History Archives

Stanley Pillsbury: A Hero Saves His Crew in Unbroken

Who was Stanley Pillsbury, and what role did he play in Unbroken? Was he a friend of Louis Zamperini? Stanley Pillsbury was a crew member of the Super Man plane, a B-24 Liberator known as “Flying Coffins.” He worked alongside Louis until the Super Man was destroyed in April of 1943. Stanley Pillsbury was injured during the Super Man attack. Despite his injury, he managed to save the whole crew. His actions had a profound effect on Lous Zamperini.

Lindsay Mills Snowden: Ed Snowden’s Wife & Marriage

Who is Edward Snowden’s wife? How did the two of them meet? What was their relationship like while Snowden worked as a government contractor? What happened to Lindsay Mills Snowden after the leak? Lindsay Mills Snowden is the wife of Edward Snowden. She married Ed after he had leaked government documents and blown the whistle on a US mass surveillance program. Learn more about Edward Snowden and Lindsay Mills Snowden, from the start of their relationship to their marriage.

Lost At Sea: How Louis Zamperini Survived 47 Days

What does it mean to be lost at sea? Are there well-known accounts of people who were stranded and rescued? Louis Zamperini was lost at sea for 47 days when his plane crashed during World War II. He survived along with his friend, Russell Allen “Phil” Phillips. At the time, they surpassed the record for survival while being lost at sea. Unfortunately, after being lost at sea both men were found by Japanese soldiers and became American POWs.

NSA Mass Surveillance: Ed Snowden’s Historic Leak

What is mass surveillance? Is the NSA mass surveillance program legal? What are some examples of mass surveillance? How did Edward Snowden discover what the government was doing? Mass surveillance is the process of collecting data or information on a large scale. NSA mass surveillance involves technology, but historical examples of mass surveillance include a census in Nazi Germany. Learn more about Edward Snowden, mass surveillance, and finding evidence to prove what was happening.

Edward Snowden: Asylum Denied by 27 Countries

How did Edward Snowden get asylum? What did he need to get it from Russia? Where did Snowden hope to go? For Edward Snowden, asylum was the only real means for avoiding extradition. As a political criminal, extradition should have been ignored but there was pressure from the US. Learn more about Edward Snowden, asylum status, and what he went through to get it.

The Tragic Story of The Green Hornet Plane

What was the Green Hornet plane? What was Louis Zamperini’s experience like on the Green Hornet? In 1943, Louis Zamperini was part of the crew on the Green Hornet plane when it crashed into the ocean. Louis survived the Green Hornet plane crash, and later became in American POW in Japan. All of the crew members of the Green Hornet plane were officially declared dead—including Louis.

Edward Snowden in Russia: Asylum and a New Life

Why is Edward Snowden in Russia? Was Russia Snowden’s choice for asylum? Is Edward Snowden in Russia currently? A flight route that only went to non-extraditing countries landed Edward Snowden in Russia in 2013. With a canceled passport and no legal way to leave Russia, Snowden stayed for 40 days. Learn how Snowden got asylum in Russia and where he lives now.

Heartbeat: Snowden Program Collected Key Documents

What does the program from Edward Snowden, Heartbeat, do? How does Hearbeat work and why did the NSA need it? How did Ed use it in preparing to blow the whistle? Heartbeat is a program written by Edward Snowden. It was used to pull posts from various intelligence databases. Read about Heartbeat, Snowden, and the unparalleled access to large amounts of intelligence data.

Enron Raptors: The Dirty SPE Scheme Falls Apart

What were the Enron Raptors? Did they have anything to do with the downfall of Enron? Enron Raptors were a type of SPE (special purpose entity). In a complicated process, Enron Raptors would buy underperforming Enron assets, creating a positive loop that looked good for Enron. Read more about Enron Raptors below, and why they didn’t work.

William Harris in Unbroken: A Leader’s Survival Story

Who is William Harris in Unbroken? William Harris was a high ranking officer that William Harris in Unbroken is one of the American soldiers that Louis Zamperini meets at Ofuna prison camp. William Harris in Unbroken is a role model and hero figure to Louis, and undergoes extreme abuse at the hands of his captors.