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The Bar => The Lounge => Topic started by: SSG Snuggle Bunny on August 18, 2014, 07:33:26 PM

Title: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: SSG Snuggle Bunny on August 18, 2014, 07:33:26 PM
I have to give a 3 to 7 minute lecture.

Audie Murphy and the usual suspects are done to death. I want to do something unique.

IDEAS! POST THEM NOW!
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: JohnnyReb on August 18, 2014, 07:44:07 PM
Marine Gen O. P. Smith and Gen McArthur's hand picked desk jockey Gen at the frozen Chosin.
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: franksolich on August 18, 2014, 07:46:12 PM
Lord Nelson at Trafalgar.

You wanted something new and different.....
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: SSG Snuggle Bunny on August 18, 2014, 08:11:09 PM
Lord Nelson at Trafalgar.

You wanted something new and different.....

Sorry coach. It has to be US.

I originally wanted to do Cornelius Scipio and tie his campaign in Hispania against the Carthaginians to modern counter insurgency operations but the idea was shot down as not US enough.
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: Rick on August 18, 2014, 08:42:12 PM
Civil War battles fought in the west - California had two.
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: J P Sousa on August 18, 2014, 08:49:43 PM
Lt. Gen. Lewis Berwell Puller

Quote
  During the Korean War, the Chinese communists had overrun the Yalu River and the Marines battling them were in a running fight to reach the coast. Ten Chinese divisions surrounded Col. Lewis Berwell Puller's 1st Marines. The indomitable "Chesty" Puller saw the situation with his own brand of logic: "Those poor bastards," he said. "They've got us right where we want them. We can fire in any direction now!"

http://www.military.com/Content/MoreContent?file=ML_puller_bkp


 
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: JohnnyReb on August 18, 2014, 09:26:02 PM
Lt. Gen. Lewis Berwell Puller
Chesty gets the credit but if it hadn't been for the level head of O. P. Smith they would have all been lost. U.S. Army General Almond was not suited to command and had Smith followed his orders to the letter, the Marines and Soldiers would have all been lost.

As I remember reading somewhere, "When aggression was required, Almond was aggressive. When caution was required, Almond was aggressive". Had Smith not secured his supply lines and built an airfield, the whole mess would be an entirely different 'sad' story.
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: BlueStateSaint on August 19, 2014, 05:23:18 AM
You could tie this into it . . .

http://news.yahoo.com/islamic-state-message-america-drown-blood-203721649.html
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: SSG Snuggle Bunny on August 22, 2014, 09:52:28 PM
I've been catching a lot of flak for being the ol' rabbit. Lots of grandpa jokes.

Today we were discussing topics for our history briefs. The running gag was I had been around to see whatever it was I might discuss.

"Hey Sgt. Snuggs, did you storm the beaches of Normandy? Har! Har! Har!"

"No. I was too busy storming your mom."

Little shits.
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: docstew on August 23, 2014, 05:55:11 AM
What is the goal of this history lecture? What value are you highlighting?
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on August 23, 2014, 10:39:47 PM
It does kinda depend on what you want to highlight, but here are some lesser-used topics that would be make a good, short anecdotal sort of class:

"Proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance" - The siege of the Chapultepec fortress in the Mexican War, where the 1st Infantry Regiment ran up to the walls in the final assault, and realized they left all the scaling ladders behind in the assault staging area, and had to go back for them and then re-do the assault by escalade...which they ultimately did.

The value of sheer bloody-mindedness and guts in defense, even in a 'Die in Place' situation - The defense of St. Vith in the Battle of the Bulge, which though ultimately falling to the Germans, threw them so far off their timetable that enough forces got into Bastogne to hold it...which would not have happened, but for the sacrifice at St. Vith.

The importance of initiative and momentum in the offensive - The Normandy breakout, aka Operation Cobra, which particularly with regard to the 6th Armored Division and it's companion 8th Infantry Division, was one of the two main US offensives from WW2 Europe that used to be part of the curriculum of C&GS back in the NATO vs. Warsaw Pact days (The other was the Lorraine Campaign, but it was less clearly decisive and a lot more complex, so it wouldn't be too suited for your purpose).
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: Eupher on August 24, 2014, 06:59:20 AM

http://www.amazon.com/298th-Army-Band-A-History/dp/0692259384/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1408877879&sr=8-1








 :-)
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: docstew on August 26, 2014, 05:10:13 PM
http://www.amazon.com/298th-Army-Band-A-History/dp/0692259384/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1408877879&sr=8-1








 :-)

I believe he asked for ACTUAL military history, not quasi-military horn blowing...
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: Crazy Horse on August 26, 2014, 07:28:45 PM
1914 Vera Cruz Mexico.
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: Eupher on August 26, 2014, 09:21:29 PM
I believe he asked for ACTUAL military history, not quasi-military horn blowing...

Nothing "quasi" about that military history. And let there be no doubt--that WAS history. Probably before your time, though.  :-)
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on August 26, 2014, 09:55:06 PM
Nothing "quasi" about that military history. And let there be no doubt--that WAS history. Probably before your time, though.  :-)

You played the carnyx, right...?
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: Eupher on August 27, 2014, 10:56:48 AM
You played the carnyx, right...?

Nope, that instrument went out when the Carthaginians got their asses kicked. You remember that, dontcha?  :-)
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on August 27, 2014, 12:23:05 PM
Nope, that instrument went out when the Carthaginians got their asses kicked. You remember that, dontcha?  :-)

You young guys just don't know how it was in the old brown-caligae Army...
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: Eupher on August 27, 2014, 01:40:51 PM
You young guys just don't know how it was in the old brown-caligae Army...

I remember a saxophone player by the name of Russet Brown. He refused to wear corfams because they were the wrong color. Yes, he was a racist.  :lmao:
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: Airwolf on August 31, 2014, 11:33:14 PM
How about he Battle of the Hurtgen(?) Forrest it took place just before the Battle of the bulge and got almost no press even though it was just as hard fought.
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: Alaska Slim on September 01, 2014, 03:44:54 AM
COL William O. Eareckson? He served in the Aleutian campaign, won every award short of the MOH.

He famously cussed out the Japanese, and was mentioned by Tokyo Rose in name.

After he once took leave in California, his absence was so noticeable that Tokyo Rose announced that he had died. This pissed him off so much that he headed right back to inform her "NOPE, STILL HERE ****"

He was really popular with the men in the theatre, and General Buckner himself considered Eareckson indispensable. One time during an inspection at the front on one of the Aleutian islands, he and Eareckson came under fire. Eareckson grabbed a rifle and exposed himself just long enough to shoot the attacking Jap in the head.

The General right after that pinned a medal to Eareckson's chest, then turned him around and swiftly kicked him in the ass, telling him to "never take a chance like that again".
Title: Re: NEEDED: Topic for US military history brief
Post by: marv on September 01, 2014, 08:51:31 AM
Real first person history...

http://www.kancoll.org/articles/cruzan/c_credits.htm