Podcast Episodes

VW7: Failing Strategies and False Optimism

In 1966 and 1967, the U. S. forces in Vietnam increased their activity, launching many search and destroy missions, including Operation Masher/Whitewing and Operation Junction City. But as the US cas…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

We Were Soldiers

In this episode, James, Sean and special guest Steve Guerra review the 2002 film We Were Soldiers, written and directed by Randall Wallace and starring Mel Gibson. Based on the book We Were Soldiers …

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

VW6: The Americanization of the War

In 1965, the ground war in South Vietnam intensified. In June, the ARVN suffered a disaster at the hands of the Viet Cong in the Battle of Dong Xoai. That same year, U. S. President Lyndon Johnson ma…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Rescue Dawn

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 2006 film Rescue Dawn, based on the true story of American pilot Dieter Dengler, who was shot down over Laos in 1966 and spent several months in a prison c…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

VW5: The Gulf of Tonkin Incident and the Entry of American Ground Forces

In August, 1964, three North Vietnamese gunboats attacked an American destroyer. This incident was followed by a perceived (but imaginary) second attack. These attacks, although one was not real, led…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

VW4: South Vietnam in Crisis

In early 1963, the Viet Cong decisively defeated an attacking ARVN force at the Battle of Ap Bac, proving that the guerrillas were a force to be reckoned with. During that same year, much of South Vi…

Published on 1 month, 4 weeks ago

VW3: The Rise of the Viet Cong

In 1959, the government of North Vietnam, now under the direction of Communist Party Chairman Le Duan, decided to initiate a war with the South Vietnamese government led by Ngo Dinh Diem. To help fig…

Published on 2 months ago

VW2: Dien Bien Phu and the Geneva Agreements

After the Second World War, France decided to reassert control over French Indochina. This policy met strong resistance from both Communist and right-wing political and military organizations in Viet…

Published on 2 months, 1 week ago

VW1: Introduction to the Vietnam War

In this episode, Sean McIver returns to join James and to help kick off a new series on the Vietnam War. Sean and James give an overview of Vietnamese history from its beginning down through the peri…

Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago

The 10 Best Allied Fighters of World War II (with Sean McIver) - Part 2

In this episode, Sean and James complete their discussion of the top 10 Allied fighters of World War II.

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Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago