WAR

8 Forgotten Figures From the American Revolution

While their images might not be immortalized on dollar bills or their stories ingrained into every high school syllabus, these lesser-known figures nonetheless played critical roles in the shaping of the American Revolution.

United States Army Chief of Staff General Collins studying a map of the front line during the battle for Korea, with Lieutenant General Walker, Brigadier General Farrell, and Korean Brigadier General Paik.

10 Facts About the Korean War

What you need to know about this so-called “Forgotten War” on its 75th anniversary.

Arnold Schwarzenegger at the 2023 premiere of 'FUBAR,' season 1.

What Does ‘Fubar’ Mean?

The Arnold Schwarzenegger–starring Netflix series takes its title from World War II military slang. Here’s what 'fubar' means.

The holiday is always a three-day weekend for a reason.

Why Is Memorial Day Always on a Monday?

Discover the real reason why Memorial Day always happens on a Monday, plus how the holiday actually does differ from Veterans Day, and more.

A U.S. Marine charges forward through Japanese machine gun fire during the Battle of Okinawa.

11 Things You Might Not Know About the Marine Corps

From their birthplace in a tavern to the origins of that famous ‘Leatherneck’ nickname, learn more about the history of the U.S. Marine Corps.

The Scandalous History of Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington is some of the most hallowed ground in the United States. But despite its great importance, the cemetery has had more than its share of scandals.

The African American Civil War Memorial.

11 Lesser-Known War Memorials

These tributes to fallen soldiers may not be as instantly recognizable as the Vietnam Memorial and others, but their stories are no less fascinating—including one that doubles as a mausoleum right in Manhattan.

10 Facts About Anne Frank’s ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’

In 1947, the seemingly everyday, innocent thoughts of a teen girl were published. But they weren’t so everyday: they were the thoughts of Anne Frank.

The Alien Act was enacted by John Adams’s Federalist administration in preparation for a war that didn’t actually happen.

11 Fundamental Facts About the Alien and Sedition Acts

Three of the four acts expired shortly after they were signed into law in the late 1700s. One remains active—and it’s been at the center of constitutional debates ever since.

Add more heft to your TBR pile with these gripping fiction and nonfiction books.

14 of the Best Books on the Vietnam War

The best Vietnam War books from Tim O’Brien, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and others offer new insights and perspectives into the conflict that you probably never got from history class.

Two Vietnam War veterans at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

11 Ways to Support Vietnam War Veterans

The number of living Vietnam Veterans is quickly dwindling. Now’s the time to show them you care.

10 Iconic Photos from the Vietnam War

A picture is worth a thousand words—and a half-century of history.

What’s the Story Behind Cinco de Mayo?

Cinco de Mayo, or May 5, is recognized around the country as a time to celebrate Mexico’s cultural heritage. Like a lot of days earmarked to commemorate a specific idea or event, its origins can be a little murky. Who started it, and why?

L-8: The ‘Ghost Blimp’ Whose Crew Disappeared During World War II

A submarine patrol blimp departed with a two-man crew in the morning. It landed with no one on board.

16 Things You May Not Know About ‘Full Metal Jacket’

By the time 'The Shining' was in theaters, Stanley Kubrick had already decided that for his next project he wanted to make a film that depicted the realities of war.

HeroRAT Ronin Breaks Guinness World Records® title

Rat Sets Record for Most Land Mines Sniffed Out By His Species

Ronin the rat proves rodents can be heroes too.

One of many protests against the Vietnam War in the late 1960s.

10 Significant Vietnam War Protests

The deeply unpopular war led to the biggest and most consequential protest movement in U.S. history. Here are the key events and reactions.

Jane Fonda (left) and Nguyễn Thị Bình (right).

7 Women Who Played Key Roles in the Vietnam War

From Vietcong diplomats to American anti-war activists, these women made their mark on one of the 20th century’s most controversial conflicts.

An American Huey helicopter sprays Agent Orange over Vietnam.

Agent Orange: Its Toxic History in the Vietnam War

In a mission code-named Operation Ranch Hand, the U.S. military unleashed millions of gallons of the toxic defoliant during the Vietnam War—and some descendants of Vietnam veterans say they’re still paying the price.

'The Things They Carried' by Tim O'Brien.

12 Facts About ‘The Things They Carried’

This widely read novel about the Vietnam War is more fact than fiction.

Helicopters on a resupply mission during the Vietnam War.

6 Ways Aircraft Changed the Course of the Vietnam War

Aviation played a huge role in how the Vietnam War rolled out—after all, there’s a reason the conflict is also known as “The Helicopter War.”

U.S. Marines preparing to evacuate American and Vietnamese civilians during the fall of Saigon.

9 Key Moments From the Vietnam War

From the Gulf of Tonkin Incident to the Tet Offensive to the Fall of Saigon, we go over some of the most significant battles of the Vietnam War.

During the filming of Oliver Stone's ‘Platoon’ (1986).

12 Intense Facts About ‘Platoon’

Starring a young Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen, and Johnny Depp, ‘Platoon’ was a landmark achievement in war cinema.

How WWII Saved ‘The Great Gatsby From Obscurity

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s great American novel was a flop—until it was deployed overseas.