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February 29 in Military History
Defining Moment322 years ago
Deerfield Raid, French and Indian Attack on the Massachusetts Frontier
Army· 1704
A combined force of French soldiers and Native American warriors launched a devastating surprise attack on the frontier town of Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing 56 colonists and taking 112 captive in one of the bloodiest raids of the colonial wars.
1700s
1704RevolutionaryArmy322 years agoDefining Moment
A combined force of French soldiers and Native American warriors launched a devastating surprise attack on the frontier town of Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing 56 colonists and taking 112 captive in one of the bloodiest raids of the colonial wars.
1704RevolutionaryArmy322 years ago
A French-led expedition of Canadian militia and allied Native American warriors struck the frontier town of Deerfield in Massachusetts Bay Colony. The winter raid became a formative event in colonial New England military practice.
1796RevolutionaryArmy230 years ago
The U.S. House of Representatives voted on appropriations to enforce the Jay Treaty with Britain, a debate that exposed divisions over whether the young republic could afford a standing army or must depend on state militias.
1900s
1916WWIArmy110 years ago
During World War I preparations, South Carolina and other states debated raising the military draft age, foreshadowing the conscription debates that would define American military manpower policy for decades.
1940WWIIArmy86 years ago
Hattie McDaniel won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for "Gone with the Wind," a Civil War epic. Her victory, achieved despite segregation, paralleled the ongoing fight for racial integration in the U.S. military.
1940WWIIArmy86 years ago
Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to win an Academy Award, accepting her Oscar for Gone with the Wind at a ceremony she was initially barred from attending. The moment intersected with debates over military segregation.
1944WWIIArmyNavy82 years ago
General MacArthur launched a reconnaissance in force on Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands, weeks ahead of schedule. The gamble paid off, securing a vital naval base that accelerated the Pacific campaign.
1960Cold WarNavyMarines66 years ago
A devastating earthquake struck Agadir, Morocco, killing over 12,000 people. The disaster triggered one of the first large-scale international military humanitarian relief operations of the Cold War era.
2000s
2004ModernMarines22 years ago
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide of Haiti was forced from power amid an armed uprising. U.S. Marines deployed to Port-au-Prince to stabilize the country, the third American military intervention in Haiti since 1994.
2020ModernArmyMarinesAir Force6 years ago
U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban deputy leader Abdul Ghani Baradar signed an agreement in Doha, Qatar committing American forces to withdrawal from Afghanistan. The deal set the framework for the 2021 collapse of the Afghan government.
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Born on This Day
John Philip Holland
Irish-American inventor who designed the first submarine formally commissioned by the U.S. Navy, the USS Holland (SS-1). His designs became the foundation of modern submarine warfare.
Ann Lee
Founder of the Shaker religious movement in America whose adherents were among the first conscientious objectors during the Revolutionary War, establishing the principle of religious exemption from military service.
Died on This Day
Eunice Williams
Wife of Reverend John Williams of Deerfield, killed during the forced march to Canada after the Deerfield Raid. Her death became a symbol of frontier warfare's brutality toward civilians.
Military Quotes
Frequently Asked Questions
What military events happened on February 29?
10 military events occurred on February 29, spanning multiple centuries. Key events include: Deerfield Raid, French and Indian Attack on the Massachusetts Frontier (1704).
What is the most significant military event on February 29?
The most significant military event on February 29 is Deerfield Raid, French and Indian Attack on the Massachusetts Frontier (1704). A combined force of French soldiers and Native American warriors launched a devastating surprise attack on the frontier town of Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing 56 colonists and taking 112 captive in one of the bloodiest raids of the colonial wars.
What famous military figures were born on February 29?
Notable military figures born on February 29 include John Philip Holland (1840–1914), Ann Lee (1736–1784).
What wars are represented in February 29's military timeline?
Events on February 29 span the Colonial & Revolutionary era, World War II, the Cold War, World War I, the Modern Era, covering 10 events across 3 centuries of military history.
How many military branches are represented on February 29?
Events on February 29 involve 4 branches of the U.S. and allied armed forces, reflecting the global scope of military operations throughout history.
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Japan attacks the U.S. Pacific Fleet, bringing America into World War II.
September 11
9/11 Attacks
The deadliest terrorist attack in history transforms U.S. national security.
August 6
Hiroshima
The first atomic bomb is dropped on a city, ushering in the nuclear age.
May 8
VE Day
Nazi Germany surrenders unconditionally, ending World War II in Europe.
November 11
Veterans Day
Armistice Day marks the end of World War I and honors all who served.
June 4
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July 4
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The Declaration of Independence is adopted, sparking the American Revolution.
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