Tag: World War II

Book Review: ‘Stalingrad Airlift 1942–43: The Luftwaffe’s Broken Promise to Sixth Army’

Operation Barbarossa, which launched the German invasion into the Soviet Union during World War II, proved to be one of the pivotal mistakes that led to Nazi Germany’s ultimate defeat. The Germans had launched their invasion in the summer of 1941, and by the winter of that year it had become clear how colossal of…


Ernie Pyle: The G.I.’s Buddy

A monument stands on Ie Shima (now known as Iejima), off the coast of Okinawa’s main island, honoring a man who fought in World War II with a pen rather than a rifle. His name was Ernie Pyle, a U.S. journalist who found his calling as the preeminent war correspondent of World War II. Pyle…


Book Review: ‘At First Light: A True World War II Story of a Hero, His Bravery, and an Amazing Horse’

Walt Larimore and Mike Yorkey have written a masterful retelling of a heroic life. “At First Light: A True World War II Story of a Hero, His Bravery, and an Amazing Horse” is a full story. I mean this is in the complimentary sense that it is a story of a courageous life such as…


Meet Virginia Hall, Famous WWII Spy With a Prosthetic Leg

The cruel Pyrenees Mountains stared down at Virginia Hall in November 1942. As a spy for Britain’s Special Operations Executive (SOE), Hall had risked her life gathering information and establishing safe houses for downed Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots. Though this brave American woman had operated for over a year out of the French city…


The Many Things You Don’t Know About the End of the Pacific War—With Barrett Tillman | The Sons of History Ep10

World War II in the Pacific ended in August 1945 after America dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. But what are the details that led to the end of the war? How much do we know about the decisions made, the missions run, and the uncertainties left? Barrett Tillman, author of “When the Shooting Stopped:…


Book Review: ‘The Girl With the White Flag’: A Child’s Account of America’s Invasion of Okinawa

“The Girl with the White Flag: A Spellbinding Account of Love and Courage in Wartime Okinawa” is the inspiring story of 7-year-old Tomiko Higa’s bravery during the American invasion of Okinawa in 1945 at the close of World War II. The memoir describes the traumatic experience of young Tomiko as she and her family are…


Amending the Constitution Is Not Necessary for Integration—Australia’s Migrant Story Tells Us So

Commentary Throughout his public life, our second longest-serving prime minister, John Howard, repeatedly cautioned against depicting Australia’s history—since 1788—as little more than a disgraceful record of imperialism, exploitation, and racism. He wrote in his autobiography, “Lazarus Rising” that such an approach will be repudiated by the overwhelming majority of Australians who are proud of what…


Epoch Cinema Documentary Review: ‘Silence Patton’

Commentary For someone who has served in the military, returning home after serving a tour—or multiple tours—overseas is a  much anticipated event. Anticipation grows as the date of departure approaches. Usually, laying low is key to avoiding anything that might tarnish or delay one’s exit. With this in mind, knowing how U.S. Army General George…


A Child’s Remembrances of Pearl Harbor: The Day of Infamy and the Years of War

On Dec. 7, 1941, in the early morning hours on the beautiful Hawaiian island of Oahu, Dorinda Makanaonalani was eating breakfast with her family when they heard the sounds of low-flying planes; then, almost immediately, loud explosions, followed by more planes passing directly over their house. Her father remarked that it was “unusual” for the…


The 75th Canadian Memorial Ceremony to Commemorate the Fallen Soldiers Fighting for HK During WWII

The Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macau held the 75th Memorial Ceremony for Canadian War Veterans at Sai Wan Memorial Cemetery in Hong Kong on Dec. 4. Rachael Bedlington, Canadian Consul General in Hong Kong and Macau, and John Theodore Siewert, a 98-year-old veteran of World War II, also attended the ceremony….