The invasion of Leyte and the heroism of Captain Francis B Wai

On October 17, 1944, under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, the invasion of the Philippines began. This operation, code-named King Two, began the aggressive liberation of the Philippine islands. Since they were overrun by the Japanese two years earlier, the Philippine islands were a very strategic archipelago. Their recapture was vital to the overall plan […]

Think 9/11 was an ‘inside job?’ Then we’ll make this simple…

Conspiracy theories have been around since mankind first started forming groups and questioning the intentions of other groups they could see on the horizon.  Paranoia, it could be argued, is an ingrained survival trait that has helped us to become the dominant species on this planet, but in the relative safety and comfort of modern-day […]

On this day in history: Israeli Prime Minister assassinated

On November 4, 1995, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Prime Minister of Israel was killed on the steps of a city hall in Tel Aviv, taking three rounds to the chest and dying later in the hospital. Yitzhak Rabin had an extensive military career before his entry into politics. As a new recruit, he participated […]

SOF Pic of the Day: Greatness within reach

75th Ranger Regiment Wins Best Ranger competition Master Sgt. Josh Horsager of the 75th Ranger Regiment took first place in the 2017 Best Ranger competition, held April 7-9, 2017, at Fort Benning, Georgia. The event is in its 34th year. The competition is designed to determine the best two-Soldier Ranger team in the Army. Image […]

CIA Flashback: The true value of a foreign agent in the President’s circle

What is the true value of a foreign power placing an agent in the president’s circle? The obvious answer would seem to be the potential to steal highly classified information and pass along the nation’s most intimate secrets. But in a Halloween speech [PDF] more than 30 years ago, then-CIA Director William Casey offered a different […]

SOF Pic of the Day: Marines & Airmen take the beach

A U.S. Marine and Airman perform scout swimmer training during Marine Special Operations School’s Individual Training Course, March 24, 2017, at Key West, Fla. For the first time, U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Airmen spent three months in Marine Special Operations Command’s Marine Raider training pipeline, representing efforts to build joint mindsets across special operations […]

SOF Pic of the Day: A rare glimpse of the Night Stalkers in the light of day

“The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment’s mission is to organize, equip, train, resource and employ Army special operations aviation forces worldwide in support of contingency missions and combatant commanders. Known as Night Stalkers, these Soldiers are recognized for their proficiency in nighttime operations. They are highly trained and ready to accomplish the very toughest missions […]

US forces capture key militant from the 2012 Benghazi attacks

On Monday, the White House announced that U.S forces captured have Mustafa al-Imam in Libya. Al-Imam had been linked to the attacks on U.S. personnel in Benghazi on September 11, 2012–the infamous battle at the embassy and CIA annex that claimed the lives of four Americans: Ambassador Chris Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith and former […]

SOF Pic of the Day: Marine Raider helocast training

Marine Special Operations School Individual Training Course students helocast from a U.S. Navy SH-60 Seahawk Helicopter, March 23, 2017, at Key West, Fla. For the first time, U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Airmen spent three months in Marine Special Operations Command’s Marine Raider training pipeline, representing efforts to build joint mindsets across special operations forces. […]

US Military bashes UK over potential cuts

It’s not often that you hear your greatest ally bashing your money choices. But that’s exactly what British Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials heard from US military officers. “As the UK continues to diminish and as the Royal Marines, in particular, take a hit, I think that our view of what we will be able […]

The history of US Psychological Operations: Psychological warfare abroad

As we discussed in Part 3, the domestic home front became a battle for ideas and slogans as the Roosevelt administration pushed the nation to get ready for war. FDR established the Office of Coordinator of Information (COI), based on the directions of Colonel William Donovan. Col Donovan spent considerable time with British officials, and […]

Who betrayed Anne Frank? Former F.B.I. agent reopens a cold case

Hiding from the Gestapo in a secret annex of her father’s warehouse in Amsterdam during World War II, Anne Frank heard a little knock on the wall. She could not be sure who or what it was, and it frightened her. She was right to be scared: Just months later, on Aug. 4, 1944, the […]