February 19

Billy Mitchell was born in Florida in 1879 and commissioned in the U.S. Army, where he became an early advocate for military aviation. He earned distinction during World War I as a senior air commander and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. After the war, Mitchell publicly argued for the creation of an independent air force and accurately predicted the central role of air power in future conflicts. His criticisms of military leadership led to a high-profile court-martial in 1925, after which he resigned in protest. Even after leaving service, he continued to lecture and write on air strategy. Mitchell died of a heart attack in 1936, leaving a lasting impact on U.S. military doctrine.

John Basilone was born in New York in 1916 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1940. He displayed extraordinary bravery at the Battle of Guadalcanal, where he manned a machine gun position and held off attacking forces, earning the Medal of Honor. His heroism made him a national symbol, and he toured the country in war bond drives. Basilone requested to return to combat and was killed in action on Iwo Jima in 1945. He also received the Navy Cross for his actions at Iwo Jima, one of the few men to earn both honors. Basilone remains one of the most decorated Marines of World War II, remembered for his courage and selflessness.

Born in 1877, Willard Miller enlisted in the United States Navy at a young age and served aboard the USS Marblehead. During the Spanish–American War, he took part in the daring cutting of undersea cables off the coast of Cienfuegos, Cuba, in May 1898. Under heavy enemy fire, Miller volunteered for the hazardous mission that successfully disrupted Spanish communications. His actions earned him the Medal of Honor, the highest U.S. military decoration. After his naval service, Miller remained in maritime work and was respected for his courage and dedication. He passed away in 1959, leaving a legacy as one of the Navy’s noted heroes of the late 19th century.