This Week on History Happy Hour: One of America’s most critical needs in WWII was to build a merchant fleet that could carry soldiers and supplies to theaters around the globe. To build enough ships fast enough that U-Boats couldn’t sink them all. To lead its effort, the US turned to a man who had never built a ship – but he nevertheless created a network of shipyards that built thousands.

Chris and Rick will talk about this epic effort with Doug Most, author of Launching Liberty.

Doug Most is a veteran journalist in Massachusetts, the author of three books, and an Executive Editor and Assistant Vice President at Boston University. He spent 15 years as the magazine and features editor at The Boston Globe. His previous books include The Race Underground about the construction of the Boston and New York Subways, and the true crime story Always in Our Hearts.