University of St. Francis Veterans

University of St. Francis salutes our current and past veterans on this Veterans Day 2022. Your service and sacrifice are honored not just this day, but every day! Thank you for your service!

University of St. Francis salutes our current and past veterans on this Veterans Day 2021. Your service and sacrifice are honored not just this day, but every day! Thank you for your service!

USF remembers!

On National Former POW Recognition Day, we honor our former prisoners of war for all they have sacrificed in the service of their country.

USF Veterans remembers those who perished at Pearl Harbor 79 years ago... You will not be forgotten!

On this Veterans Day 2020, USF recognizes all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who have served to protect our nation. We remember our veterans on this day, and every day. Thank you all for your service and sacrifice!

Help us wish the U.S. Marine Corps a happy 245th birthday. Semper Fidelis!

On this day in 1919, and in honor of Native American Heritage Month, Congress honored the patriotism of Native Americans who served in the military during WWI by making all Indigenous Veterans with an honorable discharge eligible for citizenship. Although only half the Native population was naturalized when the U.S. entered the war in 1917, almost 6,000 men answered the call for volunteers and over 6,500 more were drafted. In contrast to previous wars when they were primarily scouts or auxiliaries, Native American recruits were fully integrated into the Armed Forces and served in every branch. Units saw extensive action in France during the decisive Allied offensives of 1918 and earned many medals for their bravery under fire.

A handful of Cherokee and Choctaw soldiers also acted as code talkers for the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), transmitting military communications by field telephone in their native tongues to prevent the Germans from deciphering intercepted messages. The contributions of Native Americans on the battlefield came at a high cost: about 5% were killed in action, a rate 5x higher than that of the AEF overall. In 1924, with memories of their wartime services still fresh in the public’s mind, Congress granted citizenship to all Native Americans.

Happy Birthday, U.S. Navy! At 245 years old, remains ever-ready to deter and defend.

Today is Gold Star Families and Family Day. We honor the mothers and families of fallen Service members who bravely sacrificed their lives for this country.

Over 500,000 Latinos (including 350,000 Mexican Americans and 53,000 Puerto Ricans) served in WWII. Exact numbers are difficult because, with the exception of the 65th Infantry Regiment from Puerto Rico, Latinos were not segregated into separate units, as African Americans were. When war was declared on December 8, 1941, thousands of Latinos were among those that rushed to enlist. Latinos served with distinction throughout Europe, in the Pacific Theater, North Africa, the Aleutians, and the Mediterranean. Among other honors earned, thirteen Medals of Honor were awarded to Latinos for service during WWII.

Today is National POW/MIA Recognition Day, a day to honor those service members who were held captive and returned from war, as well as those who remain missing. We are eternally grateful for their courage and sacrifice.

USF Veterans...Your history lesson for the day—and you all know you still have them...

Dog Tag History: How the Tradition & Nickname Started Do you know when the dog tag tradition started and why they're called that? Learn the history here.