Three prisoners of war held in a camp near Nanyuki, Kenya, escaped to climb the second highest peak in Africa
For most prisoners of war, the fear of being captured during an escape—and the harsh punishment that would likely follow—makes the idea of fleeing seem…
The sinking of the HMT Rohna was the most devastating naval incident of WWII, but it is often overlooked in history books
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, claimed the lives of 1,177 sailors aboard the battleship USS Arizona (BB-39). Moored near Ford Island…
The Reason 25 March Is Medal of Honor Day —The Daring Civil War Raid That Started It All
Every year on March 25, the United States marks Medal of Honor Day, a date set aside to honor recipients of the nation’s highest military…
Captain Christy was convinced a torpedo sank the USS San Diego but there was no evidence until the mystery was solved 100 years later
Shortly before noon on July 19, 1918, catastrophe struck the armored cruiser USS San Diego (ACR-6)—originally commissioned as USS California (ACR-6). A violent explosion ripped…
The IJN Shinano was converted from a battleship to an aircraft carrier after naval priorities shifted following the Battle of Midway
During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Navy embarked on an ambitious program to construct some of the most formidable warships ever designed. The Japanese…
The Last of the Romans: Why Belisarius is the Greatest General You’ve Never Heard Of
Most history books claim the Roman Empire fell in 476 AD. They are wrong. Less than sixty years after the “fall,” a single man nearly…
Movies often show soldiers pulling grenade pins out with their teeth, but this almost never happens in real life
Grenades are a staple of action films, yet their portrayal on screen often bears little resemblance to reality. Hollywood emphasizes spectacle—slow-motion throws, towering fireballs, and…
A submarine made it back to Hawaii with a sail made of blankets when seawater contaminated its fuel supply
In May 1921, the USS R-14 (SS-91)—a submarine dating back to World War I—found itself in a perilous situation when seawater contamination ruined its fuel…
March 23, 1943, The Battle of El Guettar: The Day Patton’s “Big Red One” Stopped Germany’s Best Tank Corps Dead in Their Tracks
83 Years Ago Today, a Band of American Soldiers Pulled Off One of WWII’s Most Remarkable Comebacks, and Changed the Course of the War in…
It took decades to locate the wreckage of the USS Grayback because the vessel was located over 100 nautical miles from what was believed to be its final resting place
The USS Grayback (SS‑208), a U.S. Navy submarine lost in World War II, remained hidden on the Pacific Ocean floor for nearly three-quarters of a century.…
Why is there a WWI-era German U-boat abandoned at the bottom of Lake Michigan?
Beneath the waters of Lake Michigan lies a 185-foot German U-boat—a surprising relic, considering enemy submarines never operated in the Great Lakes during wartime. Its…
Sniper vs Trumpeter: The Normandy Orchard Solo That Stopped a Bullet
In the summer of 1944, the orchards of Normandy were a deadly labyrinth of hedgerows and hidden snipers. For the men of the Ninth Air…