This day in history - December 16

[seamusTX]

1653 - Oliver Cromwell was declared Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland.

Cromwell was the first secular dictator of early modern history. Historians have mixed opinions about the man, but he effectively ended the notion of the divine right of kings in British law and established the right of self-determination through a republican government.

1770 - Ludwig von Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany.

1773 - The Boston Tea Party was held. A good time was had by all.

The Boston Tea Party is often identified as a tipping point in the American Revolution, but the dice had been cast years earlier.

1907 - A fleet of U.S. battleships set off on a voyage to show the flag to the rest of the world.

Now known as the Great White Fleet, this demonstration of naval power was one of Pres. Theodore Roosevelt's many exercises in foreign relations which expanded the power of the presidency.

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq42-1.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

1944 - The Battle of the Bulge began.

Over 19,000 American soldiers and Marines gave their lives driving back the enemy offensive. The name has become a synonym for a violent, bloody mess even among people who couldn't tell you which war it was in or who fought it.

1950 - Pres. Harry Truman declared a state of emergency to deal with "world conquest by Communist imperialism."

The declaration was triggered by Red China's entry into the Korean War. It remained in effect for many years and helped fuel the red scare.

- Jim

[jimlongley]

While I don't have the entire Order of Battle for the Battle of the Bulge memorized, I don't recall any US Marines being involved.

[seamusTX]

You could well be right.

It's unusual for the Marines not to have some role in a battle that significant.

- Jim

[Purplehood]

1653 - Oliver Cromwell was declared Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland.

Cromwell was the first secular dictator of early modern history. Historians have mixed opinions about the man, but he effectively ended the notion of the divine right of kings in British law and established the right of self-determination through a republican government.

1770 - Ludwig von Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany.

1773 - The Boston Tea Party was held. A good time was had by all.

The Boston Tea Party is often identified as a tipping point in the American Revolution, but the dice had been cast years earlier.

1907 - A fleet of U.S. battleships set off on a voyage to show the flag to the rest of the world.

Now known as the Great White Fleet, this demonstration of naval power was one of Pres. Theodore Roosevelt's many exercises in foreign relations which expanded the power of the presidency.

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq42-1.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

1944 - The Battle of the Bulge began.

Over 19,000 American soldiers and Marines gave their lives driving back the enemy offensive. The name has become a synonym for a violent, bloody mess even among people who couldn't tell you which war it was in or who fought it.

1950 - Pres. Harry Truman declared a state of emergency to deal with "world conquest by Communist imperialism."

The declaration was triggered by Red China's entry into the Korean War. It remained in effect for many years and helped fuel the red scare.

- Jim

Marines in the Battle of the Bulge? Was this a covert operation?

The only Marine action in Europe during WWII was based on individual ships companies on minor landing ops. No Marine units were involved in European action as they were specifically earmarked for Pacific operations only.

[Oldgringo]

You could well be right.

It's unusual for the Marines not to have some role in a battle that significant.

- Jim

It also is my recollection that the marines were consigned to to the PTO during WWII.