The B-17 seemed to be holding formation, he assumed that the pilot, at least, was alive. This American misfit saved his plane & was awarded The Medal of Honor
Maynard Harrison “Snuffy” Smith was such a screw-up, he joined the US Army to avoid jail. He earned the nickname, “Snuffy Smith,” because no one…
The Civil War Photographer that Time Forgot: Alexander Gardner
When people remember famous Civil War photographers, they think of one name in particular; and “Alexander Gardner” is not it. However, a significant number of…
The Many Lives of The US Ship Harriet Lane, Which Fired the First Shot of the American Civil War
Late in the day on April 11th, 1861, the ship Nashville was sailing past Charleston harbor. The crew could see a fleet of ships at…
Enlisted for one reason: Revenge. She fought Japanese in the Philippines, aided the resistance & resisted interrogation
Everyone has a story about how they came to join the military. Some do it for the opportunity it presents. Others do it for patriotism. Some are…
Cathay Williams, America’s First Black Female Soldier
Cathay Williams was pressed into service in 1861 by the Union Army in Missouri, enlisted as a man in 1866, and served in the Indian…
A plane found 38 feet under the ice: A Daring, High-Risk Rescue Attempt In Greenland In 1942 Has Come To Light Again
In August 2012, a team of explorers and U.S. Coast Guard Personnel found something amazing under Greenland’s ice. 38 feet down, sat a single-engined rescue float…
The Strange And Cold Day The French Cavalry Captured a Dutch Fleet at Sea
The Hussars were a type of light cavalry that originated in medieval Hungary and were adopted by other European countries. Their bravery, cunning, and daredevil…
Mary Edwards Walker: The Only Woman Ever To Be Awarded The Medal Of Honor
Mary Edwards Walker lived a life full of excitement and courage, forging paths during a time when feminism was largely unheard of, and the country…
Deborah Samson: Female Soldier Of The Revolutionary War
Over the course of history, women have dressed as men to fight for their country. In the United States, it was primarily thought of as occurring…
Shell Shock: A Sad Side-Effect of WWI
Shell shock was one of the major side effects of WWI. Many soldiers suffered from it, as it was caused by the heavy explosions and constant…
The Notorious Klaus Barbie: The Butcher Of Lyon
One of the most notorious figures in the Nazi hierarchy and one who attracted almost as much attention as Adolf Eichmann in the post-war period…
Forces of Nature – Dealing with Weather in the Trenches of WW1
One of the most important battlegrounds of WW1 was the battle in the trenches. It was gruesome, for many reasons. At times the soldiers would be…