War Articles | War History

Why Did the US Army Attack the Lakota Sioux at Wounded Knee?

Painting of the Massacre at Wounded Knee

On December 29, 1890, soldiers with the US Army opened fire on hundreds of Lakota Sioux. The group of Native Americans was largely unarmed and…

How the STEN Submachine Gun Helped the British Army During WWII

Soldier with Durham Light Infantry with a STEN Mk III + STEN Mk II

Machine guns began to see use in warfare toward the end of the 1800s, and throughout the 20th century the technology behind the weaponry rapidly…

John Levitow: The Lowest-Ranking US Air Force Airman to Receive the Medal of Honor

Todd Neikirk
Tracer rounds in the sky at night + Military portrait of John Levitow

John Levitow came from humble beginnings, but achieved great things. By the time he retired from his career with the US Air Force, he was…

The Sinking of the USS Housatonic was a Turning Point in Naval Warfare

A print showing the sinking of the USS Housatonic

The US Navy has existed longer than the country itself. The branch was established in August 1775 and re-established in 1794 during the French Revolution.…

Chesty Puller: The Most Decorated Marine in US History

Military portrait of Chesty Puller

Chesty Puller is a name synonymous with the US Marine Corps. The most decorated Marine in the service’s history, he served during three wars and…

John ‘Mad Jack’ Churchill: The British Army Officer Who Charged Into Battle With a Longbow, Broadsword and a Set of Bagpipes

John "Mad Jack" Churchill and others running from an LCP (L), through the water, to the shore + Portrait of John "Mad Jack" Churchill

In every conflict, there are service members who stand out for their unique ways of approaching conflict. None, however, were as quirky as John “Mad…

Navy Deserter Living Under Stolen Identity Arrested, Convicted of Fraud

Close-up of a US Navy Sailor in uniform

A Tennessee man who deserted the US Navy over 40 years ago has been identified and arrested, after the man whose identity he stole received…

Kurt Vonnegut’s Time as a Soldier During WWII Inspired His Popular Anti-War Novel, ‘Slaughterhouse-Five’

Kurt Vonnegut portrait.

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…

The Molotov Cocktail: A Quick History Of The Surprisingly Effective Weapon

Todd Neikirk
A protester throws a Molotov cocktail in Kiev, Ukraine in 2014

Russian forces invaded Ukraine on February 24th of 2022. Ukrainian soldiers are taking on the Russian troops, but so are a number of Ukrainian civilians.…

Tom Lehrer Invented Jello Shots to Skirt The Military’s No Alcohol in Bases Policy

Todd Neikirk
Tom Lehrer being interviewed

Tom Lehrer is one of the more interesting people of the last 100 years. He is a man of many gifts, though he has sometimes…

Why Was Jimi Hendrix Discharged from the US Army?

Todd Neikirk
Jimi Hendrix performing on stage

Jimi Hendrix died in September 1970, at the young age of 27. He packed quite a legacy into those 27 years, becoming perhaps the greatest…

William McRaven: One of the Most Famous Navy SEALs in American History

Todd Neikirk
Admiral McRaven speaking at a podium

William McRaven is one of the most famous Navy SEALs in American history. A four-star admiral, he was in command and helped organize the operation…