#87th infantry

[kvetch19]

[captain-price-unofficially]

Two young German snipers captured by a member of the 87th Infantry Division near Koblenz, 1945

[cast-you-dxwn]

To the members of the 778th, what was the most surprising thing about the Afterlife? Or what was the most difficult to get used to after dying?

What was the most surprising thing about the afterlife?

Albert: “How well everyone gets along, I ‘spose. I mean, it makes sense when you take even half a second to think about it, but I died in nineteen-forty-four.

The whole world was at war, evil was everywhere, even where we were all told it wasn’t. I mean, shit man, the army was still segregated when I was alive, if you can believe that. If you were black or Japanese you got shunted into separate units led by white officers, for the most part if you were Chinese or Hispanic you were ‘white enough’ to serve in white units, I just…I grew up in that shit, but I guess the war was really where I started questioning just how backward it all really was.

There was this one unit, tankers, the 761st, called themselves the Black Panthers cause of their emblem. We were bogged down in Bastogne, surrounded by a German infantry division and two fuckin’ Panzer divisions. Just waitin’ to die. The 761st and 87th rolled in and smashed ‘em to pieces. Saved our lives. They had eleven tanks, lost nine of em, and all I could think was ‘how in Gods name ain’t these men good enough to serve alongside us?’

Shit, well, died a few months after that anyway. Ain’t like that here, none of it. Equals is equals, brothers and sisters in Christ. My Centurion’s a woman, no one gives a shit. It’s good like that.”

Ramirez: “The calm, I think. While I was alive everyone was always scared, or looking for something to be scared of. Even before 9/11, and any of the newer arrivals can tell you how fucked pretty much everything’s been after that. Fucking everybody was scared, everybody was baying for blood, didn’t matter whose.

It’s calm here. Peaceful, you know? Yeah, I’m a soldier, but it’s not…the same. I don’t have to wonder if the guy on the other side of my rifle is a bad guy or if I’m just some asshole who invaded his home. I can see it, I can sense it, and when I get home I’m not hearing every second about how bad things are, how afraid everyone is, how we’re gonna pay the bills or feed the kids or fill up the gas tank. I do what I do because it’s right, and I know it is, not because some rich fuck is telling me it’s my patriotic duty to pop a round into the skull of some guy who’s pissed we ran over his kid with a tank.”

Alistair: “Technology. I was martyred in the Year of Our Lord Twelve-Oh-Nine. The horse was the most advanced form of travel in the world and it was not known that small organisms caused diseases. I wore steel and leather, and killed men with sword and lance.

When I died I was thrust into this world of light and sound and knowledge, where one can travel across a massive city in mere minutes and every man and woman can read the Scriptures for themselves. Where the streets are lit with lightning, and a fever is a minor inconvenience instead of a death sentence.

My armor gives me the strength of one hundred men and tells me how fast my comrades hearts are beating, my weaponry can reach out to strike a heretic dead from a distance unattainable for even the most skilled of longbowmen. It is a place of wonder.”

[cyberbenb]

Andrey Vankin

Position Unknown - Major Previously: Mi-24 Crew Commander Unit: ( Hints of Wagner Africa connection ) Senior group of UAV Operators of the 87th joint venture of the 1st Guards Slavic Infantry Brigade. Source : topcargo200.com/1273/

[sunder-the-gold]

I recognize Amuro, Domon, and that guy from... 87th Infantry, or something.

I don't see Garrod.

Somebody made a goofy tierlist about Gundam protagonists and their tolerance for hot wings and have since followed up with funny pictures to go with it, and the Uso Ewin one is fucking killing me.

[sfc-paulchambers]

UNIT PROFILE– 761ST TANK BATTALION (COLORED) BLACK HISTORY MONTH Of the three armor battalions composed of Black soldiers in the segregated U.S. Army of World War II, the 761st "Black Panther" Tank Battalion is arguably the best known. Constituted on 15 March 1942 in the Army of the United States and activated on 1 April 1942 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, it was initially equipped with the M5 Stuart tank but transitioned to the M4 Sherman when the Army began fielding that system to the non-divisional armor units. After the battalion completed training in the United States - which included serving as the "aggressor" force against the student units of the tank destroyer school and participation in a phase of the Louisiana Maneuvers, the 761st was deemed "combat ready" and shipped overseas to the European Theater of Operations. Following a short stay in England, the battalion arrived in France on 10 October 1944, and was assigned to the Third Army commanded by the legendary proponent of armored warfare, Lieutenant General George S. Patton Jr. As a separate tank battalion, the 761st was attached to Infantry divisions - which had no organic armor units - for combat operations. As such, the "Black Panthers" entered combat for the first time on 7 November 1944. In 183 days of combat operations while attached to the all-white 26th, 71st, 79th, 87th, 95th and 103d Infantry Divisions, the 761st participated in the Allied drive through France, Patton’s relief of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, and the breaching of the Siegfried Line. By the end of the war the Black Panthers had made it all the way to Austria (where they liberated the Gunskirchen concentration camp); the 761st was inactivated on 1 June 1946 in Germany. During WWII, the Black Panthers earned a Medal of Honor, a Presidential Unit Citation, 11 Silver Stars, 69 Bronze Stars, 296 Purple Hearts, and four campaign streamers (Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe). #Armyhistory #USArmy #TRADOC #WWII #WW2 #WW2History #Patton #Bastogne #BlackPanther #ShermanTank #BlackHistoryMonth #ArmyHeritage U.S. Army U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. #repostedfrom @armyhistory (at Columbia, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CohszLPuF7Z/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[rockyp77mk3]

British Soldiers from the 5th Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, 51st Highland Division, wearing snow suits, and two GIs from the US 87th Infantry Division inspect each others weapons during the link-up of the two forces at Champlon Belgium - January 1945

[casbooks]

Books of 2023

Book 2 of 2023:

Title: Days of Valor Authors: Robert Tonsetic ISBN: 9781935149385 Tags: AUS ADF AA Australian Army, AUS ADF Australian Defence Force, AUS ADF RAN FAA 723 Sqd, AUS ADF RAN FAA Fleet Air Arm, AUS ADF RAN Royal Australian Navy, AUS Australia, US USA 118th Assault Helicopter Company - Thunderbirds, US USA 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, US USA 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment - 2/11, US USA 128th Assault Helicopter Company - Tomahawks, US USA 12th Aviation Group, US USA 12th Infantry Regiment, US USA 12th Infantry Regiment - 4/12 - Warriors, US USA 12th Infantry Regiment - 5/12, US USA 12th Infantry Regiment - 5/12 - A Co, US USA 135th Assault Helicopter Company, US USA 179th Military Intelligence Det, US USA 17th Cavalry Regiment, US USA 17th Cavalry Regiment - 3/17, US USA 17th Cavalry Regiment - 3/17 - A Troop, US USA 17th Cavalry Regiment - 3/17 - A Troop - Silver Spurs, US USA 17th Cavalry Regiment - 3/17 - Aero-Rifle, US USA 17th Cavalry Regiment - 3/17 - Aero-Scouts, US USA 17th Cavalry Regiment - Delta Troop, US USA 187th Assault Helicopter Company, US USA 199th Light Infantry Brigade (Redcatchers), US USA 1st ID, US USA 25th ID, US USA 27th Infantry Regiment - 2/27, US USA 27th Infantry Regiment - Wolfhound Raiders, US USA 28th Infantry Regiment, US USA 28th Infantry Regiment - 2/28 - Black Lions, US USA 35th Artillery Regiment, US USA 35th Artillery Regiment - 2/35, US USA 35th Artillery Regiment - 2/35 - C Batt, US USA 39th Infantry Regiment, US USA 39th Infantry Regiment - 4/39, US USA 39th Infantry Regiment - 4/39 - B Co, US USA 3rd Infantry Regiment - 2/3, US USA 3rd Infantry Regiment - The Old Guard, US USA 3rd Ordnance Bn, US USA 40th Artillery Regiment, US USA 40th Artillery Regiment - 2/40, US USA 40th Artillery Regiment - 2/40 - C Batt, US USA 478th Aviation Co, US USA 47th Mechanized Infantry Regiment, US USA 47th Mechanized Infantry Regiment - 2/47, US USA 47th Mechanized Infantry Regiment - 2/47 - A Co, US USA 47th Mechanized Infantry Regiment - 2/47 - B Co, US USA 47th Mechanized Infantry Regiment - 2/47 - C Co, US USA 49th Scout Dog Platoon, US USA 4th Cavalry Regiment, US USA 4th Cavalry Regiment - 3/4, US USA 503rd Chemical Det, US USA 51st Infantry Regiment, US USA 51st Infantry Regiment - F Co (LRP), US USA 52nd Infantry Regiment, US USA 52nd Infantry Regiment - C Co, US USA 60th Infantry Regiment, US USA 60th Infantry Regiment - 5/60 - B Co, US USA 60th Infantry Regiment - 5/60 - Banditos, US USA 60th Infantry Regiment - 5/60 - C Co, US USA 716th Military Police Bn., US USA 71st Infantry Det (LRRP), US USA 7th Infantry Regiment, US USA 7th Infantry Regiment - 3/7 - A Co, US USA 7th Infantry Regiment - 3/7 - Cottonbalers, US USA 87th Engineer Co, US USA 9th ID, US USA ASA 856th Radio Research Det, US USA ASA Army Security Agency, US USA Combat Trackers - K9, US USA General Frederick Weyand, US USA General John Hay, US USA General Robert C. Forbes, US USA General William Westmoreland, US USA LRRP Team (Vietnam War), US USA MI Army Military Intelligence, US USA United States Army, US USA USSF 5th SFG, US USA USSF Green Berets, US USA USSF Special Forces, US USAF 377th Security Police Sqd, US USAF United States Air Force, VNM 1968 Tet Offensive (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM ADF AA 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) (Vietnam War), VNM ADF RAN EMU Experimental Military Unit (Vietnam War), VNM ADF RANHFV RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM Ap Tan Hoi, VNM Ap Tan Thanh, VNM Battle of Long Binh (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Long Binh Widows Village (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Saigon (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Tan Son Nhut (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Bien Hoa, VNM Binh Canh, VNM Binh Dien Bridge, VNM Binh Duong, VNM Binh Son Rubber Plantation, VNM Binh Tri Dong, VNM Camp Frenzell-Jones - 199th LIB Brigade Main Base (Vietnam War), VNM Cholon, VNM Cholon - Regional Communications Group HQ (Vietnam War), VNM Cong Thanh, VNM Dong Nai River, VNM DRV NVA 246th Bn, VNM DRV NVA 264th Bn, VNM DRV NVA 272nd Bn, VNM DRV NVA 273rd Regiment, VNM DRV NVA 4th Sapper Battalion, VNM DRV NVA 5th Regiment, VNM DRV NVA 7th Division, VNM DRV NVA 88th Regiment, VNM DRV NVA 9th Division, VNM DRV NVA C-100th Sapper Co, VNM DRV NVA General Tran Do, VNM DRV NVA North Vietnamese Army, VNM DRV VC 1st Regiment, VNM DRV VC 1st Regiment - 3/1, VNM DRV VC 271st Regiment, VNM DRV VC 272nd Regiment, VNM DRV VC 273rd Regiment, VNM DRV VC 274th Regiment, VNM DRV VC 274th Regiment - 2/274, VNM DRV VC 274th Regiment - 3/274, VNM DRV VC 275th Regiment, VNM DRV VC 4th Local Force Bn, VNM DRV VC 5th Division, VNM DRV VC 5th Local Force Bn, VNM DRV VC 6th Local Force Bn, VNM DRV VC 7th Bn, VNM DRV VC 8th Bn, VNM DRV VC 9th Division, VNM DRV VC Combined Artillery Group U-1, VNM DRV VC Dong Nai Regiment, VNM DRV VC Dong Nai Regiment - D-800 Bn (K1), VNM DRV VC Dong Nai Regiment - K1, VNM DRV VC Dong Nai Regiment - K3, VNM DRV VC Viet Cong, VNM Duc Tu, VNM FSB Atilla (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Concord (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Farrell (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Hanover (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Horseshoe-Bend (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Hun (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Keene (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Nashua (Vietnam War), VNM FSB New Orleans (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Stephanie (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Tri-Corners (Vietnam War), VNM Gia Dinh Province, VNM Highway 1, VNM Highway 10, VNM Highway 13, VNM Highway 16, VNM Highway 233, VNM Highway 316, VNM Highway 4, VNM Ho Nai, VNM Hoc Mon, VNM III Corps - AO Central Uniontown (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps - AO Columbus (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps - AO Haverford (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps - AO North Uniontown - Rocket Belt (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps - AO North Uniontown (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps - AO South Uniontown (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps - AO Winchester (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps (Vietnam War), VNM IV Corps (Vietnam War), VNM Kiem Tan, VNM Kinh Sanh Canal, VNM Long Binh, VNM Long Binh Post - Plantation - II Field Force HQ (Vietnam War), VNM Long Binh Post (Vietnam War), VNM Mekong Delta, VNM Nha Trang, VNM Nha Trang - 5th SFG Recondo School (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Box Springs (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Fairfax/Rang Dong (1966-1967) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Snoopy (People Sniffer) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Toan Thang (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Uniontown III (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Valley Forge (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Wilderness (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM Phu Lam, VNM Phu Lam Signal Site (Vietnam War), VNM Rach Lam, VNM RVN ARVN 30th Ranger Bn, VNM RVN ARVN 33rd Ranger Bn, VNM RVN ARVN 5th Ranger Group, VNM RVN ARVN Airborne Division - 6th Bn, VNM RVN ARVN Airborne Division - Su-Doan Nhay Du, VNM RVN ARVN Army of the Republic of Vietnam, VNM RVN ARVN Vietnamese Rangers - Biet Dong Quan, VNM RVN RVNP Can Sat National Police, VNM RVN SVNAF South Vietnamese Air Force, VNM RVN USA CRIP Combined Reconnaissance and Intelligence Platoon (Vietnam War), VNM RVN VNN Republic of Vietnam Navy, VNM RVN VNN RPF RAG River Assault Group, VNM RVN VNN RPF River Patrol Force, VNM RVN VNN RVNMD 147th MarBde - 1st Marine Bn - Wild Birds, VNM RVN VNN RVNMD 147th Marine Brigade, VNM RVN VNN RVNMD Republic of Vietnam Marine Division - Su Doan Thuy Quan Luc Chien, VNM Saigon, VNM Saigon - CMD Capital Military District (Vietnam War), VNM Saigon - Phu Tho Racetrack, VNM Song Be, VNM Suoi Dia, VNM Suoy Tay Loi, VNM Tan My Tay, VNM Tan Son Nhut Air Base, VNM Tan Uyen, VNM Thu Duc, VNM Trang Bom, VNM US MACV Military Assistance Command Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM US USA 24th Evacuation Hospital - Long Binh (Vietnam War), VNM US USA 3rd Field Hospital - Saigon (Vietnam War), VNM US USA 93rd Evacuation Hospital - Long Binh (Vietnam War), VNM US USA II Field Force (1966-1971) (Vietnam War), VNM USA TF Hay (Vietnam War), VNM USA TF Panther (Vietnam War), VNM USA TF Ware (Vietnam War), VNM USA USARV United States Army Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM Vietnam, VNM Vietnam War (1955-1975), VNM Vung Tao, VNM War Zone D (Vietnam War), VNM Xam Suoi Dia, VNM Xuan Loc Rating: ★★★★ Subject: Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.US Army.Infantry

Description: On January 30, 1968, the storm broke loose, as Saigon and nearly every provincial capital was overrun by VC and NVA bursting in unexpected strength from their base camps. In this book we learn the most intimate details of combat, as the Communists fight with rockets, mortars, Chinese claymores, mines, machine guns and AK-47s. The battles evolve into an enemy favoring the cloak of night, the jungle—both urban and natural—and subterranean fortifications, against U.S. forces favoring direct confrontational battle supported by air and artillery. When the lines are only 25 yards apart, however, there is little way to distinguish between the firepower or courage of the assailants and the defenders, or even who is who at any given moment, as both sides have the other in direct sight. Days of Valor covers the height of the Vietnam War, from the nervous period just before Tet, through the defeat of that offensive, to the highly underwritten yet equally bloody NVA counteroffensive launched in May 1968. It ends with a brief note about the 199th LIB being deactivated in spring 1970, furling its colors after suffering 753 dead and some 5,000 wounded. The brigade had only been a temporary creation, intended for one purpose, and though its heroism is now a matter of history, it should remain a source of pride for all Americans. SUMMARY: The 199th Light Infantry Brigade was created from three U.S. infantry battalions of long lineage as a fast reaction force to place in Vietnam. As the book begins, in December 1967, the brigade has been at war for a year, and many of its battered 12-month men are returning home. The Communists seem to be in a lull, and the brigade commander requests a transfer to a more active sector, just above Saigon. Through January the battalions sense increasing enemy strength, NVA personnel now mixed with Viet Cong units. But the enemy is lying low, and a truce has even been declared for the Vietnamese New Year, the holiday called Tet. On January 30, 1968, the storm broke loose, as Saigon and nearly every provincial capital was overrun by VC and NVA bursting in unexpected strength from their base camps. In this book we learn the most intimate details of combat, as the Communists fight with rockets, mortars, Chinese claymores, mines, machine guns and AK-47s. The battles evolve into an enemy favoring the cloak of night, the jungle-both urban and natural-and subterranean fortifications, against U.S. forces favoring direct confrontational battle supported by air and artillery. When the lines are only 25 yards apart, however, there is little way to distinguish between the firepower or courage of the assailants and the defenders, or even who is who at any given moment, as both sides have the other in direct sight. Days of Valor covers the height of the Vietnam War, from the nervous period just before Tet, through the defeat of that offensive, to the highly underwritten yet equally bloody NVA counteroffensive launched in May 1968. It ends with a brief note about the 199th LIB being deactivated in spring 1970, furling its colors after suffering 753 dead and some 5,000 wounded. The brigade had only been a temporary creation, intended for one purpose, and though its heroism is now a matter of history, it should remain a source of pride for all Americans

Review: This book fleshes out Tonsetic’s other book about his time with Charlie Co. 4/12, 199th LIB during the Tet Offensive in 1968. Focusing on the 199th as a whole, and the various elements involved, it goes into depth about the pre-Tet battles, the clearing of the Widows Village, Ho Ngai Village, Cholon, and the Phu Tho Racetrack in particular. A great  companion book to those written about the 9th Infantry Division’s 47th and 60th Infantry during the same period like “Two One Pony” and Our Time.

[lonestarbattleship]

USS WEST POINT (AP-23) steams past the Statue of Liberty, while transporting troops home from Europe.

"Banners hanging from her superstructure identify the following U.S. Army units (from left to right): Fifth Corps; 347th Infantry Regiment; and 87th Infantry Division. Note West Point’s pattern camouflage.”

Photographed on July 11, 1945.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command: 80-G-K-5783-A

[taraross-1787]

Medal of Honor Monday: Curtis Shoup

During this week in 1945, an Army staff sergeant engages in an action that would ultimately earn him the Medal of Honor. Curtis F. Shoup was then serving with an old friend from high school.

“Although he hated war,” Lt. Robert J. Watson later wrote, “Curtis proved to be a fine soldier.” That day in 1945 made a deep impression on Watson. “Those who saw it all,” he concluded, “will never forget [Shoup’s] incredible, unselfish act.”

Indeed, Shoup’s bravery inspired the men with him to fight even harder.

Early January 1945 found Shoup with part of the 87th Infantry Division in Tillet, Belgium. It was really cold!! In fact, the ground was frozen so hard that Americans could not penetrate the ground in order to dig defenses. Thus, on January 7, Shoup’s company found itself in an exposed area with no good way to defend itself.

The Germans were firing relentlessly. Shoup knew that their machine guns had to be taken out, and he decided to act.

The story continues at the link in the comments.

[casadabiqueira]

Members of the First Battalion, 87th Infantry, tended to a wounded comrade in Kunduz

Damon Winter [NYT], 2010

[otmacamera]

The Imperial Family in Revel, 27th May 1908.

Photo 1 - 2 : Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom "Thoria" and Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna onboard the Standart, 27th-28th May 1908.

"26th May. Monday. In the morning, all walked together and ran on the giant steps. Had breakfast with Papa and Mama. Drank tea too. In the evening, at 8 1/2 got on the train and went to Revel. Tatiana and I are in a train cabin."

"27th May. Tuesday. At 6 o'clock we got up and at 7 went to another small train to Revel and at about 8 we were on the "Standart". A[unt] Alix, U[ncle] Bertie and A[unt] Thoria arrived today. Had breakfast with Mama. Played in the afternoon. In the evening, sat with Mama." (1908 Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna)

"[...] At 7 o'clock arrived in Revel. Drove from the station to the port in a motor car. There was a gathering and a guard of honor from the 87th Neyshloth Infantry Regiment. Then we went onboard the boat and went to our dear "Standart". An hour and a half later, Mama, A[unt] Olga, U[ncle] Misha, Olga and Petya arrived on the Polar Star. Until 10 o'cl. saw the English detachment approaching from the sea, accompanied by a destroyer division of Essen. Having made a detour of our vessels from the port side : yachts "Victoria & Albert" and "Alexandra" and cruis[ers] "Minotaur" and "Achilles" anchored between our lines. In a Scots Grays uniform I went to visit U[ncle] Bertie and A[unt] Alix. It was nice to meet them, as well as Victoria. Returned to the "Standart" and then they came to us. After mutual introductions of the retinues and conversations, we parted, changed into frock-coats and met for breakfast at the "Polar Star". From there brought Victoria to us, then went with her to an English yacht, where we drank tea together [...]" (1908 Diary of Tsar Nicholas II)

Photos from: Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna's 1907-1908 Album Empress Alexandra Feodorovna's 1908-1912 Album

[theworldatwar]

A US army .30 cal. machine gunner and a rifleman (with a carbine), of the 87th Infantry Division, 3rd Army - Koblenz, Germany, March 1945

[greatworldwar2]

• Allied Invasion of Kiska

On August 15th, 1943, Allied military forces landed on Kiska Island, which had been occupied by Japanese forces since June 1942.

The Japanese under Captain Takeji Ono had landed on Kiska on June 6th, 1942, with a force of about 500 Japanese marines. Soon after arrival, they stormed an American weather station, where they killed two and captured eight United States Navy officers. The captured officers were sent to Japan as prisoners of war. Another 2,000 Japanese troops arrived, landing in Kiska Harbor. At this time, Rear-Admiral Monzo Akiyama headed the force on Kiska. In December 1942, additional anti-aircraft units, engineers, and a negligible number of reinforcement infantry arrived on the island.

A Consolidated B-24 Liberator aircraft sighted Japanese ships in Kiska. No further identification was visible. To United States naval planners, none was necessary and the orders to invade Kiska soon followed. After the heavy casualties suffered at Attu Island, planners were expecting another costly operation. The Japanese tactical planners had, however, realized the isolated island was no longer defensible and planned for an evacuation. Starting in late July, there were increasing signs of Japanese withdrawal. Aerial photograph analysts noticed that routine activities appeared to greatly diminish and almost no movement could be detected in the harbor. On August 15th, 1943, the U.S. 7th Infantry Division, 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division and the 13th Infantry Brigade (Canada), landed on opposite shores of Kiska. The invasion also involved the first combat deployment of the First Special Service Force, an elite special forces unit consisted of American and Canadian commandos.

Both U.S. and Canadian forces mistook each other, after a Canadian soldier shot at American lines believing they were Japanese, and a sporadic friendly fire incident occurred, which had left 28 Americans and 4 Canadians dead, with 50 wounded on either side. Progress was also hampered by mines, timed bombs, accidental ammunition detonations, vehicle accidents and booby traps. A stray Japanese mine also caused the USS Abner Read to lose a large chunk of its stern. The blast killed 71 and wounded 47. The island was declared secure on August 24.

[bantarleton]

Lieutenant Edward Finch, Light Infantry Company, 87th Foot, 1779.

[mountrainiernps]

Training. Whenever you’ve had a big goal to achieve, I bet you’ve trained for it. Planned, practiced and trained as much as you possibly could.

Mount Rainier has often been a place where folks trained. Sometimes it’s hiking in order to complete the Wonderland or Pacific Crests trails. Sometimes, folks come here to learn mountaineering and expedition skills to attempt even bigger climbs on Denali or Everest.

Even the U.S. Army has come here to practice. It makes sense that soldiers living and working at Fort Lewis when needing a place to learn and practice mountaineering, skiing, and alpine survival would look up from their parade field and think....hmmm. In the early 1940s, the 87th Infantry Mountain Regiment, one of the first Army mountain units, started at Fort Lewis. They came to the park to work on their skiing and mountaineering skills, testing equipment and learning skills. All things they would need when they went on to serve in the Aleutian Islands and northern Italy during World War 2.

Of course this is just one small story in the Army’s 245 years of service, but we like to think that Mount Rainier has helped just a little bit.

Have you ever used Mount Rainier National Park for training for an important goal?

Photo (top) View from Watkins Field on Fort Lewis towards Mount Rainier. NPS Photo (middle and bottom). World War 2 soldiers training on skis in the snow on Mount Rainier.