From Gettysburg to Iwo Jima to IraqWisconsin Soldiers Played a Role in Keeping America Free – UpNorthNews
While most of us will celebrate Independence Day weekend with food and fun, lets not forget some of the people with Wisconsin ties who made these freedoms possible.
Most (22) were awarded to soldiers who fought in the Civil War especially the Iron Brigade, (the 7th Infantry along with members of the 6th and 2nd) for its sacrifices at Gettysburg that helped preserve the Union on July 1-3, 1863. Medal of Honor recipients spanned US history through the Vietnam War. A special congressional medal was also awarded to Milwaukees own Gen. Billy Mitchell, an aviation pioneer and airport namesake.
General Arthur MacArthur, Jr. is the father of five-star General Douglas MacArthur. The pair became the first father and son to both receive the Medal of Honor. (And it has only happened once since, with former President Theodore Roosevelt and his son, Theodore, Jr., who commanded troops at Utah Beach on D-Day.)
The elder MacArthur started his military career in Milwaukee, but his most famous moment happened during the Civil War Battle of Missionary Ridge in Tennessee, when the 18-year-old planted the regimental flag on top of a hill and shouted On Wisconsin. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for inspiring his fellow Union soldiers with that action and went on to serve in the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars.
General Robert Bruce McCoy was a National Guardsman during both the Spanish American War and World War I. After his first deployment, McCoy bought some land in Wisconsin to start training other soldiers. When he died in 1926, the military named the base after him.
Since then, Fort McCoy has been in constant use, and currently trains more than 100,000 members of the military every year. The 181st Infantry Brigade, the division responsible for training National Guard troops involved with the Global War on Terror, is the largest unit stationed at the fort.
Navy corpsman and field medic John Doc Bradley jumped in to help several Marines hoist the first American flag above the black sand and volcanic ash on the tiny island of Mt. Suribachi in February 1945.
Bradley was the last surviving flag-raiser when he passed away in 1994. His son John wrote the best-selling book Flags of Our Fathers in 2000.
He was born in the Antigo area, grew up in Appleton, and returned to Antigo after the war, where he raised his eight children and started a business.
After Bradleys passing, confusion about the men in Joe Rosenthals famous photograph was finally resolved. Bradley had actually been photographed by Lou Lowery while raising the first flag, but commanders wanted a larger flag planted later that day. Bradley was misidentified as being part of the second flag-raising.
Bradley was among 110,000 Americans who fought for control of the small but vital island and he was one of some 20,000 who were wounded in a campaign that resulted in 6,800 American deaths. Bradley was awarded the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart.
Appletons Russell Klika dropped out of high school in the late 1970s and joined the Marines when he was 17. On a whim, he bought a 35mm camera and taught himself how to use it.
After working as a civilian newspaper photographer and documenting the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Klika rejoined the military and, camera in hand, traveled to Iraq as a non-commissioned officer. His photographs have been featured in Time, Newsweek, and The New York Times. In 2007, Klika was named the Military Photographer of the Year.
The withdrawal of most American soldiers from Afghanistan ended the countrys longest war. But the post-traumatic stress and pain of losing friends or family members in the past is still very real within the military community.
Here are several organizations the Wisconsin Veterans Museum supports that benefit US troops, veterans, and their families:
Wisconsin Veterans Foundation
Wounded Warrior Project
Soldiers Angels
Veteran Tickets Foundation
Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America
- Iranian officer charged with orchestrating murder of US citizen in Iraq - ABC News - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Murder and terrorism charges brought against Iranian officer in 2022 killing of American in Iraq - The Associated Press - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Warfare': A Real-Time Iraq War Combat Film from a Navy SEAL and the Director of 'Civil War' - Military.com - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- BP, Iraq agree on technical terms to redevelop Kirkuk oil fields - Reuters - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Iraq begins Gulf Cup 26 campaign with a victory over Yemen - Iraqi News - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Pope Francis reveals two attempts on his life during 2021 visit to Iraq - CNN - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- First look at Warfare brings viewers into tenacity of Iraq War - Military Times - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Pope reveals he was almost assassinated in Iraq in 2021 - POLITICO Europe - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Pope Francis reveals he survived two assassination attempts during visit to Iraq - America: The Jesuit Review - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Ibrahim Al-Sumaidaie, Advisor to Iraqi Prime Minister: Militias in Iraq Should Dismantle and Integrate into the Political System; Our Regime Is in... - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Pope in autobiography reveals an apparent bombing plot during his 2021 visit to Iraq - The Associated Press - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Pope Francis reveals he was nearly assassinated during historic Iraq trip - The Catholic Thing - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Pope Francis reveals he survived two threats to his life in Iraq - Catholic News Agency - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Suicide bombers 'planned to attack Pope Francis' on visit to Iraq - Sky News - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- First Warfare trailer paints a harrowing picture of Iraq War combat - Task & Purpose - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Syrian rebel leader urges Iraq to keep Hashd al-Shaabi factions out of Syria - Reuters - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Trump selects a former soldier and Iraq War veteran to serve as Army secretary - The Associated Press - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Trump picks former soldier and Iraq War veteran to serve as Army secretary - Stars and Stripes - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- 5,000-year-old artifacts in Iraq hint at mysterious collapse of one of the world's 1st governments - Yahoo! Voices - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Iraq PM denies wiretapping allegations as lie of the century - Arab News - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- 5,000-year-old artifacts in Iraq hint at mysterious collapse of one of the world's 1st governments - Livescience.com - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Excavations uncover evidence for the emergence and rejection of the earliest state institutions in Iraq - Phys.org - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Leader Of Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) Signals Expansion Of Military Campaign To Homs; Assures Iraqi Government That War In Syria Will Not Spill Over... - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- PMF head: Increased security readiness along Iraq-Syria border - Al Mayadeen English - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Trump selects a former soldier and Iraq War veteran to serve as Army secretary - Daily Journal - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Deep Dive: Why Trump II may be different for Iran, Iraq - Amwaj.media - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Iraq army spox threatens 'military intervention in Syria - The New Arab - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Syrian Rebel Leader Asks Iraq To Stay Out Of Conflict After Victory In Hama - The Times of India - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Iraqi Cleric Al-Sadr: Iraq Should Not Intervene In Syria - Middle East Media Research Institute - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Verdict in Iraq's $2.5bn 'heist of the century' - but where have the rest of the missing billions gone? - The National - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Pro-Iranian militias enter Syria from Iraq to aid beleaguered Syrian army - The Times of Israel - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- 5,000-Year-Old Structures Discovered In Iraq Provide Evidence Of The First-Known Government Collapse In History - All That's Interesting - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Iraq Vows Active Role in Syria Amid Escalating Conflict - FingerLakes1.com - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Trumps pick for Army secretary served in Iraq and was law school classmate of Vance - Washington Times - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Is Trump Going To Turn The Screw On Iran's Key Criminal Accomplice Iraq - OilPrice.com - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- War hero demands compensation for veterans falsely accused of Iraq atrocities - The Telegraph - November 30th, 2024 [November 30th, 2024]
- Navy intercepts drone apparently launched from Iraq - The Times of Israel - November 30th, 2024 [November 30th, 2024]
- "Iraq ready to respond to any terrorist threats" says Maj. Gen. Rasool - Kurdistan24 - November 30th, 2024 [November 30th, 2024]
- Iraq tries to stem influx of illegal foreign workers - Al-Monitor - November 30th, 2024 [November 30th, 2024]
- BEIT project set to drive decent work and affordable housing in Iraq - ILO - November 30th, 2024 [November 30th, 2024]
- Albares thanks Iraq for its mediation efforts to contain the regional escalation - The Diplomat in Spain - November 30th, 2024 [November 30th, 2024]
- WHO Iraq Gathers National Stakeholders to Develop Country Cooperation Strategy Aligned with Agenda 2030 [EN/AR] - ReliefWeb - November 30th, 2024 [November 30th, 2024]
- Military dog who served in Iraq reunited with former handler after more than 2 years apart - KFOX El Paso - November 30th, 2024 [November 30th, 2024]
- Iraq secures its borders with Syria against terrorist threats - Kurdistan24 - November 30th, 2024 [November 30th, 2024]
- Aim to contribute to building a unified Iraq where peace and development prevail: Head of the Religious Endowments - ina.iq - November 30th, 2024 [November 30th, 2024]
- American Humane Reunites Retired Military Working Dog and Hander who Worked Together in Iraq - American Humane - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Trade gap focus in first visit to Spain by Iraq PM - Al-Monitor - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Loved ones make annual trip to Arlington Cemetery grave of FDNY firefighter killed in Iraq - New York Daily News - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Snchez and Prime Minister of Iraq ask the parties to avoid an escalation in the Middle East - The Diplomat in Spain - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Iraq motivated to establish promising partnership with Spain - Iraqi News - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Turkish intelligence eliminates top PKK operative in Iraq | Daily Sabah - Daily Sabah - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Iraq to resume flights to Beirut next week - Rudaw Media Network - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- UK and Iraq strike deal to tackle people smuggling and organised crime networks - The National - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Pete Hegseths Army unit in Iraq was rocked by a war-crimes case - The Washington Post - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- Iraq, hacks and the Kingfish: The scandal that could bring down Prime Minister Sudani - Middle East Eye - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- Jordan reach FIBA Asia Cup 2025 after Saudi Arabia comeback win over Iraq - FIBA - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- UN in Iraq marks 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls [EN/AR] - ReliefWeb - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- Iraq's population grew to 45.4 million according to the first survey in decades - ABC News - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- A Human Development Journey to the Heart of the Cradle of Civilization, Iraq - World Bank - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- Why Did Iraq Suspend a $10 Billion Deal With China? - The Diplomat - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- Alexander Novak paid a working visit to Iraq - - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- ASIA/IRAQ - Patriarch Sako appeals to all the "heirs" of the Church of the East: "Unity is the only way to face the current... - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- Iraq blocks IMDb website over 'immoral content' claims - bne IntelliNews - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- Vacationing in Iraq, mysterious chemical in water, Jeeps downward spiral: Catch up on the days stories - CNN - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- ADM makes second 2024 sale of U.S. rice to Iraq - Farm Progress - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- Israeli strikes in Iraq could be imminent, US reportedly warns - JNS.org - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- USAID commits investment of up to $20 Million with UNICEF to address water scarcity in Iraq and improve water and sanitation services [EN/AR] -... - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- Will Trump reduce the US military presence in Syria and Iraq? - The New Arab - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- Iraq bans alcohol in hotels and clubs, bringing country close to near-total ban - The Washington Post - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- Iraq calls for pressure on Israel to halt possible strikes - The New Arab - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- Ceremony held commemorating 20th anniversary of Green Bay Marine killed in Iraq - WBAY - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- Navy veteran of Vietnam, Iraq wars sentenced to 3 years in prison for Capitol riot - WUSA9.com - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- ILO and Ministry of Youth and Sport Launch Job Search Club National Program in Iraq [EN/AR] - ReliefWeb - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Russia reaffirm OPEC+ production cuts commitment - Arab News - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- Iraq braces for most severe cold snap in 14 years - Kurdistan24 - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- Iraq law could lower a girls age of consent as an adult from 18 to 9: it legalizes child rape - Fox News - November 12th, 2024 [November 12th, 2024]
- Five killed in Turkish drone strikes on PKK members in northern Iraq - Reuters - November 12th, 2024 [November 12th, 2024]
- Yemen missile interception sparks fire near Jerusalem; 4 drones launched from Iraq - The Times of Israel - November 12th, 2024 [November 12th, 2024]
- Drone launched from Iraq shot down before crossing into Israel overnight, IDF says - The Times of Israel - November 12th, 2024 [November 12th, 2024]
- Spy satellite images lead archeologists to the site of a historic battle in Iraq - The Associated Press - November 12th, 2024 [November 12th, 2024]