Wisconsin History Day By Day

Related Web Sites:

Read More About It

"The Hero Next Door: Stories From Wisconsin's World War II Veterans" by Kristin Gilpatrick

"The Hero Next Returns" by Kristin Gilpatrick

"Heroes of the Army; the Medal of Honor and Its Winners" by Bruce Jacobs

"World War II: The Names, the Deeds"

"Heroes of World War II" by Edward Murphy

Vocabulary:

enrolled

casualties

Medal of Honor

Interesting Fact:

The U.S. Army's 32nd Division, composed mostly of National Guardsmen from Wisconsin and Michigan, fought in more days of combat (654) than any other U.S. Army division in the war.

Study Questions:

What were the roles played by Leahy, Mitscher, Winning, Vandenberg and Castle?

In what battles and campaigns was the 32nd Division involved?

Were any members of your family in the military during World War II? What did they do during the war?

U.S. historical events that occurred on December 20:

1803: The United States takes ownership of the Louisiana Purchase as the treaty is officially transferred from France.

1968: Author John Steinbeck dies.

1989: United States military forces begin a campaign to topple Panama's Manual Noriega.

December 20

Historical Highlight:
1941-1945: Wisconsin enrolled 375,000 people for World War II. There were 7,980 casualties. People with Wisconsin connections playing key roles in the war included Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Fleet Admiral William Leahy, Vice-Admiral Marc Mitscher, Gen. Nathan Winning, Gen. Hoyt Vandenberg, Brig. Gen. Frederick Walter Castle and Major Richard Bong. Fifteen Wisconsin men won the Medal of Honor during World War II.

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