How to Learn the History of the U.S. Army

In its infancy, the United States Army was held together by one man, George Washington. It is quite realistic to say that while George Washington may have been the father of his country, he first had to father its army. Without the U.S. Army, the American Revolution would certainly have failed. That has been the army's ongoing job, to defend the republic, to defend its principles. Read on to learn about the history of the U.S. Army.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Begin your study by checking out the website of the U.S. Army. Tour one of its many historical sources for historical narratives as well as pictures of soldiers from various conflicts.
2. Familiarize yourself with a more detailed text such as the Army Historical Foundation's "The Army." Change to a different information format and watch some of the many DVDs available concerning army history. These include "Men of Honor: The Story of the Yanks are Coming," "Great Commanders of the Civil War," and "Biography-George S. Patton."
   
3. Visit the website of the Journals of the Continental Congress. Sample some of the entries regarding the army, its funding and its near complete collapse. Gain an appreciation for how George Washington was central to its survival.
4. Visit the website of the Army War College. Spend some time drilling down through its various levels to find more detailed information about a specific part of the world or a current issue of military importance.
5. Link to some of the specific websites devoted to individual conflicts or individual parts of the army. For example, the 8th Army has a very complete website that details much of its history. Likewise, within the U.S. Army website, there is a subsection devoted just to the Korean War. There are even websites devoted to single battles such as the Battle of the Bulge.
6. Investigate the Army Corps of Engineers by visiting one of its historical websites. The Corps of Engineers has not only performed miraculous wartime feats like the construction of the artificial harbor at Normandy, France but it also has a vital job of building and maintaining much of America's infrastructure.
7. Familiarize yourself with some of the histories of the winners of America's Congressional Medal of Honor. This is America's highest military citation, and the events leading to each medal's award are both thrilling and humbling.