On June 25, 1950, 150,000 soldiers of the North Korean People’s Army launched an attack across the 38th Parallel into South Korea. They quickly pushed the outnumbered, outgunned, and demoralized South Korean army southward and captured the southern capital Seoul and several other key cities. The United States rushed ground, air and sea forces to the region and set up a perimeter around the key port of Pusan, stopping the North Korean advance….for a while, at least. Join Evan and James as they narrate the exciting opening of the Korean War.

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This week, James brings back his friend and long-time collaborator Sean McIver to kick off a nine-part series on Korean War films. In this first film episode, Sean and James discuss a mostly-forgotten classic: 1951’s The Steel Helmet, directed by Samuel Fuller.  Filmed in just ten days on a shoestring budget only four months after the war began, The Steel Helmet portrays the Korean War in a grim, hard hitting tale that is excellently told and that deals with uncomfortable topics, including racism and the senselessness of war. 

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In this episode, James and new cohost Evan Muxen (an army veteran and military historian) begin a new series on the Korean War. Evan and James give a brief overview of Korean history through the end of the Second World War and then slow down to focus on developments between 1945 and 1950. You will hear how the splitting of Korea into two halves, one occupied by the Soviet Union and the other by the United States, led to the formation of two rival Korean republics, neither of which was satisfied with controlling only half of Korea.

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Was President Harry Truman’s decision to use atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary and justified?  In this episode, James is joined by Richard Lim, host of the This American President podcast.  James and Richard break down the various factors that figured into Truman’s decision in an attempt to answer this important question.

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In this episode, James interviews Elizabeth Varon, the Langbourne M. Williams Professor of American History and Associate Director of the John L. Nau III Center for Civil War History at the University of Virginia, about her new book Longstreet: The Confederate General Who Defied the South. One of the Confederate Army’s most talented commanders, Longstreet was called “my old war horse” by Robert E. Lee. But within a few years of the end of the war, Longstreet had become a Republican and fought against many of his former Confederates, thus becoming persona non grata in the South. You’ll find this discussion of what Dr. Varon calls “the most remarkable political about-face in American history” fascinating. Join us!

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Following the Japanese surrender, the Marines return home. Leckie resumes working at the newspaper he worked for before the war. He also starts a relationship with Vera, revealing that he never sent the letters he wrote because he believed he was not going to survive the war. Sledge, Shelton, and Burgin arrive home in the spring of 1946. Sledge is still haunted by the horrors of war, he struggles to adjust despite reassurance from his father and Phillips. Basilone's widow, Lena, visits his parents and gives them his Medal of Honor.

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In this episode, James tells the fascinating history of America’s first Special Forces unit: the Marine Raiders. Formed in 1942, the Raiders played a key role in several Pacific Theater battles, including Guadalcanal, New Georgia, and Bougainville. In 1944, the Raider battalions were disbanded, and their members were reassigned to regular Marine units. Why, you ask? Listen and find out!

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Sledge and the 1st Marine Division land at Okinawa. Cynical and exhausted, Sledge and "Snafu" Shelton show no compassion for the Japanese troops and struggle to lead new replacement Marines fresh out of boot camp. The Marines are horrified to discover Okinawan civilians, including women and children, are being forced to act as human shields. As the battle concludes, the Marines hear of a "new bomb" that "vaporized an entire [Japanese] city in the blink of an eye".

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In this final episode of our series on the Barbary Wars, we look at the fates of the Barbary States. After 1815, the Barbary States lost their independence, with Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli, and Morocco succumbing to European powers through military defeats and colonization, culminating in French and Spanish protectorates by the 19th century. We also look at how the Barbary Wars placed the United States on a pathway to global naval hegemony.

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Tired of selling war bonds, Basilone requests a combat assignment and is transferred to the 5th Marine Division where he trains Marines for combat as a gunnery sergeant. He meets and marries Lena Riggi. Basilone lands at Iwo Jima, but is killed in action on the first day. Join Sean and James as they discuss this gut-wrenching episode.

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The conclusion of the War of 1812 elevated America's naval reputation and marked the start of the "Era of Good Feelings," a period of national pride. With peace restored, President Madison redirected attention to the Barbary pirates, who had exploited American merchant ships during the war. Furious at the enslavement of American sailors, Madison secured Congressional approval to wage war against Algiers in early 1815. Naval leaders like Stephen Decatur achieved swift victories, leveraging military strength to negotiate treaties that ended tribute payments and secured favorable terms for the U.S. Decatur's diplomacy extended to Tunis and Tripoli, compelling restitution for captured ships and releasing enslaved Europeans, bolstering America’s global standing. The Second Barbary War showcased the growing might of the U.S. Navy, earning respect from European powers and silencing earlier British doubts about American resilience. Celebrations of naval triumphs at home solidified national identity, while the treaties reflected America's emergence as a formidable maritime force.

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