1815: Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson’s army, which includes soldiers, sailors, Marines, pirates, a few freed slaves (the “Battalion of Free Men of Color”), Choctaw Indians, and militiamen from several states, defeat a numerically superior British amphibious force under the overall command of Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane in the Battle of New Orleans.
Though a decisive victory for the Americans, the battle takes place 15 days after the signing of the war-ending Treaty of Ghent. Communications being what they were in 1815, news of the treaty did not reach New Orleans until February.
1847: Thirty-two years to the day after Jackson’s victory at New Orleans, a combined U.S. Army-Navy-Marine force under the joint command of Commodore Robert F. Stockton and Gen. Stephen W. Kearny (uncle of the future Union Army Gen. Philip Kearny) decisively defeat Mexican forces under the command of Gen. José María Flores in the Battle of San Gabriel, Calif.
At one point during the fighting, attacking American infantrymen are reportedly heard shouting, “New Orleans! New Orleans!” as a battle-cry tribute to Jackson’s better-known victory. Within days, U.S. troops are in control of Los Angeles.
1967: (Featured Image) 16,000 U.S. and 14,000 South Vietnamese troops enter the “Iron Triangle,” a major Viet Cong stronghold near Saigon, on a massive search and destroy mission. The Viet Cong largely avoided contact with the large force, withdrawing to Cambodia or hiding in tunnels. Operation “Cedar Falls” was the largest ground operation of the Vietnam War and marked the first time “tunnel rats” were used.
Operation “Oregon,” a search and destroy mission conducted by an infantry platoon of Troop B, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division
Sgt. Ronald H. Payne Tunnel Rat Vietnam War 1967
1973: An Air Force F-4D “Phantom” flown by Capt. Paul D. Howman and 1st Lt. Lawrence W. Kullman shoots down an enemy MiG – the last aerial victory of the Vietnam War.
McDonnell F-4D-32-MC Phantom
2005: (Featured Image) Southeast of Guam, the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS San Francisco accidentally collides with an uncharted undersea mountain, causing extensive damage and nearly results in the loss of the nuclear-powered vessel. Crews manage to return the wounded sub to the surface, but 99 sailors are wounded and one sailor is killed.
USS San Francisco after accidentally colliding with an uncharted undersea mountain
