Why We Fight ~ 1944

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

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/LinksArmy University Press Combat Studies Institute: Invasion of Normandy Virtual Staff RideWhy 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 Omaha Beach: D-Day, June 6, 1944 From Beachhead to Brittany: The 29th Infantry Division at Brest, August - September 1944 From Brittany to the Reich: The 29th Infantry Division in Germany, September - November 1944 Our Tortured Souls: The 29th Infantry Division in the Rhineland, November - December 1944 Beyond the Beachhead: The 29th Infantry Division in Normandy Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks) Mother of Tanks website

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. 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 A Historical Examination of Military Records of US Army Suicide, 1819-2017 Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks)

This is part one of three episodes contributed to the D-Day part of the 1944 series by retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel Steve Clay, who recently retired from the Staff Ride Team at the Army University Press Combat Studies Institute. Steve contributed last year in the 1943 series and has multiple contributions for 1944 starting with this episode on the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division following the Sicily Campaign when the Division moved to the UK and began training for the invasion of France. 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 A Historical Examination of Military Records of US Army Suicide, 1819-2017 Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks)

***Language Warning*** In this episode, I'm joined by retired Sergeant Major Ken Ramos, of U.S Army W.T.F! Moments fame, to talk about the Ghost Army. This recording is actually nearly double the length, but some of our commentary got off the Ghost Army topic, though still all related, so I am releasing the full episode on Patreon for those that want to listen to "Mother of Tanks" and "The IO Guy" banter for nearly 3 hours. In the linked below, there are some of the things mentioned in the recording incase anyone wants to see what Ken is talking about when he mentions Operation Copperhead and the Monty look-alike. Links Military Deception (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_deception) Operation Copperhead (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Copperhead) M. E. Clifton James (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._E._Clifton_James) The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects, and Other Audacious Fakery A Genius for Deception: How Cunning Helped the British Win Two World Wars Message Drafter by GEN Eisenhower in Case the D-Day Invasion Failed Air Force, Army Permit Wear of Uniforms Off Base (FEB 2022) U.S Army W.T.F! Moments (https://www.facebook.com/usawtfm) The IO Guy (https://twitter.com/TheIOGuy) Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks)