Military Myths and Legends Archives - Page 2 of 4

American GIs Battle a German Sniper in Snowy WWII Thriller ‘Recon’

Military Myths and Legends, World War II

"Recon," a good old-fashioned World War II movie, turns out to be one of the few films that are trying to make a big impact in theaters this fall. The movie follows four American soldiers over the course of a day after they are sent on a possible suicide mission over a mountain. An old Italian partisan leads them, and no one can be sure of his loyalties. The men witnessed their Sergeant kill an Italian civilian just before this assignment, so no one really knows whether they are supposed...

Does the U.S. Military Really Use Saltpeter to Calm the Urges of Basic Trainees?

Global War on Terror, Military Myths and Legends

This old legend might be the first military myth new recruits come across, and it might have been around for as long as saltpeter itself. Despite the combined efforts of science, health education, and common sense, somehow, the myth of the military adding saltpeter to the food or beverages in basic training still persists. The Saltpeter Myth Claims Military Food Suppresses Desire Why would the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps do such a thing? The legend says they would...

A Veteran-inspired Watchmaker Brought Back the Iconic Watch A-11 that Won World War II

Military Myths and Legends, World War II

Timing can be critical when conducting a military operation. During World War II, it wasn't just the men in combat who depended on accurate timing. The rest of the millions of Allied service members and potentially the entire free world relied on precision watches. Like many things produced during World War II, the A-11 watch was developed for use by the U.S. military. The A-11 Watch Was Designed to Be the Timepiece that Survived the War Like most critical supplies, the Allies knew that...

The Unbearable Weight of Medieval Knight Armor

Military Myths and Legends

Somewhere along the way, film and television got it into their heads that the medieval knight armor were so heavy that it restricted their movement. One common belief is that the armor was so heavy that knights going into battle had to be hoisted onto their horses with the help of a crane. While going into battle fully protected by armor would be important to a soldier of any era, those of us who have worn body armor in combat will tell you the body armor also has to be functional. After...

The Wild Deserters of World War I

Military Myths and Legends, World War I

At the 1918 Battle of the Somme, a British cavalry officer orders a search party to follow a dozen German troops into No Man's Land, swearing he saw them go underground. He was advised against it as the sun was setting – soon, the legend says, wild, ghoul-like men will feast on the Germans and kill anyone who gets in the way. Of all the military myths and legends that sprung from World War I, there is possibly no greater mystery – and nothing closer to the men in the trenches – than the Wild...

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