Air Force Aid Society

Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) is a non-profit, charitable organization that is the official charity of the United States Air Force. The organization is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
Mission.
The three-pronged charter supports the Air Force mission by
As of early 2015, AFAS was paying for a staff of 21 people, all at its headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.
Thanks to investment income and operational leverage, each $1 of donations from airmen is complemented by $2 from other sources.
Relation to other military relief societies.
In 2003, the Armed Forces Relief Trust, was formed to assist the four military aid societies - Air Force Aid, Army Emergency Relief, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, and the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, by providing a single place to receive donations for the entire U.S. Armed Services. Unlike the other three military relief societies, the Air Force Assistance Fund supports four Air Force charities, instead of only the official charity of the service branch.


678th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (United States)

678th Air Defense Artillery Brigade is an air defense artillery brigade of the United States Army, South Carolina Army National Guard. The 678th ADA Brigade is the only integrated fires brigade in the Army’s inventory.


First Bull Run Confederate order of battle

The following Confederate units and commanders fought in the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861. The Union order of battle is shown separately. Order of battle compiled from the army organization during the battle and the reports.
Confederate forces.
BG Joseph E. Johnston, Commanding
Army of the Potomac.
BG P. G. T. Beauregard
General Staff:
Headquarters Escort:
Army of the Shenandoah.
BG Joseph E. Johnston
General Staff:


Battle of the Chesapeake

The Battle of the Chesapeake, also known as the Battle of the Virginia Capes or simply the Battle of the Capes, was a crucial naval battle in the American Revolutionary War that took place near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay on 5 September 1781. The combatants were a British fleet led by Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Graves and a French fleet led by Rear Admiral Francois Joseph Paul, the Comte de Grasse. The battle was strategically decisive, in that it prevented the Royal Navy from reinforcing or evacuating the besieged forces of Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia. The French were able to achieve control of the sea lanes against the British and provided the Franco-American army with siege artillery and French reinforcements. These proved decisive in the Siege of Yorktown, effectively securing independence for the Thirteen Colonies.
Admiral de Grasse had the option to attack British forces in either New York or Virginia; he opted for Virginia, arriving at the Chesapeake at the end of August. Admiral Graves learned that de Grasse had sailed from the West Indies for North America and that French Admiral de Barras had also sailed from Newport, Rhode Island. He concluded that they were going to join forces at the Chesapeake. He sailed south from Sandy Hook, New Jersey, outside New York Harbor, with 19 ships of the line and arrived at the mouth of the Chesapeake early on 5 September to see de Grasse's fleet already at anchor in the bay. De Grasse hastily prepared most of his fleet for battle—24 ships of the line—and sailed out to meet him. The two-hour engagement took place after hours of maneuvering. The lines of the two fleets did not completely meet; only the forward and center sections fully engaged. The battle was consequently fairly evenly matched, although the British suffered more casualties and ship damage, and it broke off when the sun set. The British tactics have been a subject of debate ever since.
The two fleets sailed within view of each other for several days, but de Grasse preferred to lure the British away from the bay where de Barras was expected to arrive carrying vital siege equipment. He broke away from the British on 13 September and returned to the Chesapeake, where de Barras had since arrived. Graves returned to New York to organize a larger relief effort; this did not sail until 19 October, two days after Cornwallis surrendered.
Background.
During the early months of 1781, both pro-British and rebel separatist forces began concentrating in Virginia, a state that had previously not had action other than naval raids. The British forces were led at first by the turncoat Benedict Arnold, and then by William Phillips before General Charles, Earl Cornwallis, arrived in late May with his southern army to take command.
In June, Cornwallis marched to Williamsburg, where he received a confusing series of orders from General Sir Henry Clinton that culminated in a directive to establish a fortified deep-water port (which would allow resupply by sea). In response to these orders, Cornwallis moved to Yorktown in late July, where his army began building fortifications. The presence of these British troops, coupled with General Clinton's desire for a port there, made control of the Chesapeake Bay an essential naval objective for both sides.
On the 21st of May, Generals George Washington and Rochambeau, respectively the commanders of the Continental Army and the Expédition Particulière, met at the Vernon House in Newport, Rhode Island to discuss potential operations against the British and Loyalists. They considered either an assault or siege on the principal British base at New York City, or operations against the British forces in Virginia. Since either of these options would require the assistance of the French fleet, then in the West Indies, a ship was dispatched to meet with French Lieutenant général de Grasse who was expected at Cap-Français (now known as Cap-Haïtien, Haiti), outlining the possibilities and requesting his assistance. Rochambeau, in a private note to de Grasse, indicated that his preference was for an operation against Virginia. The two generals then moved their forces to White Plains, New York, to study New York's defenses and await news from de Grasse.
Arrival of the fleets.
De Grasse arrived at Cap-Français on 15 August. He immediately dispatched his response to Rochambeau's note, which was that he would make for the Chesapeake. Taking on 3,200 troops, De Grasse sailed from Cap-Français with his entire fleet, 28 ships of the line. Sailing outside the normal shipping lanes to avoid notice, he arrived at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay on August 30, and disembarked the troops to assist in the land blockade of Cornwallis. Two British frigates that were supposed to be on patrol outside the bay were trapped inside the bay by De Grasse's arrival; this prevented the British in New York from learning the full strength of de Grasse's fleet until it was too late.
British Admiral George Brydges Rodney, who had been tracking De Grasse around the West Indies, was alerted to the latter's departure, but was uncertain of the French admiral's destination. Believing that de Grasse would return a portion of his fleet to Europe, Rodney detached Rear Admiral Sir Samuel Hood with 14 ships of the line and orders to find de Grasse's destination in North America. Rodney, who was ill, sailed for Europe with the rest of his fleet in order to recover, refit his fleet, and to avoid the Atlantic hurricane season.
Sailing more directly than de Grasse, Hood's fleet arrived off the entrance to the Chesapeake on 25 August. Finding no French ships there, he then sailed for New York. Meanwhile, his colleague and commander of the New York fleet, Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Graves, had spent several weeks trying to intercept a convoy organized by John Laurens to bring much-needed supplies and hard currency from France to Boston. When Hood arrived at New York, he found that Graves was in port (having failed to intercept the convoy), but had only five ships of the line that were ready for battle.
De Grasse had notified his counterpart in Newport, Barras, of his intentions and his planned arrival date. Barras sailed from Newport on 27 August with 8 ships of the line, 4 frigates, and 18 transports carrying French armaments and siege equipment. He deliberately sailed via a circuitous route in order to minimize the possibility of a battle with the British, should they sail from New York in pursuit. Washington and Rochambeau, in the meantime, had crossed the Hudson on 24 of August, leaving some troops behind as a ruse to delay any potential move on the part of General Clinton to mobilize assistance for Cornwallis.
News of Barras' departure led the British to realize that the Chesapeake was the probable target of the French fleets. By 31 August, Graves had moved his five ships of the line out of New York harbor to meet with Hood's force. Taking command of the combined fleet, now 19 ships, Graves sailed south, and arrived at the mouth of the Chesapeake on 5 September. His progress was slow; the poor condition of some of the West Indies ships (contrary to claims by Admiral Hood that his fleet was fit for a month of service) necessitated repairs en route. Graves was also concerned about some ships in his own fleet; "Europe" in particular had difficulty manoeuvring.
Battle lines form.
French and British patrol frigates each spotted the other's fleet around 9:30 am; both at first underestimated the size of the other fleet, leading each commander to believe the other fleet was the smaller fleet of Admiral de Barras. When the true size of the fleets became apparent, Graves assumed that de Grasse and Barras had already joined forces, and prepared for battle; he directed his line toward the bay's mouth, assisted by winds from the north-northeast.
De Grasse had detached a few of his ships to blockade the York and James Rivers farther up the bay, and many of the ships at anchor were missing officers, men, and boats when the British fleet was sighted. He faced the difficult proposition of organizing a line of battle while sailing against an incoming tide, with winds and land features that would require him to do so on a tack opposite that of the British fleet. At 11:30 am, 24 ships of the French fleet cut their anchor lines and began sailing out of the bay with the noon tide, leaving behind the shore contingents and ships' boats. Some ships were so seriously undermanned, missing as many as 200 men, that not all of their guns could be manned. De Grasse had ordered the ships to form into a line as they exited the bay, in order of speed and without regard to its normal sailing order. Admiral Louis de Bougainville's "Auguste" was one of the first ships out. With a squadron of three other ships Bougainville ended up well ahead of the rest of the French line; by 3:45 pm the gap was large enough that the British could have cut his squadron off from the rest of the French fleet.
By 1:00 pm, the two fleets were roughly facing each other, but sailing on opposite tacks. In order to engage, and to avoid some shoals (known as the Middle Ground) near the mouth of the bay, Graves around 2:00 pm ordered his whole fleet to wear, a manoeuvre that reversed his line of battle, but enabled it to line up with the French fleet as its ships exited the bay. This placed the squadron of Hood, his most aggressive commander, at the rear of the line, and that of Admiral Francis Samuel Drake in the van.
At this point, both fleets were sailing generally east, away from the bay, with winds from the north-northeast. The two lines were approaching at an angle so that the leading ships of the vans of both lines were within range of each other, while the ships at the rear were too far apart to engage. The French had a firing advantage, since the wind conditions meant they could open their lower gun ports, while the British had to leave theirs closed to avoid water washing onto the lower decks. The French fleet, which was in a better state of repair than the British fleet, outnumbered the British in the number of ships and total guns, and had heavier guns capable of throwing more weight. In the British fleet, and , two ships of the West Indies squadron that were among the most heavily engaged, were in quite poor condition. Graves at this point did not press the potential advantage of the separated French van; as the French centre and rear closed the distance with the British line, they also closed the distance with their own van. One British observer wrote, "To the astonishment of the whole fleet, the French center were permitted without molestation to bear down to support their van."
The need for the two lines to actually reach parallel lines so they might fully engage led Graves to give conflicting signals that were interpreted critically differently by Admiral Hood, directing the rear squadron, than Graves intended. None of the options for closing the angle between the lines presented a favourable option to the British commander: any manoeuvre to bring ships closer would limit their firing ability to their bow guns, and potentially expose their decks to raking or enfilading fire from the enemy ships. Graves hoisted two signals: one for "line ahead", under which the ships would slowly close the gap and then straighten the line when parallel to the enemy, and one for "close action", which normally indicated that ships should turn to directly approach the enemy line, turning when the appropriate distance was reached. This combination of signals resulted in the piecemeal arrival of his ships into the range of battle. Admiral Hood interpreted the instruction to maintain line of battle to take precedence over the signal for close action, and as a consequence his squadron did not close rapidly and never became significantly engaged in the action.
Battle.
It was about 4:00 pm, over 6 hours since the two fleets had first sighted each other, when the British—who had the weather gage, and therefore the initiative—opened their attack. The battle began with opening fire against the "Marseillois", its counterpart near the head of the line. The action very quickly became general, with the van and center of each line fully engaged. The French, in a practice they were known for, tended to aim at British masts and rigging, with the intent of crippling their opponent's mobility. The effects of this tactic were apparent in the engagement: and HMS "Intrepid", at the head of the British line, became virtually impossible to manage, and eventually fell out of the line. The rest of Admiral Drake's squadron also suffered heavy damage, but the casualties were not as severe as those taken on the first two ships. The angle of approach of the British line also played a role in the damage they sustained; ships in their van were exposed to raking fire when only their bow guns could be brought to bear on the French.
The French van also took a beating, although it was less severe. Captain de Boades of the "Réfléchi" was killed in the opening broadside of Admiral Drake's "Princessa", and the four ships of the French van were, according to a French observer, "engaged with seven or eight vessels at close quarters." The "Diadème", according to a French officer "was utterly unable to keep up the battle, having only four thirty-six-pounders and nine eighteen-pounders fit for use" and was badly shot up; she was rescued by the timely intervention of the "Saint-Esprit".
The "Princessa" and Bougainville's "Auguste" at one point were close enough that the French admiral considered a boarding action; Drake managed to pull away, but this gave Bougainville the chance to target the "Terrible". Her foremast, already in bad shape before the battle, was struck by several French cannonballs, and her pumps, already overtaxed in an attempt to keep her afloat, were badly damaged by shots "between wind and water".
Around 5:00 pm the wind began to shift, to British disadvantage. De Grasse gave signals for the van to move further ahead so that more of the French fleet might engage, but Bougainville, fully engaged with the British van at musket range, did not want to risk "severe handling had the French presented the stern." When he did finally begin pulling away, British leaders interpreted it as a retreat: "the French van suffered most, because it was obliged to bear away." Rather than follow, the British hung back, continuing to fire at long range; this prompted one French officer to write that the British "only engaged from far off and simply in order to be able to say that they had fought." Sunset brought an end to the firefight, with both fleets continuing on a roughly southeast tack, away from the bay.
The center of both lines was engaged, but the level of damage and casualties suffered was noticeably less. Ships in the rear squadrons were almost entirely uninvolved; Admiral Hood reported that three of his ships fired a few shots. The ongoing conflicting signals left by Graves, and discrepancies between his and Hood's records of what signals had been given and when, led to immediate recriminations, written debate, and an eventual formal inquiry.
Standoff.
That evening, Graves did a damage assessment. He noted that "the French had not the appearance of near so much damage as we had sustained", and that five of his fleet were either leaking or virtually crippled in their mobility. De Grasse wrote that "we perceived by the sailing of the English that they had suffered greatly." Nonetheless, Graves maintained a windward position through the night, so that he would have the choice of battle in the morning. Ongoing repairs made it clear to Graves that he would be unable to attack the next day. On the night of 6 September he held council with Hood and Drake. During this meeting Hood and Graves supposedly exchanged words concerning the conflicting signals, and Hood proposed turning the fleet around to make for the Chesapeake. Graves rejected the plan, and the fleets continued to drift eastward, away from Cornwallis. On 8 and 9 September the French fleet at times gained the advantage of the wind, and briefly threatened the British with renewed action. French scouts spied Barras' fleet on 9 September, and de Grasse turned his fleet back toward the Chesapeake Bay that night. Arriving on 12 September, he found that Barras had arrived two days earlier. Graves ordered the "Terrible" to be scuttled on 11 September due to her leaky condition, and was notified on 13 September that the French fleet was back in the Chesapeake; he still did not learn that de Grasse's line had not included the fleet of Barras, because the frigate captain making the report had not counted the ships. In a council held that day, the British admirals decided against attacking the French, due to "the truly lamentable state we have brought ourself." Graves then turned his battered fleet toward New York, arriving off Sandy Hook on 20 September.
Aftermath.
The British fleet's arrival in New York set off a flurry of panic amongst the Loyalist population. The news of the defeat was also not received well in London. King George III wrote (well before learning of Cornwallis's surrender) that "after the knowledge of the defeat of our fleet [...] I nearly think the empire ruined."
The French success left them firmly in control of the Chesapeake Bay, completing the encirclement of Cornwallis. In addition to capturing a number of smaller British vessels, de Grasse and Barras assigned their smaller vessels to assist in the transport of Washington's and Rochambeau's forces from Head of Elk to Yorktown.
It was not until 23 September that Graves and Clinton learned that the French fleet in the Chesapeake numbered 36 ships. This news came from a dispatch sneaked out by Cornwallis on the 17 September, accompanied by a plea for help: "If you cannot relieve me very soon, you must be prepared to hear the worst." After effecting repairs in New York, Admiral Graves sailed from New York on 19 October with 25 ships of the line and transports carrying 7,000 troops to relieve Cornwallis. It was two days after Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown. General Washington acknowledged to de Grasse the importance of his role in the victory: "You will have observed that, whatever efforts are made by the land armies, the navy must have the casting vote in the present contest." The eventual surrender of Cornwallis led to peace two years later and British recognition of a new, independent United States of America.
Admiral de Grasse returned with his fleet to the West Indies. In a major engagement that ended Franco-Spanish plans for the capture of Jamaica in 1782, he was defeated and taken prisoner by Rodney in the Battle of the Saintes. His flagship "Ville de Paris" was lost at sea in a storm while being conducted back to England as part of a fleet commanded by Admiral Graves. Graves, despite the controversy over his conduct in this battle, continued to serve, rising to full admiral and receiving an Irish peerage.
Analysis.
Many aspects of the battle have been the subject of both contemporary and historical debate, beginning right after the battle. On 6 September, Admiral Graves issued a memorandum justifying his use of the conflicting signals, indicating that "[when] the signal for the line of battle ahead is out at the same time with the signal for battle, it is not to be understood that the latter signal shall be rendered ineffectual by a too strict adherence to the former." Hood, in commentary written on the reverse of his copy, observed that this eliminated any possibility of engaging an enemy who was disordered, since it would require the British line to also be disordered. Instead, he maintained, "the British fleet should be as compact as possible, in order to take the critical moment of an advantage opening ..." Others criticise Hood because he "did not wholeheartedly aid his chief", and that a lesser officer "would have been court-martialled for not doing his "utmost" to engage the enemy."
One contemporary writer critical of the scuttling of the "Terrible" wrote that "she made no more water than she did before [the battle]", and, more acidly, "If an able officer had been at the head of the fleet, the "Terrible" would not have been destroyed." Admiral Rodney was critical of Graves' tactics, writing, "by contracting his own line he might have brought his nineteen against the enemy's fourteen or fifteen, [...] disabled them before they could have received succor, [... and] gained a complete victory." Defending his own behaviour in not sending his full fleet to North America, he also wrote that "[i]f the admiral in America had met Sir Samuel Hood near the Chesapeake", that Cornwallis's surrender might have been prevented.
United States Navy historian Frank Chadwick believed that de Grasse could have thwarted the British fleet simply by staying put; his fleet's size would have been sufficient to impede any attempt by Graves to force a passage through his position. Historian Harold Larrabee points out that this would have exposed Clinton in New York to blockade by the French if Graves had successfully entered the bay; if Graves did not do so, Barras (carrying the siege equipment) would have been outnumbered by Graves if de Grasse did not sail out in support.
According to scientist/historian Eric Jay Dolin, the dreaded hurricane season of 1780 in the Caribbean (a year earlier) may have also played a crucial role in the outcome of the 1781 naval battle. The hurricane in October 1780 was perhaps the deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record. An estimated 22,000 people died throughout the Lesser Antilles with the loss of countless ships from many nations. The Royal Navy's loss of 15 warships with 9 severely damaged crucially affected the balance of the American Revolutionary War, especially during Battle of Chesapeake Bay. An outnumbered British Navy losing to the French fleet proved decisive in Washington's Siege of Yorktown, forcing Cornwallis to surrender and effectively securing independence for the United States of America.
Memorial.
At the Cape Henry Memorial located at Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Virginia, there is a monument commemorating the contribution of de Grasse and his sailors to the cause of American independence. The memorial and monument are part of the Colonial National Historical Park and are maintained by the National Park Service.
Order of battle.
French line.
Sources consulted (including de Grasse's memoir, and works either dedicated to the battle or containing otherwise detailed orders of battle, like Larrabee (1964) and Morrissey (1997)) do not list per-ship casualties for the French fleet. Larrabee reports the French to have suffered 209 casualties; Bougainville recorded 10 killed and 58 wounded aboard "Auguste" alone.
The exact order in which the French lined up as they exited the bay is also uncertain. Larrabee notes that many observers wrote up different sequences when the line was finally formed, and that Bougainville recorded several different configurations.
The 74-gun "Glorieux" and "Vaillant", as well the other frigates, remained at the mouth of the various rivers that they were guarding.


25 (Close Support) Engineer Group

25 (Close Support) Engineer Group is an engineering group of the British Army's Corps of Royal Engineers.
History.
The group was formed in 2014 under the Army 2020 programme.
Current structure.
After the Army 2020 Refine, the group now has the following structure (Volunteer units have RHQ location shown);


Order of battle at the Glorious First of June

The Glorious First of June (known in France as Bataille du 13 prairial an 2 and sometimes called the Third Battle of Ushant) of 1794 was the first and largest naval action between the French and British fleets during the French Revolutionary Wars. The action was fought over west of Ushant, the most western point on Brittany in France, deep in the Atlantic Ocean. The British fleet under Lord Howe was attempting to defeat a French fleet under Villaret de Joyeuse which was in turn attempting to lure Howe away from a grain convoy destined for France from the United States. The future of the French Revolution depended on this 117-strong convoy which would save France from famine if it arrived safely. Ultimately, both admirals were successful in their ambitions; Howe defeated Villaret in open battle and sunk or captured seven of his ships. Villaret managed to occupy Howe for long enough and inflict sufficient damage that the convoy escaped unscathed.
Although the campaign was decided by a final major action, May 1794 saw both fleets at sea with several subordinate squadrons, both admirals conducting a complicated series of convoy, commerce raiding and fleet manoeuvre operations. Numerous merchant ships and small warships were taken or destroyed during the month-long campaign by both sides, and there were also two partial fleet engagements as Howe and Villaret made first contact. Both admirals suffered from wilful disobedience by a number of their officers during the battle, as well as confusion in reading signals which caused an uneven series of melees to break out rather than the unified battleline Howe had envisaged when planning the action. Nevertheless, both commanders were highly praised on their return to their home ports and the battle was considered a success by both sides, with only a few dissenters amongst the naval establishments of both nations.
Historians have had great trouble determining the exact dispositions of the French fleet and even more trouble assessing the casualties it suffered in the battle. During The Terror then raging in France, bureaucracy broke down and consequently records were patchy or non-existent. The French Navy was no exception and few ship's logs have survived, making an accurate order of battle difficult to discern. Those estimates which are available are often the work of British naval officers at the battle whose accounts frequently differ. Casualties too are almost impossible to establish exactly. French sources published after the battle give a figure of 3,000, but this number does not include those captured, which amounted to 3,500 alone. British estimates aboard captured ships alone are of 1,500 casualties and most historians agree that total French losses during the month-long campaign were around 7,000, as opposed to the British losses estimated at between 1,100 and 1,500.
French fleet.
Attached squadrons.
The various French units patrolling in the Bay of Biscay kept in contact through a large number of frigates and smaller craft which passed messages between the commanders. This close contact enabled the French fleets to successfully divert the British away from the convoy. Due to the turbulent situation existing in France during 1794, accurate records regarding which frigates were with which fleet and which were present at which action do not exist. Thus only an incomplete listing of French support craft can be created, based mainly on those recognised and reported by British officers.


Joseph R. Julian

Platoon Sergeant Joseph Rudolph Julian (April 3, 1918 – March 9, 1945) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the United States' highest military honor — the Medal of Honor — for his heroism and sacrifice of life in 1945 in the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.
Biography.
Joseph Rudolph Julian was born in Sturbridge, Massachusetts on April 3, 1918. He graduated from high school in Southbridge, Massachusetts, and in January 1942, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.
Following basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina, he became a Drill Instructor, and, later, was assigned to the 5th Marine Division. He was killed in action on Iwo Jima on March 9, 1945, following a one-man assault on enemy-occupied trenches and fortified positions. The Medal of Honor was awarded him posthumously for heroism above and beyond the call of duty.
The Medal and citation were presented to his parents by the Secretary of the Navy on November 15, 1945. Following the war, Sgt Julian's remains were reinterred at Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, New York, at the request of his parents.


Nashville Confederate order of battle

The following Confederate States Army units and commanders fought in the Battle of Nashville of the American Civil War. The order of battle has been compiled from the army organization during the campaign and reports. The Union order of battle is shown separately.
Army of Tennessee.
Gen John B. Hood, Commanding
Lee’s Corps.
LTG Stephen D. Lee
Chief of Artillery
Maj John W. Johnston
Stewart’s Corps.
LTG Alexander P. Stewart
Chief of Artillery

Ltc Samuel C. Williams
Cheatham’s Corps.
MG Benjamin F. Cheatham
Chief of Artillery

Col Melancthon Smith
Cavalry Corps.
MG Nathan B. Forrest(Detached; at Murfreesboro with Jackson's and Buford's Divisions.)


Kombrig

Kombrig (abbreviation to "Commanding officer of the brigade," / ; literal: Commander of the brigade / Brigade commander), was a military rank in the Soviet Armed Forces of the USSR from 1935 to 1940. It was also the designation to military personnel appointed to command a brigade sized formation (X).
Until 1940 it was the fourth highest military rank of the Red Army. It was equivalent to Brigade comissar of the political staff in all military branches, Kapitan 1st rank in the "Soviet navy", or to Major of state security . With the reintroduction of regular general ranks, the designation "Kombrig" was abolished, and replaced by Major general (OF-6).
History.
This particular rank was introduced by disposal of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union and the Council of People's Commissars, from September 22, 1935.
The new rank structure was as follows:


4th Foot Guards (German Empire)

The 4th Foot Guards were an infantry regiment of the Royal Prussian Army. The regiment was formed in 1860. It served with the Guards Corps in the Second Schleswig War, the Austro-Prussian war, the Franco-Prussian war, and World War I. The regiment was disbanded in June 1919.
Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck started his career in the 4th Foot Guards.


Unteroffiziere mit Portepee

Unteroffizier(e) mit Portepee, also Portepeeunteroffizier(e) (English: "Non-commissioned officer(s) with sword knot"), is the designation for German senior NCO in the armed forces of Germany. The name derives from earlier traditions in which senior enlisted men would carry a sword into battle. The word "portepee" derives from French "port"(e)-"épée".
Any "Portepeeunteroffizier" of the former Prussian Army was entitled to wear (in addition to the dress uniform - to go with a ...) a "sword knot" to its personal sabre, which was originally restricted to officers only.
The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows:
The abbreviation "OR" stands for "Other Ranks / fr: sous-officiers et militaires du rang / ru:другие ранги, кроме офицероф"!
And equivalents of the Navy—replacing "Feldwebel" with "Bootsmann"—and, historically, the Cavalry and Artillery (with "Wachtmeister"). The latter is not to be confused with the Navy's "Kompaniefeldwebel" of today which are also called Wachtmeister.
German non-commissioned officers were identified by the use of metallic lace (called "Tresse") on the collar of the uniform jacket, as well as the edges of the shoulder straps. Senior non-commissioned officers in the Wehrmacht also used silver "stars" on the shoulder strap to differentiate between ranks; one star for a Feldwebel, two for an Oberfeldwebel, and three for a Stabsfeldwebel.


709th Static Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)

The 709th Static Infantry Division was a German Army infantry division in World War II. It was raised in May 1941 and used for occupation duties during the German occupation of France in World War II until the Allied invasion. It was on the Normandy coast when the invasion occurred and so fought in the Battle of Normandy. The division was trapped in the Cotentin Peninsula and destroyed in the defense of Cherbourg.
Background.
Static Divisions occupied a rigid defence position, usually on a broad front (for example in 1944, 2,000 km of Atlantic coast line was covered by 23 Static Divisions). They were not trained in mobile warfare and as such possessed very limited mechanised transport; any transport assigned to the Division was usually horse drawn. Many of the officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and men in these divisions were either previously wounded, older men, lacking combat experience, suffering from medical conditions, or conscripted prisoners-of-war.
History.
The 709th Static Infantry Division was a coastal defence unit assigned to protect the eastern and northern coasts of the Cotentin Peninsula. This included the sites of the Utah Beachhead and the US airborne landing zones. Its sector covered over 250 km, running in a line from the northeast of Carentan, via Barfleur-Cherbourg-Cap de la Hague to a point west of Barneville. This included the 65 km land front of Cherbourg.
The Division included a number of "Ostlegionen"easternunits of various nationalities, mainly from the occupied countries of eastern Europe. These were a mixture of volunteers, conscripts and former Soviet prisoners-of-war who had chosen to fight in the German Army rather than suffer the harsh conditions of prisoners. Two battalions of the 739th Grenadier Regiment were Georgian battalions. Two further battalions were also designated as Ost units in the divisional order of battle. These battalions were led by German officers and NCOs.
The commander of the division at the time of the D-Day landings was General Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben who took command in December 1943 after two and a half years of continuous command of Eastern Front combat units, including the 108th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 4th Rifle Brigade, 208th Infantry Division and the 18th Panzer Division.
The quality of the troops in the 709th had been reduced as personnel were constantly transferred to the Eastern Front including entire divisional combat units such as the 1st Battalion of the 739th Grenadier Regiment. A high percentage of the division had no combat experience. However, the 709th was acquainted with its sector and well trained for defense. Although after months of sustained labour work on coastal defences caused the combat readiness of its troops to be significantly reduced.
Elements of the 709th were heavily engaged on D-Day, defending the peninsula against US airborne landings and against the US 4th Infantry Division landing on Utah Beach. Ten days later the division reported that it had sustained around 4,000 casualties from an initial strength of over 12,000. General Schlieben surrendered ‘Fortress’ Cherbourg to the Americans on 29 June 1944.


3rd Mountain Division (Wehrmacht)

The 3rd Mountain Division () was a formation of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. It was created from the Austrian Army's 5th and 7th Divisions following the Anschluss in 1938.
History.
The division took part in the Invasion of Poland 1939 as part of Army Group South, but was transferred to garrison the West Wall before the end of the campaign. In 1940 it joined the invasion of Norway, most famously sending its 139th Mountain Regiment under General Eduard Dietl to seize the ice-free Arctic port of Narvik. The Allies briefly managed to take the town back, but abandoned it to the Germans after the invasion of France.
In 1941 the division moved into Lapland to participate in Operation Silberfuchs, the attack on the Soviet Arctic as part of Operation Barbarossa, but failed to capture Murmansk. The division was withdrawn to Germany for rehabilitation at the end of the year, but left its 139th Mountain Infantry Regiment behind to operate independently. After rehabilitation, the division returned to Norway in 1942, where it served as a reserve. It was then transferred to the Eastern Front, where it served as a reserve for Army Group North near Leningrad. In November 1942 it was committed to the front where the Soviets had surrounded Velikiye Luki, and then transferred to the far south to help in the attempt to relieve Stalingrad. It fought the remainder of the war in the south, retreating with the front lines through the Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, and finally surrendering to the Soviets in Silesia at the end of the war.


Hastati

Hastati (singular: "Hastatus") were a class of infantry employed in the armies of the early Roman Republic who originally fought as spearmen, and later as swordsmen. These soldiers were the staple unit after Rome threw off Etruscan rule. They were originally some of the poorest men in the legion, and could afford only modest equipment—light chainmail and other miscellaneous equipment. The Senate supplied their soldiers with only a short stabbing sword, the gladius, and their distinctive squared shield, the scutum. The "hastatus" was typically equipped with these, and one or two soft iron tipped throwing spears called pila. This doubled their effectiveness, not only as a strong leading edge to their maniple, but also as a stand-alone missile troop. Later, the "hastati" contained the younger men rather than just the poorer, though most men of their age were relatively poor. Their usual position was the first battle line. They fought in a quincunx formation, supported by lighter infantry. The enemy was allowed to penetrate the first battle line consisting of "hastati", after which the enemy would deal with the more hardened, seasoned soldiers, the "principes". They were eventually disbanded after the Marian reforms of 107 BC.
History and deployment.
"Hastati" appear to have been remnants of the old third class of the army under the Etruscan kings when it was reformed by Marcus Furius Camillus. The third class stood in the last few ranks of a very large phalanx and were equipped in a similar manner to "hastati", although they were more often than not relegated to providing missile support to the higher classes rather than fighting themselves. Penrose and Southern postulate that it is probable that engagements with the Samnites and a crushing defeat at the hands of the Gallic warlord Brennus, who both used many smaller military units rather than a few larger ones, taught the Romans the importance of flexibility and the inadequacy of the phalanx on the rough, hilly ground of central Italy.
Camillan system.
By the 4th century BC the military the Romans had inherited from the Etruscans was still being used. Though its efficiency was doubtful, it proved effective against Rome's largely local adversaries. When Gauls invaded Etruria in 390 BC, the inhabitants requested help from Rome. The small contingent Rome sent to repel the Gallic invaders provoked a full-scale attack on Rome. The entire Roman army was destroyed at the Battle of the Allia in a crushing defeat that prompted reforms by Marcus Furius Camillus. Under the new system, men were sorted into classes based on wealth; the "hastati" were the third poorest, with the "rorarii" being slightly poorer and the "principes" slightly wealthier. "Hastati" were armed with short spears, or "hastae", up to 1.8 metres (6 ft) long, from which the soldiers acquired their name. They fought in a quincunx formation, usually carrying "scuta", large rectangular shields, and wearing bronze helmets, often with a number of feathers fixed onto the top to increase stature. They wore light armour, the most common form being small breastplates, called "heart protectors".
In this type of legion, the 900 "hastati" formed 15 maniples, military units of 60 men each. Attached to each maniple were about 20 "leves", javelin-armed light infantry. The "hastati" stood in the first battle line, in front of the "principes" of the second line and the "triarii" of the third. In a pitched battle, the "leves" would form up at the front of the legion and harass the enemy with their javelins to cover the advance of the "hastati". If the "hastati" failed to break the enemy during their engagement, they would fall back and let the heavier "principes" take over. If the "principes" could not break them, they would retire behind the "triarii" spearmen, who would then engage the enemy in turn. The "equites", cavalrymen, were used as flankers and to pursue routed enemies. The "rorarii" and "accensi" in the final battle line were some of the least dependable troops, and were used in a support role, providing mass and reinforcing wavering areas of the line.
Polybian system.
By the time of the Punic wars of the 3rd century BC, the Camillan organisational system had been found to be inefficient. Under a new Polybian system, infantry were sorted into classes according to age and experience rather than wealth, with the "hastati" being the youngest and least experienced. Their equipment and role was very similar to that which existed under the previous system, except they now carried swords, or "gladii", instead of spears. Each "hastatus" also carried two "pila", heavy javelins that, according to Goldsworthy "contrary to deeply entrenched myth" did not bend on impact to make any struck shield useless or prevent the weapon from being thrown back. The weight and barb alone sufficiently hampered any struck shield (often penetrating the shield to hit the man behind it), and the iron was sufficiently hard that pila were often used as hand-held spears against both infantry and cavalry. By the time the volley of pila had reached the enemy line (usually only fifteen yards distant for best effect), the legionaries were charging and very quickly at work with their swords. There was rarely any time for the foe to find a pilum, pull it out of whatever it had hit and throw it back.
The "hastati" had been increased in number to 1,200 per legion, and formed 10 maniples of 120 men each. The "rorarii" and "accensi" had been disbanded. "Leves" had been replaced with "velites", who had a similar role but were now also attached to "principes" and "triarii". Pitched battles were conducted in a similar fashion; the "velites" would gather at the front and fling javelins to cover the advance of the "hastati". If the "hastati" failed to break the enemy, they would fall back on the "principes", who had also been re-armed with swords. If the "principes" could not break them, they would retire behind the "triarii", who would then engage the enemy.
This order of battle was almost always followed, the battle of the Great Plains and the battle of Zama being among the few notable exceptions. At the Great Plains, Scipio, the Roman general, formed his men up in the usual manner, but once the "hastati" had begun to engage the enemy, he used his "principes" and "triarii" as a flanking force, routing the opposing Carthaginian troops.
At Zama, Scipio arranged his men into columns, side by side, with large lanes in between. The opposing Carthaginian elephants were drawn into these lanes where many were killed by "velites" without inflicting many casualties on the Romans. Once the surviving elephants had been routed, Scipio formed his men into a long line with his "triarii" and "principes" in the centre and "hastati" on the flanks, ready to engage the Carthaginian infantry.
Marian reforms.
With the formal military reforms of Gaius Marius in 107 BC, intended to combat a shortage of manpower from wars against Jugurtha, king of Numidia in North Africa and Germanic tribes to the north, the different classes of units were disbanded entirely. The wealth and age requirements were scrapped. Instead, it was decreed that soldiers would join the legion as a career, rather than as service to the city, and would all be equipped as heavy infantry with the same state-purchased equipment. Auxiliaries, local irregular troops, would fulfill other roles, serving as archers, skirmishers and cavalry.


George Crawford Platt

George Crawford Platt (February 17, 1842 – June 20, 1912) was a native of Derry, Ireland who served with the federal army of the United States (also known as the Union Army) during the American Civil War. A private with Troop H of the 6th U.S. Cavalry, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, America's highest award for valor in combat, for protecting the American flag in hand-to-hand combat near Fairfield, Pennsylvania, during the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863.
Formative years.
Born in Derry, Ireland on February 17, 1842, George Crawford Platt was a son of Robert Platt and Martha (Kilgil) Platt, who were also both natives of Ireland. After spending his early childhood in Ireland, George Platt then emigrated sometime around 1851, and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Civil War.
George C. Platt became one of his adopted homeland's early responders to President Abraham Lincoln's call for volunteers to help preserve America's union following the fall of Fort Sumter to Confederate States Army troops in mid-April 1861. After enrolling for a three-year term of Civil War military service in Philadelphia on August 5 of that year, Platt officially mustered in there that same day as a private with Troop H of the 6th U.S. Cavalry. Military records at the time described him as a 19-year-old farmer who was 5' 6-1/4" tall with brown hair, blue eyes and a ruddy complexion.
 Transported with his regiment to Bladensburg, Maryland on September 12, he was equipped with a sabre and pistol, put through basic training and then assigned, with his regiment, to duties related to the defense of Washington, D.C. until March 10, 1862 when the 6th U.S. Cavalry was moved, by way of Fairfax Court House, Centreville, Manassas, Bull Run, and Alexandria, Virginia, to Fortress Monroe. Attached to the Army of the Potomac, the 6th U.S. Cavalrymen were then assigned to the Peninsula Campaign. After fighting in the Battle of Williamsburg (May 5), they participated in the Siege of Yorktown and other interactions with the enemy during the spring and early summer of 1862, including operations at Mechanicsville (May 24) and the Battle of Hanover Court House (May 27). Facing off against the forces of Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart in June, they then participated in Union operations at Falls Church, Sugar Loaf Mountain, and Middletown, the Battle of Charleston, the Leesburg expedition, and operations at Waterford, Charleston, Hillsboro, Philamont, Uniontown, Upperville, Barber's Cross Roads, Amosville, and the Rappahannock. Stationed at Belle Plain from November 24 until December 12, they then marched toward Fredericksburg, engaged briefly with the enemy, and made camp near Falmouth the following day.
Attached in February 1863 to the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division, which was under the command of Brigadier-General John Buford, they next fought in the Battle of Chancellorsville (April 30–May 6), Stoneman's 1863 raid, and the battles of Brandy Station (June 9), Middleburg (June 17–19), and Upperville (June 21) before being ordered north to Pennsylvania.
While fighting with his regiment during day three of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 3, 1863), Platt performed the act of valor for which he would later be awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor. Assigned with his regiment to attack Confederate States Army supply wagons near Fairfield, Pennsylvania and prevent the possible retreat of CSA troops from the major fields of battle in and around Gettysburg, the 6th Cavalrymen encountered a significantly larger force from the 6th, 7th and 11th Virginia Cavalry, and were quickly forced into hand-to-hand combat. Retrieving the American flag after his regiment's color-bearer was killed, Platt fought off the enemy in order to prevent that flag from falling into enemy hands.
Afterward, Platt and the 6th Cavalry continued to pursue the enemy, and re-engaged with Confederate troops at Funkstown (July 7), Boonsboro (July 8–9), and Funkstown again (July 10). According to Captain William Carter, U.S. Army, "The service of the [6th U.S. Cavalry] during the period between the action at Beverly Ford and the last affair at Funkstown was one of incessant marching and fighting, and although nearly decimated by the casualties of action, the brave little band hung on to Lee's army with a courageous tenacity." Stationed in Germantown, Maryland from August 8–September 12, Platt and the 6th U.S. Cavalry fought again with the enemy at Brandy Station, Culpeper, and Centreville before settling into winter quarters. Still stationed in Virginia during the spring of 1862, they resumed major actions against the enemy during the Battle of Todd's Tavern (May 7), and then engaged in the raid on Richmond (beginning May 9), the Battle of Trevilian Station (June 11–12), and the Second Battle of Deep Bottom (August 14–20).
Platt and other members of the 6th U.S. Cavalry were then detailed to service as the body guard for Union Major-General Philip H. Sheridan, a duty he performed only briefly. With his initial three-year term of service set to expire before the end of the summer, Platt opted to muster out honorably on August 5.
Post-war life.
Following his honorable discharge from the military in August 1864, Platt returned home to Philadelphia, where he wed Pennsylvania native Eliza Kelly (1845-1929). Working as a huckster in 1870, he resided in Philadelphia's 7th Ward with his wife and their Pennsylvania-born children: Robert, Edward, Martha, and Margaret (born, respectively, on June 25, 1865, on February 16, 1867, circa 1868, and on April 20, 1870). Employed as a ship's carpenter by 1880, his Philadelphia household had grown to include children: Levina/Levinia, George C., Elizabeth, and Ellen (born, respectively, in February 1871, on March 18, 1872, on October 11, 1877, and circa 1879. A son, William Henry, did not survive infancy. Born March 3, 1876, he died in Philadelphia on September 21 of that same year, and was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery two days later. Son Frank arrived in July 1882.
By 1888, the elder George Platt was employed as a contractor. A naturalized citizen of the United States by 1910, George Platt continued to reside in Philadelphia with his wife, Eliza. Still living with them was 44-year-old son, Edward. Post-war, Platt was also an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Death and interment.
On June 20, 1912, Platt died from endocarditis in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the age of 70. He was then buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania on June 24.
Medal of Honor citation and other honors.
Platt was initially honored for his gallantry during the American Civil War with the United States' highest award for valor in combat — the U.S. Medal of Honor. His citation reads:
Seized the regimental flag upon the death of the standard bearer in a hand-to-hand fight and prevented it from falling into the hands of the enemy.
In 1979, the George C. Platt Bridge (formerly known as the Penrose Avenue Bridge), in southeast Philadelphia, was renamed in his honor. Platt's great-grandson, Lawrence Griffin Platt, led the effort to have the bridge renamed.
A painting of Platt by Don Stivers is displayed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.


German and Allied order of battle for Operation Bodenplatte

Unternehmen Bodenplatte (Operation Baseplate or Operation Ground Plate), launched on 1 January 1945, was an attempt by the "Luftwaffe" to cripple Allied air forces in the Low Countries during Second World War. The Germans husbanded their resources in the preceding months at the expense of the Defence of the Reich units in what was a last-ditch effort to keep up the momentum of the German Army () during the stagnant stage of the Battle of the Bulge ().
The following is an order of battle of Allied and German forces.
German order of battle.
On 31 December 1944, the Luftwaffe had the following available for "Bodenplatte" under "Luftwaffenkommando West" (Air Command West) (Joseph Schmid):
Allied order of battle.
RAF No. 83 Group.
The Allies had the following forces:
No. 83 Group RAF:
RAF No. 84 Group.
No. 84 Group RAF:
RAF No. 2 Group.
No. 2 Group RAF:
American Tactical Air Forces.
Ninth Air Force:
American Strategic Air Forces.
Although some of its units were present, the Eighth Air Force is not listed on the Allied order of battle.


King of Iceland


Military ranks of Zimbabwe

The Military ranks of Zimbabwe are the military insignia used by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. Being a former British colony, Zimbabwe shares a rank structure similar to that of the United Kingdom, and has replaced the military ranks of Rhodesia since 1980.
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country, and does therefore not possess a navy.
Commissioned Officers.
The rank insignia for commissioned officers for the ground forces, and air force respectively.
Enlisted.
The rank insignia for enlisted personnel for the army and air force respectively.


Staff corporal

Staff corporal (SCpl or S/Cpl) is the equivalent rank to staff sergeant in the Household Cavalry, ranking between corporal of horse and warrant officer class 2. They may hold an appointment such as squadron quartermaster corporal. A staff corporal wears four point-up rank chevrons on his cuff, surmounted by a crown. Staff corporals are in fact addressed as "Corporal-Major" by superiors and usually as "Sir" by subordinates, a holdover from the fact that the rank was originally called troop corporal-major.


XXXXVI Panzer Corps

XXXXVI Panzer Corps was a tank corps of the German Army during World War II that participated in the invasion of Yugoslavia.
The Corps was created as the XXXXVI Army Corps and converted to a Panzer Corps on 21 June 1942.
The Panzer Corps took part in Operation Barbarossa and fought in Kiev, Putyvl, Vyazma and Volokolamsk. It later fought in Rusa-Volokolamsk, Rzhev, Vyazma and Yelnya before taking part in Operation Zitadelle (Kursk). It retired to the Svin area in September 1943 and to Mozyr in December.
It was transferred to the southern sector in January 1944 and fought at Vinnitsa and later on the Dniester. It withdrew to Poland and ended the war in Pomerania by surrendering to British forces.


Iraq Area Command (Ottoman Empire)

The Iraq Area Command or Iraq Regional Command of the Ottoman Empire () was one of the military formation of the Ottoman Army. It was formed in Iraq in the initial stage of World War I.
Formations.
Order of Battle, November 1914.
In November 1914, the corps was structured as follows:
Order of Battle, January 1915.
In January 1918, the corps was structured as follows:
Because Süleyman Askerî Bey committed suicide on April 14, 1915, Nureddin Bey was appointed the commander on April 20. Nureddin Bey arrived in June to take command of the Iraq Area Command and he was appointed the Governor of Basra Province and Baghdad Province at the same time. On December 21, 1915, German Generalfeldmarschall Colmar von der Goltz arrived at Baghdad and changed the name of the Command as the Iraq Army ("Irak Ordusu").
Order of Battle, Late 1915.
In late 1915, the corps was structured as follows:


Living Laser

The Living Laser (Arthur Parks) is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Don Heck, the character made his first appearance in "The Avengers" #34 (November 1966). He would become a recurring enemy of Iron Man and plays a key role in the end of the "Iron Man: The Inevitable" miniseries.
Arthur Parks started out as a scientist that invented small, wrist mounted lasers and used them for criminal pursuits. At one point he was a member of the Lethal Legion and at another point he was poised to take over the world due to his possession of the Serpent Crown, but is foiled by the Avengers. At one point it appeared that the Living Laser exploded in space, but in reality his body was transformed into photon form, making him an actual living laser.
Publication history.
The Living Laser debuted in "The Avengers" #34 (Nov. 1966) as Arthur Parks, a scientist who created wrist-mounted laser units and a costume. Writer Mike Conroy notes, "Arthur Parks was a scientist sufficiently proficient to design laser projectors small enough to wear on his wrists, quite the achievement in 1966."
Following his appearance in the following issue, the Living Laser resurfaced in "Avengers King-Size Special" #1 (Sept. 1967). After an appearance in "Captain America" #105 (Sept. 1968), the character was part of the first version of the Lethal Legion in "Avengers" #78–79 (July–Aug. 1970). The Kree hero Mar-Vell encountered an android version of the Living Laser in "Captain Marvel" #35 (Nov. 1974). The real Laser reappeared in an extended storyline in " Avengers" #151 (Sept. 1976); #153 (Nov. 1976) & "Avengers" Annual #6 (1976).
After appearing as part of a pseudo Lethal Legion in "Avengers" #164–166 (Nov. 1977 – Jan. 1978), the character returned in "Iron Man" #152–153 (Nov.–Dec. 1981) and "Iron Man" #211 (Oct. 1986). The Laser featured in the Acts of Vengeance storyline in "Quasar" #6 (Jan. 1990) and reappeared in a new photon form in "Iron Man" #259–263 (Aug.-Dec. 1990) before returning in "Quasar" #30 (Jan. 1992) and "Iron Man" #289 (Feb. 1993).
Further appearances included the limited series "Super-Villain Team-Up: MODOK's 11" #1–5 (Sept. 2007 – Jan. 2008) and "New Avengers" #35 (Oct. 2007). The character returned during the limited series "Secret Invasion" #1–8 (June 2008 – Jan. 2009), and made sporadic appearances in "New Avengers".
Fictional character biography.
As the "Living Laser", Parks becomes a mercenary and professional criminal. He develops an infatuation with the heroine the Wasp, and after he kidnaps her, he is forced to battle the superhero team the Avengers. He captured Hawkeye and Captain America by placing them in a ring of lasers before leaving, but they were able to contact another member who helped them escape. The Living Laser met the Avengers again when he tried to conquer a small South American country, who defeated and incarcerated the villain.
The Laser, after breaking out of prison by creating a laser using parts teleported to him, reappears as part of a team formed by master villain the Mandarin after being teleported to his base, in an unsuccessful attempt to destroy the Avengers and conquer the world, he attacked Africa to try stealing diamonds, but was defeated by Thor and Hawkeye despite the robot Ultimo being transported there from a volcano. As part of "Batroc's Brigade" (consisting of the Laser; the Swordsman and Batroc the Leaper) he participated in a battle against Captain America. The Laser reappears as part of the first version of the Lethal Legion gathered by the Grim Reaper in a failed revenge plot against the Avengers. There is an encounter between Kree hero Mar-Vell and an android version of the Laser.
The Laser eventually acquires the artifact the Serpent Crown, and while controlling the living weapon Nuklo and a battalion of the US Army attempts to conquer the world, but is defeated by the Avengers. He is then employed, along with fellow villains Power Man and Whirlwind, by Count Nefaria, who temporarily amplifies their abilities and sends them against the Avengers as the second Lethal Legion. The effect, however, is temporary and their combined abilities are drained by Nefaria (who in "powered" mode battles the Avengers until defeated by the Vision).
Discovering that the amplification caused a build-up of energy in his body that is reaching a critical, and potentially fatal, level, the Laser seeks the aid of East German scientists, who offer to help by draining off the excess energy and using it to power a network of weapons satellites. The plan, however, is stopped by Iron Man and in battle with the hero, the Laser's energy levels build to critical mass. Although the Laser begs for help, Iron Man has no choice but to hurl the character into the atmosphere where he detonates and apparently dies. Eventually revived, the Laser battles Iron Man once again; and during the "Acts of Vengeance" storyline battles the hero Quasar.
The Laser reappears in a new photon form, posing as the deceased Titanium Man while taunting Iron Man. The villain is eventually defeated and banished to an alternate universe. He eventually escapes, and mounts a new attack on Stark Industries. James Rhodes—Stark's friend and employee, currently acting as CEO and the new 'Iron Man' while Tony is apparently dead—tricks the Laser by offering him a position at the company before trapping him in a wide-beam communication chamber which disperses him across the Andromeda Galaxy, although Rhodes wonders if he did the right thing and even the Laser privately wondered if he would legitimately accept Rhodes' offer to return to a research role or just take it to destroy the company from within.
The Laser returns as an employee of the A.I.M. member MODOK, and later as a member of the criminal army formed by the villain the Hood. The villain sides with the heroes during the Secret Invasion storyline in a pitched battle with the alien Skrulls, and has a number of encounters with various teams of Avengers.
Mandarin and Zeke Stane recruit Living Laser to join up with other Iron Man villains in a plot to defeat Iron Man. Upon receiving upgrades, Living Laser managed to break Tony Stark's repulsor arc causing him to go into cardiac arrest.
During the "Opening Salvo" part of the "Secret Empire" storyline, Living Laser is recruited by Baron Helmut Zemo to join the Army of Evil. Living Laser, Batroc the Leaper, and Whirlwind attack a haggard, bearded man in torn World War II army uniform who identifies himself as Steve Rogers. He is assisted by people that appear to be Sam Wilson and a Bucky Barnes with both his arms.
During the "Search for Tony Stark" arc, Living Laser rejoined Hood's gang and assisted in the attack on Castle Doom.
In a lead-up to the "Sins Rising" arc, a wheelchair-bound Count Nefaria later forms his latest incarnation of the Lethal Legion with Grey Gargoyle, Living Laser, and Whirlwind in a plot to target the Catalyst. At Empire State University, Dr. Curt Connors reveals the Catalyst to the crowd when the Lethal Legion attacks. While Grey Gargoyle and Whirlwind attack the people present, Living Laser helps Count Nefaria to operate the Catalyst. Spider-Man shows up and has a hard time fighting them due to the fact that his mind was focused on what a revived Sin-Eater did to Overdrive. Sin-Eater shows up and starts using the same gun he used on Overdrive on the Lethal Legion members while taking their powers. All four of them were sent to Ravencroft where they started to act like model inmates.
As a side-effect of Sin-Eater's suicide upon copying Madame Web's precognition revealed that Kindred was using them, Living Laser and the rest of the Lethal Legion regained their sins and are among the villains that went on a rampage.
Powers and abilities.
A gifted research scientist with expertise in laser technology and a Ph.D in physics, Arthur Parks began his criminal career using wrist-mounted laser projection units, and later implants miniature laser diodes into his skin which absorb energy. With the diode implants, Parks is capable of energy projection, light refraction for invisibility and illusion generation.
Parks's material body is eventually replaced by photons due to an overloading of the diode implants. By increasing the density of the photons comprising his form, Parks can achieve "solidity", project photons as energy beams, and create three-dimensional holographic images. The character also possesses limited telepathic abilities and can travel at light speed.
Other versions.
What If?
The alternate universe title "What If" features a story which the character reforms and works at Stark Industries, with three different outcomes being presented.
Heroes Reborn.
In the Heroes Reborn universe, created by Franklin Richards, Arthur Parks was a successful businessman of Parks Fiberoptics, until he lost his company to Tony Stark. Parks, now broken and desperate, having left his wife Amy, used his own technology to transform himself and attack Stark in his own home. Stark learned why Parks was attacking him, and tried to atone for what he had done and convince Parks to stop his attack. Parks refused to stop so Stark in his Iron Man suit was forced to destroy his containment armor causing his laser form to dissipate, killing him.


Veracruz order of battle

The following units and commanders of the U.S. and Mexican armed forces fought in the siege of Veracruz from March 9–29, 1847 during the Mexican–American War.
United States.
U.S. Army.
MG Winfield Scott
General Staff "Little Cabinet"
U.S. Navy.
Home Squadron
Commodore David Conner
Commodore Matthew C. Perry
Mexico.
BG Juan Estaban Morales
2nd-in-command: BG Jose Juan Landero
Chief of Engineers: Ltc Manuel Robles Pezuela


Jack A. Davenport

Jack Arden Davenport (September 7, 1931 – September 21, 1951) was a former Golden Gloves boxer and a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions and sacrifice of life during the Korean War.
Biography.
Jack Davenport was born September 7, 1931 in Kansas City, Missouri, where he graduated from high school in 1949. While in high school, he was a newspaper carrier for the Kansas City Star and played American Legion baseball for three seasons. Upon completing high school, he studied for a year at the University of Kansas, where he was a member of the freshman football team.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps on July 25, 1950, and completed his recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, that September. He was then stationed with the Training and Replacement Command at Camp Pendleton, California, until December 1950, when he embarked to join the 5th Marines in Korea.
In the early morning of September 21, 1951, Corporal Davenport sacrificed his life to save the life of a fellow Marine Priv. Robert W Smith in Korea. He was standing watch together with Priv. Smith when an enemy hand grenade landed in their foxhole. Without thought of his own safety, Davenport found the grenade in the dark and smothered its explosion with his own body in order to save the life of his fellow Marine.
His body was returned to the United States in January 1952 to be buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery, Hickman Mills, Missouri. Davenport's father, Fred received the Medal of Honor on January 7, 1953 from U.S. Secretary of the Navy Dan A. Kimball in Washington, D.C.
Medal of Honor citation.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Squad Leader in Company G, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Seongnae-Dong, Korea, early on the morning of 21 September 1951. While expertly directing the defense of his position during a probing attack by hostile forces attempting the infiltrate the area, Corporal Davenport, acting quickly when an enemy grenade fell into the foxhole which he was occupying with Private Robert Smith another young Marine, skillfully located the deadly projectile in the dark and, undeterred by the personal risk involved, heroically threw himself over the live missile, thereby saving his companion from serious injury or possible death. His cool and resourceful leadership were contributing factors in the successful repulse of the enemy attack and his superb courage and admirable spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of almost certain death enhance and sustain the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. Corporal Davenport gallantly gave his life for his country.
References.
http://www.marinemedals.com/davenportjack.htm


Dick Stevenson

Richard R. Stevenson (born February 11, 1945) is an American former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, elected in 2000 to represent the 8th District. He retired in 2014.
During his time in the legislature, Stevenson served on the House Appropriations, Judiciary and Professional Licensure Committees.
Career.
Stevenson served for eight years on the borough council of Grove City, Pennsylvania from 1985 to 1993, including five years as the council president. In 1996, Stevenson joined the Mercer County Board of Commissioners and was elected chairman.
Stevenson was first elected to the House in 2000 to replace Howard Fargo. That year, he defeated the Armstrong County district attorney, George Kepple, in the Republican primary election with 55% of the vote. In the general election, Stevenson defeated James Coulter, taking over 63% of the vote.
Stevenson won re-election to each succeeding session of the House. Beginning in 2004, he ran unopposed in the primary and general elections.
Personal.
Stevenson served in the United States Air Force from 1968 to 1972. He served as Korean Language Specialist with the USAF Security Service. Stevenson received a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Francis College in New York and a Master of Business Administration from Suffolk University in Massachusetts. He and his wife have two children, Sarah Hatfield and Emily Vallozzi, and six grandchildren.


Henry Bramwell

Henry Bramwell (September 3, 1919 – May 28, 2010) was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Education and career.
Bramwell was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was in the United States Army from 1941 to 1945, and then received a Bachelor of Laws from Brooklyn Law School in 1948. He was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York from 1953 to 1961. He was then an associate counsel to the New York State Rent Commission from 1961 to 1963. He was a special hearing officer for conscientious objectors from 1965 to 1966. He was a judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York in 1966 and again from 1969 to 1975. He was an assistant administrative judge for Kings County, New York from 1974 to 1975.
Federal judicial service.
On December 11, 1974, Bramwell was nominated by President Gerald Ford to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York vacated by Judge John R. Bartels. Bramwell was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 20, 1974 and received his commission on December 26, 1974. He assumed senior status on October 1, 1987, and served in that capacity until his death, on May 28, 2010.


First Deep Bottom Union order of battle

The following Union Army units and commanders fought in the First Battle of Deep Bottom (July 27–29, 1864) of the American Civil War. The Confederate order of battle is listed separately.
Union Forces.
General in Chief.
LTG Ulysses S. Grant
Army of the Potomac.
MG George Meade
II Corps.
MG Winfield Scott Hancock
Escort:

Engineers:

Chief of Artillery: Col John C. Tidball
Cavalry Corps.
MG Philip Sheridan
Army of the James.
MG Benjamin F. Butler


74th Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 74th Brigade was a formation of the British Army. It was raised as part of the new army also known as Kitchener's Army and assigned to the 25th Division and served on the Western Front during the First World War. After suffering heavy losses in the German spring offensive in 1918 the brigade was reformed with new units. It fought on the Hindenburg Line in October and in Picardy in November.
The brigade was not reformed for the Second World War.
Formation.
From formation to the end of the Spring Offensive.
On reforming after the Spring Offensive.


Nie Yuanzi

Nie Yuanzi (5 April 1921 – 28 August 2019) was a Chinese academic administrator at Peking University, known for writing a big-character poster criticising the university for being controlled by the bourgeoisie, which is considered to have been the opening shot of the Cultural Revolution. She became a top leader of the Red Guards in Beijing, and was sentenced to 17 years in prison after the end of the Cultural Revolution.
Early life.
Nie was born in 1921 into a wealthy family in Hua County, Henan, the youngest of four siblings. Her eldest brother, Nie Zhen (), was a founder of the Communist Party cell in the county. He was married to Wang Qian, a senior Party member and the ex-wife of President Liu Shaoqi.
When the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out in July 1937, Nie, then sixteen years old, joined the Communist resistance in Shanxi, which was supported by warlord Yan Xishan. She received military training at the National Teachers' College in Taiyuan and joined the Communist Party in 1938. In the 1940s, Nie moved to the Communist base in Yan'an, where she met Kang Sheng and his wife .
After the surrender of Japan, Nie was sent to the formerly Japanese-occupied Northeast China in 1946, where she worked in the government of Qiqihar. A year later, she was appointed Director of the Theory Section of the Propaganda Department of Harbin. In 1959, she divorced her first husband Wu Hongyi (), with whom she had two children, after he was denounced as a "rightist" during the Anti-Rightist Campaign.
In 1963, Nie was transferred to Peking University, a turning point of her life. She served as Vice Chair of the Department of Economics and was appointed Party Secretary of the Department of Philosophy a year later. In early 1966, she married , an official in the powerful Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and a peer of the radical leader Kang Sheng. Many thought that she married him to further her own career.
Cultural Revolution.
On 25 May 1966, Nie put up a big-character poster on the campus of Peking University. The poster criticised Song Shuo, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal University Bureau, Lu Ping, the President of Peking University and head of its Party committee, and Peng Peiyun, an official in the Beijing Municipal University Bureau. Although Nie's main criticism was over the control of Peking University by the bourgeoisie, the aim of the campaign was to legitimise the purge of the Beijing municipal party chief Peng Zhen, by exposing his alleged crime of supporting a bourgeoise reactionary education line. This was pushed by members of the radical clique surrounding Mao Zedong, including Kang Sheng and his wife Cao Yi'ou.
A week later, Mao Zedong ordered the poster to be read on the Central People's Broadcasting Station and published in the "People's Daily", accompanied by official commentaries. Two months later, Mao declared her poster as the "first Chinese Marxist-Leninist big-character poster". Mao's approval encouraged attacks on authorities and inspired students at other universities to write posters, most of which expressed support for the "revolutionary action" of Nie.
Nie initially supported the persecution of other academics, but later disagreed on the course the Cultural Revolution was taking and tried to quit her position in the Red Guards. She controlled revolutionary activities at Peking University, along with her colleagues, protected by her status as a celebrated rebel. She became widely known as one of the top five leaders of Red Guards in the capital.
Nie was made an alternate member of the 9th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. In December 1969, she was sent to labour at Peking University's farm in Liyuzhou (), Jiangxi. She returned to Beijing in 1970 to recuperate from an illness.
In 1971, Nie was subjected to examination and her movements were restricted. In 1973, she was sent to work in the Xinhua Printing House, where she lived, ate and slept in the factory. She moved to a factory that made apparatuses for Peking University in 1975.
Imprisonment and later life.
After the end of the Cultural Revolution, Nie was sent to Yanqing Prison on 19 April 1978. In 1983, she was convicted of multiple crimes including counterrevolutionary activities and defamation. She was sentenced to 17 years in prison, but was paroled in October 1986.
In 1998, the renowned scholar Ji Xianlin published his memoir "Cowshed: Memories of the Chinese Cultural Revolution", recounting his persecution during the period. In the book, Ji strongly condemned Nie Yuanzi for her capriciousness, cruelty and arrogance.
Nie was critical of the post-Mao Chinese government and expressed a desire for greater freedom of opinion. In 2005, her memoirs were published in Hong Kong.
Nie died on 28 August 2019, aged 98.


Orders of battle for Downfall

The units listed to participate in Operation Downfall — the planned Allied invasion of Japan — as planned in August 1945 were:
Order of Battle for Olympic.
Allied.
Should these four corps prove insufficient to accomplish the tasks assigned, elements earmarked for "Coronet" would be used to reinforce Sixth Army at the rate of three divisions per month beginning about 30 days after the initial landings.
Order of Battle for Coronet.
Allied.
Thirty days after the initial assault, each army would be reinforced by a corps of 3 divisions. Five days later an airborne division and a United States Army Forces Pacific Reserve Corps of 3 divisions would be made available. Strategic reserve for the entire operation would consist of a corps of 3 divisions located in the Philippines and divisions from the United States to permit reinforcement at the rate of 4 per month.
Unsourced listing of the aforementioned reinforcements:
Japan.
All Japanese formations on Honshu were badly understrength and lacking in equipment. The American First Army's landings would likely have been opposed by the Japanese 52nd Army and the Eighth Army's landings by the Japanese 53rd Army.


VA-873 (U.S. Navy)

VA-873 was an attack squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve, based at Naval Air Station Alameda, California. Its insignia was approved by CNO on 16 March 1964. Colors for the insignia were: a white and blue background outlined in black; the blue background section had five white stars and the white section had a gold outline of San Francisco Golden Gate with two blue rows of waves beneath the bridge; separating the two sections was a stylized aircraft in black with a red flame coming from the tail; the scroll was white outlined in black with black lettering.
Other details of its early years are sketchy, as few records exist for reserve squadrons prior to 1970, the year during which they began submitting history reports.
On 27 January 1968, The President directed the activation of VA-873 following the capture of by a North Korean patrol boat four days earlier. The squadron was deactivated and returned to reserve status on 12 October 1968.
Aircraft Assignment.
The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:


Hungarian volunteers in the Winter War

The Hungarian Volunteers in the Winter War travelled to fight for the Finns after the Soviet invasion of Finland in 1939. For a variety of reasons, volunteers from the Kingdom of Hungary fought on the side of Finland during the Winter War (1939–1940) against the Soviet Union.
Hungarian-Finnish Relationship before and after World War I.
At the end of the 19th century the Finno-Ugric linguistic affinity became widely accepted after extensive public debate. Some Magyar scientists (e.g. orientalist Ármin Vámbéry) and intellectuals (e.g. Arany János and Jókai Mór) were unable to accept that the Hungarian nation had family relations in Northern Europe. To them, relationships with the Hun or Turkic peoples seemed much more plausible, mainly in the years of the Hungarian millennium around 1896. At this time the Finnish people, living in Tsarist Russia, were receptive to the idea of Finno-Ugric affinity and regarded the proud and freedom-loving Hungarian nation as an ideal.
After the First World War, Finland became independent, but Hungary lost the war and roughly two-thirds of its territory as a result of the Treaty of Trianon. One-third of Hungarians were suddenly left outside Hungary's borders, as it became increasingly isolated. Finland was one of the few European countries that felt sympathy towards Hungary. Hungarians in turn, then regarded newly independent and democratic Finland as an ideal. Because of this, good connections formed between the two countries during the 1920s.
When the Winter War broke out between Finland and the Soviet Union, many Hungarians felt great sympathy towards the Finns and wanted to help them.
Hungarian support to Finland.
The Hungarian government officially did not support Finland, but secretly started searching for ways of helping. In addition, non-governmental organisations began to organize support for Finland. Hungary helped Finland by giving monetary donations, armaments and military volunteers.
The Hungarian-Finnish Association began to organize nationwide collections in the first days of December as “"Brother for brother"” and “"Hungarian Mothers for Finnish Children"”. Collecting of donations and clothes was organised by the Hungarian Red Cross, which also organized the shipment of this aid to Finland. Nobel Prize winner Albert Szent-Györgyi offered all of his prize money to Finland.
Count Pál Teleki’s government sent armaments and war equipment valued at 1 million Hungarian pengős by British and Italian ships during the Winter War (with knowledge and accord of Regent Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya). It contained 36 anti-aircraft guns with 10,250 cartridges, 16 mortars with 32,240 shells, 300 rifles with 520,000 cartridges, 30 armor-piercing rifles with 3,300 cartridges (taken from the Polish army), 300,000 hand grenades, 3,654 land mines, 93,680 helmets, 223 military transceivers, and 26,000 bandoleers.
The recruiting of volunteers started on 16 December with the printing of recruitment leaflets. The acts of Teleki’s government were motivated on one hand by helping a related nation, and on the other hand by the staunch anti-communist and anti-Soviet attitude of the Hungarian elite.
Hungarian Volunteer Detached Battalion.
The volunteers.
During the Winter War, around 25,000 Hungarian men applied to fight in Finland. The applicants underwent a strenuous selection process: the only applications accepted were from unmarried men who had already completed their obligatory military service, had no criminal record, and were not communist sympathizers.
Finally, 350 applications were accepted who were mainly from the environs of Budapest, Nagykanizsa and Debrecen. They were mostly between 18 and 30 years old.
Their military training started on 10 January and took almost a month. The volunteers formed a battalion commanded by Captain Imre Kémeri Nagy. The Hungarian Volunteer Detached Battalion had 24 officers, 52 non-commissioned officers, 2 doctors and 2 padres; a total of 346 officers and men.
Going to Finland.
Travel to Finland was very difficult, because the German Reich forbade transit of armaments and war equipment across its territory (including the occupied Polish territories). This was in one respect a simple honoring of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, but was also because Teleki had not given the Wehrmacht permission to use Hungarian railway lines for attacking Poland. The German government was also unhappy that Teleki's government had harbored thousands of Polish refugees after the German and Soviet invasion of Poland because of the Hungarian–Polish friendship.
Because of this, volunteers had to travel across Yugoslavia, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Norway and Sweden to make their way to Finland. They travelled without any weapons by a special train, officially classified as "tourists going to ski-camp". The battalion was embarked at Edinburgh to Bergen as a part of a convoy. This convoy had to be protected by air and naval cover because the United Kingdom and the German Reich were in a state of war and there was great fear of German attacks ("Phony War"). Finally the battalion arrived in Finland on 2 March after three weeks' travelling.
In Finland.
In Finland the battalion was quartered in Lapua, in the training center of the international volunteers. In Lapua they took a part in another military training, learned skiing and winter warfare. Before the Hungarian battalion could see military action, the Moscow Peace Treaty was signed, on 12 March in Moscow, so many volunteers were frustrated.
In the last days of March, Field Marshal Mannerheim visited Lapua where he met the Hungarian battalion. He expressed his thanks to the volunteers for coming to Finland and he promoted Lieutenant Imre Kémeri Nagy to Captain (this promotion was later accepted by the Hungarian General Staff). From 17 April to 19 May the Hungarian battalion served in Karelia, at the new state border in Lappeenranta.
Going back to Hungary.
The Hungarian battalion was embarked at Turku on 20 May 1940, from where a steamboat sailed to Stettin, German Reich (now Szczecin, in Poland). In Turku the Order of the White Rose of Finland was given to the Hungarian officers. They travelled across Nazi Germany by a special train with a German guard. The German government gave them special permission to use the German railway lines in order to reach Hungary. Expenses of the homeward travel were paid by the Finnish Ministry of Defence. The volunteers arrived at Budapest on 28 May. They were welcomed by the prime minister, Count Pál Teleki.
Other Hungarian volunteers in the Winter War.
Outside the "Hungarian Volunteer Detached Battalion" other Hungarian volunteers fought in the Winter War in the Finnish army as individuals. 2nd Lieutenant Mátyás Pirityi served in the Finnish Air Force and took part in more than 20 sorties. Warrant Officer Vilmos Békássy's plane disappeared over the Gulf of Bothnia. Géza Szepessy, along with four fellows from the Military Technical College of Berlin, went to Finland where he was wounded in action.
Memory of the Hungarian volunteers.
In Hungary during the communist regime (between 1949 and 1989) the history of the Hungarian volunteer battalion could not be studied (the list of the volunteers’ names was found in Finland). Survivors today are well over 90 years old. They could only orally recount their experiences during that time, therefore proper research of the battalion’s history could only start in the 1990s.
Many volunteers fell in World War II and some died of old age. From 1991 the Finnish and Hungarian veterans have been able to meet and visit each other. These meetings are supported in part by the Hungarian Ministry of Defence. In 1991 medallions were given to surviving Hungarian veterans at the Finnish Embassy in Budapest.
The memory of the Hungarian volunteers has been preserved by memorial tablets in Lapua and Lappeenranta, in Finland.


Gary L. Littrell

Gary Lee Littrell (born October 26, 1944) is a retired United States Army command sergeant major who, while serving as an adviser to Army of the Republic of Vietnam's Ranger units during the Vietnam War, acted with extraordinary courage during a four-day siege on his battalion, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Medal of Honor action.
Between April 4 and April 8, 1970, while serving on Advisory Team 21 of I Corps Advisory Group, in Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, Sergeant First Class Littrell was a Light Weapons Infantry Advisor with the 23rd Battalion, 2nd Ranger Group. The battalion was under intense mortar attack — all advisors except Littrell were killed. Unrelentingly, over four days, Littrell kept the battalion inspired, while he directed artillery and air support, distributed ammunition, strengthened faltering defenses, cared for the wounded, and shouted encouragement to the Vietnamese in their own language. For his "sustained extraordinary courage and selflessness", he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
The Medal of Honor was presented to Littrell in a White House ceremony by President Richard Nixon on October 15, 1973.
Honors.
In 1993, Littrell was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame, which serves to "honor and preserve the contributions of the most extraordinary U.S. Rangers in American history, to identify and highlight individuals as role models for current era Rangers, and to educate the public on the culture of the U.S. Army Rangers."
In later years.
Littrell retired from the army in 1985 as a command sergeant major.
As of October 2019, Littrell lives in St. Pete Beach, Florida. He makes speaking appearances as part of the Medal of Honor Foundation's Character Development Program to raise public awareness about the legacy of the Medal of Honor. Addressing area high school students, for example, he extols the importance of living a virtuous life, saying, "Integrity is the most important word in the world".


Heavy Brigade

A heavy brigade is a formation made up from 'Heavy' Cavalry; i.e. Dragoon Guards and Dragoons.
The Heavy Brigade was a British heavy cavalry unit commanded by General Sir James York Scarlett at the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. The Brigade made a gallant uphill charge to defeat a superior force of onrushing Russian cavalry, an amazing instance of the triumph of the individual skill of the Victorian British soldier, as well as of British discipline and unit cohesion.
At the Battle of Balaclava the brigade was composed of 2 squadrons each of the 1st Dragoons (The Royals), the 2nd Dragoons (Scots Greys), the 4th Dragoon Guards (Royal Irish), the 5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales's), and the 6th Dragoons (Inniskilling).
See also.
Heavy Brigade Combat Team


Antietam Confederate order of battle

The following Confederate States Army units and commanders fought in the Battle of Antietam of the American Civil War. The Union order of battle is listed separately. Order of battle compiled from the army organization during the campaign, the casualty returns and the reports.
Army of Northern Virginia.
Gen Robert E. Lee
Right Wing.
MG James Longstreet
Left Wing.
MG Thomas J. Jackson
Chief of Artillery: Col Stapleton Crutchfield
Escort:


List of vice-admirals of Lancashire

This is a list of people who have served as Vice-Admiral of Lancashire.


Lingiades massacre

The Lingiades massacre, on 3 October 1943, was a Nazi German war crime committed by members of the 1st Mountain Division of the "Wehrmacht Heer" during the Axis occupation of Greece. The village of Lingiades (Λιγκιάδες), near Ioannina in northwestern Greece, was arbitrarily chosen as a target for reprisals by the Wehrmacht due to the killing of a German officer by members of the Greek Resistance. The vast majority of the victims were children, women, and elderly.
Background.
Greek resistance groups were active in northwestern Greece (Epirus) during World War II. On 1 October 1943, a unit of the National Republican Greek League (EDES) ambushed a German convoy near Preveza. In the firefight, the commander of Mountaineering Regiment 98, Lieutenant-Colonel Josef Salminger, was killed by Greek partisans. Salminger, an ardent Nazi, was notorious for conducting attacks against civilians, such as the massacre of Kommeno which resulted in the murder of 317 villagers.
Salminger's death prompted General Hubert Lanz, commander of the 1st Mountain Division, to order reprisals within a 20 km radius of the ambush. Lingiades, a tiny mountain village 13 kilometres northwest of Ioannina, overlooks Ioannina Lake and Ioannina from an elevation about 940 m above. The village could not be linked to resistance activity by German intelligence. It may have been chosen as a target due to its visibility from Ioannina. Its nearby destruction would likely spread terror among the local populace.
The attack.
On Sunday, 3 October, elements of the German 79th Field Battalion commanded by Major Hans Mayr arrived in Lingiades. Of the town's 287 inhabitants, most village adults were in an neighbouring town for the walnut harvest. Villagers who could not run away were dragged by German soldiers to the central square of the village. After dwellings were searched and looted, all civilians were divided into small groups and driven into the cellars of various dwellings. There they were shot down by machine guns. Apart from the church and the village school, all buildings in the village were set on fire. The majority of the 92 victims were children, infants, women, and the aged. Thirty-two of the dead were aged between six months and 11 years. Five civilians managed to survive, two adults and three children. They feigned death among the corpses and then escaped from the burning buildings by ascending via the fireplace.
Investigation.
No one was ever held accountable for the atrocity in Lingiades.
Memory.
On 7 March 2014, German President Joachim Gauck visited Lingiades together with his Greek counterpart, Karolos Papoulias. Gauck was the first German official to visit the site. He expressed his apologies for the atrocities committed by the Wehrmacht, saying, "With shame and pain I ask in the name of Germany the families of the victims for forgiveness ... I bow in front of the victims for this monstrous crime."


William D. Port

William David Port (October 13, or October 31, 1941 – November 27, 1968) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Vietnam War.
Biography.
Port joined the Army from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in March 1967, and by January 12, 1968 was serving as a private first class in Company C, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Division. During a firefight on that day, in the Que Son Valley, Quảng Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, rescued a wounded comrade and then smothered the blast of an enemy-thrown grenade with his body to protect other soldiers. Port survived the blast, but was seriously wounded and captured by the enemy. He died while a prisoner of war ten months later. Port was promoted to Sergeant and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle in August 1970.
Port, aged 27 at his death, was initially buried in a jungle grave along with 8 other prisoners. His remains were recovered in August 1985, and he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery two months later. In Huntingdon, Pennsylvania there is a bridge across the Juniata River named after William Port. A plaque describes his heroism.
Reference from: william d port (web)
Military
Branch: Army
Rank: SGT
Serial Number: 177329730
Component: Selective Service
Posthumous promotion as indicated
Pay grade: E4
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 11B10
Quote from: Steve Loving
"Bill was drafted at a much older age than most of us kids – we were mostly 18 or 19 and even the officers were in their early 20s. Bill was in his late 20s. While most of us always seemed to have something to gripe about, I can never recall Bill saying anything negative. He was a quiet, private guy and he led his life that way—with quiet dignity. That dreadful day in January is a day that our platoon will never forget, and many of us are able to celebrate life because of Bill's sacrifice. He will never be forgotten by any of us who served with him."
Medal of Honor.
Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Pfc.), U.S. Army, Company C, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division. Place and date: Que Son Valley, Quảng Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, January 12, 1968. Entered service at: Harrisburg, Pa. Born: October 13, 1941, Petersburg, Pa.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Port distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman with Company C, which was conducting combat operations against an enemy force in the Que Son Valley. As Sgt. Port's platoon was moving to cut off a reported movement of enemy soldiers, the platoon came under heavy fire from an entrenched enemy force. The platoon was forced to withdraw due to the intensity and ferocity of the fire. Although wounded in the hand as the withdrawal began, Sgt. Port, with complete disregard for his safety, ran through the heavy fire to assist a wounded comrade back to the safety of the platoon perimeter. As the enemy forces assaulted in the perimeter, Sgt. Port and 3 comrades were in position behind an embankment when an enemy grenade landed in their midst. Sgt. Port, realizing the danger to his fellow soldiers, shouted the warning, "Grenade", and unhesitatingly hurled himself towards the grenade to shield his comrades from the explosion. Through his exemplary courage and devotion he saved the lives of his fellow soldiers and gave the members of his platoon the inspiration needed to hold their position. Sgt. Port's selfless concern for his comrades, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest tradition of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.