Jesse Beckett

Jesse Beckett is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE

Articles by Jesse Beckett:

The Colt Walker 1847: The Most Powerful Sidearm Ever Issued By the US Military

Colt Walker 1847

In 1846 the United States Army brought the Colt Walker 1847 into service – a revolver that is the most powerful sidearm ever issued by…

America’s Black Hawk Helicopter Still Has A Lot Of Work To Do

Black Hawk And the US Marines

The famous and long-lasting UH-60 Black Hawk, which has been flying since the 1970s, will likely remain in service until the 2030s. The airframe is…

Why WWII’s M1 Carbine was Ahead of Its Time

M1 Carbine Worn By Soldier

The M1 Carbine was a small, lightweight weapon that found itself in the hands of many Allied soldiers during WWII. Its relatively small cartridge led…

The USS North Carolina Was a Nightmare for Japan During WWII

USS North Carolina - Colorized Photo

The USS North Carolina was a mighty battleship that served throughout the Second World War. She was involved in intense combat on many occasions but…

Did Tin Buttons Cause Napoleon’s Army To Retreat From Russia?

Napoleon in Russia

October of 1812 saw a major turning point in Napoleon’s invasion of Russia. Although the French had recently claimed victory at the Battle of Maloyaroslavets,…

The USS Olympia Is a Cruiser with a Battleship’s Guns And A Very Long History

USS Olympia

The USS Olympia is the physical representation of the saying “big things come in small packages”. Launched in 1895, the comparatively small cruiser was armed…

These US Military Jets Accidentally Shot Themselves Down

F-14

As a rule, most aircraft armed with offensive weapons either attack ground targets or other aircraft. Over the past century, we have gotten pretty good…

5 Things We Didn’t Know About Lt. Dan from ‘Forrest Gump’

Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump

The 1994 movie Forest Gump often ends up on lists of the greatest films ever made, thanks to its excellent story, great soundtrack, and brilliant…

Elvis Presley’s Service in the US Army Helped His Popularity Skyrocket

Elvis Presley sitting in his US Army uniform

A number of Hollywood’s biggest stars were drafted into the US Army during the middle part of the 20th century. This includes the King of…

Dwight Johnson: Medal of Honor Recipient and Vietnam War Hero

Lyndon B. Johnson placing the Medal of Honor around Dwight Johnson's neck

On January 15, 1968, Dwight Johnson transformed into a one-man army after the tank he was driving became immobilized while under intense enemy fire. He…

Eric James Brindley Nicolson Showed Great Skill In a Showdown with a Bf 110

Hawker Hurricanes in flight + Victoria Cross + Eric James Brindley Nicolson in his RAF uniform

Eric James Brindley Nicolson was a member of the British Royal Air Force (RAF) who was awarded the nation’s highest honor: the Victoria Cross. As…

Leonard Funk: One of the Most Decorated Paratroopers of World War II

US soldiers walking through the snow + Military portrait of Leonard Funk Jr.

On September 5, 1945, Leonard Funk Jr. was awarded the United States’ highest distinction: the Medal of Honor. He earned the award during action earlier…