Before appearing in 90 movies throughout his career, Lee Van Cleef served in the U.S. Navy during WWII
Lee Van Cleef became a star during the heyday of American Westerns, known for his sharp features and intense gaze that made him a natural…
When Benghazi came under a surprise attack, former Navy seal Glen Doherty gave his life defending the compound
On the night of September 11, 2012, a group of heavily armed attackers launched a coordinated assault on the U.S. State Department compound in Benghazi,…
A key designer of the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber was convicted of espionage for giving classified information to foreign governments
Noshir Gowadia was a key figure in developing the B-2 Spirit’s stealth capabilities, particularly its defenses against heat-seeking missiles. He even referred to himself as…
Donald Sutherland almost died while making ‘Kelly’s Heroes,” and other little-known facts about the movie
Kelly’s Heroes (1970) remains one of the most well-loved World War II movies of all time. The film’s story was inspired by a book by…
Pearl Harbor wasn’t the only target on December 7, 1941 – plus other misconceptions about the attack on Pearl Harbor
A lot of people believe they know what really happened during the attack on Pearl Harbor, but some of those beliefs aren’t backed up by…
The USS Pueblo (AGER-2) was captured by North Korea during the Vietnam War and remains the only U.S. Navy ship held by a foreign government
During the Vietnam War, the 1968 capture of the USS Pueblo (AGER-2) by North Korea triggered a serious international standoff. The ship, tasked with gathering…
It took the Canadian Armed Forces nearly 90 years to switch to a modern replacement for the Browning Hi-Power pistol
At the 2017 Armed Forces Skill at Arms (AFSAM) competition, the Canadian Armed Forces showed up with their top marksmen and 20 Browning Hi-Power semi-automatic…
The reason why many American soldiers in Vietnam preferred weapons from the black market
The M16 rifle was first designed to be used in the thick jungles of Vietnam, but it quickly developed a poor reputation among U.S. troops.…
Only three men have earned the rank of 6-Star General – Here are their stories
The 6-star general rank is one of the rarest and most prestigious honors in U.S. military history. It has only been awarded three times—once during…
Early in his military career, Four-Star General Graves Erskine was given the honor of escorting the Unknown Soldier
Before filming Sands of Iwo Jima in 1949, John Wayne and Republic Pictures brought in Graves Erskine as a technical advisor to ensure the movie’s…
How 156 Irish peacekeepers held off thousands of mercenaries during the Siege of Jadotville despite being outnumebred
During the Siege of Jadotville, 156 Irish peacekeepers led by Pat Quinlan were trapped by a much larger group of Katangese mercenaries. Despite being outnumbered…
How federally run prisons are different from military prisons
In 2019, there were 1,380,427 people locked up in U.S. prisons, including those held in military detention centers. Over the last century, the way prisoners…