December 19

Born and trained as a lawyer, Archer volunteered for the Confederate Army at the outbreak of the Civil War. He rose to the rank of brigadier general, commanding brigades under Major General Stonewall Jackson. Archer fought in key battles including First Bull Run and the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, where he was wounded. He later led troops at the Battle of Gettysburg, where he was captured. Exchanged in 1864, he returned to duty but died shortly after from illness. Remembered for his leadership and dedication to the Confederate cause.

Born in Kamenskoye (now Kamianske, Ukraine), Leonid Brezhnev trained as an engineer before joining the Red Army in World War II. He rose through the ranks of the Communist Party, becoming General Secretary in 1964. Under his leadership, the USSR experienced both military expansion and economic stagnation, a period known as the Brezhnev Era. He presided over détente with the United States and signed the SALT I treaty. As Chairman of the Presidium, he served as head of state and maintained tight party control until his death in 1982.

Born in Kansas in 1943, Jones graduated from Georgetown University before joining the Marine Corps. He rose through the ranks to become the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps, overseeing modernization efforts and international deployments. In 2000, he retired as a four-star general and later served as Supreme Allied Commander at NATO. From 2009 to 2010, he advised President Obama as the National Security Advisor. Known for his diplomatic skills and leadership in complex operations, he navigated challenges in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jones has received numerous honors, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal. After public service, he remained active in academia and nonprofit initiatives, shaping discussions on security policy.