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06/05/2026

Today in United States Military History-June 5th.

At 4:15 am, on June 5th, 1944, General Dwight D. Eisenhower sat among a room of advisors and military leaders at the Southwick House in Hampshire, England. Tension in the room could pierce skin. A near 10-month plan hung in the balance. Months of extensive coordination and dramatic deception were now to be decided by the graces of mother nature. Group Captain James Stagg, Eisenhower’s chief meteorologist, approached Eisenhower and presented a grim weather report; conditions were unsuitable for any major military operation on June 5th, but a narrow, marginally better window of opportunity presented itself on June 6. Markedly revealing his grit, and possibly qualms, Eisenhower sat quietly for a moment and uttered the famous words, “OK, let's go.” Eisenhower’s short statement commenced the invasion of Normandy; within hours of Eisenhower’s approval, the greatest armada in history moved across the English Channel. Prior to the full thrashing of the operation on June 6, Eisenhower met with the several hundred men of the 101st Airborne Division, all of whom would be the first to land in German-occupied France. In his wallet, Eisenhower carried a note that read, "If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt, it is mine alone.” As the planes departed on June 6, Eisenhower stood alone, tears filled his eyes as they flew into the darkness.

An understated story of the invasion of Normandy, and D-Day, was the actual day in which the invasion was supposed to occur and what the implications meant. Originally, the invasion of Normandy was scheduled for June 5; however, due to inclement weather, the invasion got pushed back to June 6. If the invasion had been pushed back any more, the entire plan that had been coordinated for months would have likely imploded—Germany would have caught wind of the plan and increased fortification along the French coast, turning a near-impossible mission into an impossible mission. The invasion of Normandy was a military engagement nonetheless determined by precise variables and an exceptional amount of luck. The invasion of Normandy was a risk, as highlighted in the previous story outlining Eisenhower’s 24 hours before the invasion; variables surrounding the invasion did little in assuring the success of the invasion. So why did Eisenhower sign off on the invasion? Anything short of success meant a prolonged war or, worse, the possibility of atomic bombs being implemented in the European theater. Eisenhower knew, better than anyone, the allies had their backs against the wall that fateful day. The fate of Europe, of American excellence, resided in the hands of the soldiers. When faced with adversity, Americans do not stop; they endure; they find a way. 2,501 Americans lost their lives that day, and over 7,000 Americans were injured during the engagement. Let us remember those who allowed us to have a better tomorrow.

Image 1: A LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel) from the U.S. Coast Guard-manned USS Samuel Chase disembarks troops of the U.S. Army's First Division on the morning of June 6, 1944 (D-Day) at Omaha Beach.

Image 2: D-Day from the boat

Image 3: Landing ships putting cargo ashore on Omaha Beach at low tide during the early days of the Allied invasion, mid-June 1944.

Image 4: LAC Smithson of 2809 Squadron, RAF Regiment, preparing hand grenades while seated in the back of a truck at a south coast port, 4 June 1944.

Image 5: U.S. Army Rangers resting in the vicinity of Pointe du Hoc, which they assaulted in support of Omaha Beach landings on D-Day, 6 June 1944. Photograph was released for publication on 12 June 1944. Note Ranger in right center, apparently using his middle finger to push cartridges into a M-1 carbine magazine. The carbine and a backpack frame are nearby. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Image 6: Operation Overlord (the Normandy Landings)- D-day 6 June 1944
Troops wading ashore, 6 June 1944.

06/04/2026

Today in United States Military History-June 4th.

On the evening of June 4, 1944, American troops entered Rome, a concluding nine months chaotic fighting up the Italian peninsula. Lieutenant General Mark Clark's Fifth Army crossed the Aniene River bridges and pushed into the city, facing little to no resistance. For context, Romans had been under German occupation since the Italian armistice in September 1943. Historical accounts state that the sight of Americans in Rome triggered a wave of frenzied, yet excited, Romans to flood the streets, celebrating the Americans, with Pope Pius XII going as far as framing the American capture of Rome as divine deliverance. The excitement around the American occupation of Rome quickly dissipated as operations pertaining to Normandy would commence two days later, on June 6, 1944. Regardless, the American capture and occupation of Rome served as a much-needed morale boost for soldiers who had endured months of calamity.

06/04/2026

The Military Medical Malpractice Claims Crisis: A System Designed to Deny

Since 2020, less than 10% of claims filed under landmark military malpractice legislation have been approved — leaving hundreds of service members and their families without recourse.

In 2019, Congress passed the SFC Richard Stayskal Military Medical Accountability Act — a watershed moment for service members who, under federal law, cannot sue the military even in cases of medical malpractice. The Stayskal law established a claims review system and set aside $400 million over a decade to compensate troops and families harmed by Defense Department health care providers.

More than five years later, the numbers tell a damning story. Of the 764 claims filed under the Stayskal law, just 73 have been approved. More than half have been outright denied. And of the $400 million Congress allocated, only $15 million has actually been paid out.

Families and advocates describe the process as engineered specifically to wear claimants down, rather than deliver justice. When denials arrive, families say there is little transparency about who reviewed the case, what qualifications reviewers held, or how conclusions were reached. With how long the process is drawn out, denial is almost expected. Appeals are available, but rejections often mirror the original denial almost word for word.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured by medical negligence in Virginia, at a VA facility, at a military medical facility, or at another federally supported healthcare provider, the Rawls Law Group team can evaluate your potential claim and help you understand your options.

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Since 2020, the military has received 764 claims under a 2019 law intended to provide malpractice compensation. Just 10% have been approved.

06/03/2026

Today in United States Military History-June 3rd.

On June 3, 1965, astronaut and Lieutenant Colonel Ed White successfully performed the first American spacewalk. Ed White’s spacewalk was a watershed moment for the United States during the ongoing space race with the Soviet Union. Ed White successfully floated outside his spacecraft for approximately 23 minutes before receiving a call to return. Upon reentering the spacecraft, Ed White famously said, “I'm coming back in, and it's the saddest moment of my life.” Admittedly, the Soviet Union had beaten the United States in the completion of a spacewalk by less than three months prior on March 18, 1965. Despite the United States’ delayed achievement, Ed White’s completion was far more refined; in informal terms, Ed White’s spacewalk did not result in a near-fatal ending. Regardless of the idiosyncrasies, Ed White’s spacewalk on June 3, 1965, strengthened American confidence during the Cold War, but more importantly, the spacewalk instilled much-needed confidence in American researchers and military personnel in space technology and missions going forward. Tragically, less than two years later, Eric White would pass away on January 27, 1967, during the Apollo 1 fire.

Image 1: Astronaut Edward H. White II, pilot of the Gemini-Titan 4 flight, floats in space while performing America's first spacewalk on June 3, 1965. White spent 23 minutes maneuvering around his spacecraft as Jim McDivitt remained inside the spacecraft. White is attached to the spacecraft by a 25-ft. umbilical line and a 23-ft. tether line, both wrapped in gold tape to form one cord. In his right hand White carries a Hand-Held Self Maneuvering Unit (HHSMU), which he used to help move him around the weightless environment of space. The visor of his helmet is gold plated to protect him from the unfiltered rays of the sun.

Image 2: Astronauts James A. McDivitt (leading), command pilot; and Edward H. White II, pilot, walk up the ramp at Pad 19 during the Gemini-Titan 4 (GT-4) prelaunch countdown.

Image 3: President Lyndon Johnson shows off photos of astronaut Edward H. White II during his historic "space walk" extravehicular activity (EVA) on the Gemini 4 flight. Major participants from left to right are: Robert Gilruth (background), Ed White, President Lyndon Johnson, Robert Seamans, Jim McDivitt and James Webb.

06/03/2026

In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Hencely v. Fluor Corp. that state law tort claims against a military contractor are not preempted where the federal government neither ordered nor authorized the contractor’s alleged misconduct. The Court's ruling rejected the Fourth Circuit’s categorical “battlefield preemption” doctrine, thereby restricting military contractor immunity. When asked about the recent ruling, Glen Sturtevant, attorney and chairman of AAJ’s Federal Tort Liability and Military Advocacy Section, said the following on the matter,

“For injured servicemembers and their families, this decision is important. The Court made clear that military contractors do not receive a blanket preemption shield for conduct the government never ordered or approved. The ruling reaffirms that accountability and access to justice still have a place, even in cases arising from military operations.”

If you or a loved one was seriously injured by medical negligence in Virginia, at a VA facility, at a military medical facility, or at another federally supported healthcare provider, Glen and the Rawls Law Group team can evaluate your potential claim and help you understand your options.

Link to Rawls Law Group Article: https://www.rawlslawgroup.com/post/supreme-court-restricts-contractor-immunity-defenses-in-hencely-v-fluor-corp

Link to AAJ Article: https://www.justice.org/resources/publications/trial-news/2026-may-14-scotus-rules

06/02/2026

Today in United States Military History-June 2nd.

On June 2nd, 1942, the United States prepared for Japan’s assault against the Midway Islands, a decisive and invaluable strategic location in the Pacific theater. In actuality, United States preparations had been ongoing for several weeks. The United States had been hurriedly preparing defensive forces and shipping in supplies to Midway since April 1942. This came after American codebreakers intercepted Japanese radio signals framing “AF” (Midway) as a short-term territorial goal of Japan, specifically Isoroku Yamamoto, Admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy. As a brief bit of context, leading up to the grueling, yet decisive, Battle of Midway, Japan had aggressively suppressed United States forces. Winning key battles across the Pacific and severely weakening United States forces and equipment. To illustrate that point, the USS Yorktown, a key vessel used during the Battle of Midway, barely met repair standards just days before the Battle of Midway. In short, the preparation leading up to the Battle of Midway was tumultuous, yet methodical. In an act of self-reflection, the United States knew that they could not win the Battle of Midway purely off of firepower. As the late John Madden would say, "Don't worry about the horse being blind, just load the wagon," and load the wagon the United States did. Rather than focusing on measures out of their control, the United States knew that the Battle of Midway would be won purely off of strategic dominance. On June 2nd, 1942, United States forces silently moved northeast of Midway toward Point Luck, the designated ambush spot. The Battle of Midway would not commence until June 3rd, 1942. As important as the Battle of Midway was, initial preparation by the United States gave American forces the edge, a series of event worthy of a post themselves

Image 1: Scene on board USS Yorktown (CV-5), during the Battle of Midway, 4 June 1942, shortly after she was hit by three Japanese bombs on the same day, what would cause the sinking of the aircraft carrier on 7 June 1942, in which 141 men were killed. The Battle of Midway, however, was a decisive naval and air battle for the US Navy and widely considered a turning point in the Pacific War. Dense smoke is from fires in her uptakes, caused by a bomb that punctured them and knocked out her boilers. The engineer with the hammer at the right side is most likely covering a bomb entry hole in the forward elevator. Note arresting gear cables and forward palisade elements on the flight deck; CXAM radar antenna, large national ensign and YE homing beacon antenna atop the foremast; 5"/38, .50 caliber and 1.1" guns manned and ready at left.

06/01/2026

Today in United States Military History-June 1st.

General Robert E. Lee took command of Confederate forces on June 1st, 1862, following the injury of General Joseph E. Johnston during the Peninsula campaign. General Lee was appointed as commander of Confederate forces because of his experience and tactical skill. Prior to his appointment as commander, General Lee served as the senior military advisor for Confederate president Jefferson Davis. The appointment of General Lee resulted in a period of unequivocal prosperity and superiority for the Confederate forces during the Civil War. General Lee would retain power over Confederate forces until the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House in April 1865. During and after the Civil War, General Lee would be regarded as one of the most revered and influential Civil War figures.

Image 1: Confederate General Robert E. Lee in May 1869

Image 2: Confederate General Robert E. Lee poses in a late April 1865 portrait taken by Mathew Brady in Richmond, Virginia. Lee's surrender to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865, soon before this portrait was taken, marked the end of the American Civil War.

05/28/2026

Today in Military History-May 28th.

On May 28th, 1788, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay began publishing a series of essays backing the ratification and defense of the proposed Constitution; these essays would become known as the Federalist Papers. By the end of the series, Alexander Hamilton wrote 51 essays attributed to the Federalist Papers. While not directly a military-related event, the ratification of the Constitution, thereby the ideals put forth in the Federalist Papers, shaped the foundation of the American government and created the system we know today.

Image 1: Title page of Publius (pseudonym) [Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison] (1788) The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, as Agreed upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787. In Two Volumes. (1st ed.), New York, N.Y.: Printed and sold by J. and A. McLean, No. 41

05/26/2026

Today in Military History-May 26th.

On May 26th, 1940, the evacuation of allied forces from Dunkirk commenced. Initially, the evacuation ambition was modest. Due to available resources and enemy forces, allied forces expected to retrieve 45,000 troops over two days. Unexpectedly, allied evacuation forces were able to defend the evacuation path longer than initially expected. By June 4th, 1940, the Royal Navy evacuated nearly 338,000 allied forces from the beaches of Dunkirk.

Image 1: Men of the 2nd Royal Ulster Rifles awaiting evacuation at Bray Dunes, near Dunkirk, 1940.

Image 2: French and British troops on board ships berthing at Dover, 31 May 1940.

05/23/2026

Today in United States Military History-May 23rd.

On May 23rd, 1939, the USS Squalus sank during a test dive, resulting in one of the most dramatic submarine rescue operations in naval history. The USS Squalus, a new Sargo-class submarine at the time, was conducting a routine test dive around the Isle of Shoals. At approximately 8:40 am a catastrophic failure of the main induction valve occurred, resulting in a large hole that flooded the engine room and torpedo room. The USS Squalus plunged 243 feet down to the ocean floor. During the main induction valve failure, 26 crew members died instantaneously; however, 33 crew members still survived in compartments toward the front of the submarine. The surviving crew members sealed the doors, released a marker buoy, and waited for an uncertain rescue. On the ocean floor, water temperatures were just above freezing, and a limited amount of oxygen remained in the compartments. Luckily, rescue efforts were coordinated fairly fast. On May 24th, 4 trips were made down to the USS Squalus with the McCann Rescue Chamber, and all 33 remaining crew members were rescued successfully. The USS Squalus was later raised, repaired, and recommissioned as the USS Sailfish by the US Navy. During World War II, the USS Sailfish sank a Japanese es**rt carrier that carried 21 US prisoners of war. The ironic part of that story is that the prisoners aboard the Japanese carrier were members of the USS Sculpin, the ship that located and rescued the USS Squalus four years prior.

Image 1: USS Sailfish (SSR-572) displays her BPS-2 search radar and BPS-3 height finder.

Image 2: Chief Torpedoman John Mihalowski, United States Navy. Photographed on 19 January 1940, just after being presented with the Medal of Honor for heroism during rescue and salvage operations on USS Squalus (SS-192), following her accidental sinking on 23 May 1939. He was a a member of the rescue chamber during the rescue of Squalus survivors on 24-25 May 1939 and served as a diver during the salvage effort.

Image 3: Deep Sea Diving School, Naval Gun Factory, Washington, D.C. Assistant Officer in Charge, Lieutenant J. H. McDonald indoctrinates students in a classroom discussion on the use of equipment and the fundamental principles of diving. Lieutenant McDonald was awarded the Medal of Honor for his work in the rescue of the thirty-three men from the sunken submarine USS Squalus (SS 192) in 1939