World War II Archives - Task & Purpose

By James Clark May 8, 2021

History

This Medal of Honor recipient crashed his plane on purpose to get to his downed wingman

What he did that day had never been attempted before, and has never been repeated since.

By James Clark Apr 8, 2021

Entertainment

The Omaha Beach landing in ‘Saving Private Ryan’ changed how we look at WWII

“I wasn’t there in 1944 in June on Omaha Beach, but seeing that I somehow felt I was."

By David Roza Apr 5, 2021

History

‘Gallantry, guts and gumption’ — The two-hour battle in the Pacific that turned a Navy captain into a legend

“This is going to be a fighting ship. I intend to go in harm’s way, and anyone who doesn’t want...

By James Clark Mar 22, 2021

Culture

‘Call of Duty’ wants you to bring a shovel to a gunfight, like these 4 badasses did in real life

Surprisingly, this has actually happened in real life.

By James Clark Mar 8, 2021

Unsung Heroes

We salute Maj. Dick Bong, for obvious reasons

Legend.

By Haley Britzky Mar 7, 2021

News

That time Hitler’s nephew joined the US Navy to fight his evil uncle is the ultimate family drama

“"My father used to say to my mother, 'Doesn't Patty look a lot like Adolf Hitler?'"

By James Clark Mar 4, 2021

Culture

What that one scene in ‘Saving Private Ryan’ teaches us about complaining in the military

Gripes go up.

By Timothy J. Jorgensen, The Conversation Mar 1, 2021

History

78 years ago, a daring Norwegian commando raid kept the Nazis from building the atomic bomb first

It was one of the most dramatic and important military missions of World War II.

By James Clark Feb 28, 2021

Entertainment

The guys behind ‘Snatch’ and ‘Top Gun’ team up to make a WWII caper about Britain’s first black ops unit

Honestly, this could be really good.

By James Clark Feb 20, 2021

Mandatory Fun

How an army of artists and tricksters conned the Nazis and bluffed their way to victory in World War II

It sounds like an idea that was cooked up in a Hollywood writer's room, but it really happened.

By James Clark Feb 19, 2021

Culture

What it was like fighting on Iwo Jima, according to a Marine Medal of Honor recipient

"I could no longer be the person I was prior to the Marine Corps."

By Jeff Schogol Feb 4, 2021

News

One of the first members of the modern-day Navy SEAL teams has died

Legend.

By Jared Keller Jan 26, 2021

History

76 years ago, Audie Murphy earned his Medal of Honor with nothing but a burning tank destroyer’s .50 cal and insane bravery

On January 26, 1945, the most decorated service member of World War II earned his legacy in a fiery fashion.

By Haley Britzky Jan 15, 2021

News

America’s oldest living Marine, a trailblazer for women in the service, has died at 107

"At the time, I didn't think I was doing anything great. I knew I was helping our country."

By Haley Britzky Jan 12, 2021

News

We salute this World War II veteran for surviving two pandemics a century apart

“People are fragile in their everyday lives and feel like they have to do it alone, but they don’t."

By Haley Britzky Jan 8, 2021

Unsung Heroes

He spent three years as a POW during WWII. Now he’s finally being recognized for his heroism

"He truly represents members of the greatest generation, who did so much but asked so little from their country."

By Paul Szoldra Dec 22, 2020

History

Surrounded. Low on supplies. Freezing. The Nazis demanded his surrender. He replied: ‘Nuts!”

“To the German Commander, N U T S ! The American Commander.”

By James Clark Nov 18, 2020

History

The forgotten soldiers behind Netflix’s ‘The Liberator’

The men of the 45th Infantry Division fought for each other, as all soldiers do, but they also fought for...

By James Clark Nov 9, 2020

Mandatory Fun

‘The Liberator’ is a visually stunning and grim World War II series unlike any other

A new animated World War II series is coming to Netflix — and it is well worth your time when...

By Chris DeRose Nov 3, 2020

History

The true story of the WWII vets who fought one last battle — in their own hometown — for the right to vote

When a corrupt political machine denied them their right to vote, these World War II veterans took the battlefield one...

By Benjamin Brimelow, Business Insider Oct 21, 2020

History

How the most successful submarine in Navy history ended up sinking itself

It was a tragic and unfitting end for the most successful submarine in U.S. Navy history

By James Clark Oct 20, 2020

Mandatory Fun

Netflix’s new WWII miniseries looks like ‘Band of Brothers’ meets ‘A Scanner Darkly’

And while that may sound a bit gimmicky, based on the trailer it looks absolutely fantastic

By Richard Sisk, Military.com Oct 19, 2020

Unsung Heroes

Trump approves Congressional Gold Medal for legendary WWII jungle fighters known as ‘Merrill’s Marauders’

President Donald Trump has signed into law a bill authorizing the Congressional Gold Medal for the legendary all-volunteer jungle fighters...

By Hope Hodge Seck, Military.com Oct 14, 2020

News

The Navy named its newest sub after a WWII legend that sank 17 ships and blew up a train

Once again, the Navy will have USS Barb in the fleet

By Benjamin Brimelow, Business Insider Sep 16, 2020

History

76 years ago, the Allies launched the largest airborne attack ever. Here’s how it all went wrong

Operation Market Garden was the largest airborne operation in history, but in a little more than week of fighting, the...

World War II

News

Featured in World War II

This Medal of Honor recipient crashed his plane on purpose to get to his downed wingman

The Omaha Beach landing in ‘Saving Private Ryan’ changed how we look at WWII

‘Gallantry, guts and gumption’ — The two-hour battle in the Pacific that turned a Navy captain into a legend

‘Call of Duty’ wants you to bring a shovel to a gunfight, like these 4 badasses did in real life

We salute Maj. Dick Bong, for obvious reasons

That time Hitler’s nephew joined the US Navy to fight his evil uncle is the ultimate family drama

What that one scene in ‘Saving Private Ryan’ teaches us about complaining in the military

78 years ago, a daring Norwegian commando raid kept the Nazis from building the atomic bomb first

The guys behind ‘Snatch’ and ‘Top Gun’ team up to make a WWII caper about Britain’s first black ops unit

How an army of artists and tricksters conned the Nazis and bluffed their way to victory in World War II

What it was like fighting on Iwo Jima, according to a Marine Medal of Honor recipient

One of the first members of the modern-day Navy SEAL teams has died

76 years ago, Audie Murphy earned his Medal of Honor with nothing but a burning tank destroyer’s .50 cal and insane bravery

America’s oldest living Marine, a trailblazer for women in the service, has died at 107

We salute this World War II veteran for surviving two pandemics a century apart

He spent three years as a POW during WWII. Now he’s finally being recognized for his heroism

Surrounded. Low on supplies. Freezing. The Nazis demanded his surrender. He replied: ‘Nuts!”

The forgotten soldiers behind Netflix’s ‘The Liberator’

‘The Liberator’ is a visually stunning and grim World War II series unlike any other

The true story of the WWII vets who fought one last battle — in their own hometown — for the right to vote

How the most successful submarine in Navy history ended up sinking itself

Netflix’s new WWII miniseries looks like ‘Band of Brothers’ meets ‘A Scanner Darkly’

Trump approves Congressional Gold Medal for legendary WWII jungle fighters known as ‘Merrill’s Marauders’

The Navy named its newest sub after a WWII legend that sank 17 ships and blew up a train

76 years ago, the Allies launched the largest airborne attack ever. Here’s how it all went wrong