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US Army and its Phillipino counterparts in Bataan/Corregidor comes to mind.
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british at Rorkes Drift, Natal SA, 1879, 120 men fought off 5k zulus for 2 days losing only 20 or so men.
1965 or 66, can't remember the hill, but 18 marines led by ssgt. Jimmy Howard held off 450 vietnamise for 30 hours till they could get reenforcments to them, three marines were killed, all the rest were wounded and Howard won the CMOH, and all in the platoon were awarded silver star and purple hearts. MLW>"< |
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Actually, they were fighting for the Atenians at the time. So, yes, they were fighting for what would be our base of government. |
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Except that soldiers are rarely consciously fighting for ideologies. They fight for the man standing next to them and to not be thought cowards. 90% of the men who died in horrible conditions on the battlefields of the Eastern Front had no clue what was going on politically and those that knew either had a stake in winning or had no hope of being able to change what was going on. Making the best of a terrible situation. |
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They commited suicide.... hardly a 'Last Stand'.. |
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Battle of the Imjin River 22 - 25 April, 1951
The opposing forces were the attacking Chinese Forces aiding North Korea and the defending British Force sent to aid South Korea and under the command of the United Nations. The Chinese won the battle, but the delay of three days provided time for the United Nations forces to re-group and block the Chinese advance on Seoul. During the course of the battle, (and true to their actions at Battle of Alexandria in 1801 for which the regiment has the distinction of wearing badges both at the front and at the back of their head-dress), the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment (the Glorious Glosters), and their mortar battery — numbering perhaps 750 men in total — fought on when surrounded on Gloster Hill by at least one Chinese division of 10,000 men. In this action two Victoria Crosses and one George Cross were awarded: Lieutenant Colonel Carne, who commanded the battalion, was awarded the Victoria Cross. Lieutenant Curtis, who had recently learnt of his wife's death and who died in a lone counter-attack on enemy machine-guns, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross . Lieutenant Waters, who died in captivity, was awarded a posthumous George Cross for his conduct shortly after capture. Three Commonwealth Regiments were awarded the United States Distinguished Unit Citation for their part in the battle: The 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, together with C Troop 170 Heavy Mortar Battery Royal Artillery The 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, (Battle of Kapyong April 22-25, 1951). The 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Regiment. (Battle of Kapyong April 22-25, 1951) On the 8th May 1951, by the command of President Truman, General van Fleet presented the President's Distinguished Unit Citation to the Glosters, together with C Troop 170 Heavy Mortar Battery, which had given invaluable support throughout the battle. The citation says: The 1st. Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, British Army and Troop C. 170th Independent Mortar Battery, Royal Artillery, attached, are cited for exceptionally outstanding performance of duty and extraordinary heroism in action against the armed enemy near Solma-ri, Korea on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th of April 1951. The 1st. Battalion and Troop C were defending a very critical sector of the battle front during a determined attack by the enemy. The defending units were overwhelmingly outnumbered. The 63rd Chinese Communist Army drove the full force of its savage assault at the positions held by the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment and attached unit. The route of supply ran southeast from the Battalion between two hills. The hills dominated the surrounding terrain northwest to Imjin River. Enemy pressure built up on the battalion front during the day, 23 April. On 24 April, the weight of the attack had driven the right flank of the battalion back. The pressure grew heavier and heavier and the battalion and attached unit were forced into a perimeter defense on Hill 235. During the night, heavy enemy forces had by-passed the staunch defenders and closed all avenues of escape. The courageous soldiers of the battalion and attached unit were holding the critical route selected by the enemy for one column of the general offensive designed to encircle and destroy I Corps. These gallant soldiers would not retreat. As they were compressed tighter and tighter in their perimeter defense, they called for close-in air strikes to assist in holding firm. Completely surrounded by tremendous numbers, these indomitable, resolute, and tenacious soldiers fought back with unsurpassed fortitude and courage. As ammunition ran low and the advancing hordes moved closer and closer, these splendid soldiers fought back viciously to prevent the enemy from overrunning the position and moving rapidly on the south. Their heroic stand provided the critically needed time to regroup other I Corps units and block the southern advance of the enemy. Time and again efforts were made to reach the battalion, but the enemy strength blocked each effort. Without thought of defeat or surrender, this heroic force demonstrated superb battlefield courage and discipline. Every yard of ground they surrendered was covered with enemy dead until the last gallant soldier of the fighting battalion was overpowered by the final surge of the enemy masses. The 1st. Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment and Trop C. 170th. Independent Mortar Battery displayed such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing their mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions as to set them apart and above other units participating in the same battle. Their sustained brilliance in battle, their resoluteness, and extraordinary heroism are in keeping with the finest traditions of the renowned military forces of the British Commonwealth, and reflect unsurpassed credit on these courageous soldiers and their homeland. |
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Michael Whittmann at Villers Bocage.
The Battle of Villers-Bocage (June 13, 1944) was an unusual clash between the British and Germans in northern France during World War II. Early on June 13th, a British force approached the town of Villers-Bocage from the north-west. The task force consisted of two battalions - one of armor and the other of motorized infantry, both of the 7th Armoured Division. The already-famous German tank commander Michael Wittmann had a small force of six tanks nearby. In one of the more agressive small-unit actions of the war, he charged his vehicle into the British column, splitting it and then engaging the British forces at very short range before passing along and across the British line into the village. The other tanks of his unit moved up and the British column suffered heavy losses. The British vehicle losses were heavy; more importantly, they did not follow up on their opportunity and lost a chance to take Caen early in the Normandy campaign. Tiger Ace |
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Jews in Warsaw Ghetto. With some stolen firearms, Molotov cocktails, and courage, they held off the Germans for a time period longer than the Polish Army originally did.
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That was going to be mine. Wake island proved that a small force of very deturmined defenders could make a vastly superior force pay dearly to yake a chunk of land. It was also the battle in which the pilot whos thought to have put the fatal shots into the USS Arizona was killed. |
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There is a very good book- really good if you consider how short and easily readable it is- on this very subject.
Last Stand!: Famous Battles Against All Odds by Bryan Perrett |
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Never happened. |
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Couple ya'll forgot...
The Montagyards defending Pleiku during the North Vietnamese invasion in '75 The FFL and Colonial Paras at Dien Bien Phu and it doesn't count as a last stand if you win, so Bastogne and Rourk's Drift don't count |
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Something like that. A hero, for sure. Medal of Honor CMOH Viet Nam A better read of G Sgt Jimmie Howard's heroism
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Surprised no one jumped on this one yet...
Chuck Norris vs. Bruce Lee in the “Way of the Dragon” I've never been the same since seeing my long-time idol get schooled like that. The Showdown |
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I'm going to say that any stand that is ones last probably isn't great. Dying honorably never won the war.
"No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." |
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Custer was neither incompent nor a fool . Arrogant as hell probably . KEEP in mind that the Indians had been evading the US army for years and could tear down down and move whole villages at a moments notice and simply melt away . This is why he refused the Gatling guns . They never could of kept up . Faulty intelligence Of course is to blame also plus the Indians changing tactics and actually staying to fight as opposed to running away as in the past . Both of Custers subordinates were to some degree incompetent espically Reno . His retreat from his wooded position was quickly turned in to a ROUT . The fact that neither Reno nor Benteen cared for Custer only sealed his fate . Benteen was supposed to reinforce Custer not Renos's command . If Custer is so bad then why does he have so many things named after him ??? |
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The frozen Chosin. Chosin Reservoir. A Hell of a fight. |
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+1 Custer put his command in a place where it was and lost cohesion within minutes of contact if not immediately… the fight broke up in to clusters of troops that were overwhelmed in running fights. Contrary to the modern perception repeating rifle had little effect on the fight if the Indians had only been armed with clubs, bows, and spears (as many were) the results would have likely been the same. Second the Indians did not have nearly as many repeaters as people think they did and probably had little ammo for the ones they did have that actually worked. BTW the other half of Custer’s command got to a defensible position and held the Indians off and survived. The trapdoor and it much longer range was a better weapon for the terrain verses repeating rifles shooting pistol cartridges UNLESS you managed to put you command in to a contact range fight as Custer did. If Custer had not split his command and done adequate scouting and then listen to his scouts and used his weapons to their advantage the Indians would have been badly shot up if they had attacked. |
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[Life Of Brian] "We are the Judean People's Front crack suicide squad! Suicide squad, attack!" [/Life Of Brian] |
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All professional, full time militaries (especially those with a crimson fetish) owe something to the Spartans. |
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Fighting ALONGSIDE the Athenians is a different matter. The Spartans did not submit to the command of the other Hellenes present at the "hot gates." |
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Great don’t equal pathetic and sniveling. |
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You are mistaken maybe the war isnt won directly at that battle but it forces the enemy to use up its recources, time and men while they could be destroying a force that could be forming up to fight the war later. Maybe that extra little time while the enemy is tied up handling a few defenders could just be enough for other forces to plan their move on the opposing force. Plus if you kill so many of the attackers that victory is bitter sweet and are unable to be effective in battle anymore. |
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Thermopolaye was it. My leg: |
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But the Roman army was not a 'professional' or full-time army until the Marian Reforms of 107 BC. Also, the Spartans did not have a 'professional army' in the modern sense (as the Romans had), they had a 'warrior class'. Sure, the Romans went nuts for Greek culture, but the Roman army was a uniquely Roman invention that had no real parallel until modern times. |
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Chunuk Bair
WWI , Turkey, New Zealand Infantry Brigade (Supported by others) Took the Hill, Held the Hill for almost 2 days until relieved by the British. The British were promptly thrown off the Hill by the enemy. “Of the 760 men of the Wellington Regiment who had advanced on Chunuk Bair a mere 70 unwounded or slightly wounded came down the hill again.” The Auckland regiment fared worse, but was 'knocked' out of the battle early “Just before the order for the Wellingtons to advance the Auckland Regiment had gone forward in daylight. Three hundred men died in the first hundred metres as they advanced into a maelstrom of Turkish fire and the advance was stopped in its tracks. Notwithstanding, the commanding brigadier, Johnston, ordered the Wellingtons forward. Malone refused to obey the order. He was not going to lead his men into a death trap. This was an incredibly courageous act. By all the rules of war Johnston could have taken out his revolver and shot Malone on the spot. But Malone was adamant. He would not allow his men to be slaughtered. Mercifully Johnston was over-ruled, and the advance resumed only under cover of darkness. “ Wikipedia |
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Did anyone vote Xenophon and the march of the ten thousand????
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I have a big vote for the defense of the Golan Heights during the Yon Kippur war by a handful of Israeli tanks fighting for days straight. If their position had been overrun there literally would have been no more Israel - in addition this would have triggered the nuking of Damascus and Cairo, as well as any other cities the Israelis felt like taking down with them. As it was they took huge casualties (proportionally) and still managed to ruin I think 500+ Arab tanks. They turned a valley with no name into The Valley of Tears.
See the book "The Eve of Destruction." |
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I agree. It wasnt like he had to hold that position at all costs to save the day. What a waste of lives over pride. |
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I don't see this as a last stand. It was a battle in a war. If the US Forces lost Bastogne is wasn't the end for them. It may have been a big blow to our forces. The way I understand a "Last Stand" would of been something like Custer at Little Big Horn. |
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Task Unit 77.4.3 (aka "Taffy 3") during the battle off (not of) Samar. Part of the battle of Leyte Gulf (Phillipines) in October, 1944. A handfull of US destroyers and destroyer escorts went head-to-head with the biggest battleships and cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. The destroyer screen held long enough for the carriers to reposition and launch their aircraft.
Wiki The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors |
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War isn't always about two equally sized and matched forces meeting at a predetermined place and time and fighting until one side is destroyed or surrenders - even when this was the standard practice for a battle. Small units run into larger, better armed ones. Ambushes happen. Intelligence fails and ill prepared men are sent to meet a bigger and stronger enemy force. It is rare that one battle determines who wins or loses a war. However, if the men in a battle are out numbered, out gunned, out equipped, etc. and still stand and fight (and in doing so take massive casualties); it tends to inspire future generations of warriors. |
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