Poor Dove of Peace

Sometimes it is not good to be a Dove of Peace.


Thanks To Keith at BagOfNothing

he Gave Five Sons to the Navy

The family that inspired the movie "Saving Private Ryan".

November, 1942: Five brothers, all serving on the same vessel during World War II, are killed in action as a result of said warship sinking at the Battle of the Solomons. Two months later, after hearing no word from the Navy regarding her sons’ well-being, Alleta Sullivan writes the following, deeply moving letter to the Bureau of Naval Personnel. Alleta promptly received a reply from President Roosevelt. That letter can also be read below.

As a result of the Sullivans’ plight, the U.S. military introduced the Sole Survivor Policy. The policy attempts to ensure that, should a family member be lost during military service, any remaining siblings be exempt from service.

Click on the image above to read the letters exchanged between the mother and President Roosevelt.

Thanks To Keith at BagOfNothing

Big Picture: China celebrates 60 years

Beijing's historic Tiananmen Square earlier today. Hundreds of thousands of participants marched past Tiananmen Square in costume or uniform, with floats and dancers mingling with soldiers and military hardware. Collected here are photographs of the once-in-a-decade National Day parade in Beijing, and of others commemorating the anniversary elsewhere. (39 photos total)

Click the image to see the full collection.