History | War History

6-Star General: Only Three Individuals Have Been Promoted to the Prestigious Rank

Military portrait of Ulysses S. Grant + Military portrait of John J. Pershing + Military portrait of George Washington

The rank of 6-star general is so high in the US military’s hierarchy that it’s only ever been given out three times. One recipient was…

Cavalry Scouts Have Been An Integral Part of the US Army for Centuries

Todd Neikirk
Cavalry Scouts jumping out of a helicopter hovering low over the ground

The US Army was officially founded on June 14, 1775. Just a few months later, the Cavalry Scouts were created. These soldiers have played an…

Downing of Extortion 17: The Single Deadliest Incident of the US War in Afghanistan

Samantha Franco
Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter in flight

On August 6, 2011, the final flight of Extortion 17 resulted in the single deadliest incident for the US military during the War in Afghanistan.…

Battle of Norfolk: The Largest Tank Battle of the First Gulf War

Clare Fitzgerald
Destroyed Iraqi tanks in defensive entrenchments

The First Gulf War consisted of a number of fierce battles between the Iraqi and coalition forces. The first phase of the conflict, dubbed Operation…

The Battle of Kuwait International Airport was the Largest Tank Battle in US Marine Corps History

Todd Neikirk
Two destroyed Iraqi tanks in the desert

In the early 1990s, warfare was largely about air superiority, as was shown in the Gulf War. While the tank had once been the king…

The Famous Patton Tank Couldn’t Hold Its Own Against the Indian Army

Todd Neikirk
Pakistani infantrymen running behind a tank

Over the course of six-and-a-half weeks in 1965, India and Pakistan fought a war – and they didn’t do it alone. The world was watching,…

The US Military Used Tourist Maps to Prepare for the Invasion of Grenada

Samantha Franco
US Marines sitting on a captured Soviet-made BRDM-2 amphibious armored scout car

When the US military invaded Grenada in 1983, troops were grossly unprepared. Knowing little about the country, officials had to get inventive in order to…

The True Story Behind the Events of ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’

Todd Neikirk
Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks as Joanne Herring and Charlie Wilson in 'Charlie Wilson's War' + Charlie Wilson smiling

Charlie Wilson’s War premiered in 2007. The film boasted such A-list talent as Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, and was a critical success, earning five…

Tsar Nicholas II Wouldn’t Approve the Russian Army’s New Uniform Until He Tested It Out Himself

Samantha Franco
Portrait of Tsar Nicholas II

Tsar Nicholas II saw himself as not only a member of the royal family, but as a soldier as well. He received a military education…

Historic Deception and Camouflage Techniques Used By Militaries

Dummy tank on display

Deception and military subterfuge have been used throughout history. The aim is to give armies the upper hand by tricking the enemy. The practice dates…

Battle for Hill 3234: The True Story Behind the ‘9th Company’ Movie

Elisabeth Edwards
Still from '9th Company'

On January 7, 1988, 39 men from 9th Company, 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment, Soviet Airborne Troops landed on the peak of Hill 3234, along…

Operation Desert Storm: The Battle That Changed Modern Warfare Forever

Elisabeth Edwards
Two F-15C Eagle aircraft in flight

Operation Desert Storm changed modern warfare as we know it. Newly-introduced stealth technologies, GPS, advanced aircraft radar and missile warning systems employed by the US…