It was Baron von Steuben, an immigrant and patriot, who played a giant role in not only the creation of the US military, which defeated the greatest army in the world and won America independence; but the idea of military academies, a standing Army, and even veterans organizations. If George Washington was the father of the nation, then von Steuben, was the father of the United States military.

Thanks to diplomats Silas Deane and Ben Franklin in Paris, the seasoned Prussian military officer, who trained at the hand of King Frederick the Great’s “Spezialklasse der Kriegskunst” (his staff school for future generals), was recruited to the USA and trained Washington’s Continentals into a formidable army during the winter at Valley Forge. He wrote the “Blue Book”, which is still used by the US Army today, and he created the blueprint for the US military academies, starting with West Point. Four months before he died, he laid the cornerstone for nearby Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. His great friend Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton was unable to make the trip from Philadelphia, so he asked Baron de Steuben to cover for him. While the College is named for Hamilton, its first trustee, the football field is named for Steuben! In Washington, DC, Baron von Steuben’s magnificent statue to honor his contributions stands in the northwest corner of Lafayette Park in front of the White House.