Wars & Conflicts

Explore the timeline of American wars and conflicts including the French and Indian War, the American Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the American Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War.

Explore the timeline of American wars and conflicts from the American Revolutionary War to current global conflicts.

National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day (April 9)

This day honors those veterans who have served their country while being held captive in enemy territory. The day also honors the family of the prisoners of war and their long and anxious wait to see their family again. Visit the collection.

Tankbusters: Life in the Desert
Episode 6

Video

Lieutenant Colonel Joel "Rally" Rush discusses what living conditions were like in the deserts of the Middle East region.
Tankbusters: Flying Missions
Episode 5

Video

Lieutenant Colonel Joel "Rally" Rush discusses what flying missions in the A-10 Thunderbolt II were like. He walks viewers through the process of preparing for a mission, destroying Saddam Hussein's...
Tankbusters: Reaction to Invasion of Kuwait
Episode 4

Video

Lieutenant Colonel Joel "Rally" Rush recalls his thoughts about hearing the news on Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. Rush also discusses the socio-political climate in the U.S. at...
Tankbusters: Saddam Hussein
Episode 3

Video

Lieutenant Colonel Joel "Rally" Rush briefly opines about who Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was as a person.
Tankbusters: Introduction
Episode 1

Video

Meet Lieutenant Colonel Joel "Rally" Rush, U.S. Air Force, retired. Rush introduces himself, and briefly discusses his career and job duties in the military.
Persian Gulf War, Part 4
Episode 4

Video

Saddam Hussein’s elite Republican Guard forces were on the run from American and British Army armored divisions. After the allied victory at the Battle of Medina Ridge, Saddam was afraid that the...
Persian Gulf War, Part 3
Episode 3

Video

The United States and the United Nations responded quickly to Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. With multiple United Nations sanctions, and chances to leave, Saddam refused to withdraw his military...
Persian Gulf War, Part 2
Episode 2

Video

Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein earned notoriety for his brutal suppression of political dissidents, oppression of Kurds living in northern Iraq, and his desire for nuclear weapons. World criticism did...
Persian Gulf War, Part 1
Episode 1

Video

Saddam Hussein instigated the Persian Gulf War with his invasion of Iraq’s next door neighbor Kuwait on August 2, 1990. The introductory segment of this edition of History In A Nutshell sets the stage...