US Army celebrates 250th birthday

by Larry Keogh, Hamilton

The US Army celebrates its 250th Birthday on June 14, 2025. 250 years of existence and impacting our nation’s society, war fighting, humanitarian efforts and more.

Many of the people that served in the US Army have memories that are inescapable…Drill sergeants hollering in their ear, countless pushups that threatened to push China further away from us, mess halls (now dining facilities) that taught what water logged hands looked like, ah yes, there are memories galore of basic training and still more of what it meant to be working side by side with that guy or gal from New York, New Orleans, New Bedford or Newcastle. The skin color didn’t matter much – as long as they were there and fit for their job. We didn’t have much time for slackers – they left too much slack to pick up after! No, Sir! If they wouldn’t pull their weight, they were cast or muscled aside and a better soldier could take their place.

Other memories are also drawn when we remember the US Army. We remember that the US Army is responsible for over 2500 dams in the United States through the Army Corp of Engineers. The Columbia River Basin Project provides boating, recreation, irrigation waters and hydroelectric power for the Pacific Northwest, including for much of Montana.

We recall that the Panama Canal was completed by the Army Corp of Engineers after the initial French effort halted in the 1880s due to engineering challenges and diseases like malaria and yellow fever striking the workers.

The US Army has led the way for societal changes as well. Desegregation in the US Army came about with Executive Order 9981, issued July 26, 1948, ordering the integration of the forces. Three years later the US Army formally announced its plans to desegregate. Soldiers in the US Army were soon working side by side with soldiers of other races. Integrated troops had proven during the Korean War that the green machine didn’t care what color skin was carrying it!

During the Vietnam War men were drafted and found themselves serving alongside other men from all across the nation. Men from Chicago were firing weapons beside sharp shooters from Kentucky. Cooks from San Francisco were serving the nation’s youth while immigrant soldiers were serving their host nation.

And when done serving our nation in the US Army, they returned to their homes and sought work. Veterans are treasured as workers for several reasons.

They are committed to getting the job done, even though this sometimes will fly in the face of hourly workers where the worker clocks in and leaves on time. A Veteran has a difficult time breaking loose of an uncompleted task. A Veteran is more likely to stay on the job until the task is accomplished.

Accountability – these people know they are responsible. They don’t shirk duty, nor do they foist off on another person’s fault that is theirs. It’s not unusual for a Veteran to assume responsibility for the lateness of a task completion, as long as they know the job is done!

Teamwork is a common trait among Veterans. They know to rely on their team fellows and know their team fellows rely on them. No one lets the other down – that’s not the way a team works.

Leadership and fellowship are valued traits that our nation’s Veterans have in abundance. The Veteran has been led and knows what effective leadership skills are most effective for them and for their leaders.

Veterans have many admirable characteristics as a result of long term and personal growth. Veterans stand tall in our nation for these character traits, whether we have seen them in action or whether we have seen the men and women Veterans of our nation helping on the streets, in our communities, schools and sporting events.

The US Army is celebrating its 250th Birthday on June 14, 2025. Stand tall in recognizing the accomplishments of our US Army Veterans and our nation, as united we stand!