Over the years, the United States has produced many remarkable generals and admirals, but only a few have stood out as world-class strategists and leaders of troops. As Veterans Day approaches on November 11, let’s remember and celebrate them. Here is my list of America’s finest 11 commanders.
This series is about military prowess and those who excelled on the battlefield. The inclusion of any Confederates in this list should not be misconstrued as in any way supporting the cause of the self-described Slave-Holding Confederacy itself for which such men fought. The preservation of the monstrous injustice of slavery in North America and the stated goal of the seceding states had to be destroyed. But this does not diminish the achievements of certain Southern generals on the field of battle, which is solely what this series seeks to examine.
<h2>Thomas J. &#8220;Stonewall&#8221; Jackson, 1824 &#8211; 1863 (Civil War)</h2>
Once again, I risk incurring the wrath of all good Union men and women when I include a Confederate on my list. But how can I not? Like Lee, the West Pointer and Virginia Military Institute (VMI) artillery instructor Thomas Jackson initially opposed secession, but when his home state of Virginia seceded, he opted to serve the Confederacy. His reputation and nickname “Stonewall” was forged on the river of gore at First Bull Run. During the height of the fighting, when the rebel lines began to waver, Jackson’s men held firm. Rebel Gen. Bernard E. Bee exhorted his own men by calling out, “There stands Jackson, like a stone wall!” And thus the legendary sobriquet was born.
<div id="attachment_649355" style="width: 373px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-649355" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-649355" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-3070274-363x576.jpg" alt="circa 1850: Thomas Jonathan Jackson (1824 - 1863), better known as Stonewall Jackson, a Confederate general during the American Civil War. Original Artist: By Desmaisons. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)" width="363" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-3070274-363x576.jpg 363w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-3070274-189x300.jpg 189w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-3070274.jpg 646w" sizes="(max-width: 363px) 100vw, 363px" />circa 1850: Thomas Jonathan Jackson (1824 &#8211; 1863), better known as Stonewall Jackson, a Confederate general during the American Civil War. Original Artist: By Desmaisons. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)</div>
Although his sterling conduct in the first battle of the war earned him praise from a grateful South, it was Jackson’s brilliant Shenandoah Valley Campaign in the spring of 1862 that demonstrated just how formidable a military man the Bible-thumping, lemon-eating, eccentric Stonewall could be. The valley was a lifeline for the South, a vital corridor of provisions as well as a natural Union invasion route. As such, he was tasked with keeping the area out of Northern control. Husbanding his strength, the stern disciplinarian marched his men up and down the valley at such a grueling pace over such vast distances they were called “Jackson’s Foot Cavalry.” 
To his enemies’ chagrin, his small army would suddenly appear miles away from where his baffled Union adversaries would expect and inflict one punishing defeat after another, only to disappear and pop up again somewhere else. His fetish for secrecy was such that he would keep his officers in the dark as to his plans until the last minute, and often camp his men at roadway intersections to confuse any Yankee spies as to his destination. Throughout the course of some 48 days of the Valley Campaign, Jackson’s contingent rarely numbered 15,000 men, marched over 700 miles, and engaged and defeated three separate Union armies numbering a combined 80,000 enemy troops coming at him from several directions. Bewildered Union commanders believed that Jackson had to have more men, that it couldn’t be the same army striking them here, then there, then over there at all hours of the day and night in over a dozen battles. 
<div id="attachment_649377" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-649377" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-649377" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-90018461-864x576.jpg" alt="UNITED STATES - CIRCA 1862: The First Battle of Winchester, fought on May 25, 1862, in and around Frederick County, Virginia, and Winchester, Virginia, was a major victory in Confederate Army Maj. Gen. Thomas J. &quot;Stonewall&quot; Jackson's Campaign through the Shenandoah Valley during the American Civil War. (Photo by Buyenlarge/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-90018461-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-90018461-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-90018461-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-90018461.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />UNITED STATES &#8211; CIRCA 1862: The First Battle of Winchester, fought on May 25, 1862, in and around Frederick County, Virginia, and Winchester, Virginia, was a major victory in Confederate Army Maj. Gen. Thomas J. &#8220;Stonewall&#8221; Jackson&#8217;s Campaign through the Shenandoah Valley during the American Civil War. (Photo by Buyenlarge/Getty Images)</div>
His exploits made him arguably the most famous general in the world; the very name Jackson became synonymous with an extremely dangerous phantasm who could be in several places at once and who struck fear in the Union ranks, as well as Washington D.C. Northern mothers would even threaten naughty children with “Jackson will get you if you misbehave.”
Not only did Stonewall demonstrate he understood how to get the most from his men and inflict the most damage with bodies of troops small enough to stay nimble and unpredictable, his campaign had the very real impact of preventing tens of thousands of Union reinforcements from leaving the valley to aid the Union general McClellan currently marching ever closer to Richmond. In June 1862, the wily Jackson then slipped away with his victorious army to join the new rebel commander Robert E. Lee in helping to repel the Yankee invaders from the gates of the capital during the Seven Days battle. His valley army would become Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. The partnership he formed with his commanding officer and the reliable and steady First Corps commander Gen. James Longstreet (who himself just missed making the list) became one of the most storied, and successful, in military history.
<div id="attachment_649357" style="width: 805px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-649357" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-649357 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-91243862-795x576.jpg" alt="UNITED STATES - CIRCA 1862: Bull Run battlefield with the disposition of Union and Confederate forces. Union Gen. Pope's command faced that of Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson, unaware that Longstreet's command had arrived to reinforce Jackson's position. On the second day of fighting, an assault by Pope's forces was repulsed by Jackson's troops, while Longstreet attacked Pope's unprotected left flank. Pope was defeated, but was able to retreat across Bull Run with the bulk of his force intact. Hand Drawn Map (Photo by Buyenlarge/Getty Images)" width="795" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-91243862-795x576.jpg 795w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-91243862-300x217.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-91243862-768x557.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-91243862.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 795px) 100vw, 795px" />UNITED STATES &#8211; CIRCA 1862: Bull Run battlefield with the disposition of Union and Confederate forces. Union Gen. Pope&#8217;s command faced that of Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson, unaware that Longstreet&#8217;s command had arrived to reinforce Jackson&#8217;s position. (Photo by Buyenlarge/Getty Images)</div>
Jackson’s star continued to rise when in August 1862 he embarked on yet another series of forced marches up through central and into northern Virginia which landed his troops squarely in the rear of another Union army under the command of the bombastic Gen. John Pope. Once again, his Union adversaries found themselves racing this way and that across the sweltering countryside trying to locate the elusive Stonewall and his 28,000-man contingent. After raiding the federal depot at Manassas junction, he fell back to the old Bull Run battlefield and repelled a series of attacks by Pope while waiting for Longstreet’s corps en route to join him. Once reunited, the full power of the Army of Northern Virginia would face the Yankees at the 2nd Battle of Bull Run. A Union rout ensued and for the second time since June, a defeated enemy streamed back to the safety of Washington D.C.
When in September 1862 Lee took the victorious if weary and malnourished Army of Northern Virginia into Maryland, Jackson did his part. Taking almost two-thirds of Lee’s army on a long three-pronged march, one leg of which covered a grueling sixty miles back through now West Virginia, his men surrounded and captured Harper’s Ferry. He bagged 11,000 Union prisoners and scores of artillery pieces and other supplies. Never one for appearance, when the dejected Union garrison at Harper’s Ferry got a glimpse of the grey ghost who captured them, one Yankee was heard to say: “Boys, he may not look like much, but if we had him we wouldn’t be in this mess.” Then he re-joined Lee and Longstreet in time to fight at the Battle of Antietam. His line held firm through a series of powerful Union attacks, showing his capacity for defensive warfare when needed. After the battle was over, while eating a peach and surveying the scene of carnage that was the bloodiest day in American history, the pious warrior declared “God has been good to us this day.” 
Stonewall’s fierce reputation hit its zenith at the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863. With the Army of Northern Virginia caught between a Union pincer movement, outnumbered and outflanked, and missing Longstreet with several divisions on a forage mission, Jackson proposed to Lee that he take his entire corps, almost 30,000 men, on an arduous 12-mile march through the thick Wilderness and around the Union Army to hit them in their exposed flank. This left Lee with just a small force to face the brunt of the Union Army numbering some 100,000 men. It was a very dangerous plan for if discovered the Yankees could destroy the army in pieces. But Lee, trusting his subordinate’s judgment, gave him the nod. 
<div id="attachment_649371" style="width: 704px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-649371" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-649371" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-96752925-694x576.jpg" alt="Illustration by William Ludwell Sheppard, captioned 'Lee and Jackson in Council on the Night of May 1,' first published in the four-volume series Battles and Leaders of the Civil War (1887�1888). It depicts Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. 'Stonewall' Jackson at the Battle of Chancellorsville working through plans for the next day's fighting. Chancellorsville, Virginia, USA. 1 May 1863. (photo by Fotosearch/Getty Images)." width="694" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-96752925-694x576.jpg 694w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-96752925-300x249.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-96752925-768x638.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/GettyImages-96752925.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 694px) 100vw, 694px" />Illustration by William Ludwell Sheppard, captioned &#8216;Lee and Jackson in Council on the Night of May 1,&#8217; first published in the four-volume series Battles and Leaders of the Civil War (1887 &#8211; 1888). It depicts Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. &#8216;Stonewall&#8217; Jackson at the Battle of Chancellorsville working through plans for the next day&#8217;s fighting. Chancellorsville, Virginia, USA. 1 May 1863. (photo by Fotosearch/Getty Images).</div>
Late in the afternoon Jackson’s Confederates poured out of the woods and smashed into the Yankees’ exposed right flank, sending the shocked and terrified Union XI Corps racing to the rear. It was an outstanding success. But as darkness fell, Jackson carelessly rode out between the lines with a small entourage to investigate a night attack. When he tried to recross back into his own lines, jittery rebel pickets, believing his group to be Union cavalry, opened fire, severely wounding him in the left arm that would soon be amputated. When hearing the news, Lee lamented, “He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right.” Although he appeared to be recovering after the operation, Stonewall Jackson took a turn for the worse and died of pneumonia a few days later.
<div id="attachment_649373" style="width: 980px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-649373" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-649373" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Death-of-Stonewall-Jackson-970x576.jpeg" alt="The death of Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson. Currier &amp; Ives., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons" width="970" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Death-of-Stonewall-Jackson-970x576.jpeg 970w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Death-of-Stonewall-Jackson-300x178.jpeg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Death-of-Stonewall-Jackson-768x456.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Death-of-Stonewall-Jackson.jpeg 1387w" sizes="(max-width: 970px) 100vw, 970px" />The death of Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson. Currier &amp; Ives., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons</div>
There is much speculation in Civil War round tables about what would have happened at Gettysburg two months later had Jackson and not the timid Richard Ewell still been in command of the Second Corps. Some argue Stonewall would not have hesitated to take the commanding hills south of the town on the first day of the fight, denying the Union Army a defensible position and forcing it to retreat. Who knows? But what we can say is this: few generals had such an uncanny feel for battlefields and tactical situations — without the aid of GPS, aerial reconnaissance, or even accurate maps — as did Stonewall Jackson. Unlike Lee, there are no bloody missteps in Jackson’s record, no Malvern Hill, Antietam, or Gettysburg. Which is why I place him higher than his commander. His reputation is well-deserved.
One final thought. His more quirky eccentricities aside, Jackson had a dark, if fascinating, cold-bloodedness to him that belied his Christian values, and could intimidate those who served with him, yet might also be a clue to why he so excelled in waging war. When in December of 1862 he and Gen. Lee surveyed the destruction to Fredericksburg that the marauding Union troops left in their wake upon abandoning the city, Lee asked his deputy commander how they could put an end to this terrible war. “Kill them,” Jackson said. “Kill them all.”
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America’s Top 11 Generals
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/americas-top-11-generals-11-curtis-e-lemay" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RELATED: #11 Curtis E. LeMay</a>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/americas-top-11-generals-10-matthew-ridgway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RELATED: #10 Matthew Ridgway</a>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/americas-top-11-generals-9-nathanael-greene" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RELATED: #9 Nathanael Greene</a>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/americas-top-11-generals-8-george-patton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RELATED: #8 George Patton</a>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/americas-top-11-generals-7-robert-e-lee">RELATED: #7 Robert E. Lee</a>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/americas-top-11-generals-6-admiral-chester-nimitz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RELATED: #6 Admiral Chester Nimitz</a>
* * *
Brad Schaeffer is a commodities trader, columnist, and author of two acclaimed novels. His newest book, the fact-based <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Life-Pits-Rough-Tumble-Exchange/dp/B0CKPNCMQW/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=1331509151681009&amp;hvadid=83219665089301&amp;hvbmt=bp&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvlocphy=97755&amp;hvnetw=o&amp;hvqmt=p&amp;hvtargid=kwd-83219680392082%3Aloc-190&amp;hydadcr=18892_13467888&amp;keywords=brad+schaeffer&amp;qid=1698162015&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LIFE IN THE PITS: My Time as a Trader on the Rough-and-Tumble Exchange Floors</a> will be published in December and is currently available for pre-order. You can also find more of Brad’s articles on <a href="https://bradschaeffer.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Substack</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Stonewall_Jackson_in_the_National_Portrait_Gallery_IMG_4519

America’s Top 11 Generals: #5 Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson

America's Top 11 Generals: #5 Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson

American General

Civil War

Readers Pass

Thomas Stonewall Jackson

Veterans Day

Veterans Day is a weird day for me, and many other veterans. 
&#8220;Thank you for your service&#8221; still means a lot, but with the high levels of division and distrust in America, coupled with the painful end to the Afghan War, it&#8217;s sometimes hard to make meaning from it all.
Let me explain.
The &#8216;Long War&#8217; took a toll on me. It almost killed me, long after the guns went silent.
I wasn&#8217;t alone. My buddy Brad, a fellow Green Beret whom I served with in Afghanistan, struggled when he came home as well.
We would talk on the phone sometimes and share our frustrations with trying to adjust to the civilian world after combat in Afghanistan.
Depression, guilt, isolation, and lack of purpose put me in a closet holding a pistol.
Somehow, I found my way out. Barely.
A former NFL football player-turned-storyteller took me under his wing. Through his mentorship, I found a way to inform civilians on the cost of war, and ultimately re-connect with them across the vast civilian-military gap that was keeping me in darkness. I found a way to let go &#8230; and know peace.
I found it through storytelling. Warrior Storytelling.
My mentor actually talked me into writing a play about my experience in combat and those I served with. <a href="https://lastoutplay.com/">Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret</a> was born.
To complete my mid-life crisis, I learned how to act at age 50.
When we performed it for the first time to a Tampa Bay audience of just over 100 civilians and combat veterans, Brad sat proudly in the back row with a big grin on his face. He had driven all the way from Mississippi to see it. At the end of the play, Brad was the first to speak in our talk back. 
&#8220;Scott, that scene when you were on the skype call when your base was attacked, that happened to me exactly like that.&#8221; He began to weep. &#8220;How do you explain something like that to your wife and kids? Gotta run guys &#8230; Daddy&#8217;s got a firefight to go to. Talk to you next week.&#8221;
Our all-veteran cast performed the play for a year in 16 cities with amazing impact. Our approach toward healing, validating, informing, and reconnecting resonated at a community level. We conducted story workshops, PTS interventions, and honored Gold Star Families. All with one major goal. To LET GO and know peace.
Each city we went to was hosted by a community volunteer. Brad was one of our first hosts. Bringing our humble, non-profit production to Brandon, Mississippi, he spent his own money to cover some of our expenses. He drove the team to and from rehearsals in a church van, country music blaring, with a sense of purpose I hadn&#8217;t seen in him since Afghanistan.
Shortly before starting our second tour season, COVID shut us down. We struggled for a year with no performances. The veteran populations suffered mightily, including Brad. There were times when he called me from very dark places. I wanted to do more. So, we raised the money and turned &#8220;Last Out&#8221; into a film that is now on Amazon Prime, VUDU, Apple TV, and Google TV. Brad texted me after he watched the film: &#8220;Please pass along my well wishes to the rest of the team. This new version had me in tears at the end.&#8221; 
Then, in August 2021, Afghanistan collapsed, and the U.S. abruptly abandoned that country leaving our Afghan Allies to be hunted and killed. I stood up a group of veteran volunteers known as &#8220;Task Force Pineapple.&#8221; Brad was one of the first guys to reach out to me after seeing me talk about it on the news. &#8221; Is there a way for me to get to a country close to Afghanistan and be on the ground to help get our people out? If you know of anyone looking for an extra gun to help get people out, I am ready.&#8221;
The Afghan withdrawal left many of our 775,000 Afghan War veterans and their families to wonder&#8230;what was the point of it all? Much like our Vietnam veterans, our warriors and families were hurting badly and seeking answers. Did it matter? Does anyone care? Will we learn lessons? Will we change from those lessons?
Brad wrote me, &#8220;I am sickened by it but not surprised. We never had clear strategic endstate given to us.&#8221;
As I saw the growing mental health toll on our post 9-11 veterans from the botched Afghan withdrawal and the rapidity at which the nation was closing the chapter on the 20-year war, my wife and I decided to put the storytelling craft of &#8220;Last Out&#8221; back together for a 2023 tour to heal, validate, and reconnect around the hard subject of modern war. We selected our cast and dropped into intense rehearsals.
Although the warrior storytelling was taxing on my 54 year-old body, I couldn&#8217;t help but get excited about performing the play in front of my old buddy Brad and his family. I smiled inwardly at the thought of his southern drawl ringing out over the talkback as he would share his experiences from the play and how it related to his lived experience in war. 
It was on Thursday, October 27, 2022, that I learned that day would never come. The demons had caught up with Brad. He couldn&#8217;t hold them off any longer. He was another casualty of war long after the guns had gone silent.
Our team circled up upon learning the news of his passing and held a moment of silence. I committed then and there to take this play on the road in honor of Brad and the thousands of other veterans whose voices are muzzled in our divided nation.
This Veterans Day, I hope Americans will reflect on what we ask of this small percentage of Americans day after day, month after month, year after year. It&#8217;s a heavy cost that these warriors bear proudly.
Warriors like Brad are not victims. They are, in fact, the moral compass of our nation. They bring leadership potential and resilience that is sorely needed in these divided times. But, 20 years of war and endless deployments takes a toll, and when you wash it down with a moral injury of abandonment, &#8220;thank you for your service,&#8221; just doesn&#8217;t cut it anymore.
One of the most powerful paths to healing and reintegration of our veterans is through storytelling. Warrior storytelling.
That&#8217;s where I&#8217;ll be this Veterans Day, and every day for as long as I can. Telling Brad&#8217;s story from the stage. 
Something tells me he&#8217;ll be there on the back row, cheering us on. I hope you will too.
*   *   *
For 24/7, confidential <a href="https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/">crisis support for Veterans</a> and their loved ones, dial 988, then press 1, or text 838255. You don&#8217;t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect.
*   *   *
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) <a href="https://scottmann.com/">Scott Mann</a> is a former U.S. Army Green Beret with tours all over the world including Colombia, Iraq, and multiple tours in Afghanistan. He is a warrior storyteller and the founder of <a href="https://rooftopleadership.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://rooftopleadership.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1663685438788000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1wFtjXaBU9jq3vc7JRhVPz">Rooftop Leadership</a> where he shares the rapport-building skills he learned in Special Forces to help today&#8217;s leaders make better human connections in high-stakes, low-trust engagements. Scott is the author of the instant New York Times Best-Seller, <a href="https://operationpineappleexpress.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://operationpineappleexpress.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1663685438788000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0Wegb2wUtLX-nBRPckFx--">Operation Pineapple Express</a>, a third-person narrative detailing the harrowing stories of the veterans, volunteers, and Afghan Allies who navigated the US abandonment of Afghanistan in August of 2021. He has since founded <a href="https://operelief.org/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://operelief.org/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1663685438788000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0hrx_c6j6uhJulTBg4Z4BM">Operation Pineapple Express Relief</a>, a 501c3 to help support the emergency needs of our Afghan Allies such as safe passage out of Afghanistan, plus unforeseen resettlement needs. Scott’s greatest accomplishments are his family; he has three grown sons which now gives him the newfound opportunity to chase Monty, his wife of 27 years, around their Tampa home as often as possible.­­
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

U.S. Soldiers Commemorate 9/11 Anniversary At Bagram Air Field

‘Let Go And Know Peace’: Why My Fellow Veterans Need More Than A Thank You

Afghanistan

Military

PTSD

U.S.

A historic preservation group has announced the discovery of the remains of 14 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/american-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Revolutionary War</a> soldiers in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/south-carolina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Carolina</a> on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/veterans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Veterans Day</a>.
The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust (SCBPT) <a href="https://www.scbattlegroundtrust.org/archeologists-historians-unearth-remarkable-discovery-at-camden-battlefield" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed</a> Friday the discovery of the remains of 14 Revolutionary War soldiers who had fallen during the Battle of Camden and had never been buried.
“These young men demonstrated their allegiance in an intense battle for liberty. They are truly America’s first veterans,” Doug Bostick, CEO, South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust, said. “We have a responsibility to honor their sacrifice by ensuring their remains are protected in perpetuity and their stories of bravery are shared.”
The remains, which had been unearthed beginning in September, were found through the joint efforts of SCBPT, the Historic Camden Foundation, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Richland County Coroner’s Office, and the South Carolina Institute for Archeology and Anthropology at the University of South Carolina.
The skeletal remains were found at various locations throughout the battlefield, with some being less than a foot under the ground.
“People visit battlefields like Camden, Cowpens and Kings Mountain every day and don’t often consider that they are walking in unmarked cemeteries. The dead are still there,” said archeologist James Legg. “The work we are doing honors their sacrifice by shedding light on details that are not yet documented in the historical record and by providing them with decent marked graves for the contemplation of battlefield visitors.”
It is believed that 12 of the remains were Patriot Continental soldiers from Maryland and Delaware, while another body was that of a North Carolina loyalist, and the other a British soldier.
The Richland Coroner’s Office will begin inspecting the bodies in the coming months as they hope to find more about each soldier’s age, race, and even where they came from.
“As property owners, we are the caretakers and stewards of not only the resources we can see above ground, but also to the rich history below ground,” said Cary Briggs, the executive director of the Historic Camden Foundation, which owns a large portion of the battlefield.
“When these young men marched into the darkness on that summer night in 1780, they did so out of love for their country despite the consequences that may befall them. Our intent is to lay them to rest with the respect and honor they earned more than two centuries ago,” Briggs added.
The Battle of Camden, which took place on August 16, 1780, was a disaster for the Patriot soldiers who were easily defeated by British-led forces in a battle which nearly <a href="https://www.revolutionarywarjournal.com/the-battle-of-camden-a-humiliating-defeat-for-america-but-for-the-continental-soldiers-their-proudest-moment/">spelled doom</a> for the American cause in the South.
The British forces, which were under the command of General Charles Cornwallis, faced off against the Patriots, who were being commanded by Major General Horatio Gates. The British forces included Royalists from North Carolina, and the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/people/banastre-tarleton.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">infamous</a> “Bloody Ban” Banastre Tarleton.
During the battle, which took place in a pine forest just outside of Camden, about two-thirds of the American forces fled while the rest, mainly men from Delaware and Maryland, remained to fight the British.<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-463264" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/GettyImages-517479922-300x205.jpg" alt="A print showing the death of Baron Johann De Kalb during the Battle of Camden, based on an original 19th-century painting by Alonzo Chappel." width="676" height="462" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/11/GettyImages-517479922-300x205.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/11/GettyImages-517479922-841x576.jpg 841w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/11/GettyImages-517479922-768x526.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/11/GettyImages-517479922.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 676px) 100vw, 676px" />
Credit: Bettmann / Contributor via Getty Images.“Never did troops show greater courage than those men of Maryland and Delaware,” 19th century historian George Bancroft wrote.
The battle ended in a <a href="https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/camden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rout</a> for the Americans who had about 1,900 casualties, whereas the British only sustained 324. Included in the American casualties was Major General <a href="https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/johann-de-kalb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Johann de Kalb</a>, a Prussian who was given a commission in the army by American diplomats in France eager to get support for American independence.
De Kalb was wounded 11 times during the battle, including several stabbings with bayonets, and died from his wounds days after the battle. In the years after the war, the Prussian was <a href="https://www.landmarksdekalbal.org/historical-sketches-dekalb-county-alabama-history/baron-johann-dekalb/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">honored</a> with counties and towns named for him throughout the country.
Gate’s failure at Camden let to the rise of Major General Nathanael Greene, sometimes referred to as the “the Savior of the South,” who led the push against the British out of South Carolina in the years before the conclusion of the war in 1783, including the Patriot victory at Cowpens.

Betsy Ross flag, Historic Camden, Camden, South Carolina, USA

‘America’s First Veterans’: Discovery Of Remains Of 14 Revolutionary War Soldiers Announced On Veterans Day

Discovery Of Remains Of 14 Revolutionary War Soldiers Announced On Veterans Day

American History

American Revolution

Archaeology

South Carolina

The crew of the movie &#8220;Top Gun: Maverick,&#8221; singer John Rich, and other celebrities took the time on Friday to thank veterans &#8220;who have served our nation&#8221; and sacrificed so much.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tom-cruise">Tom Cruise</a> and other cast and crew members of the hit summer blockbuster &#8220;Top Gun: Maverick&#8221; appeared in a video posted on Twitter with a message that read, &#8220;Salute Our Veterans.&#8221; The clip included footage of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tom-cruise-sends-message-to-audience-after-top-gun-maverick-crosses-1-billion-mark">60-year-old actor</a> and other stars of &#8220;Top Gun&#8221; sequel high-fiving and spending time with members of the military.
&#8220;Thank you to all those who have served our nation,&#8221; the &#8220;Top Gun&#8221; official Twitter account tweeted. &#8220;Happy Veterans Day.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Thank you to all those who have served our nation. Happy Veterans Day. <a href="https://t.co/LPLER9Rnwg">pic.twitter.com/LPLER9Rnwg</a>
&mdash; Top Gun (@TopGunMovie) <a href="https://twitter.com/TopGunMovie/status/1591098433959448576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Country music star Joh Rich tweeted, &#8220;A special message for our Veterans today #VeteransDay2022.&#8221;
&#8220;On this Veterans Day, I&#8217;d just like to give a big thank you to all of our service men and women for their sacrifice, for their service, for their dedication to our country,&#8221; Rich said in a video included in the tweet.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A special message for our Veterans today🇺🇸 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeteransDay2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeteransDay2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/hdQiulBd6H">pic.twitter.com/hdQiulBd6H</a>
&mdash; John Rich🇺🇸 (@johnrich) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnrich/status/1591041169252818944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;They are the reason we still have freedom in this country,&#8221; Rich added. &#8220;They are the reason we still have a right to pursue happiness, to chase the American dream. They&#8217;re the reason for everything good that we have in this country.&#8221;
Actor Lou Diamond Phillips tweeted that his respect for veterans starts at home with all who have served in his family.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
My deep Respect for Veterans started at home. My father, George, Navy, served two tours in Viet Nam. Thankful that he came home. He exemplified duty, courage and commitment to me. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SupportOurTroops?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SupportOurTroops</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeteransDay2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeteransDay2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/5E35uWDDnu">https://t.co/5E35uWDDnu</a>
&mdash; Lou Diamond Phillips (@LouDPhillips) <a href="https://twitter.com/LouDPhillips/status/1591105078446161920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;My deep Respect for Veterans started at home,&#8221; Phillips wrote. &#8220;My father, George, Navy, served two tours in [Vietnam]. Thankful that he came home. He exemplified duty, courage and commitment to me. #SupportOurTroops #VeteransDay2022.&#8221;
Those were just some of the music, TV, and movie stars who celebrated those who have fought for this great country. Others can be seen below.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
On <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeteransDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeteransDay</a>, we take time to honor the men and women in the armed forces, past and present. Join me in saying thank you to our veterans for all they have sacrificed to serve our nation.<a href="https://t.co/djGKexG8oD">https://t.co/djGKexG8oD</a>
&mdash; Trace Adkins (@TraceAdkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/TraceAdkins/status/1591087469247987712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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PRICES PAID … SACRIFICE MADE … 
thank you VETERANS … we LOVE you… we RESPECT you … we THANK you … 🇺🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeteransDay2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeteransDay2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/c9MjwB35aB">pic.twitter.com/c9MjwB35aB</a>
&mdash; The Oak Ridge Boys (@oakridgeboys) <a href="https://twitter.com/oakridgeboys/status/1591061732784422912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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To all our wonderful veterans, we thank you for your sacrifice and service. We are remembering you today whether it be called Veterans Day, Armistice Day or even Poppy Day. ❤️
&mdash; William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) <a href="https://twitter.com/WilliamShatner/status/1591083757125369858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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My father Colby Carter served in the Army Air Corps during WWII. Missing him a little extra today.❤️ Happy Veterans Day 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/43lxJPu4ex">pic.twitter.com/43lxJPu4ex</a>
&mdash; Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealLyndaCarter/status/1591099819673591808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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This <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeteransDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeteransDay</a>, we honor those who served. <a href="https://t.co/ABnbIRBtOA">pic.twitter.com/ABnbIRBtOA</a>
&mdash; Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) <a href="https://twitter.com/Marvel/status/1591068240591085568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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We are the land of the free, because of the brave! Thank God for our Veterans. Happy Veterans Day.
&mdash; Kevin Sorbo (@ksorbs) <a href="https://twitter.com/ksorbs/status/1590995977582039040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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From &#39;Platoon&#39; to &#39;Saving Private Ryan,&#39; here are 10 films to watch in honor of Veterans Day. <a href="https://t.co/Mr6yLvGPrr">https://t.co/Mr6yLvGPrr</a>
&mdash; The Academy (@TheAcademy) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheAcademy/status/1591121330539089920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Actor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/chris-pratt">Chris Pratt</a> and the crew of the hit Amazon series &#8220;The Terminal List&#8221; also took time to celebrate those who have sacrificed for our country, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/god-bless-you-chris-pratt-and-terminal-list-cast-honor-military-on-veterans-day">reported</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
For your sacrifice, we thank you. Today and every day. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeteransDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeteransDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/DzmcpH6Oik">pic.twitter.com/DzmcpH6Oik</a>
&mdash; The Terminal List (@TerminalListPV) <a href="https://twitter.com/TerminalListPV/status/1591083335203291136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;For your sacrifice, we thank you,&#8221; the official account of &#8220;The Terminal List&#8221; tweeted. &#8220;Today and every day. #VeteransDay.&#8221; At the end of the clip we see Pratt saying &#8220;God Bless You.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chris-pratt-sends-message-to-fans-and-amazon-after-the-terminal-list-soars-to-number-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Pratt Sends Message To Fans And Amazon After &#8216;The Terminal List&#8217; Soars To Number 1</a>

Tom Cruise_John Rich 2

‘Top Gun’ Crew, John Rich, And Other Celebrities Thank Veterans ‘Who Have Served Our Nation’

Celebrities

Entertainment

Tom Cruise

Top Gun

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/chris-pratt">Chris Pratt</a> and other cast members from “The Terminal List” took the time Friday to thank those who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/veterans">served</a> in the military in honor of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/veterans-day">Veterans Day</a>.
The official Twitter account for the series shared a brief message Friday. 
“Hey, I’m Chris Pratt. I play James Reece in ‘The Terminal List,’” the video begins. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
For your sacrifice, we thank you. Today and every day. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeteransDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeteransDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/DzmcpH6Oik">pic.twitter.com/DzmcpH6Oik</a>
&mdash; The Terminal List (@TerminalListPV) <a href="https://twitter.com/TerminalListPV/status/1591083335203291136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“I want to take a moment to appreciate our armed forces today,” Christina Vidal, who plays Mac Wilson, says next. “Thank you so much for your service,” Taylor Kitsch (Ben Edwards) continues. “Thank you for keeping us safe,” Tyner Rushing, who plays Liz Riley, adds. 
Pratt concludes the message saying, “God bless you.” 
“For your sacrifice, we thank you. Today and every day. #VeteransDay,” the Twitter post caption reads.
“The Terminal List” resonated strongly with audiences thanks to what many claim is a realistic portrayal of the military. The series follows Navy SEAL commander James Reece, portrayed by Pratt, as he embarks on a mission to find out who killed his platoon and get revenge.
Though it became the most-watched video on Amazon Prime with 1.6 billion minutes of streaming during one week in July, the drama was largely panned by critics, leading some fans to accuse them of being unfairly critical to non-woke entertainment.
Pratt even <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chris-pratt-mocks-woke-critics-of-the-terminal-list-by-touting-audience-stats-1-6-billion-minutes-streamed-so-far">shared the link</a> to a Daily Mail article with the title, “The new Yellowstone: Chris Pratt’s new Navy thriller The Terminal List defies woke critics’ scathing reviews to shoot up ratings chart with 1.6 BILLION minutes of streams.”
He followed that with a photo of Dr. Evil from the “Austin Powers” franchise with the caption, “One point six BILLLLLLLLLION minutes.”
This isn’t the first time Pratt went public with his appreciation for veterans. In 2019, he penned a lengthy tribute to his older brother Cully, who served in the military. 
He wrote in part on the Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4ueswlJoLc/">post</a>, “We have the greatest armed forces the world has ever seen. It’s made up of real people who joined for myriad reasons. Brave men and women who sacrifice a whole hell of a lot. Today is their day.”

“The Terminal List” Los Angeles Premiere – Arrivals

‘God Bless You’: Chris Pratt And ‘Terminal List’ Cast Honor Military On Veterans Day

Chris Pratt And 'Terminal List' Cast Honor Military On Veterans Day

Chris Pratt

Veterans

In 1918, the last gun fired its last shot on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, at 11 a.m. After four years of brutal trench warfare, incredible bloodshed, and relentless deafening sounds of machine gun fire and shelling, silence — silence had finally filled the sky and covered the dead, our dead.
Since that last shot was fired on November 11, Armistice Day, now known as our Veterans Day, we have given our most profound gratitude and respect to all who have ever worn our nation&#8217;s uniform. On Veterans Day, we honor those who have sacrificed everything for us, our country, and for what America stands for.
From the frozen fields of Valley Forge, to the hills of Gettysburg; from the mud in &#8216;No Man&#8217;s Land&#8217; of World War I to the blood-soaked beaches of Normandy of World War II; from the hills and jungles of Korea and Vietnam to the scorching hot deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan. Our veterans have laid down their lives for what we deeply value: our freedoms. They have absorbed all the blows for us, some visible, but the worst of them all, the invisible scars.
In the prime of their youth, from every race and religion, our young sons and daughters from small towns all across America have raised their right hand and solemnly sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, so help them, God. They wear the cloth of our nation and selflessly, without hesitation, run directly towards the fight because they took that oath to protect and defend our home, our America.
As Americans, we are defined by how we remember and honor our heroes, our Veterans. We are responsible for showing future generations that if you raise that right hand and take that oath to defend us, we will always have your back and honor your sacrifice.
Less than 1% of Americans have shouldered the burden of war, and because of that fact, the odds are that our veterans are not our fathers, mother, brothers, sister, or neighbors. So it is easy to forget the heavy price that has been paid for our freedoms. But we must never forget that price. A nation that does not recognize and honor its defenders and the sacrifices their families have made is a nation with no soul and has no freedom.
<blockquote>“A nation who forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten” — President Calvin Coolidge</blockquote>
Veterans Day is a day of pride where we celebrate and remember their fighting spirit and legacy. Veterans Day is a day to respect what so many have given and continue to give for us. Our soldiers in uniform have served our nation with the utmost honor and bravery.
So, today, when we see them at an airport or having coffee at a diner, perhaps a bit older now and frail, look them squarely in the eye, offer our hand and say, &#8220;Thank you for your service.&#8221; Thank you is not enough, but we owe them that much.
When you are at the ball game, and you stand with your hand over your heart and hear the words in our Star Spangled Banner, &#8220;That our flag was still there… the land of the free and the home of the brave,&#8221; let it swell your hearts with pride and let it lift your heads high. Because when our enemies have attempted to take away our liberties — and they have tried — they have met a fierce resistance, one that would not bend and always stood its ground. They met men and women in our armed forces on land, at sea, or in the air, who have always answered the call to defend us, our freedoms, and our ideals. Always.
America is the land of hope, compassion, tolerance, and freedom. In America, we have the freedom to chase our dreams, whatever they may be, and become whoever we wish to be. America gives us that opportunity because of the sacrifice of those who chose to put on the nation&#8217;s uniform.
Today, on this solemn day, our Veterans Day, we pay the debt we owe them by remembering and honoring their sacrifice for us. We pay that debt by never forgetting, ever.
<blockquote>“Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere who bravely bears his country&#8217;s cause. Honor also to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves as he best can the same cause.” — Abraham Lincoln</blockquote>
Veterans Day is a day for us to ensure our soldier&#8217;s stories of heroism, courage, and, most importantly — sacrifice is never forgotten. It is the day we are all reminded of what we all have in common as Americans. Our political beliefs may differ, but our faith in the principles of this nation and our love for our country does not. So on this Veterans Day, we humbly thank all who have served and continue to serve. We thank our military families, and may God bless you all.
We can never thank you enough!
Douglas Taurel is <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2702102/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a professional actor</a> and the creator of<a href="https://www.theamericansoldiersoloshow.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> The American Soldier,</a> an award-winning solo play based on actual letters written by veterans and their families from the American Revolution to the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Taurel has performed the show in over 34 cities, including the Kennedy Center in 2016 and 2019, The Library of Congress, and Off-Broadway. This November, in honor of Veterans Day, he will be at the Doudna Fine Arts Center in Charleston, IL, Monmouth University, NJ, and Kent State University’s Center for The Performing Arts in Ohio. In the last leg of his tour, The American Soldier will be stepping in for Stephen Lang&#8217;s one-man show, Beyond Glory. Follow Douglas on social media: @DouglasTaurel <a href="https://twitter.com/douglastaurel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter ,</a>  <a href="https://www.instagram.com/douglastaurel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram ,</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DouglasTaurel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook.</a>
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

text thank you veterans in a dog tag

‘Honor Their Sacrifice’: This Veterans Day Let’s Remember Their Courage And Heroism

On Veteran’s Day, one organization is marching 22 miles to raise awareness for the estimated 22 veterans, active-duty service members, and other military personnel who die by suicide each day. 
The <a href="https://www.marchforthe22.us/past-events">organization</a>, March for the 22, was scheduled to march from Mayville, North Carolina beginning at approximately 4:30am <a href="https://newbernnow.com/2021/10/veterans-day-field-of-flags-marine-22-mile-veterans-day-march.html">to</a> New Bern, NC on Veterans Day, in the second annual march for veteran suicide awareness in Craven County, which currently is home to about 20,000 veterans. 
&#8220;It&#8217;s not just to bring awareness, but to also raise funds for programs specifically for veterans in our area that can be impactful,&#8221; said Adin Colon, <a href="https://www.newbernsj.com/story/news/2021/11/07/craven-county-nc-veterans-day-events-annual-march-free-luncheon/6282927001/">according</a> to the Sun Journal. 
Colon, a Bronze Star recipient who spent 12 years in the U.S. Army, organized the first march in 2020. Several of the expected 120 participants are going to be hiking with an extra 22 pounds of weight. 
&#8220;The 22 pounds signifies the constant burden that our veterans, especially those who suffer from PTSD, carrying on their shoulders and backs everyday,&#8221; Colon noted. &#8220;At the end of the day when everyone else gets to take that 22 pounds off, a lot of our veterans go to bed with that on their backs and tapered on their minds as well.&#8221;
According to <a href="https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/va-reveals-its-veteran-suicide-statistic-included-active-duty-troops-1.533992">reports</a> from the Department of Veteran Affairs, the statistics on veteran suicides also include active-duty servicemembers. 
“The key message is that suicides are elevated among those who have ever served,” Craig Bryan, a psychologist at the National Center for Veterans Studies said in 2018.
In comparison to the general population, suicide rates for veterans, specifically women veterans, are elevated. Some reports show that suicide rates might be starting to decline. 
According to the <a href="https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/data-sheets/2021/2021-National-Veteran-Suicide-Prevention-Annual-Report-FINAL-9-8-21.pdf">official</a> 2021 National Veteran Suicide Prevention report released in September, suicide rates declined from 2018-2019 in “unprecedented” ways. Still, in 2019 alone, over 6,000 veterans died by suicide. 
“We have the heart and the will, but we know that suicide prevention will require all of us collectively and uniquely engaged within a unifying and overriding goal of saving lives from suicide. We, therefore, continue to seek everyone’s support, partnership, and engagement,” the VA wrote in its report. 
Many across the country have decided to use Veteran’s Day to raise further awareness of the tragedy befalling many who serve in America’s armed forces. 
“It’s a big problem,” said Navy veteran David Rogers of Ligonier, Pennsylvania, according <a href="https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/ligonier-man-walks-memorial-to-memorial-to-raise-awareness-about-veteran-suicides/">to</a> TribLive. “To me, there’s an awful lot of talk about how to help veterans, but not nearly enough action as I think there ought to be.”
On Veteran’s Day, Rogers walked from one veteran&#8217;s memorial in Ligonier ten miles away to another one in Latrobe, Pennslyvania, carrying an American flag. 
Rogers says that the number of veterans lost every year is &#8220;just staggering.&#8221;
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a free hotline for individuals in crisis or distress or for those looking to help someone else. It is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255.

Iraq War Dead Honored On Veterans Day With Flag Display

Veterans Raise Awareness About Elevated Rate Of Suicide: ‘Just Staggering’

In 2016, I set out to have as many World War II veterans as possible sign <a href="https://www.regnery.com/9781684510795/the-rifle/">my M1 Garand rifle</a>.  The reason? I wanted the challenge of competing in a race against time. I was well aware the Greatest Generation was departing at an alarming rate, with almost seven hundred dying each day. Initially, the thought of a rifle used in World War II, covered in as many names as possible of men who had fought in famous battles, sounded like the ultimate collector’s item for my man cave. But it became so much more to me. 
I would always make small talk with the veterans when meeting with them. Their stories were amazing to hear, and of course, I needed to know where and when they had served. I was thirty or so signatures into the project when one veteran’s daughter said, “Wow, I never heard Dad say that before.” 
That was when it hit me. Collecting their signatures was not enough. If their own children didn’t know their father’s story, can you imagine what the whole world doesn’t know? From then on, when I started meeting the veterans it wasn’t just to selfishly collect signatures. I began to conduct interviews as well.  The conversations with these heroes proved to be more than just war-story sessions; they were therapeutic for me. Here I was, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, learning how to live a successful life after military service. Where else would I get a better lesson? 
I spoke with America’s oldest veterans. Their ages ranged from 95 to 105. They had lived through the most traumatic times of their lives during their teens, then continued to lead full lives afterward. For some, the trauma didn’t just end with World War II.  In the seventy-five years since, many of them had lost a spouse or a child. These men were not just teaching me how to be a good veteran, but how to be a good husband, father, and community member. 
As it stands now, there are 215 names on the rifle. These names do not just represent veterans, but legacies that will live forever. The rifle served as their microphone. Some of these men and women shared their stories for the first time. They were confessing things in the last stages of their life to another veteran, me. There was no greater honor. It was time to put pen to paper. 
I chose nineteen of the best stories on the rifle and constructed a book, <a href="https://www.regnery.com/9781684510795/the-rifle/">The Rifle</a>. I wanted to take the whole world on my journey. Fortunately, it became a bestseller. What is most important to me is that the book can help young veterans learn how to live successful lives after combat. My hope is that an Iraq or Afghanistan veteran will pick up the book and say, “Wow, if that World War II veteran survived all of that and still came home to live a long life, have a family, maintain a career, then so can I!” 
It wasn’t long after the book was published that the text messages began coming in. Messages from Marines I had served with, soldiers I work with, and veterans from every generation from World War II to Afghanistan. The messages were not just praise. The wide range of veterans were admitting to me they cried while reading the book. Some conveyed to me how they related to certain veterans’ experiences in the book. Yet, the most common trend of feedback was how they never got to speak to their own grandfathers about the war, and the book helped them understand more of what their family members had been through. 
It took me six years and thousands of dollars of my own money to share this M1 Garand rifle with the very men it once protected. There is nothing like it anywhere in the world. 215 names, 215 legacies, 215 lessons to be learned. Holding it only proves to the world that every day is Veterans’ Day. 
Andrew Biggio, author of <a href="https://www.regnery.com/9781684510795/the-rifle/">The Rifle: Combat Stories from America’s Last WWII Veterans, Told Through an M1 Garand</a>

WWII

I Spent Five Years Interviewing WWII Veterans Around America. Here’s What I Learned

World War II

Before Veterans Day this Thursday, members of the public received a special opportunity when a <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/part-tomb-unknown-soldier-opens-public-first-time-100-years-rcna5055">section</a> of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier became available earlier this week for people to visit in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the memorial site.
The unique act of remembrance that many people got to take part in will likely not happen any time in the near future.
&#8220;We do not anticipate holding another event in our lifetimes in which the public will be able to approach the Tomb in this manner,&#8221; officials said, per <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/11/10/1054312385/tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier-open-to-public-centennial-commemoration">NPR</a>.
As <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/part-tomb-unknown-soldier-opens-public-first-time-100-years-rcna5055">reported</a> on Tuesday by NBC News, “The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Plaza on the hallowed ground of Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia is usually reserved for the sentinels who stand guard, as well as presidents and other dignitaries presenting wreaths or flowers.”
In a <a href="https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Tomb100/Centennial-Events">statement</a>, Arlington National Cemetery explained the commemorative action:
<blockquote>
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial Commemoration Public Flower Ceremony, a two-day event, will be free and open to the public. Visitors will be able to personally pay their respects to the Unknown Soldiers. This is a rare opportunity for the public to walk next to the Tomb—a privilege otherwise given only to the Sentinels of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, “The Old Guard.”
</blockquote>
As <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/09/politics/tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier-centennial-commemoration/index.html">reported</a> by CNN on Tuesday, “It&#8217;s the first time in 96 years that visitors have been allowed to approach the Tomb, according to Karen Durham-Aguilera, the executive director of Army National Military Cemeteries and Arlington National Cemetery.”
&#8220;The next two days will truly be a historic and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,&#8221; she said Tuesday morning, initiating the beginning of the event.
Members of the public were encouraged by Tim Frank, the Arlington National Cemetery&#8217;s historian, &#8220;to reflect on the meaning of the Tomb&#8221; as they laid down their flowers.
Frank <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/09/politics/tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier-centennial-commemoration/index.html">said</a> on Tuesday, &#8220;By the simple act of laying a flower, you are not only honoring the three unknowns buried here, but all unknown or missing American service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.&#8221;
Arlington National Cemetery explained the memorial site’s history:
<blockquote>
For 100 years, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has served as the heart of Arlington National Cemetery. As a sacred memorial site and the grave of three unknown American service members, the Tomb connects visitors with the legacy of the United States armed forces throughout the nation’s history. It stands as a people’s memorial that inspires reflection on service, valor, sacrifice and mourning. Since November 11, 1921, the Tomb has provided a final resting place for one of America’s unidentified World War I service members, and Unknowns from later wars were added in 1958 and 1984.
Throughout 2021, Arlington National Cemetery is holding a series of commemorative events, exhibits and ceremonies that will culminate on November 11 in conjunction with the National Veterans Day Observance. We welcome you to join in the commemoration of the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
</blockquote>
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<div>As <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/defense/580739-tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier-opens-to-public-for-first-time-in">reported</a> by The Hill, &#8220;On Veterans Day, the public will be invited to observe a joint full honors procession that will closely resemble the World War I unknown soldier’s funeral procession 100 years ago.”</div>
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&#8220;There will also be a joint service flyover with aircraft from all branches of the military, along with an invite-only wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which President Biden is scheduled to attend.&#8221;
According to the <a href="http://asp">U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs</a>, Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th due to the fact that &#8220;an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany [after World War I] went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of &#8216;the war to end all wars.’”
It added, &#8220;[a]n Act [&#8230;]approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as &#8216;Armistice Day,’” later to be called &#8220;Veterans Day.&#8221;

Flower Ceremony Held At Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier

Public Took Part In Unique Act Of Remembrance At The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier

Hollyanne Milley, the wife to the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, has been credited with helping to save the life of a man who collapsed at a Veteran’s Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon.
According to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/gen-milley-s-wife-saved-vet-who-collapsed-veterans-day-n1247641">NBC News</a>, Milley was waiting for President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump to arrive for a Veteran’s Day ceremony when a man collapsed near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Milley, a long-time registered nurse, rushed to his aid.
“When I first got there, he was breathing in a very erratic way that he wasn’t really taking air into his lungs as he should have been,” Milley told NBC News in an interview.
Then the man stopped breathing, and his pulse ceased. 
Thinking quickly, Milley decided to administer CPR, and after two minutes, the man took a “deep breath” and started moving, reports <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/hollyanne-milley-wife-of-joint-chiefs-chairman-saved-mans-life-on-veterans-day-11605285598">The Wall Street Journal</a>.
“That big deep breath and groan is a wonderful sound when you hear silence, so everybody was so happy when he just took in that big breath of air,” Milley told The Wall Street Journal. “It was a beautiful thing.”
Milley was reportedly reluctant to share the story and declined to take credit for saving the man’s life. She told NBC News that several others rushed to the scene, including a physician, but does believe “we were all in the right place at the right time.”
She has since spoken to the man, who is reportedly a veteran in his 60s, saying that the man is “grateful that he will be here next year to again honor those who served.”
“He said because of a bystander who knew CPR that’s why he’ll be able to continue on honoring our veterans for hopefully many years to come,” said Milley, who encouraged people to take CPR classes because “bystander intervention can truly save lives.”
General Mark Milley told NBC News in a statement that his wife’s actions “were representatives of the hero medical professionals who are always there when we need them. She represents the strength and service of our military families.”
The same afternoon, Trump and Vice President Mike Pence participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, one of the president&#8217;s only public appearances since election day.
“These heroes served faithfully, humbly, and valiantly in times of war and peace, and they carried these admirable traits into the civilian workforce when their military service was fulfilled,” said Trump in a written Veteran’s Day proclamation. “Our precious liberty has survived and thrived because of generations of brave Americans — from every background and walk of life — who have answered the call to support and defend the United States. The gravity of their contribution is immeasurable and so is our debt to every single one of our Nation’s veterans.”

US-VOTE-TRUMP-VETERANS

Hollyanne Milley, General Milley’s Wife, Saved Life Of Man Who Collapsed At Veteran’s Day Ceremony

A British veteran who took part in the D-Day invasion of Normandy at the age of 15 died last week at 92 following a battle with COVID-19.
Jim Radford, who was born Oct. 1, 1928, in Hull, England, was most likely the youngest participant of the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. He was a 15-year-old &#8220;galley boy&#8221; with the Merchant Navy when he took part in the onslaught against the Nazi presence in France.
&#8220;It is with sadness that we share the news of the death of Jim Radford who died in Lewisham Hospital early this morning after several weeks in intensive care being treated for Covid-19,&#8221; wrote <a href="https://vfpuk.org/reports/jim-radford-presente/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Veterans for Peace UK</a> on Nov. 6, an organization of which Radford was a member. &#8220;Jim leaves behind his family and a huge number of friends, comrades and musicians, all of whom could recall a Jim Radford story.&#8221;
Writer Ben Griffin went on to recount his memories of Radford, writing in part:
<blockquote>Jim was born in Hull and recounted to me his experiences of the bombing of that maritime city and his youthful desire to join the fight against Nazi Germany. At the age of 15 he joined the Merchant Navy and sailed to Normandy on the rescue tugboat Empire Larch in direct support of the D-Day landings. After the war Jim went on to serve in the Royal Navy and it was during or shortly after that service that he developed an opposition to nuclear weapons.
I first met Jim in 2011 at an anti-war event hosted by the London Catholic Worker in an old church in Haringey. Later that year I got in touch with him to ask if he would join a new organisation; Veterans For Peace UK. He joined without hesitation and was steadfast from that day onwards.
At our first Remembrance Ceremony outside the Bank of England in November 2011, Jim was one of only three VFP members present. He brought along an old Ex-Services CND banner and not having a VFP banner at the time we marched under that. Jim brought a wealth of experience to our fledgling organisation, offering sound advice based on years of participation within anti-nuclear and peace [organisations].
[&#8230;]
Jim brought a depth of experience, know-how and common sense to our monthly meetings. He was involved in the planning of our first Remembrance Ceremony at the Cenotaph in 2014 and was one of only a dozen VFP who attended. We marched to The Cenotaph on that Remembrance Sunday without invitation or permission and Jim sang “1916” as crowds of people stood and watched in silence. Jim sang at The Cenotaph every year after that and our numbers grew.
Jim was well known for his singing and regularly contributed with anti-war songs at our actions and meetings. It was as a speaker that Jim impressed me most. His life experience and pragmatic anti-war position was free of complicated narratives or ideological rhetoric. Once in Los Angeles when questioned why he campaigned for peace for so many years without tangible results he replied simply that “it was the right thing to do.”</blockquote>
Radford <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8694153/D-Day-veteran-91-Jim-Radford-appears-court-accused-sex-offences.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">soared</a> to the top of the charts last year for his song &#8220;The Shores of Normandy,&#8221; which received a standing ovation in 2014 when he performed it in the Royal Albert Hall to mark the 70th anniversary of the battle.
WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Jim Radford - The Shores of Normandy" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DsVQMfxIfks?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/in-memoriam-fiske-hanley-world-war-ii-veteran-and-special-prisoner-1920-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">In Memoriam: Fiske Hanley, World War II Veteran And ‘Special Prisoner,’ 1920-2020</a>

D-Day Veteran Jim Radford

Veteran Who Fought D-Day At 15 Dies Of COVID-19 At 92

COVID

Plato warned us 2,500 years ago that “only the dead have seen the end of war.”  We Americans like to think we are a peace-loving people.  But the philosopher could have been speaking of our dead as much as any other.  We have, in fact, sent our young men and women into the crucible of ten significant wars, and countless smaller engagements, in a mere 244 years.  Today we honor those among us who wore the uniform and took the fight to the enemy in World War II, Korea, Viet Nam, the horn of Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans, Central America, and many other lesser known theaters of war.  Veterans Day is not just a square on a calendar with a little American flag in the corner.  It is a reminder to those of us who have never worn the uniform of the debt we owe those who walked the wall on our behalf.
It is up to us, then, to make sure that when these brave souls do return home to us, hang up the uniform, and get on with their lives that we look after them.  And so today is a day for the nation to ask a question.  Are we being true to our veterans?
I do not mean this in terms of the VHA scandal.  We know the issues facing us there and, hopefully, are making moves to correct it.  And as with apparently everything under the sun now, politics shapes our views on how serious the scandal was to begin with, and how well it has been addressed since it first came to light.  One’s opinions on this matter will in large measure be a reflection of one’s news source.
We Americans are tasked with honoring a sublime commitment to our veterans beyond reducing waiting time for hospital admittance, clean linen, competent medical care and the like, all of which go without saying.  I am talking about our obligation to maintain the very nation these brave men and women gave so much of themselves to protect.
I think of my own father, a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marines who was wounded by a Chinese mortar while fighting in Korea.  His division was called “The Old Breed” and the name implies a continuum that transcends generations.  Veterans of Chateau-Thierry and Meuse-Argonne passed the chalice to the veterans of Guadalcanal, Peleliu and Okinawa, who passed it to the men of Inchon and Chosin, who again handed it to the men at Khe Sanh and Hue, and then to the care of the troops in the sands of Beirut and Iraq.  The history of the American fighting man goes further back in time to our very beginning as a nation.  Today, if we need a reminder of the sacrifices of her fighting children we can walk the battlefields of Gettysburg, Shiloh, Chickamauga, Monmouth, Saratoga, Cowpens.  In 1982 I walked the Antietam battlefield with my father; he was separated by three decades from his own service and 120 years from those who fought in this Civil War battle.  And still he teared up as he walked the ground on which so many fought and suffered and died.  He still felt a kinship with those who’d struggled here.  Veterans are like that.  They are a fraternity of self-sacrifice.  They will never fail this country, or shrink from the challenges of defender against all enemies, foreign and domestic.  They know their duty.  And they have kept the faith.
But what about the rest of us in this land for which they are willing to give their lives?  Are we doing our part?  In the mind’s eye, one imagines one of those famous Marines who planted the flag atop Mount Suribachi on bloody Iwo Jima pondering a line of wealthy, entitled, athletes, to whom this country has given so much, kneeling in protest of that same flag.   Would they feel a sense of bewilderment?  We see them asking what has happened?  And why has this happened?  Should they flip on the evening news they’d probably be stunned by the images of violence, bloodshed, rampant looting, and the other symptoms of the lesser nations from whom these veterans protected us taking place on American streets in American cities.   They might be befuddled as to why they cannot tell the difference between Portland in 2020 and Munich in 1933.  What, exactly, they might ask, did we risk our necks for at all?
It raises a salient question: for all that veterans have fulfilled their obligations to us, what are our obligations to them?  I think the answer is simple.  To preserve the nation they fought for.  To do this we must ask questions.  I’d like to know what they believed they were fighting for.  Did they fight so that a few billionaire tech lords could dictate who says what and when and where in the public space?  Did they fight so that 93% of the media would be effectively the propaganda arm of one political party?  Did they fight so that those in Congress whose mediocrity is matched only by their manic ambition would bog the nation down in one faux scandal after another, a sham impeachment, the destruction of good jurists’ reputations, a House Speaker tearing up a State of the Union Speech behind the duly elected President’s back?  Did they fight so that for four years large swaths of the nation would refuse to accept the outcome of a fair and free election, only to cast aspersions on those who now question the results of an election rife with fraud, and simply seek validation one way or the other?
Again, why did they leave home and hearth and lay their lives of the line?  Did they fight for a nation wherein people are now balkanized by race?  Skin color? Sexual preference?  Ethnicity?  Did they fight so that Marxist organizations like Black Lives Matter could be welcomed into the Mainstream while 70 million Americans are decried even by former first ladies as being on the side of “lies, hate, chaos, and division”?  Did they fight so that those who traffic primarily in money and influence, who never built anything of enduring value, could betray our working heartland by shutting down our factories and delivering the manufacturing base that made it possible for these veterans to wage war with more than sharpened sticks in the first place into the hands of our enemies?
With every shuttered factory.  With every small town that dies.  With every person who succumbs to Fentanyl courtesy of those with whom our political leaders and their sons make sordid deals.  With every window shattered.   Every store looted.  Every building burned.  Every business ruined.  Every statue and monument honoring our past defaced and torn down.  With every false press report declaring rampaging mobs “mostly peaceful.”  With every independent thinking professor or journalist black-listed for not toeing the far left line.  With every speaker shouted down in the lecture hall. Every judge falsely accused of heinous acts for political gain.  Every call to tear up our Constitution.  With every child born into a fatherless home.  And with very American student who leaves our public school system functionally illiterate, we are failing in our side of the deal.   Our veterans deserve better.
When I was a little boy, I used to play a game.  Or at least what I thought was a game at the time.  Only now do I understand what it really meant.  I would sneak into my father’s bedroom at night, and see how close I could get to him before he woke up with a start.  I was always amazed at how he’d open his eyes and jack knife up in the sheets and look around before I set more than one foot into the room.  He learned that in combat, when the enemy would attack during the night.  Sleeping with a hair trigger in a foxhole kept him alive.  It was a habit that, like so much else he brought home from the war, stayed with him long after the fighting was over.  When I got older, and would sit up with him while he had a drink to calm his nerves, he would tell me his war stories.  They were disturbing, fascinating, heartbreaking, terrifying.  I think now of the sacrifice he and countless other veterans have made so that his son seated across the table could live in a better world.  And I sometimes ask myself, is this a better world?  Are we a better people?  A better nation?  Is this even the America our veterans fought to preserve?  After everything we have seen in 2020, I don’t know.  I really don’t.

Veterans Day Wreath Ceremony in NYC

Our Vets Have Kept The Faith. Have We?

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