Does he own the dealership? That would not surprise me!! This generation, my father's, was the "😅YOU'LL SURVIVE!!" generation" to me. That's what my Dad would tell us when we ever complained about ANYTHING! He was right about most everything. My own personal Admiral King! No joke. So what do you reply to someone who had lost his father age age 37,when Dad was 3! He had come home from work and was dead by morning!, Leaving my dad and his mother, my grandmother, alone with Grandpa Parker's😮 relatives at each other's throats over the life insurance policy money that my grandfather, Dad's father, was prescient enough to buy at the outset of the REAL INfluenza EPIDEMIC of 1918. "WHAT IS A WOMAN going to do with ALL THAT MONEY?" It was about $1500!! TImes were certainly different! If you leave any😮😮 money to descendants, be prepared! Anyway, Dad had few illusions about people. "You'll Survive"was something they knew about personally. Of course, some did not, as we've been hearing about every Tuesday for two plus years now. Thank You, Seth and Bill! And our leadership isn't the stuff of Chester Nimitz or Dwight Eisenhower! We may yet have something to complain about!!
In addition, my Dad was disappointed that the army forced a deferment on him because he was an " essential citizen" an experienced electrical engineer who at 29 was in charge of the electrical systems in Liberty ships for GE/ KAISER ON the Columbia River in 1942. He didn't escape contact with escape the enemy! A Japanese submarine surfaced way too close when Dad and a shakedown crew were checking the electrical equipment aboard a just launched Liberty ship. The enemy captain decided not to waste a long Lance on an empty ship. He could tell the ship was empty by how much waterline paint was showing. Dad and other KAISER people restrained the new, barely trained crew, from picking a fight that they couldn't finish with their brand new deck guns that they'd never fired!
The 24-inch diameter Type 93 Lance torpedoes were only carried by Japanese surface ships. Their subs carried 21-inch diameter Type 95 oxygen torpedoes that were also very formidable.
This sort of content is exactly why I keep coming back week after week. I consider myself well read and the Pacific war has taken over the hobby aspect of my life almost to the point of obsession, but I always come away from your show with some new piece of information or a different perspective even on something I’ve read about 100 times. That said I’ve never even heard of Biak before this morning.
@@davidlavigne207 It’s SS 220, The USS Barb. Eugene Fluckey’s book “ Thunder Below” opened the flood gates on a love for the Navy and its stories that has yet to fade after 20 years. I have a love for the Navy in general but the Silent Service is hands down my favorite.
@@AdmiralYeti8042 I am a great fan of the US Navy's Silent Service as well. I loved playing Silent Hunter 4 some years ago, as it was a pretty good simulation overall. Have you read Edward L. Beach's book "Submarine?" It's a fine collection of stories about the greatest submariners of which he was a contemporary. He also penned "Run Silent, Run Deep" which is a fine novel about sub skippers and crews. I shall have to get ahold of "Thunder below." Thanks.
@@davidlavigne207 I own both of them, as a matter of fact :) I recommend Richard O’Kane’s books “Clear the Bridge” and “Wahoo” as well, he gives a concise account of his war patrols in command of USS Tang and his time as XO aboard Wahoo under Dudley W. Morton. A broader account of the entire war from SUBPAC’s perspective is found in Charles Lockwood’s book “The Silent Service”; he goes into great detail on his and Swede Momsen’s quest to get to the bottom of the Mk. 14 torpedo failures that plagued our boats early on and it’s a really interesting read.
Thank you for this episode! My Grandpa was a First Sgt with the 41st ID, 162d RCT, 3rd Bn, L Co. Biak was brutal and he rarely talked about it. He would give little short snippets of what he saw and went through, and I got to see his photos after he passed. I’ve always felt the US Army’s contribution in the PTO is criminally overlooked, and Biak should be known in WWII history like Peleliu, Tarawa, Saipan, etc.
For me the most appreciated aspect of your podcast is your willingness to call it like it is. No free passes for the idiotic leadership or bad intel, no slack for those in command who attempt to lead from the rear or worse yet, from afar. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to our fighting men.
This is amazing. I’ve researched this place for over a decade and material just isn’t accessible. My Grandfather fought here with the 41st before being sent home in a lottery drawing where he wasn’t even the “winner,” rather, someone gave him their ticket home. Little did he know, his younger brother joined the 8th PhotoRecon squadron as an F5 pilot shortly after and flew his first missions from Biak and Dulag. I doubt they ever knew how close they were to each other. My great uncle was shot down in November ‘44 on the first mission out of Tacloban in the Philippines before the rest of the squadron moved there from Biak.
@@flparkermdpc A Pilipino farmer on a tiny island buried him and notified some Americans shortly after the war. My family elected to have him brought back and he was buried in a veteran’s cemetery in his home state.
Super appreciate the series, especially the frequent mentions of Australian involvement, The episodes drop Tuesday evening (here) making for a highlight of the working week.
My father served in the 7th Division AIF. He landed at Hollandia in N.E.I. One correction to this video is that Biak/Hollandia was a stepping stone to Moratai. Moratai was where the AIF and the US Army diverged. Australia offered one or two divisions of the AIF to take part in the invasion of the Philippines. Macarthur refused the offer as he wanted the invasion of the Philippines to be an all American affair. He only took a RAAF communication unit to the Philippines From Moratai, the US Army invaded the Philippines. From Moratai, the AIF invaded the NEI and British Borneo. The AIF took Balipapan and Tarakan in NEI. They also took Labuan and Brunei in British Borneo. All these places were oil producing towns.
Makes my Day! I drive around Detroit, Five days a week. The arsenal of democracy. The “Chrysler” tank plant in Warren, Michigan. and Williow Run “Ford” B-24 plant (what left of it), Milan, Michigan (my hometown) made wooded plug screws for the B-24 “liberator” to fill bullet holes for the flight back to base. And just two miles down the road from where I live now was a smoke generating plant to help “fog out” the Willow run facility in case of an axis bomb raid, all in southeastern Michigan. Thank You! To all Allied Men and Women, especially to our deceased ones, Thank you, THANK You, THANK YOU!
Thank you for this wonderful Pod cast of the invasion of Biak. My Father was on the invasion with 41st - 186 . He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions for destroying a enemy position and enabling two rifle platoons and another company of the 41st to achieve the mission of closing a gap between two infantry Battalions. The information you provided discussing the enemy positions within the cliffs and the maps were excellent. It is if I could see him . He wouldn't talk much about the war . He did bring up the caves , pillboxes, foxholes and the difficultly of the jungle. There is not a lot of books about the jungle warfare of the Pacific that even discuss Biak and Mokmer Airdome. Thank you both for taking the time to produce the podcast about the Biak invasion. I learned so much today . Thanks again.
My father-in-law was with the 41st in an artillery unit. He ran the gauntlet from New Guinea up to Peleliu which he said was the most terrifying ordeal he'd ever been through in battle. They truly were the Greatest Generation and every last one of them is a hero in my book.🙏🇺🇲⚓️💯☕️🚬💖
Thanks!Thank you for this wonderful Pod cast of the invasion of Biak. My Father was on the invasion with 41st - 186 . He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions for destroying a enemy position and enabling two rifle platoons and another company of the 41st to achieve the mission of closing a gap between two infantry Battalions. The information you provided discussing the enemy positions within the cliffs and the maps were excellent. It is if I could see him . He wouldn't talk much about the war . He did bring up the caves , pillboxes, foxholes and the difficultly of the jungle. There is not a lot of books about the jungle warfare of the Pacific that even discuss Biak and Mokmer Airdome. Thank you both for taking the time to produce the podcast about the Biak invasion. I learned so much today . Thanks again.
The thing I love the most about you two is you guys don't sugar coat anything.You tell it like it is, and hold no puches.Its good to see you two again.Nothing wrong with a guest speaker,but I would keep it as a guest.😊
Ahh I love Mr. Parshall (Dr. Parshall.) He's a great speaker and writer on the Pacific War and I think he brings a lot to the table, although I confess I just recently discovered this channel and began with episodes featuring him as guest (though I am familiar with Parshall's work before finding this podcast.) I can appreciate that some people might like the format of just you two, especially longtime viewers. Also, you two guys are great and whatever format yall take, I'm sure it will be excellent content.
Bill, you’re my kind of commander. Sometimes you gotta “fix bayonets” and charge, but other times… most times, you gotta step back, assess the situation, and use what resources you have. I was only a sergeant in the Army, but I was that guy who would call for fire before wasting my squad. And you’re right, soldiers will develop a critical, or at least skeptical, outlook of officer ranks when stupid decisions get guys hurt or killed. Once that happens, it becomes very difficult to rebuild their confidence in their leaders. I’ve heard it called a “creeping malaise,” and it’s something that the NCOs must ameliorate themselves. A good commander, like I perceive you to be, makes his or her sergeants’ job that much easier.
As always an excellent and informative account of a little discussed action. The SW Pacific Area command was so lucky to have Eichelberger. He seems to have known instinctively how to assess a situation and put things back on track when they were veering off course
Awww man!.…05:30 in Texarkana and I just cranked up the logging truck getting her warmed up for a long day. ... I'll look forward to watching this tonight, all day long. Thanks guys.
Thanks for brining attention to Biak. I had only heard the name of Biak. Otherwise nothing. This after three decades of readings of WWii in the Pacific.
Thanks for covering the invasion of Biak! I had the fortune of visiting Biak while working at the Grasberg mine in West Papua. The resort my wife and I stayed at was close to the landing beaches, which I didn't realize at the time. There was a rusty Japanese tank along the road between the airport and resort as a memorial. There were stories of caves that still had the remains of Japanese soldiers on the island. Keep up the outstanding work!
What really astounds me is that MacArthur was as successful as he was even though his intelligence staff work was so erratic. You've got this failure at Biak, the disasters at Buna and Gona, the numerous invasions to secure land for airfields that turned out to be unsuitable. And then other times, their Intel was spot on. Although not core to your series, it would be really interesting for Seth, Bill and possibly John McManus to discuss what exactly was going on with SWPA intelligence activities. Another terrific episode.
That was something new i learned today, i knew about Theodore jr. Serving in ww2, but did not know about Archibald, or Quentin's service. Two nuggets of history not known you have passed on today. Bravo Zulu!!
Well, I *had* heard of Biak. I knew very little about it. Thanks! Interesting and informative. I looked up Charles Willoughby on Wikipedia. Reprehensible man. On many levels. Were he in Europe, he would have protected Himmler and Mengele, been best buddies with Joachim Pieper and (had he lived) Reinhard Heydrich.
I am so happy to see this episode concerning Biak and the timing could not have been better. I am a volunteer at the Oregon Military Museum (green shirt). Our mandate is to present Oregon's military history and the 41st Infantry Division (Jungleers) is a main focal point. I just finished watching the episode twice. The first was to get the basics and then second taking notes so I will be able to use them to convey information to our visitors. I love the candor used as we at OMM (keep the bark on) as we say. It is so necessary to know what really occurred to get a better understanding of what really happened. Many like the "simple answer" of a historical event which really misleads. You have to do your homework if you are to know what you are talking about. So, I will let my fellow volunteers know about this episode and of course the "Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast" channel. I have enjoyed watching episodes and thank you for sharing. And hey guys just keep doing what and the way you are doing because in my view it's the best!
Thanks again gentlemen. Always enjoy learning by your efforts. We see yet again that ‘Dougout Doug’s’ MO remains- quickly get the glory high ground, but accept no blame or guilt.
In 1994 I spent a few days on this island and saw a lot of WW2 equipment from both the Japanese and Americans. I even remember a landing craft still rusting away near shore.
My dad was an Army Medic with the 162d Medical Detachment in the 41st Division.. He was wounded twice during the battle of Biak. He was awarded two Bronze Stars. He was discharged in June 1945. He despised MacArthur. Thanks for all the info on this battle. Keep up the excellent work!
Wasn't General Eichelberger later on minimized by General MacArthur during subsequent campaigns? It is no certainty that he was responsible for pulling several rabbits out of the hat. Brilliant episode.
I have read that The Big Mac always demoted the ones he loved, and was afraid of, so that they wouldn't get promoted and leave his flock, because somewhere in his narcissistic head he realized he needed them. Several European generals coveted him. American generals...
Biak was an inflection point in my family's history. That is where the 49th Fighter Group lost it's adjutant in a Japanese bombing raid. My uncle was sent forward as his replacement and became the group's adjutant through the remainder of the PNG campaign, was ashore at Leyte during the battle of Surigo straight, and had just moved forward to Okinawa when the bombs dropped. Though retired for 18 years, he bought a new mess dress to commission me upon my graduation from USAFA in 1978.
Love this topic well known to me because my father was there in the merchant Marine and earned a battle star for that Battle of Biak. Hey fellas how about doing an episode on the merchant Marine in the Pacific? Talk about unsung heroes!!
As a youngster in the 1950s I was given a box of ‘old’ WWII era comic books that had been at my great grandmother’s house. One of those vintage comic books was dedicated largely to the heroic and near saint-like perfection of General Douglas MacArthur, from the American Civil War heroics of his father Arthur MacArthur to the great wading ashore in ’44. My Great Grandmother’s regard for heroic General / Field Marshal Saint Douglas was maintained until her passing in her nineties. I suffered drip by drip disillusionment over the years as the disclosures of MacArthur’s exaggerated self regard, occasional incompetence, and not so petty greed stacked up. It seems that some little marred respectability remains only as regards the Inchon Operation and the firm humanity that he demonstrated in his unique term as Gaijin Shōgun.
Thanks so much for telling the story and all the shortcomings of the leadership. My father was on Biak after the battle, flying Navy B-24s. I remember him mentioning but never knew much more about the strategy and importance. Enjoying all your podcasts.
Thank you for doing this about Biak,I dont think ive ever seen 1 documentary about it..i heard about Biak only because of my grandfather being there in the war. Over the years ive found very very little about it
Another excellent episode! Thank you for discussing Biak. FYI: My father served on Biak as an aircraft mechanic in the 13th depot group, but pronounced it "By-ack".
Thanks! Guys, I know you have full time jobs besides this Podcast but was wondering if it would be possible to add a recommended reading list to the episode summary for those of us who would like to read in greater depth on the subject you are discussing.
Have just seen about 9 episodes and can't thank you enough for stepping up to promulgate the WW2 Pacific history. My dad served from Oct '44 in the Philippines until Feb '46 in post-war Japan. Construction battalion in the 6th Army I believe. Later an Army career after the Korean war. I love the content y'all are giving. Thanks for your hard work and diligence!
Thanks for yet another great episode. My dad (C47 pilot) was in and out of Biak a lot. The hubris is astounding - intelligence failures and PR taking precedent over actual combat operations, FYI - I just visited the Intrepid Museum in NYC, it was sobering to watch the kamikaze movie at the exact spot where so many were killed, see the gun tub with a 5”, 40mm Bofers quad, and a 20 mm Oerlikan and imagine the horror of seeing a plane aiming right for you. And how everybody on the ship had their role, even if it appears small, in making it all work as well as it did. Next stop is the Hornet in Alameda, and then the National Museum of the Pacific War in Texas (side trip on a total eclipse tour). And a revisit to WW2 Museum in New Orleans in Dec 2025. Going in “armed” with your insights and info will enhance the experiences.
Wow, yet another great Episode showing that there were more than just a handful of battles in the Pacific. Biak must have been a true horror story from Hell on both sides, topped with incompetence from many of the "higher ups". Thank you Seth and Bill! I think just the 2 of you with an occasional guest is a perfect mix, the focus is perfect!
Aitape is pronounced “eye-duh-pay” with emphasis on the first syllable. I lived in Papua New Guinea outside Madang for three years working with Capuchin missionaries, who were familiar with the location. They all pronounced it the way I describe it. I take particular interest in this region because my step-father made two combat landings in New Guinea, at Hollandia and Biak.
This would have been an excellent episode for John Mcmanus to appear on. I would have found it interesting for his take on General Walter Krueger in this operation, as he is normally quite favourable in his assessment of his performance during the war. Otherwise another high quality, factual episode where I learned yet again I'm reminded how large my knowledge gaps are in this theatre.
One of the " JUST IN TIMERS"! According to one of the believeables in this command, the other German (heritage)general, Eichelberger. Kreuger never really left the Hitler youth! IMNotsoHumbledOpinion!!
Thanks for the frankness about how soo many die from stupid decisions. This type of wastefullness and needles sacrifice of lives should be a crime. War is sooo sad 😦
Thank you again Seth and CPT Toti for another outstanding presentation. I was always aware of the invasion and capture of Biak but knew nothing about the facts and personalities involved with this operation. Absolutely incredible analysis presented in this presentation. Your hard work is greatly appreciated. I learned so much about this battle from your podcast.
Question for Capt Toti.... Would you say that this is another case of "no marines, little news coverage "? This is only the second time I've heard details of this operation and the first was just an overview....
The Pacific War was not the headline in Movietone News. Too far away, with meager resources, and MacArthur hoarded all the news outlets. Nimitz could care less. He was calculated, aggressive and quiet. A game manager. NIMITZ IS THE MAIN REASON WE WON THE PACIFIC WAR. Mac would have broken up the Allies, firing Monty, jailing. De Gaulle and fumbling the ETO.
Also I am thinking that although Big Doug was crazy for headlines, the press briefings would hafta be vague, right? I mean he couldn't describe the problems so it would be like "Well, we went right in and took it with the super power of my genius general mind ..." Thus the sacrifices and hard combat weren't communicated, as Seth pointed out
Another excellent presentation. The maps add a lot even if Bill can't find them sometimes. I would like to remind you that in the Army we referred to the 105mm howitzer as "The one-oh-five," not "The one-zero-five," as Bill did in the presentation. I don't know about the Marines. As a former Red-Leg, I needed to put my two cents in.
Your podcast is like a flame drawing me as a moth… a Marine Vietnam veteran, who looked up to our WW II veterans when a child. However, I have to take a hiatus from time to time because of the magnitude of death and tragedy on both sides of the war…it triggers my PTSD. Back in the early 80s, I came across a book entitled, “The History of the United States Navy in World War II.” It was staggering. Thanks for giving us as accurate account of the war in the Pacific.
you guys are amazing...have learned so much and appreciate beyond words the amount of work you do... my father was on Okinawa and the conversations I had with him and what could have happened to him ( as it did to so many others) meshed to a haunting degree with your downfall, why the Japanese surrendered episode. my only suggestion, for what it's worth to you, is that have heard it enough times to learn that macarthur had serious shortcomings that had serious consequences...at some point though the level of vitriol and disgust that you heap upon him as in this show ultimately becomes a detriment and distraction to what are usually such unbelievably professional and thorough presentations educating us and honoring those who fought for us...ultimately had to turn this episode off...but will be back for the next ones...you set a very high bar for yourselves...keep it up there....thanks again for all your work
G'day Seth & Bill. You are both to be congratulated on the excellence of your presentations. Having found your site about three months ago I started at Episode 01 of Series 01 and rapidly became addicted to your easy relaxed presentations. If I missed any of the following campaigns on the series so far I apologise but in regards to New Guinea the campaign of Milne [the e is silent] Bay gets mentioned in passing and the following seem to be absent entirely. Satelberg in '43, Finschafen 'in '43 and Salamaua & Lae also in '43. These are principally Australian campaigns but still part of the Pacific War and the opinions of yourself, Bill and John Parshall would be welcome.
I'm not. I'm gonna cry when I go on the "front leading" recon walk when Captain Andrew A.Haldane, Bowdoin Class of 1941,is assassinated by a truly evil Jap sniper. To this day the Haldane Cup is presented to the outstanding leader in the graduating class at "Ack Ack"'s Alma mater, Maine's best, Bowdoin College. Letters in Bowdoin's archives from "Andy" to his mentor and dean, Paul Nixon are examples of what the USA, and Maine in particular, paid for an island to cover MacArthur's flank. It wasn't needed, as it turned out. Nimitz had a chance to call Peleliu's invasion off, but another of our favorites, Kelly Turner was for going ahead anyway. 😢 Reminds me of the knee jerk MacArthur response when Truman was thinking of canceling the invasion of Japan, Operation Olympic, when our intelligence got up to current event status of the fortifications on Honshu which had increased from three divisions to at least thirteen, plus 5,000 Kamikaze planes and other human guided missiles and mini submarines. Truman was DEEPLY TROUBLED by the human cost of taking Okinawa, and made no bones that there were casualty figures he was not willing to exceed in the Japan invasion, an event that Navy War gaming exercises had ruled "never to be considered" for a half century before Pearl Harbor. MacArthur was good to go, regardless of the many cooler heads who outranked him with his glory hounding obsession. I'm loathe to mention Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in the same paragraphs as MacArthur, but he is a fellow alumnus of Bowdoin College with Andrew Haldane, close to a century apart. Again, particulars are found in Rich Frank's book "Downfall".
Hi I really enjoy your content . I'd like to bring to your attention an almost unknown aspect of the war in the SW Pacific . This is the US Army small ships section . The US Army Small Ships Section was raised in Australia and consisted mainly of Australians who were too old, too young, or medically unfit to serve in the Navy, Army or Air Force in World War II. Almost 3000 Australians served in the US Army Small Ships. They were vital to the provision of logistics to the fighting in the SW Pacific. Only later in the war when US naval vessels were allocated to this theatre were they disbanded. Due to General MacArthur being unable to obtain any naval support early in the war he requested a force of volunteers who would provide their own small boats such as fishing vessels trawlers etc. Though they were Australians they were contracted to the US Army. The unit supported the deployment and repatriation of Australian and American personnel and equipment, including Air Force units, in the south-west Pacific. These men were never officially inducted into any branch of either the American or Australian armed services. They were paid by their civilian employers but given essentials such as fuel by their American controllers. These men were not entitled any post war entitlements. They were civilian volunteers. If they were KIA, it was treated like a work place accident. They were not entitle meddles or awards and if wounded were given treatment but no post war recognition. The Australian Government did not recognise their service because they were attached to the American Army. The Americans did not recognise the because they were not officially American service men.
What did you call me? Oohhh, you said Biak. My bad. Excellent Torpedo Tuesday. I have read about this somewhere in the past. There is a great book about a rescue operation in Papau called "Lost in Shangri-La." When this area becomes a backwater area. The Japanese were reduced to unspeakable actions to survive.
And my own favorite Army general, from the Wiki: "Soon afterwards [Charles] Canham was promoted to Brigadier General and was named as the Assistant Division Commander of the 8th Infantry Division. It was in this capacity during the surrender of the German garrison at the Port of Brest (see Battle for Brest) that Canham spoke the words that would become the 8th Infantry Division's motto. Upon entering the headquarters of General der Fallschirmtruppe (a three-star rank) Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke, a leader of German paratroops, Ramcke demanded to know the lower ranking Canham's credentials as a condition of surrender. Unruffled, Canham pointed to the dirty and tired American soldiers he had brought with him to witness the surrender and said, "These are my credentials."[4] The account of this event, which was reported in The New York Times, saw in this spontaneous statement of a combat leader the greatest tribute ever paid to the real power of the American Army, the individual soldier." That there is a sonofabitch. That there is also a man who knew who actually earned him his stars. Leadership in a nutshell.
My Grandfather was in the 98 Chemical Mortar Battalion and fought at the Battle Of Biak, and at Hollandia before this. Subbed and greetings from Australia.
Once again gentlemen, you’ve given us an outstanding episode involving a lesser studied battle of the Pacific War. Thank you. I have to admit I had only a cursory knowledge of this event. Wasn’t General Walter Krueger also assigned for a period of time to SHAFE in the European Theater of Operations? And while there, became embroiled in a senior level leadership controversy, perhaps being relieved of command; It was something noteworthy enough to have left some minor footprint in the recorded history of WW2 in Europe. I could be wrong about this, and I’m mixing up this particular U.S. Army General with someone else.
Side Note : There is a street know as Biak located next to the old NAS Alamitos Calif. which is now a US Army heliocopter base . I signed up as a Naval Flight Cadet in 1964 there . I safely returned from two tours of Yankee Station and retired as an O-3 . That is the only thing I knew until your excellent video of today and Thank You Both !
Luckily I discovered your podcasts and videos on youtube. Thank you so much. Great detail and well presented. My father went in the Corps in 1939 and finished in Okinawa. I can get a feel for his experience from your presentations.
As others have said, this is a part of the Pacific Theater that I had never read nor heard about. The discussion around intel (or lack thereof in some instances) was really interesting. I really enjoy these podcasts each week and appreciate the enthusiasm of the team and guests. Although my family served in Europe, the Pacific war holds more fascination for me and is where I tend to spend my time. Keep the great content coming!
If not everyone has read "Killer Angels" the concept of "high ground" is covered in StarWars lore when Obiwan tells Anakin he must give up because "I have the high ground". I believe there may be a meme about this....
I have quite a few addictions that are treatable, but no doctor has one to stop me from continuously watching the "Unauthorized" History of the Pacific War!
Capt, one suggestion. Slow down on the maps and leave them on screen a little longer. I frequently find myself opening another window to pull up maps to see where you are.
I am glad you published this. I have heard about it, and the previous Wakde. I have “Wikipedia knowledge” of it. I am pleased to learn more. Thank you gentlemen.
Another great episode..Thank you Bill and Seth for the time you put into this... it's just amazing how incompetent some of the generals and navy brass were in these battles..but MacArthur was a ass with a hat for shure..
My father was also in this operation. His CO, Lt. Silva is alive and selling cars in Taos New Mexico at 102.
Does he own the dealership? That would not surprise me!! This generation, my father's, was the
"😅YOU'LL SURVIVE!!" generation" to me. That's what my Dad would tell us when we ever complained about ANYTHING! He was right about most everything. My own personal Admiral King! No joke. So what do you reply to someone who had lost his father age age 37,when Dad was 3! He had come home from work and was dead by morning!,
Leaving my dad and his mother, my grandmother, alone with Grandpa Parker's😮 relatives at each other's throats over the life insurance policy money that my grandfather, Dad's father, was prescient enough to buy at the outset of the REAL INfluenza
EPIDEMIC of 1918. "WHAT IS A WOMAN going to do with ALL THAT MONEY?" It was about $1500!! TImes were certainly different!
If you leave any😮😮 money to descendants, be prepared! Anyway, Dad had few illusions about people. "You'll Survive"was something they knew about personally. Of course, some did not, as we've been hearing about every Tuesday for two plus years now. Thank You, Seth and Bill! And our leadership isn't the stuff of Chester Nimitz or Dwight Eisenhower!
We may yet have something to complain about!!
In addition, my Dad was disappointed that the army forced a deferment on him because he was an " essential citizen" an experienced electrical engineer who at 29 was in charge of the electrical systems in Liberty ships for GE/ KAISER ON the Columbia River in 1942. He didn't escape contact with escape the enemy! A Japanese submarine surfaced way too close when Dad and a shakedown crew were checking the electrical equipment aboard a just launched Liberty ship. The enemy captain decided not to waste a long Lance on an empty ship. He could tell the ship was empty by how much waterline paint was showing. Dad and other KAISER people restrained the new, barely trained crew, from picking a fight that they couldn't finish with their brand new deck guns that they'd never fired!
The 24-inch diameter Type 93 Lance torpedoes were only carried by Japanese surface ships. Their subs carried 21-inch diameter Type 95 oxygen torpedoes that were also very formidable.
This sort of content is exactly why I keep coming back week after week. I consider myself well read and the Pacific war has taken over the hobby aspect of my life almost to the point of obsession, but I always come away from your show with some new piece of information or a different perspective even on something I’ve read about 100 times. That said I’ve never even heard of Biak before this morning.
Yes me as well. It's always good to listen to these two guys. They are awesome
I like your submarine avatar. GATO Class?
@@davidlavigne207 It’s SS 220, The USS Barb. Eugene Fluckey’s book “ Thunder Below” opened the flood gates on a love for the Navy and its stories that has yet to fade after 20 years. I have a love for the Navy in general but the Silent Service is hands down my favorite.
@@AdmiralYeti8042 I am a great fan of the US Navy's Silent Service as well. I loved playing Silent Hunter 4 some years ago, as it was a pretty good simulation overall. Have you read Edward L. Beach's book "Submarine?" It's a fine collection of stories about the greatest submariners of which he was a contemporary. He also penned "Run Silent, Run Deep" which is a fine novel about sub skippers and crews. I shall have to get ahold of "Thunder below." Thanks.
@@davidlavigne207 I own both of them, as a matter of fact :) I recommend Richard O’Kane’s books “Clear the Bridge” and “Wahoo” as well, he gives a concise account of his war patrols in command of USS Tang and his time as XO aboard Wahoo under Dudley W. Morton. A broader account of the entire war from SUBPAC’s perspective is found in Charles Lockwood’s book “The Silent Service”; he goes into great detail on his and Swede Momsen’s quest to get to the bottom of the Mk. 14 torpedo failures that plagued our boats early on and it’s a really interesting read.
To the best pod cast of it's type. C'mon people, I'm not the lone Ranger
Are you the lone stranger?
@@morganhale3434 maybe he's the Bone Rearranger!
@@morganhale3434 He could be the LOAN ranger, wanting his twenty bucks back.
@@morganhale3434 sorry, accident, the Lone Finger
Thank you for this episode! My Grandpa was a First Sgt with the 41st ID, 162d RCT, 3rd Bn, L Co. Biak was brutal and he rarely talked about it. He would give little short snippets of what he saw and went through, and I got to see his photos after he passed. I’ve always felt the US Army’s contribution in the PTO is criminally overlooked, and Biak should be known in WWII history like Peleliu, Tarawa, Saipan, etc.
For me the most appreciated aspect of your podcast is your willingness to call it like it is. No free passes for the idiotic leadership or bad intel, no slack for those in command who attempt to lead from the rear or worse yet, from afar.
Thank you for your unwavering dedication to our fighting men.
This is amazing. I’ve researched this place for over a decade and material just isn’t accessible. My Grandfather fought here with the 41st before being sent home in a lottery drawing where he wasn’t even the “winner,” rather, someone gave him their ticket home. Little did he know, his younger brother joined the 8th PhotoRecon squadron as an F5 pilot shortly after and flew his first missions from Biak and Dulag. I doubt they ever knew how close they were to each other. My great uncle was shot down in November ‘44 on the first mission out of Tacloban in the Philippines before the rest of the squadron moved there from Biak.
Sorry for your loss. You can begin to figure out our demographic by the number of "almost" greatest generation people here!
Is your great uncle still MIA?
@@flparkermdpc A Pilipino farmer on a tiny island buried him and notified some Americans shortly after the war. My family elected to have him brought back and he was buried in a veteran’s cemetery in his home state.
Super appreciate the series, especially the frequent mentions of Australian involvement, The episodes drop Tuesday evening (here) making for a highlight of the working week.
For me also, here in Melbourne.
Excellent! My grandfather was on Biak after the fighting he was at a seaplane base and was a mechanic on PBY flying boats
I wish they would do an episode on the PBYs and the Black Cats.
My father served in the 7th Division AIF. He landed at Hollandia in N.E.I.
One correction to this video is that Biak/Hollandia was a stepping stone to Moratai.
Moratai was where the AIF and the US Army diverged. Australia offered one or two divisions of the AIF to take part in the invasion of the Philippines. Macarthur refused the offer as he wanted the invasion of the Philippines to be an all American affair. He only took a RAAF communication unit to the Philippines
From Moratai, the US Army invaded the Philippines.
From Moratai, the AIF invaded the NEI and British Borneo. The AIF took Balipapan and Tarakan in NEI. They also took Labuan and Brunei in British Borneo. All these places were oil producing towns.
Makes my Day!
I drive around Detroit, Five days a week. The arsenal of democracy. The “Chrysler” tank plant in Warren, Michigan. and Williow Run “Ford” B-24 plant (what left of it), Milan, Michigan (my hometown) made wooded plug screws for the B-24 “liberator” to fill bullet holes for the flight back to base. And just two miles down the road from where I live now was a smoke generating plant to help “fog out” the Willow run facility in case of an axis bomb raid, all in southeastern Michigan.
Thank You!
To all Allied Men and Women, especially to our deceased ones, Thank you, THANK You, THANK YOU!
I don't know why , we are not called a republic ,because we are
Detroit had more industrial output than Japan in August 1943.
@@genenoud9048 Simply because we have democratic values.
Thank you for this wonderful Pod cast of the invasion of Biak. My Father was on the invasion with 41st - 186 . He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions for destroying a enemy position and enabling two rifle platoons and another company of the 41st to achieve the mission of closing a gap between two infantry Battalions. The information you provided discussing the enemy positions within the cliffs and the maps were excellent. It is if I could see him . He wouldn't talk much about the war . He did bring up the caves , pillboxes, foxholes and the difficultly of the jungle. There is not a lot of books about the jungle warfare of the Pacific that even discuss Biak and Mokmer Airdome. Thank you both for taking the time to produce the podcast about the Biak invasion. I learned so much today . Thanks again.
My father-in-law was with the 41st in an artillery unit. He ran the gauntlet from New Guinea up to Peleliu which he said was the most terrifying ordeal he'd ever been through in battle. They truly were the Greatest Generation and every last one of them is a hero in my book.🙏🇺🇲⚓️💯☕️🚬💖
Thanks!Thank you for this wonderful Pod cast of the invasion of Biak. My Father was on the invasion with 41st - 186 . He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions for destroying a enemy position and enabling two rifle platoons and another company of the 41st to achieve the mission of closing a gap between two infantry Battalions. The information you provided discussing the enemy positions within the cliffs and the maps were excellent. It is if I could see him . He wouldn't talk much about the war . He did bring up the caves , pillboxes, foxholes and the difficultly of the jungle. There is not a lot of books about the jungle warfare of the Pacific that even discuss Biak and Mokmer Airdome. Thank you both for taking the time to produce the podcast about the Biak invasion. I learned so much today . Thanks again.
The thing I love the most about you two is you guys don't sugar coat anything.You tell it like it is, and hold no puches.Its good to see you two again.Nothing wrong with a guest speaker,but I would keep it as a guest.😊
Ahh I love Mr. Parshall (Dr. Parshall.) He's a great speaker and writer on the Pacific War and I think he brings a lot to the table, although I confess I just recently discovered this channel and began with episodes featuring him as guest (though I am familiar with Parshall's work before finding this podcast.)
I can appreciate that some people might like the format of just you two, especially longtime viewers. Also, you two guys are great and whatever format yall take, I'm sure it will be excellent content.
That picture showing that young Marine looking away from the camera brings tears to me.
Bill, you’re my kind of commander. Sometimes you gotta “fix bayonets” and charge, but other times… most times, you gotta step back, assess the situation, and use what resources you have. I was only a sergeant in the Army, but I was that guy who would call for fire before wasting my squad. And you’re right, soldiers will develop a critical, or at least skeptical, outlook of officer ranks when stupid decisions get guys hurt or killed. Once that happens, it becomes very difficult to rebuild their confidence in their leaders. I’ve heard it called a “creeping malaise,” and it’s something that the NCOs must ameliorate themselves. A good commander, like I perceive you to be, makes his or her sergeants’ job that much easier.
Aaah yes, its Tuesday night here.
Its most exciting when you have forgotten its Tuesday and its a big surprise .
Hands down this was an unknown battle to me. Thank you, thank you for another very well-done video presentation.
As always an excellent and informative account of a little discussed action.
The SW Pacific Area command was so lucky to have Eichelberger. He seems to have known instinctively how to assess a situation and put things back on track when they were veering off course
My favorite Army commander of the entire war! (both theaters)
Awww man!.…05:30 in Texarkana and I just cranked up the logging truck getting her warmed up for a long day. ... I'll look forward to watching this tonight, all day long. Thanks guys.
This crew can man the boats!! Great comments, (mostly) guys!
Thanks for brining attention to Biak. I had only heard the name of Biak. Otherwise nothing. This after three decades of readings of WWii in the Pacific.
Thanks for covering the invasion of Biak! I had the fortune of visiting Biak while working at the Grasberg mine in West Papua. The resort my wife and I stayed at was close to the landing beaches, which I didn't realize at the time. There was a rusty Japanese tank along the road between the airport and resort as a memorial. There were stories of caves that still had the remains of Japanese soldiers on the island. Keep up the outstanding work!
What really astounds me is that MacArthur was as successful as he was even though his intelligence staff work was so erratic. You've got this failure at Biak, the disasters at Buna and Gona, the numerous invasions to secure land for airfields that turned out to be unsuitable. And then other times, their Intel was spot on. Although not core to your series, it would be really interesting for Seth, Bill and possibly John McManus to discuss what exactly was going on with SWPA intelligence activities.
Another terrific episode.
That was something new i learned today, i knew about Theodore jr. Serving in ww2, but did not know about Archibald, or Quentin's service. Two nuggets of history not known you have passed on today. Bravo Zulu!!
Found out about Quentin researching archie.
Pls edit your post and correct the ""To" You meant "Two", but your auto edit ruined it.😂
@@flparkermdpc no, that was probably me, end of the day cobwebs, thank you for letting me know.
Well, I *had* heard of Biak. I knew very little about it. Thanks! Interesting and informative.
I looked up Charles Willoughby on Wikipedia. Reprehensible man. On many levels. Were he in Europe, he would have protected Himmler and Mengele, been best buddies with Joachim Pieper and (had he lived) Reinhard Heydrich.
I had heard about Biak. But I had the geography all wrong: I put it somewhere near the Arctic Circle near the other orphan operations: the Aleutians!!
You HAD heard about Willoughby! What an idiot! He must have gotten a gift of BS to get that much rank and position.
Another great stream, i am Australian and have heard of Biak in name alone. My only concern is what am i going to do when the war ends 🤔
Don't worry. JAMES Hornfischer wrote "Who Can Hold the Sea" 1945-1960, before he died of brain cancer. Bill can run a seminar on that!
Best day of the week
I am so happy to see this episode concerning Biak and the timing could not have been better. I am a volunteer at the Oregon Military Museum (green shirt). Our mandate is to present Oregon's military history and the 41st Infantry Division (Jungleers) is a main focal point. I just finished watching the episode twice. The first was to get the basics and then second taking notes so I will be able to use them to convey information to our visitors. I love the candor used as we at OMM (keep the bark on) as we say. It is so necessary to know what really occurred to get a better understanding of what really happened. Many like the "simple answer" of a historical event which really misleads. You have to do your homework if you are to know what you are talking about. So, I will let my fellow volunteers know about this episode and of course the "Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast" channel. I have enjoyed watching episodes and thank you for sharing. And hey guys just keep doing what and the way you are doing because in my view it's the best!
Do you have a website at OMM?
Thanks Seth and Bill it is important to shed light on the bravery of the combatants in these lesser known but not lesser fought engagements.
Thanks again gentlemen. Always enjoy learning by your efforts. We see yet again that ‘Dougout Doug’s’ MO remains- quickly get the glory high ground, but accept no blame or guilt.
Thanks guys!!!!
In 1994 I spent a few days on this island and saw a lot of WW2 equipment from both the Japanese and Americans. I even remember a landing craft still rusting away near shore.
A new unauthorized history podcast is always a highlight of the week. Seth and Capitan Bill you both do amazing jobs.
I flew into Biak in 1981 and worked between there and Jayapura for a while, Interesting place.
My dad was an Army Medic with the 162d Medical Detachment in the 41st Division.. He was wounded twice during the battle of Biak. He was awarded two Bronze Stars. He was discharged in June 1945. He despised MacArthur.
Thanks for all the info on this battle.
Keep up the excellent work!
My dad was also a medic on Biak in the 41st division.
Wasn't General Eichelberger later on minimized by General MacArthur during subsequent campaigns? It is no certainty that he was responsible for pulling several rabbits out of the hat. Brilliant episode.
I have read that The Big Mac always demoted the ones he loved, and was afraid of, so that they wouldn't get promoted and leave his flock, because somewhere in his narcissistic head he realized he needed them. Several European generals coveted him. American generals...
Biak was an inflection point in my family's history. That is where the 49th Fighter Group lost it's adjutant in a Japanese bombing raid. My uncle was sent forward as his replacement and became the group's adjutant through the remainder of the PNG campaign, was ashore at Leyte during the battle of Surigo straight, and had just moved forward to Okinawa when the bombs dropped. Though retired for 18 years, he bought a new mess dress to commission me upon my graduation from USAFA in 1978.
The start of this campaign just proved that a lot of " bosses" are like a diaper, Full of it and always on your back side. Starting with Mac!
Love this topic well known to me because my father was there in the merchant Marine and earned a battle star for that Battle of Biak. Hey fellas how about doing an episode on the merchant Marine in the Pacific? Talk about unsung heroes!!
Eichelberger's actions upon arrival sound like Boyd's OODA loop.
Another John "Mad Major" Boyd fan 😂heard from!
Thanks!
As a youngster in the 1950s I was given a box of ‘old’ WWII era comic books that had been at my great grandmother’s house. One of those vintage comic books was dedicated largely to the heroic and near saint-like perfection of General Douglas MacArthur, from the American Civil War heroics of his father Arthur MacArthur to the great wading ashore in ’44. My Great Grandmother’s regard for heroic General / Field Marshal Saint Douglas was maintained until her passing in her nineties. I suffered drip by drip disillusionment over the years as the disclosures of MacArthur’s exaggerated self regard, occasional incompetence, and not so petty greed stacked up. It seems that some little marred respectability remains only as regards the Inchon Operation and the firm humanity that he demonstrated in his unique term as Gaijin Shōgun.
ME,TOO! GREAT COMMENT!!
Thanks so much for telling the story and all the shortcomings of the leadership. My father was on Biak after the battle, flying Navy B-24s. I remember him mentioning but never knew much more about the strategy and importance. Enjoying all your podcasts.
Thank you for doing this about Biak,I dont think ive ever seen 1 documentary about it..i heard about Biak only because of my grandfather being there in the war.
Over the years ive found very very little about it
Another excellent episode! Thank you for discussing Biak. FYI: My father served on Biak as an aircraft mechanic in the 13th depot group, but pronounced it "By-ack".
Thanks! Guys, I know you have full time jobs besides this Podcast but was wondering if it would be possible to add a recommended reading list to the episode summary for those of us who would like to read in greater depth on the subject you are discussing.
Graphics transformed. Elegant english by Bill. Facial semaphore entertaining by both.
Thank you. Another excellent history lesson.
Have just seen about 9 episodes and can't thank you enough for stepping up to promulgate the WW2 Pacific history. My dad served from Oct '44 in the Philippines until Feb '46 in post-war Japan. Construction battalion in the 6th Army I believe. Later an Army career after the Korean war. I love the content y'all are giving. Thanks for your hard work and diligence!
Thanks for yet another great episode. My dad (C47 pilot) was in and out of Biak a lot. The hubris is astounding - intelligence failures and PR taking precedent over actual combat operations, FYI - I just visited the Intrepid Museum in NYC, it was sobering to watch the kamikaze movie at the exact spot where so many were killed, see the gun tub with a 5”, 40mm Bofers quad, and a 20 mm Oerlikan and imagine the horror of seeing a plane aiming right for you. And how everybody on the ship had their role, even if it appears small, in making it all work as well as it did. Next stop is the Hornet in Alameda, and then the National Museum of the Pacific War in Texas (side trip on a total eclipse tour). And a revisit to WW2 Museum in New Orleans in Dec 2025. Going in “armed” with your insights and info will enhance the experiences.
Wow, yet another great Episode showing that there were more than just a handful of battles in the Pacific. Biak must have been a true horror story from Hell on both sides, topped with incompetence from many of the "higher ups". Thank you Seth and Bill! I think just the 2 of you with an occasional guest is a perfect mix, the focus is perfect!
Aitape is pronounced “eye-duh-pay” with emphasis on the first syllable. I lived in Papua New Guinea outside Madang for three years working with Capuchin missionaries, who were familiar with the location. They all pronounced it the way I describe it. I take particular interest in this region because my step-father made two combat landings in New Guinea, at Hollandia and Biak.
This would have been an excellent episode for John Mcmanus to appear on. I would have found it interesting for his take on General Walter Krueger in this operation, as he is normally quite favourable in his assessment of his performance during the war.
Otherwise another high quality, factual episode where I learned yet again I'm reminded how large my knowledge gaps are in this theatre.
My Dad was with the 34th Infantry on Biak.
One of the " JUST IN TIMERS"! According to one of the believeables in this command, the other German (heritage)general, Eichelberger. Kreuger never really left the Hitler youth! IMNotsoHumbledOpinion!!
Dear Cap’n Bill and Seth:
A human will do what it must to survive.
Another good show.
I am first again!!! Excellent show, I haven't watched it but I know it will be good.
Thanks for the frankness about how soo many die from stupid decisions. This type of wastefullness and needles sacrifice of lives should be a crime. War is sooo sad 😦
Great to shout out for 41st ID. Competent leadership, fighting ability and unit cohesion are not defined by active/guard.
Thank you again Seth and CPT Toti for another outstanding presentation. I was always aware of the invasion and capture of Biak but knew nothing about the facts and personalities involved with this operation. Absolutely incredible analysis presented in this presentation. Your hard work is greatly appreciated. I learned so much about this battle from your podcast.
Congratulations on another outstanding presentation. Did not know about this operation. Also, congratulations♥♥ on 25 K subscribers!
Question for Capt Toti.... Would you say that this is another case of "no marines, little news coverage "? This is only the second time I've heard details of this operation and the first was just an overview....
The Pacific War was not the headline in Movietone News.
Too far away, with meager resources, and MacArthur hoarded all the news outlets.
Nimitz could care less. He was calculated, aggressive and quiet.
A game manager. NIMITZ IS THE MAIN REASON WE WON THE PACIFIC WAR.
Mac would have broken up the Allies, firing Monty, jailing. De Gaulle and fumbling the ETO.
Also I am thinking that although Big Doug was crazy for headlines, the press briefings would hafta be vague, right? I mean he couldn't describe the problems so it would be like "Well, we went right in and took it with the super power of my genius general mind ..." Thus the sacrifices and hard combat weren't communicated, as Seth pointed out
Happy Tuesday! That means another episode!
Another excellent presentation. The maps add a lot even if Bill can't find them sometimes. I would like to remind you that in the Army we referred to the 105mm howitzer as "The one-oh-five," not "The one-zero-five," as Bill did in the presentation. I don't know about the Marines. As a former Red-Leg, I needed to put my two cents in.
Very informative!
Great Job Guys
Your podcast is like a flame drawing me as a moth… a Marine Vietnam veteran, who looked up to our WW II veterans when a child.
However, I have to take a hiatus from time to time because of the magnitude of death and tragedy on both sides of the war…it triggers my PTSD.
Back in the early 80s, I came across a book entitled, “The History of the United States Navy in World War II.” It was staggering.
Thanks for giving us as accurate account of the war in the Pacific.
you guys are amazing...have learned so much and appreciate beyond words the amount of work you do... my father was on Okinawa and the conversations I had with him and what could have happened to him ( as it did to so many others) meshed to a haunting degree with your downfall, why the Japanese surrendered episode. my only suggestion, for what it's worth to you, is that have heard it enough times to learn that macarthur had serious shortcomings that had serious consequences...at some point though the level of vitriol and disgust that you heap upon him as in this show ultimately becomes a detriment and distraction to what are usually such unbelievably professional and thorough presentations educating us and honoring those who fought for us...ultimately had to turn this episode off...but will be back for the next ones...you set a very high bar for yourselves...keep it up there....thanks again for all your work
G'day Seth & Bill. You are both to be congratulated on the excellence of your presentations. Having found your site about three months ago I started at Episode 01 of Series 01 and rapidly became addicted to your easy relaxed presentations. If I missed any of the following campaigns on the series so far I apologise but in regards to New Guinea the campaign of Milne [the e is silent] Bay gets mentioned in passing and the following seem to be absent entirely. Satelberg in '43, Finschafen 'in '43 and Salamaua & Lae also in '43. These are principally Australian campaigns but still part of the Pacific War and the opinions of yourself, Bill and John Parshall would be welcome.
You two are the OG’s and do an incredible job ever time! Love Tuesdays! Thanks guys!!!
Love this series and eagerly await Peleliu.
I'm not. I'm gonna cry when I go on the "front leading" recon walk when Captain Andrew A.Haldane, Bowdoin Class of 1941,is assassinated by a truly evil Jap sniper. To this day the Haldane Cup is presented to the outstanding leader in the graduating class at "Ack Ack"'s Alma mater, Maine's best, Bowdoin College. Letters in Bowdoin's archives from "Andy" to his mentor and dean, Paul Nixon are examples of what the USA, and Maine in particular, paid for an island to cover MacArthur's flank. It wasn't needed, as it turned out. Nimitz had a chance to call Peleliu's invasion off, but another of our favorites, Kelly Turner was for going ahead anyway. 😢 Reminds me of the knee jerk MacArthur response when Truman was thinking of canceling the invasion of Japan, Operation Olympic, when our intelligence got up to current event status of the fortifications on Honshu which had increased from three divisions to at least thirteen, plus 5,000 Kamikaze planes and other human guided missiles and mini submarines. Truman was DEEPLY TROUBLED by the human cost of taking Okinawa, and made no bones that there were casualty figures he was not willing to exceed in the Japan invasion, an event that Navy War gaming exercises had ruled "never to be considered" for a half century before Pearl Harbor. MacArthur was good to go, regardless of the many cooler heads who outranked him with his glory hounding obsession. I'm loathe to mention Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in the same paragraphs as
MacArthur, but he is a fellow alumnus of Bowdoin College with Andrew Haldane, close to a century apart. Again, particulars are found in Rich Frank's book "Downfall".
Thank-You
Great content, enjoy your commentary. will you do anything extra on Earnest Evans of the USS Johnston?
That will be tough sledding. His entire bio is on his tablet at the Naval Academy.
Hi I really enjoy your content .
I'd like to bring to your attention an almost unknown aspect of the war in the SW Pacific .
This is the US Army small ships section .
The US Army Small Ships Section was raised in Australia and consisted mainly of Australians who were too old, too young, or medically unfit to serve in the Navy, Army or Air Force in World War II.
Almost 3000 Australians served in the US Army Small Ships.
They were vital to the provision of logistics to the fighting in the SW Pacific.
Only later in the war when US naval vessels were allocated to this theatre were they disbanded.
Due to General MacArthur being unable to obtain any naval support early in the war he requested a force of volunteers who would provide their own small boats such as fishing vessels trawlers etc.
Though they were Australians they were contracted to the US Army.
The unit supported the deployment and repatriation of Australian and American personnel and equipment, including Air Force units, in the south-west Pacific.
These men were never officially inducted into any branch of either the American or Australian armed services.
They were paid by their civilian employers but given essentials such as fuel by their American controllers.
These men were not entitled any post war entitlements.
They were civilian volunteers.
If they were KIA, it was treated like a work place accident.
They were not entitle meddles or awards and if wounded were given treatment but no post war recognition.
The Australian Government did not recognise their service because they were attached to the American Army.
The Americans did not recognise the because they were not officially American service men.
Seth, "poop show" is ok....and accurate. 😂
Thanks
What did you call me? Oohhh, you said Biak. My bad. Excellent Torpedo Tuesday. I have read about this somewhere in the past. There is a great book about a rescue operation in Papau called "Lost in Shangri-La." When this area becomes a backwater area. The Japanese were reduced to unspeakable actions to survive.
You read ahead about the Cannibal Butcher Shop...!!
Yes great book. Amazing story.
Excellent, as you said, I never heard of the place!
Wonderful video
thank you
And my own favorite Army general, from the Wiki:
"Soon afterwards [Charles] Canham was promoted to Brigadier General and was named as the Assistant Division Commander of the 8th Infantry Division. It was in this capacity during the surrender of the German garrison at the Port of Brest (see Battle for Brest) that Canham spoke the words that would become the 8th Infantry Division's motto. Upon entering the headquarters of General der Fallschirmtruppe (a three-star rank) Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke, a leader of German paratroops, Ramcke demanded to know the lower ranking Canham's credentials as a condition of surrender. Unruffled, Canham pointed to the dirty and tired American soldiers he had brought with him to witness the surrender and said, "These are my credentials."[4] The account of this event, which was reported in The New York Times, saw in this spontaneous statement of a combat leader the greatest tribute ever paid to the real power of the American Army, the individual soldier."
That there is a sonofabitch. That there is also a man who knew who actually earned him his stars. Leadership in a nutshell.
Yours is one of the capstone comments in this day of great ones. Bravo!!
Thank you Bill and Seth.
My Grandfather was in the 98 Chemical Mortar Battalion and fought at the Battle Of Biak, and at Hollandia before this. Subbed and greetings from Australia.
I never heard of Biak operations ,Thank you for a great podcast.
Once again gentlemen, you’ve given us an outstanding episode involving a lesser studied battle of the Pacific War. Thank you. I have to admit I had only a cursory knowledge of this event.
Wasn’t General Walter Krueger also assigned for a period of time to SHAFE in the European Theater of Operations? And while there, became embroiled in a senior level leadership controversy, perhaps being relieved of command; It was something noteworthy enough to have left some minor footprint in the recorded history of WW2 in Europe.
I could be wrong about this, and I’m mixing up this particular U.S. Army General with someone else.
A very good question. Thank you for asking as I too thought he was in Europe.
Side Note : There is a street know as Biak located next to the old NAS Alamitos Calif. which is now a US Army heliocopter base . I signed up as a Naval Flight Cadet in 1964 there . I safely returned from two tours of Yankee Station and retired as an O-3 . That is the only thing I knew until your excellent video of today and Thank You Both !
This episode has brought out the best comments yet. People are here, Seth and Bill!!
Another inciteful episode. Well done.
Luckily I discovered your podcasts and videos on youtube. Thank you so much. Great detail and well presented.
My father went in the Corps in 1939 and finished in Okinawa. I can get a feel for his experience from your presentations.
As others have said, this is a part of the Pacific Theater that I had never read nor heard about. The discussion around intel (or lack thereof in some instances) was really interesting. I really enjoy these podcasts each week and appreciate the enthusiasm of the team and guests. Although my family served in Europe, the Pacific war holds more fascination for me and is where I tend to spend my time. Keep the great content coming!
If not everyone has read "Killer Angels" the concept of "high ground" is covered in StarWars lore when Obiwan tells Anakin he must give up because "I have the high ground". I believe there may be a meme about this....
I love your channel , great content . I learned so much about the war in pacific because of your channel . Great work ! thank you .
I have quite a few addictions that are treatable, but no doctor has one to stop me from continuously watching the "Unauthorized" History of the Pacific War!
Capt, one suggestion. Slow down on the maps and leave them on screen a little longer. I frequently find myself opening another window to pull up maps to see where you are.
I am glad you published this. I have heard about it, and the previous Wakde. I have “Wikipedia knowledge” of it. I am pleased to learn more. Thank you gentlemen.
Another excellent episode! You guys rock. If you ever establish a Patreon community I would be honored to support your work.
Another great episode..Thank you Bill and Seth for the time you put into this... it's just amazing how incompetent some of the generals and navy brass were in these battles..but MacArthur was a ass with a hat for shure..
It's the first I've heard of this operation. Thanks for the great insight and no-holds barred content.
You guys did great❤
Great episode! Would love it if you could list source materials so I could dig deeper. Or am I missing them? Thanks!
I read very widely but Biak is another place I did not know about.
Being a creature of routine, I found the new format challenging. I’ve gotten used to you being on the opposite sides of the screen.