Classic Hollywood Actors Who Served During World War I
While it was still a relatively new phenomenon, Hollywood studios were cranking out film after film during the 1920s and ’30s. As a result, many…
USS New York (BB-34): The Only US Ship to Sink a German U-boat In WWI
The USS New York (BB-34) was a US Navy battleship and the lead vessel of her class. Named after the state of New York, she was…
George Preddy Jr: The American Ace Shot Down By Friendly Fire During the Battle of the Bulge
George “Ratsy” Preddy Jr. was a US Army Air Forces officer and Air Ace credited with downing 32 1/2 enemy aircraft. This made him not…
Vincent Speranza: The American Soldier Who Went On An Epic Beer Run to Help a Comrade
Soldiers who’ve been injured in battle can often be comforted with items that remind them of home. During the Siege of Bastogne in World War…
Kurt Vonnegut’s Time as a Soldier During WWII Inspired His Popular Anti-War Novel, ‘Slaughterhouse-Five’
Written by Todd Neikirk and Clare Fitzgerald Kurt Vonnegut is one of the most beloved and influential authors of the 20th century. While he was…
Woman Who Faked Being Cancer-Stricken Ex-Marine Sentenced to Prison
UPDATE – 03/16/2023: Sarah Cavanaugh, who faked being a cancer-stricken ex-US Marine, has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison, followed by three years…
The Myth That Carrots Are Good for Your Eyes Came from a WWII Propaganda Campaign
When I was younger, my parents always told me that carrots would give me better eyesight. Much to their surprise, even though I ate the…
Gail Halvorsen Dropped Candy Over Berlin During the Soviet Blockade In 1948-49
The Soviet blockade of Berlin in 1948-49 was a tough time for those living in the German capital. The United States was among the Allied…
Jim Morrison’s Father Played a Role In the Gulf of Tonkin Incident
For hardcore fans of The Doors, it’s relatively well-known that lead singer Jim Morrison‘s father was a flag officer in the US Navy. A lesser-known…
Battle of St Eloi Craters: The Relatively Unknown Battle That Devastated the Canadian Corps
Military historians have often overlooked the Battle of St Eloi Craters that occurred during the First World War. Perhaps this lack of interest is due…
Sidney Shachnow: The Holocaust Survivor Who Became a Green Beret
Sidney Shachnow was a Lithuanian Jew who experienced – and survived – the Holocaust. Imprisoned in the Kovno Ghetto during World War II, he suffered…
Jackie Robinson Fought Segregation In the US Army Before Taking On the MLB
Jackie Robinson is remembered as the first African-American baseball player to break the color barrier and play Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era.…