Valor | War History

The WWI Assault That Inspired A Movie About Sgt Alvin York

Gary Cooper, Joe Sawyer and George Tobias as Alvin York, Sergeant Early and "Pusher" Ross in 'Sergeant York'

Many men went up against German machine guns during the First World War and didn’t live to tell the tale. Even fewer did so directly…

Battle of Fort Driant – World War II’s Strangest Engagement?

Landscape torn apart by war + German soldier armed with a panzerschreck

The Battle of Fort Driant was a World War II-era engagement fought between the US Third Army and Germany’s 1st Army from September 27 to…

Before Playing a POW In ‘The Great Escape,’ Donald Pleasence Was One In Real Life

Still from 'The Great Escape'

British actor Donald Pleasence became one of the most popular antagonists in television and film, and is probably best known for portraying a prisoner of…

These ‘Night Witches’ Weren’t Burned at the Stake – They Bombed German Soldiers

Six members of the Night Witches looking toward the sky

One bomber regiment during the Second World War was so feared by the Germans that a soldier was immediately awarded the Iron Cross for shooting…

Zheng of Qin: The Chinese Emperor Who Escaped Assassination By Running Around a Pillar

Zheng of Qin peeking out from behind a pillar

Zheng of Qin, who reigned as the first emperor of China’s Qin Dynasty from 221-210 BC, survived several assassination attempts, including some that occurred while…

When War Production Dipped, the US Staged the Mock ‘Battle of the LA Coliseum’

Entryway to the LA Coliseum

As the Second World War progressed, the US government became concerned that production wasn’t as high as it should be, which directly correlated to public…

The Tank Museum Puts Rare Maus Tank Optical Sight On Display

German military officials standing around a Maus tank near a forest

The 188-ton Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus was intended to be Germany’s answer to the advanced tank technology being utilized throughout Europe by the Allies. Only two…

Edgar ‘Cobber’ Kain Single-Handedly Decimated 17 Enemy Aircraft During the Battle of France

Edgar "Cobber" Cain leaning against a Hawker Hurricane Mk I

It might seem strange, but the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) first Flying Ace of the Second World War wasn’t from Britain – he was from…

The Best War-Themed Historical Fiction Films Ever Released

Samantha Franco
Tom Hanks as Capt. John H. Miller in 'Saving Private Ryan' + Felix Kammerer as Paul Bäumer in 'All Quiet on the Wester Front' + Brad Pitt as Achilles in 'Troy'

History is full of incredible war stories that Hollywood has beautifully reimagined for the silver screen. However, directors will sometimes tweak facts here and there,…

‘My Way’ Is Based On the Story of Yang Kyoungjong, But Did He Actually Exist?

Jang Dong-gun as Kim Jun-Shik in 'My Way'

My Way (2011) follows the story of a Korean soldier who fights for the Soviet Union, Japan and Germany during World War II. The South…

USS Harder (SS-257): The WWII-Era Submarine That Took Out Five Enemy Destroyers In Four Days

USS Harder (SS-257) sailing close to shore + USS Harder (SS-257) at sea

The USS Harder (SS-257), a Gato-class submarine, served in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War. She was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and…

Bruce Willis’ Film ‘Tears of the Sun’ Gave Post-9/11 America An Important Moral Message

Ryan McLachlan
Still from 'Tears of the Sun'

US Navy SEALs are infamous special operators. It’s fitting, then, that they’ve been the subject of numerous films, among them 2003’s Tears of the Sun.…