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The Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy marked Veterans Day on Friday with a ceremony recognizing all veterans for their service.
The program began by reminding those in the audience that our veterans are no different than any audience members. Before they were veterans, they were citizens.
The program recounted the statistics of various conflicts and wars the United States has been engaged in since World War I including North Carolina’s contributions to the efforts.
In World War I, North Carolina sent 86, 450 soldiers to fight in the war. Those soldiers served in the Army, Navy and Marines. The largest number of soldiers served in the 30th and 81st divisions.
After five months in the battlefield, the US military suffered 275,000 casualties, including over 54,000 combat deaths. Another 1,542 North Carolinians died of influenza.
World War II was “one of the darkest periods in the world,” read the narrator.
The 30th Infantry known as the “Old Hickory Division,” which fought bravely in World War I, and then moved to National Guard service, was recalled under command of Leland S. Hobbs.
The unit fought in the invasion of Normandy; and took part in battles in France and Belgium and engaged Russian forces on the Elbe River.
The men of Old Hickory earned numerous medals and commendations.
Many North Carolinians also fought in World War II in the 4th and 80th infantry divisions.
North Carolinians also made many significant contributions during this time. General William C. Lee of Dunn helped to establish the 82nd airborne during this time.
A Southport woman named Margaret Craighill was the first female to serve in the medical corps, according to the narrator.
There were 41 ships participant in various aspects of the naval war in World War II that were named for North Carolina residents or places. The battleship USS North Carolina engaged several battles in the Pacific, was retired and Wallace Leinwand assisted a committee in their efforts to have the battleship brought to Wilmington where it sits today.
The North Carolina Ship Building Company located in Wilmington built a large number of Liberty Ships.
The narrator said that Korea is known as “The Forgotten War.”
Eruope and Russia were not the only places where Communism was on the rise. In June 1950,
President Truman’s fears were realized when North Korea crossed the 38th Parallel and invaded South Korea.
A 1953 armistice ended the fighting and Korea remains divided at 38th parallel.
Vietnam War began about 1955 after accords left the nation divided with a democracy in South Vietnam and a Communist government in North Vietnam.
United States seeking to stop spread of Communism and sent military advisors to help train the South Vietnamese soldiers.
1964 a United States battleship was attacked in the Gulf of Tonkin. In August 1964 Congress gave President Johnson the authority to operate and take measures necessary without an official declaration of war.
Operation Urgent Fury also known as the invasion of Grenada took place in 1983. There was a US victory within a matter of weeks. The invasion was triggered by a bloody coup. The coup ended with the death of revolutionary Prime Minister Maurice Bishop.
Operation Just Cause saw the invasion of Panama in December 1989 and later January 1990.
The invasion forces included soldiers from the 18th Airborne Corps.
Gulf War 1was fought after Iraq’s leader Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. On August 3, 1990 the United Nations demanded he withdraw and on August 6, 1990 the United Nations called for a worldwide ban on trade with Iraq.
Egypt and other nations banned together with the United States to force Iraq to withdraw.
On Feb 24 Hussein finally withdrew from Kuwait City and on Feb 28, 1991 an official cease fire was issued.
Operation Gothic Serpent involved a skirmish in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993. Soldiers were sent in to arrest two of Mohammed Farrah Adid’s lieutenants.
In June of 1993 a deadly attack against UN forces took place. The UN called for the arrest of those responsible for ordering the attack. US warplanes joined in an UN air strike.
In an operation that became known as Task Force Ranger an airstrike took place during which two helicopters were shot down. An urban battle ensued through the night.
A rescue team was sent to free the soldiers trapped at one of the crash sites. The second crash site was overrun during night and one survivor was taken prisoner but later released.
The book Black Hawk Down was written about the incident.
Global war in terror followed the September 11 attack on the United States. The narrator noted that 15 years later, the nation ended war on paper but it is the nation’s longest war.
It was noted that in the War on Terror there is no front line and no enemy in uniform.
The program also recognized the individual branches of service: Merchant Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Army. Veteran of each branch that were in attendance were asked to stand as their colors are presented.
The program ended with the playing of Taps.
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