Answer quickly: how many US military facts do you know?
Not everyone is familiar with the US military, despite what we see on television and read in history books. How many of you, for instance, are aware that this year will mark 241 years since? Or the fact that women were not permitted to fight at the time, so the first female soldier was disguised as a man?
In today’s post, we’ll delve deeper into these and other fascinating military facts. Grab a snack and get comfortable for a pleasant, light history lesson that will inspire you and your grandchildren. Let’s get going!
The US military is the only military branch that has an official song
It wasn’t until 1956 that the US military’s current official song was recognized. In 1908, the song originated in the Philippines. Edmond Louis Gruber, the author, was inspired to write it after hearing a section chief shout commands at a caisson driver. “The Caissons Go Rolling Along” was born in this way.
After numerous fruitless attempts to find a suitable song, the military finally returned to the original music; they only asked that the lyrics be altered. Interesting, isn’t it?
George Washington was the one who chose the military uniform colors
The final “verdict” regarding the Army’s dress colors in 1779 was issued by George Washington, who was the country’s president at the time. Despite experimenting with numerous other scheme colors, the military ultimately chose to adhere to Washington’s selection in 2010.
Women were allowed to enlist during WWI
Initially, women served in the military as Signal Corps operators and secretaries. These jobs made it possible for more men to serve in combat. A law prohibiting discrimination was signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1948.
The end goal for this law was to end discrimination against women joining the military, as well as racial discrimination in the military. This bill made it possible for women to enlist during peacetime as well as during times of conflict. That marked a significant advancement for women in the US military.
Before World War II, members of the 45th Infantry Division wore Swastika patches
The Swastika is frequently linked to the Nazis and the atrocities that occurred in Germany under Hitler’s rule. Nonetheless, the ancient American Indian symbol is said to bestow good fortune on its wearers.
The 45th Infantry Division’s Native American soldiers wore an emblem with a Swastika motif. They wore the emblem on their left shoulder. The four southwestern states of Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico comprised the 45th Division. The Spanish heritage of these areas was symbolized by the yellow swastika on a red square background.
After the Nazis adopted the symbol in the 1920s, it quickly came to represent evil. The 45th Infantry Division switched it to a thunderbird for that reason.
The United States Army would rank as the country’s tenth-largest city
The U.S. Army currently has a little over a million soldiers. The remaining members comprise the reserve components of the Army Reserve and National Guard, with approximately half of that number consisting of full-time active-duty soldiers. For comparison, a city with all U.S. Army soldiers would have a higher population than Austin, Texas, or San Jose, California.
Only 28% of Americans are eligible to join the US military
Of Americans between the ages of 17 and 23, only 28% are eligible to serve in the military. Approximately 1.4 million Americans, or 4% of the total population, are serving in the armed forces.
Of the 44 presidents, 31 have been active military personnel
The highest military award, the Medal of Honor, was given to President Teddy Roosevelt. James Buchanan was the only enlisted president who did not go on to become an officer.
Deborah Sampson was the first female soldier
From 1782 to 1783, Deborah Sampson participated in the Revolutionary War. Under the alias “Robert Shurtleff,” she joined the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment and was placed in Captain George Webb’s Company of Light Infantry. She fought alongside male infantrymen against the British there.
Sampson frequently took care of her injuries herself to conceal her identity. Before becoming ill and being admitted to the hospital, where she lost consciousness, she was able to maintain the lie for a year. In 1783, she received an honorable discharge and became the first woman to be granted a military pension.
…psst! Did this article make you curious about more stuff about the US military? I have an awesome book recommendation that will keep you turning pages and questioning what you thought you knew. The Pentagon’s Brain by Annie Jacobsen is available on Amazon in the paperback format for only $17.12.
During the Civil War, some soldiers were immigrants
The Union would have suffered without the presence of immigrants, who during the Civil War accounted for one-tenth of the soldiers and nearly a third of the army. It’s also noteworthy that half of the force was composed of foreigners.
JFK is responsible for the Green Berets of Special Forces
President John F. Kennedy has a significant connection to the US military. Many people know that he was a hero of the Army Special Forces, but not that he played an important role in the history of the Green Berets.
President Kennedy instructed Brigadier General William Yarborough to have all Army Special Forces soldiers wear their green berets for his 1961 visit to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Yarborough greeted the president in his green beret, which the U.S. Army had officially approved as part of the Special Forces uniform before the visit. Kennedy referred to the green beret as “a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom” in 1962, reaffirming his support for the Special Forces.
Jackie Kennedy asked the Green Berets to serve in the honor guard at the president’s funeral just hours after his tragic death. The Special Warfare Center promptly published orders for 46 Green Berets to depart for Washington, DC, the following day.
Every year on November 22, the anniversary of the late president’s 1963 assassination, Army Special Forces still place a wreath and a green beret on his grave. His name is attached to the Fort Bragg John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center.
Around 500 dogs are now in the US military
Who else if not man’s best friend? Dogs that are used in the US military undergo about 16 hours of intense training each month since they also need to be courageous and fast soldiers. Every dog has a single trainer who guides them through every step, from identifying explosives to detecting drugs by scent.
During the Revolutionary War, the US military launched its first submarine
Did you know that the first submarine used by the US military was created by David Bushnell? It was named the Turtle, and compared to regular modern submarines, it was a tad different. It was a wooden craft that a single person could drive with a foot treadle and a hand crank. A lead ballast kept it upright, and a pedal-operated tank allowed it to rise and sink.
On September 7, 1776, the Turtle saw its first military action when it was used to blow up the HMS Eagle. The ship had anchored in New York Harbor and was of British origin.
…You may also want to read the Real Story of the American Civil War.