Key Battles of American History

In 1942, the United States government launched the Manhattan Project, a top-secret effort to build an atomic bomb for use against the Axis powers. In this episode, James and Sean discuss the 1989 film Fat Man and Little Boy, a fictionalized version of the attempt to build the bombs that focuses on the relationship between the project’s director General Leslie Groves and its lead scientist Robert Oppenheimer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By the late 1930s, Shanghai had a large international settlement that included a significant British community. During the city’s capture by Japanese forces in 1937, many British civilians became prisoners of war. Steven Speilberg’s Empire of the Sun, based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by J. G. Ballard, tells the story of a young boy who becomes separated from his parents. The boy (Jamie, or “Jim”) befriends an American merchant ship captain who helps him to survive the camp and to reunite with his parents after the war ends. In this episode, James and Sean discuss this inspiring story, one of Sean’s favorites.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many people learn about history as a collection of names, dates, and places. History is so much more interesting than that. It is the stories of the men and women who made those places and events matter. It is the story of the private soldier as much as it is the story of the great general. It is the story of the farmer in the field as much as it is the story of the man in the Oval office. Join our newest Parthenon Podcast Network member, Chris Lowery, as he leads you on a dive deeper into the forgotten stories of our past, and into the details of the stories we thought we already knew.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most critically acclaimed films of all time, The Bridge on the River Kwai tells a fictionalized account of the building of part of the Burma-Siam railroad by Allied prisoners of war. Join Sean and James as they tell the fascinating “story behind the story” as well as discuss the film’s background and the relationship of the story told in the film to the real events.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Born in Virginia, Desmond Doss was a devout Christian and a pacifist who wanted to serve in the war as a combat medic but refused to touch a weapon. After suffering much shame and ill-treatment from his fellow soldiers, Doss proved his heroism in several engagements, most notably in the Battle of Okinawa, in which he saved around 75 wounded American soldiers from being executed by the Japanese. In this episode, James and Sean discuss the 2016 film Hacksaw Ridge, which tells the story of Doss’s life and service in the war.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The companion film to Flags of Our Fathers, Clint Eastwood’s Letters from Iwo Jima narrates the story of the Battle of Iwo Jima from the Japanese perspective. In this episode, you will join James and Sean as they walk the beaches of Iwo Jima and go deep into the caves and tunnels of Mt. Suribachi with the Japanese defenders as they await the American onslaught and struggle with the decision of whether to fight to the death or surrender at the risk of being hated (or worse) by their colleagues and their families back home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most iconic photographs of all time is the famous Joe Rosenthal photo of the raising of the American flag on Mount Suribachi in the southwest corner of Iwo Jima. In Flags of Our Fathers, director Clint Eastwood weaves together the story of the American invasion of Iwo Jima and the struggle to capture Suribachi with the subsequent tale of three of the flag raisers who were sent back to the States to raise money for the war. The movie, while inspiring, can be a bit hard to follow, but James and Sean will guide you through it and help you sort out fact from fiction.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Battle of Iwo Jima was one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific Theater for both the Japanese and the Americans. James and Sean will be discussing three movies about Iwo Jima, the first of which is the classic 1949 John Wayne action film Sands of Iwo Jima. Despite its title, Sands of Iwo Jima only devotes 30 minutes to the battle; the rest of the movie shows the Battle of Tarawa, as well as scenes of the Marines training and enjoying liberty. Is Sands of Iwo Jima accurate, or is it just patriotic Hollywood propaganda? James and Sean will let you know!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In this episode, James and Sean completely change gears, discussing the 1988 Japanese animated Studio Ghibli film Grave of the Fireflies, which tells the story of a young boy and his little sister who struggle to stay alive during the Allied firebombings of Japan that occurred in the last few months of the war. Grave of the Fireflies is a sad, hard-to-watch movie, but it is a must see for those who want to know what life was like for Japanese civilians in the final stages of World War II.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In early 1942, the US Marine Corps began recruiting young Navajo men to serve as “codetalkers” who would transmit orders via radio using a code based on the Navajo language. The code was inscrutable to the Japanese, who were never able to crack it. John Woo’s 2002 film Windtalkers tells a slightly fictionalized version of their story. As usual, James and Sean attempt to sort through the Hollywood embellishments to tell the history behind the movie.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Based loosely on the 1955 novel of the same name, Run Silent, Run Deep tells the story of a submarine captain who disobeys orders in an attempt to get revenge against a Japanese destroyer that sank his previous command. In this episode, James and Sean share their thoughts about this exciting action film.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not all World War II American naval personnel saw combat. Many spent the entire war in non-combat roles, including serving on the thousands of supply ships that were essential to the war effort. The classic 1955 drama/comedy Mister Roberts tells the story of one such supply ship and its crew, which is led by an eccentric captain but inspired by the executive officer Mister Roberts, who wants more than anything else to fight. Join James and Sean as they discuss this sometimes funny, sometimes gut-wrenching, but always enjoyable film.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Typhoons and other storms were a real danger for naval vessels during the Pacific War, and many ships were lost to them. The Caine Mutiny, based on the novel of the same name by Herman Wouk, tells the story of a tyrannical destroyer captain whose decision to sail right through a typhoon motivates his executive officer to relieve him of command, leading to a court martial. In this episode, James and Sean discuss this exciting film which is part war story and part courtroom drama.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During a war, combatants often ponder the deep existential questions of life. These questions form the basis of Terence Malick’s 1998 war drama The Thin Red Line. On one level, The Thin Red Line is about a U. S. Army division’s attempt to take a hill on the island of Guadalcanal; however, the film also explores many age-old questions, including “How did evil enter the world?”, “Why are humans at war with nature?”, “Why do humans fight and kill each other?”, and “Given all the evil and suffering in the world, how can there be a loving creator?” Join James and Sean as they discuss this intellectually and emotionally deep film.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 changed 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 answer these and other questions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In April 1942, sixteen American B-25B bombers took off from the carrier USS Hornet and conducted a bombing raid over Japan that is known to posterity as the Doolittle Raid. After bombing Japan, the pilots’ intent was to land their planes in China…but things did not go as planned for many. In this episode, James and Sean discuss the 1944 film Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, which dramatizes the preparation for the Doolittle Raid, the raid itself, and the aftermath.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrol Torpedo (PT) Boats, while not as famous as battleships, aircraft carriers, destroyers, and other large ships, nevertheless played a crucial role in the Pacific War. In 1942, author W. L. White wrote They Were Expendable, a book that tells the story of the work of PT boats in the American defense of the Philippines in 1941 and 1942. Three years later, MGM released the movie version directed by the legendary director John Ford. In this episode, James and Sean discuss this classic John Wayne film.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 as they discuss the film’s story, its historical accuracy, its quality, and its legacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, James kicks off a new season of Key Battles of American History: “The Pacific War on Film.” In this season, James and returning co-host Sean McIver will discuss 17 specially selected films that deal with different aspects of the Pacific Theater of WW2. We will discuss the films themselves, including their background, themes, quality, and historical accuracy, as well as the historical events behind the films. Pull up a virtual chair and join us!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James and Steve Guerra, host of the Beyond the Big Screen Podcast, discuss the 1943 war propaganda movie Gung Ho!, which is loosely based on the formation and first combat action of the elite World War 2 Marine unit called Carlson’s Raiders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Was President Harry Truman’s decision to use atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary and justified? In this episode, James is joined by Richard Lim, host of the This American President podcast. James and Richard break down the various factors that figured into Truman’s decision in an attempt to answer this important question.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode (written by Sean McIver), James tells the story of the small but important CVE (or “Jeep”) aircraft carriers, which played an outside role in the Pacific Theater of World War II. This episode was commissioned by Major Bob McCullough of Early’s Raiders. For more information on supporting the podcast by becoming an officer in Early’s Raiders, visit https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11973085&fan_landing=true.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, James, Scott Rank (host of History Unplugged), Steve Guerra (host of Beyond the Big Screen and History of the Papacy) and Richard Lim (host of "This American President") discuss the following question: "If you could go back in time and save one person who died prematurely, who would you save?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode James interviews Nathan Gorenstein, author of The Guns of John Moses Browning: The Remarkable Story of the Inventor Whose Firearms Changed the World. Nathan explains how Browning, son of a gun repairman in small-town Utah in the mid-nineteenth century, went on to design many of the most popular and widely used firearms in world history, including the Browning Automatic Rifle and the M1911 Colt pistol.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode (James’ favorite), James and fellow podcaster Steve Guerra recreate an interview given in 1989 by James’ father Col. Cleland Early about his experiences as a young Marine who fought in the Battle of Tarawa. Listen all the way to the end for a special treat!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In this episode, James again interviews Air Force historian Evan Muxen. This time, we discuss how the geography of Okinawa influenced the battle that occurred there. While on active duty with the US Army, Evan lived on Okinawa and spent much time investigating sites critical to the battle. Evan’s personal knowledge of the terrain on which the bloodiest battle of the Pacific Theater was fought provides invaluable perspective on the battle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, James interviews Air Force historian Evan Muxen about how the geography of Iwo Jima influenced the battle that occurred there. Evan has visited Iwo Jima multiple times and even led tours there, and his expert knowledge of the terrain, as well as of the battle itself, provides invaluable perspective on the battle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, James interviews Gregory Jackson, Professor of Integrated Studies at Utah Valley University, host of the outstanding History That Doesn’t Suck Podcast, and the voice who introduces this podcast! James and Greg discuss Greg’s podcast, the disconnect between academia and history podcasting, and the state of history podcasting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, James concludes his two-part series about United States presidents who served in World War 2. In Part Two, James discusses the wartime service of Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush, as well as the near service of Jimmy Carter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, James begins a two-part series about United States presidents who served in World War 2. In Part One, James tells the amazing story of John F. Kennedy’s service in the Pacific. James also discusses the wartime service of Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In this episode, James tells the fascinating history of America’s first Special Forces unit: the Marine Raiders. Formed in 1942, the Raiders played a key role in several Pacific Theater battles, including Guadalcanal, New Georgia, and Bougainville. In 1944, the Raider battalions were disbanded, and their members were reassigned to regular Marine units. Why, you ask? Listen and find out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Second World War deeply and permanently changed the world. In this final episode of the series, James and Scott discuss just a few of the many changes wrought by the war. After discussing casualties of the Pacific War, we discuss the rise and fall of empires, the ushering in of the Cold War and the Nuclear Age, and changes specific to the United States. James and Scott thank you for listening to the series, and we hope you enjoyed it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this second installment of the “story after the story” miniseries, James and Scott discuss the postwar careers of key US Army Air Force and Marine leaders, as well as Japanese political leaders. Persons mentioned in the episode include Generals Curtis LeMay and Holland Smith, Col. Chesty Puller, and Major Cleland E. Early, plus Japanese Emperor Hirohito, Prime Ministers Fumimaro Konoe, Hideki Tojo, Kuniaki Koiso, and Kantaro Suzuki; Admirals Soemu Toyoda, Jisaburo Ozawa and Takeo Kurita; General Yoshijiro Umezu; Ambassador Kichisaburo Nomura; and Commander Minoru Genda.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"In this episode, James chats with author, history professor, and host of the Reel History YouTube Channel Jared Frederick. James and Jared discuss Jared's background, how he got into doing a YouTube channel, and the current state of history YouTubing and podcasting."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the first part of a two-episode series in which James and Scott discuss the “story after the story” of the top Japanese and American political and military leaders. In this episode, we discuss the postwar careers of President Truman, Secretary of State Cordell Hull, and Secretary of War Henry Stimson. We also talk about US Admirals Husband Kimmel, William Leahy, Ernest King, Chester Nimitz, William Halsey, and (Scott’s favorite admiral) Raymond Spruance, as well as US Army Generals Walter Short, George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, and Jonathan Wainwright.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Between December 1942 and July 1945, a team of scientists, working in secret facilities in various parts of the U. S., researched, built, and tested the world’s first atomic bomb. Japan’s failure to surrender, together with the possibility of hundreds of thousands of casualties, motivated President Truman to drop an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Despite the bomb’s destruction of the city, including the immediate deaths of up to 80,000 people, Japan’s leaders still refused to surrender. Three days later, an American bomber dropped a second bomb on Nagasaki, leveling that city and killing nearly as many people as had perished at Hiroshima. Soon after, the Emperor led Japan to surrender. In this episode, James and Scott discuss the Manhattan Project, the dropping of the two atomic bombs, the Japanese surrender, and the end of the Second World War.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an excerpt from an episode of This American President, a great history podcast that is the newest member of the Parthenon Podcast Network. You can find it at www.spreaker.com/show/this-american-president or wherever you listen to podcasts.George Washington: The First American Action HeroHe might look like an old man on the one-dollar bill, but George Washington was once a bona fide action hero. This episode explores our first president’s legendary exploits during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By the summer of 1945, it was clear that Japan was defeated. Historian Craig Symonds writes that Japan was “stripped of her conquests, bombed incessantly from the air by American B-29s, her imports cut to a trickle by American submarines, her navy destroyed, and her industries idle for lack of raw materials and oil. Her allies were gone, too…Japan was alone, starving, all but defenseless, a passive target, absorbing punishment and unable to strike back.” In addition, Allied leaders issued the Potsdam Declaration, which warned Japan of “prompt and utter destruction” if they did not surrender. Despite all this, Japan’s leaders vowed to fight to the death. In this episode, James and Scott discuss Allied efforts to persuade Japan to surrender, along with Operation Downfall, the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the Pacific War, the Japanese took over 130,000 Allied prisoners of war and held them in camps spread all over the Japanese Empire. Nearly all Allied prisoners were deprived of food and medical care, were regularly beaten, and were worked past the point of exhaustion. Nearly 40,000 died, representing about 27% (compared to only 4% in German camps). In this episode, James and Scott tell the tragic story of Allied prisoners of war in Japanese internment camps. They also briefly discuss the much happier story of Navajo Code Talkers, who helped win the war for the United States.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once again, James and Scott are taking a break from the narrative of key battles to discuss two more important topics. In this episode, we will tell the story of kamikazes, including the origin of the tactic, its expansion into a full-fledged program, and its increasingly devastating effect, most notably at the Battle of Okinawa.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As was the case with previous island battles, the American conquest of Okinawa was slow and bloody. In addition to their network of caves and tunnels, the Japanese possessed a strong fortress called Shuri Castle. But if the Americans could overcome the seemingly impregnable Japanese defenses, they could establish a powerful naval and air base from which to stage the seemingly inevitable invasion of the Japanese home islands. Would they succeed? Tune in and find out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the successful capture of Iwo Jima, the Americans’ next objective was Okinawa, which was only 330 miles from the Japanese home islands. Possessing Okinawa would cut Japan’s supply line from southeast Asia and would provide an excellent staging point for an eventual invasion. As in many previous battles, the Japanese were dug into an extensive network of caves and tunnels. To complicate things further, there were about 400,000 Okinawan civilians on the island. Capturing Okinawa would be the Americans’ greatest challenge to date. Join James and Scott as they discuss the lead up to the invasion and narrate its initial stage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On February 19, 1945, 40,000 Marines landed on Iwo Jima, and many more would follow. Within four days, they had taken the summit of Mt. Suribachi, a key position that commanded the entire island, and had raised an enormous flag (an event made famous in the iconic photo by Joe Rosenthal). But the battle was far from over. The Japanese defenders were determined to exact as heavy a toll as possible, while kamikazes wreaked havoc on the US Navy off the shore. Join James and Scott as they conclude their discussion of the key battle of Iwo Jima.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In order to make the strategic bombing runs over Japan more effective, General Curtis LeMay and other USAAF leaders wanted the B-29s to be escorted by fighters. In order for this to happen, the US needed a base much closer to Japan, because no fighter at the time could make it from Saipan or Guam to Japan and back. To meet this need, American military planners decided to launch an invasion of Iwo Jima, which is only 750 miles from Japan. Iwo Jima was only 8 square miles in size and was covered with black volcanic ash rather than sand. More significantly for the American invaders, the Japanese defenders had dug deep into a network of underground caves and tunnels that were impervious to American bombs and shells. The fight would be slow and bloody. Would the Americans be able to root out the Japanese and take the island? Join us and see!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In May 1944, the US unveiled a new weapon, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber. It was bigger and faster than the B-17, it had a greater range, and it could carry a heavier bomb load (8-10 tons). Despite many early problems, by early 1945, B-29s were causing heavy damage on Japanese cities in the firebombing campaign led by General Curtis LeMay. In this episode, James and Scott discuss the controversial policy of firebombing, including its background, its execution, and its results.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.