History

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History
‘Climb to Glory’ — A History of the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division

From the mountains of Italy to the mountains of Afghanistan, the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division built its legendary reputation by fighting in some of the most inhospitable places in the world.

March 16, 2023Matt Fratus
m16
History
M16A2 and M16A4: The OG Black Rifles

Before their time at the top of the rifle food chain finally ended, both the M16A2 and the M16A4 proved to be among the most reliable and lethal weapons ever built.

March 14, 2023Mac Caltrider
Tommy Gun
History
Gangsters, G-Men, and Green Berets: A Look at the Tommy Gun

For the better part of the 20th Century, the Tommy Gun was the weapon of choice for federal agents, organized crime, and American commandos.

March 10, 2023Matt Fratus
Navy Cross
History
Heroism & Guts — What It Takes To Earn the Navy Cross

The Navy Cross — the branch’s second-highest award for valor in combat — isn’t handed out to just anybody. It’s earned.

March 1, 2023Matt Fratus
Jimmy Carter
History
From the Silent Service to the Presidency: The Life of Jimmy Carter

Before and after his presidency were some of the greatest contributions Jimmy Carter made to the world we know today.

February 28, 2023Matt Fratus
Eddie Rickenbacker
History
Eddie Rickenbacker: America’s Most Decorated World War I Ace

Eddie Rickenbacker, the “ace of aces,” may have broken the record for aerial victories in World War I, but that was hardly the most remarkable part of his extraordinary life.

February 27, 2023Mac Caltrider
Canteen
History
Why the Canteen Persevered in the Age of the CamelBak

The reason some hydration devices — like the hand-held canteen — have staying power is because of their simple versatility.

February 21, 2023Matt Fratus
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History
These 10 US Presidents Were Military Heroes Before Politics

More than half of US presidents served in the military, but only a handful have impressive service records.

February 19, 2023Matt Fratus
The Pentagon
History
A Mystery Bunker, Secret Rooms, and a Ghost: Myths of the Pentagon

The Pentagon, with its five huge office rings and hot dog stand “bunker,” has myths and secrets running through its massive halls.

February 17, 2023Matt Fratus
M4 Sherman tank
History
The M4 Sherman: The Tank That Won World War II

Like its famous namesake, the M4 Sherman tank proved that the quickest path to battlefield victory is through sheer, American-made firepower.

February 16, 2023Mac Caltrider
Robin Olds
History
Legendary Fighter Pilot Robin Olds Was an Ace in Two Wars

Only five pilots have ever become triple aces. Only one did it with two different airplanes.

February 10, 2023Mac Caltrider
Dear John letter
History
‘Dear John Letters’ — A History of Wartime Breakups

The dreaded Dear John: the wartime breakup notice that took weeks to arrive in the mail.

February 3, 2023Matt Fratus
Honey Trap Valentine's Day
History
Romeos, Red Sparrows, and the Art of the ‘Honey Trap’

Valentine’s Day is amateur hour. In the world of espionage, spies lure, lie, and love to steal secrets.

February 1, 2023Matt Fratus
military writers
History
10 Great American ‘Military Writers’ and How They Served

American literature is full of writers who either served in the military or really wanted to but got rejected by the draft board. Here are 10 great "military writers" and the stories of their service.

January 30, 2023Matt Fratus
Ernest Hemingway  final.jpg
History
Ernest Hemingway: The Highly Decorated Soldier Who Never Served

Ernest Hemingway, the American author so closely associated with the ethos of soldiering, may not have served in the military, but that didn’t keep him from winning medals in both world wars.

January 20, 2023Mac Caltrider
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History
USS The Sullivans: The Tragic Story Behind the Name

The USS The Sullivans, named for five brothers killed in the Pacific, was the first American warship designated in honor of more than one person.

January 17, 2023Matt Fratus
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History
Edgar Allan Poe Was a Sergeant Major in the US Army

Before he was a literary superstar, Edgar Allan Poe was a high-ranking cannon cocker who really hated life in the United States Army.

January 13, 2023Mac Caltrider
USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park Exhibit
History
‘The Mighty A’ — Reliving History Aboard the USS Alabama

How a battleship called the USS Alabama survived World War II to become a symbol of pride and patriotism for Alabamians.

January 10, 2023Matt Fratus
Bay of Pigs invasion, Roberto Pichardo
History
Exiled From Cuba, He Was Recruited by the CIA To Invade the Bay of Pigs

December 24, 2022Matt Fratus
m203
History
The M203 Grenade Launcher: Farewell to Infantry’s ‘Little Friend’

The M203 has bailed US forces out of sticky situations for over half a century. Now, it’s time to say goodbye to the old grenade launcher and usher in a new era of indirect fire.

December 7, 2022Mac Caltrider
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History
Ernest Hemingway and the KGB: A Secret Life of Espionage and Covert Ops

Though often described as a political conservative, Hemingway openly supported socialist luminaries like Fidel Castro and Eugene Debs, a founder of the American Socialist Party.

November 26, 2022Lauren Coontz
Halloween-haunted-military.jpg
History
Phantom Soldiers, Haunted Ships, and Spooky Old Forts: A Ghost Hunter’s Guide to the US Military

From the American Civil War to present day, the US military has produced its fair share of supposedly haunted locales.

October 31, 2022Matt Fratus
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History
The Real Mercenary Behind Sleepy Hollow’s Headless Horseman

Two centuries ago, during the American Revolution, a German soldier lost his head to a cannonball, and the legend of the headless horseman was born.

October 27, 2022Mac Caltrider
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History
How the V-1 Missile Became Hitler’s ‘Revenge Weapon’ and His Last Hope of Winning the War

Developed to protect Nazi pilots and inflict mass civilian casualties, the V-1 rocket ushered in a new era of long-range warfare.

October 18, 2022Matt Fratus
Heroic Beauty Omaha Beach WWII
History
Behind the Photo: The ‘Heroic Beauty’ on Omaha Beach

On D-Day+1, a US Army photographer captured an image on Omaha Beach that he would later describe as “the picture of heroic beauty.”

October 15, 2022Matt Fratus
NSA HQ
History
The ‘New’ National Cryptologic Museum Showcases Secretive History of American Espionage

After extensive renovations, the NSA’s National Cryptologic Museum in Annapolis Junction, Maryland, is reopening its doors with a trove of never-before-seen artifacts.

September 30, 2022Matt Fratus
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History
Cup of Joe: A National Coffee Day Sea Story

Teetotaling Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels inspired your “cup of joe.”

September 29, 2022Carl Prine
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History
5 Bomber Jackets From the Mighty 8th Air Force and the Stories They Tell

From pinup girls to Disney cartoons, the imagery that adorned the A-2 bomber jackets of WWII bomber crewmen reflected who they were as both warriors and individuals.

September 28, 2022Matt Fratus
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History
Behind the Monument: ‘The Naked Warrior,’ Legendary Predecessor of Navy SEALs

This 6-foot bronze statue of a World War II frogman, the Naked Warrior, honors the legacy of the elite waterborne commandos and their skimpy battle attire.

September 19, 2022Matt Fratus
John Wolfram NASA Frogman
History
The Flower-Wearing Frogman Who Welcomed Apollo 11 Astronauts Back to Earth

The Navy UDT swimmers wore flowers on their dive suits to recover Apollo 11, because someone told them not to.

September 15, 2022Matt Fratus
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History
Don’t Give Up the Ship: Why the Navy’s Mantra Really Belongs to the Marines

It's a great slogan beloved by the Navy for centuries. But does it belong to the Marines?

September 12, 2022Mac Caltrider
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History
WATCH: Tribute Video for Hero FBI Agent Killed in Sept. 11 Attacks

Special Agent Leonard “Lenny” Hatton Jr. made the ultimate sacrifice trying to save others on Sept. 11, 2001. He was the only FBI agent killed in the attacks.

September 9, 2022Matt Fratus
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History
When the Queen Broke Tradition To Support America After 9/11

Queen Elizabeth broke with decorum in the days after 9/11, renewing the UK's commitments.

September 8, 2022Mac Caltrider
Queen Elizabeth II London Bridge
History
Operation London Bridge: What To Expect Following the Death of Queen Elizabeth II

The British government's elaborate plan for the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

September 8, 2022Matt Fratus
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History
Killer Vampires, Demon Dolls, and Sauerkraut: A Brief History of American PSYOPS

Here are five of the craziest campaigns in the long, bizarre history of American psychological operations.

September 2, 2022Matt Fratus
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History
How Elite Arctic Rangers and Combat Controllers Used To Train for Cold-Weather Rescues

In the 1970s, over-the-pole flights passed between Alaska and Europe every day. To prepare for poten...

August 25, 2022Matt Fratus
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History
Soldiers of Fortune: The 5 Wildest Mercenaries in American History

From an American pirate who declared himself president of Nicaragua to an adventurer who hired a pri...

August 24, 2022Matt Fratus
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History
The ‘Ghost of Guam’ — How George Tweed Evaded Japanese Capture for Years

Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces occupied Guam, taking all but six American service members captive. One US sailor, known as the “Ghost of Guam,” evaded them for years.

August 23, 2022Matt Fratus
merrill
History
How Merrill’s Marauders Waged an Unconventional War in the Burma Jungles of World War II

“I claim we got a hell of a beating. We got run out of Burma and it is humiliating as hell. I think we ought to find out what caused it, go back and retake it.” 

August 22, 2022Lauren Coontz
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History
From World War II to US Customs, Neal McCallum’s 46 Years Dedicated to Uncle Sam

Neal McCallum dedicated 46 years of service to Uncle Sam, first as a US Marine in World War II, then later as a federal law enforcement officer.

August 13, 2022Matt Fratus
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