Today’s post is in honor of Sgt. Thomas E. Houser, who was killed on this day in 2005 by enemy action near Fallujah, Iraq. Houser, 22, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was assigned to 2d Force Reconnaissance Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.
1777: Capitalizing on his successful Christmas night crossing of the Delaware River followed by a pair of victories in two separate battles of Trenton (N.J.), Continental Army Gen. George Washington defeats a British force under Lt. Col. Charles Mawhood in the Battle of Princeton.
At one point during the battle, Washington – at the head of his advancing infantry – reportedly gallops through a thick haze of musket and artillery smoke, shouting: “Parade with me my brave fellows, we will have them soon!”
1861: Eight days before Alabama secedes from the Union, four companies of Alabama volunteers led by Col. John B. Todd capture Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay.
1944: During a fighter sweep over Rabaul, New Guinea, Maj. George “Pappy” Boyington’s F4U Corsair is shot down after the Marine aviator scores his 26th official victory – tying the total of famed World War I ace Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker. The former “Flying Tiger” and commander of VMF-214 will spend the remainder of the war – 20 months – in Japanese captivity and is awarded the Medal of Honor upon his repatriation.
(Featured image) Just off the coast of New York City, the destroyer USS Turner (DD-648) suffers a series of explosions – possibly due to a German U-boat attack – and sinks, taking 15 officers and 123 men with her. Rescuers take the wounded sailors to a nearby hospital at Sandy Hook. Lt. Cmdr. Frank A. Erickson takes off from nearby Floyd Bennett Field in a Coast Guard HNS-1 helicopter, fighting high winds and snow squalls to carry much-needed blood plasma to the survivors. This marks the first time a helicopter is used in a rescue role.
1945: In preparation for invasions at Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and ultimately mainland Japan, Adm. Chester Nimitz is placed in command of all naval forces forces and Gen. Douglas MacArthur is charge of ground operations.
Meanwhile, the First Army attacks the Germans as they retreat from the “bulge” in the Ardennes, as 1,100 bombers and 11 groups of fighter escorts hammer railroad and communication centers in western Germany.
