Valor | War History

Odette Sansom: The SOE Agent Who Became the First Woman to Receive the George Cross

Odette Sansom standing with a group of young women

In 1942, a young Odette Sansom responded to a call from the British Admiralty, asking for individuals to send postcards or family photographs from the…

Why Did the German Cruiser Deutschland Change Her Name During WWII?

German cruiser Deutschland at sea

Many ships have had their names changed or passed on to another. For example, the US Navy has had eight different vessels called Enterprise, with…

How Many 5 Star Generals Are There? Nine: A List of 5 Star Generals in the US

Douglas MacArthur standing in uniform + Military portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower + Chester Nimitz standing in his naval uniform

Following the death of Gen. Omar Bradley in 1981, the elite rank of five-star general feels more like a legend than reality. Since Congress allowed…

Horizontal Collaboration: How Traitors Were Dealt With Following the Liberation of France

Group of women standing together

When France was liberated in 1944, foreign press agencies were there to document the aftermath. Among the photos taken were of thousands of French women…

Dean Laird: The Ace Who Downed Both Japanese and German Aircraft During World War II

Dean Laird sitting in the rear seat of a Beechcraft T-34 Turbo-Mentor + Two aircraft in flight

There were numerous air aces during the Second World War. These aviators exhibited bravery and courage in the face of danger, earning the status of…

Canadian War Crimes in WW1: How German Soldiers Were Exploited by Canadian Troops

Canadian soldiers sitting on the back of a truck

As World War I dragged on, an unexpected group became known for being ruthless. Canadians, stereotyped as friendly, kind and agreeable, certainly displayed none of…

PL-01: The Polish Stealth Tank That’s Never Seen the Battlefield

PL-01 on display

Countries are always looking to equip their militaries with the latest equipment, whether that be new firearms or vehicles. In 2013, Poland wowed everyone with…

‘Devotion’ Presents the Korean War-Era Story of Jesse L. Brown and Thomas Hudner

Jonathan Majors as Jesse L. Brown in 'Devotion'

The incredible true story of Jesse L. Brown, the first African-American aviator to complete the US Navy’s basic flight training program, and the camaraderie between…

M777 Howitzer: The US Military’s Lightweight Replacement for the M198

Clare Fitzgerald
US soldiers firing an M777 howitzer

The M777 howitzer might not look all that intimidating when placed alongside its much larger counterparts, but this small and lightweight artillery system packs quite…

Vietnam War Traps: 9 Viet Cong Booby Traps That Defined the Vietnam War

American soldiers walking along a rice field

The Vietnam War was infamous for the guerrilla warfare the American forces were largely unprepared for. The Viet Cong were on home turf and used…

Was Ball Turret Gunner the Worst Position to Hold During World War II?

Gunner sitting in the entrance to a ball turret

There were plenty of positions during World War II that put a serviceman’s life at risk. Arguably one of the worst was being the ball…

USS Barb (SS-220): The Gato-Class Submarine That ‘Sunk’ a Train In Japan

USS Barb (SS-220) at sea

The USS Barb (SS-220) was a US Navy submarine that became highly decorated after successfully sinking 96,628 tons of enemy shipping during her service in World…