November 17, 1965 Elements of the 66th North Vietnamese Regiment moving east toward Plei Mei encounter and ambush an American battalion. Neither reinforcements nor effective firepower can be brought in. When fighting ends that night, 60 percent of the Americans were casualties, and almost one of every three soldiers in the battalion had been killed. 1966 January 8, 1966 U.S. forces launch Operation Crimp. Deploying nearly 8,000 troops, it is the largest American operation of the war. The goal of the campaign is to capture the Vietcong's headquarters for the Saigon area, which is believed to be located in the district of Chu Chi. Though the area in Chu Chi is razed and repeatedly patrolled, American forces fail to locate any significant Vietcong base. American tanks and troops execute Operation Crimp February 1966 Hoping for head-on clashes with the enemy, U.S. forces launch four search and destroy missions in the month of February. Although there are two minor clashes with Vietcong regiments, there are no major conflicts. March 5, 1966 The 272nd Regiment of the Vietcong 9th Division attack a battalion of the American 3rd Brigade at Lo Ke. U.S. air support succeeds in bombing the attackers into retreat. Two days later, the American 1st Brigade and a battalion of the 173rd Airborne are attacked by a Vietcong regiment, which is driven away by artillery fire. April - May 1966 In Operation Birmingham, more than 5,000 U.S. troops, backed by huge numbers of helicopters and armored vehicles, sweep the area around north of Saigon. There are small scale actions between both armies, but over a three week period, only 100 Vietcong are killed. Most battles are dictated by the Vietcong, who prove elusive. Finding the Vietcong proves to be difficult Late May - June 1966 In late May 1966, the North Vietnamese 324B Division crosses the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and encounters a Marine battalion. The NVA holds their ground and the largest battle of the war to date breaks out near Dong Ha. Most of the 3rd Marine Division, some 5,000 men in five battalions, heads north. In Operation Hastings, the Marines backed by South Vietnamese Army troops, the heavy guns of U.S. warships and their artillery and air power drive the NVA back over the DMZ in three weeks. June 30, 1966 On Route 13, which links Vietnam to the Cambodian border, American forces are brutally assaulted by the Vietcong. Only American air and artillery support prevents a complete disaster. July 1966 Heavy fighting near Con Thien kills nearly 1,300 North Vietnamese troops. October 1966 The Vietcong's 9th Division, having recovered from battles from the previous July, prepares for a new offensive. Losses in men and equipment have been replaced by supplies and reinforcements sent down the Ho Chi Minh trail from North Vietnam. September 14, 1966 In a new mission code-named Operation Attleboro, the U.S. 196th Brigade and 22,000 South Vietnamese troops begin aggressive search and destroy sweeps through Tay Ninh Province. Almost immediately, huge caches of supplies belonging to the NLF 9th Division are discovered, but again, there is no head-to-head conflict. The mission ends after six weeks, with more than 1,000 Vietcong and 150 Americans killed. An American soldier examines a supply cache End of 1966 By the end of 1966, American forces in Vietnam reach 385,000 men, plus an additional 60,000 sailors stationed offshore. More than 6,000 Americans have been killed in this year, and 30,000 have been wounded. In comparison, an estimated 61,000 Vietcong have been killed. However, their troops now numbered over 280,000. 1967 January - May 1967 Two North Vietnamese divisions, operating out of the DMZ that separates North and South Vietnam, launch heavy bombardments of American bases south of the DMZ. These bases include Khe Sanh, the Rockpile, Cam Lo, Dong Ha, Con Thien and Gio Linh. January 8, 1967 America forces begin Operation Cedar Falls, which is intended to drive Vietcong forces from the Iron Triangle, a 60 square mile area lying between the Saigon River and Route 13. Nearly 16,000 American troops and 14,000 soldiers of the South Vietnamese Army move into the Iron Triangle, but they encounter no major resistance. Huge quantities of enemy supplies are captured. Over 19 days, 72 Americans are killed, victims mostly of snipers emerging from concealed tunnels and booby traps. Seven hundred and twenty Vietcong are killed. Looking out from a patrol boat during Operation Cedar Falls February 21, 1967 In one of the largest air-mobile assaults ever, 240 helicopters sweep over Tay Ninh province, beginning Operation Junction City. The goal of Junction City is to destroy Vietcong bases and the Vietcong military headquarters for South Vietnam, all of which are located in War Zone C, north of Saigon. Some 30,000 U.S. troops take part in the mission, joined by 5,000 men of the South Vietnamese Army. After 72 days, Junction City ends. American forces succeed in capturing large quantities of stores, equipment and weapons, but there are no large, decisive battles. Junction City was one of the largest helicopter assaults ever staged April 24, 1967 American attacks on North Vietnam's airfields begin. The attacks inflict heavy damage on runways and installations. By the end of the year, all but one of the North's Mig bases has been hit. May 1967 Desperate air battles rage in the skies over Hanoi and Haiphong. America air forces shoot down 26 North Vietnamese jets, decreasing the North's pilot strength by half. Late May 1967 In the Central Highlands of South Vietnam, Americans intercept North Vietnamese Army units moving in from Cambodia. Nine days of continuous battles leave hundreds of North Vietnamese soldiers dead. Soldiers fighting in the central highlands Autumn 1967 In Hanoi, as Communist forces are building up for the Tet Offensive, 200 senior officials are arrested in a crackdown on opponents of the Tet strategy. 1968 Mid-January 1968 In mid-January 1968 in the remote northwest corner of South Vietnam, elements of three NVA divisions begin to mass near the Marine base at Khe Sanh. The ominous proportions of the build-up lead the U.S. commanders to expect a major offensive in the northern provinces. January 21, 1968 At 5:30 a.m., a shattering barrage of shells, mortars and rockets slam into the Marine base at Khe Sanh. Eighteen Marines are killed instantly, 40 are wounded. The initial attack continues for two days. Vietcong artillery January 30 - 31, 1968 On the Tet holiday, Vietcong units surge into action over the length and breadth of South Vietnam. In more than 100 cities and towns, shock attacks by Vietcong sapper-commandos are followed by wave after wave of supporting troops. By the end of the city battles, 37,000 Vietcong troops deployed for Tet have been killed. Many more had been wounded or captured, and the fighting had created more than a half million civilian refugees. Casualties included most of the Vietcong's best fighters, political officers and secret organizers; for the guerillas, Tet is nothing less than a catastrophe. But for the Americans, who lost 2,500 men, it is a serious blow to public support. Military police defend the US Embassy February 23, 1968 Over 1,300 artillery rounds hit the Marine base at Khe Sanh and its outposts, more than on any previous day of attacks. To withstand the constant assaults, bunkers at Khe Sanh are rebuilt to withstand 82mm mortar rounds. March 6, 1968 While Marines wait for a massive assault, NVA forces retreat into the jungle around Khe Sanh. For the next three weeks, things are relatively quiet around the base. March 11, 1968 Massive search and destroy sweeps are launched against Vietcong remnants around Saigon and other parts of South Vietnam. March 16, 1968 In the hamlet of My Lai, U.S. Charlie Company kills about two hundred civilians. Although only one member of the division is tried and found guilty of war crimes, the repercussions of the atrocity is felt throughout the Army. However rare, such acts undid the benefit of countless hours of civic action by Army units and individual soldiers and raised unsettling questions about the conduct of the war. March 22, 1968 Without warning, a massive North Vietnamese barrage slams into Khe Sanh. More than 1,000 rounds hit the base, at a rate of a hundred every hour. At the same time, electronic sensors around Khe Sanh indicate NVA troop movements. American forces reply with heavy bombing. Artillery slams into Khe Sanh April 8, 1968 U.S. forces in Operation Pegasus finally retake Route 9, ending the siege of Khe Sanh. A 77 day battle, Khe Sanh had been the biggest single battle of the Vietnam War to that point. The official assessment of the North Vietnamese Army dead is just over 1,600 killed, with two divisions all but annihilated. But thousands more were probably killed by American bombing. June 1968 With strong, highly mobile American forces now in the area, and the base no longer needed for defense, General Westmoreland approves the abandonment and demolition of Khe Sanh. November 1, 1968 After three-and-a-half years, Operation Rolling Thunder comes to an end. In total, the campaign had cost more than 900 American aircraft. Eight hundred and eighteen pilots are dead or missing, and hundreds are in captivity. Nearly 120 Vietnamese planes have been destroyed in air combat or accidents, or by friendly fire. According to U.S. estimates, 182,000 North Vietnamese civilians have been killed. Twenty thousand Chinese support personnel also have been casualties of the bombing. 1969 January 1969 President Richard M. Nixon takes office as the new President of the United States. With regard to Vietnam, he promises to achieve "Peace With Honor." His aim is to negotiate a settlement that will allow the half million U.S. troops in Vietnam to be withdrawn, while still allowing South Vietnam to survive. President Richard M. Nixon February 1969 In spite of government restrictions, President Nixon authorizes Operation Menu, the bombing of North Vietnamese and Vietcong bases within Cambodia. Over the following four years, U.S. forces will drop more than a half million tons of bombs on Cambodia. February 22, 1969 In a major offensive, assault teams and artillery attack American bases all over South Vietnam, killing 1,140 Americans. At the same time, South Vietnamese towns and cities are also hit. The heaviest fighting is around Saigon, but fights rage all over South Vietnam. Eventually, American artillery and airpower overwhelm the Vietcong offensive. An American soldier leaps into a bunker during a Vietcong assault April 1969 U.S. combat deaths in Vietnam exceed the 33,629 men killed in the Korean War. June 8, 1969 President Nixon meets with South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu on Midway Island in the Pacific, and announces that 25,000 U.S. troops will be withdrawn immediately. 1970 April 29, 1970 South Vietnamese troops attack into Cambodia, pushing toward Vietcong bases. Two days later, a U.S. force of 30,000 -- including three U.S. divisions -- mount a second attack. Operations in Cambodia last for 60 days, and uncover vast North Vietnamese jungle supply depots. They capture 28,500 weapons, as well as over 16 million rounds of small arms ammunition, and 14 million pounds of rice. Although most Vietcong manage to escape across the Mekong, there are over 10,000 casualties. 1971 February 8, 1971 In Operation Lam Son 719, three South Vietnamese divisions drive into Laos to attack two major enemy bases. Unknowingly, they are walking into a North Vietnamese trap. Over the next month, more than 9,000 South Vietnamese troops are killed or wounded. More than two thirds of the South Vietnamese Army's armored vehicles are destroyed, along with hundreds of U.S. helicopters and planes. A South Vietnamese soldier crouches behind a hill in Operation Lam Son 719 Summer 1971 While herbicides containing Dioxin were banned for use by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1968, spraying of Agent Orange continues in Vietnam until 1971. Operation Ranchhand has sprayed 11 million gallons of Agent Orange -- containing 240 pounds of the lethal chemical Dioxin -- on South Vietnam. More than one seventh of the country's total area has been laid waste. 1972 January 1, 1972 Only 133,000 U.S. servicemen remain in South Vietnam. Two thirds of America's troops have gone in two years. The ground war is now almost exclusively the responsibility of South Vietnam, which has over 1,000,000 men enlisted in its armed forces. March 30, 1972 Massed North Vietnamese Army artillery open a shattering barrage, targeting South Vietnamese positions across the DMZ. Upwards of 20,000 NVA troops cross the DMZ, forcing the South Vietnamese units into a retreat. The Southern defense is thrown into complete chaos. Intelligence reports had predicted a Northern attack, but no one had expected it to come on the DMZ. South Vietnamese defend ineffectively against the North April 1, 1972 North Vietnamese soldiers push toward the city of Hue, which is defended by a South Vietnamese division and a division of U.S. Marines. But by April 9, the NVA are forced to halt attacks and resupply. April 13, 1972 In an assault spearheaded by tanks, NVA troops manage to seize control of the northern part of the city. But the 4,000 South Vietnamese men defending the city, reinforced by elite airborne units, hold their positions and launch furious counterattacks. American B-52 bombers also help with the defense. A month later, Vietcong forces withdraw. Civilians flee from Hue in the face of the North Vietnamese's advance April 27, 1972 Two weeks after the initial attack, North Vietnamese forces again battle toward Quang Tri City. The defending South Vietnamese division retreats. By April 29, the NVA takes Dong Ha, and by May 1, Quang Tri City. July 19, 1972 With U.S. air support, the South Vietnamese Army begins a drive to recapture Binh Dinh province and its cities. The battles last until September 15, by which time Quong Tri has been reduced to rubble. Nevertheless, the NVA retains control of the northern part of the province. December 13, 1972 In Paris, peace talks between the North Vietnamese and the Americans breakdown. Peace talks in Paris December 18, 1972 By order of the president, a new bombing campaign starts against the North Vietnamese. Operation Linebacker Two lasts for 12 days, including a three day bombing period by up to 120 B-52s. Strategic surgical strikes are planned on fighter airfields, transport targets and supply depots in and around Hanoi and Haiphong. U.S. aircraft drop more than 20,000 tons of bombs in this operation. Twenty-six U.S. planes are lost, and 93 airmen are killed, captured or missing. North Vietnam admits to between 1,300 and 1,600 dead. 1973 January 8, 1973 North Vietnam and the United States resume peace talks in Paris. January 27, 1973 All warring parties in the Vietnam War sign a cease fire. Henry Kissenger's initials on the Cease Fire March 1973 The last American combat soldiers leave South Vietnam, though military advisors and Marines, who are protecting U.S. installations, remain. For the United States, the war is officially over. Of the more than 3 million Americans who have served in the war, almost 58,000 are dead, and over 1,000 are missing in action. Some 150,000 Americans were seriously wounded. 1974 January 1974 Though they are still too weak to launch a full-scale offensive, the North Vietnamese have rebuilt their divisions in the South, and have captured key areas. North Vietnamese resupply and fortify their forces August 9, 1974 President Richard M. Nixon resigns, leaving South Vietnam without its strongest advocate. December 26, 1974 The 7th North Vietnamese Army division captures Dong Xoai. 1975 January 6, 1975 In a disastrous loss for the South Vietnamese, the NVA take Phuoc Long city and the surrounding province. The attack, a blatant violation of the Paris peace agreement, produces no retaliation from the United States. The North Vietnamese flag flies over Phouc Long March 1, 1975 A powerful NVA offensive is unleashed in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam. The resulting South Vietnamese retreat is chaotic and costly, with nearly 60,000 troops dead or missing. During March Another NVA offensive sends 100,000 soldiers against the major cities of Quang Tri, Hue and Da Nang. Backed by powerful armored forces and eight full regiments of artillery, they quickly succeed in capturing Quang Tri province. North Vietnamese armored forces March 25, 1975 Hue, South Vietnam's third largest city, falls to the North Vietnamese Army. Early April 1975 Five weeks into its campaign, the North Vietnamese Army has made stunning gains. Twelve provinces and more than eight million people are under its control. The South Vietnamese Army has lost its best units, over a third of its men, and almost half its weapons. April 29, 1975 U.S. Marines and Air Force helicopters, flying from carriers off-shore, begin a massive airlift. In 18 hours, over 1,000 American civilians and almost 7,000 South Vietnamese refugees are flown out of Saigon. A helicopter lifts off from inside the U.S. Embassy grounds April 30, 1975 At 4:03 a.m., two U.S. Marines are killed in a rocket attack at Saigon's Tan Son Nhut airport. They are the last Americans to die in the Vietnam War. At dawn, the last Marines of the force guarding the U.S. embassy lift off. Only hours later, looters ransack the embassy, and North Vietnamese tanks role into Saigon, ending the war. In 15 years, nearly a million NVA and Vietcong troops and a quarter of a million South Vietnamese soldiers have died. Hundreds of thousands of civilians had been killed. Vietnamese forces occupy the French command post at Dien Bien Phu and the French commander orders his troops to cease fire. The battle had lasted 55 days. Three thousand French troops were killed, 8,000 wounded. The Viet Minh suffered much worse, with 8,000 dead and 12,000 wounded, but the Vietnamese victory shattered France's resolve to carry on the war. Vietnamese forces celebrate their victory over the French 1959 During 1959 A specialized North Vietnamese Army unit, Group 559, is formed to create a supply route from North Vietnam to Vietcong forces in South Vietnam. With the approval of Prince Sihanouk of Cambodia, Group 559 develops a primitive route along the Vietnamese/Cambodian border, with offshoots into Vietnam along its entire length. This eventually becomes known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail. 1961 Late 1961 President John F. Kennedy orders more help for the South Vietnamese government in its war against the Vietcong guerrillas. U.S. backing includes new equipment and more than 3,000 military advisors and support personnel. President John F. Kennedy December 11, 1961 American helicopters arrive at docks in South Vietnam along with 400 U.S. personnel, who will fly and maintain the aircraft. 1962 January 12, 1962 In Operation Chopper, helicopters flown by U.S. Army pilots ferry 1,000 South Vietnamese soldiers to sweep a NLF stronghold near Saigon. It marks America's first combat missions against the Vietcong. U.S. Army helicopter on an Operation Chopper mission Early 1962 Operation Ranchhand begins. The goal of Ranchhand is to clear vegetation alongside highways, making it more difficult for the Vietcong to conceal themselves for ambushes. As the war continues, the scope of Ranchhand increases. Vast tracts of forest are sprayed with "Agent Orange," an herbicide containing the deadly chemical Dioxin. Guerrilla trails and base areas are exposed, and crops that might feed Vietcong units are destroyed. 1963 January 2, 1963 At the hamlet of Ap Bac, the Vietcong 514th Battalion and local guerrilla forces ambush the South Vietnamese Army's 7th division. For the first time, the Vietcong stand their ground against American machinery and South Vietnamese soldiers. Almost 400 South Vietnamese are killed or wounded. Three American advisors are slain. The victory at Ap Bac raised morale and drove recruitment for the Vietcong 1964 April - June 1964 American air power in Southeast Asia is massively reinforced. Two aircraft carriers arrive off the Vietnamese coast prompted by a North Vietnamese offensive in Laos. July 30, 1964 On this night, South Vietnamese commandos attack two small North Vietnamese islands in the Gulf of Tonkin. The U.S. destroyer Maddox, an electronic spy ship, is 123 miles south with orders to electronically simulate an air attack to draw North Vietnamese boats away from the commandos. August 4, 1964 The captain of the U.S.S. Maddox reports that his vessel has been fired on and that an attack is imminent. Though he later says that no attack took place, six hours after the initial report, a retaliation against North Vietnam is ordered by President Johnson. American jets bomb two naval bases, and destroy a major oil facility. Two U.S. planes are downed in the attack. August 7, 1964 The U.S. congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, giving President Johnson the power to take whatever actions he sees necessary to defend southeast Asia. President Johnson signs the Resolution October 1964 China, North Vietnam's neighbor and ally, successfully tests an atomic bomb. November 1, 1964 Two days before the U.S. presidential election, Vietcong mortars shell Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon. Four Americans are killed, 76 wounded. Five B-57 bombers are destroyed, and 15 are damaged. View Album

WORLD WAR I [297 Images] 1914-1939 1914 Austria invades Serbia World War I begins 1915 Germany begins submarine warfare Lusitania torpedoed 1917 Germany announces unrestricted submarine warfare Germans launch major offensive in France Zimmermann note disclosed United States declares war on Central Powers Selective Service Act passed 1918 Russia signs a seperate peace with Central Powers U.S. troops launch offensive in Argonne Forest Wilson announces Fourteen Points Armistice ends war (November 11) Paris Peace Conference convenes 1919 Treaty of Versailles signed Wilson suffers stroke Senate rejects treay 1920 Nineteenth Amendment gives suffrage to women Warren G. Harding elected president 1924 Woodrow Wilson dies 1929 Stock Market Crash signals onset of Great Depression 1930 Hawley-Smoot Tariff enacted Ten-year drought begins in South and Midwest (the Dust Bowl) 1931 Federal Reserve raises interest rates Depression spreads to Europe and deepens in United States 1936 Margaret Mtchell publishes Gone with the Wind 1939 John Steinbeck publishes The Grapes of Wrath View Album

WORLD WAR II [223 Images] The modern world is still living with the consequences of World War 2, the most titanic conflict in history. Nearly 66 years ago on September 1st 1939, Germany invaded Poland without warning. By the evening of September 3rd, Britain and France were at war with Germany and within a week, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa had also joined the war. The world had been plunged into its second world war in 25 years. Six long and bloody years of total war, fought over many thousand of square kilometres followed. From the Hedgerows of Normandy to the streets of Stalingrad, the icy mountains of Norway to the sweltering deserts of Libya, the insect infested jungles of Burma to the coral reefed islands of the pacific. On land, sea and in the air, Poles fought Germans, Italians fought Americans and Japanese fought Australians in a conflict which was finally settled with nuclear weapons. World War 2 involved every major world power in a war for global domination and at its end, more than 60 million people had lost their lives and most of Europe and large parts of Asia lay in ruins. The war began in 1939 and ended in 1945. View Album