Shahan Russell

Shahan Russell is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE

Articles by Shahan Russell:

Robert Howard McCard dismantled a machine gun and again engaged the enemy mowing down 16 Japanese soldiers to ensure the safety of his crew

Most people have heard of the D-Day Landings in France, but few know there was (almost simultaneously) another set of landings in the Pacific. As…

The Third Man to Receive a Victoria Cross for the War in Afghanistan – Leakey tended to the wounded American who was a US Marine Corps captain

The Victoria Cross (VC) is Britain’s highest military award for valor. During the War in Afghanistan, they were awarded posthumously until one man bucked the…

Sergeant First Class Robert Howard: Refused Two Medals of Honor

He earned three nominations for a Medal of Honor but received only one. Not because he did not deserve all three, but because some of his…

The One-Armed Warrior Who Was Awarded The Victoria Cross

Some soldiers are so pig-headedly persistent that they go down in legend; including one who did so with only one arm. George Albert Cairns was…

The “Glowing Angels” Who Saved Civil War Soldiers Turned Out To Be Luminous Parasitic Bacteria

The Battle of Shiloh was one of the bloodiest skirmishes in an already vicious American Civil War. In its aftermath, came strange tales of an…

This Highly-Decorated American Hero Was Nearly Awarded A Third Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is America’s greatest military award for acts of valor. Nineteen people have received it twice. However, one man was about to…

Alvin Cullum York: the Most Decorated Pacifist of the First World War

He was a deeply religious man who abhorred violence and warfare. Despite that, he went on to become the most decorated veteran of WWI. Alvin…

Jack Lucas: He Fought the US Marines to Get at the Japanese

When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, many Americans were understandably enraged. One person was so enraged, in fact, he fought the US military for the right…

Last Man Standing – The Lone German Soldier Who Held Off A Whole Wave Of Russian Infantry and Tanks

Part of Hitler’s appeal to the German people was his ability to flatter them. According to him, Germans were Ubermensch (superhuman) and therefore had the right…

Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty – The Priest who Converted an SS Commander

He was a man of many faces who used his talent at disguise to help thousands of people escape from the Nazis. Hunted by them,…

Ivan Pavlovich Sereda: the USSR’s Heroic Cook in World War Two

Militaries are hierarchical and, despite their low status, cooks play a vital role. Besides feeding troops, they also maintain morale which has a significant impact…

José Arturo Castellanos Contreras: The Latino Schindler

During WWII, many did what they could to save Jews – including the Latino Schindler. José Arturo Castellanos Contreras was born on December 23, 1893,…