The Latest
How America celebrated its centennial in 1876 and transformed its future
A theme of innovation permeated the grounds of the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia.
6 things to know about the Sentinels guarding Arlington’s Tomb of the Unknowns
Sentinels have stood guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier since 1937.
The M113 armored personnel carrier was supposed to be obsolete
Cheap, reliable, mechanically simple, and endlessly adaptable.
The WWII bombardier whose family spent 12 years bringing him home from the ocean floor
Japanese anti-aircraft fire is believed to have shot down the Heaven Can Wait, a B-24D Liberator bomber, in 1944.
This is what a broom tied to a mast means in the US Navy
The USS Wahoo wasn’t messing around when it took out a Japanese tanker, troop transport, and two freighters.
8 of the most terrifying Vietnam War booby traps
A full 15% of U.S. wounds in Vietnam were caused by VC booby traps.
What John Glenn did to save his famous wingman’s life in Korea
When Ted Williams’ plane was on fire during the Korean War, a future astronaut came to his rescue.
How John Brown’s raid on the arsenal at Harper’s Ferry made the Civil War inevitable
John Brown died by hanging in December 1859. Sixteen months later, war broke out at Fort Sumter.
Operation Eagle Claw: The story behind the failed hostage rescue in Iran
The disaster at Desert One led to a rethinking of American special ops.
How the Marine Corps’ oldest division survived at Chosin Reservoir
Marines at the Chosin Reservoir ran the risk of freezing to death. They had no choice but to fight their way out.
The anonymous plot to oust George Washington as commander-in-chief
Replacing Washington with Horatio Gates would have been a disaster.
This plane survived Pearl Harbor and struck back at Midway
Whoever made the Douglas SBD Dauntless knew what they were doing.
How a sailor remembered 256 prisoners of war through song
Vietnamese guards underestimated Douglas Hegdahl at their own peril.
How a soldier’s homemade US flag made it from a WWII POW camp to the Smithsonian
Cpl. Joseph “Jose” Quintero further displayed his patriotism, one stitch at a time.
The shortest soldier in American history was a Green Beret who fought in Vietnam
Richard Flaherty received the Silver Star in 1968.
The highest ranking US military officer in World War II isn’t who you think
“Salty” doesn’t even begin to describe William Leahy.
Remembering 250 years of Marine Corps Commandants
The 39 Marine Corps Commandants have shaped the service branch into what it is today.
This WWII aviation program was more expensive than the Manhattan Project
The U.S. military spared no expense in building the B-29 Superfortress.
The first Medals of Honor received for a foreign conflict happened in Korea
The Americans wanted to sell goods. The Koreans wanted none of it.
That time MacArthur promised to capture a hill or die on it
The legendary general backed up his words during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
Patton’s famous speech was way more vulgar than the one in the movie
Read his entire, real speech.
This Marine survived the Bataan Death March, a ship sinking, and an atomic bomb
Marine Cpl. Kenneth Rice survived incomprehensible cruelty during World War II.
How the Seven Days Battles lengthened the Civil War by 2 years
If the Union had captured Richmond in 1862, the Civil War would have ended much sooner.
Baron von Steuben and the birth of US Army discipline
Without von Steuben, there might be no America.
Benedict Arnold and the most famous betrayal in American history
In the beginning, Benedict Arnold was loyal to the revolutionaries’ cause. What changed?
7 interesting facts about US presidents and their military service
Thirty-one presidents have served in the U.S. military.
The Swedish sledgehammer: A salute to the Carl Gustaf, long may the ‘Goose’ reign
All hail King Carl Gustaf.
Revolutionary War uniforms and the birth of an American army
Continental Blue contrasted with British Red in more ways than one.
President Lincoln personally led a recon mission during the Civil War
He took direct control of the Army and Navy to capture Norfolk.
Marquis de Lafayette: Washington’s indispensable French commander
America might not be celebrating its 250th birthday without the Marquis de Lafayette.
