Maynard Harrison Smith Was Given Two Options: Go to Jail or Join the Army – He Wound Up Receiving the Medal of Honor
Often, war brings out traits in people they never quite knew they possessed. The most outwardly confident and confrontational individuals can turn out to be…
Pearl Harbor: The Worst Military Decision In History?
The morning of December 7, 1941, is a date remembered across the world, particularly by American citizens. That morning, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) caught…
John Wayne, Draft Dodger? Why the Duke Never Served In World War II
John Wayne is undeniably one of the most popular actors in American history. His vast legacy of films set the standards for years to come…
No, Polish Cavalry Never Charged German Tanks at Krojanty
Ask many armchair historian when the last ever cavalry charge took place and most will tell you it happened during World War II. They’ll likely…
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt: The Most Produced American Fighter of World War II
The “Juggernaut,” the “Jug” – whatever you want to call it, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was an absolute beast in the skies over Europe and…
The BBC’s Coded Messages to the French Resistance During World War II
One of the best-known films about the Second World War is The Longest Day (1962), which centers around D-Day. In a number of scenes, members…
The Most Decorated Unit in US Military History Fought for a Country That Locked Up Their Families
The heroes of World War II came in all shapes and sizes, and some of the biggest fought for their country, despite facing injustice at…
Did German Americans Actually Leave the US to Fight for Germany During WWII?
In the acclaimed HBO miniseries, Band of Brothers (2001), Tech. Sgt. Donald Malarkey, played by Scott Grimes, asks a German prisoner of war (POW) where…
Dietrich von Saucken: The German General Who Told the Führer, ‘I Will Not Take Orders from a Local Chieftain’
Any school teacher or parent will give the same advice to a child who is being harassed by a bully: stand up to him and…
Bob Crisp: The Cricket Player and Tank Buster Who Took Out German Panzers In North Africa
The majority of us lead lives that are fairly ordinary. There may be flurries of interest, even brief moments of heart-stopping excitement, but, most of…
Facts About the North American P-51 Mustang – The USAAF’s Most Versatile Fighter
Considered by many aviation enthusiasts to be one of the greatest fighter aircraft of all time, the North American P-51 Mustang saw extensive service with…
‘Star Trek’ Star James Doohan Survived Six Bullet Wounds During the Allied Landings on D-Day
James Doohan saw action during World War II and in outer space. His exploits inspired many to become an engineer, and one individual even followed…