June 6, 1944, saw the greatest amphibious landing in the history of warfare. Over 150,000 Allied troops braved unrelenting enemy fire in order so they could regain a foothold on the continent […]
D-Day Shrapnel Makes Up 4% of the Sand on Omaha Beach
Smoky and the Army Airborne
Originally posted on Pacific Paratrooper:
SMOKY At the beginning of of 1944, Smoky, a Yorkshire terrier, was found by an American soldier with a stalled jeep in the New Guinea jungle where…
The Reign of Terror of the Nazi Guillotine
Few images are more closely associated with France and its Reign of Terror than the guillotine. The horrifying execution device seems to be a relic of the past that faded away with […]
The Crazy Story of the Finnish Soldier Who O.D.’d on Speed, Stepped On a Mine, Skied 250 Miles, and Outmaneuvered the Soviet Army
Aimo Koivunen needed some help. As a soldier and proud citizen of Finland, he was committed to serving his homeland, but when faced with the overwhelming might of the Soviet enemy, there […]
“A Cacophony of Hell” — The Terrifying Crocodile Massacre at the Battle of Ramree Island
War can be terrifying enough when humans are the only combatants. Imagine how much worse it can be when nature takes sides. Such was the case during the Battle of Ramree Island […]
Doling Out the Difference Between Dole and Nixon
One of the favorite sons of the state of Kansas is former U.S. Senator Bob Dole. He is admired for his service to the country and for his brilliant sense of humor. […]
The Gift of Fairies That Protects a Scottish Clan
Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, is the ancestral home of the Clan MacLeod. The castle has stood guard for 700 years, towering over its beautiful surroundings. Despite the rich […]
Churchill and the Foiled Plot of the Exploding Chocolate
Given Winston Churchill’s well-known fondness for food, it stands to reason that doctors warned him about the health risks of eating too many sweets. Little did they know just how dangerous certain […]
Visit the Island Where Rabbits Reign
Readers of this site know that rabbits can be fearsome creatures that have struck terror in the hearts of the President Jimmy Carter and Napoleon Bonaparte. Most people, however, think of rabbits […]
How Did An Upstart Teenager Transform a Comic Book Legend?
It sounds like the plot to a comic book story. A teenage kid takes a shot at something no one ever expected to remember. He messes around with something way bigger than […]
USS William D. Porter: The Navy’s Unluckiest Ship
When a new ship is commissioned, those associated with the vessel always have high hopes that it will be remembered. For those connected with the USS William D. Porter, that goal was […]
How Lawrence of Arabia’s Death Led to the Use of the Crash Helmet?
T.E. Lawrence, known around the world as “Lawrence of Arabia,” died on May 19, 1935. His death, 6 days after a tragic motorcycle accident, seemed an inglorious end to the life of […]
Trapped Underwater for 16 Days: The Tragic End for Three Sailors at Pearl Harbor
Over 2,000 Americans were killed as a result of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. For three sailors, their deaths would come after 16 horrifying days of being […]
Did A Crossword Puzzle Reveal Secrets About the D-Day Invasion?
One of the biggest secrets of World War II was the Allied plan for the invasion of mainland Europe. Codenamed “Operation Overlord” and commanded by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, D-Day’s details were […]
Over Two-Thirds of Soviet Males Born in 1923 Did Not Live to the End of World War II
A fun fact on another site recently proclaimed that 80% of the males born in the Soviet Union in 1923 did not survive World War II. This seemed like a good fact to […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 