Normandy Invasion, 1944
From the Moving Images Relating to Coast Guard Activities series.
See our past D-Day posts, including Eisenhower’s Order of the Day, and his hastily drafted “in case of failure” note, and a detailed sketch of a typical Platoon Leader in full battle dress.
For roughly 4 cents an acre, the fledgling United States doubled in size with the Louisiana Purchase Treaty, signed 210 years ago with France on April 30, 1803.
Acting on orders from President Thomas Jefferson (who had put his doubts as to the constitutionality of the expansion aside) American agents James Monroe and Robert Livingston had planned only to negotiate for the purchase of New Orleans and Florida from France. Instead they were offered the entire territory for the equivalent of 15 million dollars, an offer they hastily accepted.
March 7, 1966. In a rare handwritten letter to President Johnson, General de Gaulle states the reasons for his decision to withdraw France from the military aspects of NATO.
“…France considers that the changes that have occurred, or are in the process of occurring, since 1949, in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere, as well as the evolution of her own situation and her own forces, no longer justify, in so far as she is concerned, the arrangements of a military nature made after the conclusion of the Alliance, either jointly in the form of multilateral agreements, or by special agreements between the French Government and the American Government.”
This decision led to the withdrawal of American bases from France and the relocation of NATO headquarters from Paris to Brussels. To read the full translation, see the Foreign Relations of the United States Series.
(via ourpresidents)
A view of the ruins of Avocourt, situated just behind the American trenches before the Allied drive of September 26, 1918. Avocourt is now a pile of stones, scarcely a wall is standing. France, October 6, 1918
Confirmation requested
World War I was the first conflict to see widespread use of airpower. Initially used to locate the enemy; airplanes quickly found offensive uses. This form records the events of a U.S. First Pursuit Group patrol over the front lines in France on September 27, 1918. At the end of the action 2nd Lt. W.W. White sought credit for shooting down two enemy planes.
First Pursuit Group Reconnaissance Report, 09/27/1918
via DocsTeach
Brigadier General Douglas MacArthur cleaned up after the Germans left and restored what he could of the original splendor. He is seated in the original chair of the old lord of the chateau. St. Benoit Chateau, France., 09/19/1918
The General strikes a somewhat royal pose on this antique chaise. Maybe he needs a refresher on Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution?
Happy Bastille Day! Thomas Jefferson, ambassador and future President, was in Paris during the French Revolution and provided a detailed account of the events through his letters to John Jay:
The deputies retired, the people rushed against the place, and almost in an instant were in possession of a fortification, defended by 100 men, of infinite strength, which in other times had stood several regular sieges and had never been taken.Read Jefferson’s thoughts on this historic French event: http://go.usa.gov/fiY
(Image: Excerpt from letter written by Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, reporting on the events in Paris (French Revolution) 07/19/1789, National Archives.)
Louisiana Purchase Treaty
In this transaction with France, signed on April 30, 1803, the United States purchased 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River for $15 million. For roughly 4 cents an acre, the United States doubled its size, expanding the nation westward.
Marine receiving first aid before being sent to hospital in rear of trenches. Toulon Sector, France., 03/22/1918
Escape and Evasion Case File for Flight Officer Charles (Chuck) E. Yeager, 03/05/1944
On March 5, 1944, future test pilot Chuck Yeager’s P-51 Mustang was shot down while on a mission to Bordeaux, France and he was forced to bailout over Nazi-occupied France. His harrowing account details how he was nearly shot while descending helplessly in a parachute and narrowly escaped capture with the help of the French Resistance.
Dated February 28th, 1946, this telegram was sent from Ho Chi Minh to President Harry S. Truman, requesting the assistance of the United States government in the negotiations with France.
Letter from Ho Chi Minh to President Harry S. Truman, 02/28/1946
Dated February 13, 1804, this acknowledges the receipt of $7,500,000 in stock certificates by James Leonard to be used towards the purchase of Louisiana.
Read more at Prologue…
The American Colonies and France signed this military treaty on February 6, 1778. Believing that they would benefit militarily by allying themselves with a powerful nation, the revolutionary colonies formed an alliance with France against Great Britain. According to this first military treaty of the new nation, the United States would provide for a defensive alliance to aid France should England attack, and neither France nor the United States would make peace with England until the independence of the United States was recognized.
Treaty of Alliance, 02/06/1778
The YMCA in Paris for the amusement of enlisted men, gives a dance every Tuesday evening at 73 Rue de Notre Dame de Nazareth.
Dated February 5, 1919
On January 26, 1945, 2nd Lieutenant Audie Murphy climbed atop a burning tank destroyer and held 2 companies of German infantry and 6 tanks at bay, with only a mounted machine gun and field telephone to direct artillery fire, until a counter attack could be mounted. This is just one of several narratives describing his actions which earned him the Medal of Honor.
Just six months earlier then-Sergeant Murphy had earned the Distinguished Service Cross.
