Military History

Missourian James H. Howard got separated from his fighter group and, all alone, attacked a German flight of thirty planes.

The Second Battle of Springfield was fought during the Civil War.

Today in Missouri (and world) history is Armistice Day. World War I ended today. Missouri Life proudly salutes the service of our veterans across the country.

In honor of the brave leader of the "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" Centerville (west of Rolla on Route 66) was re-named for the leader of the raid, St. Louis oil executive, Jimmy Doolittle. General Doolittle himself was there for the ceremony. 

President Harry Truman did away with segregation in the military with executive order 9981, making it a model for the rest of society.

Birthday of President, General, and adoptive Missourian Hiram Ulysses Grant (aka Ulysses S. Grant).

The Second Missouri Division, US Army was formed on this date. Their famous Taney County song, Houn’Dawg, told of a loyal and protective hound.

Nineteen soldiers from the 25th U.S. Infantry arrived in St. Louis after riding their bicycles from Missoula, Montana. They were trying to prove the increased mobility of infantry using bikes. The Japanese Infantry actually had great success with bikes forty years later in Southeast Asia.

Lieutenant Harold George Schrier, a Missourian, led a group of US Marines up Mount Suribachi and, on this date, planted a flag at her top signaling the great victory at Iwo Jima. Schrier was born at Corder, MO and want to school at Lexington, MO.

The residents of Lawrence, Kansas, would never forget what happened on August 21, 1863, if indeed they were lucky enough to survive. The reason for the bloody raid that left nearly two hundred men dead and caused between $1 million and $1.5 million in damage (in 1863 dollars) is still the subject of speculation.