Is Indianapolis’ Area Code a Tribute to the Survivors of a Naval Tragedy?
6 December 2018A local legend connects the 1945 sinking of the USS Indianapolis to telephone service.
Latest in Military
Did John McCain Cause a Fire Aboard the USS Forrestal that Killed 134 People?
24 October 2017A fabricated story blames the fluke 1967 aircraft carrier fire on the negligence of then-Navy bomber pilot and future United States Senator John McCain.
Did Jane Fonda Betray American POWs in North Vietnam?
21 June 2000The long-standing claim that Jane Fonda turned smuggled messages from U.S. POWs over to their North Vietnamese captors is false.
Does Arlington National Cemetery’s Honor Guard Follow These Strict Rules?
13 June 2004A popular viral item describes the duties and obligations of honor guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Returning Soldier Finds Family Dead
1 October 2010A serviceman returning from deployment discovers his wife died while he was away, and his children have starved to death.
Were Escape Kits Smuggled to WWII POWs in Monopoly Games?
24 February 2010Escape kits were smuggled to some Allied POWs during World War II by being cleverly concealed in Monopoly game sets.
Uniformed Veteran Kicked Out of Child’s School
15 June 2016A misleading social media page claimed a uniformed veteran was kicked out of his daughter's school because his attire was offensive.
Do a Net Worth Over $1 Million Disqualify You from Military Service?
26 January 2016A long-circulating rumor holds that individuals with a high net worth are ineligible to serve in the military due to a potential for insubordination.
General Pershing on How to Stop Islamic Terrorists
31 October 2001U.S. General John J. Pershing did not effectively discourage Muslim terrorists in the Philippines by killing them and burying their bodies along with those of pigs.
Saltpeter in the Military
13 August 2001Does the U.S. Army secretly feed new recruits saltpeter in order to suppress their sexual urges?
Why Are Coins Left on Headstones?
20 August 2013Modern tradition holds that leaving coins on military tombstones denotes visits from living soldiers.
Did Captain Kangaroo and Lee Marvin Fight at Iwo Jima?
8 March 2002Lee Marvin and Bob 'Captain Kangaroo' Keeshan were both in the military during World War II, but they didn't fight together at Iwo Jima or any other engagement.
Latest Fact Checks View all
What’s Stephanopoulos’ Height Compared to President Trump’s?
17 June 2019The measure of a man cannot exactly be gleaned ... from this photograph.
Did Bernie Sanders Vow to Round Up Remaining ISIS Members, Allow Them to Vote?
17 June 2019Some readers didn't see much humor in the post by a self-described satire site.
Did ‘@SixthFormPoet’ Really Meet Wife at Graveside of Triple-Murderer?
17 June 2019A viral June 2019 Twitter story had plenty of twists and turns, as well as a happy ending. But was it "entirely true," as its author claimed?
Is Disney Making a Live-Action ‘Hercules’?
17 June 2019Anonymous, unverified accounts on Twitter typically aren't the best sources for reliable news.
Is This ‘Porcupine Selfie’ Image Real?
17 June 2019Regardless of what this picture shows, exercise caution when approaching a porcupine.