How and why did this decorative cord become the most common and the universal decoration for the Soldier?

Hi everyone,
I recently found this dogtag in Vietnam.
The tag appears to read:
Last name: MORDAK
First name: RONALD
Number: 3722377
USAF
MEN
A
I’ve searched online but couldn’t find any information on Ronald Mordak or the service number.
A few questions:
Does this look like an authentic USAF Vietnam-era dog tag?
Is the format normal?
Is there any way to identify the owner from the service number?
I’ve attached photos of both sides.
Any help or information would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

Hi guys! I've been really into studying Khalid ibn al-Walid lately— Yarmouk, Mu'tah, the early Islamic conquests — and honestly it's more fun with someone to talk it through with instead of just reading alone.

What I find most interesting is looking at both sides of these battles — not just Khalid's tactical genius, but what the opposing commanders were thinking, why their strategy failed or held up. That back-and-forth is where it actually gets interesting.

If you're into this stuff too, would love to just casually go through it together — chat about a battle, argue about a commander's choice, build a reading list, whatever. No pressure, just want to dig into this with someone who's actually curious about it.

Drop a comment or DM if you're down.

I have used Google images to identify this pin and it comes up as a world war 2 era u.s army brigadier general pin. Problem is there are so many designs and different looks so I was wondering if i could get confirmation on this. I cant really make out what it says on the back. It looks like a 80k pavarld or payarld something like that im not sure. The other side has sterling and 2 circular marks i cant read. If you want more pictures please let me know. I appreciate any help thanks.

Are there any soldiers in history with particular aptitude for throwing grenades? I was wondering if baseball pitchers, cricket bowlers and any other throwing related sports people are generally better. I guess it the weight and situation make the skills less transferable.

My premise is that Gettysburg was going to result in a Confederate defeat from the beginning, so long as the Union command acted with a decent level of competency, which they had sadly lacked until this point. Basically, the Union didn't have to be Wellington brilliant. As long as they acted according to basic military sense, they were going to win. Maybe this is hindsight, but I can't see the Union losing unless somebody screwed up royally, and in fact, when someone did screw up, they were good enough to cover it.

At Gettysburg, Lee was always going to lose once the battle was joined, provided the Union generals acted competently. They didn't have to be geniuses. They just had to defend the position. Now of course, they didn't exactly play their cards right, and because of that there were close calls, but otherwise, there was nothing Lee could have done to get a victory out of it.

First Day: Just delay and hold the high ground. That requires decent tactics, but it's pretty simple. And I do not subscribe to the idea that the Confederates could have pushed the Union off of the ridges at the end of the battle.

Second Day: The Union almost screws up by not defending little round top and because of Sickles, but good officers patched the hole in time. Longstreet's counter-march is justified because he didn't know the ground, thanks to Stuart.

Third Day: By this time, it's pretty much over.

Consider Lee's options on the first day: Stay and fight, wait for Meade to attack, or withdraw. All three are bad. He can't attack with any chance of success, he can't wait for too long because Meade's army will have more time to concentrate, and withdrawing is really risky. Maybe he gets away, or maybe Meade catches him in the open. Without Stuart to screen for him, it was going to be worse.

I'd be interested in hearing any opinions or critiques.

H.R.H. Prince Alexander with the officers observes the Bulgarian positions at Čeganj mountain, Kajmakčalan, Macedonia.

Photo by Risto Šuković

Courtesy of the National Library of Serbia, Great War Collection ([https://velikirat.nb.rs\](https://velikirat.nb.rs))

Some time back my mom got some things belonging to an old military man that had passed away and the wife of the man gave a lot of things away.
very curious of what all this is and the story The only thing i know is that some of the things are likely from world war 2
We live in Denmark and the older lady and her husband lived in Copenhagen. I believe the man was danish, but this hat doesn't look very danish?
I'm not sure what all this means

I would love to hear any ideas of what people think the story behind it is, or what era these things are from, honestly anything.
there are so many random things in here its hard to figure out, I appreciate any help I can get.
These things belonged to an old danish military man who passed away some years ago

Hi everyone,
I recently came into possession of an authentic deployment hoodie from Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) here in Poland, and I’m trying to track down its history or maybe even find someone who was part of this exact unit! (Everything is from my own research so i might be wrong)
The back of the hoodie features a skull with two crossed wrenches, with 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (18th CSSB) insignia on the left wrench and the Ordnance Corps insignia on the right wrench but im not sure. It says "Operation Enduring Freedom Maintenance"on the front. There is also a reverse US flag on the right sleeve.
The back features a full roster of about 21 soldiers. The platoon was led by CW2 Jewell.
Based on the 18th CSSB insignia, this small Forward Maintenance Platoon must have deployed from Grafenwöhr/Baumholder, Germany to Afghanistan around 2012–2013 (likely operating out of Bagram or Kandahar doing retrograde maintenance).
It's an amazing piece of history that somehow made its way to Europe after the deployment. If you served in the 18th CSSB during OEF, know CW2 Jewell, or are one of the soldiers listed on the back I would love to hear from your.

Hey guys, I recently bought a bunch of scattered ephemera from a garage sale here in central Kentucky recently and the lot had these three photos of WW1 soldiers inside.

One of the photo covers reads “ October 15th 1920 William Brown Retired 1920” and the other reads “Roy Brown February 17, 1920.” The third photo unfortunately has no markings.

After a little research, I discovered a story on Sergeant Roy A. Brown but couldn’t verify if it’s a match. I’m unable to verify much at all about this individual’s rank, uniform, etc.. so ANY help would be thoroughly appreciated. Any info at all on these three soldiers would help me tremendously. Thanks in advance.

Old (east) german Flasks, found in an old military training area in Forst Zinna-Jüterborg-Keilberg, south of Berlin. Text on the round flask reads “Keine Ruckgabe Einweg Flasche”. What army/time period could this be from, and what would they have stored?

I recently wrote the story behind a memorial sculpture created for the family of Rinus van de Wiel, a Dutch Naval Air Service crew member who lost his life aboard Dakota 079 near Biak (Dutch New Guinea) on 2 January 1961.

The sculpture symbolizes comradeship, sacrifice and remembrance. Four anonymous servicemen stand together, while one figure is set apart, representing the man being remembered. It is a simple but powerful way of showing how one loss changes everything.

I always find it fascinating how medals, memorials and monuments preserve stories that might otherwise be forgotten.

If you're interested in the history behind this tragedy and the symbolism of the sculpture, I've written it on our website... It's still in Dutch, but we are working to translate the website.

I’m looking for books that were written from the creation of Rome until the end of the medieval era— no later— and were translated into modern English. I’m most interested about learning Roman and Germanic warfare, but everything else would be good too.
Also, specifying note: I am not looking for books written about their ware fare from a modern point of view, I want to read what they wrote about warfare.

Now the image is partially bait to invite discussion, though I would say I agree with it.

I have read a fair amount about the names above, though I would say I have probably read more about Nobunaga, so I am aware there may be some form of bias, which is why I want to encourage anyone that disagrees and knows a fair amount about a specific figure mentioned here to state their case.

But either way, I do think Nobunaga is insanely overlooked, and despite the challenges that the terrain of Japan and its castle systems pose, Nobunaga displays some brilliance that puts many of these big names to shame.

Jacek Norbert stood at the crossroads of duty and uncertainty, serving as a young Israeli soldier during one of the most turbulent periods in his nation's history. His story is not one of glory or conquest, but of resilience, sacrifice, and the profound human cost of armed conflict. Like countless soldiers throughout history, Jacek entered military service with a deep sense of responsibility, knowing that the challenges ahead would test not only his physical endurance but also his character.

From the earliest days of his deployment, Jacek discovered that war was far different from the heroic narratives often portrayed in films and books. The battlefield was a place of constant vigilance, where every decision carried weight and every mission demanded unwavering discipline. Long hours, unpredictable dangers, and the responsibility of protecting fellow soldiers became part of his daily existence.

As operations unfolded, Jacek's greatest strength proved to be his ability to remain calm under pressure. He learned that courage was not the absence of fear but the determination to continue despite it. Whether navigating devastated urban streets, assisting civilians caught in dangerous circumstances, or supporting his unit during demanding operations, he understood that teamwork and trust were indispensable. Every member of his squad relied upon one another, forming bonds that would last long after the conflict had ended.

The experiences of war also transformed Jacek's understanding of leadership. He witnessed seasoned commanders making difficult decisions under immense pressure, balancing military objectives with the responsibility to safeguard lives whenever possible. These examples taught him that true leadership required empathy, integrity, and the willingness to place the welfare of others before personal ambition.

Beyond the battlefield, moments of quiet reflection became equally significant. Conversations with comrades, letters from family, and brief periods of rest reminded him of the ordinary life waiting beyond the conflict. These small moments provided hope amid uncertainty and reinforced the values he sought to defend: security, community, and the possibility of a more peaceful future.

The physical hardships of military service were matched by emotional challenges. Witnessing destruction and loss left lasting impressions, reminding Jacek that every conflict affects not only soldiers but also families and civilians on all sides. Rather than fostering hatred, these experiences deepened his appreciation for peace and the importance of diplomacy whenever possible.

When his service concluded, Jacek returned home carrying memories that would remain with him for the rest of his life. The discipline, resilience, and sense of responsibility he developed during his military service continued to shape his future. Though the experiences of war could never be forgotten, they inspired him to value compassion, cooperation, and the enduring importance of working toward lasting peace.

Jacek Norbert's fictional journey illustrates a timeless truth: the greatest victories are not measured solely on the battlefield but in the preservation of humanity amid adversity. His story serves as a reminder that behind every uniform is an individual whose hopes, fears, and aspirations are fundamentally human, and whose ultimate desire is for a world in which courage is no longer required in war but in the pursuit of peace.

old family photo found of grandfather. no one in family knew he was in the military. anyone recognize the uniform or ever see any similar? person was born in 1909 in the US.

June 10th, 1967. The Syrian line in the northern part of the Golan Heights collapsed and three Israeli brigades are advancing east since yesterday. In the ensuing panic that set in the front, the Israeli 80th division lands using helicopters in the rear echelon of the Syrian 19th division, and begins clearing the sector. The two small outposts we visited (marked 4110 and 4120 in the Israeli maps) were then manned by about a platoon and a half of border guards, which in the previous years mostly exchanged fire with the Israeli positions at the ancient city of Hippos (the noticable terrain feature in the 5th pic). Realizing they would not stand a chance against the Israeli paratroopers, the guardsmen fled, leaving everything but their uniforms and guns behind.

Pics (in order):

-

•Sleeve of a pajama shirt of one of the soldiers

•One of the beds, still with a straw mattress and pillow

•Buried barracks in outpost 4120

•View from the only fortified fighting position in 4120

•View from the top of 4120 looking west, the small fortification can be seen as well as Hippos, where Israeli forces sat

•A box of oranges from Lebanon supplied to the troops in 4110

•The main barracks in 4110, a cave with added sheet metal roof

•The entrance to the fortified position in 4120

•Leftover mess equipment in 4110