Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 30 June Events in History over the next 15 day period that had U. S. military involvement or impacted in some way on U. S military operations or American interests
Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 30 June Events in History over the next 15 day period that had U.S. military involvement or impacted in some way on U.S military operations or American interests
Jun 16 2012 – The United States Air Force's robotic Boeing X-37B spaceplane returns to Earth after a classified 469-day orbital mission.
Jun 17 1775 – American Revolution: Battle of Bunker Hill. Though the battle was a British victory, their losses were so high that nearly a third of all their officers killed in the war died in this one battle. Casualties and losses: US 450 - Brit 1054.
Jun 17 1861 – Civil War: Battle of Vienna, Virginia results in Confederate victory. Casualties and losses: US 12 - CSA none reported.
Jun 17 1863 – Civil War: Battle of Aldie in the Gettysburg Campaign. Results inconclusive. Casualties and losses: US 305 - CSA 119.
Jun 17 1876 – Indian Wars: Battle of the Rosebud - 1,500 Sioux and Cheyenne led by Crazy Horse beat back General George Crook's forces at Rosebud Creek in Montana Territory.
Jun 17 1877 – Indian Wars: Battle of White Bird Canyon - the Nez Perce defeat the U.S. Cavalry at White Bird Canyon in the Idaho Territory. Casualties and losses: US 38 - IND 3.
Jun 17 1932 – Bonus Army: Around a thousand WWI veterans amass at the United States Capitol as the U.S. Senate considers a bill that would give them certain benefits.
Jun 17 1942 – WW2: 1st American expeditionary force lands in Africa (Gold Coast).
Jun 17 1992 – A joint understanding agreement on arms reduction is signed by U.S. President George Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
Jun 18 1778 – American Revolution: British troops abandon Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Jun 18 1812 – War of 1812: The U.S. Congress declares war on the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Jun 18 1864 – Civil War: The Second Battle of Petersburg ends with a Confederate victory. Casualties and losses: US 13,386 - CSA ~4,000.
Jun 18 1864 – Civil War: The siege of Pittsburg begins and lasts until April 1865.
Jun 18 1945 – WW2: USS Bonefish (SS–223) sunk by combined efforts of escort destroyer Okinawa, and three Coast Defense Vessels off southern coast of Honshu, Japan. 85 killed.
Jun 18 1965 – Vietnam War: The United States uses B-52 bombers to attack National Liberation Front guerrilla fighters in South Vietnam.
Jun 18 1979 –SALT II is signed by the United States Jimmy Carter and the Soviet Union Leonid Brezhnev Vienna.
Jun 19 1944 – WW2: First day of the Battle of the Philippine Sea. 300 Japanese aircrafts shot down.
Jun 19 1953 – Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are executed at Sing Sing for passing of information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union.
Jun 20 1816 - Battle of Seven Oaks between North West Company and Hudson's Bay Company, near Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Jun 20 1941 – USS O–9 (SS–70) foundered during deep submergence tests off New London, Connecticut. 33 died
Jun 20 1944 – WW2: The Battle of the Philippine Sea concludes with a decisive U.S. naval victory. The lopsided naval air battle is also known as the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot".
Jun 21 1861 – Civil War: The 3-day Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road begins. Results inconclusive. Casualties and losses: US 2962 - CSA 572.
Jun 21 1898 – Spanish American War: The United States captures Guam from Spain in a bloodless event.
Jun 21 1918 – WWI: German commander, Admiral Ludwig von Reuter, scuttles the German fleet interned at Scapa Flow under the terms of the Armistice whilst negotiations took place over the fate of the ships. 52 of the 74 interned vessels sink.
SMS Derfflinger sinking
Jun 21 1942 – WW2: A Japanese submarine surfaces near the Columbia River in Oregon, firing 17 shells at nearby Fort Stevens in one of only a handful of attacks by the Japanese against the United States mainland.
Jun 22 1813 – War of 1812: After learning of American plans for a surprise attack on Beaver Dams in Ontario, Laura Secord sets out on a 30 kilometer journey on foot to warn Lieutenant James FitzGibbon.
Jun 22 1898 – Spanish–American War: United States Marines land in Cuba.
Jun 22 1944 – President Roosevelt signed into law the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the GI Bill of Rights.
Jun 22 1945 – WW2: The 82-day Battle of Okinawa ends when the organized resistance of Imperial Japanese Army forces collapses in the Mabuni area on the southern tip of the main island. Casualties and losses: Allies 84,570 - JP 105,755 - Civ 42K to 105K killed.
Jun 22 1952 – Utah's 213th Armored Field Artillery Battalion was awarded the Distinguished (now Presidential) Unit Citation in South Korea for its stubborn defense of Sanghong–Jong–Ni during the Communist Chinese offensive of April 1951.
Jun 22 1990 – Cold War: Checkpoint Charlie is dismantled in Berlin.
A view of Checkpoint Charlie in 1963, from the American sector
Jun 23 1780 – American Revolution: Battle of Springfield fought in and around Springfield, New Jersey (including Short Hills, formerly of Springfield, now of Millburn Township).
Jun 23 1812 – War of 1812: Great Britain revokes the restrictions on American commerce, thus eliminating one of the chief reasons for going to war.
Jun 23 1865 – Civil War: At Fort Towson in the Oklahoma Territory, Confederate, Brigadier General Stand Watie surrenders the last significant rebel army.
Jun 23 1945 – WW2: Last organized Japanese defiance broken (Tarakan)
Jun 23 1961 – Cold War: The Antarctic Treaty, which sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve and bans military activity on the continent, comes into force after the opening date for signature set for the December 1, 1959.
Jun 24 1779 – American Revolution: European Waters - The Great Siege of Gibraltar begins. Casualties and losses: SP & FR 6,000 - GB 1,788.
Jun 24 1813 – War of 1812: Battle of Beaver Dams - British and Indian combined force defeats the U.S. Army. Casualties and losses: US 537 - GB 40.
Jun 24 1916 – WWI: The start of a week-long artillery bombardment on the German Line in preparation for the launch (1 Jul) of the 141-day Battle of the Somme.
Jun 25 1876 – Custer & 7th Cavalry wiped out by Sioux & Cheyenne at Battle of Little Big Horn. Casualties and losses: US 323 - Indians 138 Est.
Jun 25 1944 - WW2: United States Navy and Royal Navy ships bombard Cherbourg to support United States Army units engaged in the Battle of Cherbourg. Casualties and losses: US 22,000 - GER 38,000.
Jun 25 1948 – Cold War: The Western allies begin an airlift to Berlin after the Soviet Union blockades West Berlin.
C-47 Skytrains unloading at Tempelhof Airport during the Berlin Airlift.
Jun 25 1950 – Korean War: Conflict begins with the invasion of South Korea by North Korea.
Jun 25 1996 – The Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia kills 19 U.S. servicemen.
Jun 26 1917 – WWI: The first U.S. troops arrive in France to fight alongside Britain and France against Germany
Jun 26 1918 – WWI: Western Front Battle for Belleau Wood – Allied Forces under John J. Pershing and James Harbord defeat Imperial German Forces under Wilhelm, German Crown Prince.
Jun 26 1924 – Latin America Interventions: After 8 years of occupation US troops leave Dominican Republic
Jun 26 1993 – The U.S. launches a missile attack targeting Baghdad intelligence headquarters in retaliation for a thwarted assassination attempt against former President George H.W. Bush in April in Kuwait.
Jun 26 2005 – War in Afghanistan: Three U.S. Navy SEALs and 16 American Special Operations Forces soldiers are killed during Operation Red Wing, a failed counter–insurgent mission in Kunar province, Afghanistan.
Jun 27 1944 – WW2: Cherbourg, France liberated by Allies.
Jun 27 1948 – Cold War: Berlin Airlift – The order to begin supplying West Berlin by air was approved by U.S. General Lucius Clay. President Truman, wishing to avoid war or a humiliating retreat, supported the air campaign, against many advisors wishes. Surviving a normally harsh German winter, the airlift carried over two million tons of supplies in 270,000 flights
Jun 27 1950 – Korean War: North Koreans troop reach Seoul, UN asks members to aid South Korea, Truman orders Air Force & Navy into Korean conflict.
Jun 28 1776 – American Revolution: The Battle of Sullivan's Island ends with the first decisive American victory of the War leading to the commemoration of Carolina Day. Casualties and losses: US 37 - GB 220.
Jun 28 1776 – American Revolution: Thomas Hickey, Continental Army private and bodyguard to General George Washington, is hanged for mutiny and sedition.
Jun 28 1778 – American Revolution: The Continentals engage the British in the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse resulting in standstill and British withdrawal under cover of darkness. Casualties and losses: US ~500 - GB ~1,134.
Jun 28 1919 – WWI: The Treaty of Versailles is signed in Paris, bringing fighting to an end in between Germany and the Allies of World War I.
Jun 28 1921 – The U.S. Senate confirmed Pennsylvania Col. George Rickards as the first National Guardsman to serve as Chief of the Militia Bureau. The bureau later was named the National Guard Bureau.
Jun 28 1950 – Korean War: Seoul is captured by North Korean troops. Packed with its own refugees fleeing Seoul and leaving their 5th Division stranded, South Korean forces blow up the Hangang Bridge to in attempt to slow North Korea's offensive.
Jun 28 1950 – Korean War: Bodo League Massacre - Suspected communist sympathizers, argued to be between 100,000 and 1,200,000 are executed by South Korea troops.
Prisoners lie on the ground before execution by South Korean troops
Jun 28 1950 – Korean War: North Korean Army conducted Seoul National University Hospital Massacre of 700 to 900 doctors, nurses, inpatient civilians and wounded soldiers.
Jun 28 1965 – Vietnam: 1st U.S. ground combat forces authorized by Pres Johnson
Jun 29 1776 – America Revolution: First privateer battle of the War fought at Turtle Gut Inlet near Cape May, New Jersey
Jun 29 1943 – WW2: Germany begins withdrawing U-boats from North Atlantic in anticipation of the Allied invasion of Europe
Jun 29 1949 – US troops withdraw from Korea after WWII
Jun 29 1966 – Vietnam: U.S. planes bomb Hanoi & Haiphong for 1st time
Jun 30 1815 – US naval hero Stephen Decatur ends attacks by Algerian pirates
Jun 30 1943 – WW2: Gen MacArthur begins Operation Cartwheel (island–hopping).
Jun 30 1944 – WW2: The Battle of Cherbourg ends with the fall of the strategically valuable port to American forces. Casualties and losses: US 22,000 - GER 28,000.
