For Old Guard Soldiers, 'Flags In' Is a Personal Mission

May 22, 2026 | By Courtesy of Arlington National Cemetery  |

Yesterday, in the early morning dawn, soldiers assigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as "The Old Guard," marched into the only two national cemeteries managed by the Army, their rucksacks packed with small American flags.  

Their mission: to honor America's fallen heroes by placing a flag in front of each headstone and columbarium column — approximately 250,000 at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, and 13,500 at the United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery in Washington.  

This tradition, known as "Flags In," takes place annually at both cemeteries on the Thursday before Memorial Day.  

As the soldiers fanned out through Arlington National Cemetery's 639 acres, they placed a booted toe against each headstone and columbarium column before inserting a flag into the ground at their heel, creating a uniform distance for each flag.  

"Getting this right is important," said Army Master Sgt. Jeb Hague, as he turned back to a flag and adjusted it slightly. Hague, who has served in the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps since 2006, has placed flags in nearly every section of the cemetery. "When I do this, I learn a little bit more each year," he said, adding that different sections have different meanings.  

The Old Guard has been placing flags in front of headstones since 1948, when it was first designated as the Army's official ceremonial unit. Every available soldier in the regiment participates. At Arlington National Cemetery, where service members from the Revolutionary War through today's conflicts are laid to rest, "Flags In" connects today's soldiers to generations of military service and sacrifice — spanning 250 years of American history.  

For many Old Guard soldiers, "Flags In" is also a deeply personal mission.  

Hague is among those with friends and family members laid to rest in Arlington. His great-uncle, Alvin J. Buchanan Jr., who served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War, is buried in Section 66. His friend Army Staff Sgt. Adam Dickmyer, a fellow Old Guard soldier who served as a tomb guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, was killed in Afghanistan in 2010 and is buried in Section 60.  

"Memorial Day is so special and solemn," Hague said. "But for me, [Flags In] is much more personal. "In the early morning quiet, before the cemetery opens to the public, soldiers can reflect on those who have lost their lives to defend our nation. I make sure to take a few seconds to read the name and remember them," Hague said.  

Later in the day, the tomb guards, also members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, placed flags at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honor the three unknowns buried there, along with all unidentified and missing American service members.  

Meanwhile, at the United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery, veterans residing in the Armed Forces Retirement Home joined uniformed Old Guard soldiers in placing flags.  

By the afternoon, American flags waved across the iconic landscapes of both cemeteries.    

During Memorial Day weekend, visitors and family members will see the results of the soldiers' meaningful mission — one of the many ways the U.S. military ensures that its fallen are never forgotten. For the Old Guard, the day represents, in Hague's words, "a chance to give back" by commemorating all who served and sacrificed throughout the nation's 250-year history.

Songs Inspired Patriotism During American Revolutionary War

May 22, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

Music has a way of uniting people and generations, and the American Revolutionary War was no different, as it was often used to boost morale for both the Continental Army and British troops.

Many of that era's most popular patriotic songs were originally religious hymns adapted for the war effort or original sacred compositions that took on a military character. As America celebrates 250 years of freedom, here is a look back at a few of the many songs that inspired the birth of a nation. 

"Yankee Doodle" 

Perhaps the most well-known song still sung today is "Yankee Doodle." It was originally sung by British military officers to mock the American service members they served with during the French and Indian War.

Written by British Army surgeon Richard Shuckburgh while campaigning in New York, circa 1755, the song was embraced by American troops, who added verses to it that mocked the British and hailed their commander, Continental Army Gen. George Washington. By 1781, "Yankee Doodle" had become a song of national pride among Americans.  

The song begins with/Yankee Doodle went to town/A-riding on a pony/Stuck a feather in his cap/And called it macaroni. 

The term macaroni was used to describe a fashionable man who dressed and spoke in an outlandishly affected and effeminate manner.

The American version was written in 1776 by Edward Bangs, a Minuteman, and was played during the British surrender following the Battle of Saratoga, Oct. 17, 1777, in New York.

"Yankee Doodle" was revived by George M. Cohan to create the patriotic song, "The Yankee Doodle Boy" for his 1904 Broadway musical "Little Johnny Jones." In 1942, the movie "Yankee Doodle Dandy," about the life of Cohan, starred James Cagney, for which he won an Oscar.

The song "Yankee Doodle" was adopted as Connecticut's official state anthem in 1978. 

"Chester" 

The unofficial anthem of the American cause, William Billings' "Chester," was immensely popular during the war. It encouraged the patriots to be strong, because God was standing on their side against the British tyrants, which is heard in these lyrics: 

When God inspir'd us for the fight/ Their ranks were broke, their lines were forc'd/ Their ships were shatter'd in our sight/ Or swiftly driven from our coast. 

Billings, a Boston native, was America's first choral composer. Chester is an old Latin word for military camp. The song was the first truly patriotic song with both the tune and lyrics written by an American in the American colonies. 

"Liberty Song" 

The "Liberty Song" was an early American patriotic ballad composed by John Dickinson, a founding father. It is often attributed as the origin of the phrase: "United We Stand, Divided We Fall."  

The song was one of the first to circulate within the 13 colonies and is thought to have fostered a sense of shared identity and resistance among the colonists. It includes the following lyrics: 

Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all/ By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall/ In so righteous a cause let us hope to succeed/ For heaven approves of each generous deed. 

The 1969 song, "United We Stand" by Brotherhood of Men, was a romantic ballad that took some inspiration from "Liberty Song" with the lyric, "united we stand, divided we fall." Despite the romantic connotations, the song became a rallying cry for the Vietnam War based on these lyrics:  

For united we stand, divided we fall/ And if our backs should ever be against the wall/ We'll be together, together, you and I. 

"Free America" 

Joseph Warren, a member of the Sons of Liberty, wrote "Free America" to the tune of "The British Grenadiers," inspiring many colonists to volunteer for the cause of freedom during the Revolutionary War with the following words:  

Torn from a world of tyrants/ Beneath this western sky/ We formed a new dominion/ A land of liberty/ The world shall own we're freemen here/ And such will ever be/ Huzza, huzza, huzza/ For love and liberty. 

"The World Turned Upside Down" 

The song "The World Turned Upside Down" is a 17th-century British ballad written to protest the Puritan banning of traditional Christmas celebrations. It is thought to have been played by the British Army band when they surrendered after the Siege of Yorktown in 1781, though there is no historical evidence that it actually happened. The lyrics include the following:  

Listen to me and you shall hear, news hath not been this thousand year/Since Herod, Caesar, and many more, you never heard the like before/Holy-dayes are despis'd, new fashions are devis'd/Old Christmas is kickt out of Town/Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down. 

If the song title seems familiar, it is because the words gained new popularity more than 300 years after they were first written, when Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote his 2015 Broadway musical, Hamilton. 

Near the end of the first act, "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)" recaps the historic Battle of Yorktown: 

We negotiate the terms of surrender/I see George Washington smile/We escort their men out of Yorktown/They stagger home single file/Tens of thousands of people flood the streets/There are screams and church bells ringing/And as our fallen foes retreat/I hear the drinking song they're singing/The world turned upside down.

At 96, Former Army Tank Driver Reflects on the Korean War

May 22, 2026 | By Army Staff Sgt. Cayce Watson, 7th Infantry Division |

Army Staff Sgt. Stanley Martinez was the last man to step off the truck. It was autumn of 1951, somewhere north of Busan, South Korea, the deuce-and-a-half tactical vehicle he had ridden in from the country's southern tip had been dropping replacements all day: a soldier here, two there, each stepping into a slot another had just vacated.  

Martinez waited for his turn, listening to artillery thump in the dark. 

"You couldn't see anything, but you could hear it going off," he said. 

Now, decades later, at 96, he is one of two surviving members of his local Korean War Veterans Association chapter. He served as a tank driver assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, whose hourglass patch remains worn by soldiers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, today. 

Martinez grew up the son of a New Mexico coal miner, one of 10 children: six brothers and four sisters. His mother died when he was six. His father never remarried and raised all 10 by himself.  

He moved to El Centro, California, in 1947 to live with one of his sisters. At that time, gas cost 17 cents a gallon, and Hank Williams was just starting to climb the country charts. He almost enlisted before being drafted. 

He and his childhood friend, Guillermo, walked to the post office, where young men would sign their enlistment papers at that time. 

On the way, a car pulled up alongside them, with a couple of guys inside and cold beer in the back seat. 

"I let [Guillermo] go [in] by himself, and I jumped in the car," he recalled. [He] was shipped to Korea, and soon after was reported missing in action. 

"To this day, they still haven't heard anything from him," Martinez said. "No bones. Nothing." 

Martinez's draft notice arrived months later, signed by President Harry S. Truman. By then, one of his brothers had died during World War II in the English Channel in December 1941, seven months after high school, when a German U-boat sank his ship. Remembering the loss, Martinez said he was proud to be called up, especially since he had been ready to volunteer. 

Within a week of receiving the notice, he was on a bus to San Diego for a physical. Soon after, he went to Camp Roberts, California, a World War II installation the Army was hastily reactivating. 

Sixteen weeks of infantry training followed. After graduating, he took a 13-day voyage to Yokohama, Japan, then traveled by train to Sasebo, Japan, took a ferry to Busan, South Korea, and then endured a long, slow truck ride north.  

Martinez began his military career as an infantryman but did not stay one for long. A few weeks after arriving in South Korea, an officer asked if anyone could drive a truck. Martinez had hauled carrots and watermelons in Southern California, so he volunteered. 

"They put me in a tank," he said. "All they did was show me the gears and the clutch." 

He drove for a four-man crew supporting infantry patrols for about a year. His world narrowed to a 10-inch periscope slit. The crew slept inside the tank while the infantry soldiers slept in foxholes. Hot food was served twice a month; the rest was C-Rations, prepackaged food. Whenever the Air Force struck the hills, Martinez watched napalm explode from a distance. 

"That was some dangerous stuff," he said. "All you could see was the fire. It was white." 

Martinez eventually rotated home, ferrying back to San Francisco. Then he went to Fort Hood, Texas, to finish his enlistment. He had married his wife, Alice, before deploying. Soon they will mark their 75th anniversary. After leaving the Army, he raised a family in El Centro and stayed on his feet until arthritis forced him to use a walker. Only Martinez and his friend Benny Benavides remain in his Korean War Veterans Association chapter. 

Several years ago, he returned to South Korea, on a trip sponsored by the South Korean government. The villages he remembered as rubble had become a metropolis. 

"It's something like San Francisco now," he said. 

When asked what he would advise young soldiers wearing his old patch, Martinez paused. 

"I think everybody should spend a couple of years in the service," he said. "Learn some discipline. It makes a difference." 

War Department's 'Patriot Pipeline' Flows Talent to Arsenal of Freedom

May 21, 2026 | By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News |

As the War Department rebuilds the defense industrial base — the thousands of private businesses that provide the hardware and weapons America's military uses to defend the nation — it will also ensure those businesses have the personnel to build those weapons.

While testifying yesterday before the Senate Armed Services Committee's personnel subcommittee, Anthony J. Tata, the undersecretary of war for personnel and readiness, said DOW has established Project Patriot Pipeline, an initiative to unify dozens of disparate training and workforce development programs for service members, military spouses and federal civilians.

Tata said Project Patriot Pipeline is a direct result of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's focus on the arsenal of freedom.

"As [the secretary] has traveled around the country to bolster our defense industrial base, we in the personnel and readiness domain asked ourselves the question: 'How are we going to resource this with the talent necessary to expand the arsenal of freedom and complete the mission?'" Tata said.

Through the department's arsenal of freedom effort, Hegseth has been working closely with industry partners to rebuild America's military might, which includes both the defense industrial base and the government-owned depots — the organic industrial base — that repair and refurbish weapon systems like tanks and helicopters or manufacture munitions.

Insofar as the workforce or potential workforce is concerned, the War Department has visibility of active-duty, National Guard and Reserve military personnel, federal civilian employees and military spouses. For those already in uniform, Tata said, the pipeline aims to retain that talent.

"Within each one, we want to encourage reenlistment, and we want to encourage reenlistment into ... high-demand, low-density military occupational skills," he said.

Tata noted that the department is aligning military bonuses with the services to ensure service members with the right skill sets are encouraged to reenlist. However, if they choose not to stay in uniform, they can continue to serve the nation as civilians through Project Patriot Pipeline.

"If they choose to leave service, we want to capture that training and investment that we made in their training," Tata said. "If they're an aviation maintainer in the military, we want them to be a depot aviation maintainer. And so, we are tweaking tuition assistance and SkillBridge time to be able to incentivize folks that want to migrate into the defense industrial base to try to incentivize them into those key skill sets."

SkillBridge is a program that enables retiring and separating service members to conduct on-the-job training in the private and civil sectors so they can successfully transition to a civilian job. As part of the program, service members spend time before their separation from service with one of thousands of partner businesses and agencies, learning job skills transferable to the private sector.

Through Project Patriot Pipeline, the War Department hopes SkillBridge can be used to guide departing service members back into service to their nation, as civilians in the defense industrial base or within one of the organic industrial base depots.

Tata described the urgency in opening the Patriot Pipeline, as the War Department expects there may soon be shortfalls in civilian workers in critical aviation fields.

"We have a real issue with our aviation depot maintainers," he said. "We're going to drop off a cliff here pretty soon, and demand is going to go way up, [depending] upon the platform that we're talking about. And so, we are trying to get ahead of that by incentivizing people ... to stay within the defense industrial base."

In addition to service members, Tata said it's not unreasonable to believe that military spouses could also help the defense industrial base.

"We have a huge military spouse employment effort going on ... where we have the SkillBridge-like program that they can do the internships, and then begin to work," he said. "We have money where we can pay for scholarships. We're going to increase that to incentivize them to go into the defense industrial base, whether that's healthcare, education, aviation maintainer, welder [or] shipbuilder. ... Our spouses deserve these opportunities, and we've allowed for direct hiring authority in many of these areas."

Finally, Tata said the War Department has many civilian employees who serve in a variety of areas, and he would like to see them keep working, if possible, moving into the most critical areas.

"We want them to 'reenlist,' so to speak, and re-up within the civilian domain, to go into things such as the Golden Dome [missile defense system], cyber and these real critical, high-demand, low-density areas where we need the real talent," he said.

Tata said military personnel, federal civilian employees and military spouses all have the possibility to help strengthen the nation by contributing to the arsenal of freedom through Project Patriot Pipeline.

Symbol of Grit Returns, 10th Mountain Division to Wear Crossed Ski Insignia

May 21, 2026 | By Army Maj. Geoffrey Carmichael, 10th Mountain Division |

Soldiers assigned to the 10th Mountain Division can once again wear the division's historic crossed ski insignia on their Army Green Service Uniform garrison caps, restoring a visual link to the unit's World War II roots and reinforcing the alpine spirit that resonates across the formation.

The insignia was first adopted in 1943, when the Army created the 10th Mountain Division as a specialized alpine force. The symbol represented the unit's ability to fight in harsh winter conditions and rugged mountain terrain. Today, leaders say bringing the emblem back to everyday uniform wear honors that legacy while reminding soldiers of the division's high standards.  

Army Maj. Gen. Scott Naumann, commanding general of the 10th Mountain Division, said the decision carries real meaning for the force.  

"The crossed skis are more than a symbol from our past," Naumann said. "They represent the toughness, adaptability and spirit that define this division. Seeing them on our soldiers' caps connects who we are today with the mountaineers who built our reputation."

The division's origins trace back to Camp Hale, Colorado, where soldiers trained on steep slopes, icy ridgelines and snow-covered trails before deploying to Italy during World War II. Their assault on Riva Ridge and the breakthrough of the German Gothic Line became defining moments in U.S. military history. Although today's 10th Mountain Division no longer fights on skis, its mission as a rapidly deployable light infantry force still demands the same warrior spirit, readiness and grit.  

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Brett Johnson, the division's senior enlisted leader, said the return of the insignia helps reinforce that identity.

"When a soldier puts on that cap and sees the crossed skis, it's a reminder of the legacy they're part of," Johnson said. "It tells them, 'You belong to a division known for going where others dare not go and you're expected to carry that forward.'"  

Leaders say the change not only strengthens esprit de corps but ensures that the division's heritage remains visible in modern formations. For those across the formation, the crossed skis serve as a proud reminder of the unit's identity and the generations who shaped it.

JIATF 401 Drone Defense Marketplace Broadens Allied Access to Counter-Drone Capabilities

May 20, 2026 | By U.S. Army |

International agreements with key allies are expanding access to counter-unmanned aerial system capabilities. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and key leaders from Australia, Poland and South Korea recently signed agreements enabling each country to procure counter-small UAS technologies through the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 drone defense marketplace. 

As the War Department's premier organization to synchronize counter-small UAS efforts across the joint force and interagency, JIATF 401 is helping allies and partners rapidly acquire state-of-the-art counter-small UAS capability to respond to the evolving threat of drones. The drone defense marketplace connects diverse solutions with an expanding network of users who need scalable, effective and interoperable technologies. The initiative aligns with the Army secretary's goal of providing partner nations with timely access to essential capabilities and highlights JIATF 401's central role in advancing that mission. 

"This partnership gives our allies and partners direct access to proven counter-drone technologies as we continue to expand the marketplace," said Maj. Matt Mellor, lead acquisitions specialist for JIATF 401. "Our mission includes working with international partners to aggregate demand for counter-drone capabilities." 

The agreements build on recent collaborations with key allies, including the United Kingdom and Romania, to enhance interoperability and accelerate the delivery of critical capabilities. Collectively, these efforts indicate a move toward a more cohesive and accessible counter-small UAS network across coalition partners. JIATF 401 officials highlighted that expanding marketplace access will allow partners to acquire leading counter-drone technologies while helping shape the future development of the counter-small UAS industrial base. 

"We are continuing to expand the market for [counter-small UAS]," said Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of JIATF 401. "We understand that our allies and partners want to purchase American-made counter-drone technologies. The JIATF 401 marketplace helps aggregate that demand, ensuring our defense industrial base is ready to scale production and meet the growing needs of our coalition."

Statement Attributable to Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs (ATSW(PA))

May 19, 2026 |

The Department of War has reduced the total number of Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) assigned to Europe from four to three. This returns us to the levels of BCTs in Europe in 2021. This decision was the result of a comprehensive, multilayered process focused on U.S. force posture in Europe.  This is resulting in a temporary delay of the deployment of U.S. forces to Poland, which is a model U.S. ally.

The Department will determine the final disposition of these and other U.S. forces in Europe based on further analysis of U.S. strategic and operational requirements, as well as our allies' own ability to contribute forces toward Europe's defense. This analysis is designed to advance President Trump's America First agenda in Europe and other theaters, including by incentivizing and enabling our NATO allies to take primary responsibility for Europe's conventional defense.

Secretary Hegseth spoke with Polish Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz earlier today, and the Department will remain in close contact with our Polish counterparts as this analysis proceeds, including to ensure that the United States retains a strong military presence in Poland. Poland has shown both the ability and resolve to defend itself. Other NATO allies should follow suit.

The Department will provide more information at the appropriate time, in the appropriate setting.

National Defense Strategy Prioritizes America First, Leader Says

 May 19, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

The U.S. will prioritize theaters with the greatest consequence for American interests and where only American power can play a decisive role, said Daniel Zimmerman, assistant secretary of war for international security affairs, who spoke today during a hearing in Washington before the House Armed Services Committee regarding the military's policies, programs and activities in the Middle East and Africa.

In the Middle East, allies and partners must take the lead in responsibility for their own security, Zimmerman said.

In Africa, the U.S. is transitioning from an aid-focused relationship to a trade- and investment-focused one, favoring partnerships with capable, reliable states intent on achieving common interests, he said.

The War Department will prioritize taking direct action against Islamic terrorists in Africa who are both capable of and intent on striking the U.S. homeland, while empowering African partners to destroy terrorist organizations throughout the continent, he said.

Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said his command was created in direct response to the threats posed by Iran.

Since 1979, the Iranian regime has terrorized the region and made hostility to the United States a core tenet of its rule. The regime is an even more deadly threat to its own people, killing tens of thousands of innocent Iranians during protests, he said.

"Iran has long had three pillars of intimidation and coercion: their nuclear program, their ballistic missiles and drones, and their proxies — especially Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis," Cooper said.

All signs pointed to Iran's intent to create a nuclear weapon and then to protect their nuclear program with ballistic missiles and drones, the admiral said.

"They did it for two reasons: to create a shield to make their nuclear site untouchable and to create an offensive capability so large that regional partners couldn't possibly defend against it," he said.

Air Force Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson, commander of U.S. Africa Command, said his command is prioritizing willing and capable partners.

The department supports partners with unique capabilities that only the U.S. can provide, he said, such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance targeting and precision strikes.

In Africa, China is working to control critical minerals and infrastructure, and Russia is exploiting instability to extract resources to fuel its war machine, Anderson said.

To contend with these threats, Africom continues to pursue low-cost, high-yield activities to amplify the department's impact on the continent, he said.

Army Advances Barracks Modernization Efforts to Improve Quality of Life

May 18, 2026 | By Elijah Cornish, Army |

Since October 2025, when Secretary of War Pete Hegseth established the Barracks Task Force, the Army has accelerated efforts to improve soldier living conditions, modernize aging facilities and strengthen quality-of-life investments across installations.

The initiative reinforced that barracks are not simply infrastructure; they are a readiness issue directly linked to lethality, retention, recruiting and soldier trust.

Across the Army enterprise, efforts are underway to modernize how barracks are planned, funded, maintained and delivered while addressing long-standing infrastructure deficiencies. Recent efforts have included targeted renovations, new construction projects, digital modernization initiatives and accelerated investment strategies to improve day-to-day living conditions for soldiers. 

Funding provided through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act enabled the Army to make several key investments, including: 

• $20 million for new furniture at 40 installations, impacting more than 106,000 soldiers. 
• $59 million for lighting, plumbing, mold remediation and door lock work orders. 
• $405 million for repair and modernization projects across all components. 

The Army has used innovative methods to modernize barracks. At Fort Bliss, Texas, it partnered with industry and government stakeholders to deliver 3D-printed barracks, demonstrating how emerging technologies can reduce construction timelines while improving quality and resiliency. 

It also advanced initiatives to improve soldier quality of life, such as pilot programs for free Wi-Fi, increased facility assessments and enhanced coordination across commands and installation management organizations to prioritize repairs and modernization. 

Barracks Modernization Supports Broader Installation Transformation 

The Barracks Task Force is part of a broader effort to transform Army installations into resilient operational platforms capable of sustaining readiness, supporting soldiers and enabling the Army mission in competition, crisis and conflict. 

Jordan Gillis, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment, outlined three core transformation priorities guiding Army installation modernization efforts: 

• Leverage outside and alternate financing. 
• Make the most of the funds we have. 
• Drive Army interest through strategic engagement. 

These priorities are helping shape how the Army approaches barracks modernization by accelerating project delivery, improving stewardship of existing resources, strengthening accountability and identifying innovative ways to improve soldier quality of life across the force. 

Gillis said installations are operational platforms that directly enable readiness and lethality. 

"Improving barracks conditions is about ensuring soldiers live in facilities that reflect the professionalism and standards they deserve," he said. 

The effort aims for lasting change in barracks governance, project acceleration, prioritizing high-risk facilities and aligning investments with soldier needs and mission readiness. 

Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael R. Weimer emphasized that barracks conditions directly impact morale, discipline, readiness and retention. 

"Our soldiers live the Army profession every day, and they deserve facilities that support their health, well-being and readiness," Weimer said. 

The visits demonstrate the Army's commitment to accountability, soldier quality of life and ensuring modernization efforts deliver measurable improvements at the installation level. 

While work remains, the Barracks Task Force shows a long-term commitment to ensuring soldiers live and work in facilities that reflect the professionalism, standards and readiness expectations of the Army.

Fueling the Fight: USNS Kanawha Completes Strategic Deployment

May 18, 2026 | By LaShawn Sykes, Military Sealift Command |

At long last, the familiar blue and yellow stripes around the top of the main smokestack appeared against the coastal sky, marking the successful completion of months of dedication and support to U.S. naval forces.

Family and friends gathered on the pier at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, May 16, to welcome home the crew of the USNS Kanawha. The fleet replenishment oiler and its 92 civil service mariners returned after a 204-day deployment, including 156 days actively at sea.

Operating in the U.S. 4th, 5th and 6th Fleets, the crew served as a strategic enabler. They delivered more than 17 million gallons of fuel, 3,000 pallets of supplies and transported 45 personnel, performing 113 replenishments to 29 U.S. and coalition vessels. As a floating warehouse, the ship enabled sustained operations during key missions, including Operations Southern Spear and Epic Fury.

"I would like to thank the Kanawha crew and their families," said Navy Capt. Elizabeth A. Nelson, Military Sealift Command Atlantic commodore. "The Kanawha was underway for seven long months supporting [the USS] Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group. Without the support of their families, they would not have been able to accomplish their mission. Kanawha's performance exemplifies how MSC's combat logistics force powers modern naval operations, directly fueling U.S. Navy readiness at sea."

As part of MSC's combat logistics force, oilers like the Kanawha are integral to the Navy's logistics system, enabling combatant ships to remain forward-deployed to protect American interests. These logistics forces are the backbone of sustained operations at sea, and the crew who operate these ships — resupplying the fleet with fuel, stores and ammunition — are a strategic piece of Navy operations.

Replenishments at sea involve supplies being transferred from logistics force ships to combatant ships via underway replenishment. The two primary methods are connected replenishment, which transfers fuel and dry cargo via lines between ships sailing side by side, and vertical replenishment, which uses helicopters to ferry goods between the two vessels.

Extending the Navy's operational reach across the Caribbean, Mediterranean and the Middle East, the Kanawha leveraged 19 port visits in strategic locations, including Augusta Bay, Italy; Ponce, Puerto Rico; Souda Bay, Greece; and Yambu, Saudi Arabia.

Through these port calls and ongoing logistical services, the crew acted as essential ambassadors, directly enhancing both diplomatic ties and combat readiness.

Nelson praised the Kanawha crew.

"Their MSC family owes them a debt of gratitude for their sacrifice — not just for the delivery of fuel and spare parts, but for delivering letters and packages from home that keep the fleet motivated. MSC's [crews] are the best because they fuel the fight with more than just cargo; they fuel it with care."

Crewed and operated by civil service mariners, the ship entered noncommissioned service with the Navy Dec. 6, 1991, to support MSC. The ship is named after the Kanawha River in southwestern West Virginia.

Medal of Honor Monday: Army Spc. 5 James C. McCloughan

May 18, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

Army Spc. 5 James C. McCloughan was drafted into military service as a combat medic Aug. 29, 1968, and served in South Vietnam from March 1969 to March 1970. However, it was the bravery he displayed at 22, during a three-day battle, that led to him receiving the Medal of Honor nearly 50 years later. 

McCloughan was born in South Haven, Michigan, April 30, 1946, but grew up on a farm in Bangor, Michigan. At Bangor High School, he was a four-sport varsity athlete. After graduation, he attended Olivet College, where he competed in wrestling, football and baseball.

He majored in sociology and obtained a teaching certificate in 1968 before taking a teaching and coaching position with South Haven Public Schools. However, he was drafted just three months into his new role. 

After completing basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, in September 1968, McCloughan attended medical training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, before deploying to Vietnam. He was assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division, known as the Americal Division. 

The company air assaulted near Tam Ky and Nui Yon Hill in 1969. McCloughan, a private first class at the time, showed gallantry above and beyond the call of duty May 13-15, 1969.

On May 13, with complete disregard for his life, he ran 100 meters in an open field through heavy gunfire to rescue a comrade too injured to move and carried him to safety. That same day, 2nd Platoon was ordered to search the area near Nui Yon Hill when they were ambushed by a large North Vietnamese army force and sustained heavy casualties.  

Once again, with complete disregard for his personal safety, McCloughan led two Americans into the safety of a trench while being wounded by shrapnel from a rocket-propelled grenade. He braved the enemy assault while moving into the kill zone on four more occasions to rescue wounded comrades.  

He treated the injured, prepared the evacuation, and, though bleeding heavily from shrapnel wounds on his head and body, refused evacuation to safety to remain with his fellow soldiers, who were heavily outnumbered by enemy forces.  

The next day, the platoon was again ordered to move out toward Nui Yon Hill. McCloughan was wounded a second time by small-arms fire and shrapnel from a rocket-propelled grenade while rendering aid to two soldiers in an open rice paddy.  

During the final phases of the attack, while his company was surrounded by two companies of the North Vietnamese army and 700 Viet Cong, McCloughan repeatedly went into the crossfire to extract wounded soldiers while also engaging the enemy. His relentless and courageous actions inspired his comrades' will to fight.  

When supplies ran low, McCloughan volunteered to hold a blinking strobe light in an open area as a marker for a nighttime resupply drop. He remained steadfast while bullets landed all around him and rocket-propelled grenades flew over his exposed body.  

During the morning darkness of May 15, McCloughan knocked out an enemy position with a grenade, fought and eliminated enemy soldiers, treated numerous casualties, kept two critically wounded soldiers alive during the night, and organized the dead and wounded for evacuation at daylight. 

In all, he treated 40 to 50 soldiers and is credited with saving at least 10 lives. 

After completing his service in Vietnam, McCloughan returned to South Haven High School to continue his teaching and coaching career. In 1972, he furthered his education by earning a Master of Arts degree in counseling and psychology from Western Michigan University. 

He retired from teaching in 2008 and received the Michigan Education Association's 40 years of service award. He was also the recipient of the Wolverine Conference Distinguished Service Award for 38 years of coaching football and baseball, as well as 22 years of coaching wrestling.  

He was inducted into the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1993, the Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2003, and the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2008. McCloughan was also a Michigan High School Athletic Association wrestling official for 25 years. 

Nearly 50 years after his heroic actions during the Vietnam War, President Donald J. Trump presented the Medal of Honor to McCloughan during a White House ceremony held July 31, 2017. 

"To many people in this room, Spc. 5 McCloughan has always been their friend, Jim. To others, he's been 'coach.' To those who bravely served with him in Vietnam, he's still called their 'doc.' To his parents, Scotty and Margaret, both watching from heaven, he will always be their son. But [now], [to] 320 million grateful American hearts, [he] carries one immortal title — and that title is 'hero,'" Trump said.  

Some of McCloughan's other awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and oak leaf cluster and the Purple Heart with bronze oak leaf cluster. 

He lives in South Haven, Michigan, with his wife Chérie and their children, Jamie, Matt, Kami and Kara.

Pentagon Marks Armed Forces Day With Special Flag

May 16, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

The War Department celebrated Armed Forces Day with a newly unveiled America 250 version of the Betsy Ross flag, unfurled over the outside of the Pentagon today at sunrise.

At 20 feet long and 28 feet wide, the flag has 13 alternating red and white strips and 13 stars arranged in a circle with "250" in the center.

Betsy Ross was a professional upholsterer in Philadelphia from the early 1770s until she retired in 1827. While there is no historical evidence, many people believe she designed the American flag.  

Born Elizabeth Griscom on Jan. 1, 1752, in Gloucester City, New Jersey, Ross was raised by a Quaker family in Philadelphia. 

She apprenticed under John Webster, becoming a seamstress and upholsterer.  

In 1773, she married John Ross, which got her expelled from the Quaker community, since marrying a non-Quaker was taboo. Together, they ran an upholstery shop in Philadelphia and joined the Christ Church. John died in 1776, and Ross became a widow at 24. She continued to run the shop, and according to legend, Gen. George Washington, commander of the Continental Army, along with two other Founding Fathers, visited her in the summer of 1776. Washington showed her a sketch of a flag featuring 13 stars and stripes, and Ross advised some minor changes. Many flags at the time featured six-pointed stars; Ross proposed five.

In 1777, Ross married Joseph Ashburn, a merchant sailor, and they had two daughters. However, Ashburn was captured by the British and charged with treason. He died in a British prison in 1782. John Claypoole, a fellow patriot who had been imprisoned with Ashburn, visited Ross to tell her that he had died.   

Claypoole and Ross became friends, fell in love, got married and had five daughters. They were married for 34 years before Claypoole died in 1817. Ross retired at 76 and died Jan. 30, 1836; she was 84. 

The Betsy Ross flag legend was started by her grandson, William Canby, in 1870, according to womenshistory.org. Canby presented a paper to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania recalling the story his grandmother told him. Although there are no historical records, what is known is that during and after the Revolutionary War, Ross made a variety of military flags over the course of 50 years.

Future USS Cleveland Sailors Attend Commissioning Week Events

May 15, 2026 | By Navy Lt. j.g. Rachael Jones, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet |

Sailors assigned to the future USS Cleveland, the 16th and final Freedom-variant littoral combat ship to be built and commissioned for the Navy, arrived in their namesake city May 9 to launch a week of community engagement and celebration leading up to the ship's commissioning tomorrow.

Throughout the week, Cleveland sailors participated in a variety of community events including a Zach Bryan concert, the USS Cleveland Legacy Foundation Community Day at North Coast Harbor, a NASA Glenn Research Center tour and visits to the Baseball Heritage Museum and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Cleveland sailors were also recognized on the court of downtown Cleveland's Rocket Arena during a Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game and at a Cleveland City Council meeting on May 11.

"Honestly, being engaged with the community this week has been tremendously amazing," said Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Deja Jackson, a native of Cleveland and a hull maintenance technician assigned to the future USS Cleveland. "If we could do this every day, I'd be over the moon for the opportunity."

During commissioning week, the crew of the future USS Cleveland led ship tours for local students and community members. These guided tours provided a rare, firsthand look at one of the Navy's newest warships and an opportunity to interact directly with sailors.

"One of the greatest highlights of commissioning a U.S. Navy ship in its namesake city is seeing the crew and the community come together as one team," said Navy Cmdr. Bruce Hallett, commanding officer of the future USS Cleveland. "Our sailors are honored to welcome the people of Cleveland aboard for tours and to participate in events throughout the city during commissioning week. These engagements strengthen the bond between the ship and the community we proudly represent, while showcasing the dedication, professionalism and pride of the sailors who wear the name Cleveland on their uniforms."

The commissioning ceremony will be livestreamed online at http://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/37601, beginning at 9:45 a.m. EST, and the ceremony starts at 10 a.m. EST tomorrow.

This is the fourth ship to be named in honor of the city of Cleveland. The first was a cruiser commissioned in 1903 that served during World War I. The second was the lead ship of its class of light cruisers, which earned 13 battle stars during World War II. The third was the amphibious transport dock, which served from 1967 to 2011, providing critical support during the Vietnam War, Operations Desert Shield and Storm and various humanitarian missions.

Navy Announces Commissioning of the Future USS Cleveland

May 15, 2026 |

The Navy will commission its newest Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS Cleveland (LCS 31), during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Honorable Hung Cao, acting Secretary of the Navy, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Additional speakers are set to include the Honorable Jon Husted, U.S. Senator from Ohio; the Honorable Shontel Brown, U.S. Representative from Ohio; the Honorable Justin Bibb, Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio; Adm. Karl Thomas, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command; and Ms. Stephanie Hill, President Rotary and Mission Systems, Lockheed Martin.

Robyn Modly, the wife of former acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly, is the ship's sponsor. In keeping with Navy tradition, she will give the crew the order to "man our ship and bring her to life!" With the hoisting of the colors and commissioning pennant, acting Secretary Cao will formally place the ship in active service.

LCS 31 is the fourth ship to be named in honor of the city of Cleveland. The first was a cruiser (C-19) commissioned in 1903 that served during World War I. The second was the lead ship of her class of light cruisers, USS Cleveland (CL-55), which earned 13 battle stars for its service during World War II. The third was the Austin-class amphibious transport dock, USS Cleveland (LPD 7), which served from 1967 to 2011, providing critical support during the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and various humanitarian missions.

The LCS class consists of two variants, Freedom and Independence, designed and built by two industry teams. Lockheed Martin leads the Freedom-variant team, the odd-numbered hulls, in Marinette, Wisconsin.

Following its commissioning, USS Cleveland will be homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.

LCS are fast, agile, mission-focused warships designed to operate in near-shore environments to counter 21st-century threats. It is a class of small surface combatants equipped to defeat challenges in the world's littorals. LCS can operate independently or in high-threat scenarios as part of a networked battle force that includes larger, multi-mission surface combatants such as cruisers and destroyers.

The commissioning of USS Cleveland underscores the Navy's commitment to building America's Fleet of the Future. For 250 years, American naval power has projected strength globally. That mission continues – and intensifies. We operate forward 24/7, 365 days a year. This operational tempo demands continuous capability delivery, and the Fleet of the Future is our answer.

The commissioning ceremony will stream on the Defense Video Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) at http://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/37601. The live stream will begin at 9:50 a.m. EDT, and the ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. EDT on May 16.

Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at (703) 697-5342.

439th Airlift Wing Airman Earns Academy Appointment Through LEAD Program

May 15, 2026 | By Timothy R Jensen, 439th Airlift Wing |

The dream of becoming an astronaut usually begins by looking at the stars, but for Air Force Senior Airman Kendall Cubero, the journey to the cockpit and beyond started with a pair of electrician's tools in his hands at Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts. 

Cubero, an electrician assigned to the electrical and environmental shop, 439th Maintenance Squadron, was recently selected for the highly competitive Leaders Encouraging Airmen Development program, earning a coveted appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy. The LEAD program allows unit commanders to nominate the top junior enlisted personnel for entry into the academy or its preparatory school. Unlike civilian applicants who require a congressional nomination, LEAD candidates rely on the endorsement of their chain of command. 

Cubero, a New Jersey native who moved to Massachusetts for an Air Reserve technician position, initially joined the Air Force to learn a trade and earn military tuition assistance benefits. However, the goal of becoming an officer was always lingering. 

"The big dream is becoming a pilot," Cubero said. "I remember seeing this program, but it was completely out of my mind until my wing leadership sent an email about it." 

Applying was a rigorous process and Cubero admitted he initially had doubts about his chances, noting that the academy only accepts about 1,000 students each year. 

"It was kind of like a coin toss," he said. "There are people from all over the country that are smarter than me, more athletic than me, just better than me in every single shape or form." 

Despite this humility, his unit recognized his potential early on. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Matthew Kirk, who supervises Cubero, saw his drive from day one. 

"Cubero has a great personality and is a highly motivated individual," Kirk said. "When he joined our shop, he hit the ground running and quickly became a key member of our team." 

To help Cubero reach his goal, Kirk ensured he had the backing he needed at the shop level to balance the mission with the demanding application requirements. 

"I tried to be a good mentor and assisted him to the best of my ability," he said. "I gave him ample time to navigate the long application process and pursue his dreams." 

Cubero's advice to other junior enlisted members aiming for similar heights is simple: start working hard the day you arrive. 

"You have to ask yourself what you need to change to get to that point," he said. "One of the things that helped was just setting up a meeting with my supervisor and building a plan to reach those goals." 

Looking ahead, Cubero plans to carry the lessons he learned as an enlisted maintainer into the officer ranks. He aims to emulate the "selfless leadership" modeled by his current commander. 

"Leadership is about serving those you are in command of and helping them advance their careers, just as my leadership did for me," Cubero said. "Because of them, I'm able to achieve heights I never thought possible. If I'm given a position of leadership in the future, that's exactly what I want to do to cultivate the next generation." 

As Cubero prepares to trade his tools for a cadet uniform, his journey serves as a reminder of the Air Force's foundational strength. The Air Force Reserve is ultimately about its people; airmen like Cubero who choose to serve, stay ready and bring lethality to the fight.