#OTD in 1845, through the efforts of the SECNAV, George Bancroft, the Naval School (later renamed the United States Naval Academy) was established without Congressional funding. The academy was located at a 10-acre Army post named Fort Severn in Annapolis, Maryland, & began with a class of 50 midshipmen and seven professors.

🌽 and 🎃 season!! Are y'all pro or anti candy corn and pumpkins?? Everyone seems to feel strongly about this one..

We’re saddened by the passing of Mike Ditka, Hall of Fame tight end and the coach who led the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl championship. Our hearts are with his family, friends, and everyone mourning his loss. Rest in peace, Coach.

#OTD in 1918, Sgt. Alvin C. York almost single-handedly killed 25 German soldiers and captured 132 in the Argonne Forest in France. York is one of the most decorated Soldiers of WWI. Corporal Alvin C. York’s platoon was advancing toward a railway when they were hit with machinegun fire from all sides. Men from York's platoon captured one gun, but the noise drew the fire of the remaining German emplacements, killing six and seriously wounding three Americans. As the most senior of the remaining men, York went out alone to engage the enemy with just his rifle and revolver, picking off the machine gunners one by one. When the fighting was over, York had single-handedly eliminated 35 machine guns, killed more than 20 Germans, and taken the 132 remaining as prisoners. York, a modest man, shrugged off actions, saying, “It’s over; let’s forget it.”

The origin story of your favorite emergency vehicle if you were ever wondering... Video from @theshortfirefighter on TikTok

On October 7, 1943, Rear Adm. Shigematsu Sakaibara, commander of the Japanese garrison on the island, ordered the execution of 98 American POWs after accusing them of attempting to establish radio contact with U.S. forces. The Japanese forces on the island had become overwhelming, leading to the transfer of most surviving Americans to other POW camps. However, 98 were left behind for forced labor. The 98 American POWs were blindfolded and executed in cold blood, leaving an indelible mark as one of the most horrifying events of the Pacific War. Today we honor their memories.

PERFECT I'll take 4 of em... This fan favorite is BACK +4 more new designs are live now! Which one are you takin 4 of? - nine.li/XLTD26

We usually stick to red, white, and blue. This October, we’re making room for pink 🩷 It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and all proceeds from this limited time design benefit the United Breast Cancer Foundation. Different color. Same commitment to showing up. Support the United Breast Cancer Foundation here- nine.li/XBCA2026

#OTD in 2013, U.S. special forces successfully apprehended Abu Anas al Libi, also known as Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai, in Tripoli, Libya. Libi was a wanted individual linked to the 1998 American embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.

Nervous system doesn't know the difference anymore... 🤣 Video from @son.0f.ander on TikTok

October 3 - October 4, 1993 - The Battle of Mogadishu. Many are familiar with the film, Blackhawk Down, which gave us a very sobering glimpse into this battle. Task Force Ranger headed into the center of Mogadishu, Somalia to capture rebel leaders. Initially, 24 prisoners were captured, before the deadly turning point. Two American Blackhawks were shot down. The fighting lasted through the night to defend the survivors of the crashes, including snipers MSG Gary Gordon and SFC Randy Shughart. Both volunteered for the mission and knew it would likely result in their death. Both were killed in Action. The following morning, an armored convoy fought their way to the helicopters and rescuing the survivors. We lost 18 brave American Warriors that day. Please help us keep their memory alive. #youarenotforgotten CW3 Donovan Briley SSG Daniel Busch PFC James Martin Jr. SGT Cornell Houston CW4 Clifton Wolcott SPC James Cavaco SSG William Cleveland Jr. SSG Thomas Field SFC Earl Fillmore Jr. CW4 Raymond Frank MSG Gary Gordon SGT James Joyce SPC Richard Kowalewski Jr. MSG Timothy Martin SGT Dominick Pilla SGT Lorenzo Ruiz SFC Randall Shughart CPL James "Jamie" Smith Jr.

You don’t always know how close you are. Show up anyway.

A good ride for a good cause. 🤘 Join the ride benefiting the Give It Away Foundation, and keep the support going with our Give It Away tee. Proceeds from the shirt are donated to the same foundation, so whether you’re hitting the road or grabbing a shirt, you’re helping give back. Check out the ride details- outlawsandorchids.com Shop the tee- nine.li/XGIVEAWAY26

On this day in 1969, Chief Warrant Officer Michael J. Novosel's extraordinary valor earned him the Medal of Honor in Kien Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam. In a daring act, he piloted his helicopter into a heavily fortified enemy training area to rescue wounded ARVN soldiers. Despite intense machine gun fire and the absence of cover, he located and evacuated a wounded soldier. With communication lost, CWO Novosel circled the area repeatedly, drawing the scattered friendly troops together for evacuation. His courage boosted their morale, inspiring them to assemble for rescue. Even when forced to leave the battle zone six times due to enemy fire, he returned from different angles to land and extract more troops. Towards the mission's end, he attempted a risky extraction near an enemy bunker, hovering backward despite the certain hail of enemy fire. The helicopter sustained damage as the wounded soldier was pulled aboard, and CWO Novosel himself was wounded. Momentarily losing control, he swiftly regained it and escaped under heavy enemy fire. In total, he executed 15 hazardous extractions, saving the lives of 29 soldiers through his selfless actions.

Spooky season is right around the corner... so if you've been holding out on ordering your favorite Halloween design, its now or never. Get your last looks in before tomorrow- nine.li/XHALLOW26

#OTD in 1975, AV-02, the second prototype Hughes YAH-64 (Apache) Advanced Attack Helicopter, 74-22248, makes its first free hover at Palomar Airport, California, 30 September 1975.

We're SO CLOSE... 👻 🎃 🐈‍⬛ 🪦 💀

Turned this weeks LTD drop into an arts and crafts project 🤪 See the real things- nine.li/XLTD26

Gold Star Mother's and Family Day is observed on the last Sunday in September. This day serves as a reminder of the loss felt by the families of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and honors their memories. The sculpture in the image was created by Sutton Betti Sculptures as a tribute to all Gold Star families who have lost children in war. It is located at Gracelawn Cemetery in Edmond, OK.

The Tripartite Pact, signed on September 27, 1940, marked a pivotal moment in history, bringing together Germany, Italy, and Japan in a defensive alliance during the early years of World War II. Originally aimed at dissuading the United States from entering the conflict, the pact eventually expanded to include Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Croatia as signatories. The Tripartite Pact came to the forefront in 1941 when it was invoked after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. On December 8, the United States declared war on Japan, prompting Germany and Italy to declare war on the United States four days later. Despite its initial significance, the Tripartite Pact gradually lost its effectiveness. Germany and Japan, with their divergent interests and agendas, operated independently during the course of the war. This divergence rendered the pact merely symbolic. The three figures seated from L-R in the first image are: Saburō Kurusu (representing Japan), Galeazzo Ciano (Italy), and Adolf Hitler (Germany).