MSN Slideshow | War History

Smedley Butler Had an Incredible Career in the US Marine Corps

Todd Neikirk
Smedley Butler sitting in a chair

Smedley Butler was born into privilege, but decided to fight for his country when he was just a teen. He became one of America’s most…

William McRaven: One of the Most Famous Navy SEALs in American History

Todd Neikirk
Admiral McRaven speaking at a podium

William McRaven is one of the most famous Navy SEALs in American history. A four-star admiral, he was in command and helped organize the operation…

Vasily Zaytsev: Successful Red Army Sniper During World War II

Vasily Zaitsev with two other Red Army soldiers

The Germans invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, during Operation Barbarossa. The action inspired young men and women across Russia to take up arms. One…

John Clem: The Youngest Noncommissioned Officer in US Army History

John Clem as a child + John Clem as an adult

When the American Civil War broke out in April 1861, it was an all-hands-on-deck situation for the Union and Confederate armies. All men of fighting…

Mary Edwards Walker: The Only Woman to Receive the Medal of Honor

Mary Edwards Walker wearing a top hat

Today, about a third of all American doctors are female, and women make up 14 percent of all active-duty US military members. This represents a…

F-104 Starfighter: The Lightweight Fighter-Bomber Nicknamed ‘The Widow Maker’

F-104 Starfighter in flight

Throughout the 20th century, aviation missions grew much safer. That didn’t mean, however, that some aircraft were more safe than others. Following the Korean War,…

Legendary Battles That Would Make Outstanding Films

Artist's depiction of the Battle of Belleau Wood + Swedish machine gunner aiming a machine gun in the snow

War movies have been popular for as long as films have existed. As a result, some of the more popular subjects have been completely exhausted.…

Gabby Gabreski: Flying Ace of World War II and the Korean War

Military portrait of Gabby Gabreski

The first air battles in American war history occurred during World War I, of which the top US pilot was Eddie Rickenbacker. They became more…

Things People Get Wrong About the Boston Tea Party

Todd Neikirk
Artist's depiction of the Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party is one of the most famous events in American history. However, it has become difficult to separate mythology from fact, like…

AH-64 Apache Helicopter: The US Army’s “Flying Tank”

AH-64 Apache helicopter in flight

The Boeing AH-60 Apache helicopter is by far one of the most advanced aircraft produced today. The twin-turboshaft attack helicopter has seen use in numerous…

The Most Important Battleships in American History

USS Missouri firing during an operation

In order to remain a prominent world power in the late 1800s, the US had to keep up with the latest military technology. When South…

P-80 Shooting Star: The Fighter Jet that Took Out America’s Top Flying Ace of WWII

Richard Bong in the cockpit of his airplane

During World War I, Eddie Rickenbacker became America’s top flying ace. By the time World War II came around, airplane technology had improved significantly. As…