In your opinion what has been the greatest accomplishment of the United States Military to date?

2015-05-19T16:27:01-04:00

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 4:39 PM

2015-05-19T16:39:13-04:00

The Revolutionary War cause we would not be America if we lost that.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 5:09 PM

2015-05-19T17:09:45-04:00

I have to agree with 1SG Private RallyPoint Member on this one. Defeating the standing army and navy of the greatest superpower in the world with a bunch of ragtag militiamen during the Revolutionary War has to be our greatest achievement.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 5:44 PM

2015-05-19T17:44:19-04:00

I think there are too many great accomplishments of the US military to really single out one thing. So, I would like to submit a few items for the list...

Berlin Airlift: Providing humanitarian aid to Berliners in the first major crisis of the Cold War. Sustained food supply drops for nearly a year. Nearly 300,000 flights in all. That equated to a flight taking off every 30 seconds.

European Air war (actually an Allied accomplishment): Obtaining and maintaining air superiority against one of the most deadly and advanced air forces in the world at that time

Operation Desert Storm: Essentially crippling Iraq in a few short weeks

George Washington's spy operations during the Revolutionary War: The spy network that was created was new and revolutionary and arguably enabled the colonies to beat a far superior power

Response by SFC Maury Gonzalez made May 19 at 2015 7:26 PM

2015-05-19T19:26:40-04:00

You can thank military medics for most of the advances in modern medicine, from vaccines and antibiotics to the current EMS systems

Response by MSgt Robert Pellam made May 19 at 2015 7:27 PM

2015-05-19T19:27:55-04:00

mm SSgt Private RallyPoint Member Stole mine so I gave him an up vote and I shall elaborate a bit just because, well I'm a History Major and I like to talk.

Berlin Airlift. April 1948-May 1949

Asone of the First test for the fledgling U.S. Air Force. The Berlin Airlift comes after a bit of political pushing and pulling between the Soviets and the Allies. Wanting to just push the Allies completely out of Berlin the Soviets erected a blockade to deter supplies from coming into Berlin. They figured the Allies would just give it up. To their surprise the Allies, led by the US, started the Berlin Airlift. A nonstop round the clock Airlift of goods into Berlin and the level never before seen in the world.

This had a few effects. It does produce the result of the Soviets caving in and opening the ground corridors again after a year. It gives the US a much needed confidence boost going into the Cold War that the Soviets would not openly use force on the US. It is also seen as the unofficial start of the Cold War between the US and the Soviets that lasts up until the late 80's. It also showed that the US could fight the Soviets with out force either.

Is this the greatest accomplishment in US History? That is debatable. But like all the ones listed, it proves as a pivotal moment in History for our nation.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 19 at 2015 7:57 PM

2015-05-19T19:57:48-04:00

WWII. We kept Russia and England in the game with lend lease. England received 50 destroyers, Russia received 400,000 jeeps, 1500 armor vehicles, 11,400 planes to keep their war efforts alive. Allied forces in Europe lost 33,700 planes and 160,000 crewmembers.

Our military planned for the attack and occupation N Africa and cutting off the sea lanes in the Mediterranean Sea. By cutting of the sea lanes the Grermans only incoming fuel was by plane, which was not enough for his armored forces. Allied forces invaded Italy and then Normandy which comprised of 160,000 men in the largest amphibious operations in history.

The Japanese committed the same mistake as the Germans, they expanded too far and too much for proper support. General MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz decided the first order of business were the New Guinea Islands North of Australia to protect the country and sea lanes, and start island hopping campaigns in the North and South to meet in the middle, of which, Iwo Jima became the hallmark island.