HISTORY DISPATCH

Almanac: U.S. Air Force Established (September 18, 1947)

The establishment of the U.S. Air Force as a separate branch of the U.S. military has a history that spans several decades.

Almanac: The Second Battle of Fallujah Begins (November 7-8, 2004)

The incursion into the city of Fallujah in November 2004 was one of the deadliest battles of the Iraq War.

Almanac: The Battle of Missionary Ridge (November 25, 1863)

The Union victory at Missionary Ridge during the Civil War was a turning point in the Chattanooga Campaign in Tennessee.

Book Notes - Echo Among Warriors: Close Combat in the Jungle of Vietnam

A fictionalized account that reads like a true story, Echo Among Warriors weaves a realistic narrative of what it was like to be a Marine in Vietnam.

Book Notes - Commandos: Set Europe Ablaze

Commandos tells the story of two U.S. Marines who are sent to fight alongside Britain's elite commando forces during World War II.

Marines at War: Stories from Afghanistan & Iraq (Free PDF Book)

This book brings together the short stories of 10 Marines and a sailor who served in either Afghanistan or Iraq, some in both.

A Grave Misfortune: The USS Indianapolis Tragedy (Free PDF Book)

Indianapolis was a decorated World War II warship that is primarily remembered for her worst 15 minutes.

Ringed by Fire: U.S. Marines and the Siege of Khe Sanh - 21 January to 9 July 1968 (Free PDF Booklet)

In early 1968, roughly 6,000 Marines defending the Khe Sanh Combat Base in Vietnam were encircled and besieged by three North Vietnamese Army regiments of about 20,000 troops.  

Death in the Imperial City: U.S. Marines in the Battle for Hue - 31 January to 2 March 1968 (Free PDF Booklet)

The battle for Hue City stands as an example of urban warfare and how the U.S. military was able to secure victory in the face of severe odds. 

Bomber: The Formation and Early Years of Strategic Air Command (Free PDF Book)

This book is an attempt to place Strategic Air Command (SAC) in the context of what was then a new global dynamic, later dubbed the Cold War, showing how it faced the continually evolving challenge...

Pathbreakers: U.S. Marine African American Officers in Their Own Words (Free PDF Book)

This oral history anthology presents the personal stories of 21 Marines over a span of 60 years (1942-2012).

The Very Few, The Proud: Women in the Marine Corps 1977-2001 (Free PDF Book)

Many women seek the special challenge offered by the Marine Corps.

Armed Forces Decorations & Awards (Free PDF Booklet)

This booklet provides a brief overview of the history of military awards and decorations, complete with photo images and descriptions of each.

Buffalo Soldiers: 9th & 10th U.S. Cavalry (Free PDF Info Sheet)

This info sheet provides a brief history of the Buffalo Soldiers, including their legacy, honors, lineage and campaigns.

Principles of Football (Free PDF Book)

Famed Coach John Heisman's classic sports book on football.