WWII

Interview with WWII Veteran Mort Sheffloe: Part II

Just a few summers ago Mark was traveling in France with WWII Veteran Mort Sheffloe. 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. In the second of the…

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Interview with WWII Veteran Mort Sheffloe: Part I

Just a few summers ago Mark was traveling in France with WWII Veteran Mort Sheffloe. 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 and his recovery and return…

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D-Day: Beach Landings

This week marks 76 years since American troops stormed Omaha Beach on D-Day 1944. Mark and historian Marty Morgan discuss the invasion operations, Omaha Beach landings and Vierville Draw, a key part of the brutal battle against the entrenched Germans that led to the success of Operation Overlord and eventual Victory in Europe.

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D-Day: Airborne Operations

In continuing our study of D-Day for this 76th Anniversary Year, Mark talks about the invasion airborne operations. He and guest historian, Marty Morgan, discuss the airborne operations and actions of the American 82nd and 101st Airborne and the British 6th Airborne Divisions on D-Day. They cover the details of the paratroopers, including “the greatest…

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Operation Overlord Part II: Deception Plan

Mark continues his series of podcasts dedicated to the 76th Anniversary of D-Day, discussing Operation Overlord, the planning of the D-Day invasion. He discusses the crucial deception plan, Operation Fortitude conducted to fool Hitler and his staff about the location, strengths and leadership of the upcoming invasion. He includes excerpts from the lectures of historian…

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Operation Overlord Part I: D-Day Preparation

Mark begins his series of podcasts dedicated to the 76th Anniversary of D-Day, discussing Operation Overlord, the planning of the D-Day invasion. He includes excerpts from  WWII lectures that historian Stephen E. Ambrose gave at the University of New Orleans, covering the preparation the Allies made for Operation Overlord. By December of 1943 the United…

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April Events in History: Civil War and WWII

Mark takes a look at some significant events that took place in April during the Civil War and WWII. “April is the cruelest month” according to T.S. Eliot, but how accurate is that historically? You decide. Here are some major happenings and a few occurrences that are not so well known: Fort Sumter, Shiloh, Eel…

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Women in History

In a retrospective of Women’s History month, Mark takes a look at notable women starting with Medieval times and jumping to the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War and WWII. He features a range of heroines from Joan of Arc, who at age 17 led a French army in the Hundred Years…

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January Historical Events

Often we think that historically, not much has happened in the middle of winter. However, that’s far from the truth. From Charlemagne to Henry VIII, Secession in the Civil War to the Soviets battling the Finns in the snow during WWII, there has been a lot of historical heat generated in January over the centuries….

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Wartime Christmas

Mark looks at some examples of how Christmas was observed during wartime over the last three centuries. Merciful nurses making wounded and sick soldiers more comfortable with what limited means they had, ersatz reindeer in the Civil War, and how a grant for leave could be the greatest Christmas gift a soldier could hope to…

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