Author: trameditor

“My God! Do you mean he’s real? I thought he was somebody the Marines made up, like Paul Bunyan!”

These words were said by a young Marine replacement during World War I, after he was told Dan Daly was his first sergeant. Daly is indeed deified in the Marine world, but he is not as well known to the general public. The Marine hero is one of only 19 men to have been awarded two Medals of Honor, and he was nominated for a third.

This is his story.

Dan Daly’s upbringing

Born in 1873, Dan Daly had a hardscrabble, yet common upbringing. He was raised in a squalid tenement in New York City and cobbled together a living by selling newspapers. When he was slightly older, he began working in an overcrowded city factory. While only standing at five-foot six-inches, he was a fierce amateur boxer.

Dan Daly wearing his US Marine Corps uniform (Photo Credit: Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

With such a tough life, it’s no surprise Daly was eager to leave New York when the opportunity presented itself. In 1899, at the age of 16, he joined the US Marine Corps. At the time, the Americans were fighting the Spanish-American War. While Daly hoped to participate, he didn’t finish basic training in time.

The Boxer Rebellion

While Daly missed out on participating in the Spanish-American War, he didn’t have to wait long for his chance at combat. In 1900, he took off to China to fight for the Alliance during the Boxer Rebellion. The war was so-called because the Chinese rebels fought in a style that resembled boxers.

Qing Imperial Soldiers during the Boxer Rebellion. (Photo Credit: Unknown Author / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

It didn’t take long for Daly to prove himself a hero. He participated in the defense of the Foreign Legations, which was under siege from Chinese soldiers for 55 days. On one of these days, it was reported German soldiers had assembled outside of the American Embassy in Beijing. Several Marines left their post to assault the German position and Daly was left alone. It was on this night that a number of Chinese soldiers attacked. Using a machine gun, the Marine killed an estimated 200 enemy soldiers.

For this, he was awarded his first Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

“The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor (First Award) to Private Daniel Joseph Daly (MCSN: 73086), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Captain Newt Hall’s Marine Detachment, 1st Regiment (Marines), in action in the presence of the enemy during the battle of Peking, China, 14 August 1900, Daly distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.”

Battle of Fort Dipitie

Fifteen years later, Daly was in Haiti supporting the country’s government against rebels. The Marine and his small platoon were ambushed by around 400 of the Cacos rebels. To make matters worse, the platoon’s machine gun was temporarily dropped in the river. Daly retrieved the weapon and the platoon went on the attack, killing the rebels.

US Marines on patrol in 1915 during the occupation of Haiti. A Haitian guide is leading the party. (Photo Credit: A. R. Harrison, United States Marine Corps – Marine Corps Legacy Museum / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Daly was again awarded the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

“The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor (Second Award) to Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Joseph Daly (MCSN: 73086), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with the 15th Company of Marines (Mounted), 2d Marine Regiment, on 22 October 1915. Gunnery Sergeant Daly was one of the company to leave Fort Liberte, Haiti, for a six-day reconnaissance.

“Gunnery Sergeant Daly fought with exceptional gallantry against heavy odds throughout this action.”

World War I and his famous phrase

Despite being 44 years old at the time, Daly was active during World War I. The Marine fought in some of the bloodiest battles of the conflict and was wounded three times. While leading his men during the Battle of Belleau Wood, he shouted, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”

The words have gone down in Marine Corps lore. They had the desired effect, as the Allies won the battle.

Dan Daly receives the French Medaille Militaire following World War I. (Photo Credit: Underwood & Underwood / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Daly was again nominated for the Medal of Honor. It was decided that it would be unacceptable for one man to receive the award three times, as no one ever had. Instead, he was presented with the Distinguished Service Cross and, later, the Navy Cross.

Legacy

Many factors have hurt Dan Daly’s legacy. Many wars have been fought since his time, with new heroes. As well, he died in 1937, and during his life was known for his modesty and refusal to talk about what happened to him during his service. However, in the Marine Corps, Daly is still honored and talked about regularly.

Dan Daly’s gravestone at Cypress Hills National Cemetery. (Photo Credit: K72ndst / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0)

Lt. Col. Frank E. Evans, the adjutant of the 6th Regiment in France, said of the legendary Marine, “Daly’s influence on new officers and men was remarkable. He enjoyed the respect, confidence, and admiration of every man in the regiment. For loyalty, spirit, and absolute disregard of fear, he was almost unique in the entire brigade, and his devotion to his officers and to the men of his company was demonstrated time after time.”

War movies have been popular for as long as films have existed. As a result, some of the more popular subjects have been completely exhausted. The good news is there are thousands of years of resource material out there. The following are five battles that would make for great Hollywood films.

Battle of Belleau Wood

It’s very common for films to be made about World War II. Movies about the Vietnam War were also quite common during the 1980s. There are not, however, many movies about the First World War. The Battle of Belleau Wood was fought in France in 1918, and saw the Germans take on French, American and British soldiers. It is also considered the battle where the US Marine Corps truly came into its own. As such, it would make for a great film.

American soldiers camp out during the Battle of Belleau Wood, 1918. (Photo Credit: adoc-photos / Getty Images)

All great movies have a likable hero, and Marine Dan Daly makes for a great one. Daly, a legendary member of the US military, is treated as almost a mythical figure within the Marine Corps. It was during the Battle of Belleau Wood that he uttered the famous line, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever,” while leading a charge.

As well, the Allied victory was the first major engagement the US Army fought during WWI. Despite their attempts to gain ground during the spring offensive, the tired German soldiers were no match for the Americans, who continued to eagerly showcase their skills after entering the conflict in 1917.

This one should be green-lit immediately.

The Winter War

In the late 1930s, Joseph Stalin was obsessed with increasing his territorial holdings. With a massive army and thousands of tanks, he felt Finland would make for a great target. Classic underdog stories always make for great war movies and this is a real David versus Goliath-like tale.

Russia invaded Finland during the later months of 1939, which was a mistake. While the Russians were used to the cold, given their northern location, the Finns knew the local terrain well and used this knowledge to their advantage. Ski troops navigated the rugged terrain to launch guerrilla warfare and were able to easily spot the Soviet troops against the white snow.

Finnish soldiers man a Maxim machine gun during the Winter War. (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Also impressive was the Finn’s incredible air superiority. The Nordic country had a small Air Force, not because they didn’t have enough men, but because they were incredibly selective of their pilots. During the conflict, Finish pilots shot down way more Soviet aircraft than they lost of their own.

The snowy landscape of Finland during the wintertime would also make for a stunning backdrop.

Battle of Carrhae

Sometimes the best movies are the ones where the villain gets what they deserve – and Roman General Marcus Licinius Crassus is one heck of a good villain. Born into wealth in Rome in 115 BC, he eventually became the richest man in the Empire. Crassus also developed a friendship with Pompey the Great and Julius Caesar. He soon was given the governorship of Syria, which only promised to make him richer.

None of this was enough for Crassus. He decided to attempt to conquer Parthia for both riches and glory. The battle went horribly for him. During the next day’s peace meeting, he was killed by the Parthians with molten gold poured into his mouth to symbolize his greed.

His death was the inspiration for a similar scene that occurred in season one of the HBO show Game of Thrones.

Battle of Yorktown

Despite the clear importance to the history of the country, there have been very few movies made about the Revolutionary War. Thanks to the wild success of the Broadway musical Hamilton, however, now would be as good a time as any to shine a light on the time period. A great place to start would be with a movie about the Battle of Yorktown.

Cornwallis surrenders during the American Revolutionary War. (Photo Credit: John Trumbull / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

The Americans won the battle, thanks to a collaboration between George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette. After three weeks of fighting, the movie would certainly have a happy ending. The Battle of Yorktown ended with the surrender of the British forces, leading to the Treaty of Paris and American independence.

Battle of Longewala

The Battle of Longewala has been made into a film: the 1997 Bollywood movie, Border. It may be time, however, for the battle to be revealed to a larger audience. Not only is it a classic many versus few-type battle, but there is also an aspect of humor to it that isn’t seen in most battles.

Indian troops fire during an Indo-Pakistani War battle. (Photo Credit: AFP / Getty Images)

During the battle, 2,000 Pakistanis with 45 tanks took on 120 Indian soldiers. The only thing the Indians had going for them was a recoilless rifle that could pierce through tanks. As the Pakistanis made their approach, the tanks continuously got stuck in the mud, making them an easy target.

The USS New York (BB-34) was a US Navy battleship and the lead vessel of her class. Named after the state of New York, she was designed to be the first vessel to carry a 14-inch/45-caliber gun. She entered service in 1914 and first actively served during the US occupation of Veracruz.

Following more than three years of operations off the East Coast and in the Caribbean, she set sail across the Atlantic Ocean to join the British Grand Fleet, and served as the flagship of US battleships in the 6th Battle Squadron for the remainder of World War I.

The USS New York (BB-34) accidentally collides with a German U-boat

USS New York (BB-34), 1932. (Photo Credit: U.S. Navy / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

It was during an escort mission that the USS New York first came into contact with a German U-boat. She was leading a fleet of battleships into the Pentland Firth on October 14, 1918 when she was badly damaged in an underwater collision. Two blades broke off of one of her propellors, significantly reducing her speed, and there was damage to the starboard side.

Service during the interwar period

USS New York (BB-34), 1937. (Photo Credit: Harley Flowers / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

By 1919, the USS New York had transited through the Panama Canal to the Pacific Ocean, where she was stationed for the next decade and a half. It was during this time that she underwent some serious modernization. Between 1925-27, she received new oil-fired boilers, heavier deck armor, anti-torpedo bulges along her hull and up-to-date gunfire control mechanisms.

The USS New York (BB-34) during the Second World War

USS New York (BB-34), 1945. (Photo Credit: U.S. Navy / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

The USS New York was part of Neutrality Patrol operations in the Atlantic at the opening of World War II. As the US drew closer to conflict in 1941, she was employed to help with the Allied Occupation of Iceland and in escorting convoys. When America did become a combatant, she continued her convoy activities.

Shortly before 2:00 AM on October 31, 1920, Frederick Banting woke up from a dream that would change the lives of millions. He quickly scribbled down 25 words that became the blueprint for the discovery of insulin. While Banting’s discovery is the focal point of his legacy, he also saved lives during both World Wars!

From serving as a medic in France during World War I to conducting research on the first g-suit for fighter pilots in World War II, Banting’s military service speaks to his selfless nature.

Frederick Banting’s early life and service during World War I

Frederick Grant Banting was born on November 14, 1891 in Alliston, Ontario, Canada. In 1914, he twice attempted to enlist for service overseas, but was denied both times due to his poor eyesight. He was finally allowed to a year later, due to the increasing need for doctors on the front.

Banting’s graduation portrait from the University of Toronto School of Medicine, 1923. (Photo Credit: Topical Press Agency / Getty Images)

Banting was wounded during the Second Battle of Cambrai. Despite his injuries, he spent 16 hours tending to other wounded soldiers, until another doctor ordered him to stop. For his actions, he was presented with the Military Cross, the second highest honor awarded in the British Empire.

The discovery of insulin

Frederick Banting moved to London, Ontario, purchased his first home and opened a private medical practice. However, he struggled to make ends meet and took a job as a professor at the University of Western Ontario, teaching anthropology and orthopedics. He also lectured in pharmacology at the University of Toronto from 1921-22.

TIME Magazine cover featuring Frederick Banting, August 1923. (Photo Credit: TIME Magazine / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Banting enlisted the help of doctors John Macleod, James Collip and Charles Best to explore his hypothesis. After successfully isolating and identifying insulin, clinical trials began.

One patient of Banting’s, a four-year-old boy named Teddy Ryder, began treatment for diabetes after two years of following a strict starvation diet. After receiving insulin, he was finally able to live a normal life. He wrote to Banting, “I am a fat boy now and I feel fine. I can climb a tree.”

Ryder was just one of the countless children whose lives were forever changed by insulin.

Charles Best and Frederick Banting on the roof of the medical building at the University of Toronto with one of the first diabetic dogs to receive insulin. (Photo Credit: Hulton Archive / Getty Images)

In 1923, Banting and his team of researchers were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work. To this day, he remains the youngest person to be awarded a Nobel Prize, at just 32 years old. In 1934, he was knighted by King George V and received the title of Sir Frederick Banting.

A medical pioneer during World War II

In the early days of the Second World War, Frederick Banting became interested in medical research that could be applied to warfare. He was promoted to the rank of major and became Canada’s Chief Medical Liason with British scientists, helping to develop new medical technologies.

Due to his research, the Canadian government barred him from serving on the frontlines.

Canadian scientist Wilbur R. Franks wearing his anti-g suit to keep fighter pilots from blacking out. (Photo Credit: Apic / Getty Images)

In 1940, the first tests of the Franks Flying Suit took place. It was named for Dr. Wilbur Franks, one of Banting’s mentees. Banting was part of the team that created the Franks anti-gravity suit, which was geared toward solving the issue of aviator “blackout” while conducting sharp turns and steep dives. This provided the basic framework for modern-day g-suits.

Banting also tested his research on himself, including a time when he deliberately burned himself with mustard gas to learn how to counteract its effects. He advocated his concerns about biological and chemical warfare to the British cabinet, which eventually led to the creation of the Microbiological Research Establishment.

In February 1941, Banting planned to fly from Newfoundland, Canada to the UK to continue his research as Chief Medical Laision. He boarded a Hudson bomber, but soon after takeoff the oil cooler failed, leading the aircraft’s radio and both engines to fail. The pilot attempted to land the plane, but it clipped some trees and “was brought down only [meters] away from a potentially safe landing place.”

Of the four onboard the bomber, two died upon impact. While the pilot and Banting survived, the doctor, wounded and “delirious,” wandered away from the wreckage and died of exposure before help could arrive. He was just 49 years old.

Frederick Banting’s enduring legacy

Frederick Banting’s legacy lives on through his research. Today, 37.3 million Americans have diabetes – about one in ten people. Without insulin, those lives would be cut short. One hundred years after its discovery, insulin remains one of the most effective treatments for diabetes.

(L) Samples of insulin from the early days of the development of insulin therapy. (R) Pur-in pen insulin injection device manufactured by CP Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Photo Credit: Science & Society Picture Library / Getty Images)

At the Banting House National Historic Site in London, Ontario, the Flame of Hope burns day and night. First kindled by the Queen Mother in 1989, it stands as a symbol of hope that a cure for diabetes will be found and the flame can be extinguished.

While it was still a relatively new phenomenon, Hollywood studios were cranking out film after film during the 1920s and ’30s. As a result, many of the Silver Screen’s earliest actors had served in World War I. The following is a list of the most famous, and their legacies continue to endure a century later.

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson

Shirley Temple and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, 1936. (Photo Credit: Afro American Newspapers / Gado / Getty Images)

Kicking off our list of actors who served in World War I is Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. Prior to the conflict, he’d served with the US Army as a rifleman in the Spanish-American War, during which he was accidentally shot by a second lieutenant cleaning his gun.

When the First World War broke out, Robinson was already a major star on the vaudeville circuit, having been one of the first performers to break the medium’s “two-colored rule,” which banned solo acts by African-Americans. Despite his fame, he volunteered to perform free of charge for the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) as part of the War Department’s Liberty Theatres at training camps. His efforts afforded him a commendation in 1918.

Randolph Scott

Randolph Scott, 1935. (Photo Credit: Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images)

Randolph Scott was born into a wealthy family on January 23, 1898. His father was the first licensed certified public accountant in North Carolina, while his mother was from a well-to-do family.

In 1917, following the US entering World War I, the future actor enlisted in the North Carolina National Guard. He trained as an artillery observer, and, in May 1918, entered active duty with the 2nd Trench Mortar Battalion at Fort Monroe, Virginia. He was subsequently deployed to France, where he fought alongside the IV Corps in Toul and Thiaucourt-Regniéville.

Following the signing of the Armistice, Scott and the 2nd Trench Mortar Battalion took part in the Allied occupation of Germany, after which he enrolled in Officer Candidate School (OCS). He subseqeuntly received a commission as a second lieutenant of the Field Artillery Branch and returned to the US, where he reported to Camp Mills, New York and was honorably discharged.

Scott later credited his time in the US military with aiding in the success of his acting career – in particular, his ability to properly use mock firearms and ride on horseback. After appearing in stage productions, he broke into the film scene in the 1930s. From then on, he became one of the most bankable Western stars in Hollywood, in part because his six-foot, two-inch stature and intense features leant themselves to the strong, silent type.

Bela Lugosi

Dracula, 1931. (Photo Credit: Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images)

Bela Lugosi was born Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó on October 20, 1882 in Lugos, Hungary. Following some time spent performing in stage shows, the actor volunteered with the 43rd Royal Hungarian Infantry Regiment and served during World War I.

Serving with the Austro-Hungarian Army between 1914-16, he was stationed along the Eastern Front, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant. He and his fellow servicemen frequently engaged with the Russians, and he suffered various injuries during combat. The first occurred while fighting in Rohatyn, while the second later led to him receiving the Wound Medal. He was discharged a year later for “mental collapse,” having served 16 months.

Spencer Tracy

Spencer Tracy, 1934. (Photo Credit: Bettmann / Getty Images)

Spencer Tracy was born in 1900 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A hyperactive child who had difficulties in school, he found himself obsessed with films and acting – so much so that this influenced his later career path.

Unlike some other actors on this list, Tracy didn’t see action during World War I. As he was still relatively young when the conflict broke out, he wasn’t of age to be deployed. That didn’t mean, however, that he didn’t try to do his part, albeit “for a chance to go and see some excitement.”

Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey Bogart. (Photo Credit: Bettmann / Getty Images)

Humphrey Bogart was born to a very wealthy family in New York City on December 25, 1899. He was a terrible student with discipline issues, so had little choice but to enlist in the US Navy in the spring of 1918. The future actor spent the latter years of World War I as a coxswain. He’s said to have been a model sailor, who spent time after the conflict ferrying troops back to the US. He subsequently left the service in June 1919 as a boatswain’s mate third class.

When the Second World War broke out, Bogart attempted to re-enlist, but was denied due to his age (he was in his early 40s at the time). Still determined to do his part, he volunteered with the US Coast Guard Temporary Reserve and patroled the California coastline in his yacht, the Santana.

Buster Keaton

The Navigator, 1924. (Photo Credit: Bettmann / Getty Images)

Buster Keaton was born into a vaudeville family in Piqua, Kansas on October 4, 1895. By the time he was three years old, he was already performing alongside them, an experience which later afforded him the reputation for being the silent film era’s brightest.

Scorched earth tactics have been used nearly as long as armies have conducted military campaigns. While the practice is less common in modern times, it has seen recent use, most notably during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here’s its history and some of its most notable uses, including during World War II and in Vietnam.

Ancient use of scorched earth tactics

Before one can discuss the use of scorched earth policies, it must be understood what such tactics entail. In general, a scorched earth policy is a strategy which aims to destroy anything that may be of use to the enemy, whether that be natural resources, military equipment – even local citizens. While the latter was banned under the 1977 Geneva Convention, the destruction of resources remains a key strategy for some warring nations.

Smoke palls over oil wells set ablaze by the Russians when the Germans occupied Maikop, September 1942. The Germans were promised a rich prize in the Caucasus, but got nothing. (Photo Credit: Keystone / Getty Images)

The Scythians were the first to use the scorched earth tactic. Nomadic herders from what is now Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine, they did battle against the Persians and Darius the Great. To gain the upper hand, they moved in secret, destroying the Persians’ food and poisoning their wells. Before their opponents could figure out what happened, they would retreat back into the forest.

Use of scorched earth tactics up until the 19th century

As society entered the medieval period, scorched earth tactics continued to grow in popularity. Viking chieftan Hastein used the policy during the Great Viking Invasion of England in 893, and its use continued with the Harrying of the North in 1069. During this, William the Conquerer quelled a rebellion in Northern England in the most brutal way imaginable. His men burnt down the majority of the villages, killed livestock and destroyed food stores.

The villagers who survived the initial attack resorted to cannibalism.

William the Conquerer, as shown on the Bayeux Tapestry. (Photo Credit: Lucien Musset / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

During the Hundred Years’ War, both the French and English made use of scorched earth tactics, as did Mircea the Elder against the Ottoman Empire in 1395. Prince Stephen III of Moldavia did the same during the Ottoman advance in 1475-76.

As society progressed into the early modern era, armies continued their use of the scorched earth strategy. The most famous use of it during this time was in Ireland during the Desmond Rebellions in the mid-to-late 1500s, when the majority of the province of Munster was destroyed.

This conflict was followed by others across Europe, including the Wallachian-Ottoman Wars and the Nine Years’ War.

Siege of Mons during the Nine Years’ War, 1691. (Photo Credit: Raymond Palmer / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Scorched earth tactics were also used outside of Europe. In India, the Chandellas used the strategy while under attack by Mahmud of Ghazni between 1019-22. Fast forward to the 17th century, when Shivaji Maharaj, founder of the Maratha Empire, also used the strategy. He did, however, have some ground rules. His forces were expected to burn down cities, but were ordered to not rape or injure civilians, nor disrespect any religious institutes.

Mararaj’s son, Sambhaji, continued these practices, making him widely despised among the enemy Mughals. In 1689, Sambhaji was captured by Muqarrab Khan, the leader of the Mughal Army. He and his soldiers were particularly angry with the three-day assault following the Battle of Burhanpur. Sambhaji was charged with casual torture, arson, looting and massacre and subsequently put to death.

The Napoleonic Wars and the American Civil War

The two most notable instances of scorched earth tactics being used in the 19th century occurred during the Napoleonic Wars and the American Civil War. Throughout the course of the Napoleonic Wars, those countries that were invaded often resorted to a scorched earth strategy, destroying food supplies to hinder the movement and success of the invading forces.

Battle of Somosierra in Spain, 1808. It was one of the many battles to occur during the Napoleonic Wars from 1803-15. (Photo Credit: January Suchodolski / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

One of the most famous examples of the scorched earth policy occurred during the American Civil War. Close to victory toward the end of 1864, Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman used such tactics to break the Confederacy’s will. Beginning in Atlanta on November 15, he and his soldiers spent a month burning down everything in sight, during an event known as the March to the Sea.

The only towns spared were Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia.

Union forces destroying a railroad during Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to the Sea, 1864. (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Sherman estimated his campaign cost the South $100 million. He also made refugees of those living in the areas his men decimated. These individuals were given plots of land to replace their damaged properties. Sherman has long been reviled in the South, but his actions helped to break the Confederacy and win the war for the Union forces.

Scorched earth tactics during the World Wars

The use of scorched earth tactics primarily occurred on the Eastern Front during World War I, but they were also used on the Western Front. In the east, the Imperial Russian Army used them to create a destruction zone during their retreat from the Imperial German Army in 1915, destroying homes, railways and crops. To the west, the Germans made use of the strategy to shorten the line between the Somme and the Hindenburg Line.

Polish village being burned by the Russians during World War I, as part of their scorched earth strategy. (Photo Credit: Print Collector / Getty Images)

While used in the Greco-Turkish and Second Sino-Japanese wars during the interwar period, the next major use of the scorched earth policy was in the Second World War. It first saw use during the Winter War, with Finnish soldiers using it to destroy the shelters and food being used by the Soviet forces. However, the tables turned in 1944 during the German retreat from Finland, with the Germans destroying large swaths of land in the northern part of the country.

The Germans also made use of scorched earth tactics in Norway in 1944.

Vietnam and the Persian Gulf

Scorched earth tactics during the Vietnam War are typically attributed to the use of Agent Orange by the American forces. The chemical, known for being a particularly powerful herbicide, was used as part of Operation Ranch Hand to destroy crops and the jungle foliage the Viet Cong used to hide.

It was paired with Agent Blue, which was also used to destroy crops used by the Viet Cong – in particular, rice fields.

US Air Force aircraft flying over burning oil wells in Kuwait, 1991. (Photo Credit: US Air Force / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

The Persian Gulf War also saw one of the most notable uses of the scorched earth strategy, with the Kuwaiti oil fires. During their retreat from Kuwait in 1991, the Iraqi forces set fire to between 605 and 732 oil wells in the country, to hinder the US-led coalition forces. The last of the fires was put out in November 1991, but not before the Kuwaiti economy lost $157.5 billion USD in oil and many soldiers suffered respiratory issues due to the poor air quality.

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

Scorched earth tactics have become much rarer in the 21st century, but examples of their use were seen in Darfur, Libya and Sri Lanka. Most recently, Russia has been accused of using them during its invasion of Ukraine, with White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan saying in early April 2022:

“I think it’s actually just consistent with the way that Russia has conducted this war from the beginning. We’ve seen scorched earth warfare already, we’ve seen atrocities and war crimes and mass killings and horrifying and shocking images from towns like Bucha, and the rocket attack on Kramatorsk.”

A volunteer pulls a trolley of food hanging on a rope over a destroyed bridge near the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, on March 13, 2022. (Photo Credit: DIMITAR DILKOFF / AFP / Getty Images)

In particular, people have pointed toward the destruction of Ukrainian bridges by Russian forces, as a way to halt the transport of resources, supplies and troops. There has been widespread outrage and condemnation of Putin’s actions, with many countries levying sanctions against Russia and its oligarchs. Time will tell what the final result of the invasion will be.

Marie Marvingt was so renowned for her courage that in 1903, she was nicknamed “the fiancee of danger.’ She was many other things as well. In her 88 years, the French woman served as a wartime pilot, took on the role of a military nurse, and competed as an athlete and a mountain climber. She left an indelible mark on both her country and the world at large. Here are some of the major accomplishments that Marie Marvingt accomplished during her life.

She excelled at athletics from a very young age

Marie Marvingt stands beside her airplane during the Femina Cup (Image via Getty Images)

Marie Marvingt was born in Aurillac in France in 1875. Her father Felix was a champion billiards player and swimmer and he shared his love of athletics with his daughter. She was a natural at a number of different endeavors. By the age of 4, she could swim 4 kilometers and she canoed 400 kilometers at the age of 14.

In 1910, Marvingt became the first woman to climb most of the peaks of the Swiss and French Alps. In 1908, she attempted to participate in the Tour de France but was refused. She ran the course anyway, well behind the male riders, and completed the difficult course. Only 36 of the 114 men who participated in the race finished.

Marvingt took to the skies as soon as she could

In addition to all of the sports she excelled at, Marie was also interested in aviation. She first flew on a hot air balloon in 1901 and first piloted one in 1907. In 1914, she became the first woman to fly across the English Channel in a balloon.

Activities during the First and Second World War

Marie Marvingt and Hubert Lathem sit in an airplane (Photo by: Photo12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

When World War I broke out, Marvingt was eager to serve her country. She disguised herself as a man and joined the French Infantry, but was discovered and sent home. In 1915, though, she was able to volunteer as a pilot during bombing missions over Germany. She was awarded the Croix de guerre for her actions. During the conflict, she also served as a nurse and a war correspondent on the front lines in Italy.

Marvingt also helped in a number of ways during World War II. She served as a Red Cross Nurse where she has achieved the rank of corporal. Marie also fought in the resistance and for her efforts was given a medal with a star. In addition, Marvingt opened and ran a home for aviators injured in the war.

Marvingt was passionate about Air Ambulances

Marie Marvingt accomplished an incredible amount during her lifetime, but the thing she is arguably most known for was her passion for air ambulances. She first introduced the idea to the French government in 1910. She had a backer in Louis Béchereau, an engineer from Deperdussin. Marie was able to raise money to purchase a prototype, but Deperdussin went bankrupt prior to fabrication.

Marvingt did not give up on the idea, however. She created the Challenge Capitaine-Écheman in 1931. The challenge awarded prizes for transforming civilian airplanes into air ambulances. In 1934, Marvingt became the first-ever air nurse when Morroco established an air ambulance corps. For her efforts, she received the Médaille de la Paix du Maroc (Medal of Peace of Morocco).

Marie Marvingt left behind an incredible legacy

Marie Marvingt arrives in Washington DC to speak to the American Legion in 1947 (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

While she always had plenty of interests, Marvingt focused on the air ambulance corps for the remainder of her life. When World War II began, Marie had support from some important figures in the French military, including Ferdinand Foch and Joseph Joffre. More than 500 women joined a corps of air nurses. All of these ladies had at least 10 hours of flying experience and some were also parachutists.

Posthumously, Marie Marvingt has received too many awards to list. There are a number of streets and schools named after her in her native France. A postage stamp was made in Marvingt’s honor in 2004. And the Soroptomist Club of Aurillac, an organization that provides women and girls with access to education, gives an award in her honor each year.

The Third Battle of Ypres – better known as the Battle of Passchendaele – is famous for the difficult conditions the British had to contend with when fighting against the German forces in Belgium. Weeks of unrelenting rain turned the battlefield into a muddy swamp, meaning both tanks and servicemen alike had difficulty making advances.

The poor terrain greatly impacted the effectiveness of one tank crew, who found themselves stuck in the middle of No Man’s Land for three days during the fighting.

The Fray Bentos tank crew

The Fray Bentos was a British Mark IV tank, captained by Donald Richardson of Nottingham. Richardson was working at his family’s grocery store when the war broke out in 1914 and immediately enlisted with his local regiment, the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment – AKA the Sherwood Foresters. He was shipped to the Western Front the following year.

When the British began incorporating tanks into their war arsenal, Richardson was promoted to captain and given command of his own tank crew. He named the Mark IV “Fray Bentos,” after the canned meat his family sold at their store.

Can of Fray Bentos corned beef, the brand Donald Richardson named his Mark IV tank after. (Photo Credit: Liebig’s Extract of Meat Co Ltd / Imperial War Museum)

The Mark IV tank first entered service in May 1917 and quickly became the most prolific tank of the First World War. It was the first to be produced and used en masse, and allowed the British forces to make great headway against the Germans in a number of battles. This was thanks to its armaments, which included two Ordnance QF 6-pounder guns and four Lewis .303-inch machine guns, on top of the personal weapons of its crew.

The other men to make up the Fray Bentos tank crew were Lt. George Hill, Sgt. Robert Missen, Lance Cpl. Hans Braedy and gunners William Morrey, Frederick Arthurs, Ernest Hayton, James Binley and Percy Budd.

Trapped in No Man’s Land at Passchendaele

The Battle of Passchendaele broke out on July 31, 1917, when the British and French launched an offensive against the Germans in the area around Ypres, in Belgium. The fighting continued until November 10 of that year, and while it eventually ended in a British victory, the battle was an incredibly arduous one.

Allied troops at the Yser Canal on the opening day of the Battle of Passchendaele. (Photo Credit: The Print Collector / Getty Images)

At 4:00 AM on August 22, 1917, the Fray Bentos crew set off across No Man’s Land in support of an attack by the British 61st Division, near St. Julien. Capt. Richardson opted to walk beside the Mark IV during the advance, during which the tank came under German machine gun fire from Somme Farm. The crew took out the position with their own guns.

As they continued their advance toward the objective, Gallipoli, the Fray Bentos once again came under German machine gun fire. Richardson was injured during the attack, suffering bullet wounds to his leg, and quickly made his way inside the tank. Hill suffered a wound to his neck and was blown off his seat, at which time the tank hit a soft spot of mud and fell sideways into the ditch. In the three weeks leading up to the advance, the area had suffered relentless rain storms.

Missen and Braedy exited the Fray Bentos to retrieve its unditching equipment, but came under fire from the Germans. The men in the tank returned fire. Braedy was killed during the skirmish and his body sank into the mud. It was never found.

The battlefield conditions soldiers faced during the Battle of Passchendaele. Weeks of unrelenting rain made it a quagmire of mud. (Photo Credit: Universal History Archive / UIG / Getty images)

By 7:00 AM, the attack had stalled ahead of the tank and the British infantry began falling back to their trenches. This left the Fray Bentos crew alone in No Man’s Land. The Germans approached the tank, and while largely held off by its Lewis guns managed to engage its crew in close combat. Before long, most of the men had been wounded.

Orchestrating an escape

Over the next three days and two nights, the crew of the Fray Bentos fought off the Germans from their position in No Man’s Land. They also had to contend with fire from British snipers, who believed the men to be German soldiers attempting to steal the stuck Mark IV. Missen volunteered to crawl back to the trenches, and the snipers soon stopped firing at the tank and its crew.

Mark IV tank stuck in the mud during the Battle of Passchendaele. There are no surviving photographs of the Fray Bentos. (Photo Credit: ullstein bild / Getty Images)

To survive, Richardson and his men drained the tank’s radiator and drank filthy ground water. After the third day, he decided it was time they made an attempt back to the British lines and instructed his crew to dismantle the tank’s cannons and gather their weapons and maps. At 9:00 PM on August 24, they began the slow and painful journey back, forced to crawl due to risk of enemy fire.

The seven men eventually made it back to the British side, where they encountered the 9th Battalion, also known as the Black Watch. After surrendering their machine guns, they made their way to the aid station, where they were treated for their wounds.

Rewarded for their actions and bravery

The Fray Bentos crew was rewarded for their actions during the Battle of Passchendaele. Richardson was mentioned in dispatches and received the Military Cross. He rejoined the fighting with a new tank – the Fray Bentos II – and served until the end of the war.

Mark IV tank with its unditching beam. (Photo Credit: British Government Photographer / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Missen and Morrey were awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for their bravery, while the other surviving gunners were presented with the Military Medal. All but one of them lived through to the end of the war, with Budd dying on August 25, 1918.

When fighting ceased, the men of the Fray Bentos were the most decorated tank crew of the war.