The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War

This week Seth, Bill, good buddy Jon Parshall and US Army retired Major Shawn Bergstrom wrap up the Q&A sessions with this final round. The guys roll on from last week's episode and keep going as we answer more of your amazing questions. This is the final Q&A of this grouping. Next week, we move back to the war.

This week Seth, Bill and third amigo Jon Parshall are again joined by US Army retired Major Shawn Bergstrom as the guys wade through more of your questions, this time with drinks in hand. Less of a Q&A and more of a bull session, this episode, and next week's were extremely fun. We hope you like it too.

This week Seth and Bill welcome good buddy Jon Parshall as the trio tackles your listener questions. Our guest emcee is retired US Army Major Shawn Bergstrom, who was with us on our Q&A's last season and will be with us for this series of Q&A's and next season's CBI material. Thanks for the great questions, we hope you guys enjoy the product. We had fun making it. #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #...

In this episode, Bill speaks at the Brevard Veteran's Memorial about his involvement in the exoneration of Captain Charles B. McVay III, USN. McVay had been court-martialed in December 1945 following the sinking of the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) the prior August. He was exonerated by act of Congress in May 2001.

This week Seth and Bill welcome back the third amigo, Jon Parshall, as the trio dive into Allied and Japanese commander's performances in 1944 and 1945. Halsey, Spruance, MacArthur, Mitscher, McCain, LeMay, Hansell, Bruce, Burke, Rupertus, Yamashita, Iwabuchi, Nakagawa and others are reviewed by the guys in this totally off-the-cuff discussion. The guys get into the big names, and some of the comm...

In this special episode, Seth and Bill take a look at Christmastime in the Pacific theater and the American homefront during the war years. The guys go through specific times in November and December 41-45 and, as usual, blow apart some of the myths of the home front and get into what the holidays were really like for the men overseas.

This week Seth and Bill take a look at the legendary story of USS Laffey (DD-724) and her epic struggle for survival at radar picket station number 1 off Okinawa on April 16, 1945. The guys go into their usual deep dive as they explore the men and the action of Laffey's ordeal. Truly, one of the most heroic and legendary stories to come out of the Okinawa campaign--check it out. #wwii #wwiihistory...

This week Seth and Bill take a look at one of the legendary stories of the kamikaze scourge during the Naval campaign for Okinawa--the saga of the destroyers USS Hugh W. Hadley and USS Evans and their support ships at Radar Picket Station 15. On May 11, 1945, the American ships at Radar Picket 15 endured an almost unbelievable attack by 156 Japanese kamikaze aircraft. In a story of courage, surviv...

This week Seth and Bill welcome back good buddy Jon Parshall to talk about the massive Japanese kamikaze attacks unleashed on the US and British Pacific fleets off Okinawa from April 6-June 1945. The guys go into detail on some of the bigger raids and the smaller ones too, and talk about the fatal attack on USS Bunker Hill in which Arleigh Burke earned a Silver Star for leading rescue and salvage...

Hey guys, just a quick drop-in to remind you to send us your questions for the Q&A. This time it will be Bill and I as well as our good buddy Jon Parshall. Send us your questions at: unauthorizedpacificpodcast @gmail.com Drop Dead Date is Friday 13 December.

This week Seth, Bill and, good buddy Jon Parshall delve into the origin and deployment of the Kamikaze. The guys take a look at the tactic's origins, which date as far back as Pearl Harbor, and really dive deep into how, exactly, did the Japanese get to that point. Digging deeper, the team gets into the whole myth that every Kamikaze pilot was a volunteer...to paraphrase Oddball--"No, baby they we...

This week Seth, Bill and good buddy Jon Parshall tackle the story of the Japanese battleship Yamato and her final sortie. The team gets into the beginnings of the operation and how the idea was formed in the heads of the upper echelons of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and then get deep into the dissension within the ranks of those assigned to take part in the death ride. Then Seth, Jon and, Bill go...

A few months ago, Captain Toti began a Christian ministry for active duty, reservists, and veterans locally in Brevard County, Florida. He started this ministry because he saw a need in the local veteran community. It meets every Monday night at the Church at Viera in Viera, Florida. Interested active duty, reservists, veterans, and their spouses can register at https://churchatviera.com/military....

Bill takes a tour of the USS Cod (SS-224) in July 2024. Many thanks to Paul Farace and the entire USS Cod crew. Bill authored "From CO to CEO: A Practical Guide for Transitioning from Military to Industry Leadership"

Hey guys. This is a short PSA (nothing is short when Bill and I start talking) about another audience-generated Q&A session. This time, Bill and I will be joined by our good buddy Jon Parshall as we field your questions about the Pacific war. We also briefly discuss the show's future and other topics top of mind. Send us your questions now at: unauthorizedpacificpodcast@gmail.com #wwii #wwiihistor...

This week Seth, Bill and good buddy Jon Parshall examine the last month of the ground campaign on Okinawa. in this episode, the guys discuss the Japanese withdrawal from the Shuri Line, the attempted American pursuit as well as the final American push south which results in the final American amphibious landing of World War II on the Oroku Peninsula. The terrible American personnel replacement sys...

This week Seth and Bill and good buddy Jon Parshall get into the US Marine Corps side of the campaign ashore for Okinawa. The team begins their coverage, fittingly, at the beginning of the month of May 1945 and talk about the situation as it stands ashore at the beginning of the month before getting into the early fighting against the Awacha Pocket by the 1st Marine Division and then getting deep...

This week Seth and Bill welcome back good buddy Jon Parshall and the three amigos take on the US Army's portion of the early fight for Okinawa. the guys break down the slugfest at Cactus Ride, Kakazu Ridge, and Hacksaw Ridge, digging into the stories of the heroics at each location diving into the stories of Medal of Honor recipients, Desmond Doss, Edward Moskala, and others. The fighting done by...

This week Seth and Bill welcome good buddy Jon Parshall to discuss the planning and setup for the last great invasion of World War II, the invasion of Okinawa. In this episode the guys get deep into the weeds discussing the origins of the campaign, the American plans for invasion, and the Japanese plans for defense. Japanese General Ushijima, General Cho, and Colonel Yahara are discussed in depth...

This week Seth and Bill take a look at one of the most famous stories of survival and bravery in all of World War II, the story of the USS Franklin. On March 19, 1945 aircraft carrier USS Franklin (CV-13) better known as Big Ben, was hit by one or two bombs dropped by a Japanese Judy dive bomber. In the ensuing inferno and chaos that followed, more than 700 American sailors and Marines were killed...

This week Seth and Bill take a deep, and horrifying, dive into Mission number 40 from the Marianas and 21st Bomber Command, codenamed Operation MEETINGHOUSE. The raid that occurred on the night of March 10, 1945, was the single deadliest air raid in all of human history. Faced with failure after failure and the mounting pressure of a Japanese Home Island invasion, General Curtis LeMay takes drasti...

This week Seth and Bill welcome back historian James Scott to talk about the strategic bombing campaign over Japan. The guys get into the roots of strategic bombing, discussing Billy Mitchell, Duohet, Hap Arnold and the B-29. Moving west, the guys dissect the first few months of the campaign against Japan, taking a look at 21st Bomber Command's first CO-Haywood "Possum" Hansell and his failures be...

This week Seth and Bill welcome back good buddy Jon Parshall to talk about the first American carrier raids on the Japanese Home Islands since the Doolittle Raid in April 1942. In February 1945, just before Iwo Jima, Task Force 58 under the command of Marc Mitscher sails to within 60 miles of Honshu to launch the first US Navy carrier raids against Tokyo. Fighting the Japanese as well as terrible...

This week Seth and Bill welcome back good friend John Bruning to wrap up the discussion on the great Ace Race in the Pacific during World War II. The trio gets into a discussion on one of the fieriest leaders of the Pacific theater, P-47 Thunderbolt ace, Neel Kearby, and his 348th Fighter Group. n The guys break down Kearby's "freelancing" fighter missions and the incredible risks he took all to g...

This week Seth and Bill take a deep look at the man that some called the second most powerful man in the world during WWII. US Navy Admiral William D. Leahy's naval career, as well as diplomatic and advisory career are examined by the team as they go through the astounding rise of one of the United States' true leaders and great men. Tune in to see just how much power the first Fleet Admiral wield...