How a Truman staffer described the decision to drop the bombs
The decision to drop the bombs on Hiroshima and then Nagasaki is one of the most controversial in military history. When looking at it from modern day, it’s easy to…
3 lesser-known Marine Corps tanks
In July 2020, the Marine Corps’ three tank battalions began the process of deactivation as their M1 Abrams main battle tanks were hauled away. The 1st Tank Battalion at 29 Palms, 2nd Tank Battalion at Camp Lejeune and 4th Tank Battalion at Camp Pen…
Why the US attacked Japan in the middle of the Civil War
While the United States was fighting for its existence, the world kept turning and other countries continued acting in their own self-interest. Just because the United States military was preoccupied…
Today in military history: Japan bombs US mainland
On Sep. 9, 1942, Japan attacked the U.S. mainland. Japanese pilot Nubuo Fujita launched from the Japanese sub I-25 off the coast of Oregon and dropped incendiary bombs meant to…
What a Hiroshima resident saw the day the bomb dropped
On Aug. 6, 1941, P. Siomes, a German priest, was sitting in his room when the sunny, summer day outside was suddenly lit by an even brighter light that blinded him just before an explosion of sound and heat slammed into the building he was in.…
Everything you need to know about the Battle of Midway, the ‘turning point’ of WWII
On June 4, 1942, the Japanese fleet arrived in its attack formation. Its target was Midway Island, an effort to create a defensive barrier in the Pacific while avenging the…
This French military officer was the real-life ‘Last Samurai’
Jules Brunet wasn’t really the “last” samurai anymore than Tom Cruise’s character in the movie of the same name was. But he was a military officer sent to Japan to…
Why Japan didn’t invade the Soviet Union in World War II
Although Japan might not have started World War II in a tough position, it certainly ended up that way. Even the Japanese Navy’s best, Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto, questioned the wisdom…
6 of the biggest failed gambles of World War II
Everything in war is risky but depending on who’s leading an army, some gambles are better than others. Mistakes are always made, but when the biggest risks on the battlefield…
How to spot a ‘weeaboo’ in your platoon and stop it from reproducing
Anime is a genre of animation enjoyed on a global scale. Programs like the “Dragon Ball Z” and “Pokemon” franchises have had a viral influence on American culture. Although there…