Fidel Castro kept the body of an American airman on ice after the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion
In 1961, during the Bay of Pigs Invasion, the U.S. covertly deployed members of the Alabama Air National Guard to assist in the mission. Their…
A nearly impossible feat: How an F-15 Eagle managed an air-to-air kill on a Mi-24 helicopter
During the Gulf War, intense air battles broke out between Coalition and Iraqi forces as part of a massive aerial offensive. Between January 17 and…
An injury forced George Kennedy to end his 16-year military career, but then he found success in Hollywood
Oscar-winning actor George Kennedy became well known for his portrayals of tough, no-nonsense characters in both movies and television. His commanding presence on screen was…
A fellow comrade betrayed Sgt. Richard Fitzgibbon Jr. during the Vietnam War, resulting in his death
The exact beginning of the Vietnam War is still a topic of debate. Some trace it back as far as 1887, when France took control…
The First Special Service Force was known as the ‘Devil’s Brigade’ for intimidating German forces
During World War II, Special Forces units helped shape the future of elite military operations. One standout example was the First Special Service Force (1SSF),…
Medal of Honor recipient Robert L. Howard is the most decorated Green Beret in American history
Robert L. Howard, a dedicated member of the U.S. Army Special Forces, served an incredible 54 months in Vietnam and survived 14 separate combat wounds.…
An American writer was punished harshly for joining the resistance against the Führer in Germany
During World War II and the years leading up to it, Resistance movements formed across Europe in response to Nazi occupation and control. These brave…
The Battle of Okinawa lasted 82 days and became the bloodiest battle in the Pacific Theater
The Battle of Okinawa began just weeks before Germany’s surrender and marked the final major battle in the Pacific during World War II. It was…
US Army Rangers and Green Berets: The significant differences between these special operations forces
The goal of comparing a U.S. Army Ranger to a Green Beret isn’t to decide which one is better—both are elite units that represent the…
Two women were the first to pilot the Boeing B-29 Superfortress to prove anyone could do it – even men
As the United States prepared for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Paul Tibbets was tasked with training pilots to operate the Boeing B-29…
Desmond Doss refused to carry a weapon or fire a shot, but saved 75 men at Hacksaw Ridge
Desmond Doss carried out one of the most heroic rescues of World War II, repeatedly risking his life to save 75 wounded soldiers. His incredible…
The US Air Force accidentally dropped a nuclear bomb in a family’s backyard during the Mars Bluffs Incident
From the late 1940s through the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were locked in a tense race to develop more powerful…