Volunteers today will place nearly 100,000 wreaths atop the graves of American soldiers buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
US soldiers crossing a river in the jungles of Vietnam looking for enemy Vietcong. Up this point they had been searching for nearly two weeks with no sight of them.
Crossing in the rain and with water up to their necks, they have to be careful to keep their guns as dry as possible to avoid malfunctions.
Ben Cat, South Vietnam - September 25, 1965.
The back of a Marine’s flak jacket during the Vietnam War.
Khe Sahn, South Vietnam - February 21, 1968.
US soldiers on a transport flight heading home from the Vietnam War.
Hanoi, North Vietnam - March 28, 1973
A US soldier running away from a crashed helicopter after rigging it with explosives.
The helicopter crashed near the border of North/South Vietnam, and was blown up to keep the technology out of the hands of the North Vietnamese government, who might have passed it on to the Soviet Union.
Under JFK the number of Americans forces in Vietnam increased from 900 to over 16,000.
Ca Mau, South Vietnam - December 11, 1962.
One of the most prestigious military honors is to become a Tomb Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier inside Arlington National Cemetery. A small fraction of those who attempt make the final cut.
To become a member, each candidate must study the cemetery extensively in order to answer any question posed to them regarding where people are buried and the cemetery’s history. They must also perform a uniform test where imperfections are measured to a 64th of an inch and fail after two mistakes. Finally perform a mock changing of the guard.
Once a member it is common for a Guard to prepare their uniform for up to six hours before guarding the tomb. Their sunglasses are specially molded to each Guard’s face.
A Guard’s uniform has an “Honor Guard” patch but no insignia, so as not to outrank anyone buried in the cemetery.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been guarded continuously (24/7) with no exceptions since July 2, 1937.
The signing of the surrender by Japanese officials aboard the USS Missouri, putting a formal end to WWII.
September 2, 1945.
