Military

A new Smithsonian Book by Gus Lee tells the untold story of Norman Schwarzkopf's work with young cadets at West Point.

How the Unflinching Norman Schwarzkopf Became One Man’s Guiding Light

In a new book, the general who successfully commanded one of the largest military operations in the Middle East is remembered by a man he mentored

Archival Footage of Parachuting Military Dogs

Shot in 1948, this incredible footage shows paratroop dogs landing in the Arctic to learn how to rescue plane crash victims

During the Cold War, the Military Had Plans to Wage War in Space

The U.S. Army's Future Weapons Office proposed theoretical ways to defend non-existant lunar bases

Soldiers of the 44th Division at Fort Dix, New Jersey, in a gas mask drill. The experiments however, exposed troops to chemical weapons without such protection.

The Tragic Aftermath of Mustard Gas Experiments in World War II

An NPR investigation is looking for victims of the U.S. military tests

The Telegram That Broke News of the Civil War

After Confederate forces seized Fort Sumter, a U.S. Army officer dashed off this message to Washington

That Time When Custer Stole a Horse

The theft of a prize-winning stallion gave the famous general a glimpse of a future that could have been

Thirty Years Later, We Still Don't Truly Know Who Betrayed These Spies

Was there a fourth mole in the U.S. intelligence system that blew these secret agents' covers?

Ask Smithsonian: How Does Night Vision Work?

The ability to see in the dark is becoming more accurate and more portable

Fireworks go off over the Moskva River.

Dazzling Photos of Russia's First Annual Pyrotechnic Festival

At an international fireworks competition in Moscow, leading companies stretched far beyond pyrotechnics' ancient origins

This concept drawing shows a swarm of "Gremlin" drones.

The U.S. Military Named Their Swarming Drones After This Fairy Tale

These "Gremlins" take their cue from WWII fighter pilots' lucky charms

U.S. Army Spc. Amanda Vasquez, with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, salutes the flag in 2009.

The First Two Female Army Rangers Are About to Graduate

After completing a grueling course, two women have proved they have what it takes to join the Army's best

The Cape Hatteras Light of North Carolina, on the Atlantic Ocean.

The Lonely, Lifesaving Job of Lighthouse Keepers, Revealed at the National Lighthouse Museum

A new museum in Staten Island tells the stories of men and women who ran lighthouses throughout America’s history and shows off some unique antiques

Whatever Happened to the Wild Camels of the American West?

Initially seen as the Army's answer to how to settle the frontier, the camels eventually became a literal beast of burden, with no home on the range

A vintage Antonov An-2 in Poland.

North Korea's Military Still Uses Stealth Planes From the 1940s

The An-2 can hover and fly backwards

U.S. Marines search for Haitian rebels in 1919.

The United States Once Invaded and Occupied Haiti

In 1915, American troops began a 19-year, unofficial occupation of the Caribbean nation

Inside the Daily Lives of Iraq's Kurds

America's most important ally in the battle against ISIS is closer than ever to fulfilling their hope of founding a new nation

Why We'd Be Better Off if Napoleon Never Lost at Waterloo

On the bicentennial of the most famous battle in world history, a distinguished historian looks at what could have been

The Atlas V rocket launches the X-37B on a 2012 mission. The craft will launch again Wednesday from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

A Mysterious Space Plane Will Launch This Week

Though much of the X-37B's mission is top secret, details are emerging about experiments that will go into orbit with the unmanned craft

The Lusitania leaves New York on its final voyage in 1915.

This Map Shows the Full Extent of the Devastation Wrought by U-Boats in World War I

On the anniversary of the sinking of the Lusitania, a look at how "unrestricted submarine warfare" changed the rules of war

The U.S. Military Has Developed Self-Steering Bullets

Hi-tech bullets can help snipers hit moving targets

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