The History of the US Navy’s TOPGUN School
The popular Tom Cruise movie Top Gun debuted in theaters in 1986, and features Cruise and his co-stars attending the US Navy’s TOPGUN school –…
Anti-War Resistance in the US Military During the Vietnam War
Following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor during World War II, many American civilians were eager to go off to war. It was a much…
Lockheed AC-130: The Gunship That Provided Much-Needed Support in Vietnam
The Lockheed AC-130 is a special operations gunship that can trace its history back to the Douglas C-47 Skytrain. Over its nearly 60 years of…
The USS Midway’s Aircraft Were Credited with the First MiG Kills in Vietnam
Air battles became very common during World War II. As a result, the leading powers in the world had to build more aircraft carriers. The…
Phil Bucklew: The Father of US Naval Special Warfare
Following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, individuals from all kinds of professions enlisted in the US military, including musicians, movie stars and athletes. Phil…
David Hackworth: The Highly Decorated 101st Veteran Who Led Tiger Force In Vietnam
When he was still a teenager, David Hackworth decided that he wanted a life of adventure. And he certainly succeeded in accomplishing that feat. The…
The M203 Grenade Launcher’s Decades of Service Are Proof of Its Effectiveness
Throughout the course of the Vietnam War, the US Army developed a number of grenade launchers to aid forces in Southeast Asia. One of those…
C-4: The Vietnam-Era Explosive Still Used Today
The Second World War was the catalyst for countless new technologies that we still use today. From medicines like penicillin to the atomic bomb and…
The History Behind the USAF’s Top-Secret Fighter Pilot Unit in Vietnam
A new documentary slated to premiere on PBS stations on May 2, 2022 will introduce audiences to the never-before-told story of 157 US Air Force…
US Troops in Vietnam Hated the M16 So Much They Picked Up the Enemy’s AK-47s
The M16 rifle was initially adopted for use in jungle warfare operations in Vietnam. However, it wound up being such an unreliable weapon that American…
From the Scythians to Russia: The Use of Scorched Earth Tactics in War
Scorched earth tactics have been used nearly as long as armies have conducted military campaigns. While the practice is less common in modern times, it…
10 Photos of US Troops Displaying Enemy Flags Like Trophies
The “loss” of a unit or army’s colors refers to the capture of a flag in battle or it being taken away as a form…