War Stories - 1776 to 1953

Today in New Jersey history:

June 25, 1776: General William Howe arrived off Staten Island with a fleet and an army prepared to capture New York and subdue the rebellion there and in New Jersey.

June 25, 1778 A combined Continental and Militia force under New Jersey Major Joseph Bloomfield (a future governor of New Jersey) made contact with and hung within a quarter-mile of the British army crossing the state, closing with and firing on the enemy “several times during the night.” Bloomfield’s detachment “took 15 prisoners & had several skirmishes with the Jagers [sic],” with the major personally claiming three German Jaeger prisoners.

June 25, 1947: The seven Weeks brothers—Robert, Edward, Albert, John, LeRoy, James and Joseph of Jersey City—showed up to enlist in the 309th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery of the New Jersey National Guard’s 50th Armored Division. All but Joseph, who turned out to be an underage fifteen years old, were sworn into the organization, in the largest recorded group family military enlistment in New Jersey history.

June 25, 1950: North Korea invaded South Korea, beginning the Korean War. More than 190,000 New Jerseyans served in the U.S. military during the Korean War between 1950 and its end in 1953, and 836 lost their lives. New Jerseyans Nelson V. Brittin of Audubon, Hector A. Cafferata of Montville and Samuel F. Coursen of Madison were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their heroism during the conflict.

During the Korean War, the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 108th Fighter Wing, 108th Fighter Group, 141st Fighter Squadron, 108th Air Base Group, 108th Maintenance and Supply Group, 108th Medical Group, 141st Weather Station and 105th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron were activated. None of these units was deployed in Korea, however. Army National Guard units called up during the Korean War included the 112th Artillery Group Headquarters, 695th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 30th Ordnance Battalion, 122nd Ordnance Company, 63rd Army Band and the 150th Engineer Pontoon Bridge Company. As with the Air National Guard units, none were deployed in Korea.