Kitsap Chapter MOAA

06/01/2026

On this date in 1940, a total of 64,429 men were evacuated from Dunkirk. This was despite Luftwaffe attacks that sunk four destroyers, damaged another five as well as several of the Channel ferries and other ships, which had formed the backbone of the evacuation fleet. The Royal Air Force sent eight large patrols to give cover, but the Luftwaffe did most of their damage in between the patrols. The Germans also increased their efforts on the ground and were able to break through the defensive perimeter along the canals of Bergues and forced retreats in other sectors also. During the night, the British determined that the air attacks had made the evacuation too dangerous to continue by day.

06/01/2026

On this date in 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt introduced a "billion-dollar defense program" which is designed to boost the United States military strength significantly.

05/31/2026

On this date in 1958, the remains of two unidentified American servicemen were buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. These two servicemen were killed in action during World War II and the Korean War. May 30, 1958 was Memorial Day.

05/30/2026

On this date in 1991, elements of a joint task force that included the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade departed the Bay of Bengal. They had been serving off the coast of Bangladesh for two weeks in support of disaster relief operations after a devastating cyclone. During that time, they delivered tons of relief supplies via helicopters, C-130s, and landing craft. The operation was named Operation Sea Angel.

05/28/2026

On this date in 1990, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein opened a two-day Arab League summit in Baghdad. In his keynote address, he said that if Israel deployed a nuclear or chemical weapon against Arabs, Iraq would respond with "weapons of mass destruction."

05/28/2026

On this date in 1945, an entire army was moved by air transport for the first time in history. American aircraft flew the Chinese 6th Army from Burma to China.

05/26/2026

On this date in 1969, Operation Pipestone Canyon began when the 1st Battalion, 26th Marines and 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, started sweeps in the Dodge City/Go Noi areas southwest of Da Nang. The operation would last until the end of June. While 610 enemy were killed, it cost the lives of 34 Marines.

05/25/2026

On this date in 1990, a congressional report cast doubts on the U.S. Navy's official finding that a troubled sailor had probably caused the blast aboard the USS Iowa. Forty-seven service members were killed in the explosion.

05/24/2026

On this date in 1964, Senator Barry Goldwater proposed in an interview that the United States use low-yield atomic bombs to defoliate forests and the bombing of bridges, roads, and railroad lines that were bringing in supplies from Communist China. Senator Goldwater was regarded as a serious contender for the Republican presidential nomination. In the criticism that followed his remarks, Goldwater tried backing away from the preposterous proposals by saying that he was repeating suggestions made by military advisors. President Johnson capitalized on the controversy and painted Goldwater as an extremist.

05/23/2026