Streetwise Professor

Happy Birthday to the United States Army! 250 years of distinguished service and sacrifice at home and in every corner of the globe.

My familial connection to the United States Army goes back almost to the very beginning of its history. My 5th great-grandfather, Peter Bonham, enlisted in the 3rd Virginia Continental Line on 8 February 1776 and was mustered out on 2 February 1778. He was promoted to sergeant and eventually ensign. During his enlistment, the 3rd participated in the New York Campaign, and the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, and Germantown, and experienced the deprivations of Valley Forge. Perhaps the latter convinced him not to re-enlist.

I have no way of knowing which of these engagements Bonham participated in, given the sketchiness of the records and the fact that there was considerable leakage of manpower from Continental regiments while on campaign. For example, at Trenton the 3rd was down to under 300 men. He was listed as sick in June and July of 1777, but was on the rolls for the rest of the year (when Germantown and Brandywine were fought), and his promotions suggest he was a dependable soldier. The absence of evidence of absence during those battles is consistent with, but not proof of, his participation therein.

Another 5th great grandfather, Edward Hatfield, served in the 3rd Maryland in 1778-9.

Other direct ancestors served in the Army in the War of 1812, the Civil War, and World War I. My aunt’s husband served in World War II, and was horribly wounded at the Battle of the Bulge.

The country is marking the anniversary with a large military parade in DC. I emphasize “country” because pathological partisans think that because the anniversary falls on Trump’s birthday, the parade is an unprecedented exercise in vanity and an act of monarchical excess meant to honor him. Hence the moronic “No Kings Day” protests occurring throughout the country.

Many of the usual suspects are wailing that the parade is something out of a totalitarian state, like Russia, North Korea, or China.

(I can’t embed McFaul’s post because the wuss blocked me almost 10 years ago after I smacked him around. And I’m not surprised that an academic bedwetter like him wouldn’t “like” military display, whatever the country putting it on).

Then there are the pedo and pedo adjacent types at The Lincoln Project:

No, this isn't North Korea you're seeing.pic.twitter.com/WXkCtk6Trt

— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) June 13, 2025

I could go on. And on. And on.

The only question is whether these people are historical retards, or their partisanship blinds them.

This wasn’t North Korea, etc.:

Nor was this:

Nope, not this either:

Those were parades post-Civil War (the Grand Review of the Armies in DC), WWI (in NYC), and WWII (ditt) respectively. And here’s from the First Gulf War in DC (ironically in front of the Lincoln Memorial):

The last three images are from a Mother Jones (“a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs“–good to know!) piece which at least–unlike the McFauls and TLP groomers of the world–recognizes that the US does have a tradition of military parades but carps that “normally they are after military victories and such.”

For one thing, their own photo gallery gives the lie to that. This is from the Army Day parade in 1939:

Army Day. Not that different from the Army’s birthday. But actually way less significant than the Army’s 250th birthday.

The piece also includes several photos from inaugural parades. Were those displays of monarchical vanity?

No, the vanity on display here is that of the pompous No Kings Day posers (most of whom appear to be boomers, making the demonstrations look more like an AARP gathering).

By making this about their political obsessions, they are disrespecting the United States Army, the millions of Americans who have served in it, and the million plus who died serving in it during its illustrious history.

So screw them, and all hail to the United States Army!

And mark your calendars:

13 October 2025: 250th Birthday of the United States Navy.

10 November 1775: 250th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps.

I hope there are parades for them too.