Military History

Navy Tradition: Why Don't Sailors Wash Their Coffee Mugs?

Explore the fascinating Navy tradition behind sailors' stained, unwashed coffee mugs. This naval custom turns a simple coffee cup into a badge of honor,...

Bizarre, Unsolved Military Mysteries

Explore mysterious military events that remain unsolved decades later. From the 1945 disappearance of five U.S. Navy planes off Florida to WWII Nazi...

CONPLAN 8888: The Military's Real Zombie Defense Plan Explained

The U.S. military actually wrote CONPLAN 8888, a real STRATCOM training plan using a fictional zombie apocalypse scenario to teach officers strategic planning...

Happy 85th Birthday, USO! | A Legacy of Service Since 1941

Celebrating 85 years of USO service to military members and their families. From its founding in 1941 under President Franklin Roosevelt to today's global...

The U.S. Coast Guard in War: History, Authority, and the Question of Transfer

One question that surfaces in every era of American war, and one circulating again in the tight-knit community of Coast Guard families today, concerns the...

Return to Base: Sally Rejas -- Puerto Rican Military Spouse Journey

Sally Rejas shares her remarkable journey from Puerto Rico to the 82nd Airborne on Return to Base podcast. Host Cliff VanRickley explores Sally's childhood as...

West Point: Welcome to America's First Military Academy

Welcome to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where America's future leaders are shaped and history stands at every corner. From its founding as...

WWII Chocolate: How War Created America's Candy Giants

Discover how World War II transformed Hershey and Mars into confectionery titans through military contracts. Learn about the 600-calorie D-ration bar that...

On the Radar: Government Shutdown, TRICARE Open Enrollment & Portable Nuclear Reactors

Weekly military news briefing covering the historic government shutdown's impact on military pay, TRICARE Open Enrollment 2026 (November 10-December 9), the...

On the Radar: Government Shutdown, SNAP Benefits & Halloween Candy History

This week's military news roundup covers the ongoing government shutdown affecting military pay, SNAP benefits expiring for over a million veterans, a federal...

K9 Veterans Day: Special Forces Handler & Rico's Combat Bond

Master Sergeant Smith from 5th Special Forces Group shares the remarkable story of his partnership with Rico, a retired Belgian Malinois who served multiple...

Unsolved Military Mysteries

Explore mysterious military incidents that remain unexplained decades later. From the 1945 disappearance of Flight 19's five Navy planes off Florida to the...

On the Radar: Government Shutdown, Pentagon Reforms & Commissary Changes

Military news roundup covering the March 2026 government shutdown's impact on service members including delayed October 15 paychecks, Secretary Hegseth's...

The U.S. Army's Forgotten Camel Corps: When Camels Served in the American Southwest

In the 1850s, the U.S. Army conducted a fascinating experiment using camels for desert transportation across the American Southwest. Secretary of War Jefferson...

History of Military Boots: From Brogan to Modern Combat Boots

Explore the evolution of military combat boots from the symmetrical Brogan boots of the War of 1812 through modern army combat boots. Learn how warfare shaped...

How Tootsie Roll Candies Saved Marines in Korean War

During the 1950 Battle of Chosin Reservoir, surrounded Marines radioed for 60mm mortar rounds using the codename 'Tootsie Roll.' When actual frozen candies...