Random Interesting Bits of History
- Thread starter SpitfireV
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One of the most legendary smackdowns I've ever read:
Blizzard
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Another MOH story:
"Captain Benjamin Lewis Salomon (1914–1944) was a Jewish American dentist who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he was an Eagle Scout and a graduate of the University of Southern California Dental School. After starting a dental practice, he was drafted into the Army in 1940 and began as an infantry private before being commissioned as a dental officer in 1942.
Salomon was assigned to the 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division. By June 1944, during the Battle of Saipan, he had volunteered to replace a wounded battalion surgeon in the 2nd Battalion. On July 7, as the battalion came under a massive attack by 3,000–5,000 Japanese troops, Salomon’s aid station, only 50 yards behind the front line, became overwhelmed with casualties.
When enemy soldiers began overrunning the station, Salomon took up arms to defend the wounded. He shot and bayoneted several attackers who entered the tent and ordered the evacuation of the injured. Knowing he would not survive, he chose to stay behind to hold off the enemy while others escaped.
Salomon took control of a machine gun after four soldiers were killed manning it and fought until his death. When American forces later returned, they found his body slumped over the gun with 98 enemy soldiers dead in front of his position. He had suffered 76 bullet and bayonet wounds, at least 24 of which were likely sustained while still alive.
Initial attempts to award him the Medal of Honor were denied due to technicalities involving his status as a medical officer and the Geneva Convention. Several resubmissions of his case were also rejected over the decades, including by Army leadership and the Department of Defense.
Finally, in 2002, after renewed advocacy by dental and military leaders, President George W. Bush posthumously awarded Captain Salomon the Medal of Honor. The medal is now displayed at the Army Medical Department Museum, with a replica at USC Dental School, honoring his selfless bravery.
Captain Salomon remains one of only three dental officers to receive the Medal of Honor, remembered for his extraordinary courage in sacrificing his life to protect wounded comrades during one of the fiercest battles in the Pacific."
"Captain Benjamin Lewis Salomon (1914–1944) was a Jewish American dentist who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he was an Eagle Scout and a graduate of the University of Southern California Dental School. After starting a dental practice, he was drafted into the Army in 1940 and began as an infantry private before being commissioned as a dental officer in 1942.
Salomon was assigned to the 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division. By June 1944, during the Battle of Saipan, he had volunteered to replace a wounded battalion surgeon in the 2nd Battalion. On July 7, as the battalion came under a massive attack by 3,000–5,000 Japanese troops, Salomon’s aid station, only 50 yards behind the front line, became overwhelmed with casualties.
When enemy soldiers began overrunning the station, Salomon took up arms to defend the wounded. He shot and bayoneted several attackers who entered the tent and ordered the evacuation of the injured. Knowing he would not survive, he chose to stay behind to hold off the enemy while others escaped.
Salomon took control of a machine gun after four soldiers were killed manning it and fought until his death. When American forces later returned, they found his body slumped over the gun with 98 enemy soldiers dead in front of his position. He had suffered 76 bullet and bayonet wounds, at least 24 of which were likely sustained while still alive.
Initial attempts to award him the Medal of Honor were denied due to technicalities involving his status as a medical officer and the Geneva Convention. Several resubmissions of his case were also rejected over the decades, including by Army leadership and the Department of Defense.
Finally, in 2002, after renewed advocacy by dental and military leaders, President George W. Bush posthumously awarded Captain Salomon the Medal of Honor. The medal is now displayed at the Army Medical Department Museum, with a replica at USC Dental School, honoring his selfless bravery.
Captain Salomon remains one of only three dental officers to receive the Medal of Honor, remembered for his extraordinary courage in sacrificing his life to protect wounded comrades during one of the fiercest battles in the Pacific."
Meant to post this yesterday. Not a MOH, but no shortage of valor...maybe worthy of having his name on a ship?:
Wonder if he received a NM; he should.
As a result of the “What are you Reading” thread, I have started to look at a multi day Gustav Line tours.
I’m leaning towards signing up for this one: 7 Day Italy in WW2 Tour Including Cassino & Anzio
I’m leaning towards signing up for this one: 7 Day Italy in WW2 Tour Including Cassino & Anzio
Today we visited the Abbey and the Polish cemetery at Monte Cassino. The fight for this area is by some accounts the hardest battle in Europe during WW2.
The Bombardment of Monte Cassino: February 14-16, 1944 - La Gazzetta Italiana
The Bombardment of Monte Cassino: February 14-16, 1944 - La Gazzetta Italiana
The Italian campaign was a waste in many ways. Churchill was a brilliant man but he was always fixated on the Med, in both world wars. And FDR gave into him.
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In the Pacific US submarines killed more Japanese than the USMC and US Army in WWII.
American Subs Were a Far More Lethal Force in the Pacific War Than Previously Known
American Subs Were a Far More Lethal Force in the Pacific War Than Previously Known
Devildoc
Verified Military
A couple things.
First, great article. Who knew?
Second, 'we' also killed more US and allied POWs with subs than the Marines and Army did; of course, we did not know.
Third, those are amazing statistics for about 260 submarines in the Pacific.
I listened to an interview a while back with a WW2 sub guy, said they'd go out for a few weeks, back for a few days; out for a week, back for a few days....basically rinse and repeat. The deployments without real schedules must have been exhausting.
US submariners had a 22% casualty rate, U-boat crew were 75-80%. It pays to be a winner, but even a 1 in 5 chance of dying or becoming a POW is mind blowing today.
Devildoc
Verified Military
US bomber crews had a 1 in 4 chance of completing 25 missions without being killed, wounded, or a POW. 75 casualty rate, same as the U-boat crews.
Madness. Absolute madness.
I know they tried to give the crews a break now and then, but I've seen several stories about Big Week where crews were flying 6 and 7 missions in as many days. That generation would never open up about their emotions, but even still them mentioning the fatigue and stress meant they must have been zombified basket cases after that stretch.
Fast forward to Vietnam and the same thing happened, only with fighters and light attack going downtown and the Trail bringing its own horrors to play.
I have zero doubt if called upon today our AF, Navy, and Marine aviators would perform the same. They would take the fight to whoever and keep flying and we already know the line dogs would work 18-20 hour+ days if needed.
I'd love to compare Marine 03xx to bomber crew losses in WWII though.
Devildoc
Verified Military
I have a book about Naval aviation during VN, something about Yankee Station, some A-4 and A-6 pilots discussed two 4-hour missions a day, the A-6 guys also at night and in crappy weather.
I would imagine the number of Marines losses to be much higher, just because of the sheer numbers, but also look at the ratios, which may be more telling.
This is a fantastic book: Bloody Sixteen: The USS Oriskany and Air Wing 16 during the Vietnam War: Fey, Peter: 9781612349794: Amazon.com: Books
I can't remember if it was Flight of the Intruder or Thud Ridge that kicked off my interest in Vietnam aviation.
I tried to find a wheelbarrow once that’s large enough to fit the balls of WW2 Air Crew. I was unable to find one.
Something(s) a lot of people forget or don't know is that A) the planes weren't even close to reliable as the planes in the 70's, much less today. B) Navigational aids? In my war?
The number of a/c we lost just forming those large 200, 500, 1000 plane raids into Europe from foggy, rainy UK airfields must be in the hundreds. A crew of 8-10 per plane makes for unhealthy numbers. Add to that those that went off course never to be seen again or like some a/c found in Libya, Egypt (Lady Be Good and others), and random islands in the Pacific. Dead reckoning and Wx issues killed thousands.
And we haven't even discussed mechanical failures or Achilles heels like the radiator on a P-51.
You are spot on, that wheelbarrow ain't big enough.
Topkick
Verified Military
I visited Alcatraz in 2009. It has a very interesting history, but it would cost a shit ton to bring that place up to modern standards and staff it. I thought we were trying to cut costs (DOGE). Are we not doing that anymore?
It would be kinda cool though.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/17/us/alcatraz-prison-trump-bondi-burgum-visit.html
It would be kinda cool though.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/17/us/alcatraz-prison-trump-bondi-burgum-visit.html
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