This episode continues our discussion in the Philippines. Most of the 4th Marines were positioned on Corregidor, a small, tadpole-shaped island in the mouth of Manila Bay. Japan's domination of air and sea cut off food and supplies to the peninsula's defenders. By April 1942, many troops had lost as much as a third of their body weight.

World War II: Defense of the Philippines - Part 2

Kevin Sadaj served in the Marine Corps from 1989 to 1993 and participated in Operation Restore Hope. In 2011 he cofounded the Marine Somalia Veterans Association, which has over 2000 members. The association serves as a place of fellowship and support for members who served in Somalia and is a repository of the history of their experiences.   Website: https://marinesomaliavetsassociation.home.blog Membership: https://marinesomaliavetsassociation.home.blog/membership Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/USMCSomaliaVetsAssn  

Kevin Sadaj - Uncommon Valor

A coordinated raid targeted US installations in the Philippines shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Japan's invasion caused US forces to withdraw and led to indefensible brutalities, such as the infamous Bataan Death March. Part 1 of this series looks at the battle's opening days from the Marine Corps perspective.

World War II: Defense of the Philippines - Part 1

The attack on Guam came only a few hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The island's defending force was significantly undergunned against the 5,500 troops from Japan's South Seas Detachment. We spend a little time talking about the amusing way Guam came into US possession, attempts to fortify Guam, and the Japanese attack on the island.

World War II: Battle of Guam, 1941

This episode continues our discussion on the Battle of Wake. After Japan’s initial attack, all hands on the island prepared for a second raid. We’ll discuss Japan’s first attempt at an amphibious landing, Japanese air raids in the days following, and end with Wake’s surrender.

World War II: Battle of Wake Island

This episode digs into the attacks on Midway and Wake.

World War II: Attack in the Pacific

During this episode, we break down events leading to Japan’s decision to attack Pearl Harbor, the planning that went into the attack, Japan’s voyage across the Pacific Ocean, and of course, Marine activity during the attack.

World War II: Marines at Pearl Harbor

We cover a lot in this episode, including the fall of many neutral countries, Italy and Japan officially aligning with Germany, and preparations made by the Corps before the US officially entered the war. On December 8th, President Roosevelt delivered his famous "Day of Infamy speech." It's included at the end of the episode.

World War II: Introduction - Part 2

This episode discusses a few events leading up to World War II, including the rise of European dictatorship and military control in Japan. We briefly cover how the rest of Europe reacted to Hitler seizing territory and end the episode with Germany's invasion of Poland.

World War II: Introduction - Part 1

Marine Aviation - Part 2

A few years before the United States entered World War I, the Navy started playing with the idea of planes. Marine 1st Lieutenant Alfred A. Cunningham was one of the first pilots to attend training in Maryland and helped design a Marine aviation program. Marines who followed in his footsteps developed or perfected many tactics still used today. We start the episode in 1911 and talk about how aviation contributed to World War I, the Banana Wars, and the start of WWII.

Marine Aviation - Part 1

This episode closes the chapter on Marine Corps activity during the 20 years between wars. Concepts we’re familiar with today - such as training, officer assessments, organizational structure, and aviation - saw significant improvements, and we touch on some of those topics during this episode.

Postwar Disillusionment – Part 3

We talk about Marines in China after WWI, the six commandants who led the Corps in the 20 years leading up to WWII, and touch on improvements of the Corps, including creating the Fleet Marine Force, better training, and establishing the Marine Corps birthday as we know it today.

Postwar Disillusionment – Part 2

Shortly after the Allied Powers claimed victory in World War I, the happiness U.S. citizens felt soon turned into disillusionment, and many questioned the purpose of the war. Millions of people died, and it wasn’t clear what problems were solved. In the years leading up to WWII, pacifism became the fastest-growing movement in America. This antiwar sentiment had a considerable impact on the Marine Corps, and they had to take drastic steps to maintain a competent fighting force. This episode discusses the Marine Corps significant cut in manpower, their attempt to bring in recruits using sports, defining an officer promotion selection board, and dealing with crime sprees in the United States.

Postwar Disillusionment - Part 1

This battle is the last and most significant U.S. troops fought during WWI. We discuss the preparation leading up to the fight, some of the challenges both U.S. and German troops faced, and how both sides handled the armistice when they received the news. We end the episode by talking about some of the statistics on the war.

World War I: The Meuse-Argonne Offensive

This battle was one of the bloodiest the Marines faced during WWI. We discuss the actions of the 5th and 6th Marines, including a disorderly retreat by the 5th Regiment. James Gregory wrote an excellent article about it in the latest issue of the MCU Press Marine Corps History. Check it out here:  https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/MarineCorpsHistory_vol7no2_Winter2021_web%20%282%29.pdf  

World War I: The Battle of Mont Blanc

St Mihiel is the first U.S.-led offensive in WWI. Although the U.S. Army primarily fought this battle, the Marines played a considerable role in its outcome. We'll discuss some of the events leading up to the fight, look at how the Marine spent some of their quiet time, and get into the planned strategy outlined by Pershing and Lejeune.

World War I: The St. Mihiel Offensive

After the first day of battle, the 5th Marine Regiment lost a significant part of its force. Both sides reorganized for the night. German General Baron Von Watter moved the 46th Division to the front lines, and the 6th Marines prepared to meet the fresh German troops.

World War :I The Battle of Soissons - Part 2

Less than a month after Belleau Wood, the 5th and 6th Regiments made their way north. The Battle of Soissons was part of the Allied Aisne-Marne counter-offensive, and Marines who fought in both swore that Soissons was worse. This episode focuses on the 5th Marine regiment, and we discuss the logistical challenges Marines faced minutes before they were scheduled to advance towards the Germans.

World War I: The Battle of Soissons - Part 1

Marines had to cross 350 meters of open wheat field to reach the Germans, and many who witnessed the battlefield compared it to Confederate General Robert E. Lee's failed Pickett's Charge during the Battle of Gettysburg. We break down the position and strength of Marine and German forces at Belleau Wood and many of the challenges US forces faced during their engagement. We end the episode by reviewing a few statistics and addressing the elephant in the room about the Marine's famed Devil Dog nickname.

History of the Marine Corps

History of the Marine Corps

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