On this day in 1777, the Continental Congress votes to promote Thomas Mifflin; Arthur St. Clair; William Alexander, Lord Stirling; Adam Stephen; and Benjamin Lincoln to the rank of major general. Although the promotions were intended in part to balance the number of generals from each state, Brigadier General Benedict Arnold felt slighted that five junior officers received promotions ahead of him and, in response, threatened to resign from the Patriot army.
62 years ago this evening, my Dad was hunkered down on the east side of airfield #1 a few hundred yards inland from the landing beaches on Iwo Jima. He was in Captain Wagner's K Company, 3/23, 4th Marine Division. Though wounded, he fought on through the Meatgrinder (Hill 382, Turkey Knob and the Amphitheatre) and survived the battle.
ReplyDeleteoorah!
My respects, anon.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was a Marine on Guam. His older brother was on Guadalcanal.
Uncle George passed away last year--you can read more about him here.