Even Leonard Matlovich’s decorated military record couldn’t protect him from the U.S. military’s homophobic policies
After returning from his tour in Vietnam, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Leonard Matlovich found himself waging a different kind of battle—one not on foreign…
Lance Corporal: Essential facts to know about this respected rank in the Marine Corps
Achieving the rank of lance corporal in the Marine Corps is not an automatic reward for completing training—it must be earned through continued performance and…
Late actor James Earl Jones was known for his commanding voice and presence on screen, but he was also commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the Korean War period
Long before his commanding voice became legendary on stage and screen, James Earl Jones first served his country in uniform. After studying drama at the…
Terrifying but skilled armies throughout history that struck fear into the hearts of their enemies
Throughout history, wars have ignited for innumerable reasons, drawing people from all backgrounds to fight for their beliefs, their rulers, or their very survival. Among…
Worried his gravesite would attract protesters or controversy, Brigadier General Paul Tibbets chose to have no public marker for his final resting place
In 2007, Brigadier General Paul Tibbets—the man who piloted the Enola Gay during the historic mission to drop the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima—made a…
Ending World War II: Why did Japan surrender at the end of the conflict?
Japan’s surrender at the end of World War II marked the conclusion of one of history’s most devastating conflicts and the beginning of a new…
Up Your Christmas Jumper Game with The Tank Museum’s Newest Holiday Release!
The Tank Museum‘s online shop is always bursting with unusual and unique gift ideas, and the museum has officially launched its 2025 festive range, which…
Operation Ranch Hand: The toxic defoliation campaign that caused cancers and birth defects in both Vietnamese civilians and U.S. soldiers
Between 1962 and 1971, the U.S. military conducted Operation Ranch Hand under President John F. Kennedy’s orders—a sweeping defoliation campaign designed to strip enemy forces…
The Saab J35 Draken was the first aircraft to unintentionally perform the ‘Cobra Maneuver’, way before it became a deliberate display of aerodynamic mastery
In the years following World War II, global competition to produce faster and more advanced jet fighters reached new heights. In the midst of this…
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto gained firsthand insight into American society when he spent time in the U.S., using the information to devise the attack on Pearl Harbor
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto of the Imperial Japanese Navy held a perspective that set him apart from many of Japan’s top military leaders. Having spent time…
The USS Pueblo (AGER-2): The only commissioned U.S. Navy vessel that is currently held captive by a foreign country
In 1968, North Korea’s capture of the USS Pueblo ignited a tense standoff during the Vietnam War. The U.S. considered the vessel’s intelligence-gathering operations to…
After the USS R-14’s engines failed and the radio died, the crew had to come up with an unconventional solution: Using improvised sails to get the submarine back to land
By today’s standards, a World War I–era submarine would seem outdated—and even a century ago, the idea of one moving under sail would have sounded…