12 Immigrants Who Made the American Military Great
12 IMMIGRANTS WHO MADE THE AMERICAN MILITARY GREAT STORY LIBRARY by Paige Smith
1 Casimir Pulaski Is the Father of the American Cavalry Casimir Pulaski was a heroic freedom fighter for two countries First he fought in his own country Poland Then he fought in the American Revolution Pulaski was born on March 6 1745 in Warsaw Poland As a young man he joined his father to defend their 4 country against Russia By age 21 he was a commander in the military In 1776 Pulaski met American statesman Benjamin Franklin in Paris He was inspired by America’s struggle for independence from England Pulaski arrived in America in June 1777 He fought next to General George Washington At the Battle of Brandywine on September 11 he led a successful charge against the British He is credited with saving Washington’s life Four days later Washington made Pulaski brigadier general of the American cavalry In 1778 Pulaski formed the Pulaski Cavalry Legion Many of his men were immigrants from Germany France Ireland and Poland This was the first true cavalry legion in the Continental Army Pulaski
Statue of Casimir Pulaski at Freedom Plaza in Washington DC became known as the Father of the American Cavalry In October 1779 at the Battle of Savannah Pulaski was badly wounded He died two days later Pulaski was 34 years old In 1929 the US Congress proclaimed October 11 of each year Pulaski Day In 2009 they 7 Number of US counties named after Casimir Pulaski Casimir Pulaski came to America in 1777 to fight in the Revolutionary War He is credited with saving George Washington’s life Pulaski died in 1779 fighting as an immigrant for America Congress made him an honorary US citizen in 2009 made Pulaski an honorary citizen of the United States Hundreds of towns counties monuments streets parks and bridges have been named after him A Pulaski Day Parade is held each year in New York City 5
