Al Schmid: The US Marine Who Continued to Man His Machine Gun After Taking a Grenade to the Face
Al Schmid, an apprentice steel burner, enlisted in the US Marine Corps after hearing about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Once on the battlefield,…
10 Mistakes Made By the Filmmakers Behind ‘Pearl Harbor’
Director Michael Bay made his mark with films like The Rock (1996), Bad Boys (1995) and Armageddon (1998). He was eventually given the chance to…
Frogmen: Before Navy SEALs, Underwater Demolition Teams Were Making a Splash on the Battlefield
The Navy SEALs are among the most highly-regarded Special Operations forces in the United States, only made more illusive by stories of their various units,…
The US Army Once Tried to Turn a Nerf Football Into a Grenade
The Cold War was a time of near constant military innovation. The frequent advancement of weapons of war required a fast response, which sometimes meant…
Cavalry Scouts Have Been An Integral Part of the US Army for Centuries
The US Army was officially founded on June 14, 1775. Just a few months later, the Cavalry Scouts were created. These soldiers have played an…
The British Were Harvesting Soldiers’ Organs During WWI
A book by Canadian historian Tim Cook has brought to light some disturbing evidence regarding a British program that saw the harvesting of slain Canadian…
Flakpanzer Gepard: A Cold War-Era Anti-Aircraft Gun That Continues to See Use
In May 1955, nearly a decade after the end of the Second World War, West Germany joined NATO. Reacting to the decision, the Soviet Union…
Road Workers Were Amazed By An Unexpected World War II-Era Discovery In Chartres
During the six years that made up the Second World War, the Allied and Axis nations deployed an astonishing number of troops and armaments across…
Teresio Martinoli: The Italian Ace Who Flew for Both Sides During WWII
For those who won the war, their flying aces go down in history for their brave actions and heroic deeds. Even those who didn’t win…
John Wheeler and the Missing Papers That Nearly Sparked a Cold War Catastrophe
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…
5.56 vs 7.62: Which is the Better Long Distance Round?
5.56 x 45 mm vs 7.62 x 39 mm; when it comes to ammunition, these two cartridges are among the most prolific and well-known. They’re…
Swiss K31 Rifle: This Straight Pull, Bolt Action Rifle From WW2 Is Now a Popular Collector’s Item
The Schmidt-Rubin Karabiner Modell 1931, better known as the Swiss K31 rifle, was the standard-issue firearm for the Swiss Armed Forces for decades. Widely considered…