Today in US Military History: Old Ironsides, the Yankee Division, and al Qaeda

Unto the Breach ^ | Sept. 20, 2017 | Chris Carter

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1777: British Maj. Gen. Charles Grey launches a daring nighttime attack on Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne's Continental Army forces encamped near the Paoli Tavern near modern-day Malvern, Pa.. Grey orders his troops to only use bayonets, and has his men remove the flints from their rifles. The Redcoats catch the Americans completely by surprise, routing an entire division while only suffering 11 British casualties.

1797: The Continental Navy frigate Constitution is launched in Boston harbor. 220 years later, USS Constitution – known affectionately as “Old Ironsides” - is the "oldest ship in the American Navy," and continues serving in the 21st century as a duly commissioned ship crewed by active-duty U.S. sailors and Naval officers in order to further public awareness of American Naval tradition.

1917: The 26th Infantry Division arrives at Saint-Nazaire, France, becoming the first division entirely organized in the United States to arrive in Europe for World War I. The National Guard soldiers immediately travel to Neufchâteau, where they are trained by experienced French soldiers. The "Yankee" Division will spend 210 days in combat, with 1,587 killed in action and another 12,077 soldiers wounded.

1944: Just three days after landing, the 81st Infantry Division has eliminated most of the Japanese garrison on the island of Angaur. Once the island is secured, the 81st will join the 1st Marine Division in the bloody battle on Peleliu, only seven miles away.

1950: 12 Sikorsky HRS-1 "Chickasaw" helicopters of Marine Helicopter Squadron 161

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While we know so much about Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Guadalcanal, Marines and soldiers fought at many obscure islands like Angaur. It ss unfortunate that the sacrifices on the lesser-known campaigns - the 81st Division suffered over 1,600 casualties on Angaur - receive virtually no attention. Below is a link to a short film called "Action at Angaur": https://archive.org/details/gov.archives.arc.35883