Texas Aggies Go to War: In Service of Their Country, Expanded Edition (Volume 104) (Centennial Series of the Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University)

When their country calls, Texas Aggies go to war. From the Spanish-American War and World War I to Operation Iraqi Freedom, Aggies have been in the forefront of America’s armed forces, producing more officers than any other school outside the service academies. More than 20,000 Texas Aggies served in World War II, for instance, including more than 14,000 as commissioned officers. Trained in leadership and the knowledge required for warfare, Aggies have served with distinction in all branches of the military service. In this first-ever compilation of the impressive war record of Texas Aggies, stories of individual soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines are displayed with an abundance of statistics, maps, and tables. These narratives include • First-person accounts of Aggie heroism in battle in all the wars in which A&M former students have fought; • The horrific experiences of some of the eighty-seven Aggies who were stationed at Corregidor and Bataan; • The perils of five Aggies who participated in the raid over Tokyo with Jimmie Doolittle; • The heroics of the seven Medal of Honor recipients from Texas A&M during World War II; • James Earl Rudder’s leadership of the Ranger assault at Normandy on D-Day; • Examples of vigorous support and devotion to duty given by Aggies in Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East. Texas Aggies Go to War celebrates the school’s distinctive Corps of Cadets and its military contributions while honoring the individual sacrifices of its members. Those who fought and those who remember them will find here a comprehensive account of the distinguished war record of this school. This book was initiated and sponsored by a group of former students who provided funding through the Texas A&M Foundation. All proceeds from the book will be used to benefit the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. Preface The A&M College of Texas and the military tradition Cuba libre: Texas Aggies and the Spanish-American War Bordering on war Over there Between the wars, 1919-1941 We've never been licked Uncle Sam needs you! Counterattack North Africa to Italy From Normandy to the gates of Berlin War in the Pacific The impact of peace The Cold War Korea: the forgotten war From Korea to Vietnam: an end and a new beginning Vietnam: eye of the dragon A global commitment Desert Storm: Iraqi freedom A tradition of service: the civilian soldier The honor guard Appendices A. Ranks and grades (U.S. Armed Services) B. Army and Marine organization: levels of command Air Force organization: levels of command Navy organization: levels of command E. Aircraft identification and description F. Awards and medals of honor Notes Glossary Index.