American fighting men from the Pocono Mountains have distinguished themselves throughout American history.

During the American Revolution there were three regional battles - Paupack, Minisink and Raymondskill. The major battle took place at Minisink on the morning of July 22, 1779, where the Delaware and Lackawaxen Rivers meet. Greatly outnumbered, the Americans lost 47 men, including Jonathan Haskell, an early settler from Wallenpaupack. Sixty eight years later at Minisink a skeleton was discovered along with military equipment and uniform buttons. It was determined to be an American soldier. The U.S. Government buried the soldier at Minisink and marked the grave as the "Unknown Soldier of the Revolutionary War".

Another local American, Brigadier General David Brodhead fought in the battles of Long Island, Brandywine and Germantown. He also fought with George Washington at Valley Forge. In 1809 he retired in Milford and is buried there. Brodheadsville, a town in Monroe County is named after the famed general.

American fighting men also distinguished themselves in the Civil War. Union records show that many Pocono men fought at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. General Abner Doubleday (the inventor of baseball) said of Pike County's 151st Regiment "At Gettysburg they won an imperishable fame. They defended against vastly superior numbers".

The Pike County Courthouse and the County Administration Building lists all the names of the American Fighting Men who served in the Revolution, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The region was also well represented in the Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq.

In the 20th century the region has had the honor of producing at least five U.S. Army Generals. Major General James McAndrew, a well remembered General in World War I, Lieutenant General Edgar Jadwin, Major General David O"Neill, Brigadier General Richard Tallman and General Lyman Lemnitzer.

Brigadier General Richard Tallman was killed in action on July 9, 1972 in An Loc, Vietnam. He was a graduate of Honesdale High School and was serving his 4th tour of duty in Vietnam.