Tag Archives: World War II

Civil War Echoes: The Battle of Okinawa

Posted on April 1, 2019 by Chris Kolakowski

Today 74 years ago Operation Iceberg, the invasion of Okinawa, got underway as the first of 183,000 soldiers and Marines of U.S. Tenth Army swarmed ashore at Hagushi on the island’s west coast. It was the largest amphibious operation of … Continue reading →

Posted in Armies, Battles, Ties to the War, Trans-Mississippi | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Most Terrible Battles

Posted on March 22, 2019 by Chris Kolakowski

The Duke of Wellington famously said “nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won.” Battles are inherently destructive events, and they leave their scars on landscapes, places, and participants long after the engagement ends. … Continue reading →

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USS Mississippi Visits Okinawa

Posted on January 30, 2019 by Chris Kolakowski

In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in the Far East to open up relations with Japan. His first flagship was USS Mississippi, a side-wheel steamer. Before going to Tokyo, Perry stopped at Okinawa to deal with the Okinawan king regarding … Continue reading →

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A Father’s Legacy: Simon Bolivar Buckner Sr. and Jr.

Posted on January 8, 2019 by Chris Kolakowski

On January 8, 1914, Simon Bolivar Buckner died. He was the last surviving Confederate lieutenant general, and was buried in Frankfort, Kentucky’s cemetery with considerable ceremony. Born in 1823, in Munfordville, Kentucky, he was named in honor of Simon Bolivar, … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership--Confederate, Ties to the War | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

On Anniversaries and the Timeline of History

Posted on August 23, 2018 by Chris Kolakowski

The Battle of Gettysburg took place 155 years ago last month. Seems a long time ago, doesn’t it? Seems even further back to the founding of the United States in the 1780s, right? “Dates are the pegs on which we … Continue reading →

Posted in Antebellum South, Ties to the War, War of 1812 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Civil War Echoes: The Greatest Raid of All

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Chris Kolakowski

One hundred years ago today, construction began on USS Buchanan (DD-131), a destroyer named for Franklin Buchanan, the first superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy and later first admiral in the Confederate States Navy. She later played a role in … Continue reading →

Posted in Navies, Ties to the War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Not Just Antietam – September 17, 1862 In Perspective

Posted on January 8, 2018 by Chris Kolakowski

Wednesday, September 17, 1862. is rightly classed as the bloodiest day in American history. In that 24-hour period, more Americans fell killed, wounded, captured, or missing, than in any like 24-hour period before or since. This contention rests almost totally … Continue reading →

Posted in Battlefields & Historic Places, Battles, Civil War Events, Ties to the War, Western Theater | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Going Forward Again

Posted on December 14, 2017 by Chris Kolakowski

As the 155th of the Battle of Fredericksburg passes, I cannot help being struck by an aspect often overlooked, one involving the latter waves of attackers against Marye’s Heights. Joseph Galloway wrote once that  it is a supreme test to re-enter … Continue reading →

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The Historic Harbors

Posted on November 4, 2017 by Chris Kolakowski

A couple of weeks ago I attended a leadership retreat where a speaker touted the longtime importance of Hampton Roads as a harbor and host to very important events in American history. This got me thinking: what are the most … Continue reading →

Posted in Antebellum South, Battlefields & Historic Places, Economics, Navies, Ties to the War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

A Son of Farmville, Richmond, and Reflections on Vietnam

Posted on September 30, 2017 by Chris Kolakowski

I’ve been watching Ken Burns and Lynn Novak’s new Vietnam War documentary and have found it a riveting telling of the story. This afternoon I streamed the last episode (having missed it when it originally aired), and am still processing … Continue reading →

Posted in Battlefields & Historic Places, Memory, Personalities, Ties to the War | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments