Spanish American War

(Apr 21-Aug 13, 1898)

A conflict between Spain and the United States, one of only five US wars (against a total of eleven sovereign states) to be formally declared by Congress. Hostilities began following the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana harbor, leading to US intervention in the Cuban War of Independence. American acquisition of Spain's Pacific possessions led to its involvement in the Philippine Revolution and ultimately in the Philippine-American War.

The Pueblo Incident

(Jan 25-Dec 23, 1968)

The USS Pueblo with 83 crew members, one of them killed in the assault, was seized by North Korea a week before the start of the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. The taking of the ship, in international waters, and the abuse of its crew during an 11-month international drama, became a major Cold War incident. Pueblo is still held by North Korea. It remains a commissioned vessel of the US Navy, second-oldest behind the USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides"). It is one of only a few American ships captured since the wars in Tripoli.

Somalia Civil War

(Between Aug and Oct, 1993)

United States special operations forces conducted a military operation in Somalia named "Gothic Serpent" under the aegis of the United Nations with the primary mission of capturing faction leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid during that country's protracted civil war.

Cold War

(July 1960 to Jan. 1961)

The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union with its satellite states and the United States with its western allies following WWII. It ended with the collapse of the USSR when its state Republics declared independence. No large-scale direct fighting was involved, but each side supported various regional conflicts. During this period the Soviet Union followed a practice of shadowing, and on occasion shooting down, American planes flying over international waters near its borders. In 10 separate incidents.about 75 US Navy and Air Force air crewmen lost their lives flying routine reconnaissance missions.