Army History Magazine
Winter 2026 Edition
With the Winter 2026 issue of Army History, we are almost back to our regular quarterly publishing schedule
after the prolonged government shutdown and furlough late last year. In this issue, I am pleased to offer
two engaging articles, an Army Art Spotlight from the “forgotten war,” and a special staff ride
feature examining Operation Urgent Fury on the island of Grenada.
The first article, by Jess Rankin, examines the 1932 Bonus Expeditionary Force march on Washington, D.C.
World War I veterans, demanding an early payout on their bonuses to help alleviate the suffering and
financial hardships caused by the Great Depression, were met with apathy from Congress and the Hoover
administration. Their eventual forced removal from the capital by police devolved into violence, and the
Army was ordered in to complete the evictions. An already difficult situation was made worse when General
Douglas MacArthur exceeded his orders and authority, employing strong-handed tactics—like the use of
tear gas and the burning of encampments—to oust the marchers. The episode left the Army and the
administration with a black eye and would have a lasting effect on the use of troops in civil disturbances.
The second article, by Andrew Myers, looks at the early life and military career of African American World
War II veteran Isaac Woodard. Woodard entered the national spotlight in early 1946 when he was blinded by
police in South Carolina on his way home to North Carolina after being discharged at Camp Gordon, Georgia.
This incident received widespread attention, and much has been written about Woodard in the years that
followed. What is less well known is what he did during his time in the service. Conflicting and inaccurate
accounts have made their way into published works and have appeared on the stage and screen. Some built
Woodard up to be a decorated veteran and hero, although he never claimed to be either. Myers attempts to set
the record straight about an ordinary soldier who saw himself as nothing more than “a man just like
you.”
This issue’s Army Art Spotlight highlights the work of Robert “Weldy” Baer. With the
official end of the Army Art Program at the conclusion of World War II, Baer recognized that the Korean War
would go undocumented by an official Army Artist. He volunteered his services and was assigned to the Eighth
Army Historical Section, where he documented what would become known by many as “the forgotten
war.”
This issue has a special feature examining a 2024 first-of-its-kind staff ride to Grenada to study Operation
Urgent Fury. The staff ride, conducted by the United States Military Academy’s International History
Division and the United States Special Operations Command’s History Office, included seven West Point
cadets and three faculty members who traveled to the island to visit various locations connected to the
operation. Cadets studied preliminary readings in preparation for the trip and ultimately were evaluated on
their ability to connect those readings with lessons learned on site.
We also offer, in this issue, our usual selection of book reviews, along with thoughts from the executive
director and chief historian.
Bryan J. Hockensmith
Managing Editor