An Unexpected Threat to the Success of D-Day: The Clues to a Crossword Puzzle
To end WWII in Europe, the Allies planned a massive assault on Normandy, France, in 1944. Over 5,000 ships, 1,200 planes, and almost 160,000 men…
By Sacrificing Himself Coastguard Douglas Munro Saved 500 Marines From Being Slaughtered
The United States Coast Guard was founded on a tradition of taking small boats into dangerous conditions to save lives. This skill made Coast Guard…
Half Blind Japanese Pilot Flies His Damaged Zero For 5 Hours, Then Refused Medical Attention Before Making His Report
During WWII, Sub-Lieutenant Saburō Sakai served as a naval aviator with the Imperial Japanese Navy. He claimed 64 victories, one of which was made after…
Edward A. Carter, Jr. Received the Medal of Honor for Killing Six Soldiers and Using the Surviving Two as a Bodyshield
Edward Allen Carter Junior was born on May 26th, 1916 in Los Angeles, California. Carter had a unique upbringing. His father was an African-American missionary,…
The Coast Guard Commandant Who Fought His Way Through Vietnam In Swift Boats
When Paul A. Yost Jr. assumed the position of Commandant of the United States Coast Guard in 1986 he approached the role with a powerful…
U-Boat 96, and the film Das Boot
In 1981, a film was released which is still cited as one of Germany’s greatest cinematic triumphs. It followed the exploits of U-96, a German…
Remembering the Reporter Who Dared Confront Emperor Hirohito
Koji Nakamura is the reporter who deserves a place in history simply for asking Emperor Hirohito one question. Instead, he has been all but forgotten.…
Mighty WW2 Warships – KMS Admiral Graf Spee in the Battle of the River Plate
On September 1, 1939, while German troops were rolling across the border into Poland, their Navy was sent to raid Allied shipping lanes, much as…
Thaman Gurung, V.C. – grabbing a Bren gun, and as much ammunition as he could carry, he charged up the hill alone
Since their first interactions with the British East India Company in 1814, the Gurkhas are renowned for their bravery and skill in combat. These Nepalese…
John D. Bulkeley’s Daring Evacuation of General Douglas MacArthur on a 77′ PT Boat
The US Navy is best known for its Admirals and battleships. Both are often the most prominent assets in the fleet, but in the Philippines,…
Battle of WWI merchant raiders: HMS Alcantara v SMS Greif
On February 27, 1916, the Norwegian cargo ship Rena steamed out of Cuxhaven on Germany’s North Sea coast. In peacetime, this would not have been…
What an incredibly brilliant “stupid” man. How Vietnam War POW Doug Hegdahl Tricked His Captors by Playing The Fool
Imagine that it’s the 1960s. You’re an American POW in a North Vietnamese camp, so you have two options: If you want to live, you…