May 15, 1864 - Confederate forces win the Battle of New Market. Operating in conjunction with Lieutenant Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's main advance in Virginia, Major General Franz Sigel marched into the Shenandoah Valley in May 1864. Tasked with clearing the area of Confederate forces, Sigel began moving up the Valley. To block this Union thrust, Major General John C. Breckinridge gathered what Confederate troops he could find including the 257-man Corps of Cadets from the Virginia Military Institute. Encountering Sigel near New Market on May 15, Breckinridge formed his men for battle, but deliberately placed the cadets in the reserves with hope that the boys, aged 15 to 21, would not be needed. Advancing on Sigel's position, the Confederate lines were hit hard with artillery and musket fire. Seeing Breckinridge's line faltering, Sigel ordered his men to attack. With a gap forming in his lines, Breckinridge ordered the cadets forward into the breach. Meeting the Union charge, the Confederates held and then launched a counterattack. Surging forward with the cadets in the lead, Breckinridge's men drove the Union troops from the field, forcing Sigel to retreat down the Valley. The Battle of New Market cost VMI ten cadets who either died during the fighting or later from their wounds.

Designed in response to the Sopwith Triplane, the Fokker Dr.I (right) became a favorite among German pilots. When the Sopwith entered service in April 1917, it quickly proved itself superior to the German Albatros and Halberstadt fighters. Turning to the aircraft industry, the German government requested designs for a triplane fighter of their own. The winner of the subsequent design competition was the Fokker V.4. Redesignated the F.I, the two prototypes of the new aircraft were sent to the front for trials. Tested by the famed Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, the fighter received rave reviews for its agility. Again renamed, this time Dr.I, the new aircraft went into production with the first units reaching the front in October 1917. At the end of the month, the Dr.I was grounded after several broke up in flight. In response, Fokker improved their quality control procedures to prevent shoddy craftsmanship. Despite this, problems with wing failures plagued the aircraft for the rest of the war. A total of 320 Dr.Is were built.

Photograph Courtesy of the US Air Force

May 10-20, 1969 - US troops capture Hill 937, a.k.a. Hamburger Hill, after a prolonged battle. Advancing into the A Shau Valley as part of Operation Apache Snow in May 1969, US troops encountered strong resistance from the People's Army of North Vietnam. Occupying Hill 937, the North Vietnamese constructed an elaborate system of bunkers and strong points. Utilizing the thick jungle, they were able to move without being spotted by US aircraft. Encountering PAVN troops on Hill 937, the 3rd Battalion of the 187th Infantry opened the battle. Engaging the enemy, the 3/187 was met with determined fire and was unable to maneuver around the North Vietnamese forces due to the severe terrain. The situation was made worse by when US gunships fired on their position by accident. This friendly fire incident was the first of several that occurred during the battle. On May 13, the 3/187 was reinforced and Hill 937 became the focus of American efforts in the valley. Over the next week, US troops fought a brutal battle up the hill before finally capturing it on May 20. Due to the severity of the fighting, Hill 937 was dubbed "Hamburger Hill." Covered extensively by the press, who questioned its necessity, the battle was the last major American assault of the war.

May 9, 1457 BC - Pharaoh Thutmose III (right) wins the Battle of Megiddo. Following his rise to the throne, several kingdoms in Palestine rebelled under the guidance of the King of Kadesh. Swiftly moving north with an army of chariots and infantry, Thutmose arrived at Gaza before pressing on to meet the rebel army near Megiddo. Ignoring his advisors, Thutmose opted to approach the enemy via the Aruna Valley. A narrow ravine, the Aruna could be easily defensed allowing an attacking army to be destroyed. Not believing that Thutmose would risk taking this potentially dangerous path, the King of Kadesh elected to post his troops on the roads to the east and west. Moving quickly through the valley, Thutmose's army emerged and made camp near Megiddo. Stunned by the Egyptian's arrival, the King of Kadesh scrambled to reconcentrate his army and form a new defensive position. The following morning, Thutmose attacked and drove the rebels from the field. As the rebels fled back into Megiddo, the Egyptian troops paused to loot their camp. This allowed the King of Kadesh to organize a defense of the city forcing Thutmose to lay siege.

Photograph Source: Public Domain

May 4-8, 1942 - US carriers block a Japanese thrust towards Port Moresby at the Battle of the Coral Sea. With the Philippines secured, the Japanese sought to complete their conquest of New Guinea by capturing the capital at Port Moresby. Alerted to the impending threat by decoded Japanese radio intercepts, the Commander-in-Chief of the US Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester Nimitz, dispatched the carriers USS Yorktown and USS Lexington to the Coral Sea to intercept the invasion force. Led by Admiral Frank J. Fletcher, this force was soon to encounter Admiral Takeo Takagi's covering force consisting of the carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku, as well as the light carrier Shoho. On May 4, Yorktown launched three strikes against the Japanese seaplane base at Tulagi, crippling its reconnaissance capabilities. Three days later both fleets launched all of their aircraft, and succeeded in finding and attacking secondary units of the enemy. The Japanese heavily damaged the oiler Neosho and sunk the destroyer USS Sims. American aircraft located and sunkShoho. Fighting resumed on May 8, with both fleets launching massive strikes against the other. US pilots hit Shokaku with three bombs, setting it on fire and putting it out of action, while the Japanese attacked Lexington, hitting it with bombs and torpedoes. Though stricken, Lexington's crew had the ship stabilized until fire reached an aviation fuel storage area causing a massive explosion (left). The ship was soon abandoned and sunk to prevent capture. Yorktown was also damaged in the attack. With Shoho sunk and Shokaku badly damaged, Takagi decided to retreat, ending the threat of invasion. A strategic victory for the Allies, the Battle of the Coral Sea was the first naval battle in which the opposing ships never saw one another.

Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval Historical Center

May 5, 1862 - Mexican troops are victorious at the Battle of Puebla (right). After retreating in the face of advancing French troops, General Ignacio Zaragoza elected to turn and give battle at the fortified city of Puebla. Selecting a strong defensive position on high ground, Zaragoza anchored his line on Forts Loreto and Guadalupe. Arriving at Puebla, the French commander, Major General Charles de Lorencez, assessed the situation and, against the advice of subordinates, decided to attempt storming the heights. Moving forward on May 5, the French assault was preceded by an artillery bombardment. Though supported by the heavy guns, the first French assault failed. In an effort to spread out Zaragoza's line, Lorencez ordered another assault which was supported by a diversionary attack towards the city. While the attack on the heights faltered and failed, the secondary attack was only repulsed after hand-to-hand fighting. Lacking sufficient ammunition for the artillery, the final French attack on the heights went forward without support and was beaten back. Seeing an opportunity, Zaragoza attacked on both flanks with his cavalry, forcing the French to flee the field.

Photograph Source: Public Domain

May 2-3, 1815 - Austrian forces defeat Joachim Murat at the Battle of Tolentino (right). In an attempt to save his throne as King of Naples, Joachim Murat turned on his Austrian allies in March 1815. Moving quickly, he achieved some early success before two Austrian corps under Generals Frederick Bianchi and Adam Albert von Neipperg advanced into Italy. Falling back to Ancona, Murat hoped to defeat each Austrian corps in turn. Dispatching some troops to stall Neipperg, he moved to strike at Bianchi near Tolentino. Attacking Austrian defensive positions on May 2, Murat had some early success and nearly captured Bianchi. When the fighting died down that night, the Neapolitans had made some gains, but the Austrians remained in a strong defensive position. Fog the following morning delayed recommencing the battle until around 7:00 AM. Assaulting the Austrian line, Murat's men won some ground, but then were repulsed by heavy artillery and musket fire. As the battle raged, Murat learned that Neipperg was approaching. He also received false information that a Sicilian army was landing to the south. Seeing little choice, Murat broke off the fighting and retreated towards Pollenza. The defeat at Tolentino was the turning point of the conflict and the Neapolitan army ceased to an effective fighting force after the battle.

Photograph Source: Public Domain

May 1, 1898 - Commodore George Dewey destroys the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Manila Bay (left). With the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Commodore George Dewey, commanding the US Asiatic Squadron, steamed from Hong Kong to the Philippines with the goal of engaging the Spanish Pacific Squadron. Possessing old and obsolete ships, Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón hoped to fight the Americans while protected by shore batteries at Subic Bay. Steaming into Subic Bay in late April, Montojo was alarmed to find that the guns emplacements were not ready. Retiring back to Manila Bay, he anchored his squadron in shallow water near Cavite. On May 1, Dewey arrived, and after reconnoitering into Subic Bay, pressed on into Manila Bay. Spotting the Spanish ships, Dewey formed his squadron for battle with his flagship, USS Olympia, in the lead. Steaming in a oval pattern, his four protected cruisers and two gunboats pounded the older Spanish vessels. After two hours, Dewey withdrew to assess his squadron's status. Finding all well, he returned to finish off the Spanish. When the firing ended, Montojo's entire squadron was destroyed and he had suffered 371 casualties. Dewey's losses were a remarkable 1 dead (from a heart attack) and 9 wounded.

Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval Historical Center

April 29, 1676 - Famed Dutch naval leader Admiral Michiel de Ruyter (right) dies after the Battle of Agosta. The son of a beer porter, Michiel de Ruyter first went to at age 11. After brief service in the army, he returned to sea and successfully worked in the merchant trade until 1652. With the outbreak of the First Anglo-Dutch war later that year, de Ruyter was called into service. Commanding an outbound convoy, he defeated the English at the Battle of Plymouth, and was present for the Dutch defeats at Kentish Knock and Gabbard Bank. Following the death of Lieutenant-Admiral Maarten Tromp in 1653, de Ruyter declined overall command of the Dutch fleet, but did accept a position with the Admiralty of Amsterdam the next year. With the war concluded, de Ruyter spent the next several years on missions to the Mediterranean and Baltic. Cruising the Caribbean when the Second Anglo-Dutch War erupted, he raided several English colonies before returning to Europe. Given command of the Dutch fleet with the rank of lieutenant-admiral, de Ruyter won a victory at the Four Days' Battle (June 1666), but was defeated during the Battle of St. James' Day (August 1666). In June 1667, he oversaw the Dutch raid on the Medway. Sailing up the Thames, the Dutch were able to capture and burn several English ships only a few miles from London. When the war recommenced in 1672, he won victories at Solebay, Schoonveld, and Texel which prevented an English invasion. In 1676, he took command of a combined Dutch-Spanish fleet with orders to aid in putting down a revolt in Messina. Though he won fights at Stomboli and Agosta, he was mortally wounded at the latter and died on April 29, 1676.

Photograph Source: Public Domain

April 27, 1805 - US Marines along with a mercenary army begin the Battle of Derna. In 1804, the former American consul to Tunis, William Eaton, returned to the Mediterranean with the backing of the government for an ambitious plan to overthrow the ruler of Tripoli, Yusuf Karamanli. Receiving naval support from Commodore Samuel Barron, Eaton landed at Alexandria with eight US Marines under the command of First Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon. Making contact with Yusuf's deposed brother Hamet, Eaton convinced him to aid in building a mercenary army to reclaim his throne. Assembling around 500 Christian and Muslim mercenaries, Eaton and O'Bannon began marching for the Tripolitan port of Derna. They were supported during the trek by USS Argus, USS Hornet, and USS Nautilus under the command of Master Commandant Isaac Hull. After an arduous march, they reached Derna on April 27. Dividing his command, Eaton sent Hamet to the southwest to cut the road to Tripoli, while he led his group in capturing the harbor defenses. Supported by naval gunfire from Hull's ships, Eaton's force succeeded in taking the city, with O'Bannon hoisting the US flag over the harbor forts. Digging in, Eaton's men repelled a counterattack by Yusuf's army on May 13. Eager to press on to Tripoli, Eaton was thwarted when Yusuf signed a peace agreement with US Consul Tobias Lear. The victory at Derna inspired the line "To the shores of Tripoli" in the Marine Corps Hymn.

Photograph Courtesy of the US Marine Corps