In Part II of the Christmas in Wartime podcast, Mark reviews some of the happenings that American and Allied soldiers experienced during WWII. There are a few items from the home front and some from where the fighting occurred, as well as a few segments from POWs. First, a mention that I forgot to include…
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War brings few joyous moments. Over the years, Christmas time has provided a few glimmers of warmth. From a surprise victory for George Washington, to mules masquerading as reindeer in the Civil War, to a flare-lit soccer game between Brits and Germans in WWI, Mark shares some wartime Christmas memories.
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As the 80th Anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor during WWII approaches, Mark revisits his interview with historian Ronald J. Drez. They discuss his book, Predicting Pearl Harbor: Billy Mitchell and the Path to War. Gen. Billy Mitchell recognized the signs and foresaw the eventual showdown between the two nations―eighteen years before the tragedy…
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As the 80th anniversary of Pearl Harbor nears, December 7, Mark revisits his interview with historian Marty Morgan on “Conspiracy theories: JFK and Pearl Harbor.” They discuss Lee Harvey Oswald, the new JFK documents that have been released and conspiracy theories that have revolved around the Pearl Harbor attack. Photo: The USS Arizona burning after the…
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This week, Mark takes a look at some of the events that happened during the month of August in the American Civil War and WWII. He discusses the infamous Quantrill’s Raiders, a group of pro-Confederate partisan guerrillas that included Jesse James, Nathan Bedford Forrest’s raid on Memphis, the 872-day Siege of Leningrad, and the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression…
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Just a few summers ago Mark was traveling in France with WWII Veteran Mort Sheffloe, who sadly, recently passed away. While walking the sands of Omaha Beach and Utah Beach, sitting in cafés in Normandy or dining in Paris, Mort shared his memories of the war, and his battles in Normandy and Brittany in 1944….
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Just a few summers ago Mark was traveling in France with WWII Veteran Mort Sheffloe, who sadly, recently passed away. While walking the sands of Omaha Beach and Utah Beach, sitting in cafés in Normandy or dining in Paris, Mort shared his memories of the war, his battles and serious wounding from a German sniper…
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Continuing his discussion of the fall of New Orleans during the Civil War, Mark discusses the Union bombardment of Forts Jackson and St. Philip by David Dixon Porter’s mortar boats. The rest of the Union fleet under David Farragut is able to steam past the forts. After a duel with the few effective Confederate gunboats…
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Mark discusses New Orleans during the Civil War. General Mansfield Lovell assumes military command of New Orleans and begins to shore up the defenses. He affirms that the threat will come upriver from the Gulf of Mexico, despite Richmond’s insistence that he transfer men and boats north. Construction begins on two super CSA gunboats, the…
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New Orleans fell to the Union on April 29, 1862. As we approach the anniversary of this historic moment, Mark takes a comparative look at developments leading up to the Civil War and the importance of the city of New Orleans to the Confederacy. Civil War New Orleans: Prelude to Conflict A comparative look at…
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