Modern | War History

The Real-Life Battle Behind the Brutal Vietnam War Movie, ‘Hamburger Hill’

Still from 'Hamburger Hill'

Some of the best war movies are based on real-life events – stories that are so fantastical that they’re almost unbelievable, such as Hacksaw Ridge…

The USS Lexington Wreck Was Discovered Over 75 Years After the Battle of the Coral Sea

USS Lexington (CV-2) at sea

The sinking of the USS Lexington (CV-2) was one of many to occur during the Second World War, and her wreck has remained on the seafloor…

Esmond Knight: The British Actor Who Was Injured During a Battle with the German Battleship Bismarck

Still from 'Sink the Bismarck!' + Portrait of Esmond Knight

A number of British actors served during the Second World War, but few could claim they came face to face with the German battleship Bismarck…

Operation Long Jump: The Alleged German Plan to Assassinate the ‘Big Three’

Joseph Stalin, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill sitting amongst military officials

A number of plans never came to fruition during the Second World War; one involved the use of bombs guided by pigeons, while another called…

Michael Alexander: The British Commando Who Escaped Death By Faking His Family Tree

Two British Commandos ducking in tall grass with their weapons

Not all those who were captured in combat were taken as prisoners of war (POWs) during the Second World War. Some were shot on-site, particularly…

MoH Recipient Richard O’Kane Was the US Navy’s Most Successful Submarine Commander

USS Tang (SS-306) leaving port + Military portrait of Richard O'Kane

Richard O’Kane is the most successful submarine commander in the history of the US Navy. He served during the Second World War, and sank a…

Facts About the Award-Winning and Controversial Vietnam Epic, ‘The Deer Hunter’

Still from 'The Deer Hunter'

The Academy Award-winning film The Deer Hunter (1978) is the most controversial Vietnam-era film – that’s not an opinion, it’s a fact. Starring Robert De…

Henry T Elrod: The Marine Corps Aviator Who Single-Handedly Took Out a Japanese Destroyer

Wrecked Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat in the sand + Military portrait of Henry T Elrod

Maj. Henry T Elrod was better known by his nickname, “Hammerin’ Hank.” The US Marine Corps aviator had always dreamed of taking to the skies,…

The Personal Experiences That Influenced Oliver Stone’s Vietnam War Trilogy

Tom Cruise as Ron Kovic in 'Born on the Fourth of July' + Tom Berenger as Staff Sgt. Bob Barnes in 'Platoon' + Portrait of Oliver Stone

Oliver Stone is arguably one of the best directors and screenwriters in Hollywood, known for his ability to bring blockbuster and award-winning stories to the…

The Little-Known Lost Battalions of World War II

Six members of the Lost Battalion in the Pacific Theater sitting together

Everyone is aware of the Lost Battalion of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive; 554 men from the US 77th Division who became trapped by the Germans in…

Four Men Aboard the USS California (BB-44) Were Awarded the Medal of Honor

USS California (BB-44) at sea

The attack on Pearl Harbor was disastrous for American vessels, particularly those moored along Battleship Row. The nine were the primary targets of the Japanese,…

George Patton Called Creighton Abrams a ‘World Champion’ Tank Commander

Creighton Abrams speaking at a table lined with microphones

There are some military commanders who stand out among the rest, and Creighton Abrams is one of them. Serving during the Second World War, as…