Todd Neikirk

Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. His work has been featured in psfk.com, foxsports.com, politicususa.com and hillreporter.com. He enjoys sports, politics, comic books, and anything that has to do with history.

When he is not sitting in front of a laptop, Todd enjoys soaking up everything the Jersey Shore has to offer with his wife, two sons and American Foxhound, Wally.

Articles by Todd Neikirk:

John Wheeler and the Missing Papers That Nearly Sparked a Cold War Catastrophe

Mushroom cloud rising into the sky + Portrait of John Wheeler

Even the most brilliant people on the planet can sometimes be a bit absent-minded. John Wheeler certainly fit this category. The theoretical physicist is credited…

Van Barfoot: MoH Recipient Who Singlehandedly Captured 17 German Soldiers and Disabled a Tiger Tank

US soldiers walking by a smoking Tiger tank + Military portrait of Van Barfoot + Medal of Honor

The Second World War featured countless examples of heroism. Still, the efforts of Van Barfoot stand out to this day. When faced with multiple German…

Black Hornet Nano: The Minuscule Drone That Aided British Forces in Afghanistan

Hand holding up a Black Hornet Nano

Surveillance flights existed prior to the start of World War I. The first incident of aerial reconnaissance occurred in 1794, when the French used an…

Macchi C.202 Folgore: The Italian Aircraft That Impressed the Allies

Italian pilot climbing into the cockpit of a Macchi C.202 Folgore

When World War II broke out, countries wanted their troops to have the best equipment possible. However, this was made difficult by a variety of…

K2 Black Panther: One of the World’s Most Expensive Tanks

Munitions displayed in front of a K2 Black Panther

Due to the presence of its neighbors to the north, South Korea must constantly be prepared for the possibility of warfare. Kim Jung-un, the leader…

Joe Foss: The MoH Recipient Who Took Out Japanese Aircraft Over Guadalcanal

Joe Foss standing in front of an aircraft

Joe Foss lived for 87 years, and he packed more living into those 87 years than any other American in recent history. Not only was…

M240: The Machine Gun Loved By Both Marines and the US Army

Seabee firing an M240B mounted atop a Humvee

In 1884, the Maxim gun was created, forever changing warfare. Over the subsequent 100 years, the idea of the machine gun was continuously improved. Some…

US Marine Corps Aviator William Rankin Survived a Fall from a Thunder Cloud

Streak of lightning moving through clouds + Vought F-8A Crusader in flight

In times of crisis, pilots may have to parachute out of their aircraft due to damage or mechanical failure. For the most part, these descents…

The Truth Behind Royce Williams’ Legendary Dogfight was Hidden for 50 Years

Grumman F9F Panther in flight + Royce Williams wearing a baseball cap

The years following the Second World War were tricky. While Russia had been an ally to the United States during the conflict, the two frequently…

Red Army Cook Ivan Pavlovich Sereda Took Out a German Tank With Just an Axe

German soldiers riding on a Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) + Axe + Pot filled with vegetable soup

Over the course of human history, unlikely heroes have emerged from surprising places, and the battlefields of World War II were no exception. Ivan Pavlovich…

FICON Project: When the US Air Force Practiced Hooking Smaller Aircraft Under Large Bombers

Republic F-84E Thunderjet attached to the bottom of a larger bomber via a trapeze

As a result of the majority of the world’s powers participating in the Second World War, there were near-constant advancements in weapons technology. When the…

The Japanese Battleship Kongō was Among the Most Heavily Armed When It was First Built

Kongō at sea

The Japanese battleship Kongō had some of the greatest nicknames in history; the Japanese translations for the vessel’s many names are “Indestructible Diamond,” “Indra’s Spear” and…