Sinking of the SS [President] Coolidge. October 26, 1942. Local ID: 80-G-36993 This October 26, 2024 marks the 82nd anniversary of the sinking of the SS President Coolidge. On October 26, 1942, the ship attempted to enter the harbor of Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. However, as the ship entered the largest channel, it struck an American … Continue reading The Sinking of the SS President Coolidge
The mini-subs, manned torpedoes, and other vessels depicted in the 1945 film German and Italian Sneak Craft (local identifier 80-MN-5132) did not make much of a difference in the course of World War II. In fact, the film features many failed experimental designs - and suggests that the operators of some of these vessels were … Continue reading Stealth Subs and Devious Divers of WWII
As the summer winds down and we brace ourselves for a transition to cooler (albeit still humid) weather, we would like to say goodbye and good riddance to a constant presence in most outdoor summer plans: the mosquito. August 20th is designated as World Mosquito Day, which commemorates the discovery that mosquitoes were the main culprits of transmitting malaria to humans. What an exciting event to celebrate!
June 22, 2024, will mark the 80th anniversary of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944. This landmark legislation is most commonly known as the GI Bill of Rights, as it offered Federal aid to help veterans adjust to civilian life in the areas of hospitalization, purchase of homes, businesses, and especially, education. The bill unanimously passed both chambers of Congress in the spring of 1944 and President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law on June 22, 1944, just over two weeks after the Allied invasion of Normandy.
D-Day and the Combat CameramanThis week marks the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Operation. Starting on June 6, 1944, about 175,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, supported by 5,000 naval craft and more than 11,500 aircraft. By June 30, over 850,000 men, 148,000 vehicles, and 570,000 tons of supplies had landed … Continue reading How To Locate D-Day Footage in NARA’s Moving Image Holdings
The First Special Service Force, a Joint U.S.-Canadian Fighting Unit: The insignia of the First Special Service Force, composed of US and Canadian soldiers in training at Ft. William Henry Harrison, Montana, is an Indian spearhead of deep red with the “USA” and “Canada” forming a white T against the background. The patch is worn … Continue reading The Devil’s Brigade: The First Special Service Force
Please Note: Primary source documents used in this post may contain harmful language. See NARA’s Statement on Potentially Harmful Language. The First Motion Picture Unit When America entered the war in Europe in 1941, the country's greatest challenge was finding enough manpower to wage a two-front war. The country needed to quickly increase the number … Continue reading Wings for This Man: Celebrating the Tuskegee Airmen
This week is International Assistance Dog Week (August 6-12) which was established to raise awareness and honor the incredible work that assistance dogs do to help individuals with disability related limitations. It was also created to recognize the trainers, puppy raisers, and handlers that have devoted their time and expertise to these dogs to ensure … Continue reading These Dogs Deserve a Round Of A-Paws!
111-SC-176302 - Original Caption: [Company] E. of the 442nd Infantry Regiment comprising Japanese-American lads snapped in formation in Camp Shelby, Mississippi. 5/13/43. Photographer: Pvt. Raymond D’Addario. Signal Corps Photo #165–NR1-43-95. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was activated on February 1, 1943, and was composed almost entirely of second-generation American soldiers of Japanese ancestry, also known … Continue reading Go for Broke: The 442nd Infantry Regiment
October 1945 photograph of Granada Relocation Center barracks. Granada closed for good on October 15, 1945. (NAID 539942) March 18, 2023 marks the one year anniversary of the signing of the Amache National Historic Site Act, which designated Amache National Historic Site as a park in the National Park System. President Joseph R. Biden signed … Continue reading One Year Ago: Recognizing Amache National Historic Site
