Category Archives: military history

Letters Home from Vietnam – One Pilot’s Story

This Veterans Day, which is November 11th, marks the end of the 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Vietnam War. The thirteen-year commemoration period was launched in 2012 by President Barack Obama to honor Vietnam veterans and their families. Almost 2.7 … Continue reading

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In Their Own Words: The Revolutionary War’s End Through the Eyes of Winthrop Ballantine

While we often remember how the American Revolution began—with the “shot heard round the world” on April 19, 1775—the story of how it ended deserves equal attention. As we mark the 250th anniversary of the war’s start, the journal of … Continue reading

Posted in American Revolution, Historical Documents, medical history, military history, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Culture Beyond Combat: A World War II Chronicle from North Africa

“M. Mory, my Fascist friend, had his wife roast up a beautiful rabbit for us. Worthy of a poetess – in a huge Dutch oven with a ring of brown roast potatoes and more than a hint of garlic.” So … Continue reading

Posted in Archival collections, Journalism, military history, Uncategorized, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Gale Cleven and George Niethammer: The Wyoming Connection in “Masters of the Air”

If you are interested in the history of the Second World War, or interested in aviation, you may have been watching Masters of the Air, a new television series on Apple TV+. A companion to Band of Brothers and The … Continue reading

Posted in Actors, Adaptations, American history, aviation, Biography and profiles, military history, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history, World War II, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Richard Tregaskis: Capturing War’s Grit and Humanity Through Journalism

For the American public at home in 1942, the war raging thousands of miles across oceans could seem remote and opaque. Richard Tregaskis’ Guadalcanal Diary brought the stories of the American forces engaged in brutal fighting to the homefront in … Continue reading

Posted in American history, Authors and literature, Guadalcanal Campaign, Journalism, military history, Uncategorized, War correspondents, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Captured in Vietnam – One Wyoming Family’s Story of Despair and Hope

During the Vietnam War more than 1,800 Americans were held prisoner or were missing in action in Southeast Asia. Among them was Army Major Theodore “Ted” Gostas of Sheridan. Gostas was born in Butte, Montana, on December 13, 1938. After … Continue reading

Posted in International relations, military history, Prisoner of War, Uncategorized, Vietnam War | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

“I’m Sorry Mother, For This Lousy Letter…”: Viewpoints on the Vietnam War

January 27, 2023, marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Accords, which signaled the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. It’s an especially appropriate time to remember the sentiments and experiences of those involved … Continue reading

Posted in American history, International relations, military history, Political history, Southeast Asia, Uncategorized, Vietnam War | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Infamous Day

On December 8th, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the Congress of the United States with the following declaration: “Yesterday, December 7th, 1941– a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately … Continue reading

Posted in American history, military history, Pearl Harbor Attack, Political history, Uncategorized, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Flying Saucers – For Real! The Papers of Jack D. Pickett

Jack Dean Pickett was born in Casper, Wyoming in 1926. As a young man, he worked for the Burlington Railroad Roundhouse, where on June 6, 1944, he was responsible for blowing the steam whistles announcing D-Day. He joined the Navy … Continue reading

Posted in Cold War, Conspiracy Theories, military history, UFO, Uncategorized, Unidentified Flying Objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

January 27th marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which coincides with the date that the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp was liberated by Soviet troops in 1945. In that vein, we will delve into two World War II era collections at the American … Continue reading

Posted in Holocaust Days of Remembrance, military history, Political history, Post World War II, Uncategorized, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment