WAR

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.

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.

Many of the soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War were Baby Boomers.

6 Ways the Vietnam War Affected Baby Boomers

The Vietnam War changed an entire generation’s relationship to power, patriotism, and possibility.

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.

6 of History’s Silliest Wars

Sometimes, wars end when someone’s kettle gets broken.

Abbie Hoffman was a controversial and influential figure.

10 Revolutionary Facts About Abbie Hoffman

Abbot “Abbie” Howard Hoffman was a bombastic and theatrical figure who often used absurd media stunts to get his points across.

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.

‘Greatest Escapes With Arturo Castro’ Episode 6: The Plüschow Maneuver

Billy Magnussen (Game Night, The Franchise) takes some time for a leisurely trip with Arturo to the early 1900's, where they discover the story of Gunther Plüschow, one of the most infamous escapees from World War I.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors those who lost their lives in the Vietnam war.

Written in Stone: 14 Facts About the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The towering granite tribute to fallen soldiers of a controversial war was the result of a design contest won by a 21-year-old college student.

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.

Sergeant Marshall/Department of Defense, NARA // Public Domain

Would You Be Able to Pass a World War I Military Literacy Test?

Potential recruits had to answer questions like ‘Is genuine happiness a priceless treasure?,’ ‘Are avenues usually paved with oxygen?,’ and ‘Do you cordially recommend forgery?’

Where Did the Expression ‘Gung Ho’ Come From?

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

Forged in the Heat of Battle: The Origin of the Boy Scouts

Those iconic khaki uniforms are usually associated with childhood adventure, but scouting was actually forged in the heat of battle by a desperate British military officer.

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.

The Dame of Sark, Sibyl Hathaway, in March 1953.

How the World’s Only Feudal Lord Outclassed the Nazis to Save Her People

Dame Sibyl Hathaway protected her people with the unlikeliest of weapons: Feudal etiquette, old-world manners, and a dollop of classic snobbery.

The names of all three of these folks have gotten the adjective treatment.

11 People Whose Names Became Adjectives

From David Lynch to Queen Elizabeth I, these folks achieved a type of lexical immortality when their names became adjectives.

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.