Michael Alexander: The British Commando Who Escaped Death By Faking His Family Tree
Not all those who were captured in combat were taken as prisoners of war (POWs) during the Second World War. Some were shot on-site, particularly…
MoH Recipient Richard O’Kane Was the US Navy’s Most Successful Submarine Commander
Richard O’Kane is the most successful submarine commander in the history of the US Navy. He served during the Second World War, and sank a…
Henry T Elrod: The Marine Corps Aviator Who Single-Handedly Took Out a Japanese Destroyer
Maj. Henry T Elrod was better known by his nickname, “Hammerin’ Hank.” The US Marine Corps aviator had always dreamed of taking to the skies,…
The Little-Known Lost Battalions of World War II
Everyone is aware of the Lost Battalion of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive; 554 men from the US 77th Division who became trapped by the Germans in…
Four Men Aboard the USS California (BB-44) Were Awarded the Medal of Honor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was disastrous for American vessels, particularly those moored along Battleship Row. The nine were the primary targets of the Japanese,…
George Patton Called Creighton Abrams a ‘World Champion’ Tank Commander
There are some military commanders who stand out among the rest, and Creighton Abrams is one of them. Serving during the Second World War, as…
Is ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’ Really the Greatest War Film Ever Made?
The 1957 historical epic The Bridge on the River Kwai has long been regarded as one of the greatest war films ever made. Based on…
Rheinwiesenlager: The Notorious American Prison Camps That Held German POWs Following WWII
There were hundreds of thousands of prisoners of war (POWs) taken during World War II. Under the Geneva Convention, it was required they receive certain…
The Polish 1st Armoured Division Served As the ‘Cork’ of the Falaise Pocket
Nicknamed the “Black Devils” by the German military, the Polish 1st Armoured Division was created in the middle of the Second World War. Working with…
Where Is Hacksaw Ridge, the Location Where Desmond Doss Rescued 75 US Soldiers?
Conscientious objector Desmond Doss staged one of the most daring rescues of the Second World War, risking life and limb to get 75 of his…
Two Aircraft Carriers Were Stationed In the Great Lakes During WWII
If there’s one thing aircraft carriers were known for during the Second World War, it was their role in changing the face of aerial combat.…
Eddie Slovik: The Only US Soldier to Be Executed for Desertion Since the Civil War
Throughout the Second World War, Allied and Axis militaries struggled with desertion. Among the American forces alone, most occurred in the European Theater – an…