Major General Eric Hill

If his run through the town of Foy during The Bulge wasn’t enough to impress you, here’s a little more of Ron Speirs’ resume: - CIB 🪖 - 4 Combat Jumps 🪂 - Silver Star ⭐️ - Legion of Merit 🇺🇸 - Bronze Star 🎖️ - 2 Purple Hearts 💜

Please help me honor Marine hero Nicole Gee, who was tragically KIA in Afghanistan. Sgt. Gee was KIA in a su!cid£ b0mber attack along with 12 other service members. She was only 23 years old. Less than a week prior to her death, Sgt. Gee made a social media post of her caring for an Afghan infant in which she remarked: “I love my job”. During her Memorial service, Sgt. Harrison, a close friend of Sgt. Gee, remarked, “She lost her life so others may live and without a doubt, she died proud. Proud of who she was, proud of what she was doing and proud to be a United States Marine."

World War II Veteran Bennett Hubert Waters, of Blackshear, Georgia, was laid to rest on April 4, 2026, more than 80 years after his death during WWII. Private Bennett Hubert Waters was born on October 17, 1917. During World War II, Private Bennett Hubert Waters served with the U.S. Army Air Forces, assigned to the 17th Bombardment Squadron, 27th Bombardment Group. He arrived in the Philippines in October 1941, just weeks before the attack on Clark Field and the invasion of Luzon. After the fall of the Philippines, he was captured on April 9, 1942, following the surrender on Bataan. Held at the Cabanatuan POW camp, he endured brutal conditions and was later forced into labor rebuilding Nichols Airfield. In 1944, as prisoners were evacuated, he was transported aboard Japanese ships. Tragically, Private Waters died in captivity on January 9, 1945, in Takao (modern-day Taiwan). He was just 26 years old. For nearly 80 years, he was listed as missing in action. On June 18, 2025, his remains were finally identified, bringing long-awaited closure to his family and ensuring his sacrifice will never be forgotten. We remember Private Bennett Hubert Waters for his courage, resilience, and ultimate sacrifice. Rest in peace, Sir! We thank you for your service! #WeRememberThem

Today, we honor and remember the 'American Sniper' Chris Kyle. Kyle was a Texan and legendary Navy SEAL who served four tours in Iraq and famously earned the title of the U.S. Military's most lethal sniper. After retiring in 2009, Kyle published a bestselling autobiography about his military service and personal struggles before tragically losing his life in 2013. Rest in peace legend 🔱

In 1965, 59-year-old Satchel Paige was signed as a stunt. He shut out the Red Sox for three innings and reminded everyone he was still the GOAT.

I'm sharing photos that might not "make the cut" for the photo section of "Blasting Through." This is of B Squadron teammates preparing for military freefall training. In the civilian world, it’s called skydiving. We went to Las Vegas for air awareness training in a wind tunnel, "Indoor Skydiving." This is before the military got their wind tunnels. L to R, Top Row, Frank McKenna, Larry Steele, Gary Gardiner, Jon Saterstad. L to R, Bottom Row, Mike Vining, Bob Little, May 1983. Share your wind tunnel experiences.

Richard Overton, America's oldest living veteran and oldest living man, left an enduring legacy at age 112 in 2018. May his memory inspire us all. Follow @SoldiersWhisper for daily veteran tributes.

This is the last image of 3 Special Operations soldiers who were k**led 28 years ago today in Mogadishu, Somalia, 1993. The man standing is Brad Hailing on the left (alive), Gary Gordon (MOH), Randy Shughart (MOH), and kneeling Dan Bush (SS). This is what the movie Black Hawk Down was based on.

THE PENTAGON HAS IDENTIFIED TWO FALLEN MARINES… AND BEHIND THAT ANNOUNCEMENT ARE LIVES THAT GAVE EVERYTHING. The Department of Defense confirmed what no family is ever ready to hear. Two Marine Raiders—Capt. Moises A. Navas, 34, of Germantown, Maryland, and Gunnery Sgt. Diego D. Pongo, 34, of Simi Valley, California—were killed in Iraq while supporting Iraqi Security Forces in the ongoing fight against ISIS. They were assigned to the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. But those titles only tell part of the story. Reports revealed they were part of a dangerous operation targeting an ISIS cave network hidden within the mountains of northern Iraq—an environment built for ambush, for uncertainty, for missions few are ever asked to take on. When the mission turned… others went back for them. For nearly six hours, forces worked to recover their remains from those caves. Because in the U.S. military, “leave no one behind” is not optional. It is a commitment that holds, even in the darkest places. That operation reportedly resulted in the elimination of 25 ISIS fighters, along with the destruction of nine tunnels and a training camp. But behind those numbers… are two lives that will never return home. They were not just Marines. They were sons. They were brothers. They were men who chose a path of service knowing the risks—and still stepped forward. Their loss marked the first Marine Raider deaths in Iraq since August of that year. A reminder that even when the headlines fade… the sacrifice continues. Tonight, we remember their names. Capt. Moises A. Navas. Gunnery Sgt. Diego D. Pongo. We pray for their families. We honor their service. And we hold onto the truth that their courage, their mission, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

U.S. Army Sergeant Thomas Joseph Kelly of Brooklyn, New York, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary actions during World War II on April 5, 1945, near Alemert, Germany. He was an aid man with the 1st Platoon of Company C during an attack on the town of Alemert, Germany. The platoon, committed in a flanking maneuver, had advanced down a small, open valley overlooked by wooded slopes hiding enemy machineguns and tanks when the attack was stopped by murderous fire that inflicted heavy casualties in the American ranks. Ordered to withdraw, Cpl. Kelly reached safety with uninjured remnants of the unit but, on realizing the extent of casualties suffered by the platoon, voluntarily retraced his steps and began evacuating his comrades under direct machinegun fire. He was forced to crawl, dragging the injured behind him for most of the 300 yards separating the exposed area from a place of comparative safety. Two other volunteers who attempted to negotiate the hazardous route with him were mortally wounded, but he continued with his herculean task after dressing their wounds and carrying them to friendly hands. He made ten separate trips through the brutal fire, each time bringing out a man from the death trap. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 5, 1945. Kelly reached the rank of sergeant before leaving the Army. He died at age 65 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. #WeRememberThem

Ivan Alekseevich Zemlyakov, political instructor of a company of the 646th Regiment of the 152nd Rifle Division (16th Army), before his execution. Photographs from the archive of a German officer who fought on the Eastern Front appeared on auction sites several years ago. Ivan Zemlyakov was captured on August 5, 1941, in the southwestern part of the Smolensk pocket.

They went in as thirteen—Rangers into the Renegade Woods—where intelligence said the enemy was gathering. They found him. On April 2, 1970, in Tây Ninh Province, Company F, 75th Infantry made contact almost immediately. The jungle erupted—small arms, automatic fire, and a fight that closed fast. Among them was Staff Sergeant Michael Francis Thomas. A Ranger. An infantryman. A leader. The team split under pressure—one element pushing into the tree line, the other moving near a bomb crater. That’s when the enemy struck hard. A burst of fire… and an RPG from the north. In an instant, SSG Thomas was killed alongside SFC Alvin W. Floyd. There was no time. No warning. Just the violence of close combat. The fight didn’t end there. Ammunition ran low. The situation tightened. And still, the Rangers held—until a UH-1H, Centaur 23, came in low under fire, landing on the edge of the crater to pull the survivors out. They lifted off overloaded—men hanging on, weapons firing, refusing to leave the fight behind. But Thomas remained on that ground. For his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, he was awarded the Silver Star. A Ranger in the fight. A man who stood in the worst of it. A leader who never stepped back. We remember Staff Sergeant Michael Francis Thomas.

🇺🇸 Remembering Jason Richard Freiwald 🇺🇸 A Navy SEAL, a leader, a brother in arms. Jason Freiwald dedicated his life to service after enlisting in 1996, serving with SEAL Teams 5 and 3 before earning a place in the elite Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan, respected by all who served beside him. On September 11, 2008, during a mission in Afghanistan, he led his team into a heavily defended compound. Under intense enemy fire, he fought to protect his teammates and help secure the objective. While shielding others, he was mortally wounded—just 30 years old. For his heroism, he was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star with “V,” and Purple Heart. His courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten. We remember. We honor. 🙏

PSALM 144:1 A song to the Lord Who Preserves and Prospers His People “Blessed be the LORD my rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for Battle “This group of soldiers are 101st Airborne, 502nd PIR, Regimental HQ. during World War II. Dad is on the right with his helmet on. I believe this was taken in Normandy. He used to say, “war could happen again and on US soil no less”. I pray that he was wrong on that prediction… JennyLasala.com #Sunday #war #Freedom #Easter

A German soldier wearing a gas mask posing with a sign celebrating Easter and an Easter egg snowball in a trench on the Eastern Front, 1917.

Portrait of US P-51 fighter pilot Joe Peterburs, 20th Fighter Group. Joe shot down a German Me 262 fighter jet of German pilot Walter Schuck. Both men met again in 2005 and became friends until Schuck's death in 2015. Joe is still alive today. #WW2

Lest We Forget OperationRedWings🇺🇲 US Navy SEAL Erik Samsel Kristensen was a Lieutenant commander of the United States Navy SEALs who was killed in action on June 28, 2005, during Operation Red Wings. He and several other SEALs set off as part of a search and rescue mission, hoping to assist a four-man SEAL team that was engaged in a firefight with Taliban fighters. God bless our Vets

U.S. Army Private First Class Sadao Munemori of Los Angeles, CA, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on April 5, 1945, near Seravezza, Italy. Munemori was in Company A, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team. For his actions, when the 442nd was part of the 92nd Infantry Division, he was the only Japanese American to be awarded the Medal of Honor during or immediately after WWII. Munemori had volunteered for the U.S. Army in November 1941, one month before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Along with all other Japanese American soldiers, he was soon after demoted to 4-C class, removed from combat training, and assigned to menial labor. While he was transferred to a series of Midwestern and Southern army bases, his parents and siblings were incarcerated at Manzanar, the internment camp for Japanese Americans in Eastern California. When Japanese American soldiers were allowed to reenter active service in March 1943, Munemori volunteered to join the all-Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Munemori fought in Italy and France, participating in the rescue of the Lost Battalion before arriving on the Gothic Line. When his unit was pinned down by grazing fire from the enemy's strong mountain defense and command of the squad devolved on him with the wounding of its regular leader, he made frontal, one-man attacks through direct fire and knocked out two machine guns with grenades. Withdrawing under murderous fire and showers of grenades from other enemy emplacements, he had nearly reached a shell crater occupied by two of his men when an unexploded grenade bounced on his helmet and rolled toward his helpless comrades. He arose into the fire, dived for the missile, and smothered its blast with his body. By his swift, heroic action Pfc. Munemori saved two of his men and did much to clear the path for his company's victorious advance. Munemori was only 22 years old when he died. #WeRememberThem

Senior military officials described the mission to recover the downed airman as “one of the most challenging and complex in the history of U.S. Special Operations” — a testament to the brutal terrain, the gravity of the airman’s injuries, and the relentless pressure of Iranian forces racing toward his position deep in the mountains of Southern Iran. For more than 24 hours, the Weapon Systems Officer defied the odds. He evaded enemy patrols, pushed through exhaustion, and at one point clawed his way up a 7,000-foot ridgeline on sheer will alone. He refused to be taken. Above him, U.S. attack aircraft carved a path of fire, hammering Iranian convoys and buying precious time for the men moving toward him on the ground. They were coming. SEAL Team Six operators, supported by the full weight of JSOC, closed in on their man. Weapons were raised, positions were held, and Iranian forces were kept at distance through precision, discipline, and the kind of cold resolve that only the world’s most elite warriors carry. No one was left behind. The mission was accomplished.

The Nirvana guitarist who became a Green Beret. Jason Everman grew up in a difficult childhood, learning guitar as an escape. In 1989, he joined Nirvana as their second guitarist but rarely got to play. After disputes with the band, he moved to Soundgarden as their bassist for five years. In 1994, Everman was studying Renaissance philosophy and came across Benvenuto Cellini's advice: "A complete man should be an artist, a warrior, and a philosopher". Everman had already mastered the first. So he enlisted in the US Army to pursue the second. He crushed Ranger selection, then went even further and made it through Special Forces selection. As a Green Beret, he deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan, serving 12 years in the military. After leaving the service, he traveled to Tibet, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, and continued pursuing the third pillar: philosophy. When asked about his motivation in life, Everman's answer was simple: "I want to make as much as I can out of my limited time on earth."