Donald McPherson earned the Congressional Gold Medal and three Distinguished Flying Crosses during his service as a US Navy Pilot aboard the aircraft carrier USS Essex in the final battles of World War II.

It is often hard to determine the final shots of a major conflict, but in the case of the naval war against Japan, the USS Concord was sure to cement her legacy.

In her August 15, 1945, My Day column, Eleanor Roosevelt reflects on the mixed emotions following the announcement of peace, mourning the war’s losses while urging world leaders to use atomic energy for the benefit of all humanity and to work toward a unified, peaceful future.

Victory over Japan Day was and is celebrated on different dates around the world. Why?

In her August 10, 1945, My Day column, Eleanor Roosevelt reflects on the Atomic bombing of Nagasaki, urging an end to discrimination and calling for faith in humanity’s ability to meet the challenges of the atomic age.

By making the USS Indianapolis story a central plot point in Jaws, director Steven Spielberg introduced the story of the ship and its survivors to a wide audience, and with that larger audience came close scrutiny of how filmmakers told the story.

In her August 7, 1945, My Day column, Eleanor Roosevelt responds to the news of the atomic bomb’s first use against Japan, reflecting on its destructive power, the moral responsibility it imposes on humanity, and the urgent need to commit to peace in a world changed by nuclear technology.

Truman G. Causey was serving in the Philippines as a member of the 17th Bombardment Squadron, 27th Bombardment Group, when Japanese forces invaded the islands in December 1941. 

Hundreds of the ship's crew floated on the Pacific for days. Their location and fate were unknown to the US Navy. 

In the 80 years since its creation, the United Nations has played a key role in international affairs, from providing relief aid to disaster areas and conflict zones to protecting cultural heritage sites around the world. 

Wilma Betty Gray's WAC journey began when she boarded a train, destination unknown. Her assignment was Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for the Manhattan Project.

While most people are familiar with the names of “Little Boy” and “Fat Man” as the atomic weapons used over Japan, what they may not be familiar with was how different the respective technologies of each bomb were and why this difference mattered.