Chaplains aren’t just religious advocates for service members. They’re also relied upon for moral and spiritual well-being, with an ability to be calm in the most harrowing of circumstances. Only a handful of chaplains have earned the Medal of Honor. Navy Lt. Vincent Capodanno, whose bravery and selflessness were exemplified during the Vietnam War, is one of them. Capodanno was ...

The Defense Department is huge and has numerous moving parts, so we’re sure you have lots of questions that might bring you to Defense.gov. Civilians always have questions about military procedures, and service members and their families have an entirely different subset of queries about what’s available to them. Luckily, we have a whole Question & Answer section on Defense.gov ...

For some people, the military is a calling. That was the case for Army Staff Sgt. Travis Atkins, who reenlisted during the height of the Iraq War after a break in service. It was a decision that led to his death, but his dedication to the cause saved the lives of three of his fellow soldiers, and those actions are ...

By spring of 1945, the end of World War II was imminent. The Allies had pushed into Germany, and that momentum may be what pushed Army 1st Lt. Jack Treadwell to single-handedly clear out six enemy bunkers and take 18 prisoners as his battalion hammered the Siegfried Line, Germany’s last major defensive fortification. His actions inspired his men and earned ...

A lot of Defense Department decisions tie in with State Department foreign policy. But while military advisors and diplomats share the same mission, they have very different perspectives and skill sets. So it would make sense to have a link between the two, right? That’s where the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs’ Office of State-Defense Integration comes in. It creates a link ...

Medics on the battlefield have a crucial job: to care for the wounded despite the chaos around them. Army Pfc. Bryant Womack understood that job so well that he refused to quit helping others in Korea, even after he’d lost a limb. That selflessness led to his death, but it also earned him the Medal of Honor and a place ...

It’s that time of year when we spring forward and are happy to get home from a busy day while it’s still light out. Did you know? The tradition of “springing” forward one hour was once nicknamed “war time.” The idea of daylight saving time originated in New Zealand in the 1800s, although it wasn’t implemented there until 1927. In ...

The Battle of Iwo Jima in the Pacific during World War II is one of the most famous battles of all time. A photo of service members raising the American flag there on Feb. 23, 1945, is iconic, and it was the inspiration behind the Marine Corps War Memorial near Arlington National Cemetery. Also iconic is Hershel “Woody” Williams, a Marine ...

Dr. Seuss is a story-writing legend in America. It's hard to find anyone who hasn't read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "The Cat in the Hat," "The Lorax" or "Horton Hears A Who!"

Of the more than 260 service members who received the Medal of Honor for actions taken in Vietnam, not many volunteered for their tour of duty. Army Spc. 4th Class Daniel Fernandez volunteered for his second stint there. It was a choice that led to his death, but the soldiers he saved will never forget his sacrifice. Fernandez was born ...

In honor of Presidents Day, we thought it would be worthwhile to honor the only president to have earned the Medal of Honor – President Theodore ”Teddy” Roosevelt. Roosevelt was known for many things — most notably his two terms as president, his exploration of the South American wilderness, having his profile carved into Mount Rushmore, and the many nonfiction stories ...

Presidents Day was initially created to observe the birthday of our first president, George Washington. But nowadays, we use it to celebrate all U.S. presidents. With that in mind, do you know how many presidents have served in the U.S. military? There have been many, but here are some of the most notable: George Washington No military statesman was more ...

The majority of service members who earn the Medal of Honor do so during times of conflict, but several recipients earned it for bravery that didn’t have anything to do with war. Marine Corps Pvt. Albert J. Smith is one of those recipients, and he earned his medal on this day 98 years ago. Smith was born in Calumet, Michigan, ...

Air Force Col. Joe Jackson earned the nation’s highest honor by rescuing three men in Vietnam in 1968, and he became a living example of military valor for 50 years after that. Unfortunately, he passed away Jan. 12 at age 95. But his story — and the famous photograph that goes with it — will live on in military pilot ...

Valor can come from those young and old, experienced or inexperienced. During the waning days of World War I, many American soldiers were thrust into the war effort quickly. Army Pvt. Nels Wold was one of them, and in the six months he was in the service, the bravery he showed was enough to earn him the Medal of Honor. ...