On March 19, 2003, the United States, along with coalition
forces primarily from the United Kingdom, initiates war on
Iraq. Just after explosions began to rock Baghdad, Iraq’s
capital, U.S. President George W. Bush announced in a
televised address, “At this hour, American and coalition
forces are in the early stages of military operations to
disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world
from grave danger.”

President Bush and his advisors built much of their case
for war on the specious claim that Iraq, under dictator
Saddam Hussein, possessed or was in the process of
building weapons of mass destruction.

Hostilities began about 90 minutes after the U.S.-imposed
deadline for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq or face war
passed.

On March 17, 1776, British forces were forced to evacuate Boston following General George Washington’s successful placement of fortifications and cannons on Dorchester Heights, which overlooks
the city from the south.

Nearly 10,000 Redcoats, thousands of loyalists left for Canada in ‘disgrace’  —  still celebrated as Evacuation Day in Boston.

The United States Military Academy at West Point, which
has trained generations of American leaders to serve
from the battlefield to the White House, was established
on this day in history, March 16, 1802. 

The academy’s creation was part of the Military Peace
Establishment Act, introduced by Massachusetts
Congressman Joseph Varnum, and signed into law
by President Thomas Jefferson.

President Thomas Jefferson.

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Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was a lawyer,
planter, general, and statesman who served as the seventh
president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before his
presidency, he gained fame as a general in the U.S. Army and
served in both houses of the U.S. Congress.

General Jackson

Andrew Jackson Monument Statue in Nashville,
Tennessee.

Douglas MacArthur (26 January 1880 – 5 April 1964)

After struggling against great odds to save the Philippines
from Japanese conquest, U.S. General Douglas MacArthur
abandons the island fortress of Corregidor under orders
from President Franklin Roosevelt. Left behind at Corregidor
and on the Bataan Peninsula were 90,000 American and
Filipino troops, who, lacking food, supplies and support,
would soon succumb to the Japanese offensive.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur and his family left the Philippine
island of Corregidor on this day in history, March 11, 1942. 

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to
leave the island after it became clear it was no longer safe
for MacArthur to remain with his troops, notes the History
Channel website.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt
(January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945)