MILITARY

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.

8 Gripping Facts About the Vietnam War Draft

Dive into the history of the draft during the Vietnam War, including its origins, how long it lasted, and how some young Boomers successfully managed to dodge it.

15 Memorable Slang Terms From the Vietnam War

Military slang grew by leaps and bounds during the Vietnam War. Here are some terms worth knowing.

10 Questions About the Vietnam War, Answered

The Vietnam War was a highly controversial conflict. We break down some of the most common questions about the war, from why the U.S. entered the conflict to who ultimately won.

The Nintendo 64 defined many people’s childhoods.

12 Surprising Facts About 1990s Video Games

For some people, video games were a pleasant way to pass the time in the 1990s. For others, they were a cultural crisis.

The 10 States Most Likely to Survive an Alien Invasion

Did your state make the list of state most likely to endure an extraterrestrial encounter?

7 Historical Figures You Probably Didn’t Know Were Spies

What do Julia Child, Paul Revere, and Harriet Tubman all have in common? Each played a crucial role in the clandestine world of espionage and intelligence.

Bruce Springsteen, Joni Mitchell, and Marvin Gaye all wrote songs about the Vietnam War.

17 Songs About the Vietnam War

From a now-regretted counter-counterculture anthem to an oft-misunderstood ’80s hit to the song that allegedly got its singer followed by the CIA.

10 Times Animals Changed History

History is teeming with unlikely heroes—these ones just happen to have feathers and fur.

Where Did the Expression ‘Gung Ho’ Come From?

We get this byword for enthusiasm from an officer in the Marines named Evans Fordyce Carlson.

The Berlin Wall was a symbol of the Cold War from 1961 to 1989.

11 Chilling Facts About the Cold War

The U.S. and USSR employed spies, quelled internal dissent, made allies abroad, and stockpiled nuclear weapons in this proxy war.

Civil War medical officers including Jonathan Letterman, a surgeon who pioneered the ambulance-to-ER transport of wounded patients during the Civil War.

5 Medical Innovations from the Civil War

Civil War surgeons learned fast. Here are a few of the MacGyver-like medical solutions that have had a lasting impact.

15 Things You Might Not Know About Robert Altman

The seven-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind M*A*S*H and Gosford Park, who would have turned 100 this year, changed how we watch—and hear—movies. He also tattooed Harry S. Truman’s dog.

Eugene Bullard, the World’s First Black Fighter Pilot

Eugene Bullard survived some of the deadliest battles in history and became the world’s first Black fighter pilot—all before the age of 30.

Why Do We Call the Country “the Boonies”?

We have the military to thank.

The Reason Unmanned Aircraft are Called “Drones”

It has a little something to do with bees—a fact you can drop around the watercooler the next time your coworker says they spotted a mysterious drone in the sky.

Are the flags flying for Memorial Day or Veterans Day? Sometimes, it's tough to say.

What’s the Difference Between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?

Both Memorial Day and Veterans Day are meant to celebrate military veterans, but there's one important distinction you should remember.

35 Celebrities Who Served in the Military

You probably didn’t know about a few of these celebrity veterans who served the red, white, and blue.

9 Famous Figures Who Have Been Awarded Purple Hearts

Kurt Vonnegut and Oliver Stone have something in common: They both earned Purple Hearts. Discover other famous veterans have earned this venerated medal.

You may experience better sleep if you use the military method.

This Military Technique Can Help You Fall Asleep in 2 Minutes

Are you having trouble falling asleep? Try the military method that helped Navy pilots fall asleep in under 120 seconds.

DNA Identifies Medieval Man Thrown Down a Well, Confirming a Norse Saga’s Tale

According to a medieval saga, the Norwegian “Well Man” might have been used as a biological weapon.

You can do something good with unwanted Halloween candy this year.

Cash for Candy Will Pay You for Halloween Leftovers—and Then Send Them to Troops

Even candy corn.

He wants you to learn about the symbol’s history.

Who Was Uncle Sam, and Why Did He ‘Want’ You?

Uncle Sam is an easily recognizable piece of wartime propaganda. And legend says he was based off a real person—though that may not actually be the case.

Three views of the gold Roman-era bracelet discovered in a West Sussex field.

12-Year-Old Boy Stumbles on Ancient Roman Bracelet While Walking His Dog

The rare golden bracelet was probably given to a soldier as a reward for bravery as Roman armies invaded England.