Military history for the month of August

The following is a compilation of significant dates in our commonwealth’s military history.  For more on the legacy of our Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen, visit the Kentucky National Guard eMuseum. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Battle of Fallen Timbers - August 20, 1794

August 1, 1864 – Daniel Weisiger Lindsey is appointed Adjutant General of Kentucky by Gov. Thomas E. Bramlette.

August 2, 1990 – Operation Desert Shield began. August 3, 1795 – Treaty of Peace between the United States and the Allied Indian Tribes of the Northwest, signed at Greenville, in Ohio (Treaty of Greenville). August 4, 1790 – U.S. Coast Guard established August 5, 1864 - U.S. Navy Landsman Daniel Noble, a native of Bath County, Ky., a crewmen of the U.S.S. Metacomet aided in the rescue of the U.S. Monitor Tecumseh when that vessel was struck by a torpedo in passing enemy forts in Mobile Bay, Ala. Noble braved the enemy fire which was said by the admiral to be "one of the most galling" he had ever seen and aided in rescuing from death ten of the crew of the Tecumseh, thereby eliciting the admiration of both friend and foe. Noble receives the Medal of Honor for his actions. (Civil War) August 5, 1891 - Cpl. Franklin McDonald from Bowling Green, Ky., a Soldier with Company G, 11th U.S. Infantry defended a mail coach from an attack by Kiowa Indians near Fort Griffin, Texas. He receives the Medal of Honor for his gallantry in action. (Indian Wars) August 4, 1950 – Defense of Pusan/Naktong Perimeter began (Korean War) August 5, 1968 – Death of Capt. Robert W. “Buz” Sawyer killed in an aircraft crash near Kansas City, Missouri in a RF-101 “Voodoo.”  He was a member of the 165^th Tactical Recon Sq on federal duty at Richards-Gabeur AFB, Missouri during the Pueblo call up. August 7, 2002 – Death of Tech. Sgt. Christopher A. Matero and TSgt. Martin A. Tracy, Combat Controllers for the 123^rd Special Tactics Flight of the Kentucky Air National Guard both perished when a U.S. Air Force MC-130H crashed during a training flight in Puerto Rico. August 7, 1792 – Purple Heart Medal established August 7, 1871 – U.S. and State Guard troops were called at Frankfort, Paris and Lexington, following rioting and shootings at polling locations. August 7, 1942 – Battle of Guadalcanal (World War II) August 9, 2001 – Dean Allen Youngman is appointed Adjutant General of Kentucky by Gov. Paul E. Patton.

 August 12, 1782 – Battle of the Upper Blue Licks between Captain John Holder and a party of Kentuckians and a band of marauding Wyandotte Indians (Early Indian Wars)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="174"] Thomas Shaw August 12, 1881 - Thomas Shaw, a native of Covington, Ky., while serving with K Company, 9th U.S. Cavalry forced the enemy back after stubbornly holding his ground in an extremely exposed position and prevented the Native Americans superior numbers from surrounding his command. Shaw receives the Medal of Honor for his actions. (Indian Wars) August 12, 1952 – Battle of Bunker Hill (Hill 122) began (Korean War) August 14, 1945 – Japan Surrendered, ending World War II. August 15, 1782 – Siege of Bryan's Station by Capt. William Caldwell and a combined force of Indians and Canadians. Siege lasted until 17 August 1782 (Early Indian Wars) [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="315"] Black and white Nagel & Weingaertner lithograph of the women of Bryant's Station, Ky supplying the garrison with water and defeating the stratagem of the Indians led on by Simon Girty the renegade 1782. You can see indians spying behind a tree.

August 15, 1851 – Col. William L. Crittenden, of Louisville, Capt. Victor Kerr, and 48 others, nearly all Kentuckians under his command-deceived by Gen. Lopez into the belief that the "patriots" of Cuba were engaged in a revolution for freedom-engage in an armed expedition which invades the island; two days after landing, they are attacked by 700 Spanish troops, and after a gallant fight captured, and, next day, shot; of 80 others of his command, captured with him 77 were afterward shot. The U.S. Government promptly dispatch the steam frigate Saranac, to inquire into the circumstances.

August 15, 1944 – Allied Invasion of Southern France (World War II) August 18, 1951 – Battle of Bloody Ridge began (Korean War) August 19, 1782 – Battle of Blue Licks, Kentucky.  On a hill next to the Licking River in what is now Robertson County, a force of about 50 British rangers and 300 American Indians ambushed and routed 182 Kentucky militiamen killing some 64.  It was the worst defeat for the Kentuckians during the war (Considered the last battle of the American Revolution) [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Battle of Blue Licks - August 19, 1782

August 19, 1881 - Sgt. Brent Woods from Pulaski County, Ky., a member of Company B, 9th U.S. Cavalry saved the lives of members of his detachment during fighting against Native Americans in New Mexico. He receives the Medal of Honor for his actions. (Indian Wars)

August 20, 1794– Battle of Fallen Timbers. Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne defeats nearly 2000 Indians and 70 Canadians. Gen. Charles Scott, with 1600 Kentucky volunteers were part of this command (Early Indian Wars) August 22, 1869 – Three companies of volunteer soldiers or state militia, 95 men in all, leave Louisville for Lebanon, to take care of the "Regulators," whose depredations in that region are again making life unbearable. [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="150"] Staff Sgt. Nicholas Carnes August 26, 2007 – Staff Sgt. Nicholas Carnes of Ludlow (Kenton County) was killed by small arms fire during a firefight in the village of Lewanne Bazaar, Paktika Province, Afghanistan.  Carnes, 25, was assigned to Battery A, 2^nd Battalion, 138^th Field Artillery, based in Carrollton, Ky.  Carnes deployed with his unit in March of 2007 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Carnes was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal for his service in Afghanistan. A member of the Kentucky Army National Guard since 1999, Carnes is the fourteenth Kentucky Guard Soldier to lose his life as the result of combat action in the global war on terror. He was the second Soldier to be killed in Afghanistan (Global War on Terrorism) August 29, 1952 – Korean War’s Largest Air Raid (Korean War) August 31, 1847 – Requisition upon Kentucky for two more regiments of infantry for service in the Mexican War. Before September 20^th they are reported and organized, 3^rd Kentucky Regiment under command of Col. Manlius V. Thomson of Georgetown and 4^th Kentucky Regiment under command of Col. John S. Williams of Winchester (Mexican-American War)