This week on History Happy Hour: In this encore episode, Chris and Rick welcome back fellow Stephen Ambrose Tours historian and Patton expert Kevin Hymel to talk about the second volume of his Patton Trilogy, Patton's War: An American General's Combat Leadership, Volume 2: August–December 1944.

We'll be covering the period starting when Patton took command of the 3rd Army. It includes his race against France, the closing of the Falaise pocket, and the successful effort to relieve Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.

Kevin Hymel has served as a Historian for the U.S. Army and Air Force. He is the author of Patton’s Photographs: War as He Saw It and has served as a historian at the U.S. Army Combat Studies Institute at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He was also the Research Director for WWII History and Military Heritage magazines. Kevin leads the “In Patton’s Footsteps” tour for Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours, and has appeared in numerous documentaries. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from LaSalle University and Master’s Degree from Villanova University, both in History.