ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

The author of Sicily ’43: The First Assault on Fortress Europe, an in-depth look at Operation Husky, speaks Nov. 19 in a webinar hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army.

James Holland, an internationally acclaimed historian, writer and broadcaster, appears as part of AUSA’s Thought Leaders webinar series.

The event begins at 10 a.m. Eastern time. The event is free, but registration is required here.

The Army’s Merrill’s Marauders are one step closer to receiving the Congressional Gold Medal after the House of Representatives passed legislation in support of the famed World War II soldiers.

Supported by the Association of the U.S. Army, the bill recognizes members of the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), who became known as Merrill’s Marauders after their commander, Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill.

The legislation passed the U.S. Senate late last year and was cleared by the House on Sept. 22. It now goes to the White House for the president’s signature.

Retired Lt. Gen. Daniel Bolger has been recognized by the Army Historical Foundation with a Distinguished Article Award for his article in ARMY magazine on how African Americans fought racism in the Army and the Nazis in World War II.

Two surviving Merrill’s Marauders traveled to Capitol Hill Feb. 5 to meet with lawmakers in support of a bill that would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the famed World War II unit.

“All of the Marauders and their descendants are very proud of what they accomplished and endured and feel that the award of the Congressional Gold Medal would be recognition by our country and its citizens what was accomplished by this small group of volunteers,” said former Staff Sgt. Robert Passanisi, a 94-year-old Marauder.

Author Jon Mikolashek recently presented a glimpse into his most recent book—Blood, Guts, and Grease: George S. Patton in World War I—and one of the Army’s most notable historical leaders. 

“He’s provided a real service to us through this book,” retired Lt. Gen. Guy Swan, vice president of Education for the Association of the U.S. Army, said of the author during the Institute of Land Warfare’s Lemnitzer Lecture on Nov. 13. 

The lessons of D-Day and World War II ring true 75 years later as the Army marks its 244th birthday and prepares for a deadlier, more complex future battlefield, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley said.

Speaking during an Army birthday celebration at the Pentagon—the service’s birthday is June 14—Milley talked about the deadly price paid by the Army during the Normandy campaign.

Nineteen U.S. Army divisions participated in the campaign, six of them on D-Day, Milley said. During that six- to seven-week campaign, 37,000 American soldiers were killed in action.