Key Battles of American History

The Japanese realized that if the U. S. were able to hold and utilize the airfield on Guadalcanal, Japan’s strategic objectives in the South Pacific would be foiled. Consequently, Japanese air, naval, and land forces immediately began trying to retake the airfield, recently renamed Henderson Field by the Americans. In August, Japanese bombers began conducting daily bombing raids on the field, an effort that the Americans called “Tojo Time.” In addition, an infantry battalion launched an aggressive attack on the Marine perimeter in an effort to retake the field. But would it work? Listen, and Dave and James will let you know!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On August 7, 1942, elements of the First Marine Division landed on Guadalcanal. They met little opposition and quickly captured their initial objective, an airfield that the Japanese had recently built. The Marines got to work establishing a perimeter and preparing for the inevitable Japanese counterattack. Soon after, Japanese and American naval forces clashed in the first major naval engagement of the Guadalcanal campaign, the Battle of Savo Island. Join Dave and James as they narrate the exciting opening of the epic struggle for Guadalcanal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On June 4, 1942, a Japanese naval task force launched an attack on the American naval and air base at Midway Island. The task force then encountered an American carrier fleet, leading to an epic naval battle that helped change the course of the war in the Pacific. The 2019 action-war film Midway tells the story of the leadup to the battle, the battle itself, and the aftermath. Is it historically accurate? Is it a quality film? In this episode, James and Sean McIver answer these and other questions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In early 1942, Japan’s leaders decided to capture the key Allied port of Port Moresby on the southern coast of New Guinea, in an attempt to threaten American shipping lanes to Australia. But on its way to the port, at the Coral Sea, the Japanese fleet arrived encountered an American naval force. A month later, a large Japanese naval and air force attempted to capture the American base at Midway, but again, they ran into a powerful American fleet. Join Dave and James as they discuss the crucial battles of the Coral Sea and Midway, American victories that made the Guadalcanal Campaign possible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the late 1960s, a Japanese film production team joined forces with an American team in an effort to produce a balanced and accurate retelling of the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The result is the classic 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora! which after more than 50 years still remains the definitive Pearl Harbor film. Join James and Sean McIver as they discuss the film’s story, its historical accuracy, its quality, and its legacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On December 7, 1941, Japanese air and naval forces attacked the American naval and air base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing 2400 Americans and heavily damaging the US Pacific Fleet. Over the next 5 months, Japan conquered several European and American possessions in southeast Asia, including Guam, Malaya, Wake Island, Hong Kong, Burma, Singapore, the Dutch East Indies, and the Philippines. In this episode, James and new cohost Dave Holland narrate this period of rapid Japanese expansion, including the famous “Doolittle Raid.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 10: Points. Easy captures the Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden without resistance, and the end of the war in Europe is announced. Finding a collection of 10,000 bottles of liquor, wine and champagne in a cellar at Hermann Göring's house, Winters allows the company to celebrate before they travel to Austria to become an occupying force. It is then announced that the division will be redeployed to the Pacific Theater, but those with enough points will get to go home. Winters applies for a transfer to the Pacific, but the officer in charge tells him his men have earned the right to keep him around. Despite the peace and the relative ease of life in Salzburg, men continue to be injured and die. Together with the rest of the battalion, Easy oversees the surrender of 25,000 German troops in Zell am See. Over a company baseball game, Winters narrates the fates of some of the men playing in it. He interrupts the game to announce the surrender of the Empire of Japan, which ends the war, and then narrates Nixon's fate and finally his own. The episode concludes with interviews with actual surviving Easy Company members.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode, commissioned by Early's Raiders Colonet Daniel Fisher, James discusses John F. Kennedy's service in the Second World War.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 9: Why We Fight. While on patrol, some of the men of Easy Company stumble across a concentration camp near Landsberg and free the surviving prisoners. The sight of the victims leaves the soldiers horrified and disgusted, and Liebgott serves as a German interpreter for Winters as they learn from one of the survivors that the prisoners are Jews and noncombatants. The German locals deny knowing anything about the camp. The 101st Airborne's commander, General Taylor, imposes martial law and orders all able-bodied civilians from ages 14 to 80 to clean up the camp, including removing the bodies. Nixon informs Easy that Adolf Hitler has committed suicide.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this topical episode, commissioned by Early’s Raiders Colonel Lee Beaumont, James discusses the Boxer Rebellion, focusing on American involvement in the conflict, especially the role of US Marines. If you would like to commission an episode on a topic of your choosing, you can do so by joining Early’s Raiders at the Major level or higher. For more information, go to Patreon.com and search for Key Battles of American History.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 8: The Last Patrol. In Haguenau, Easy adjusts to leaving the combat zone and gives a cold welcome to Private David Webster, who did not break out of the hospital to rejoin the company like others; and new replacement Second Lieutenant Henry Jones, fresh from West Point. Jones and Webster participate in a night raid across the river to get prisoners for interrogation, which gains them some respect. Winters is promoted to major, Lipton's commission becomes official, and Jones is promoted to first lieutenant and transferred to the regimental staff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this topical episode, commissioned by Early’s Raiders Colonel Terry Davis, James discusses the fascinating life and career of Quanah Parker, a half-Comanche, half-white warrior who played an outsize role in Texas and American history during the nineteenth century.If you would like to commission an episode on a topic of your choosing, you can do so by joining Early’s Raiders at the Major level or higher. For more information, go to Patreon.com and search for Key Battles of American History.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 7: The Breaking Point. Easy holds the line near Foy, Belgium, losing numerous soldiers. Winters and the men worry about the company's new commander, First Lieutenant Norman Dike, who is frequently absent without explanation. First Sergeant Carwood Lipton attempts to keep Easy's morale up. Lieutenant Lynn "Buck" Compton watches in horror as his close friends Guarnere and Joe Toye lose their legs to shelling, and he too is pulled from the line. During the assault on Foy, Dike freezes up during an attack, so Winters orders Lt. Ronald Speirs to relieve him. Victorious, Easy takes shelter in a church, where Lipton is told he has been given a field commission as a second lieutenant and Speirs is officially assigned command of Easy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, James again interviews professor, reenactor, and YouTuber Jared Frederick, this time about his 2022 book (co-authored with Erik Dorr) Fierce Valor: The True Story of Ronald Speirs and His Band of Brothers. Jared and James discuss the fascinating military career of Ronald Speirs, the final World War II commander of the 101st Airborne Division’s Easy Company and a key character of the award-winning 2001 HBO miniseries Band of Brothers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 6: Bastogne. Easy faces harsh winter conditions in the Ardennes, running dangerously low on ammunition, food, and medical supplies. Combat medic Eugene "Doc" Roe helps his fellow soldiers where he can, while also scrounging for medical supplies. He befriends a Belgian nurse named Renée; she is later killed in a bombing raid. Easy and other American units are surrounded, but General McAuliffe, their commander, rejects a German surrender offer with the reply "Nuts!"See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this topical episode, commissioned by Early’s Raiders Major Alex Calabrese, James discusses the various Sioux Wars, including the Dakota War of 1862, Red Cloud’s War (1866-68), the Great Sioux War (1876-77), and the Ghost Dance War (1890). If you would like to commission an episode on a topic of your choosing, you can do so by joining Early’s Raiders at the Major level or higher. For more information, go to Patreon.com and search for Key Battles of American History.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 5: Crossroads. Winters writes an after-action report on Easy's actions during a German counter offensive on the Nijmegen salient; he is troubled by the fact that he shot an unarmed, teenage Waffen-SS soldier during the battle. Winters is promoted to battalion executive officer, and command of Easy is given to "Moose" Heyliger. Winters, Nixon, Heyliger and Sink meet Lt. Col. David Dobie of the British Parachute Regiment and 1st Airborne Division, who enlists Easy's help in Operation Pegasus to rescue 140 of his comrades. The operation succeeds, and the rescued British Paras celebrate with Easy and toast them. Heyliger is badly wounded, and command of the company passes to Norman Dike before they are rushed to Bastogne when the Germans break out in the Battle of the Bulge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this topical episode, commissioned by Early’s Raiders Major Ana Concepcion Castro, James discusses medical care in World War II, including the crucial role of combat medics, the various types of hospitals, and medical advances made during the war. If you would like to commission an episode on a topic of your choosing, you can do so by joining Early’s Raiders at the Major level or higher. For more information, go to Patreon.com and search for Key Battles of American History.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 4: Replacements. Replacements join Easy Company and struggle to be accepted by the veterans who fought at Normandy. Winters is promoted to captain, while Sobel becomes the regiment's new supply officer. The company parachutes into the Netherlands as part of Operation Market Garden and liberates Eindhoven. During combat in Nuenen, the replacements integrate themselves with the company, but Easy is forced to retreat. Denver "Bull" Randleman is left behind. Wounded, Randeman hides in a barn and engages in hand-to-hand combat with a German soldier. He is reunited with the rest of the company the following day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Septuagint is the most important Bible translation you’ve never heard of. In this episode of the 10th Anniversary of the History of the Papacy series, Steve Guerra and his special guest Garry Stevens lay out the basics of the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament. They talk about the issues of translation and the process of translation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, James interviews professor, reenactor, and YouTuber Jared Frederick about his 2020 book (co-authored with Erik Dorr) Hang Tough:The WWII Letters and Artifacts of Major Dick Winters. Jared and James discuss the inspiring life and career of Dick Winters, a decorated officer in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II and the main character of the award-winning 2001 HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. Jared and James examine Winters’ life largely through a series of letters he wrote to a penpal in the U. S.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 3: Carentan. Easy fights in the Battle of Carentan and loses several men. Rumors begin to circulate that Ronald Speirs killed a group of German prisoners. Private Albert Blithe, who has been struggling with shell shock, is finally spurred into action by Winters during the Battle of Bloody Gulch. Several days later, Blithe is shot through the neck by a sniper while on patrol.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this topical episode, commissioned by Early’s Raiders Major Doug Pergram, James discusses Revolutionary War artillery, including types of artillery and shot, how artillery were fired, and how they were used by both sides during the war. If you would like to commission an episode on a topic of your choosing, you can do so by joining Early’s Raiders at the Major level or higher. For more information, go to Patreon.com and search for Key Battles of American History.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 2: Day of Days. On June 6, 1944, Easy Company parachutes into Normandy but is scattered and many land miles away from their designated drop zones. Most of Easy reconnects, but its company commander, First Lieutenant Thomas Meehan, is missing and presumed dead, so Winters assumes command as its highest-ranking officer. He successfully leads a small group of men in destroying German artillery emplacements firing on Utah Beach from Brécourt Manor despite the German defending force being larger. Winters also captures a map of all German artillery emplacements in Normandy. Winters and several other Easy Company members earn combat decorations for their part in the attack.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the fall of the Philippines to the Japanese in May 1942, many Allied servicemen became prisoners. Those who survived their captivity would remain prisoners of the Japanese for nearly three years. One of these prisoners, George Darling of Deming, New Mexico, went on to write a memoir of his and his brother Gerald’s captivity in the Philippines. In this episode, James is joined by Jay Robison, a retired Air Force colonel, surgeon, and history buff…as well as James’ first cousin and a first cousin once removed to the Darling brothers. You will be fascinated by the Darling brothers’ story as Jay and James tell it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Sean and James introduce the award-winning Band of Brothers series and discuss Episode 1: Currahee. In 1942, Easy Company trains at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, under First Lieutenant Herbert Sobel, a strict disciplinarian who goes out of his way to find fault with his men. The company is shipped to England in September 1943, and as training progresses, Sobel's inadequacy as a leader in the field becomes evident. Now a captain, Sobel initiates a dispute with Lieutenant Richard "Dick" Winters, leading to Winters requesting a trial by court martial. These factors lead all of Easy's non-commissioned officers to resign en masse. Colonel Robert Sink, the regiment's commander, reassigns Sobel to command of a parachuting school for essential non-infantry personnel. With new leadership, Easy Company prepares for Operation Overlord. William Guarnere learns that his older brother Henry, a medic in the 1st Armored Division fighting in Italy, has been killed at Monte Cassino.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, James interviews Elizabeth Varon, the Langbourne M. Williams Professor of American History and Associate Director of the John L. Nau III Center for Civil War History at the University of Virginia, about her new book Longstreet: The Confederate General Who Defied the South. One of the Confederate Army’s most talented commanders, Longstreet was called “my old war horse” by Robert E. Lee. But within a few years of the end of the war, Longstreet had become a Republican and fought against many of his former Confederates, thus becoming persona non grata in the South. You’ll find this discussion of what Dr. Varon calls “the most remarkable political about-face in American history” fascinating. Join us!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November 22 marks the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. To commemorate this pivotal event in American history, learn more about Kennedy's 1963 Texas visit, reelection campaign, assassination, and legacy, with this excerpt from This American President.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, James interviews Philip Martin, author of From Orphan to High Flyer. In this book, Philip tells the story of his late friend Denis Eliot. Denis rose from the horrors of a Victorian-style British orphanage and brutal foster parents to command and pilot American-built RAF B-24 Liberators against the Japanese in Asia, then to fly RAF aircraft into the late 1950s during the Cold War, and finally to live a fulfilling existence beyond his time in the military. In the RAF, he defied death many times and was privileged to see lands far from where he was raised in the UK. Join James and Philip as they discuss Denis’ fascinating life and career.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Sean and James review the 1953 film Stalag 17, which tells the story of a group of American airmen confined with 40,000 prisoners in a World War II German prisoner-of-war camp "somewhere on the Danube". The film focuses on one particular barracks, where the men come to suspect that one of their number is an informant.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The experiences of Allied prisoners of war in Germany are relatively well-known, thanks in part to movies and television shows that tell their story. However, few Americans know that over 400,000 Axis prisoners of war were held in hundreds of camps scattered around the United States. In this episode, Sean and James discuss what life was like for Axis prisoners of war held in the U. S.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join James and Sean as they discuss the 1963 classic The Great Escape, the thrilling story of the largest mass breakout from a POW camp ever in World War 2. Steve McQueen leads a truly all star cast with his iconic performance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 300,000 western Allied servicemen were captured and imprisoned by Nazi Germany during World War 2. Join Sean and James as they tell about the experiences of British, American, French, and other western Allied prisoners of war, including capture, camp life, work programs, escape, and liberation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Sean and James discuss The Tuskegee Airmen, a 1995 HBO television movie based on the exploits of the first African-American combat pilots in the United States Army Air Corps who fought in World War II.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, James interviews Dartmouth College professor and best-selling author Matthew F. Delmont about his excellent book Half American: The Epic Story of African-Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad. In the interview, Professor Delmont gives an excellent overview of the experience of Black Americans during the Second World War.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the greatest films of all time, 1961’s Judgment at Nuremberg is a gripping courtroom drama about a small town American judge called to preside over the trial of German judges accused of crimes against humanity. Join Sean and James as they review this classic with one of the greatest ensemble casts ever.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the Second World War, the Germans murdered 6 million Jews and about 5 million other so-called “undesirables” in what became known as the Holocaust. In this episode, Sean and James discuss this difficult but crucial topic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Train narrates the gripping story of a German officer’s attempt to ship great masterpieces of art out of France by train ahead of the Allied advance and the efforts of the Resistance to prevent this from happening. Join James and Sean as they review John Frankenheimer’s taut 1960s war thriller, starring Burt Lancaster and Paul Schoefield.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In every nation that the Germans occupied, resistance movements emerged. In this episode, Sean and James discuss anti-German guerilla movements, focusing primarily on the resistance efforts in four nations: Norway, France, Yugoslavia, and the Soviet Union.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America’s most decorated soldier of World War 2 was Texan Audie Murphy. When the time came for Hollywood to adapt his memoir into a film, there was no better star for the film than Murphy himself, who had become a matineé idol. Join Sean and James as they look at this surprisingly hard hitting and realistic 1955 film.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following another long-time KBAH tradition, Sean and James discuss the life and experience of the common soldier, sailor and air crewmen in the European Theater of Operations in World War II. For the sake of time, the discussion is limited to American servicemen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special compilation episode, Josh Cohen of Eyewitness History shares his favorite interview moments and stories from people who witnessed some of history’s most extraordinary events.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The heroic efforts of American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines were made possible by millions of factory workers, farmers, fundraisers, government officials, and others who never left American soli. In this episode, Sean and James discuss the American home front, including the role played by women and African-Americans in supporting the war. They also discuss the U.S. government’s shameful decision to intern 120,000 Japanese and Japanese-Americans during the war.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Sean and James review the 1970 World War II comedy-drama heist film Kelly’s Heroes which tells the story of a motley crew of American GIs who go AWOL in order to rob a French bank, located behind German lines, of its stored Nazi gold bars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Sean and James examine the strategies, decisions, and conditions that dictated the course of the war, both from an overall perspective and through the different phases of the action.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 1967 film The Dirty Dozen tells the story of a penal military unit of twelve convicts who are trained as commandos by the Allies for a suicide mission ahead of the Normandy landings. Join Sean and James as they discuss this fun and exciting classic film.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Sean and James discuss some of the key weapons, technology, and innovations of the war for all the major powers, and how they impacted the course of the war.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1965 classic film Von Ryan’s Express, starring Frank Sinatra, which depicts a group of Allied prisoners of war who conduct a daring escape by hijacking the freight train carrying the POWs and fleeing through German-occupied Italy to Switzerland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Sean and James follow a long-established KBAH tradition by giving brief overviews of the postwar lives and careers of the major leaders, Axis and Allies, discussed in the series.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Sean and James review the 1946 WIlliam Wyler epic drama film The Best Years of Our Lives, which tells the story of three U. S. servicemen’s struggle to re-adjust to civilian life after coming home from the war.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.