Iraq War military history book – “The Warriors of Anbar” (Da Capo Press, 2019) – Ed Darack interview

Ed Darack is a prolific writer who wrote a book about his experiences embedded with a Marine unit in Iraq. We spoke about his experiences there and the Marines he wrote about. Check out the book here.

1:02 – Ed talks about how he got into writing this book.

5:52 – Ed talks about how he logistically managed being embedded with the unit in Iraq.

10:02 – Ed talks about the time period the book covers – 2006 to 2007.

11:14 – Ed talks about what he wanted to focus the book on. He focused on the individuals.

18:50 – Ed talks about the size of the Marine battalion versus the population of the area they were operating in.

22:23 – Ed talks about the artillery, tank, and air support the battalion had.

24:26 – Ed talks about the support this battalion had in theater.

26:30 – Ed talks about the morale of the unit.

27:54 – Ed talks about relations between the Marines and other units operating in the area.

29:18 – Ed talks about what he focused on in the book.

30:18 – Ed talks about how he approaches the analysis in the book.

32:14 – Ed wanted to paint a clear picture of modern war.

33:13 – Ed talks about what it was like to interview the Marines and their family.

34:40 – Ed talks about the Marine Corps birthday.

35:24 – Ed talks about how he did the research for the book.

37:26 – Ed talks about Iraqi reactions to the Marines.

38:13 – Ed talks about what he enjoyed about doing the book.

40:35 – Ed talks about what he found most surprising.

41:20 – Ed talks about some friction at the RCT level.

43:55 – Ed talks about awards that the unit received.

45:34 – Ed talks about his hope that the book will help people understand the job that the Marines do.

47:11 – Ed talks about the information that couldn’t get into the book.

48:19 – Ed talks about getting the book published.

49:24 – Ed talks about his next writing project on Operation Redwings and articles for Smithsonian Air & Space magazine.

50:13 – Ed is on darack.com and has various social media accounts.

51:12 – Ed thanks the battalion for letting him on board.

Links of interest

Check out the book here.

https://www.dacapopress.com/titles/ed-darack/the-warriors-of-anbar/9780306922664/

http://darack.com/

For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram @crisalvarezswarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Guests: Ed Darack

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: military, history, military history, conflict, war, interview, non-fiction book, hawaii, marines, mountain warfare training center, afghanistan, kunar, nangahar, battalion, 3/3, 2/3, iraq, embedded, haditha triad, al-anbar, operation redwings, al-qaeda, hachette books, navy, fleet marine, female marines, lionesses, air wing, air and space, smithsonian, whiskey company, deployment, beirut bombings, baghdad, fallujah, ramadi, AQI, islamic state, colonel farouk, ODA, fireteam, squad, platoon, company, MEU, rct2, rct7, harriers, isr, blackhawk, information operations, IED, wagu beef

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Cold War military history book – “Divided Allies” (Cornell University Press, 2019) – Thomas Robb interview

Dr. Thomas Robb is a historian who studies and teaches British and US military history. We spoke about his latest co-authored book on how the ANZUS and SEATO treaties were developed. Check out the book here.

0:44 – Thomas Robb talks about how he got into writing on Cold War Asia-Pacific military relations.

4:03 – Thomas talks about how he begins the book with WWII and moves into the Cold War chronologically.

6:38 – Thomas talks about Australia’s strong concern about tPacific regional security.

8:25 – Thomas discusses France’s decline and Japan’s importance.

8:48 – Thomas talks about West’s concern with Japan’s resurgence economically.

10:04 – Thomas discusses China’s role in the region.

11:50 – Thomas talks about the Soviet role in the Pacific region.

14:12 – Thomas mentions Soviet pilots in the Korean War.

14:52 – Thomas talks about economic versus national needs of the four nations involved.

16:26 – Thomas mentions complaints about ANZUS.

18:38 – Thomas talks about the approach to nuclear weapons.

21:21 – Thomas discusses the US need for the treaty.

22:03 – Thomas talks about the relative military strengths of the four nations negotiating the treaties.

22:27 – Thomas says NZ and Australia were diplomatically punching above their weight.

22:45 – The Philippines not included in ANZUS.

24:57 – Thomas talks about how each nation could militarily contribute to the alliance.

26:01 – A cordon defense would go nuclear.

27:59 – Thomas talks about western concerns that Japan would become communist.

29:05 – Japanese reparations are discussed.

29:45 – Japanese strategic value was shown.

30:59 – Thomas talks about the payment of German reparations after WWI and compares that to the idea of having Japan pay reparations.

32:55 – Thomas talks about British strategic goals and aliances.

34:00 – The US prodded Britain to drop japan as an ally.

34:57 – Thomas talks about Churchill’s sentimentality.

35:54 – Thomas talks about how domestic politics impacted these treaty negotiations.

37:12 – The public used an excuse to not legitimize some treaty negotiations.

38:50 – The Eisenhower library just released a bunch of previously classified documents.

39:42 – Thomas talks about the archives he used for his research including various Presidential libraries.

42:23 – Thomas talks about going to the Truman library.

43:52 – The UK was angry that Australia and New Zealand went off without them and joined the US.

47:54 – Thomas talks about the interplay of racial ideas influenced policy.

50:44 – Thomas talks about how some of the American negotiators had very intense military ideas.

51:25 – Some of the Americans seemed bonkers to the Australians in their goals.

53:47 – The British met with press barons to impugn the character of a foreign minister over ANZUS negotiations.

1:00:19 – Thomas talks about a new project to study the political economy of the US Civil War.

Links of interest

Check out the book here.

https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501741845/divided-allies/#bookTabs=3

https://twitter.com/obucoldwarrior

For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram @crisalvarezswarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Guests: Thomas Robb

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: military, history, military history, conflict, war, interview, non-fiction book, asia-pacific, australia, new zealand, cold war, wwii, world war two, great britain, united states, united kingdom, japan, france, communism, china, NATO, korean war, ANZUS, nuclear weapons, macarthur, truman, philippines, okinawa, malay, SEATO, dean acheson, Russian Empire, Churchill, france, Dulles, US Civil War

WWI military history book – “Blood, Guts, and Grease: George S. Patton in World War I” (University Press of Kentucky, 2019) – Jon B. Mikolashek interview

Jon Mikolashek is a military historian who has written extensively on US military history. We discuss his latest book about George Patton’s life during WWI. Check out the book here.

0:51 – Jon talks about how he became interested in writing on Patton

2:50 – Jon talks about his book is different from other Patton books.

5:27 – Jon talks about why he started the book in 1916.

7:41 – Jon explains why Patton modeled himself after Perhsing.

9:02 – Jon talks about how Patton got into tanks. Patton wanted command and quick promotion.

12:36 – Jon talks about how Patton approached commanding tanks.

15:52 – Jon talks about Patton picking his tank commanders.

17:53 – Jon talks about Patton’s approach to combined arms. Patton didn’t like the infantry much.

22:03 – Jon talks about an incident where Patton hits a soldier with a shovel.

22:58 – Jon talks about traumatic brain injury.

25:26 – Jon talks about Patton’s diaries and other resources he used.

29:45 – Jon talks about Patton’s relationship with his wife.

38:42 – Jon talks about Patton’s indecision to join the tank corps.

42:50 – Jon talks about the importance of WWI to Patton’s career.

48:58 – Jon is on facebook at Jon Mikolashek and twitter @slavoshek.

Links of interest

Check out the book here.

https://www.kentuckypress.com/live/title_detail.php?titleid=5623#.XcbxY697mM8

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jon-Mikolashek/538694696173063

For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram @crisalvarezswarscholar

Guests: Jon B. Mikolashek

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: military, history, military history, conflict, war, interview, non-fiction book, Patton, wwi, wwii, us army, mexico, punitive expedition, pershing, polo, tanks, staff officer, cavalry, infantry, salerno, billy mitchell, air power, virginia military institute, Rockenbach, renault, omar bradley, interwar

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