National Infantry Museum

11-30 MAY 1943
BATTLE OF ATTU / OPERATION LANDCRAB

The campaign to retake the Aleutian Islands during World War II marked an important American victory in the Pacific. On 11 May 1943, Soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, made amphibious landings on the Japanese-held island of Attu in Alaska’s Aleutian chain. Japan had occupied Attu and Kiska in June 1942, marking the first occupation of American soil since the War of 1812.

Fighting on Attu was brutal. American troops faced freezing temperatures, snow, fog, mountainous terrain, and determined Japanese defenders. The 7th Infantry Division battled through harsh conditions and fierce resistance for weeks. On 29 May 1943, Japanese forces launched a desperate banzai attack, one of the largest of the war in the Pacific. Shocked American rear-echelon troops were soon fighting in hand-to-hand combat with Japanese soldiers, with the battle continuing until almost all of the Japanese were killed, effectively ending all enemy resistance on the island on 30 May 1943.

The victory on Attu helped eliminate the Japanese threat in the North Pacific and restored American control of the Aleutian Islands. The campaign demonstrated the endurance and determination of American soldiers fighting in one of the harshest environments of the war.

To learn more about the fight in the Pacific during World War II, stop by the National Infantry Museum and visit the “World at War: 1920-1947” exhibit gallery, one of the largest galleries in the entire museum.

I am the Infantry – FOLLOW ME!

🎬🍿 NEXT WEEK IS THE FIRST WEEK OF SUMMER FILM FEST! 🍿🎬

The countdown is on! Join us next week as Summer Film Fest kicks off at the National Infantry Museum with family-friendly movies on the BIGGEST screen in Georgia! 🎥✨

Skip the ticket line and purchase your tickets in advance so you can spend less time waiting and more time enjoying the movie, popcorn, and family fun!

🎟 Tickets start at just $1 for kids!
🍿 Fresh popcorn and concessions available
🎬 Family favorites all summer long
❄️ Cool indoor fun for the whole family
📍 National Infantry Museum
🎫 Visit our website NationalInfantryMuseum.org tickets and secure your seats today!

29 MAY 1780
BATTLE OF WAXHAWS, SC

The Battle of Waxhaws, also called Buford’s Massacre, was fought during the American Revolution on Monday, 29 May 1780 near the border of South Carolina and North Carolina, in present-day Lancaster County, South Carolina. Patriot Colonel Abraham Buford was leading Virginia troops north after the fall of Charleston when British Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton and his cavalry caught up with them.

Buford’s men were tired, outnumbered, and not fully prepared for battle. Tarleton demanded their surrender, but Buford refused. The British attacked quickly and broke the Patriot line. During the fighting, many Americans were killed or wounded, and Patriot accounts claimed that British troops continued attacking after some Soldiers tried to surrender.

The battle became a powerful Patriot rallying cry. The phrase “Tarleton’s Quarter” came to mean no mercy. Although a British victory, Waxhaws helped inflame resistance against the British in the South and encouraged more men to join the Patriot cause against British and Loyalist forces.

To learn more about the American Revolution in the southern states as we celebrate our Nation’s 250th Birthday, come by the National Infantry Museum and visit our “Securing Our Freedoms, Defining Our Nation” exhibit gallery, covering the history of the United States Army Infantry from 1775 to 1889 – I am the Infantry – Follow Me!

☀️ Summer Camp starts June 1st! Don’t miss your chance to be part of an unforgettable experience filled with fun, learning, and adventure.

Spots are filling fast, so register today by visiting our website! 🎉

https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/NationalInfantryFoundation/CampNIM.html

28 MAY 1918
BATTLE OF CANTIGNY – first major U.S. Offensive in World War I

The Battle of Cantigny, fought on 28 May 1918, was the first major American offensive of World War I. The attack was carried out by the U.S. 1st Division near the village of Cantigny in northern France. American troops, supported by French tanks, artillery, flamethrowers, and aircraft, assaulted German positions early in the morning and captured the village within a short time.

Although the ground gained from the Germans was fairly small, the victory carried great symbolic importance. German forces launched repeated counterattacks to take back Cantigny, but the Americans held their positions under heavy artillery fire and gas attacks. The battle proved that American troops could plan, attack, and defend successfully alongside experienced Allied forces.

Cantigny cost the Americans more than 1,000 casualties, but it boosted Allied morale at a critical moment in the war. The victory helped establish the reputation of the American Expeditionary Forces and showed that the United States was ready to fight Germany on the Western Front.

Stop by and visit the National Infantry Museum to learn more about the United States Army Infantry during World War I.

I am the Infantry – FOLLOW ME!