Valor | War History

M20 Recoilless Rifle: While Not Effective Against Tanks, It Obliterated Enemy Pillboxes

US Army soldier firing an M20 Recoilless Rifle while others cover their ears

The M20 recoilless rifle saw limited service at the end of World War II and was used extensively in Korea. It was only capable of…

Walt Disney Served As An Ambulance Driver for the Red Cross During World War I

Walt Disney holding a Donald Duck plushie and a copy of the book, 'Alice In Wonderland'

Growing up, Walt Disney had a passion for drawing. He pursued this as he matured, turning sketching into not just a career, but the biggest…

The True Story Behind the Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper Film, ‘American Sniper’

Ryan McLachlan
Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle in 'American Sniper'

American Sniper (2014) is a biographical war film, directed and produced by Clint Eastwood. It focuses on the life of Chris Kyle, who claimed 255…

The Hughes H-4 Hercules Was An Absolute Mammoth Of An Aircraft

Aerial view of a Hughes H-4 Hercules

Several experimental aircraft have been designed over the years, but few (if any) were as large and eye-catching as the Hughes H-4 Hercules. A flying…

US Naval Aircraft Celebrate the Signing of the Japanese Surrender Aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63)

US naval aircraft flying over the USS Missouri (BB-63)

Following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by American forces, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945. Just over two weeks later,…

HMS Sussex (96): The British Heavy Cruiser That Survived a Kamikaze Strike

Kamikaze strike on the side of the HMS Sussex (96)

The British heavy cruiser HMS Sussex (96) was a London sub-class vessel within the Royal Navy’s County-class. Operated by the service between 1929-50, she participated…

The Battle of Wake Island Lifted the Spirits of the American Public

Aircraft flying over Wake Island

Hidden behind the tragedy of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is the lesser-known Battle of Wake Island. Enemy attacks were launched on both locations,…

The Soviet ‘Hiroshima’ Submarine That Inspired Harrison Ford’s ‘K-19: The Widowmaker’

Harrison Ford as Capt. Alexei Vostrikov in 'K-19: The Widowmaker'

K-19 was the first submarine of the Soviet Union’s Project 658, the first generation of Soviet nuclear submersibles that carried an armament of nuclear ballistic…

The Real-Life History Behind the British Television Series, ‘Sharpe’

Sean Bean as Richard Sharpe in 'Sharpe's Challenge'

The television series Sharpe (1993-2008) captivated audiences with its portrayal of the Napoleonic Wars. The show skillfully weaves a fictional narrative into historical events with…

Retired Soldiers ‘Strenuously Object’ to Removal of Confederate Names from National Ranger Memorial

75th Ranger Regiment personnel standing in front of the National Ranger Memorial

Over 100 retired US Army Rangers have signed a letter to Congress, in which they “strenuously object to the defacement and desecration of the National…

The WWII-Era Disappearance of a Grumman J2F Duck Over Greenland

Grumman J2F Duck in flight

The Grumman J2F Duck was an amphibious aircraft that served the US military in various capacities during the Second World War. It could operate from…

Panzerbüchse 39: The German ‘Tank Hunting Rifle’ That Saw Action In Poland and the USSR

German soldier aiming a Panzerbüchse 39 (PzB 39)

The Panzerbüchse 39 (PzB 39) was an anti-tank rifle operated by Wehrmacht during the Second World War. The PzB 39 saw use during the invasion…