SANDY KOZEL

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 13, 1942, the Quartermaster Corps (QMC) of the United
States Army began training dogs for the newly established War
Dog Program, or “K-9 Corps.”

Well over a million dogs served on both sides during World War
I, carrying messages along the complex network of trenches and providing some measure of psychological comfort to the soldiers.

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)

Glenn Miller and His Orchestra topped the American pop charts
with the ebullient "In the Mood" as war raged overseas on this
day in history, Feb. 10, 1940.

His most famous song, along with other iconic hits, made Miller
the biggest bandleader of his era and provided the swinging
soundtrack of the Greatest Generation during World War II. 

Glenn Miller (1904-1944)