The men of the Underwater Demolition Teams in the Pacific were born out of the necessity of the moment in World War II, and blasted their way from one island to another to help achieve American victory over Japan.

Newspaper correspondent Ernie Pyle became a national folk hero by reporting on the average soldier in World War II.

As Marines behind the lines ran supplies up to the grunts in the front, one survivor of the night action and a veteran of Peleliu was heard to tell his foxhole buddy about the upcoming fight, “This right here…well…this is gonna be a bitch.” He had no idea how accurate his prophecy would be.

Fast, powerful, and short-lived, the Alaska-class large cruisers of the US Navy in World War II were both state of the art and obsolete at the same time. See how the US Navy tried to create the ultimate cruiser-killer ship.

We look back at some of the best author events at The National WWII Museum.

We feature some loyal companions, adopted friends, and loved animals by WWII servicemen and women in honor of National Pet Day.

Dancer Patty Thomas was often showcased by her boss and troupe leader Bob Hope as a living embodiment of what American troops were fighting for. Thomas brought levity and youthful femininity to the staging areas of the harshest fighting in the Pacific.

Take a look at some beer-related items from the Museum.

Just in time for WrestleMania, the contributions of professional wrestlers during World War II ranged from performing at bond drives to giving the military tips on hand-to-hand combat, while some wrestlers actually served and fought on the front lines. 

How one Marine's final heroic act on Peleliu led to another on Okinawa.

As the American advance pushed further south, it ran headlong into fortified Japanese positions and heavily defended caves near Kakazu Ridge, the first defensive perimeter in what would be called the Shuri Line. The rapid advance and relatively light American casualties sustained so far on Okinawa ended.

In the bloodiest  battle in Marine Corps history, 27 Marines and sailors were awarded the Medal of Honor for action on Iwo Jima. No other campaign surpassed that number.