The United States of America has a rich military history. The Continental Congress authorized the formation of "Expert Riflemen" to serve the United Colonies for one year on June 14, 1775, establishing the U.S. Army as the first national institution of America. The U.S. Army is the oldest branch of the military, having been formed more than a year before the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. The Continental Navy was authorized on October 13, 1775, and the Marines less than a month later, on November 10. The Department of the Air Force, the youngest, was created on September 18, 1947, under the National Security Act of 1947, even though planes were used in war as early as 1911.
In 1986, seventeen-year-old Billy Coleman enlisted in the army because he did not want to fly or be at sea for months at a time. Sergeant Coleman would serve in Europe. When he enlisted, the Cold War was in full swing, and he served in the Eleventh Armored Cavalry Regiment for 4 years. During his service, he witnessed the fall of the Iron Curtain, the term used to describe the collapse of communist regimes and the end of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe, which occurred in 1991. This process was symbolized by the opening of the Berlin Wall.
James Bradford served in the Navy from November 1961 to February 28, 1982, as Chief E7. In his twenty-one years of service, he served through the Vietnam War and on four different ships: Ticonderoga, Constellation, Interpret, and Coral Sea.
Joanne Peterson-Bradford joined the Navy on December 1, 1960, serving in San Diego, California, in the dental clinic until 1962, when she became pregnant and had to leave the military. After her discharge, she would join the Navy Reserves and serve for 12 years, retiring as a Yeoman 1st Class.
After graduating from high school in 1989, Wayne Krys enlisted in the Marines and served as a 2141 Amphibious Assault Repairman. His tour of duty would be 1989-1993 Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Operation Desert Shield was to protect Saudi Arabia from a potential Iraqi invasion and deter further aggression. Operation Desert Storm was to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait. The Iraqi government had set fire to the oil wells in Kuwait, trying to hide their presence. There were days on end that the soldiers did not see daylight because of the oil well fires. The fires made the days as black as the nights. The soldiers wore rain gear to keep the soot from settling on them.
Benard Simones enlisted in the Air Force in 1956 and retired in 1976 as a Tech Sergeant with twenty years of service. He would serve as an Air Policeman. Serving in Korea, Vietnam, Germany, Alaska, and his final duty station before retiring in Tucson, Arizona.
To all men and women veterans past, present, and future who have served in the military protecting our country from foreign and domestic threats, we all salute you and thank you for your service.
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