Why We Fight ~ 1944

Joining me in this episode is Dr. John Curatola, the Samuel Zemurray Stone Senior Historian at the National World War II Museum. John talks about "Big Week" which took place 80 years ago this week, from 20 to 25 February 1944, and how this began the shift in how we employed our air forces to try to better utilize this important "tool of war". We also see a shift in the Luftwaffe as they begin to accept the reality that they can no longer realistically keep up with the losses they are suffering, which is undermining the Axis ability to utilize their air power as a "tool of war". Links National WWII Museum Digital Resources (https://www.ww2online.org/) John Curatola, PhD (https://www.nationalww2museum.org/contributors/john-curatola-phd) Autumn of Our Discontent: Fall 1949 and the Crisis in American National Security (https://www.amazon.com/Autumn-Our-Discontent-American-National/dp/1682476200/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1701003497&sr=8-1) Bigger Bombs for a Brighter Tomorrow: The Strategic Air Command and the American War Plans at the Dawn of the Atomic Age, 1945-1950 (https://www.amazon.com/Bigger-Bombs-Brighter-Tomorrow-Strategic/dp/0786494190/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1701003552&sr=8-3) No Quarter Given: The Change in Strategic Bombing Application in the Pacific Theater During World War II (https://www.amazon.com/No-Quarter-Given-Strategic-Application-ebook/dp/B06XGJ2DQM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2U36YERQFF9IO&keywords=no+quarter+given%2C+the+change+in+strategic+bombing&qid=1701003598&sprefix=no+quartr+given%2C+the+change+in+strategic+bombing%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-1) Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks)

Returning in this episode is historian and genealogist Dave Gutierrez to continue the story of his cousin and the only Mexican-American US Army unit to fight in World War II, the subject of his book "Patriots from the Barrio". Toward the end of the episode, Dave also talks about his upcoming book about Oscar Perdomo and his fellow fighter pilots in WWII. Links Author Dave Gutierrez (https://authordavegutierrez.com/) Patriots from the Barrio: The Story of Company E, 141st Infantry - The Only All Mexican American Army Unit in World War II (https://www.amazon.com/Patriots-Barrio-Company-Infantry-American/dp/1594163286/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1704031977&sr=8-1) P-47 Restoration (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQGDkIjZDyQ) Oscar Perdomo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_F._Perdomo) Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks)

In this episode, Jon Bernstein, the Arms & Armor Curator at the National Museum of the United States Marine Corps, joins me to talk about USMC Sherman Tanks and Alligators used at Tarawa, including the first "hot tank on tank action" involving Marine Shermans in the Pacific Theater. Links Tanks in Hell: A Marine Corps Tank Company on Tarawa (https://www.amazon.com/Tanks-Hell-Marine-Company-Tarawa/dp/1612003036) Coral and Brass (https://www.amazon.com/Coral-Brass-Holland-M-Smith/dp/1548048631/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1H7OR5B9SMY3T&keywords=coral+and+brass+holland+smith&qid=1705250898&s=books&sprefix=coral+and+bra%2Cstripbooks%2C181&sr=1-1) History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume 7: Aleutians, Gilberts, and Marshalls, June 1941 - April 1944 (https://www.usni.org/press/books/aleutians-gilberts-and-marshalls-june-1941-april-1944) Galvanic: Beyond the Reef - Tarawa and the Gilberts, November 1943 (https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/publications/publication-508-pdf/Galvanic-booklet-508%20A.pdf) "With the Marines at Tarawa" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JolhiCbU_u8) "Fight Now" performed by the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band (https://www.dvidshub.net/video/817588/fight-now-iii-marine-expeditionary-force-band)

In his final episode for the 1943 series, Lt. Col. Brian Kerg returns to tell the story of the Marines at Tarawa in November 1943 and the lessons we learned and can still learn from this costly battle. Links Tanks in Hell: A Marine Corps Tank Company on Tarawa (https://www.amazon.com/Tanks-Hell-Marine-Company-Tarawa/dp/1612003036) Coral and Brass (https://www.amazon.com/Coral-Brass-Holland-M-Smith/dp/1548048631/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1H7OR5B9SMY3T&keywords=coral+and+brass+holland+smith&qid=1705250898&s=books&sprefix=coral+and+bra%2Cstripbooks%2C181&sr=1-1) History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume 7: Aleutians, Gilberts, and Marshalls, June 1941 - April 1944 (https://www.usni.org/press/books/aleutians-gilberts-and-marshalls-june-1941-april-1944) Galvanic: Beyond the Reef - Tarawa and the Gilberts, November 1943 (https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/publications/publication-508-pdf/Galvanic-booklet-508%20A.pdf) "With the Marines at Tarawa" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JolhiCbU_u8) "Fight Now" performed by the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band (https://www.dvidshub.net/video/817588/fight-now-iii-marine-expeditionary-force-band)

In this episode I'm joined by Doug Schmidt, a 10th Mountain Division veteran and curator at the 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum Museum. Doug is also the grandson of a WWII 10th Mountain Division veteran. We start the story of the Division by including the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, activated in 1941, and the story of Camp Snelling where these men trained. The next episode will include a bit more 10th Mountain history, with guest Dr. Chris Juergens, whom Doug mentions several times, and both of these guests will be back to continue the story in the 1944 series. Links 10th Mountain Division & Fort Drum Museum (https://history.army.mil/museums/fieldMuseums/fortDrum/index.html) Ninety-Pound Rucksack Podcast (https://christianbeckwith.com/)

In this episode, genealogist and historian Dave Gutierrez shares the first part of the story of the only Mexican-American US Army unit that fought in the Second World War, which is the subject of his book "Patriots from the Barrio" (linked below). Dave's research began with a genealogical interest in his cousin's WWII service experience and, as he tells us in this episode, expanded to a very important story that was more or less previously missing from American history and as soon as I heard this story of these brave and accomplished soldiers I knew it was one we needed to include here. Dave will be back to continue the story in the 1944 series. Links Author Dave Gutierrez (https://authordavegutierrez.com/) Patriots from the Barrio: The Story of Company E, 141st Infantry - The Only All Mexican American Army Unit in World War II (https://www.amazon.com/Patriots-Barrio-Company-Infantry-American/dp/1594163286/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1704031977&sr=8-1)

In this episode, Damián Valle joins me to talk about the massacre of the Italian 33d Acqui Division after the Armistice of Cassibile. This is the story that provides the foundation of the novel and movie Captain Corelli's Mandolin. It is sometimes referred to as the first act of Italian resistance, but as Damián notes, there were others all around the same time. Links Acqui Division Massacre at Cephalonia (https://comandosupremo.com/acqui-division-cephalonia/) WW2TV - The Massacre of the Italian Acqui Division, Cephalonia, September 1943 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9ijEnZx1fc) Lost Sons of the Mediterranean Kefalonia, September 1943 (https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Pietro-Giovanni-Liuzzi-ebook/dp/B00G3N94Z0) Corelli's Mandolin: A Novel (https://www.amazon.com/Corellis-Mandolin-Novel-Vintage-International-ebook/dp/B004EPZ6DS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=PP7LWA2OYWNP&keywords=captain+corelli%27s+mandolin&qid=1703950461&s=digital-text&sprefix=captain+core%2Cdigital-text%2C182&sr=1-1) Captain Corelli's Mandolin (https://www.amazon.com/Captain-Corellis-Mandolin-Nicolas-Cage/dp/B01CRFNQYM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1GQLDGRWD5540&keywords=captain+corelli%27s+mandolin&qid=1703950525&s=instant-video&sprefix=captain+corelli%27s+mandolin%2Cinstant-video%2C164&sr=1-1)

Joining me again is Dr. Stephanie Hinnershitz to talk about the Japanese-American camp at Tule Lake, the use of Martial Law on the American Homefront, and civ-mil relations during this time 80 years ago in 1943, going into 1944. Links Dr. Stephanie Hinnershitz (https://www.stephaniehinnershitz.com/) Books by Dr. Hinnershitz (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephanie+hinnershitz&crid=3POWWLJMX48KF&sprefix=stephanie+hinn%2Caps%2C271&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_14)

Joining me again is LTC Ben Griffin along with US Army veteran Daniel Kim to talk about the 100th Infantry Battalion or the "One-Puka-Puka" which was comprised of Japanese- American soldiers. Ben helped me start the story of the 442nd Infantry Regiment earlier in the 1943 series and this episode talks about a part of that Regiment which was the first to deploy.

Dr. Grant Harward joins me again, this time to talk about Romania in WWII, up to this point in the war, and the evacuation from the Kuban Bridgehead which took place in October 1943. Link Romania's Holy War: Soldiers, Motivation, and he Holocaust (https://www.amazon.com/Romanias-Holy-War-Motivation-Battlegrounds/dp/1501759965/ref=monarch_sidesheet) Third Axis Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941-1945 (https://www.amazon.com/Third-Axis-Fourth-Ally-1941-1945/dp/1854092677/ref=sr_1_1?crid=104VVT9VE0DAY&keywords=third+axis+fourth+ally&qid=1703522168&s=books&sprefix=third+axis+%2Cstripbooks%2C209&sr=1-1) Cross of Iron (https://www.amazon.com/Cross-Iron-James-Coburn/dp/B0CHG4LKM8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QXWW59BXMRON&keywords=cross+of+iron&qid=1703522231&sprefix=cross+of+iron%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-1)

In this episode, Dr. Graham Cross joins me to talk about the Fighters over Europe, particularly VIII Fighter Command and the Americanization of the Air War in 1943. Dr. Cross is a senior lecturer in American History at Manchester Metropolitan University and an Anglo-American historian that focuses on the diplomatic and political issues as well as the military history. Links The Wings of Democracy: The Influence of Air Power on the Roosevelt Administration 1933-1941 by Jeffery S. Underwood (https://www.amazon.com/Wings-Democracy-Administration-Williams-Ford-University/dp/0890963886/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3536RMETOY5RU&keywords=the+wings+of+democracy&qid=1701545518&sprefix=the+wings+of+democracy%2Caps%2C492&sr=8-1) Global Mission by Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold (https://www.amazon.com/Global-Mission-Military-Classics-Harley/dp/0830640045/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1701545606&sr=8-2)

In this episode, I'm joined again by Dr. John Curatola to talk about the Strategic Air War in Europe, with a particular focus on Black Week in October 1943. This episode works well with Episode 79 with Dr. Luke Truxal, which also talks about the Schweinfurt and Regensburg raids, episode 80 with Dr. Rich Muller on the Luftwaffe aerial defense over Germany, episode 81 with Lt.Col. Alex Moon which discusses the Combined Bomber Offensive, and also the next episode with Dr. Graham Cross on the Allied Fighters in Europe. Links John Curatola, PhD (https://www.nationalww2museum.org/contributors/john-curatola-phd) Autumn of Our Discontent: Fall 1949 and the Crisis in American National Security (https://www.amazon.com/Autumn-Our-Discontent-American-National/dp/1682476200/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1701003497&sr=8-1) Bigger Bombs for a Brighter Tomorrow: The Strategic Air Command and the American War Plans at the Dawn of the Atomic Age, 1945-1950 (https://www.amazon.com/Bigger-Bombs-Brighter-Tomorrow-Strategic/dp/0786494190/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1701003552&sr=8-3) No Quarter Given: The Change in Strategic Bombing Application in the Pacific Theater During World War II (https://www.amazon.com/No-Quarter-Given-Strategic-Application-ebook/dp/B06XGJ2DQM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2U36YERQFF9IO&keywords=no+quarter+given%2C+the+change+in+strategic+bombing&qid=1701003598&sprefix=no+quartr+given%2C+the+change+in+strategic+bombing%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-1)

In this episode, I'm joined by USCG Atlantic historian Dr. Bill Thiesen to talk about US Coast Guard history and involvement in World War II, with a particular focus on the Greenland Patrol and operations in the Arctic. Dr. Thiesen runs a US Coast Guard History blog called The Long Blue Line, linked below. This episode is really interesting and it is a part of our history that we don't often hear about so I hope everyone enjoys this story and I will make an effort to include more Coast Guard in WWII stories going forward. Links US Coast Guard History: The Long Blue Line (https://www.history.uscg.mil/Research/THE-LONG-BLUE-LINE/) Life and Death on the Greenland Patrol, 1942 (https://www.amazon.com/Greenland-Perspectives-Maritime-Nautical-Archaeology-ebook/dp/B00MMENSDS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3OJKX61D536R7&keywords=life+and+death+greenland+patrol&qid=1699810710&s=books&sprefix=life+and+death+greenland+patrol%2Cstripbooks%2C155&sr=1-1)

Joining me again is Lt.Col. Brian Kerg, this time to talk Marine Corps history. This was actually the first episode we recorded. Brian talks about Operation Cherryblossom, the landings at Cape Torokina at the start of the Bougainville Campaign. He also talks about Marine Corps leadership and command culture in the Pacific Theater.

There will be other Bougainville episodes coming up but, as promised, this one is set to release on 10 November, which is the 248th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. And in celebratory spirit, I've included a little adjustment to the opening and ending.

In this episode I'm joined by Dr. Rob Thompson to talk about the Vietnam War and how that conflict is connected to World War II. This is a more conversational episode because I don't know as much about Vietnam and Rob is a friend of mine. As he explains early on, Vietnam at this time in 1943 was known as French Indochina, and things get really complicated and messy. But this is another example of how it is next to impossible to study this period in isolation, and how the Second World War had an impact everywhere. Links Dr. Rob Thompson (https://www.drrobthompson.com/) Clear, Hold, and Destroy: Pacification in Phú Yên and the American War in Vietnam by Dr. Rob Thompson (https://www.amazon.com/Clear-Hold-Destroy-Pacification-American/dp/0806168692/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=clear+hold+and+destroy&qid=1606574614&sr=8-1) Links from the US Army Center of Military History The US Army Before Vietnam 1953-1965 (https://history.army.mil/html/books/076/76-3/index.html) Vietnam Studies: Allied Participation in Vietnam (https://history.army.mil/html/books/090/90-5-1/index.html) Vietnam Studies: Base Development 1965-1970 (https://history.army.mil/html/books/090/90-6/index.html) Vietnam Studies: The Development and Training of the South Vietnamese Army, 1950-1972 (https://history.army.mil/html/books/090/90-10/index.html) Vietnam Studies: Financial Management of the Vietnam Conflict, 1962-1972 (https://history.army.mil/html/books/090/90-13/index.html) Vietnam Studies: Law at War - Vietnam 1964-1973 (https://history.army.mil/html/books/090/90-14/index.html) Vietnam Studies: Medical Support 1965-1970 (https://history.army.mil/html/books/090/90-16/index.html) Vietnam Studies: Mounted Combat in Vietnam (https://history.army.mil/html/books/090/90-17-1/index.html) Dust Off: Army Aeromedical Evacuation in Vietnam (https://history.army.mil/html/books/090/90-28-1/index.html) Judge Advocates in Combat: Army Lawyers in Military Operations from Vietnam to Haiti (https://history.army.mil/html/books/070/70-77/index.html) Seven Firefights in Vietnam (https://history.army.mil/html/books/070/70-4/index.html) Vietnam from Cease-Fire to Capitulation (https://history.army.mil/html/books/090/90-29/index.html) US Army CMH Publications Catalog (⁠https://history.army.mil/catalog/browse/title.html⁠)

In this Bonus episode for Halloween, I'm joined again by Lt. Col. Brian Kerg and we discuss the 1985 film Zone Troopers, which takes place in Italy during World War II. The movie was not what we were expecting, and we were both pleasantly surprised by it. Linked below are the book mentioned and the movie, although I did not find it streaming anywhere that we could both access. Links Confessions of a Puppetmaster: A Hollywood Memoir of Ghouls, Guts, and Gonzo Filmmaking by Charles Band with Adam Felber (https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Puppetmaster-Hollywood-Memoir-Filmmaking/dp/0063087340/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1698674570&sr=8-1) Zone Troopers (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=zone+troopers&crid=2OF3AFKGF9BQY&sprefix=zone+trooper%2Caps%2C168&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_12)

Joining me again is Naval Historian Trent Hone and this time we talk about Admiral Nimitz and his efforts to reconfigure his staff to better fight and win in the Pacific in 1943 and beyond. If you missed the previous episode, Trent talked about the US Navy fighting in the dark in the Pacific, lessons learned throughout earlier parts of the war, and how we got to a point in 1943 where we start to get things right. Links Mastering the Art of Command: Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and Victory in the Pacific by Trent Hone (https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Art-Command-Admiral-Chester/dp/1682475956/ref=monarch_sidesheet) Fighting in the Dark: Naval Combat at Night: 1904 - 1944 Edited by Vincent O'Hara and Trent Hone (https://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Dark-Naval-Combat-1904-1944/dp/1682477800/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=) Learning War: The Evolution of Fighting Doctrine in the US Navy, 1898 - 1945 by Trent Hone (https://www.amazon.com/Learning-War-Evolution-Fighting-1898-1945-ebook/dp/B07BF86ZH2?ref_=ast_author_dp) Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by Craig L. Symonds (⁠https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor/dp/0197761321/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1698075998&sr=8-1⁠) Central Pacific (CMH Publication) https://history.army.mil/html/books/072/72-4/CMH_Pub_72-4(75th-Anniversary).pdf