The US Army's proudest moment (2 Viewers)

Currahee Chris

Currahee Chris

Sergeant Major
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Alright fellas:

Got lots of history buffs and armchair generals here in the ranks. No offense to exlude my mates overseas and down under but just curious what everyone thinks was perhaps the shining, definitive moment in the history of the US Army.

I am torn between the stand at Bastogne or Washington's ruse at Trenton. Certainly some epic soldiering going on at both locations that really helped change the course of history.

Dare I say, I think even El Alamein might be as that conflict, though a devastating loss, helped shape the future of Army operations.

For you ACW buffs, feel free to post Union or Confederate achievements.
 
Monmouth Courthouse could be considered the first engagement of a true, puropse-raised and purposed-trained national army, the kind of army that Washington wanted to raise.

Bastogne certainly is one of the Army's finest moments. I'd say D-Day, too. Have to think about it for a while, to give a better and more considered answer.

Prost!
Brad
 
theBaron said:
Monmouth Courthouse could be considered the first engagement of a true, puropse-raised and purposed-trained national army, the kind of army that Washington wanted to raise.

Bastogne certainly is one of the Army's finest moments. I'd say D-Day, too. Have to think about it for a while, to give a better and more considered answer.

Prost!
Brad
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Thanks Brad- yeah, how could I miss Overlord??

A lot of my former squad leaders would probably say the Army's proudest moment was when I got the hell out!! :D:p
 
change the course of history.

Dare I say, I think even El Alamein might be as that conflict, though a devastating loss, helped shape the future of Army operations.


El Alamein have you got the wrong battle :confused: did you mean Kasserine Pass ?
 
Well Chris the opinions are probably going to be wide and varried on this question. A few really impressive moments come to mind Such as the Landings in North Africa, the breakout from Normandy and of course the Relief of Bastogne. Or maybe the Army Air Corps first strike on Japan planned and commanded by Doolittle in order to give the moral of our country a much needed boost. Maybe it was a few years later in the 1950's when we were knocked on our heels by the surprise attack of the NK Army and fall back to Puson. Which lead of course to the Puson Breakout and run up the Korean penninsula to link up with Landing force at Inchon and near total destruction of the NK army in the process.

But I think some of our more defining moments have come during events like the Fall of the Phillipean Islands where there were countless acts of heroics and sacrifice by small Infantry and Cavalry Units to buy time for the American Forces to recover from Pearl Harbor and muster our strength to eventually destroy the forces of Imperial Japan and of course Italy and Germany.

Or maybe its the culimantion of the last 75 to 100 years of lessons learned and in some cases relearned that brought us to the Army of the 80's and 90's which has given us victories and brought freedom to many oppressed peoples. So for me its really hard to nail down the event or series of events that might answer your question.

Dave
 
The Battle of Chippawa...1814...

was the first time America went head to head with Europe's finest army...

the British...

the American army siezed the day and the subsequent Battle of Lundy's Lane, proved that American regular units could hold their own against British regulars if properly trained and well led...

the victory at Chippawa was a turning point for the US Army and showed that American soldiers could defeat the veteran British

this is largely realized as a defining moment in the US Army history as gaining respect...
 
I wonder where some of the Civil War victories by the U.S. Army (as opposed to the CSA) would rank. Might be an overly controversial subject.
 
Not sure about El Alamein, but the US can be vastly proud of what the marines did on Iwo Jima and Okinawa, for sheer guts and sacrifice they take some beating. Special mention for the Bulge and D Day too. US Troops on both beach and landing grounds played their part very well on that day.

Rob
 
I have to answer in terms of the combined forces of the US and what was achieved in the Pacific Theater in WW2. From devasting defeats in the early days, to holding actions, to the triumphant march across the vast areas of the Pacific, the achievements as an overall effort, are unequaled. All aspects were involved, air, land, sea, as the sheer size of the effort from the frontline soldier to the support systems, required maximum effort from everyone. IMO, victory in the Pacific was the crowning achievement of the USA, and this was, technically, our second front. I am unable to pick out one battle or one service that would be any more important than the other. Victory was only possible as a total war effort. -- Al
 
Rob said:
...proud of what the marines did on Iwo Jima and Okinawa, for sheer guts and sacrifice they take some beating.
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Cheers Rob- the key word there is Marines- this is an Army thread only :D:D:D I know the US Marines typically look upon those campaigns as their shining moments as well they should.
 
jazzeum said:
I wonder where some of the Civil War victories by the U.S. Army (as opposed to the CSA) would rank. Might be an overly controversial subject.
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention that - I was typing about the ACW and didn't really know how to approach it. There were certainly some proud moments (I would presume, I don't know much on the ACW)
 
mikemiller1955 said:
The Battle of Chippawa...1814...
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention that one Mike as I have heard the samethings as well. Unfortunately, I haven't read much on it though I did see a great special on History international that tackled this one and it pretty much said the same things you did.
 
Currahee Chris said:
Cheers Rob- the key word there is Marines- this is an Army thread only :D:D:D I know the US Marines typically look upon those campaigns as their shining moments as well they should.
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Oops, thought it was a US forces thread:eek:;)

Rob
 
Over 200 years of history - it's hard to pick a "proudest moment". I almost think that one of the many things that the US Army could be proud of ocurred after WW2. They basically went home! The US Army left only the troops necessary for defense and civil order. The rest of the Army went home. They were a conquering army that didn't work to build an empire or to stay and cause oppression unlike Stalin's bully boys.

OK, Bastogne is well known, but how about the 30th Division's stand at Mortain. The cool uber-tankers of the SS couldn't get past them! How about the stand at St. Vith? Yes, our people had to give ground but they faced a Panzer Army with a reinforced armored division and held them up long enough to stabilize the "bulge". In the Lorraine campaign the Germans threw in several Panther tank brigades to try and halt the US 4th Armored Division. Result - lots of destroyed Panthers and the US Army continuing the advance. In the Pacific, look at the efforts of the 6th Rangers to free US POWs at Cabanatuan (spelling?) and the 11th Airborne risking lives to rescue neutral civillians at Los Banos. No Axis army ever made an effort like that! So many proud moments bought at such a price.

Gary B.
 
I would think the Siege at Yorktown would be up there as far as the proudest moment. Following the British surrender there, the Continental Army would have realised that their actions had finally bore fruit. They would have known that thier actions had finally led to the opportunity for an independent nation. A proud moment indeed.

Noah
 
great posts fellas

interesting how each fan of a particular time period can make a case for the Army of their time period :)

DMNamiot- nope, you don't get to balk that easy, can't just say the past 100 years and call it a day. Report back before PT formation with a better answer or it will be "dying cockroaches" till noon!! :p
 
Currahee Chris said:
Thanks Brad- yeah, how could I miss Overlord??

A lot of my former squad leaders would probably say the Army's proudest moment was when I got the hell out!! :D:p
Click to expand...

We must have had some of the same NCOs,,,Id have to agree on overlord,,the 16th inf reg.in the first wave.
 
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