The inspiring true story of the actor who played young Forrest Gump, then left Hollywood behind to enlist and serve overseas
Premiering in 1994, Forrest Gump resonated deeply with audiences and became one of the most iconic depictions of the Vietnam War era in film history.…
The Japanese battleship Kongō dominated at the start of the Pacific campaign but the USS Sealion sunk the vessel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 crewman
The Japanese battleship Kongō gained a storied reputation for her power and durability, earning dramatic nicknames like “Indestructible Diamond,” “Indra’s Spear,” and “Divine Thunder.” Serving…
6 Horrifying things American soldiers encountered in the Vietnamese jungle (besides the enemy)
Vietnam’s unforgiving landscape proved every bit as formidable as the enemy. American troops contended not only with ambushes and constant gunfire but with an environment…
The somber reasons why the pilot of the Enola Gay, Paul Tibbets, refused a funeral and gravesite at the end of his life
In 2007, Brigadier General Paul Tibbets—the pilot of the Enola Gay, the aircraft that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima—made an unusual and deeply…
Did You Know the Small Island of Alderney Has a Long Military History?
Curvaceous soft sandy beaches sit side-by-side with brutalist concrete constructs left over from World War II. These are now reminders of when the island of…
When Baledogle Military Airfield was under attack, New Jersey guardsmen went head-to-head with Somali militants
In September 2019, Somalia’s Baledogle Military Airfield became the scene of a fierce battle between U.S. forces and al-Shabaab, the al-Qaeda-linked militant group designated as…
On Christmas Eve in 1944, American and German soldiers made a truce as they sought shelter in a family’s home
When most people recall a wartime Christmas truce, their thoughts immediately turn to the 1914 ceasefire that occurred along the Western Front. Yet, another, far…
Billy Waugh was shot in the head and left for dead in Vietnam, but recovered and continued to serve well into his later years
Billy Waugh’s life in service stands as a testament to endurance, courage, and relentless commitment. Throughout his remarkable career, he accumulated an extraordinary list of…
Italy and Germany could have easily invaded Switzerland during WWII, but were deterred for unknown reasons
Throughout World War II, Switzerland steadfastly upheld its neutrality, choosing to stand apart as Europe descended into conflict. Fully aware of the looming danger from…
History’s greatest military snipers who changed the tactical strategies of modern warfare
Becoming a top-tier sniper requires far more than accurate marksmanship — it demands rock-solid nerves, almost superhuman patience, and the skill to melt into hostile…
A third nuclear bomb intended for Japan ended up killing two American scientists conducting experiments
In August 1945, the United States unleashed atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki—the first and only use of nuclear weapons in combat. The destruction was…
Despite being hungover, two American fighter pilots took on the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor
As time passes, the sharp edges of wartime memory begin to fade, making firsthand accounts all the more valuable. Stories of brutal combat and relentless…