Missed Flights
As we find ourselves in October of 2025, we consider the cases of three Michigan men who were all U.S. Air Force, all sent to Vietnam, and are all still missing in action for 61, 60, or 59 years this month. We begin with the man who has been gone the longest of the group.
The Missing and the Dead
On this National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we take a look at Operation Crazy Horse, a search and destroy mission which commenced May 15, 1966, the action centered on and around LZ Hereford in Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam.
Hell Gone Mad
Built by the New York Ship Building Corporation of Camden, NJ, the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was a U.S. Navy Portland-class heavy cruiser commissioned into service between wars on November 15, 1932. The ship and crew’s final fate was much more tragic than anyone could imagine.
We caution you that this story does include some graphic descriptions of the fateful events.
The Vietnam War: The Medium is the Message (Part 1)
For 20 years, 1955 – 1975, Americans were told the situation in Vietnam was supposedly not a war, it was merely an internal conflict between North and South Vietnam. This “conflict” saw over three million American young men forcefully dropped into the middle of it, over 58,000 of whom didn’t return home.
Summertime and the Livin’ is Easy
Back in 1910 when the Alger’s first moved into their newly completed home, their summertime routine did not differ much from what it had previously. The family traveled a great deal, with or without Russell, as his business schedule permitted.
In Service to One’s Country
Follow along a story of familial loss, service to our country, and the need for answers and understanding.
Our Missing Men of March
This month we will cover Michigan’s Vietnam MIA from March 1966 – March 1971. We also have wonderful news on the recovery of two of the MIA personnel profiled here in last December’s story “The Lost Men of World War II.”
The story behind National Vietnam War Veterans Day
March 29th is celebrated as National Vietnam War Veterans Day, and you may be wondering why that specific date was chosen. The answer is simple and appropriate for the question: on that day in 1973, the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam and the last prisoners of war held in North Vietnam arrived on American soil.
February Michigan POW / MIA’s of Vietnam
The short month of February cost seven of our Michigan service personnel their lives during the Vietnam War; all of them were lost while flying. Today we are looking at and for those who are still Missing in Action from our state.
A Bit of Good Old English Cooking
There are a few names that can be mentioned to longtime War Memorial visitors that evoke strong sentiment, such as Miss Mary Ellen Cooper, Vincent DePetris, and Chet Sampson. But one name recalled with great affection really stands out as she kept the nascent Association organized, rolling smoothly, and well fed – its first employee, Mrs. McGinty.
The Lost Men of World War II
This past Saturday was the 83rd anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor signaling the United States’ official entry into World War II. In memoriam, we look at the final days of some of the MIAs from that war who have finally been recovered from the Pacific and European Theaters.
Alger Service Through the Ages
In this special Veterans Day edition of History Corner, we look at the long line of Alger family members who have served in the military, dating back to the Battle of Hastings.
The Mystery of the Old Mooring Poles
In this special Halloween edition of History Corner by a ghostwriter, we look at the story of the Venetian mooring poles that marked the Alger family’s property in the early 1900s.
October’s Lost and Found
There are eight men from Michigan who went missing in the Vietnam War in October. Of the locals, two were from Royal Oak, one from Rochester, and one from Detroit. These eight are among the 48 service men from Michigan who are still officially Unaccounted For.
Prohibition and the Algers
By the early teens, the specter of Michigan succumbing to prohibition had accelerated greatly.
In honor of our new Speakeasy event series, we wanted to delight you with an excerpt from a story we previously published about Mary Swift Alger and her involvement in Michigan’s prohibition time.
Birth of The War Memorial
The War Memorial officially turned 75 on March 18th! In celebration of this momentous occasion, we are telling the story of how The War Memorial came about.
The Original “Swifties”
Who was a trailblazing social and political activist, feminist, and philanthropist with thousands of fervent followers, and was heralded as “one of Detroit’s greatest personalities” by the Detroit Free Press upon her death? Read on to hear her story.
Some Major Cabbage to Rent
The Cabbage Patch summer cottages were not quite what they sounded like: cozy little cabin type getaways to spend several weeks in during the hot Detroit summer. They were erected in spring 1903 by manufacturer/real estate mogul, Hugo Scherer and his partner, Frederick E. Wadsworth.
Gone to the Fair
General Russell Alger had been asked to speak over the course of the Fair several times, including before the opening to the general public. He was so amazed with what he witnessed each time, he thought it a superb learning opportunity for every American.
THIS MEANS WAR!
125 years ago, there were public allegations of incompetence and inexperience leveled at Gen. Russell A. Alger surrounding his tenure as U.S. Secretary of War under President William McKinley 1897 - 1899. With the internet continuing to give these remaining old rumors oxygen let’s review who the General really was: his military background, his business expertise, and his personal character.