Military Archives

A new museum in Texas tells the life stories of Medal of Honor recipients

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — A new museum is opening in Texas highlighting the lives and service of Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War to the global war on terrorism. The National Medal of Honor Museum opens Tuesday in Arlington. Over 3,500 people have received the Medal of Honor, which is awarded by Congress for risking one’s life in combat beyond the call of duty. Retired U.S. Army colonel and Medal of Honor recipient Jack Jacobs says he wants museum visitors to realize the recipients aren’t “spectacular supermen,” but regular people who embody important values.… Continue Reading

Two US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent ‘friendly fire’ incident, US military says

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military says two U.S. Navy pilots have been shot down over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident. Both pilots were recovered alive, with one suffering minor injuries in the incident on Sunday. The incident came as the U.S. military conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels, though the U.S. military’s Central Command did not elaborate on what their mission was at the time. “The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18, which was flying off the USS Harry S. Truman,” Central Command said in a statement.… Continue Reading

‘I want you’: how the U.S. military reevaluates recruiting during periods of drought

Every day, recruiters ask people why they haven’t considered the military. Disinterest and disconnect with the profession come up often. Fighting, guns and death—almost always.

“What people think of when they think of going into the Army, you’re going to go to war, or, you know, something bad could happen,” Casey said.… Continue Reading

His country trained him to fight. Then he turned against it. More like him are doing the same

MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. (AP) — The number of U.S. service members and veterans who radicalize make up a tiny fraction of a percentage point of the millions and millions who have honorably served their country. But an Associated Press investigation has found that people with military backgrounds have been radicalizing at a faster rate than the general population. The investigation also found that extremist plots involving people with military backgrounds were more likely to involve weapons training or firearms than those plots that didn’t include someone with a military background. A Department of Defense official said it is “committed to understanding the root causes of extremism and ensuring that it does not gain a foothold within the Department.”… Continue Reading

Startling video shows Russian fighter jet flying within feet of US F-16 near Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Military officials have released new video of a startling interaction between a Russian jet flying near Alaska and a U.S. plane sent to intercept it. In the video released Monday, the Russian fighter jet comes from behind the camera and swoops by the U.S. plane, just feet from the aircraft. The video release of the close encounter comes weeks after a series of Russian entries into the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, just beyond U.S. sovereign airspace. The interaction drew commendation from military officials and Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan.… Continue Reading