Valor | War History

William Dunham: The US Air Force Hero Who Spared His Enemy’s Life

Four Republic P-47 Thunderbolts in flight + Military portrait of William Dunham

Brig. Gen. William Dunham was a highly-decorated US Air Force hero. His achievements during World War II and beyond are well-documented. However, his most notable…

Classic ’80s War Movies That Show Just How Great Cinema Used to Be

R. Lee Ermey as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in 'Full Metal Jacket' + Mel Gibson as Frank Dunne in 'Gallipoli' + Willem Dafoe as Sgt. Elias in 'Platoon'

While the ’80s wasn’t all about action-buddy movies and teen comedies, there were a lot of war films made throughout decade, as well. It’s easy…

Remy Van Lierde: The WWII Air Ace Whose Helicopter Was Attacked By the World’s Largest Snake

Desert landscape + Cobra with its mouth open + Bristol Sycamore Type 171

Col. Remy Van Lierde would be worth studying for his incredible military exploits alone – the fact he claimed later in life to have encountered…

Ian Fortune Kept Flying After Being Shot In the Head By Enemy Machine Gun Fire

British Royal Marines running from a Boeing CH-47 Chinook

Whether it be in peacetime or war, being shot is never pleasant. Taking a bullet once in the body is often enough to maim or…

Royal Navy Slang That’s Found Its Way Into Everyday Life

British Royal Navy sailors firing a cannon

In Britain, it’s said you’re never more than 70 miles from the sea. Given this, the country’s most important means of defense has, historically, been…

Everyday Slang That Originated In the Trenches of World War I

Canadian soldiers going over the top of a trench

The English language is constantly evolving, with new words being added all the time. This isn’t a new phenomenon, with terms and expressions from across…

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt: The Most Produced American Fighter of World War II

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in flight

The “Juggernaut,” the “Jug” – whatever you want to call it, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was an absolute beast in the skies over Europe and…

John Chapman: Mistaken for Dead, He Fought a Heroic Last Stand Against the Enemy

Jeff Edwards
John Chapman standing with his rifle + Military portrait of John Chapman

There have been many who performed distinct acts of valor and bravery during combat. While the majority are awarded for these actions not long after…

The BBC’s Coded Messages to the French Resistance During World War II

French Resistance member sitting in front of a radio

One of the best-known films about the Second World War is The Longest Day (1962), which centers around D-Day. In a number of scenes, members…

Did German Americans Actually Leave the US to Fight for Germany During WWII?

German soldiers marching together in uniform

In the acclaimed HBO miniseries, Band of Brothers (2001), Tech. Sgt. Donald Malarkey, played by Scott Grimes, asks a German prisoner of war (POW) where…

Bob Crisp: The Cricket Player and Tank Buster Who Took Out German Panzers In North Africa

Soldiers standing around damaged Panzer III tanks + Portrait of Bob Crisp

The majority of us lead lives that are fairly ordinary. There may be flurries of interest, even brief moments of heart-stopping excitement, but, most of…

‘Star Trek’ Star James Doohan Survived Six Bullet Wounds During the Allied Landings on D-Day

James Doohan as Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in 'Star Trek'

James Doohan saw action during World War II and in outer space. His exploits inspired many to become an engineer, and one individual even followed…