Wheels of History Podcast

This episode covers the final two and a half years of the Korean War as the UN forces rallied and stopped the Chinese, the front stabilized along the 38th Parallel, and two years worth of peace talks before the armistice is finally signed. In particular, this episode highlights the influence of General Matthew B. Ridgway in restoring the fighting spirit of the US 8th Army and the bloody hill battl...

This episode covers the Chinese counterattack that hit the US 1st Marine Division and elements of the 7th Infantry Division around the Chosin Reservoir. These forces, supplied on a single, winding road through the mountains of Korea, were cut off and surrounded by nine Chinese divisions. In the face of subzero temperatures, relentless Chinese attacks, and unable to receive ground resupply, surviva...

In this episode, I discuss the following topics: Why did I choose to do a series on the Korean War? My experiences and reflections on serving for three years in Korea A discussion and analysis of my source material. An analysis of the Soviet MiG-15 and American F-86 Sabre jet fighters that dueled over MiG Alley in the Korean War

This episode covers the Chinese counterattack that hit the US 8th Army in the western part of North Korea. Shortly after MacArthur launches his forces north toward the Chinese border, the Chinese launch their own counterattack, surprising the UN forces with nearly 300,000 soldiers who have been hidden in the hills. This counterattack collapses the ROK II Corps on the right flank of the 8th Army, e...

This episode covers the UN amphibious assault at Incheon, the collapse of the North Korean army, and the rush north to the Yalu River. The North Korean offensive to eliminate the Pusan Perimeter has failed. Conditions are right for a counterattack to drive the Communists north, but only General Douglas MacArthur is so bold as to propose an amphibious assault at Incheon, just twenty miles from Seou...

This episode covers the background of the Korean War and the opening months of the war. This includes the reasons why Korea was divided in half after the Second World War, the rising tensions of the Cold War, the surprise invasion and decision by the US to intervene, along with sixteen other states of the United Nations. This episode ends at the final North Korean attack on the Pusan Perimeter in...

In this episode, I discuss the following topics: Why did I decide to create the Wheels of History Podcast? Why did I choose to do a series on the Six Day War? A discussion of three books I used as main sources for this series A tanker’s thoughts and discussion about three tanks used in the Six Day War: the American Sherman tank, the British Centurion tank, and the Soviet T-54 and T-55 tanks.

This episode covers the start of the Six Day War, in which Israel launches a surprise attack on Egypt, Jordan joins the war against Israel, and the first three days of the war play out. This includes the Israeli air attacks against the Egyptian Air Force, the Israeli offensive in the Sinai, the Jordanian attempt to seize West Jerusalem, and the Israeli offensive into the West Bank.

This episode covers the rising tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors from the end of the Suez War in 1956 to the start of the Six Day War in 1967. This includes the rise of Nasser and his efforts to use Arab nationalism to unify the Arab world against Israel, Soviet support and arms to equip Egypt and Syria, Palestinian terrorist attacks against Israel, and even efforts to divert the Jord...