Valor | War History

Cartoon Characters Who Served In the US Military During World War II

Gradient background + Donald Duck holding an ice cream cone + Daffy Duck looking smug + Superman standing with his chest puffed out

Cartoons were often used during the Second World War not just as propaganda, but to boost the morale of war-weary Americans. As such, many of…

Only Two Submarines Have Sunk Ships Since the End of WWII

ARA General Belgrano (C-4) sinking beneath the ocean's surface

Both the First and Second World Wars cemented the submarine’s place in military arsenals around the world. German U-boats and their domination of the north…

Before He Was a Jazz Legend, Tony Bennett Stormed Europe and Liberated a Concentration Camp

Portrait of Tony Bennett + Tony Bennett leaning against a cement wall, with a young boy looking at him

Tony Bennett was a jazz legend, with a career spanning over half a century. His music transcended generations and made him a household name across…

Fidel Castro Kept the Frozen Body of An American Airman Following the Failed Bay of Pigs Invasion

Fidel Castro speaking at a podium

During the botched Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961, the United States sent members of the Alabama Air National Guard on a mission for the…

Incredible Images Show the Ruins of World War II’s First Battle

German soldiers walking through the muddy remains of a wooded area

In a tiny peninsula outside of the Free City of Danzig, ruins can still be found from the first battle of World War II. On…

USS Wake (PR-3): The US Navy Gunboat Taken Captive By the Japanese During WWII

USS Guam (PG-43) at sea

For being a relatively small river gunboat, the USS Wake (PR-3) had a surprisingly long history. Initially put into service in 1927, the vessel was…

Iron Dome: Israel’s Defense System That’s Up to 90 Percent Effective at Destroying Incoming Targets

Tamir interceptor missile being fired from a mobile launcher

Since 2011, Israel has operated one of the world’s most powerful and effective air defense systems. Designed to protect against rocket and artillery attacks, it’s…

A Comrade’s Betrayal Led to Richard Fitzgibbon Jr.’s Death In Vietnam

US soldiers running out of a Bell UH-1D Iroquois "Huey"

The official start of the Vietnam War varies. Some view 1887 as the start, when France colonized Vietnam and renamed it French Indochina, or 1946,…

Why Did Harry Truman Block An Attempt to Award Him the Medal of Honor?

Harry Truman standing with John McKinney, Daniel Lee, Donald Gary and Joseph O'Callahan

The Medal of Honor is the United States’ highest and most prestigious military honor, and it’s typically awarded to recipients by the sitting president. When…

Comparing Historic Battlefields, Then and Now

French troops standing together in a trench

Battles typically have a lasting physical impact on the places where they occur, leaving behind scars that hint at what happened. The following in a…

Operation Nordwind: The Last Large-Scale German Offensive On the Western Front

Soldier pointing at a destroyed Jagdtiger

Operation Nordwind was the last large-scale German offensive on the Western Front of the Second World War. Despite this, it continues to live in the…

Little-Known Facts Even the Biggest Movie Fan Doesn’t Know About ‘Rambo’

Sylvester Stallone as John J. Rambo in 'Rambo: First Blood Part II'

The movies in the Rambo franchise are some of the most beloved action flicks of all time. However, there’s more to them than just mindless…