#8th infantry battalion

[bignaz8]

D-DAY ANNIVERSARY

“You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you…” With these words, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the “Order of the Day” just before the 1944 Allied assault on Normandy Beach. It’s been 80 years since that historic day, and less than one percent of Americans who served in WWII are still alive. However, the impact of their service and sacrifice will live on forever.

Code named Operation Overlord, planning for D-Day began after France fell to the Nazis in 1940. It involved Allies from several countries and was the largest amphibious invasion in military history. As H-Hour approached (5:30 a.m. local time) on June 6, 1944, demolition teams had already blasted out underwater obstacles planted by German forces. Rangers were already scaling the cliffs to knock out coastal guns, and American and British airborne divisions had been dropped in hedgerows behind the beaches overnight. Soon, the first waves of Infantry would hit the beach.

Leonard T. Schroeder, Jr. served in the 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry, Fourth Division, where he was the commanding officer of Company F. 

He has the distinction of being the first man ashore at Utah Beach, the first beachhead, landing fewer than 60 seconds after H-Hour. Recalling the day, Schroeder said that Allied aircraft had bombed the beach heavily, creating craters that could be used as cover. Some of those craters were offshore and hidden by water. When Schroeder’s landing craft pulled ashore, he jumped off and into a water-filled crater six feet deep. He came up sputtering and struggled to rush ashore. Working his way up the beach, he was wounded by shrapnel but continued to fight. He commanded his company for three hours before collapsing into unconsciousness. He woke up at an aid station and was later evacuated to England. Schroeder received the Silver Star.

Pvt. Carlton W. Barrett served in the 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division and participated in the Normandy Invasion. His unit was in the third wave of Allied soldiers to come ashore at Omaha Beach, landing at about 10:00 a.m. Germans had planted mines on the beach about a foot apart, and the beach was strewn with bodies of soldiers. Barrett landed under heavy enemy fire, wading through neck-deep water. He noticed fellow soldiers around him floundering in the water and rushed to save them from drowning. Once on the beach, Barrett carried dispatches back and forth along the exposed beach while under heavy fire. He also carried wounded soldiers to an offshore evacuation boat. For his dauntless courage, Barrett was awarded the Medal of Honor.

The Allies landed over 160,000 troops on June 6, 1944, with an estimated 10,000 casualties, more than half of which were American. Today, a visit to the Normandy American Cemetery is the final resting place for 9,387 Americans and a sobering reminder of selfless service and the ultimate sacrifice made 80 years ago. 

[herprivateswe]

Image: IWM (Q 9365) Battle of the St Quentin Canal (Saint-Quentin). Men of the American 30th Infantry Division at rest with German prisoners following the capture of Bellicourt, 29th September 1918. In the background are British Mark V Tanks with 'cribs' of the 8th Battalion, Tank Corps, which were one of four battalions of the V Tank Brigade allotted to the 5th Australian Division and American Corps for the operation.

[greatworldwar2]

• Stanisław Sosabowski

Stanisław Franciszek Sosabowski was a Polish general in World War II. He fought in the Polish Campaign of 1939 and at the Battle of Arnhem (Netherlands), as a part of Operation Market Garden, in 1944 as commander of the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade.

Stanisław Sosabowski was born on May 8th, 1892 in Stanislau, in what was then Austria-Hungary and is now Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine. His father was a railway worker. Sosabowski graduated from a local gymnasium and in 1910 he was accepted as a student of the faculty of economy of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. However, the death of his father and the poor financial situation of his family forced him to abandon his studies and return to Stanislau. There he became a member of Drużyny Strzeleckie, a semi-clandestine Polish national paramilitary organisation. He was soon promoted to the head of all Polish Scouting groups in the area. In 1913, Sosabowski was drafted into the Austro-Hungarian Army. After training, he was promoted to the rank of corporal, serving in the 58th Infantry Regiment. After the outbreak of World War I he fought with his unit against the Imperial Russian Army in the battles of Rzeszów, Dukla Pass and Gorlice. For his bravery, he was awarded several medals and promoted to first lieutenant. In 1915, he was badly wounded in action and withdrawn from the front. In November 1918, after Poland regained its independence Sosabowski volunteered for the newly formed Polish Army, but his wounds were still not healed and he was rejected as a front-line officer. Instead, he became a staff officer in the Ministry of War Affairs in Warsaw.

After the Polish-Soviet War Sosabowski was promoted to major and in 1922 he started his studies at the Higher Military School in Warsaw. After he finished his studies he was assigned to the Polish General Staff. Promoted to lieutenant colonel, in 1928 he was finally assigned to a front-line unit, the 75th Infantry Regiment, as commanding officer of a battalion. The following year he was assigned to the 3rd Podhale Rifles Regiment as its deputy commander. From 1930 he was also a professor of logistics at his alma mater. In 1937 Sosabowski was promoted to colonel and became the commanding officer of the 9th Polish Legions Infantry Regiment stationed in Zamość. In January 1939 he became the commander of the prestigious Warsaw-based 21st Infantry Regiment. According to the Polish mobilisation scheme, Sosabowski's regiment was attached to the 8th Infantry Division. Shortly before the German invasion of Poland started his unit was moved from its garrison in the Warsaw Citadel to the area of Ciechanów, where it was planned as a strategic reserve of the Modlin Army. On September 2nd, the division was moved towards Mława and in the early morning of the following day it entered combat in the Battle of Mława. Although the 21st Regiment managed to capture Przasnysz and its secondary objectives, the rest of the division was surrounded by the Wehrmacht and destroyed. After that Sosabowski ordered his troops to retreat towards Warsaw. Sosabowski was ordered to man the Grochów and the Kamionek defensive area and defend Praga, the eastern borough of Warsaw, against the German 10th Infantry Division. During the Siege of Warsaw the forces of Sosabowski were outmanned and outgunned, but managed to hold all their objectives. When the general assault on Praga started on September 16th, the 21st Infantry Regiment managed to repel the attacks of German 23rd Infantry Regiment and then successfully counter-attacked and destroyed the enemy unit. After this success, Sosabowski was assigned to command all Polish troops fighting in the area of Grochów. Despite constant bombardment and German attacks repeated every day, Sosabowski managed to hold his objectives at relatively low cost in manpower. On September 26th, 1939, the forces led by Sosabowski bloodily repelled the last German attack, but two days later Warsaw capitulated.

Following the Polish surrender, Sosabowski was made a prisoner of war and interned at a camp near Żyrardów. However, he escaped and remained in Warsaw under a false name, where he joined the Polish resistance. He was ordered to leave Poland and reached France to report on the situation in occupied Poland. After arriving in Paris, The Polish government in exile assigned him to the Polish 4th Infantry Division as the commanding officer. Initially, the French authorities were very reluctant to hand over the badly needed equipment and armament for the Polish unit. Sosabowski's soldiers had to train with pre-World War I weapons. In April 1940, the division was moved to a training camp in Parthenay and was finally handed the weapons awaited since January, but it was already too late to organise the division. Out of more than 11,000 soldiers, only 3,150 were given arms. By June 1940, Sosabowski with approximately 6,000 Polish soldiers arrived at La Pallice, whence they were evacuated to Great Britain. Upon his arrival in London, Sosabowski turned up at the Polish General Staff and was assigned to 4th Rifles Brigade that was to become a core of the future 4th Infantry Division. The unit was to be composed mainly of Polish Canadians, but it soon became apparent that there were not enough young Poles in Canada from which to create a division. Then, Sosabowski decided to transform his brigade into a Parachute Brigade, the first such unit in the Polish Army. The volunteers came from all the formations of the Polish Army. In Largo House in Fife, a training camp was built and the parachute training was started. Sosabowski himself passed the training and, at 49 years of age, made his first parachute jump. In October 1942 the Brigade was ready for combat and was named the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade. Since the Polish General Staff planned to use the Brigade to assist a national uprising in Poland, the soldiers of the 1st Polish Para were to be the first element of the Polish Army in Exile to reach their homeland. Hence the unofficial motto of the unit: by the shortest road (najkrótszą drogą).

In September 1943, Lieutenant-General Frederick Browning proposed that Sosabowski reform his unit into a division and fill the remaining posts with British troops. Sosabowski himself would be assigned to the newly formed division and promoted to general. However, Sosabowski refused. Nevertheless, on June 15th, 1944 he was promoted to Brigadier General. In early August 1944, news of the Warsaw Uprising arrived in Great Britain. The Brigade was ready to be dropped by parachute into Warsaw to aid their comrades from the underground Polish Home Army, who were fighting a desperate battle against overwhelming odds. However, the distance was too great for the transport aircraft to make a round trip and access to Soviet airfields was denied. The morale of the Polish troops suffered badly and many of the units verged on mutiny. The British staff threatened its Polish counterpart with disarmament of the Brigade, but Sosabowski retained control of his unit. Finally, Polish Commander in Chief Kazimierz Sosnkowski put the Brigade under British command, and the plan to send it to Warsaw was abandoned.

During the planning for Operation Market Garden, Sosabowski expressed serious concerns regarding the feasibility of the mission. Among Sosabowski's concerns were the poorly conceived drop zones at Arnhem, the long distances between the landing zones and Arnhem Bridge and that the area would contain a greater German presence than British intelligence believed. Despite Sosabowski's concerns and warnings from the Dutch Resistance that two SS Panzer Divisions were in the operations area, Market Garden proceeded as planned. The Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade was among the Allied forces taking part in Market Garden. Due to a shortage of transport aircraft, the brigade was split into several parts before being dropped into the battle. A small part of the brigade with Sosabowski was parachuted near Driel on September 19th, but the rest of the brigade arrived only on September 21st at the distant town of Grave, falling directly on the waiting guns of the Germans camped in the area. The brigade's artillery was dropped with the British 1st Airborne Division. Three times Sosabowski attempted to cross the Rhine to come to the assistance of the surrounded 1st Airborne Division. Unfortunately, the ferry they hoped to use had been sunk and the Poles attempting to cross the river in small rubber boats came under heavy fire. Even so, at least 200 men made it across the river and reinforced the embattled British paratroopers. Despite the difficult situation, at a staff meeting on September 24th, Sosabowski suggested that the battle could still be won. He proposed that the combined forces of XXX Corps, under Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks, and the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade should start an all-out assault on the German positions and try to break through the Rhine. This plan was not accepted, and during the last phase of the battle, on 25th and 26th of September, Sosabowski led his men southwards, shielding the retreat of the remnants of the 1st Airborne Division. Casualties among the Polish units were high, approaching 40%. After the battle, on October 5th, 1944, Sosabowski received a letter from Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, commander of the Anglo-Canadian 21st Army Group, describing the Polish soldiers as having fought bravely and offering awards to ten of his soldiers. However, on October 14th, 1944, Montgomery wrote another letter, this time to the British commanders, in which he scapegoated Sosabowski for the failure of Market Garden. Sosabowski was accused of criticizing Montgomery, and the Polish General Staff was forced to remove him as the commanding officer of his brigade on December 27th, 1944.

Sosabowski was eventually made the commander of rearguard troops and was demobilized in July 1948. Shortly after the war Sosabowski succeeded in evacuating his wife and only son from Poland. Like many other Polish wartime officers and soldiers who were unable to return to Communist Poland on pain of repercussions including death or disappearance, he settled in West London. He found a job as a factory worker at the CAV Electrics assembly plant in Acton.He died in London on September 25th, 1967. In 1969, Sosabowski's remains were returned to Poland, where he was reinterred at Powązki Military Cemetery in Warsaw. In The Hague, on May 31st, 2006, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands awarded the Military Order of William to the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade. The brigade's commander, Sosabowski, was posthumously awarded the "Bronze Lion". On June 1st, a ceremony was held at Driel, the town where the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade fought. Among the speakers at the ceremony were the mayor of Overbetuwe, as well as Sosabowski's grandson and great-grandson. Sosabowski was portrayed by Gene Hackman in the 1977 war film A Bridge Too Far. In the summer of 2012 1st Airborne Major Tony Hibbert made a video appeal for Sosabowski to be pardoned and honoured.

[ass-arius]

hello fellow tinhats in the mcr tag I would like to add something bc I've seen a lot of people mentioning ties between the long live promo and both swarm tour/wwwy and there's something I haven't seen mentioned yet

A lot of people have brought up the cold war inspo, especially on reddit and I would like to contribute a little gem I found

Kristin Colby shared this post where many noticed the connection between the audience and the wwwy visuals

So I went to the op's (@/pau.lpzlms) page and found their videos from the show and noticed this (this is during famous last words)

Bad screenshot but it pretty clearly says Garibaldi Corps. I haven't found any mentions of it on Twitter or reddit but I did a little wiki dive.

It's easy to think this is actual historical footage of a war rally or something but the name "Garibaldi Corps" only shows results for corporations and companies with the name garibaldi. However the name Garibaldi is commonly used in Italian military, named after Giussepe Garibaldi, a hero of the Italian unification wars, but none of them are called "corps"

there are different brigades/battalion named after Garibaldi in different wars.

•cold war (8th Bersaglieri Brigade "Garibaldi")

A bersaglieri is an infantry troop made up of mostly marksmen or gunmen. This particular brigade was activated in 1975 in the peak of the cold war, along with its sister brigades manin and mamelli, also named after italian unification heroes. When the cold war officially ended in 1991, the garibaldi brigade became the first troop in the Italian army to become fully professionalized.

•world war ii (Brigate Garibaldi)

the cold war brigade was named partially in honor of these units that served during ww2. These were partisan groups composed of mostly communists as well as non-communist members of the national liberation committee and the Italian socialist party fighting against the occupation by n*zi germany in italy as well as italian fascists during the Italian Civil war. According to wiki: "they were the largest of the partisan groups and suffered the highest number of losses. Members wore a red handkerchief around the neck with red stars on their hats."

There are other uses of the name by Italian groups in the Spanish civil war, the American Civil War, during the polish wars in the 1860s, and a French brigade during ww1

It's interesting how the drum is being passed around the audience supposedly during the appearance from his grand immortal dictator, if the concert visuals do correspond with the poster. the ww2 garibaldi units were italian resistance groups against the fascist regime, meanwhile the cold war brigade was a mechanized troop created in response to the threat of the soviet union. In both cases, Russia is the enemy but the first group were rebels and the second are professional soldiers.

It could simply be that Garibaldi is a common name for Italian military units across history and so perfect for this worldbuilding they're going for but I do think allusions to both these specific groups would be very interesting

[rockpaperscissuhs]

Hispanic Heritage Month + Band of Brothers

For the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15), I rolled up my sleeves to do some research on Latinos who served in Easy Company.

Here's who I found…

Antonio C. "Tony" Garcia

Here's the bio & gif set I made for him:

Ynez M. "Tito" Mendoza

Ynez was born September 22, 1925 in California. His parents, Jose and Carlota, were both born in Mexico and had immigrated to the U.S.

He enlisted in Los Angeles in January 1944, and joined Easy Company as a replacement. In October 1944, he was wounded in the lower leg by artillery, but returned to the line December 1944.

After the war, he married and had 3 children. He died on June 30, 2011 at the age of 85.

Wiliam S. "Guillermo" Metzler

William was born and raised in Naco, Arizona. His parents, Francisco and Julia, were born in Hermosillo, in the Mexican state of Sonora. They married, and later immigrated with their first two sons to Arizona, where William and his other siblings were later born.

He was living in Los Angeles when he volunteered for the U.S. Army in August 1942. He was one of the original members of Easy Company and trained at Toccoa.

He was killed in action in Normandy on June 24, 1944, at the age of 22.

Sergio G. Moya

Sergio was born on February 24, 1921, in San Francisco, California.

In February 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was one of the original members of Easy Company and trained at Toccoa.

He was on the C-47 plane with Lt. Meehan that was shot down over Normandy by German anti-aircraft fire on June 6th, 1944 (D-Day). He died at the age of 23.

Joseph "Joe" Ramirez

Here's the bio & gif set I made for him:

[captain-price-unofficially]

Weary GIs take a brief rest on a slope in the Hurtgen forest in Germany. Left to right, Pfc. Maurice Berzon, Buffalo, N.Y., S/Sgt. Bernard Spurr, Newark, Ohio, and S/Sgt. Harold Glessler, Ashland, Pa. All are from Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. 18 November, 1944.

[qsycomplainsalot]

Oil on canvas, Charles Louis Mozin

The Capture of the Dutch Fleet at Den Helder, 23rd of January 1795

  In which the French armed forces demonstrates that not having the best navy can in fact be okay.

Context

  The French Revolution in 1789, followed by the imprisonment and then execution of Louis the XVIth in 1793, led to most major autocratic powers in Europe declaring war on France to restore the status quo. France was thus engaged on multiple fronts by many of its neighbors which, surprisingly, at the time included Austria through their ownership of the Southern Netherlands. Both Netherlandses had witnessed failed republican uprisings in the previous decades, and as such the new France Republic pushed through the Austrian Netherlands to declare war on the -nominally only- Republic of United Netherlands in the North.

The “Battle”

  After two years of campaign the combined efforts of the French revolutionary army and Dutch patriots had all but closed this front of the war, and the French commander of the Army of the North was garrisoned in Amsterdam when he caught wind of the Dutch fleet being anchored at the mouth of the Zuiderzee bay, just north of there. Due to temperatures averaging -10°C in the past weeks, the entire bay had frozen over, which he decided to use to his advantage.   He immediately sent Dutch patriot Gnl. Jan Willem de Winter at the head of about two hundred men from the French 8th Hussar and the 3rd Battalion of Belgian Skirmishers, also raised from sympathizers to the republican cause. Muffling the sound of their horses’ hooves with cloth and arriving during the night each with a Belgian infantryman riding with them, the hussars sneaked on the entire Dutch fleet frozen at anchor and captured it without a fight.

  In a single cavalry charge the French Republic had captured five ships-of-the-line, three frigates, six corvettes and several merchantmen with crew, for a total of about 850 guns. This is one of only two recorded instances of a cavalry force charging and capturing ships in a battle and one of few instances where having light infantry ride as voltigeurs proved to be even remotely useful. There is debate whether the Dutch sailors and marines would have actually resisted capture however, as the Netherlands had essentially already been knocked out of the war by then and might have been ordered to surrender, which the French may have known as well. It is hard to discern the truth of the matter when what was two hundred men sent to secure a fleet that may have already been surrendered to them gets painted as a full army corps marching in tight formation on the ice.   In any case, a squadron of hussars captured a fleet of ships and that’s awesome.

  Following the capture of the fleet, the evacuation of the remaining Allied troops to other fronts or England and finally the surrender of the Austrian duchy of Luxembourg, the Dutch Patriot party were given the reins of the Netherlands renamed as the Batavian Republic - more or less a puppet state and the future Netherlands - while the Austrian Netherlands - future Belgium - and Luxembourg were incorporated in the French Republic as new departments.   The captured fleet was ransomed back to the Batavian Republic in exchange of a small loan of a hundred million guilders.

[tpmmpt-1]

M4A3E8 Sherman Tank Of Company B, 72nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, fires its 76mm gun at enemy bunkers on Napalm Ridge, in support of the 8th ROK Division. Photograph is dated 11 May 1952.

[scotianostra]

William Angus was born 28th February 1888 at Polkemmet Rows, Cappers, Armadale.

Note some sources say this brave man was born in Carlulke, others give Armadale, he certainly spent a large chunk of his life in South Lanarkshire town. where a commemorative stone was unveiled in his honour in 2015.

On leaving school Angus worked in the nearby coal mines before earning a modest living as a footballer at several clubs, 1914 he was with Wishaw Thistle when war broke out and as a member of local Carluke Territorial battalion of the Highland Light Infantry, he was mobilised immediately.

William Angus was transferred to the 8th Royal Scots, the first Territorial battalion to join the Expeditionary Force. 8th Royal Scots had suffered a great many casualties and were in urgent need of replacements. He was serving as a lance-corporal in this battalion when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On 12th June 1915 at Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée, France Lance-Corporal Angus voluntarily left his trench to rescue a wounded officer, fellow Carluke man Lieutenant James Martin, who was lying within a few yards of the enemy’s position and had been injured by a mine. To do this he had to travel through 64 metres in no-man’s land under heavy bomb and rifle fire, and received about 40 wounds, some of them being very serious, including the loss of his left eye, losing part of his foot and calf. His commanding officer said there had been no braver deed in the history of the army.

When asked why he had risked death to carry out such a mercy mission, he replied:

“I have to go back to Carluke. I cannot return if I left someone from Carluke to die here.”

40 wounds, can you imagine that?!

Angus was awarded the VC for his bravery in August that year at Buckingham Palace, when the King commented on his 40 injuries, Angus was said to have answered “Aye, sir, but only 13 were serious.”.

Due to his injuries he was no longer fit for active duty and was transferred to Cameronians on recruitment duties and promoted to Sergeant. He was invalided out of the Army in 1917 and started a haulage business, he later became president of Carluke Rovers, where he was known simply as “The VC”., a position he held until his death. Each year of his life, he received a telegram of thanks from the family of the man he rescued.

William Angus VC died just two days after the 44th anniversary of his brave deed. His last annual telegram of thanks from the Martin family was delivered to him in hospital.

William Angus' medals on display at the National War Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle.

You can read a wee bit more detail about William here http://www.vconline.org.uk/william-angus-vc/4585925970.html

[walkingthroughthisworld]

Tank Training

U.S. Army photo by Capt. Dan Yarnall

Army M1A2 Abrams tank crews assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, supporting 4th Infantry Division, zero their tank cannons in preparation for a live-fire qualification at Pabrade Training Area, Lithuania, Aug. 12, 2023.

[sgtgrunt0331-3]

Three soldiers from the U.S. Army's Battery C, 28th Field Artillery Battalion, 8th Infantry Division, prepare to fire a 155mm shell on New Year's Eve in 1944. The shell is inscribed with the words, "FOR ADOLPH, UNHAPPY NEW YEAR."

[davidshawnsown]

SAVANNAH BANANAS UKRAINE ONE-SHOT 1: Danny "Do It All" Hosley, the all-around infantryman

(AN: As the Savannah Bananas began their 2024 season as a pro barnstorming team - 3rd overall in this configuration, 2nd full time and the 8th of their history, it came at the heels of a massive roster overhaul in the offseason, and the fact that for the first time the organization will be hosting events at 6 MLB stadiums with a 3rd joining the two already active franchises of the wider organization come May. They have filled Minute Maid Park in Houston to huge reception and come this April, their presence has had expanded with the first games broadcast on Bally Sports platforms. To honor these boys in yellow who have won the hearts of a nation and people around the world, in salute to the forthcoming launch of the Firefighters team and to ensure also that the fans of this stellar team also know as well the need to help Ukraine be supported in its time of need - given that there are Ukrainian American communities that call the Hostess City home - the series I began in Discord of one shots featruing the Bananas and their players is now also present here on Tumblr - for the sake of the fanfic writers and other writers here. These stories, set in the Ukrainian frontlines, will give the readers the idea of how important the defense of Ukraine is to the overall well being of the world. As a footnote, the recent incident involving members of the Russian press will be included.)

TW: violence, language, war scenes

SOMEWHERE AT THE SVATOVE-KREMMINA FRONTLINE

WESTERN EASTER WEEK, APRIL 2024

The smoke of exploded vehicles have time and again punctuated Ukraine's north east since the 716th Savannah Infantry Regiment's 1st and 2nd Battalions arrived in the fall of 2023 to help reinforce this vital part of the frontline.

Carrying not just vital aid to the frontline soldiers and also medical and ordnance supplies but also even additional reinforcements from their home city in the form of an artillery battalion and an infantry battalion based there as well as volunteers for the repairs of crucial arms and vehicular equipment, they have helped in the defense of the frontline from repeated Russian attacks from either the regular armed forces but also from the militias from both Russia itself and its autonomous republics in the Donbass.

Among those who have had helped was a young man from Vienna, Virginia and had been trained as an EMT in college - newly promoted sergeant Danny Hosley of 1st platoon, A Company of the 1st Battalion, who has been their all around soldier cum infantryman since he accepted the offer of joining the regiment in December 2022. His medical training has also made him the platoon's medical first responder for not just his men but also for the Ukrainians fighting with him in the front, in which the regimental medical unit has been grateful for the quick response that saved a lot of lives in the field. Thus he has been called as "Danny Do It All" by all those in A Company since he arrived at the front - also because alongside his rifle and EMT proficiency, he has been an expert in the machine gun, grenade launcher and ATGMs, as well as MANPADs. He's already set to be platoon sergeant with 1st Platoon in the future, already a backup to SFC Malachi Mitchell, already company first sergeant for A Company. And his actions have earned the praise not only only his company commander, 1LT Bill LeRoy, but also his battalion CO Tyler Gillum and XO Adam Virant.

These actions have earned him a Defense of Ukraine Medal and other medals and decorations by the Ukrainian and US governments, as well as recognition by the people of his hometown.

Over the past months since his deployment, his efforts have resulted in the death of many Russians and those from Cuba, Nepal and African countries, as well as the destruction of tens of Russian and allied military vehicles as well as UAVs and helicopters. No wonder these kills are openly brandished but only in the Strykers the 1st Battalion 716th has had accompained in their Ukrainian campaign.

Last February, he was with 1LT Dan Oberst as he risked his life saving SGT Taj Porter from certain death. Over the past few months whenever elements of A Company of the 1st Battalion were in certain life threatening situations, Hosley was the one who was with them looking at their safety and well being all the way, including a young lieutenant from Oklahoma, 1LT Jocelyn Alo, a graduate of the local ROTC unit, who joined the company last year.

Once more his will and ability would be tested.

1340h EEDT

Reports of yet another Russian column have unnerved the 1st Battalion command in their OP in the frontline. Yesterday it's the 169th Assault Infantry Brigade that was threatening the lines to the north - a new Russian raising that is part of the 25th Army and is the first of many that had been raised as part of an ongoing revival of the Russian Shock Corps - the rapid response infantry units that have gained notoreity and fame during the Second World War as part of the vanguard echeleon of ground forces formations. The brigade is armed with BTR-70s and the T-62 Chollma. This time it's the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division (Motorized Rifles) of the 20th Army that is threatening the frontline alongside 2 BARS battalions and a battalion of LPR militia from the 4th Mechanized Infantry Brigade II Guards Corps - represented by battalions of the 237th Armored Regiment with its T-54/55s and T-62s, as well as BMP-2s and older BMP-1s. Of the foreign equipment, they use the WZ-551 Type 90 and the Shin'heung light tank, as well as BTR-80 Chunma, a North Korean unlicensed version of the vehicle, while there has been at least a battery of the Chinese made PCL-99 towed field gun in the artillery battalion. The BARS battalions are armed partly with Dongfeng Mengshi MRAPs and the UAZ-66.

This time the call was from elements of the 1st Presidential Infantry Brigade "Storm" of the National Guard, as well as from the 66th Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the UGF, reporting that elements of the 3rd Mechanized were planning a renewed company level operation given the situation in the US regarding continued aid to the AFU and its wartime auxillaries. Ever the mobile commitment to the defense of the northeast, the 1st and 2nd battalions of the 716th moved north while the two affilated battalions remained as they were. Since December 1st Platoon had been carrying 1LT Joe Lytle with it as he, 1LT Dakota McFadden and two others have been gearing up for the expansion of the company to five rifle platoons with McFadden slated to take charge of the 3rd as its current commander will have his platoon reflagged to the 4th as part of this. As of this week he called up SGT Jacob Teston from 1st platoon to be a future part of his team as well as SGT Emmanuel Rosario from 2nd platoon.

That earlier morning the 1st and 2nd Battalions took up positions in Nevske, Krasnorichenske Township in Svatove District, wherein they would assist the 66th Mechanized and the 106th Territorial Defense Brigade to the north of their positions, as well as a battalion of the 4th Armored Brigade to the west of them. Their mission was to patrol the area and halt possible Russian and DPR/LPR advances on the front. Well-armed and well equipped they would face the brunt of any Russian advance on their sector as well as of their allies while helping their Ukrainian brothers everywhere on the front as Russia is moving even more into their lines in the south while trying in the north to capture Chasiv Yar city in Kharkiv Oblast. They would man the positions each of the village.

As usual, CPTs Dalton Mauldin, Andy Archer and Reese Alexiades as well as SGT Brandon Crosby and 1LT Christian Dearman of 1st Platoon, newly promoted sergeant Tanner Thomas, SGTs Garrett DeClue and Dustin Baber and CPLs Garret Delano and Riyan Rodriguez of 2nd platoon had their GoPros ready to share the stories of their struggles to the American people attached to their helmets. Hosley himself had filmed some footage for the regimental social media outlets and his personals. The two platoons are more known for their TikTok viral antics and video footage over the past few years.

"Dalt!"

"So you're filming today Hoz?" Mauldin asked.

"Negative corporal."

"Got that sir. Already doing as usual, I want to let Nashville know that Ukraine badly needs the help in the form of weapons to defend its lands against Russia."

"Have you sent the petitions to your federal Congress members, Dalt?"

"Affirmative sir."

"I'm sure the rest of everyone here has been doing their job. And Breland?"

"Already in the Czech Republic now but still active helping the Ukrainian cause."

"Same for me here," added Archer, who has been for the past months since arriving in Ukraine the platoon's main marksman and sniper.

"You sure those French will keep their promises to be in Ukraine?"

"They will one day, Danny."

As the men of 1st and 2nd Battalions 716th Savannah stayed on their combat positions, they keep watch, aware that Russia - and the Donbass militias under its command would any time attack them and move towards the by now undersupplied Ukrainian lines, their plight having been shared to Americans as part of their efforts to help in the ongoing discussion on vital weapons aid to the country in Congress.

Then...

"ENEMY SPOTTED" was the call of 1LT Alou having relayed the call of the 1st Battalion's Ukrainian liason officer. He had informed her that it is surely the 237th.

"Here they come," added 1LT Bill LeRoy. "Open fire when ready Able. I know Gillum will give the fire order when he's ready."

Elements of the Russian 237th had been advancing as company level vanguard echelons attempting a breakthrough of the Ukrainian lines - exactly why the 716th had to move across to plug any holes in the defense whenever there would be an oncoming threat on the lines. This is before any main element of the regiment would arrive alongside the BARS reserves. Recon elements as usual were escorting the advance party and the vanguard detachments with vehicle-mounted infantry on the T-54/55s and the BTR-80 Chunma-D.

Ever the combat ready rifleman cum heavy weapons specialist, Hosley, having dropped his M4, began to load up his Javellin MPATS alongside SGT Michael Deeb on his NLAW, awaiting the order from his superiors and higher ups while elements of regimental command was in their original positions alongside parts of the battalion's servicemen while COL Eric Byrnes was with the rest on the field.

"Colonel, Tyler here from 1st Battalion. Russians about to begin intrusion operations. The Ukrainian liason with us told us its the 234th Armored Regiment of the Russian 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division coming at our lines," Tyler called his commanding officer on his walkie talkie.

"Noted LTC. On my orders, open fire when you think you're ready."

"Affirmative sir."

"Has Jesse called up from Savannah now that he's back there with Emily and the kids?"

"Yes. Our colonel in chief, Jesse Cole, has been informed via telephone on this. It's time we start the clock, he said. We need to fight them now that they are getting closer to our lines."

"Got that Brynes, Gillum out. Boom."

"Byrnes out."

"Calling A Company command," Tyler then called Bill. "Be ready to open fire when these Russians are on your sights."

"We're damn ready, sir."

Tyler called on the rest of the battalion and the cannon company to be ready for the upcoming onslaught by these Russians - as usual in a mix of old and new combat gear and armaments.

"In a few moments fire when ready boys," LTC Adam Virant called to the boys thru his walkie talkie. "These Russians will taste the fire of our guns."

Back in the line, Hosley had already loaded up his Javellin and began to aim at the lead T-55 leading the Russian advance party as it slowly moved towards the positions the two battalions of the 716th Savannah were.

"You ready?" CPL Deaundre "DJ" Roberts - soon slated to be promoted to Sergeant - asked him.

Hosley replied to him, "I'm just ready to do what it takes Corporal Roberts. We're doing what we can do for Ukraine at this point."

"Got that sarge."

"I'm ready too," added CPL Brandon Crosby.

"Same, sarge," added SGT Gabe Howell.

Immediately the fire order was issued from Byrnes, leading Gillum - on the part of 1st Battalion - to give the signal to fire upon the force.

"SHOWTIME! Open fire boys!"

"Order recieved," Bill replied. "A Company, light them up, fire!"

"Roger that Bill, let's do this, Slava Ukraini," his XO, 1LT Kyle Luigs, responded. "Heroyam Slava!" was everyone's usual response.

And the firefight began. Before any Russian would disembark from their vehicle, the bullets began to hit, killing anyone riding on the top of armored vehicles as tank desants in keeping with the old Russian tradition dating from the Second World War. And as always, Hosley's Javellin had hit the lead tank of the convoy.

"Tank has been hit, boys."

"Well done Danny!" replied CPL Ethan Skuija.

And the explosions kept coming. Grenade launchers and MPATS firing on the advance party, as well as the work of the field cannoniers of the gun company, practically disabled most of the force, with a few on the retreat as most of them were killed or wounded by American gunfire, soon joined by elements of an armored company from the 4th Armored Brigade armed with T-72s.

And Archer had shot some of the men at a distance, ever the able sniper he is.

Cries of "Surrender!" would ring out later, but most of the surviving lads were defiant, ready to die for Russia rather than giving up their arms. And they were met by rifle fire from the Americans, bleeding to their deaths.

"GET DOWN" echoed from no less than 1LT Josh Reddick. A grenade launcher had been fired on A Company's positions, but no one was hurt, the Russian carrying it would later run away from the battleground back to his battalion group.

"You okay DJ?" Danny asked.

"Yes sir, I'm alright."

"Same here Sarge, damn that grenade launcher man almost got us killed," added CPL Christian Vazquez from 2nd Platoon. This would be seconded by 1LT Sammy Claycamp, Major Mike Vavasis' assistant and the delegate for the 2nd Platoon as well as advisor to its commanding staff.

"You fine, Jonesy?" He radioed SGT Eric Jones Jr.

"Yes, I'm fine sarge, and so too is Lieutenant LeRoy."

"I'm sure Kyle and the other officers are alright."

"That's an afffirmative, thank God none of them were shot."

Soon enough the damage would be seen: 2 T-62 Chollma-2s, 6 BTR-80 Chunma-Ds, 2 BMP-1s and 2 WZ-551 Type 90s, plus a squad of UAZ-66 and GAZ Tigers. Majority of the advance party got killed in the operation, and not one of 1st and 2nd Battalions' personnel were killed for now or even wounded. Only a few gave up their AK-12 and AK-74s in the presence of the Americans, and thus would be handed over to the Ukrainian liason team of 1st Battalion 716th to be interrogated.

"There's more where that's coming from," Hosley said.

"That's right Hoz," 1LT Ryan Cox replied, stating that there would be a bigger column coming from that regiment as well as expected BARS battalions backing them up , in addition to another battalion this time from yet another from the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division: the 252nd Mechanized Infantry Regiment, as well as attached field artillery elements using SPGs and MLRS, coming at the rear. This is the reason why the UGF's 66th Mech Inf Brigade deployed some field artillery batteries from its field artillery regiment to back them up as well as the cannon companies of the 1st and 2nd Battalions - the latter a new raising to complement that of the former's and armed similarly. Their late arrival helped a lot in the destruction of the Russian advance party.

Radioing him, no less than 1st platoon CO 1LT Jackson Olson asked of him: "You destroyed some of these Russian and foreign tanks again Hoz?"

"Just doing my job as always."

"You better get that Javellin refilled time after time. There's more coming up, sarge."

"Yes lieutenant." After this he loaded up that Javellin again with the help of some members of the company.

"You've done well sarge," added sergeant Jones Jr. from 1st squad. "You still destroying these Russian vehicles?"

"Affirmative. I'm sure that our ammo's enough for these and we're still helping the nearly ammo-starved Ukrainians."

"You've become more determined these past weeks," said CPL Noah Bridges.

"I have been, corporal, not just to serve and defend, but to save more lives."

And indeed more came of these Russian vehicles and those imported to the country to serve their needs. But the artillery and armor of the Ukrainian units that reinforced their lines had helped them defeat the intruders time and again. The kill count and destroyed vehicles kept growing, as despite the cries of the charging Russians the Americans - with a little help from those in Ukraine who know the territory more - continued to maul those Russians of the vanguard column and those of the main force - as per the traditional assault strategy that had been adapted many times during the ongoing invasion - as company rather than battalion level assault parties for the former rather that of the latter ad-hoc formation. Even Russian and Chinese UAV's of the regiment's unmanned systems company were no match for electronic warfare and defensive efforts by Americans and Ukranians.

"Oh S__t. Damn grenade again!" Hosley shouted to his squadmates.

This time it missed them.

Afterwards, as the bomb went off, he was lying on the ground with 1LT Dan Oberst whom he helped save lives recently.

"That was close, Dan."

"Sarge, it almost got us killed," he replied as both stood up.

"Hey Stilits," then radioing SGT Dakota Albritton, "has the Strykers fired their targets and are being resupplied?"

"Yes Danny, and thank heavens none of them have been hit so far."

And the remmants of the attack would later pull back, at a high cost to their failed operation.

As the firefight continued on, no less than CPL Connor Higgins - who had been with 1st Platoon last year and got transferred to the 2nd on the urging of Major Vavasis - had radioed the sergeant - as he was informed of that by CPL Zack "Philly" Philips, who had also been with said unit and joined the same time as Higgins in 2023. After their training in Savannah and Kovel, they were deployed joining with the rest of A Company that summer.

"Big Butter here, Sarge we got an injury here on 2nd Platoon."

"Who's that corporal?"

"SSGT Jason Swan. Their platoon sergeant. Was a part of your platoon in 2022."

"Squad assignment?"

"1st."

"Is that combat related?"

"Affirmative Hosley. I am calling a medic here, please be there."

"Got ya Butter. Danny Do-It-All out."

"Big Butter out, good luck."

Hosley then informed 1LT Cox, "Know this guy?"

"Affirmative Hoz, served with him early in 2022."

"Got that, gonna be saving him before a medic arrives, Coxy."

"Hosley," said SSGT Mitchell, "be safe out there, make sure Swan is out of the line and being treated."

"Got it sarge."

Dropping his Javellin and getting his first aid kit ready and prepared, he rushed to 2nd platoon's lines at once with his M4 on his hands notwitstanding enemy gunfire and cannon fire from tanks and armored vehicles. But before that, he gave that Javellin to CPL David Ray "DR" Meadows from 3rd Squad, fully loaded up and with instructions to clearly fire at any Russian vehicle approaching their defenses.

"Glad you arrived in time," said 1LT Sammy Claycamp as he arrived at where 2nd platoon's being stationed in the field. "Higgins had called ya regarding Staff Sergeant Swan's injuries, these were on the hamstring on his legs due to a grenade sharpnel wound sustained thanks to these Russians who have been advancing towards 1st Battalion."

"Thanks Sam. Able to help him if I can, I must do."

"HOSLEY!" Higgins shouted at him as he approached the wounded but screaming staff sergeant. "Glad you made it."

"Doing my best as usual. Where's 1st squad commander?"

"That's SGT Achuff, I am asking him now to provide covering fire."

"Noted sarge."

"So what happened?"

"1LT Cornett informed me that Swanny got hit by grenade sharpnel to his hammy while firing on the advancing Russians because they threw a damn grenade on our lines.. He's been screaming in pain ever since and I'm glad sergeants Bloomer and Baber have been helping him."

"Got that Big Butter, I want covering fire now."

"Consider this done, sarge, I am calling Chase for this."

The order already given, Sergeant Hosley began to treat the staff sergeant with first aid, removing the sharpnel and ensuring that the torniquet and bandages applied as quickly to stop the bleeding caused by the sharpnel to his hamstring as the medical team arrived to assist.

"F_ck, what happened Swan?"

"Those Russians, they launched a grenade on our lines and I was thrown into the ground from having to stand up with Baber and the rest of the boys, with shapnel on my hammy."

"Better now?"

"Thanks Sarge. I would be lying bleeding and dead here in this freaking ground if not for you."

"Affirmative staff sergeant. It's time to get you out of the line. Here, take my hand."

"Thanks Danny."

"Is that one of the guys from 1st Platoon?" asked a stunned SGT Tanner Thomas, the 3rd squad commander, after seeing what had just happened.

Corporal Higgins, who served with Hosley last year, said the affirmative. Indeed it was Danny helping out no matter what with the help of the medical contingent assigned to the company.

Swan was helped by Hosley and some members of the A Company medical team as well as CPL Garrett DeClue and SGTs Baber and Bryson Bloomer and 1LT Jake Skole to stand as he was being medevac'd away from the frontline, holding his arm around the sergeant as he was being whisked away towards a Humvee combat ambulance awaiting him. Notwitstanding flying bullets and the loud gunfire and vehicular fire from the 716th's Strykers and the guns of the cannon company of 1st Battalion providing defensive fires support against the swarms of Russians rushing to break the Ukrainian defensive lines, Swan is now being finally pulled out.

Putting him on the strecher on the Humvee ambulance once they all came, he called up his company commanding officer on his radio.

"Lieutenant LeRoy, Danny Do-It-All here. Another wounded of our company finally set to be medevac'd out of the frontline."

"Great job sergeant Hosley. You have proven that you can truly do it all, for our city of Savannah and our nation."

"Thanks sir, gonna be back on the lines if I can Bill."

"You better be Danny, these Russians are throwing the rest of these conscripts and some veterans and reservists into 1st Battalion lines by companies and battalions. But take courage, we will win."

"Affirmative, I hope you inform Tyler. Danny Do-It-All out."

"Cowboy Kyle," he then informed his XO, "Swan being medevac'd as he speak. Another life saved thanks to my efforts."

"Great job sarge, you better get back to the lines ASAP."

"Affirmative lieutenant."

Then he looked on to Swan and to the medical staff as well as SGT Bloomer who chose to accompany him.

"Stay safe my friend, I will be back in the front. Will see you soon, sarge."

"Thanks for saving my life, Danny. I owe my life and that of the company to you, just as you help saved Dan Oberst before."

"Just doin' what I have to do."

"A pleasure to have you here in this company, sarge."

Looking to SGT Bloomer he said, "Bryson, take good care of your squad leader, he will surely be OK once it's over."

"Thanks sergeant Hosley for everything. You have been a hero to all of us here."

"You're welcome Bloomer."

Danny left the ambulance before it wheeled off and returned thru 2nd platoon lines back to his parent unit, having fetched the same guys who helped Jason on his medevac back to the lines.

While on the way, he was greeted by 1LT Dalton Cornett.

"Thanks Danny for saving Swanny's life."

"Was my pleasure to have done my sworn duty to my country and the city of Savannah, for the sake of Ukraine and the free world. Will always be ready to fight and save lives for this call, DC."

"Will always remember this day and others Hosley. Your work and efforts will be the in minds of the 716th for years to come."

"Just one guy doing his job, sir."

Meanwhile LTC Gillum had informed COL Byrnes of Hosley's heroism via radio. It stunned him and LTC Nate King.

"He's done it again?!!"

"He ain't called Danny Do-It-All for nothing Eric. He saved another of our men in the field."

"Indeed he has time and time again, as well as helped Ukrainians who have been wounded."

"There's no doubt about it Byrnsie. His heroic actions have earned our respect and admiration but above all else, his work has indeed minted our nation with pride and honor in the duty he has done in helping our allies abroad."

As this happened, Hosley returned to his platoon and this time got the Stinger from one of the Strykers, awaiting to attack any incoming Russian UAV system. Loading it up, it detected an ongoing UAV already doing recon work of the line for the Russians. This time a Ukrainian rifle company from the 66th Brigade joined them.

Missile goes off, boom. The enemy UAV falls down from the sky, destroyed.

"Another unmanned system down," he radios Bill. As usual, he's greeted by cheers.

And yet another enemy UAV - this time an attack one planning to drop a grenade - gets destroyed too thanks to his efforts.

Just a few - around 5 UAVs - are already out of service by day's end.

His efforts and those of A Company would help 1st and 2nd Battalions 716th to defeat yet another Russian intrusion of the Ukrainian defensive lines in Svatove District that day, as the operation had by now clearly failed, resulting in victory for the Americans and their Ukrainian allies and the withdrawal of the Russian forces from their stated advances towards the defensive lines Ukrainians have been holding since late 2022.

Just tens of Russians out of battalions of regulars and militias would surrender that afternoon as the rest either fled or were killed or wounded by American and Ukrainian gunfire. In around two and a half hours, the 1st and 2nd battalions 716th Savannah repulsed the enemy intrusion into the Ukrainian lines, with losing tens of personel of their units as opposed to the hundreds of Russians and their LPR allies who perished. A Company only had wounded and injuried personnel so far. For the Russians a lot of armored vehicles and tanks as well as a few 2S3 SPGs were destroyed that afternoon adding to the toll as opposed to none for the Americans and three BTR-70s and one T-72 of the Ukrainians destroyed.

"There's more that will come soon from these Russians, lads," told the sergeant, "but take courage. We must win no matter what the cost, for the sake of Ukraine and her people."

"A-f__king right Hoz," replied SGT Jones. "That's the right thing to do now. Especially that there's still a lot to do regarding that aid package by Congress."

"Let's hope that Ukraine get's the aid it has needed desperately."

"That's the one right thing," added CPL Alex Pierce of 2nd squad. Ukraine, he says, needs that military aid more than ever and he agrees that Congress must now pass that aid package.

"The same for me and the rest of us," added SGT Matt Malatesta.

"I'm sure my Congress representatives know," Hosley replied, "that our efforts will help them realize that more than ever before in our history, Ukraine needs to be assisted in this fight."

Later on, after Tyler has reflected on the few deaths from 1st Battalion that day, he turned on LeRoy and his A Company men proud of what they did that day against throngs of advancing armed Russian soldiers and militiamen.

"These past years since I was appointed battalion XO and now as your commanding officer... I have never ever doubted that you guys are still fighting hard these past two years and have made this battalion proud. No single one of you guys have been killed - just injuries temporarily limiting your numbers, but the strength has still remained after so long in Ukraine. Well done boys. I'm sure Jessie and Eric are damn proud of what you all displayed today. But not only them and the people of Savannah, and all Americans, are proud of what you all did. It's has been always the Ukrainian people, who have been time and again grateful for the assistance you all did no matter what in the defense of their homeland. Bill, you and Kyle and the men of A Company have once more shown their worth in defending our nation and its interests abroad. As you guys have time and again have written to your local representatives and senators of Congress regarding the funding needed for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters for access to arms, ammunitions and weapons systems needed to defend that nation against the Russian invasion, I have my confidence that funding will soon be passed. And your efforts here in Ukraine have shown them that we must not let down our overseas allies and must be standing stand by stand with them. Once more, mission accomplished boys. Don't give up yet, we have to defend our Ukrainian brothers time and again till the end."

"Thanks Colonel Gillum," Bill replied. "And one more thing, sir, Danny-Do-It-All has done it again, saving one of our guys from 2nd Platoon from certain death."

"Sergeant Hosley," the LTC replied, "we've been ever proud of you once more. You've proven do be the all around man your company has needed in times of extreme necessity in the battlefield."

"My pleasure Tyler."

Turning to CPL Andy Archer, he said, "Thanks for covering our arses."

"Just doing what we swore to do, " he replied.

"And Hoz," added SGT Tanner Thomas, "thanks for saving one of our guys out there. You surely have risked everything for these medevacs these past few weeks, right?"

He replied, "That's the job I prepared for when I was in the USA training to be an paramedic. And I'm ready to save more lives soon. T'was a pleasure to have done just that today."

A FEW DAYS LATER....

News came to 1st Battalion CP that an operation they did in coordination with the 1st and 12th National Guard Infantry Brigades in cooperation with the 108th Territorial Brigade TDFU had resulted in the defeat of a battalion from the Tajikstan-based 201st Military Base and company sized elements coming from the 7th (LPR) Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the II Guards Army Corps. But there's more to that.

A Russian military correspondent working for Star TV, the official TV station of the Ministry of Defense of Russia, named MAJ Evgeniy Polovodov, who over the past two years contributed to Russia-1 and Channel One news broadcasts and current affairs programming of the invasion of Ukraine by the Armed Forces of Russia, had been KIA by an Ukrainian UAV attack on him and his camera crews alongside their military escorts in the Serebransky Forest area - exactly within the wide area of operations the 716th Savannah had been stationed and been covering in support of the Ukrainian forces since last year. Thankfully his cameraman survived.

A Company's 1st Platoon had been discussing the newly released footage from Russia-1's Vesti newscast regarding said Ukrainian UAV attack from a day before.

"Do you think," CPL Alex Ziegler, who had been just been newly promoted to the rank after two years in the ranks of A Company and fighting alongside fellow Americans and Ukrainians in Ukraine against the Russians as a part of 1st Platoon, asked Hosley, "that our UAV section led by the valiant SGT Reese who also handles our video footage for Public Affairs and the military and civilian personnel working together made that attack possible?"

"Don't know yet," Hosley replied, but he stated that there mighty be a possibly they have done the impossible job - what no one expected would happen to a Russian military press crew and that if proven true these men and women would be rewarded for a job well done.

@kiinghanalister @travisdermotts @lukeexplorer @mercedesmone

[herprivateswe]

Sgt Patrick Hennessey, 5617, 8th Battalion Prince Albert's Somerset Light Infantry.

KIA 1st July 1916. From Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales

[greatworldwar2]

• Battle of Damascus

The Battle of Damascus was a battle between Allied Forced and Vichy French forced and was the final action of the Allied advance on Damascus in Syria during the Syria–Lebanon campaign in World War II.

On June 8th, 1941, troops of the 5th Indian Infantry Brigade Group had crossed the Syrian border from the British Mandate of Palestine to take Quneitra and Deraa with the objective of opening the way for the forces of the 1st Free French Division to advance along the roads from these towns to Damascus. This was one of four attacks planned for the campaign by the Allied commander, General Sir Henry Wilson. Gentforce had been under the temporary command of the commander of the 5th Indian Infantry Brigade, Brigadier Wilfrid Lloyd, since 12 June when Legentilhomme had been wounded. The plan called for the troops of 5th Indian Brigade to advance northwards from their positions at Artouz on the Quneitra–Damascus road across country west of the road towards Mezzeh. Mezzeh was a large village on a junction with the Beirut to Damascus road, some three miles west of Damascus itself. The brigade's supplies, ammunition and the anti-tank element would follow closely behind on the road proper. Meanwhile, the Free French forces would advance along the Kissoué – Damascus road to capture Qadim as a preliminary to entering the Syrian capital, some four miles further north. On June 18th, the Indian troops set out and skirmished their way north. They reached Mezzeh at 04:15. By 05:30, after an hour of fierce hand-to-hand fighting, Mezzeh was captured. However, there was a major problem: the equipment and anti-tank guns travelling up the main road had earlier got ahead of the infantry and run into a Vichy roadblock where most of the vehicles were knocked out. Furthermore, the planned advance by the Free French to Qadim had been delayed, allowing the Vichy defenders to concentrate on the Mezzeh action, putting intense pressure on the Allied position whilst thwarting any attempt to relieve them and bring in vitally needed anti-tank weapons.

On June 19th, Major General John Evetts, commander of the British 6th Infantry Division, arrived to relieve Lloyd and take control of the Allied forces east of Merdjayoun. With the losses suffered by the Indian brigade, he requested that the British 16th Infantry Brigade be detached from the 7th Australian Division and sent to his sector. Three Australian battalions were also detached to Evetts' command: the 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion and the 2/3rd and 2/5th Infantry Battalions. By nightfall on 19 June, the Allied position at Mezzeh was desperate. Ammunition was running low, no food had been eaten for 24 hours, casualties were severe, and medical supplies were exhausted. During the night (when Vichy attacks were suspended), three men managed to reach Gentforce headquarters with the news of the position in Mezzeh. Early on June 20th, Brigadier Lloyd, having handed over to Evetts, resumed command of the 5th Indian Brigade and sent a force comprising two companies from the 3/1st Punjab Regiment, two companies of French Marines and a battery of artillery to fight its way through to Mezzeh. But they could not blast a way through and they progressed only slowly against determined opposition from French tanks. A Free French attack on Qadim the previous night had failed expensively, so that they were unable to exert pressure on Qadim that morning to draw Vichy forces away from Mezzeh. That night, however, the Free French with support from British anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns and an Australian machine-gun battalion, advanced against light Vichy defences and captured Qadim by the morning of the 21st.

Throughout the evening of June 20-21st, the Australians fought several actions, attacking a series of stone forts overlooking the Mezzeh and the Quneitra road. Elsewhere, a company of Australians attempted to move around the left flank of the Vichy defenders to cut the road running north-west to Beirut and establish a road block in the Barada Gorge. A see-sawing action took place amongst the forts, during which a force of 59 Australians was briefly captured, before a counter-attack early on June 21st freed them and retook the forts. Meanwhile, a 12-hour defensive action held the Barada Gorge to the west, turning back several French attacks that included tanks and armoured cars. During the morning of June 21st, the Australians consolidated their positions around the forts, and in the Barada Gorge and around 11:00, the Vichy French garrison in Damascus surrendered. By noon, the Allied forces were in Damascus and the Vichy forces were retreating west along the Beirut road. With the fall of Damascus, Gentforce accomplished its primary goal. Elsewhere, fighting around Merdjayoun continued until June 24th, when Allied forces eventually captured the town. The fighting between the Vichy forces and the Allies continued throughout the month. Further actions included fighting around Damour and the capture of Beirut.

[jordanianroyals]

Official photo releasted on the occassion of Prince Hashim bin Al Hussein’s 42nd birthday, who was born on June 10, 1981 (8th of Shaban, 1401 Hijri) to the late King Hussein bin Talal and Queen Noor.

He is a 41st generation direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammad and the youngest brother of King Abdullah II. Prince Hashim completed his primary education in Amman and later graduated from high school in the United States in 1999.

In 1999, he attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, from which he graduated in 2000, commissioning as a second lieutenant in the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army. He received several awards, including an award for the best aggregate mark in his academic studies for non-British officers.

Prince Hashim graduated with distinction from Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service on August 12, 2005, and subsequently completed his higher education in Quran studies at Balqa Applied University in Jordan, graduating on September 5, 2006. On December 1, 2014, he also earned a master’s degree in Defence Studies from King’s College London in the United Kingdom.

During Prince Hashim’s career in the military, he rose through the ranks of the Special Operations Command, serving in all three of its branches Special Forces, Counterterrorism, and the Rangers. In 2015, he was assigned command of the 61st Royal Rangers Battalion (Al Maghaweer) which is specialised in urban, desert, and advanced mountain operations. Prince Hashim’s last active military role was as adviser to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Special Forces and Rapid Reaction Forces.

During his military career, Prince Hashim completed his Platoon Commanders’ Battle Course in the US at Fort Benning in 2007, where he achieved the best marks among international officers taking part in the training. In 2009, Prince Hashim participated in and successfully completed the Infantry Company Commanders Course in the UAE during which he achieved the highest level of academic excellence, and in 2014 he attended the Advanced Command and Staff College in England (ACSC17) and successfully completed it, earning his Post Staff College (Joint) PSCJ.

On January 12, 2017, a Royal Decree was issued appointing Prince Hashim as His Majesty’s Chief Royal Councillor, and he continued his service until his resignation in September 2020.

Prince Hashim has been sworn in as Regent on several occasions and accompanied King Abdullah II on several official functions.

Prince Hashim is the head of Alfaris International Horseback Archery Championship and is a proficient blade-smith. He also enjoys hiking.

His Royal Highness is fluent in Arabic and English. He studied Hebrew in university and he is a student of the Turkish language.

On January 6, 2006, Prince Hashim married Princess Fahdah and they have five children: Their Royal Highnesses Prince Al Hussein born in June 2015, Prince Al Hassan born in October 2019, Princess Haalah born in April 2007, Princess Raiyah born in July 2008 and Princess Aliyah born in November 2011.

[captain-price-unofficially]

M10 Tank Destroyers of B Company, 644th Tank Destroyer Battalion, 8th Infantry Division, entering the German city of Duren on 24 February 1945