5 Greatest American Military victories, and 5 worst defeats (1 Viewer)

[redneck]

Greatest Victories5) Lexington and Concord/Old north BridgeThe battle which started it all. the Shot heard 'round the world brought about the American Revolution and eventually the United States. while its not a major battle in terms of number of men involved, it was a building block4) Iwo JimaEffectively forced the Japanese into a defensive war, and gave US bombers an airbase to attack the Japanese mainland. it's also one of the most costly battles ever fought. the events there may have also been key in the decision to drop the Atom Bombs.3) YorktownContrary to popular myth this battle did not end the American Revolution. it did however cripple Britians ability to continue the war. after this battle American Independence was inevitable.2) GettysburgThe turning point in the civil war, had the union not stopped the Confederacy, than the Confederacy would have pushed further north and likely would have sacked Philadelphia, Washington DC and possibly New York City. 1) MidwayI rank this as the most important battle of the 20th century. if the US didn't win this battle the west coast of the US would have been open season for Japan. that would have forced the US to take supplies and men away from the war in Europe and send them to the Pacific. which likely would have allowed Hitler enough time to bomb England into submission.Honorable mentions: Fort McHenry, Veracruz, San Jaun Hill, 73 EastingDefeats5) Bull Run/ManassasThe Union felt like the war between the states would be over after this, and at one point it looked like the Union would be right. but Confederate General Thomas Jackson would earn his nickname Stonewall here and defeat the Union.4) BladenburgHalf of the US troops here didn't even get a shot off at the British before fleeing. the failure to stop them allowed the British to capture and burn Washington DC.3) Little BighornCusters last stand never should have happened in the first place. the Sioux and their allies out numbered and were armed a lot better than the 7th Cavalry. not to mention many of Custers regulars were on leave at the time of the battle.2) MogidishuBlackhawk down. This was a major publicity nightmare for the US Military, the downing of American Helicopters and the killing of American soliders did a lot to turn the American public against the Military. it may have also been key in helping Islamist extremist to futhur their goals, as many now seen the US as defeatable.1) Pearl HarborNearly the complete distruction of the Pacific fleet. the US knew the Japanese were planing an attack they just didn't know where. key decisions about the placement of aircraft furher helped the Japanese in distroying any resistance to their attackHonorable mentions: Invasion of Salt Lake, Fort Larmie, Charleston, The wilderness,

 

[Milgod]

Just got the docu-drama that the histry channel did about Iwo Jima, good show. I take it you aren't counting any battles that weren't solely US, eg and of the World Wars? The Battle of Trenton.Crossing the Delaware needs to get a mention. If this didn't happen the way it did there probably wouldn't have been a Continental Army a week later.

 

[KobeBryant_24]

Worst defeat an American History, even though it was just an act of war.1. Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. 2,974 deaths, 24 people still missing, presumed dead. 4 hi-jacked airplanes, crashing in the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center. A plane later crashed into the Pentagon. And a plane crashed in Shanksville, VA, after being fought by brave passengers after realizing the terrorists intentions, to take the plane and hit the White House.

 

[Justice]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KobeBryant_24 @ Jul 21 2007, 05:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Worst defeat an American History, even though it was just an act of war.1. Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. 2,974 deaths, 24 people still missing, presumed dead. 4 hi-jacked airplanes, crashing in the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center. A plane later crashed into the Pentagon. And a plane crashed in Shanksville, VA, after being fought by brave passengers after realizing the terrorists intentions, to take the plane and hit the White House.</div>9/11 wasn't a military defeat, and technically it wasn't an act of war, either.

 

[Michael Bryant]

Hey, cool. Great point about Iwo Jima, before that the B-29s were flying their raids from either mainland China, India or Guam(I'm old, I may be wrong on the India part). For a plane with a range of only 3,000 nautical miles, that was a huge stretch.Mogudishu. You say failure, I say debacle, the mission's objective was carried out, it just went to hell and costed more than they prepared for. But when 120 US soldiers can inflict over 1,000 casualties, that is just amazing.

 

[BrewCityBuck]

Nobody knows anything about the US military on this forum.

 

[Milgod]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Jul 21 2007, 08:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Nobody knows anything about the US military on this forum.</div>OK? What is the point of that comment? Was the oiginal post way off? Is that what you're saying?

 

[KobeBryant_24]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Justice @ Jul 21 2007, 04:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>9/11 wasn't a military defeat, and technically it wasn't an act of war, either.</div>It was still the worst day in American history.

 

[Justice]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KobeBryant_24 @ Jul 21 2007, 03:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It was still the worst day in American history.</div>There's nothing in the thread title about the worst day in American history.

 

[Opal]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KobeBryant_24 @ Jul 21 2007, 02:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It was still the worst day in American history.</div>I think Pearl Harbor was just as bad. Look at what they led up to:9/11 - War Against TerrorismPearl Harbor - World War 2

 

[redneck]

September 11th is probably the worst day in American history of the last 25 years, but there are days like 8/24/1814(burning of Washington),12/20/1860(Start of Succession), 9/17/1862(Antitum),7/4/1863(Gettysburg and Vicksburg),12/7/1941(Pearl Harbor) which are all worse days in American history. On many of those days it looked like the Nation could potentially be distroied, and if you're from the South you could argue that 4/9/1865(Lee's surrender) was the worst day in American History. also, during the zenith of watergate any of those days could be listed, because many people lost faith in the government during that time and Nixon very well could have fought congress and kept himself in power militarlistically.

 

[the_pestilence]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KobeBryant_24 @ Jul 21 2007, 01:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It was still the worst day in American history.</div>Bill O'Reilly teaches our kids so well.

 

[l?ckdown]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (tHe_pEsTiLeNcE @ Jul 22 2007, 12:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Bill O'Reilly teaches our kids so well.</div>so trueI agree with Redneck on this. Pearl Harbor is worse than 9/11. 9/11 was bad, but there are more things that are worse.

 

[redneck]

Wow I just realized I was really dumb here. I left off the Battle of New Orleans. despite the war being over, Andrew Jackson lead a group of Indians, Pirates, farmers, slaves, and commoners over one of the best trained and well equiped British regiments.

 

[Justice]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Jul 21 2007, 02:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Nobody knows anything about the US military on this forum.</div>It's pretty typical for Americans to not know something about their country. I honestly don't even know a ton about the American military, perhaps because it's just such an overwelming topic when you're talking to someone who is actually educated on the subject.

 

[BrewCityBuck]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Camby23Land @ Jul 21 2007, 10:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think Pearl Harbor was just as bad. Look at what they led up to:9/11 - War Against TerrorismPearl Harbor - World War 2</div> World War 2 was going on before Pearl Harbor, the Pearl Harbor attack led to Japan getting it's ass kicked.

 

[Opal]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Jul 23 2007, 06:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>World War 2 was going on before Pearl Harbor, the Pearl Harbor attack led to Japan getting it's ass kicked.</div>Was the US involved before though? I don't know too much about it.

 

[SportsTicker]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Camby23Land @ Jul 23 2007, 06:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Was the US involved before though? I don't know too much about it.</div>Yes. We were helping the allies fight in the European theater...The attack on Pearl Harbor only got us involved in the Pacific Theater. I'm pretty sure Pearl Harbor was when we made an official declaration of war against Japan.

 

[Diawsome]

The United States did not directly participate in World War II until after Pearl Harbor, however they did supply the allied forces with equipment and financial support.United States entrance into World War II timeline: 12/07/1941: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor12/08/1941: United States declares war against Japan12/11/1941: Germany and Italy declare war against the United States (before this the wars in Europe and Asia were considered separate conflicts).

 

[SportsTicker]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Diawsome @ Jul 23 2007, 07:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The United States did not directly participate in World War II until after Pearl Harbor, however they did supply the allied forces with equipment and financial support.United States entrance into World War II timeline: 12/07/1941: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor12/08/1941: United States declares war against Japan12/11/1941: Germany and Italy declare war against the United States (before this the wars in Europe and Asia were considered separate conflicts).</div>Yeah, that's right. Hitler never formally declared war on us because he was afraid of all the support the US could give to England. Although we did not fully participate in World War II until after Pearl Harbor, we were still sending things like ammunition & metal over to England for their use in the war...

 

[redneck]

The US was sending more than just raw materials, we also sent planes and Mercinaries. the film Pearl Harbor is one of the few movies which actually shows this. US, airmen mostly, were involved in the conflict as early as 1939, usually serving under the banner of the RAF, but in a strange twist of irony many Americans actually served with the luftwaffa(sp?) as well.The US also sent massive amounts of oil to Britian as well as stocking up on it for itself, by doing this the US cut trade with Asia which increased tensions with Japan, eventually out of protest for Japanese actions in the Pacific the US cut all oil shipments from Japan. Japan has no native oil supplies and only had about a years supply by some estimates, so the Japanses needed to either find an oil supply or force the hand of a nation with Oil. the Japanese chose the latter and decided to attack the United States, thinking that by distorying US warships the US would copitulate and give them the much needed oil. when the US failed to do this, and after the US Victory at Midway and with the moral victory of the Doolittle raid, Japanese were forced to look elsewhere for their oil. The Japanese attacked the Aleusian Islands(Alaska) in an attmpt to get oil supplies. though some conclude the Aleusian Islands campaign was mearly a diversionary tactic to draw the US away from Midway, the stratgetic and resource value cannot be over looked.

 

[valo35]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Jul 21 2007, 03:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Nobody knows anything about the US military on this forum.</div>I really don't think that to be true, I think I happen to know a little bit about the U.S. military on this forum. Redneck obviously knows a good deal about the U.S. Military. So I think there are people that know about the U.S. Military around here.

 

[ehmunro]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (redneck)</div><div class='quotemain'>The US was sending more than just raw materials, we also sent planes and Mercinaries. the film Pearl Harbor is one of the few movies which actually shows this. US, airmen mostly, were involved in the conflict as early as 1939, usually serving under the banner of the RAF, but in a strange twist of irony many Americans actually served with the luftwaffa(sp?) as well.

The US also sent massive amounts of oil to Britian as well as stocking up on it for itself, by doing this the US cut trade with Asia which increased tensions with Japan, eventually out of protest for Japanese actions in the Pacific the US cut all oil shipments from Japan. Japan has no native oil supplies and only had about a years supply by some estimates, so the Japanses needed to either find an oil supply or force the hand of a nation with Oil. the Japanese chose the latter and decided to attack the United States, thinking that by distorying US warships the US would copitulate and give them the much needed oil. when the US failed to do this, and after the US Victory at Midway and with the moral victory of the Doolittle raid, Japanese were forced to look elsewhere for their oil. The Japanese attacked the Aleusian Islands(Alaska) in an attmpt to get oil supplies. though some conclude the Aleusian Islands campaign was mearly a diversionary tactic to draw the US away from Midway, the stratgetic and resource value cannot be over looked.</div>

The purpose behiond the Pearl Harbor attack wasn't access to American oil supplies, it was the oil in Malaya and the Dutch East Indies (modern day Indonesia & Malaysia). The Japanese wanted to ensure that the Americans couldn't move or re-supply their far eastern command and wouldn't be able to stop their conquest of south Asia. After taking the Philippines to use as a staging area, defeating the British in Malaya and the Dutch in the East Indies they immediately tried to make peacewith the US, so that they could concentrate on the British.</p>