Since mustaches are associated with military service, Amish men only grow beards to align with their religious beliefs
Amish Christianity places a heavy emphasis on plainness, humility, and restraint, values that shape virtually every part of daily life within the community. For Amish…
Tom Selleck, James Avery, Oliver Stone, and other famous figures who bravely served during the Vietnam War
Well before they became household names, many performers paused their artistic ambitions to answer the call to military service, balancing uniformed duty with hopes of…
Confederate Brig. Gen. Martin Green ironically boasted about being invincible moments before he was fatally struck by a single, well-aimed shot
The American Civil War generated no shortage of bizarre and unforgettable tales. Soldiers spoke of bullets colliding in flight, wounds that glowed faintly before inexplicably…
INTERVIEW: HMS Victory and the ‘Big Repair’
War History Online guest writer Geoff Moore has been investigating Lord Horatio Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory. The 104-gun vessel is currently under a 10-year repair…
After a mortar round struck his AC-47, John Levitow managed to save his crew despite having 40 pieces of shrapnel in his back and suffering a concussion from the explosion
John Levitow’s story stands as a powerful reminder that heroism is measured by actions, not rank. Raised in humble surroundings, there was little to suggest…
Strange siege techniques that were unconventional even for the medieval times
Throughout history, warfare has evolved through a constant struggle between the creation of formidable defenses and the ingenuity required to overcome them. In the modern…
In a desperate last chance to break Allied control of the skies during the Battle of the Bulge, Germany launched Operation Bodenplatte
At the height of the Battle of the Bulge, Germany initiated Operation Bodenplatte in a daring bid to break Allied control of the skies by…
Wes Studi: Award-winning actor, Vietnam War vet, and life-long advocate for American veterans
Wes Studi is highly regarded for his powerful, deeply authentic performances in films such as Dances with Wolves, The Last of the Mohicans, Geronimo: An…
Switzerland was famously neutral during the Second World War, but Germany did draft plans to invade known as Operation Tannenbaum
During World War II, Switzerland steadfastly upheld its policy of neutrality, staying deliberately out of the conflict even as Europe descended into chaos. Aware of…
Pulling pins out with teeth, massive explosions, and other mistakes about using grenades Hollywood keeps making in movies
Grenades are a staple of action movies, but what audiences see on screen often bears little resemblance to reality. Hollywood prioritizes spectacle—slow-motion tosses, enormous fireballs,…
Common slang words, phrases, and idioms that surprisingly originated from the Navy
For centuries, life aboard ships forged a distinctive language among sailors—born from battling storms, tending to shipboard duties, visiting far-off ports, and sharing the tight-knit…
Before becoming one of Hollywood’s most famous on-screen villains, Lee Van Cleef was a decorated WWII veteran who served in the Pacific and Europe
Before Lee Van Cleef earned fame in Hollywood for his icy gaze and formidable roles in Westerns, he had already proven his courage as a…