The Viet Cong used deadly booby traps hidden throughout the jungle to kill and injure American soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, Viet Cong fighters became especially feared for their use of guerrilla warfare, particularly the deadly traps they concealed throughout the jungle.…
The US Navy used PBRs to travel on narrow, shallow rivers during the Vietnam War
The Patrol Boat, River—known as the PBR—was a small but highly maneuverable vessel used by the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. Designed specifically for…
The rare rank of six-star general has only ever been achieved by three men in all of American military history
The six-star general rank is among the rarest and most distinguished honors in U.S. military history, reserved for leaders of exceptional ability and influence. Only…
The US military’s Operation Lam Son 719 was such a disaster that 108 helicopters were destroyed and 618 were damaged
During the Vietnam War, helicopters became central to the way the United States conducted combat operations. They reshaped military strategy by changing how soldiers were…
Ernest Borgnine: The ‘McHale’s Navy’ star’s service during World War II
Ernest Borgnine made a lasting impact on film and television, entertaining audiences for decades. He is best known for playing Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale in…
Dwight D. Eisenhower bet Bernard Montgomery a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress during World War II and had to pay up after
Wartime leadership is not usually remembered for friendly bets, but one such story reportedly emerged in 1943 involving Dwight D. Eisenhower and Bernard Montgomery. According…
The British military once wasted over £2.5 million trying to build an aircraft carrier out of ice
The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous military campaign of World War II, spanning years of intense naval warfare across the Atlantic Ocean. Throughout…
For her service during the American Civil War, Dr Mary Edwards Walker is still the only woman ever to receive the Medal of Honor
In the United States today, women make up roughly a third of all physicians and about 14 percent of active-duty service members—a reality that would…
James Earl Jones: Hollywood’s iconic voice served as an Officer in the US Army
Long before James Earl Jones became celebrated for his legendary voice and acclaimed performances on stage and screen, he served in the U.S. Army. After…
John Wayne’s infamous grudge against a producer behind the scenes of ‘The Longest Day’ came from a movie they both worked on two years before
Widely considered one of the landmark war films of the 1960s, The Longest Day earned acclaim for its large-scale battle scenes and star-studded cast. Away…
“Rocket cats,” and other crazy medieval warfare tactics you’ve probably never heard of
Throughout history, warfare has often been shaped by the constant struggle between defense and attack. In modern combat, fixed fortifications provide much less protection than…
After North Korean forces fired at the USS Wisconsin (BB-64), she lost her temper and fired back
USS Wisconsin (BB-64), an Iowa-class battleship, served as a powerful symbol of American naval strength for more than fifty years. She saw combat in World…