February 14

Lian Chongyu served as a military leader during the Five Dynasties era following the collapse of the Tang dynasty. He held command under the Later Jin court, navigating the shifting alliances of northern China. Operating in a time marked by rapid regime changes and regional warfare, he played a role in key border campaigns. His exact contributions are less documented, reflecting the era's fragmented historical records. He died in 945, leaving behind a legacy tied to one of China’s most chaotic periods.

Born in 1815 in Louisiana, St. John Richardson Liddell was a planter before the Civil War and later joined the Confederate Army. He was commissioned a brigadier general and commanded troops at the Battles of Shiloh and Chickamauga. Liddell played a key role in the Siege of Vicksburg, where his tactical acumen was widely recognized. After the war, he returned to private life and managed agricultural interests in his home state. His military career is remembered for his strategic leadership and dedication to his command. Liddell died in 1870, concluding a life marked by both public service and personal controversy.

Born in 1820 in Lancaster, Ohio, Sherman graduated from West Point in 1840. He served with distinction in the Mexican-American War before his pivotal role in the American Civil War. As commander of the Union Army of the Tennessee, he led the capture of Atlanta in 1864. His subsequent 'March to the Sea' through Georgia devastated Confederate infrastructure and morale. After the war, he served as Commanding General of the United States Army from 1869 to 1883. Sherman famously declared that 'war is hell,' reflecting his belief in harsh strategies to end the conflict swiftly. He died in 1891, remembered as one of the Union's most effective and controversial commanders.

Adnan Saidi was born in 1915 in Johor Bahru and enlisted in the Malay Regiment in the late 1930s. He earned his commission and served with distinction before the outbreak of World War II. In February 1942, Lieutenant Saidi led the defense of Bukit Chandu (Opium Hill) against the Japanese invasion. Outnumbered and low on ammunition, he and his men fought tenaciously, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers. Saidi was killed in action, and his valor made him a symbol of Malay and Singaporean resistance. He is commemorated in museums, memorials, and educational curricula for his heroism.

Harold Edward Dahl was born in 1909 in the United States. He trained as a pilot and developed a reputation for skill and daring. Dahl offered his services as a mercenary aviator to foreign factions in need of aerial support. He flew transport, reconnaissance, and combat missions under contract. He died in 1956, remembered for his role as a soldier-of-fortune pilot.

George Washington Bacon III was an American paratrooper and CIA paramilitary officer who served in covert operations during the Vietnam War and beyond. After his military service, he worked as a CIA operative in Southeast Asia before becoming a mercenary in conflicts across Africa. Bacon participated in private military contracts in Angola and the Congo, engaging in high-risk assignments characteristic of Cold War proxy wars. His career illustrates the blurred lines between official military service and private warfare during the 1960s and 1970s. He died in Angola, underscoring the dangers faced by soldiers of fortune.

Charlie Christodoulou was a British army veteran who became a mercenary during the Angolan Civil War in the mid-1970s. He joined '5 Commando,' led by mercenary leader Michael 'Mad Mike' Hoare, and fought on behalf of the FNLA against MPLA forces. Known for his combat skills and controversial tactics, Christodoulou became emblematic of Western mercenary involvement in African post-independence conflicts. His actions stirred debate over the ethics of private military engagement. He was killed in action near the Angolan town of Luso, leaving a complex legacy tied to the era’s geopolitical struggles.