Valor | War History

The USS Stickleback (SS-415) Was Sunk In a Collision During An Anti-Submarine Exercise

USS Silverstein (DE-534) crashing into the USS Stickleback (SS-415) at sea

On May 28, 1958, the USS Stickleback (SS-415) became the second US submarine lost since the end of World War II. The Balao-class vessel had…

Before Starring Alongside Andy Griffith, Don Knotts Served In the US Army Special Services

Don Knotts as Barney Fife in 'The Andy Griffith Show'

Before Don Knotts became a household name for his roles on television and film, he scored some of his first comedy gigs serving in the…

Errol Flynn’s Son Disappeared While Serving As a Photojournalist In Vietnam

Sean Flynn holding up a weapon and sitting cross-legged in a hut

In 1970, Sean Flynn, son of Vintage Hollywood legend, Errol Flynn, disappeared in Cambodia while covering the Vietnam War. At 28 years old, he’d already…

Leonard Matlovich Was the First Serviceman to Out Himself in Protest of the US Military’s Homophobic Regulations

Portrait of Leonard Matlovich

Outside of his service during the Vietnam War, US Air Force Tech. Sgt. Leonard Matlovich fought a very different kind of battle, one against the…

Fictional Military Leaders We’d Follow Into Battle

Still from 'Apocalypse Now' + Bruce Willis as Lt. A.K. Waters in 'Tears of the Sun' + Clint Eastwood as Gunnery Sgt. Tom "Gunny" Highway in 'Heartbreak Ridge'

When it comes to military movies, directors can get a little carried away with the heroism of leaders. This list of fictional military leaders showcases…

Japan’s Secret Weapon for the Invasion of British Malaya Was… Bicycles?

Man riding a bicycle while holding an umbrella

During World War II, Japan employed a seemingly innocuous ally: the bicycle. As the empire faced logistical challenges and scarce resources, these manually-driven vehicles played…

Comedian Rob Riggle Continued to Serve In the US Marine Corps, Even After Making It In Hollywood

Rosemary Giles
Rob Riggle speaking into a microphone on stage

Rob Riggle isn’t just a familiar face in the entertainment industry – he’s also a decorated military veteran. Prior to gracing our screens with his…

Leslie ‘Bull’ Allen Single-Handedly Rescued 12 Wounded American Soldiers at Mount Tambu

Leslie "Bull" Allen carrying an injured American soldier through the jungle

During the chaos of World War II, countless heroes emerged. Among them was Australian stretcher bearer Leslie “Bull” Allen, an extraordinary individual whose courage and…

The World War II-Era British Covenanter Tank’s Issues Made It Immediately Obsolete

A13 Mk III Covenanter tank parked on rain-soaked cement

The Cruiser tank Mk V – or the A13 Mk III Covenanter – was a British tank that saw service during World War II. Manufactured…

Facts About ‘Top Gun’ and Its Award-Winning Sequel

Ryan McLachlan
Tom Cruise as Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 'Top Gun' + Tom Cruise as Capt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 'Top Gun: Maverick'

Top Gun is a 1986 American action flick directed by Tony Scott. It follows Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) and his co-pilot Nick “Goose” Bradshaw…

Alan Turing’s Efforts to Decode German Enigma During World War II

Alan Turing sitting in a chair outside

Alan Turing was a British mathematician and cryptanalyst who worked tirelessly with a team of codebreakers during the Second World War. Together, they cracked encrypted…

Forget CGI! A B-17 Was Actually Crashed During the Filming of ‘Twelve O’Clock High’

Gary Merrill, Gregory Peck and Dean Jagger as Col. Keith Davenport, Gen. Frank Savage and Maj. Harvey Stovall in 'Twelve O'Clock High'

We live in a world where CGI is commonplace in movies. It’s actually become a selling point to say that flight sequences, such as those…