"Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory." -- General George S. Patton

Throughout the history of America, brave individuals have made huge sacrifices for the freedoms that we enjoy today. Over the years the names of these brave protectors of freedom have long since been forgotten. However, their contributions linger on today. In honor of their great sacrifices, I offer a few names that may be unfamiliar to most average American citizens.

Henry Knox: An American patriot who fought throughout the Revolutionary war. His contributions helped establish America as a free nation. Henry Knox participated in many important events in our early history, including the Boston Massacre. Because of his leadership, General Washington placed him in charge of crossing the Delaware river during the cold and icy conditions. Because of his leadership, all soldiers, equipment, and horses crossed without a single loss. He was later promoted to Brigadier General. He later served as Secretary of War under Washington's administration. Henry Knox was a great hero. There are two Army Forts named after him: Fort Knox in Kentucky and Fort Knox in Maine. Many counties through the mid-west and eastern states are named after him. Knoxville, Tennessee is also named after this great hero. Henry Knox was a great American patriot.

Fox Conner: An American General whose influence contributed to the success of such famous World War I and II individuals like John J. Pershing, George C. Marshall, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. General Conner spent the majority of his military career planning major operations. Although he is relatively unknown, his contributions to the success of military operations during two major wars was instrumental. General Eisenhower stated: "My tour of duty was one of the most interesting and constructive of my life. The main reason was the presence of one man, our brigade commander, General Fox Conner---a tall easygoing Mississippian---practical---down to earth---as open and honest as any man I have known---equally at home in the company of the most important people and with any of the men in the regiment. General Conner was a natural leader and something of a philosopher---he had an extraordinary library, especially in military affairs---The range and curiosity of his mind was not limited to military affairs. He quoted Shakespeare at length, and he could relate his works to wars under discussion."

Oveta Culp Hobby: One of the most influential female leaders in the military was Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby. Colonel Hobby led 150,000 women of the Women's Army Corps during World War II. Devoted to the cause, Hobby focused on training and recruitment which resulted in great success. For her achievements, she was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal. On the World War II Memorial in Washington DC is engraved a quote by Colonel Hobby. It states: "Women who stepped up were measured as citizens of the nation...not as women...this was a people's war, and everyone was in it."

Let it be remembered, that each individual who has served or currently serves in our armed forces does so with pride and honor. Their sacrifices are the threads that make our country great. Please remember our soldiers, sailors, marines, and air men and women serving this Christman and New Year. Let them know that you are thankful for what they do. Please support our troops! Visit Patriotman.com for more stories about our troops.