For 100 years, the tragic sinking of the USS San Diego was a mystery until the cause of the disaster was revealed by underwater archeologists
Shortly before midday on July 19, 1918, disaster struck the armored cruiser USS San Diego—formerly commissioned as USS California. A powerful explosion tore through the…
Brig. Gen. Paul Tibbets, the celebrated pilot who flew the Enola Gay, opted to have no funeral or gravesite when he passed away
In 2007, Brig. Gen. Paul Tibbets—the aviator who piloted the Enola Gay during the atomic mission over Hiroshima—made a deliberate and unconventional decision about how…
Van Barfoot earned the Medal of Honor during WWII and went on to serve in Korea and Vietnam as a helicopter pilot
Van Barfoot’s actions in World War II remain a powerful testament to fearless determination in the face of overwhelming danger. Serving as a U.S. Army…
Going against orders to retreat, Paris Davis survived 19 hours of enemy fire to save his comrades
During the Vietnam War, Paris Davis distinguished himself through astonishing bravery, time and again choosing to face extreme danger rather than abandon wounded comrades under…
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto planned the attack on Pearl Harbor to give Japan a slight advantage over America’s massive military capabilities
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, widely regarded as Japan’s foremost naval strategist, held a perspective that differed sharply from much of the Imperial leadership. Years spent in…
Tom Hanks fired an up-and-coming actor from ‘Band of Brothers’ for having ‘dead eyes’ in his audition
The 2001 miniseries Band of Brothers received widespread praise for its authentic portrayal of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.…
Stolen Valor: Late actor Brian Dennehy was accused of fabricating his service experience during the Vietnam War
Brian Dennehy became known for his commanding screen presence, delivering memorable performances in First Blood (1982), F/X (1986), and Romeo + Juliet (1996). Long before…
Two American fighter pilots had no choice but to take on the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor – hungover
As years pass, the sharp edges of wartime memory often fade, making the firsthand accounts that survive all the more precious. Stories of brutal combat…
Given the option to join the army or go to jail, Maynard Harrison Smith chose to enlist and wound up winning the Medal of Honor
Maynard Harrison Smith’s story shows a familiar truth about war: acts of great courage often come from people no one expects. Those who seem ordinary—or…
Approximately 500,000 Purple Hearts were made in advance of a proposed American invasion in Japan, but the plan never came to fruition
As World War II drew to a close, U.S. military leaders developed an ambitious plan called Operation Downfall—a two-stage invasion intended to force Japan to…
The only German U-boat sunk in the Gulf of Mexico during WWII remained undiscovered for years, and it was later designated a protected war grave
During World War II, German U-boats ranged deep into the Gulf of Mexico, sinking a number of Allied vessels in a short but highly destructive…
The USS Ticonderoga (CVS-14) made history as an aircraft carrier by serving in multiple wars and aiding in the Apollo space missions
Commissioned near the height of World War II, the USS Ticonderoga (CV/CVA/CVS-14) carried a historic name honoring the American Revolutionary victory at Fort Ticonderoga. As…