Known as Victory in Europe (V-E) Day, May 8, 1945 marked the conclusion of World War II operations in Europe. The Allied forces, through immense sacrifice and unwavering determination, liberated Europe.
It was a day of both celebration and reflection, as the world honored the bravery of those who served and remembered the countless lives lost during the conflict. As we commemorate V-E Day this May, we’ll examine the role of U.S. Army paratroopers who served in the D-Day advance operations.
Just after midnight on June 6, 1944, American paratroopers were dropped behind enemy lines to prepare for an invasion force that would arrive at dawn. The Soldiers’ mission was to capture roadways and establish river crossings to support the D-Day invasion. The use of airborne troops, a vital of part the Allies’ campaign plans, was born out of wartime necessity.
Explore how the U.S. Army developed new technology, training, and strategies to overcome challenges and accomplish the mission. Learn how Army airborne troops contributed to Allied Victory in Europe during World War II.
Register for the VIRTUAL History Talk on May 7 at 12 p.m. ET.
Register for the VIRTUAL History Talk on May 14 at 12 p.m. ET.
This program is offered virtual and in-person on Wednesday, May 21. In-person seats are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Register for the VIRTUAL History Talk on May 21 at 12 p.m. ET.
Register for the IN-PERSON History Talk on May 21 at 12 p.m. ET.
Generations of Americans have honorably served their country in the military. We the People celebrates Americans who have served, telling their stories, past, present, and future, because every Soldier has a story.
In May 1861, Col. Elmer Ellsworth became the first Union officer to be killed in the Civil War. Ellsworth commanded a regiment of New York Fire Zouaves, regiments raised for volunteer Army service. His sacrifice inspired legions of U.S. Army Soldiers. Tens of thousands of Soldiers following in his footsteps, enduring hardships and challenges to preserve the Union. The items Soldiers carried into the field were invaluable to performing their duty and executing the Army’s mission.
Join us to explore the gear, weapons, and personal items that made up a Civil War Soldier’s Load.
This program is offered virtual and in-person on Thursday, May 29. In-person seats are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Register for the VIRTUAL History Talk on May 29 at 12 p.m. ET.
Register for the IN-PERSON History Talk on May 29 at 12 p.m. ET.
While thousands of Soldiers fought for independence under General George Washington, a silent war raged in the shadows. Throughout the colonies, a clandestine network of spies struggled for strategic advantage, a hidden conflict that may have tipped the scales of the Revolution. As a defeated British intelligence officer reportedly lamented, “Washington did not really outfight the British. He simply out-spied us.”
Discover the thrilling world of double agents, daring missions, and secret messages that comprised the vital intelligence network of the American Revolution.
Register for the VIRTUAL History Talk on June 4 at 12 p.m. ET.
Register for the VIRTUAL History Talk on June 11 at 12 p.m. ET.
This program is offered virtual and in-person on Wednesday, June 18. In-person seats are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Register for the VIRTUAL History Talk on June 18 at 12 p.m. ET.
Register for the IN-PERSON History Talk on June 18 at 12 p.m. ET.
Generations of Americans have honorably served their country in the military. We the People celebrates Americans who have served, tell their stories, past, present, and future, because every Soldier has a story.
Following the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States mobilized for war. The Women’s Army Corps brought women into the effort. Recognizing their valuable service, military leaders lobbied Congress to make it permanent. In 1948, President Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act. The Act granted women the right to serve as permanent, regular members in all four branches of the military.
Learn how their actions along with thousands of American Soldiers contributed to the Allied victory.
This program is offered virtual and in-person on Thursday, June 26. In-person seats are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Register for the VIRTUAL History Talk on June 26 at 12 p.m. ET.
Register for the IN-PERSON History Talk on June 26 at 12 p.m. ET.
The Corps of Discovery was the Army’s first diplomatic mission. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark received orders from President Thomas Jefferson to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and find a water passageway to the Pacific Ocean. In this virtual field trip, examine primary sources to learn more about the crew, American Indian culture, and the natural landscape. Discover the mission’s lasting impacts and consequences for the Army, the nation, and the American Indians who inhabited the land.
This program is offered virtual and in-person on Wednesday, July 2. In-person seats are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Register for the VIRTUAL History Talk on July 2 at 12 p.m. ET.
Register for the IN-PERSON History Talk on July 2 at 12 p.m. ET.
In May 1861, Col. Elmer Ellsworth became the first Union officer to be killed in the Civil War. Ellsworth commanded a New York Fire Zouaves regiment, which was raised for volunteer Army service. His sacrifice inspired legions of U.S. Army Soldiers. Tens of thousands of Soldiers followed in his footsteps, enduring hardships and challenges to preserve the Union. The items Soldiers carried into the field were invaluable to performing their duty and executing the Army’s mission.
Join us to explore the gear, weapons, and personal items that made up a Civil War Soldier’s Load.
This program is offered virtual and in-person on Wednesday, July 9. In-person seats are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Register for the VIRTUAL History Talk on July 9 at 12 p.m. ET.
Register for the IN-PERSON History Talk on July 9 at 12 p.m. ET.
Healthy Soldiers are essential for the U.S. Army to accomplish its mission. The food Soldiers eat is one way to keep a strong fighting force. The vitamins and minerals that make up a Soldier’s diet ensure that they are capable of enduring the physical and mental requirements to be successful. Since the Revolutionary War, the U.S. Army has experimented with and provided food to Soldiers based on available resources, nutrition, and current technology.
Coffee, hardtack, and salt pork comprised the majority of a Civil War Soldier’s diet. While these items may seem crude by 21st century standards, they met the nutritional needs of Soldiers at the time. The U.S. Army ration—the amount of food authorized for one Soldier per day—kept Soldiers’ stomachs full and gave them the energy to move forward.
In this History Talk, explore how the U.S. Army supplied its Soldiers during the Civil War. Learn how Soldiers supplemented their rations and, for many, learned to cook for the first time. As part of the field trip, you’ll also learn how to cook like a Civil War Soldier and make hardtack at home.
This program is offered virtual and in-person on Wednesday, July 16. In-person seats are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Register for the VIRTUAL History Talk on July 16 at 12 p.m. ET.
Register for the IN-PERSON History Talk on July 16 at 12 p.m. ET.
On Dec. 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright flew their heavier-than-air machine, over 100 feet in 12 seconds at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. This flight, the first of three that day, marked the world’s first powered, sustained and controlled airplane flight. During those three short test flights, the aerial age was born.
The Army has frequently been a leader in recognizing and developing new technology and inventions to improve its effectiveness on the battlefield. Following the Wright Brothers’ success, the Army challenged the inventors to provide an aircraft that would carry two passengers, fly 40 miles per hour, and remain airborne for an hour. The result, the Wright Model A, was tested and accepted by the Army in 1909 at Fort Myer, Virginia. The purchase constituted the Army’s first air force.
Discover how the Wright brothers countered the problems of control and balance through experimentation to achieve success. Discover how the U.S. Army harnessed this new technology to improve readiness and learn how, in turn, that technology impacted civilian life.
This program is offered virtual and in-person on Wednesday, August 6. In-person seats are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Register for the VIRTUAL History Talk on August 6 at 12 p.m. ET.
Register for the IN-PERSON History Talk on August 6 at 12 p.m. ET.
Laughter, celebrities, and frivolity are the sounds and images most closely associated with the United Services Organizations (USO) and, more specifically, the “Camp Show.” These professional-quality variety shows featured America’s most popular comedians, vocalists, and actors, including Bob Hope, Lena Horne, Judy Garland, and Lucille Ball, to some of World War II’s most uncertain battlefields. The shows brought Soldiers a brief respite from the uncertainty that lay ahead and an outlet for stress associated with wartime service.
While the lively nature of the “Camp Shows” stand out in American memory, the USO provided both places of lively social activity and quiet contemplation to Soldiers seeking a morale boost, religious comfort, or a distraction. The USO was incorporated on Feb. 4, 1941, to provide recreational opportunities and resources for World War II service members. The organization combined six social organizations into one formidable group that operated over 3,000 recreational clubs across the globe to provide Soldiers with lodging, food, resources, and entertainment.
Learn how the Army values of selfless service and duty were channeled by civilians to support and uplift Soldiers during one of the darkest times in American history. Identify how those values have been carried on since World War II to support Soldiers through times of war and peace.
This program is offered virtual and in-person on Wednesday, August 13. In-person seats are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Register for the VIRTUAL History Talk on August 13 at 12 p.m. ET.
Register for the IN-PERSON History Talk on August 13 at 12 p.m. ET
Join us to learn more about the U.S. Army during the Cold War.
During World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States worked together to fight a common enemy; after the war, that relationship fell apart. Trust between the former allies broke down, and fear took hold in its place. This mutual mistrust led the two countries to confront the looming question of “what if?” That question would color the relationship between the two for the next 50 years. As a result, the Army developed new technology, equipment, and training to better protect Americans from the possibilities and threats posed by the “what if?”
Learn how Soldiers worked together to keep the “what if?” from becoming a reality during the Cold War.
This program is offered virtual and in-person on Wednesday, August 20. In-person seats are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Register for the VIRTUAL History Talk on August 20 at 12 p.m. ET.
Register for the IN-PERSON History Talk on August 20 at 12 p.m. ET