Vietnam War | War History

US Air Force Pilot Richard Ritchie Shot Down Five Enemy Aircraft in Vietnam

Richard Ritchie wearing his pilot's jacket + McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II in flight

On August 28, 1972, US Air Force Capt. Richard Stephen “Steve” Ritchie and Weapons System Officer Capt. Charles Barbin DeBellevue successfully shot down a North…

Robert Howard: The Decorated Green Beret Who was Nominated for the MoH Three Times

Robert Howard wearing his Medal of Honor

Robert L. Howard was a dedicated US Army Special Forces soldier who received 14 wounds during his 54 months in Vietnam. His service afforded him…

The Vietnam War Featured Four Exceptional American Snipers

Carlos Hathcock with his medals pinned to his chest + Chuck Mawhinney holding his sniper rifle

The battles of the Vietnam War were unlike any the US military had faced before. Early on in the conflict, officials realized snipers were going…

Richard ‘The Giant Killer’ Flaherty was the Shortest Green Beret to Fight in Vietnam

US soldiers climbing out of a stream

The US Army Special Forces, commonly referred to as the Green Berets, are one of the country’s most elite fighting forces. They’re known for their…

Did the US Try to Give France Nuclear Weapons to Use in Vietnam?

Soldiers holding up a flag + Mushroom cloud

Vietnam has been a desirable target for many of the world’s most powerful countries since the French conquest in 1858. China, Japan and the United…

The Ace of Spades Was Used By the 101st Airborne Before It Became the ‘Death Card’

Soldiers playing cards

Symbols during wartime are important and, more than that, they are powerful. Winston Churchill famously used the “V for Victory” symbol during World War II,…

MoH Recipient William H. Pitsenbarger Gave His Life Trying to Rescue His Injured Comrades

Military portrait of William H. Pitsenbarger

Servicemen are presented with the Medal of Honor when they showcase incredible acts of valor. The highest and most prestigious award in the US military,…

Vietnam War Traps: 9 Viet Cong Booby Traps That Defined the Vietnam War

American soldiers walking along a rice field

The Vietnam War was infamous for the guerrilla warfare the American forces were largely unprepared for. The Viet Cong were on home turf and used…

The History of Fragging in the US Military

US soldiers crossing a stream

Leading a group of soldiers during wartime is a massive responsibility, and the decisions made can often mean the difference between life and death for…

Seven Little-Known Facts Fans Need to Know About ‘Apocalypse Now’

Martin Sheen as Capt. Benjamin L. Willard in 'Apocalypse Now' + Robert Duvall at Lt. Col. William Kilgore in 'Apocalypse Now' + Sam Bottoms as Lance B. Johnson in 'Apocalypse Now'

When it was released in 1979, Apocalypse Now was unlike any war movie the public had ever seen, forever changing the genre. The film, written by…

Lt. Gen. Larry Jordan on His Military Career and the Service of African-Americans in WWI

Military portrait of Lt. Gen. Larry Jordan

The US military has a long and complicated history when it comes to the treatment of minorities within its ranks. While things have certainly improved,…

The History of the US Navy’s TOPGUN School

Tom Cruise and Larry Gilyard starring in 'Top Gun'

The popular Tom Cruise movie Top Gun debuted in theaters in 1986, and features Cruise and his co-stars attending the US Navy’s TOPGUN school –…