Military History

Portrait of an Army officer in a World War II-era dress uniform.

Remains of Merrill’s Marauder killed and missing from World War II identified

The remains of U.S. Army 1st Lt. Herman J. Sundstad, who fought in Burma during World War II as a member of the famed Merrill’s Marauders outfit, have been identified and returned to family members in Minnesota after 80 years.

Baseball lineage of 2 pitchers in the MLB playoffs trace back to Japanese legend killed fighting US troops in WWII

Two MLB pitchers from Japan — one with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the other with the San Diego Padres — will face off in the playoffs starting this weekend. Both players can trace their baseball lineage to Japanese pitching legend Eiji Sawamura, who was killed fighting U.S. forces during World War II.

This photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows part of a damaged taxiway at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, after an explosion was reported. (Kyodo News via AP)

American bomb from World War II explodes at Japanese airport, causing large crater in taxiway

An unexploded U.S. bomb from World War II that had been buried at a Japanese airport exploded Wednesday, causing a large crater in a taxiway and the cancellation of more than 80 flights but no injuries.

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Steve Woodson speaks during a ceremony to posthumously award the Distinguished Service Cross to his father, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Waverly Woodson Jr., in Washington on Sept. 24, 2024.

80 years after D-Day, family of Black World War II combat medic receives his medal for heroism

The family of Waverly B. Woodson Jr., a Black combat medic who treated 200 troops during the harrowing invasion of Normandy during World War II, gathered Tuesday in Washington to see Woodson’s 95-year-old widow receive the Distinguished Service Cross he was awarded posthumously for his heroism.

WWII veteran’s souvenir Japanese rifle lost for decades recovered by his son

After the war ended in 1945, Hibray flew over Hiroshima to view the devastation and into Osaka, where he purchased an Arisaka Japanese military rifle with a bayonet as a souvenir and had it shipped back to the United States.

Sharon Deane places a bronze rosette beside the name of her father, Army Lt. Col. William Deane, at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu on Sept. 20, 2024. His missing remains from the Vietnam War were identified in 1999.

MIA/POW ceremony recognizes the Vietnam War lost who have been found

During the annual National POW/MIA Recognition Day at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, the first of nearly 1,000 formerly unaccounted for troops from the Vietnam War received long-overdue rosettes next to their names on the walls of the Courts of the Missing to signify they have been identified.

From the Archives: Jet pilot ‘vanishes’ in crash on carrier

SP3 Neal E. Callahan, Stars and Stripes staffer, was aboard the carrier Oriskany when a Navy Banshee jet crashed into the fantail during a landing. This is his eyewitness account. This article first appeared in the Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, Jul. 4, 1955. It is republished unedited in its original form.

Explosive ordnance technicians with the 36th Wing removed a World War II-era Japanese grenade from a construction site on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on Aug. 21, 2024.

Unexploded WWII-era Japanese hand grenade removed from Guam construction site

Explosive ordnance technicians recently removed an unexploded World War II-era Japanese grenade from a construction site at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

The U.S. Air Force celebrates its 77th birthday on Sept. 18, 2024. The celebration is of special importance to the Kaiserslautern Military Community which houses one of the busiest Air Force bases outside of the continental United States: Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Senior Airman Christian Conrad)

Air Force celebrates 77th birthday with overhauls, modernizations

The U.S. military community is celebrating the day the U.S. Air Force became an independent branch of the military. The USAF has been the world’s most powerful air force for its entire history — and it has plans to stay that way.

Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, presents the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross, to the niece and grand-niece of Pvt. John Greschiak, a World War II Soldier who was killed in action on Sept. 16, 1944, during a ceremony at which he was posthumously at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham, New York on Sept. 16, 2024. They, at left, Donna Cramer of Albany, and Cheri Gagliardi, a Rotterdam resident. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Stephanie Butler)

Family of WWII Purple Heart recipient receives New York service medal, 80 years after soldier’s death

The family of a WWII soldier who was killed in action in September 1944 during a fight in Germany received the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross at New York National Guard headquarters on Monday, 80 years after his death.

Veterans Day 2014 at the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Defense agency accounts for 700th missing service member from Korean War

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced last week that it has identified the 700th service member listed as missing from the Korean War. More than 7,400 remain missing.

Framed family photos, Military Awards and tributes rest on a remembrance table for U.S. Army Private Billy E. Calkins at the Fir Lawn Memorial Cemetery, Hillsboro, Oregon on Sept. 13, 2024. Calkins remains were return to Oregon 82 years after his death in the Philippines where he served with the 31st Infantry Regiment, Company B, and died at the Cabanatuan Prison Camp on Nov. 1, 1942 when he as 17 years old. (National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

WWII POW who died in Philippines in 1942 laid to rest in Oregon

The remains of U.S. Army Pvt. William E. Calkins were laid to rest Saturday in Hillsboro, Ore., nearly 82 years after he died in a POW camp in the Philippines.

Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson talks to a reporter at her Tokyo hotel.

From the Archives: Soul is nothing new — Mahalia’s always had it

The one-time washwoman was interviewed by Pacific Stars and Stripes in her Tokyo hotel on April 24, 1971 following her singing performance for Empress Nagako and other members of the imperial family Friday. This article first appeared in the Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, Apr. 26, 1971. It is republished unedited in its original form.

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