Sgt Z's Page Round 3

Let's see if third time is a charm. Back again to keep giving you those fun posts about the military, history, travel, photography, movies, women, sports and anything else I come across that I love.

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"Saving the Flag, July 2, 1863"

While Colonel Jeffords was back in Michigan on a recruiting trip, the ladies of Monroe, Michigan, presented him with a new national flag to replace the regiment's original flag, which had been badly damaged in recent battles. Jeffords stated that he would defend the flag with his life.

During the second day at Gettysburg, the color-bearer of the 4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment dropped this flag, and as Colonel Jeffords advanced to retrieve it, he fought with the Confederate soldier who had seized the flag. In the ensuing melee, Jeffords received a gunshot wound to the thigh and was bayoneted by a Confederate soldier in the left abdomen, a mortal wound for the 26-year-old officer. He died at 4 am the next day, on July 3, 1863.

His final words were said to be "Mother, mother, mother." Jeffords became the highest commissioned officer in the Civil War to die of a bayonet wound. His body was sent home to Dexter, Michigan, after the battle, where approximately 2,000 people attended the funeral of its beloved hero. He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Dexter.

(Painting by Don Troiani)

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On July 2, 1863, Colonel Joshua Chamberlain lead his men of the 20th Maine on a bayonet charge down the slopes of little round top, during the battle of Gettysburg. He would later be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions that day.

This clip, from the movie Gettysburg, depicts the epic moment in history. It's one of the best, if not the best scene in the movie.

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“Lions of Little Round Top, July 2nd 1863″

Late in the afternoon of July 2, 1863, on a boulder-strewn hillside in southern Pennsylvania, Union Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain dashed headlong into history, leading his 20th Maine Regiment in perhaps the most famous counterattack of the Civil War.

The regiment’s sudden, desperate bayonet charge blunted the Confederate assault on Little Round Top and has been credited with saving Major General George Gordon Meade’s Army of the Potomac, winning the Battle of Gettysburg and setting the South on a long, irreversible path to defeat.

(Painting by Don Troiani)

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The reflection of the setting sun adorns the 1st Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry Regiment monument, located on Hancock Avenue near the High Water Mark at Gettysburg National Military Park.

Today marks 163rd anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

(Photo courtesy of sgtgrunt0331)

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On June 28, 2005, Lt. Mike Murphy lead a four-man Navy SEAL team, deep behind enemy lines in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan. The terrain was mountainous and rugged at an unforgiving altitude of 10,000 feet. Their mission was to conduct reconnaissance to find Ahmad Shah, the leader of a guerrilla group that aligned itself with the Taliban.

A fierce firefight erupted between the four SEALs and an enemy force of more than 50 anti-coalition militia. The enemy had the 4-man team outnumbered and the terrain advantage. They launched a well-organized, three-sided attack on the SEALs and relentlessly forced them deeper into a ravine.

Despite the intensity of the incoming fire and suffering several gunshot wounds, Lt. Murphy risked his own life to save the lives of his teammates. Determined to contact headquarters, but realizing it would be impossible in the extreme terrain where they were fighting, he unhesitatingly moved into the open to gain a better position for transmitting a call and get help for his men.

Lt. Murphy moved from cover and exposed himself to increased enemy gunfire. While continuing to be fired upon, he made contact with the SOF Quick Reaction Force and requested immediate assistance. At one point he was shot in the back causing him to drop the satellite phone. He picked it back up, completed the call and signed off saying, "Thank You." He continued to fight from his exposed position until succumbing to his wounds. For his actions on that day, Lt. Mike Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

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On June 28, 2005, Lt. Michael P. Murphy valiantly gave his life in order to save the lives of his fellow Navy SEALs during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan. For his actions that day, Lt. Murphy would posthumously receive our nation’s highest military award, the Medal of Honor.

None shall ever forget your courage and selfless act of heroism. Fair winds and following seas, sir.

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On June 28, 2005, 19 brave warriors gave their lives during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan. It was one of the most tragic days in Naval Special Warfare history and also devastated the U.S. Army's 160th SOAR. Godspeed to these brave men. They will never be forgotten.

SEAL Team: PO2 Matthew Axelson PO2 Danny Dietz LT Michael P. Murphy

SEALs: CPO Jacques J. Fontan SCPO Daniel R. Healy LTC Erik S. Kristensen PO1 Jeffery A. Lucas LT Michael M. McGreevy, Jr. PO2 Eric Shane Patton PO2 James E. Suh PO1 Jeffrey S. Taylor

160th SOAR Night Stalkers: SSG Shamus O. Goare CWO Corey J. Goodnature SGT Kip A. Jacoby SFC Marcus V. Muralles MSG James W. Ponder III MAJ. Stephen C. Reich SFC Michael L. Russell CWO Chris Scherkenbach

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June 27th is National PTSD Awareness Day.

Raising awareness of posttraumatic stress, and the numerous situations and events that cause a person to suffer from this terrible disease.

Such events include: physical or sexual assault, war-related combat stress, terrorism, natural or man-made disasters, and other threats on a person’s life.

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Happy birthday to Lt. General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller! Born on June 26, 1898.

The Marine Corps legend began his career fighting guerillas in Haiti and Nicaragua as part of the Banana Wars, he later served with distinction in World War II and the Korean War as a senior officer. By the time of his retirement in 1955, Puller had reached the rank of lieutenant general.

Puller is credited as the most decorated Marine in American history. He was awarded five Navy Crosses and one Distinguished Service Cross. With six crosses, Puller is second behind Eddie Rickenbacker for citations of the nation's second-highest military award for valor. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1955, after 37 years of service.

"Happy birthday Chesty Puller! Wherever you are!"

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U.S. Navy SEALs, Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy and Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew G. Axelson, pose for photo during their deployment to Afghanistan in 2005.

Murphy and Axelson would be killed by enemy forces during a reconnaissance mission, Operation Red Wings, on June 28, 2005. They were part of a four-man team tasked with finding a key Taliban leader in the mountainous terrain near Asadabad, Afghanistan, when they came under fire from a much larger enemy force.

(Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy)

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"I understand. And I don't care. I care about you. I care about you. I care about you. I care about you. I don't want your mom to see your head, your decapitated head on Al Jazeera."

(Lone Survivor, 2013)

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In this colorized photograph, two U.S. Marines are preparing to move out of a shell crater and advance towards Japanese positions, on the island of Saipan in June 1944.

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Freedom is never free! Wear red today to support and remember our troops currently deployed overseas!

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Lance Cpl. John Brown with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6 sights in on enemy fighters during Operation Branding Iron II in the Ghaysarkah region, Helmand province, Afghanistan, June 21, 2012.

Marines were patrolling to an objective when they were engaged by enemy fire during the operation designed to disrupt enemy logistics and deny the enemy freedom of movement.

(Photo by Lance Cpl. Ismael Ortega)

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U.S. Marines with 2d Reconnaissance Battalion, 2d Marine Division maneuver during a platoon attack on range 410A during Service Level Training Exercise 4-25, on Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, Aug. 6, 2025.

SLTE 4-25 is designed to be a challenging, realistic training environment that produces combat-ready forces capable of operating as an integrated Marine Air Ground Task Force across all domains of military operations.

(Photo by Lance Cpl. Judith Ann Lazaro)

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On June 15, 1944, the Battle of Saipan began.

With smoke billowing in the background, U.S. Marines of the 2nd Marine Division are photographed as they crawl under intense enemy fire to their assigned positions. One of the Marines is seen soaking wet after the landing craft he came in on was hit by Japanese mortar fire.

The landings began at 07:00 on 15th June 1944. More than 300 LVTs landed 8,000 Marines on the west coast of Saipan by about 09:00. Eleven fire support ships covered the Marine landings. The naval force consisted of the battleships Tennessee and California. The cruisers were Birmingham and Indianapolis. The destroyers were Norman Scott, Monssen, Colahan, Halsey Powell, Bailey, Robinson and Albert W. Grant.

Careful Japanese artillery preparation — placing flags in the lagoon to indicate the range — allowed them to destroy about 20 amphibious tanks, and the Japanese strategically placed barbed wire, artillery, machine gun emplacements, and trenches to maximize American casualties. However, by nightfall the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions had a beachhead about 6 miles wide and half a mile deep.

(Photo courtesy of USMC and colorized by Paul Reynolds)

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June 14th is Flag Day! 🇺🇸

It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress.

Pictured above: U.S. Marines from Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, pose holding an American flag shortly before leaving Patrol Base Khodi Rhom in Garmsir District of Helmand province in Afghanistan, April 20, 2010.

(Photo by Lance Cpl. Dwight A. Henderson)