This week Seth and Bill take a look at Operation BACKHANDER, better known as the battle for Cape Gloucester that was fought from December 1943 through early 1944.  The team examines the short but sharp fight executed by the jungle veterans of the 1st Marine Division as they endured yet another miserable, rain-soaked, hell hole of an island.  Tune in and see what the team has to say about this oft-forgotten fight.

Green Inferno-The Campaign for Cape Gloucester

The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast is the creation of Seth Paridon and Bill Toti.  Seth is a World War II historian with over 20 years experience who's many roles also was serving as a chief historian for The National WWII Museum for 15 years.   Bill is not a historian, but is a retired submarine commodore and military planner with a special interest in the Pacific War.  Bill has a unique perspective to offer as one who spent more than a decade sailing those same waters where the action in “The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War” took place.


Each week, Bill and Seth dive deep into topics pertaining to the Pacific War during World War II.  We dissect the battles, tactics, strategies, and personalities that drove the United States' victory on the largest battlefront in human history.

Seth and Bill bring out the hard facts about the war that resonates deeply today, some 80 years after the war was fought.  

New episodes are released on this channel every Tuesday, and the audio versions of each episode are released at the same time everywhere you receive your podcasts.  Make sure you subscribe to get notifications of every fresh upload and new show!

If you prefer an audio-only version of “The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War,” it can be heard here:  

And for those of you interested in the transition from active duty to industry, Bill’s book “From CO to CEO: A Practical Guide for Transitioning from Military to Industry Leadership” is available in hardback at Amazon and other resellers, in eBook format on Kindle and Apple, and in audiobook format on Audible.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Education

Training

Language Courses

Higher Education

K-12

Educational Technology

Documentary

Courses

Seth joins Bill at his alma mater, the US Naval Academy, on April 24, 2024, along with Captain Stan Fisher, USN and Lt. Col Pete Owen, USMC (Ret), at the Legacy oof Valor event.  Hosted by the US Naval Academy Alumni Association. Copyright US Naval Academy Alumni Association.

US Naval Academy World War II Legacy of Valor event

This week Seth, Bill and John McManus wrap up the liberation of Leyte by talking about the fights at Breakneck Ridge, the Japanese landings and the subsequent US counter landings at Ormoc Bay.  The guys get into the stories of the 11th Airborne Division, 77th Infantry Division and the bravery and actions of one General Douglas MacArthur.  Tacked into the overall narrative is the almost unbelievable story of Medal of Honor recipient Robert Nett.  Check it out as we wrap Leyte.

#wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships  #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships  #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #mastersoftheair  #8thairforce #mightyeighth #100thbombgroup #bloodyhundredth #b17 #boeing #airforce wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships  #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #oldbreed #1stMarineDivision #thepacific #Peleliu #army #marines #marinecorps #worldwar2 #worldwar #worldwarii #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf #liberation #macarthur

The Liberation of Leyte Part 2 with John McManus-Episode 332

Thhis week Seth and Bill welcome back good friend and fantstic historian John McManus to talk about GEN Douglas MacArthur's long-anticipated return to the Philippines.  Mac and the 6th Army land on Leyte on October 20, 1944 to liberate the first portion of the archipelago as MacArthur's crusade to liberate the place he called home finally takes off.


#wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships  #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships  #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #mastersoftheair  #8thairforce #mightyeighth #100thbombgroup #bloodyhundredth #b17 #boeing #airforce wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships  #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #oldbreed #1stMarineDivision #thepacific #Peleliu #army #marines #marinecorps #worldwar2 #worldwar #worldwarii #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf

Operation KING II-The Liberation of Leyte Part 1 with John McManus

This week Seth, Bill and good buddy Jon Parshall wrap up the Battle of Leyte Gulf with the final carrier battle of World War II, the Battle off Cape Engano.  Halsey takes the cheese and chases Ozawa's decoy carrier force north, away from San Bernadino Strait, to destroy what is left of the Imperial Japanese Navy's once mighty aircraft carrier task force.  Tune in and see what the guys have to say about the ultimate destruction of the Japanese carrier force.

#wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships  #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships  #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #mastersoftheair  #8thairforce #mightyeighth #100thbombgroup #bloodyhundredth #b17 #boeing #airforce wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships  #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #oldbreed #1stMarineDivision #thepacific #Peleliu #army #marines #marinecorps #worldwar2 #worldwar #worldwarii #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf

The Battle off Cape Engano-Battle of Leyte Gulf with Jon Parshall-Episode 330

Hey, folks, Captain Bill Toti here—and I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know that I’m going to be keynote speaker at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery Memorial Day Observance, on May 27th 2024 at 10 am.

Green Inferno-The Campaign for Cape Gloucester

Download our free app to listen on your phone