Why We Fight ~ 1944

In this episode, MAJ Jonathan Curran joins me to talk about the Battle of Cherbourg in June 1944 and what that meant for the US Army and the Allies at the time and going forward. There will also be about 90 minutes of bonus content associated with this episode which will be available on Patreon as soon as I have a chance to put it together into a single bonus episode.

Links

Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)

Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

In this episode, Dr. Sanders Marble returns to talk about Army Doctors, Nurses, and Medics at Normandy.

Links

History of the Office of Medical History (https://medcoeckapwstorprd01.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/achh/HistoryoftheOfficeofMedicalHistory_12247.pdf)

Army Medicine History (https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/AMDM)

US Army Hospitals, Nurses, and Medical Units in the North Africa Campaign with Jessica Waszak -- Mentioned in the episode, it was the 48/128th Hospital that I couldn't recall

(Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/us-army-hospitals-nurses-and-medical-units-in-the/id1558636084?i=1000612231034)

(Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6mY40Q8ZJyGYok5Zhsyu67)

Mother of Tanks Website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)

Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Dr. Ryan Wadle returns in this episode to talk about the US Navy in Operation Neptune — before, during, and a little after D-Day in 1944. While we don't necessarily discuss books, I'll include a few relevant links below.

Links

World War II: D-Day, The Invasion of Normandy (https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/research/online-documents/world-war-ii-d-day-invasion-normandy)

The Invasion Fleet that Liberated Europe (https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history/2024/june/invasion-fleet-liberated-europe)

D-Day: The Beaches (https://dod.defense.gov/Portals/1/features/2016/0516_dday/docs/d-day-fact-sheet-the-beaches.pdf)

Mother of Tanks Website (⁠http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/⁠)

Bonus Content (⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks⁠)

In this episode I'm joined by retired US Coast Guard Commander Gary Thomas who offers us a taste of the many MANY contributions of the USCG to the American war effort in the Second World War including the extensive support provided by the Coast Guard for the invasion of Normandy in June 1944.

Links

The Long Blue Line - USCG History Blog (https://www.history.uscg.mil/Research/THE-LONG-BLUE-LINE/)

U.S. Coast Guard Missions: A Historical Timeline (https://media.defense.gov/2021/Jun/04/2002735330/-1/-1/0/USCGMISSIONSTIMELINE.PDF)

Chronology of Coast Guard History (https://www.history.uscg.mil/research/chronology/)

Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)

Bonus Content - Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Joining me in this this episode is Dr. Frank Blazich Jr. Frank spoke with me last year about the pontoons used to support Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, and here he continues this story to talk about the Rhino Ferries and Mulberries at Normandy in June 1944.

Link

Inventors and Innovators: Naval Lighterage and Anglo-American Success in the Amphibious Invasions of German-Occupied Europe (https://tnm.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/default/article/download/155/149)

WW2TV - Project Tentacle: The Experimental Floating Airfield (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIA7Zdyg01c)

Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)

Bonus Content on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

In this episode, Dr. Rob Williams joins me to talk about the US Army Airborne forces at Normandy in June 1944. Rob contributed to the 1943 series as well, with his episode linked below for those who missed it. Also linked below is Rob's upcoming book, The Airborne Mafia.

Links

Dispersion, Decentralization, Chaos, & LGOPs: US Army Airborne Culture & Operations in Italy 1943

The Airborne Mafia: The Paratroopers Who Shaped America's Cold War Army

Mother of Tanks website

Continuing the Normandy 1944 coverage, in this episode I'm joined by Dr. Curtis King, retired US Army Armor Officer and current member of the Army University Press Combat Studies Institute Staff Ride Team, to talk about Utah Beach.

Curt provided a PPT to accompany his episode and you can find it here, at the bottom of the Podcast notes, right above the embedded podcast episodes: http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/

Links

Army University Press Combat Studies Institute: Invasion of Normandy Virtual Staff Ride

Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks)

In this episode, historian Joseph Balkoski joins me to talk about the history of the 29th Infantry Division, some challenges the Division faced before D-Day, the Division's connection to the Army Rangers, and the Division's leadership as they prepared for the Cross-Channel attack. Joe will pick this story up in a second episode to talk about the 29th Infantry Division's experiences on D-Day and in Normandy.

Links

Books by Joe Balkoski

Rounding out his 3-part coverage of the Normandy Invasion, Steve Clay returns to tell us what happened at Omaha Beach for the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division on 6 June 1944, versus the plans he discussed in the previous episode.

Steve prepared a PowerPoint Presentation to go with the episode and you can find the download here, at the bottom of the Podcast notes, right above the embedded podcast episodes: http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/

Links

Army University Press Combat Studies Institute: Invasion of Normandy Virtual Staff Ride

No Sacrifice Too Great: The 1st Infantry Division in World War II

Blood and Sacrifice: The History of the 16th Infantry Regiment from the Civil War through the Gulf War

Seven Months to D-Day: An American Regiment in Dorset

Lineage and Honors Information: 16th Infantry Regiment

Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks)

Continuing his three-episode coverage of the preparations for and execution of the invasion of Normandy, in this episode Steve Clay talks about the tactical and operational environments, the order of battle for the invasion, and the plans, including a series of assumptions made - most of which proved inaccurate. Steve will conclude this three-episode coverage in the next episode when he talks about what actually happens on D-Day 1944, with respect to the roles of the 1st Infantry Division and 16th Infantry Regiment.

Links

Army University Press Combat Studies Institute: Invasion of Normandy Virtual Staff Ride

No Sacrifice Too Great: The 1st Infantry Division in World War II

Blood and Sacrifice: The History of the 16th Infantry Regiment from the Civil War through the Gulf War

Seven Months to D-Day: An American Regiment in Dorset

Lineage and Honors Information: 16th Infantry Regiment

A Historical Examination of Military Records of US Army Suicide, 1819-2017