Battles and Banter: A Relaxed Military History Podcast

On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery is joined by Patrick McGuire and Matt Borders of "The History Things Podcast" for the first fictional battle episode in a long time; Avery, Pat & Matt tackle perhaps one of the most monumental battles in all of fantasy literature. From the pages and scenes of "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", the guys travel to Middle Earth to discuss the Battle of Pelenor Fields aka Minas Tirith, which was one of the final climactic battles of the infamous War of the One Ring. Using mostly their experiences from viewing the film and some material from the book (don't get your hopes up, none of them have read it), the trio walk through the fight and banter about some of the key players such as Aragorn, Gandalf, Faramir, Theoden, Eowyn and even Lord Denethor. Strap in for a hilarious ride into the Pelenor Fields! Enjoy!

On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery, Codie & Tony are joined by recurring guest host and Civil War historian Ryan Quint to discuss the 160th anniversary of one of the bloodiest battles from the American Civil War; a battle that set the tone for how horrific the battles would become for the rest of the conflict. Along the west banks of the Tennessee River, the Confederate Army of Mississippi under General Albert Sidney Johnston attacked the U.S. Army of the Tennessee under Major General Ulysses S. Grant while they were encamped in the woods around Pittsburg Landing. The two-day engagement fought on April 6-7, 1862 would become better known by the name of a small, wooden Methodist church on site, which translated to "Place of Peace" in Hebrew. The guys discuss the battle and its far-reaching consequences not only on the war itself, but in the larger context of Civil War memory. Enjoy!

On this solo episode of Battles & Banter, Avery takes on one of the most important engagements to come out of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War. Fought on March 7-8, 1862, the Battle of Pea Ridge would end in a major Union victory that would secure the border state of Missouri as a bastion for Federal forces against Confederates in the area for the rest of the war. Avery would also like to take this time to send kind regards to any listeners in Ukraine who are living through the current conflict. We here at Battles & Banter Podcast stand with Ukraine and will be covering the conflict at a later date to be decided. In the meantime, enjoy this episode on the 160th Anniversary of Pea Ridge!

Join Avery, Codie & Tony as the BnB "Holy Trinity" reunites for the 160th Commemoration of the Forts Henry & Donelson Campaign of February 1862 during the American Civil War. In the midst of a rainy, cold and snowy winter, U.S. General Ulysses S. Grant launched an ambitious campaign to open Tennessee to Federal invasion by capturing two forts on the Tennessee & Cumberland Rivers. Coordinating with U.S. "brown-water navies", Grant's plan was a smashing success and the joint victories at Forts Henry & Donelson made him a national hero, especially in the eyes of President Abraham Lincoln. The guys discuss the major significances of the campaign and how it impacted how the rest of the way played out from there. Enjoy!

On the first Battles & Banter episode of 2022, Avery takes a solo look at one of the more overlooked and significant U.S. victories from the American Civil War: The Battle of Mill Springs. Also known as the Battle of Logan's Crossroads, the engagement that took place in southeastern Kentucky on that rainy day of January 19th, 1862, marked the first major land victory for the North. Not only did it put General George H. Thomas on the map as a reliable U.S. commander, but it opened the gates for the Federal forces to invade Tennessee and led to the more famous battles of Forts Henry and Donelson a few weeks later. Join Avery as he summarizes the battle and its significance and lays out the upcoming plan for the 2022 BnB schedule. Enjoy!

On the final BnB episode of 2021, Avery & Codie are joined by recurring guest host Ryan Quint to discuss one of the lesser known battles of the American Civil War. On December 20, 1861, the Confederate forces under General J.E.B. Stuart collided with a brigade of Pennsylvania Reserves at the small village of Dranesville in Fairfax County, Virginia. While the engagement was brief, and small in terms of troops engaged, it was the first time that U.S. forces had defeated the Confederates in Northern Virginia. For a victory-starved North, Dranesville was a light in the darkness as the first year of the war came to a close. Join Avery, Codie & Ryan in exploring this engagement and its significance to the larger context of the Civil War. Enjoy!

For Battles & Banter's 80th episode, the guys are taking a look at the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 80 years later. On December 7, 1941, the airmen of the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked the U.S. Pacific Fleet and the surrounding instillations of Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu. Avery & Codie are joined by their good friends, Justin Voithofer along with Patrick McGuire and Matt Borders of "The History Things Podcast", to discuss this pivotal event in world history. The guys discuss the lead-up to the attack, the attack itself and the last repercussions it had on the United States' role in the Second World War. Enjoy!

On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery and Codie continue the Petersburg Campaign series with the long-awaited third installment. The guys take on the months that followed the Battle of The Crater leading all the way to the Presidential Election of 1864 in November. Actions at the Weldon Railroad, New Market Heights, and Boydton Plank Road all marked some of the final offensive actions by U.S. forces south and southwest of Petersburg, Virginia for the year before the long winter set in. Avery and Codie also discuss the importance of the 1864 election and how the armies in the field dealt with the conundrum of giving all of the troops the opportunity to exercise their right to vote. Enjoy!

On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery is joined by his good friend and Civil War historian, Ryan Quint, to discuss the first combat action for Ulysses S. Grant during the American Civil War: The Battle of Belmont. One of the more overlooked and misunderstood actions of the war, Belmont served as the first taste of combat for General Grant against the Confederate forces along the western banks of the Mississippi River. Avery & Ryan discuss the actions at Belmont Landing and the significance of the fight in regards to the rest of the conflict. Most importantly, they talk about the importance of Belmont to Grant's military career and how it marked the beginning of his rise to fame and glory during the American Civil War. Enjoy!

On this episode of Battles and Banter, Avery, Codie & Tony reunite after a brief hiatus to discuss one of the smaller engagements of the American Civil War that ended up having deeper repercussions for how the Union high command conducted themselves during military campaigns, specifically the heavily politicized Union Army of the Potomac. Fought on October 21, 1861, the Battle of Ball's Bluff occurred along the banks of the Potomac River near Leesburg, Virginia when a Union reconnaissance under Brig. Gen. Charles P. Stone triggered a larger engagement with a brigade of Confederate soldiers under Nathan "Shank" Evans. The small battle ended in disaster for the Union and led to the formation of the Committee for the Conduct of War. The guys evaluate the fight and the consequences it had on the overall war, while making an abundance of "ball" jokes throughout that'll just drive ya nuts. Enjoy!

Returning with another solo installment of the Korean War 70th Anniversary Series, Avery discusses another battle during the "Attrition Period" of the conflict that followed the fighting on Bloody Ridge: the more renowned Battle of Heartbreak Ridge. After a month of fighting on a 7-mile long mass of hills that towered over the Mundung-ni & Sat'ae-ri Valleys of Gangwon Province, South Korea, the United Nations forces were successful in destroying the North Korean and Chinese defenses at the cost of 3,700 men killed, wounded, captured or missing. Avery walks us through the battle and points out some of the reasons why the ridge earned it's ominous nickname. Enjoy!

On this retrospective episode of Battles & Banter, Avery, Codie and Tony take a look back on their personal experiences and thoughts from the day of September 11, 2001. On that tragic day, over 3,000 people lost their lives due to the heinous terrorist attacks inspired by Osama Bin Laden. Two planes flew into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, one plane hit the Pentagon, and a final plane went down in the quiet fields outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The country and the world changed that day, and the last two decades of war came to a somber end for the United States and its Afghan allies this past August. The guys reflect on 9/11 from their personal memories of that day and the following weeks, months, years that shaped the world we now live in today. Released on the 20th anniversary, this episode is a retrospective commemoration to a world event that has impacted our lives and our society since. So strap in and join your the B&B fellas as they take a look back on the day the world never forgot.

On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery is joined by recurring guest hosts Ryan Quint and Justin Voithofer to cover BnB's first dive into the Napoleonic Wars of the early 19th Century by taking on the Battle of Waterloo. Fought on June 18, 1815, the massive armies of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Duke of Wellington (Arthur Wellesley), and Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher converged on the open fields around the village of Mont-Saint-Jean about a mile south of the village of Waterloo, Belgium and proceeded to fight one of the most infamous battles in European history. Avery, Justin & Ryan discuss the battle and the lasting impacts of the final War of the Coalitions, and how the history surrounding Waterloo has shaped public memory of historic figures like Napoleon himself. Enjoy!

Avery, Codie & Tony reconvene to discuss the Battle of Wilson's Creek a few weeks following the 160th Anniversary. Fought on August 10, 1861, Wilson's Creek was hailed as the "First Manassas of the West" and the second major battle of the American Civil War. The guys discuss the major significances of the battle, and analyze the fight from different angles. They analyze the decisions of Union General Nathaniel Lyon and the type of legacy Wilson's Creek has had in the grander scheme of Civil War memory. Enjoy!

On this solo episode of Battles & Banter, Avery briefly discusses the Battle of Bloody Ridge that was fought during the Korean War. 70 years ago today, the battle began on August 18, 1951 between the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division/35th ROK Infantry Regiment and conglomerated North Korean units on a massive ridgeline located in the Gangwon Province of South Korea. The battle was fought due to the North Koreans having observation posts too close to the UN lines, and the big brass decided that the hill and ridge formations in the vicinity needed to be secured as the infamous Peace Talks took place many miles away in Kaesong. By September 5th, nearly 1,000 South Korean and almost 3,000 American soldiers had been listed killed/missing, wounded, or captured; the North Koreans sustained roughly 15,000 casualties, 4,000 of which were killed outright. Avery highlights the battle as the beginning of the "Attrition" period of the Korean War, where warfare would resemble something more out of the 1910s rather than the 1950s; Bloody Ridge would be the first of many fruitless battles to come before the war would end so stay tuned for more!

On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery, Codie and Tony jump back into the Petersburg Campaign of 1864. The guys pick up where they left off with Part 1, when the first Union attempts to take the city by direct assault failed on June 18th. The topic for this episode are the events that took place during the rest of June and July of that bloody year around the railroads of Petersburg. The guys discuss the fighting at Jerusalem Plank Road, the Wilson-Kautz Raid, the diversionary fighting at Deep Bottom and most notably, the bloody and atrocious debacle at the Crater, where Confederate soldiers committed heinous war crimes against Black Union soldiers that were trying to surrender following the failure of the attack. Strap in for the next installment in the Petersburg series and stay tuned for more to come. Enjoy!

For the first time ever, Avery, Codie & Tony are in the same room for their 70th episode to discuss one of the first major land engagements of the American Civil War. Coming up on the 160th Anniversary of the first battle along the banks of Bull Run near the railroad junction of Manassas, the guys discuss the events that played out between the untested Union and Confederate armies. Having spent the day traversing the battlefield itself, Avery, Codie & Tony discuss their new perspectives of the battle, and ask questions like what was the true meaning of Thomas Jackson's nickname? Or if Irvin McDowell was a true bumbling idiot or just a regular guy dealt a crappy hand on the battlefield? All this and more await you in this fantastic episode. Enjoy!

On the first installment of BnB's Closer Look series, Avery and Codie discuss Kent Masterson Brown's new book Meade at Gettysburg: A Study in Command, and then offer their own evaluations of Union General George Gordon Meade's performance at the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. Not only was the battle Meade's first time commanding the Army of the Potomac, but he also took command just two days before the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War. Avery & Codie discuss Meade's highlights throughout the battle while they take on the old romanticized narrative of the campaign and how Meade was depicted. We hope you enjoy this new format because we plan on more "Closer Looks" to come. Enjoy!

On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery, Codie & Tony dive into a multi-episode analysis of the extremely significant Petersburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In June 1864, Union General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant began to shift his focus toward the city of Petersburg, Virginia. Acting as the supply hub south of Richmond, Petersburg's railroad lines kept men and material flowing to the Confederate capital of Richmond and Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia still entrenched in their Cold Harbor defenses. Due to it's strategic value, Petersburg would become the setting of the major climax of the eastern theater of the war. The guys talk about the Union crossing of the Chickahominy and James Rivers, and the first initial assaults on Petersburg that resulted in the beginning of a ten-month siege of the city. The guys also discuss what constitutes as a success in relation to the Union failures to take the city while it was at it's most vulnerable. Enjoy!

On this episode of Battles and Banter, Avery, Codie & Tony take on one of the most decisive naval battles in U.S. military history: The Battle of Midway. Fought between June 4-7, 1942, the United States Navy squared off with the best the Imperial Japanese Navy had to offer. The same Japanese aircraft carriers that participated in the battle were the same ships that had delivered the devastating blow at Pearl Harbor nearly seven months prior. At Midway Atoll, just a few miles west of Hawaii, American sailors and airmen gained their first decisive victory against the Japanese Empire, marking a significant turning point in the Pacific Theater of World War II. The guys discuss the most significant aspects of the battle amid the usual banter, so strap in for a good time. Enjoy!

On another solo installment in the "Korean War 70th Anniversary" series, Avery picks up with the second part of the Chinese Spring Offensive that took play in April-May of 1951. After the intense Chinese assaults at the end of April, there was a temporary lull in the fighting between May 1-14 where both sides consolidated their forces and defenses for the next phase. 175,000 Chinese and North Korean troops struck at the right flank of the U.S. Eighth Army on the eastern front of the peninsula. Those six days of fighting saw the Communist forces have initial success, but eventually smash against hardened U.N. defenses, especially those of the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division. By the end of May, the Chinese and North Korean forces were in full retreat and the steps toward the truce talks beginning were finally taking shape. Enjoy!

On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery, Codie & Tony commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Operation Neptune Spear, the special-ops mission that resulted in the death of Al-Qaeda leader behind the 9/11 attacks, Osama Bin Laden. The guys discuss their personal experiences from the night of May 1, 2011 when they heard the news with the rest of the world and recall their reactions to President Barrack Obama's address. They then briefly go into the manhunt for Bin Laden and talk about the details of the the operation that resulted in his death. With the regular shenanigans, this is one of the BnB's most interesting episodes yet. Enjoy!

"Now they'll never forget what you did for this country." Coming off the hype that is Marvel's "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" on Disney Plus, Avery and Codie are joined by Jeff Martin and Julia Wall to discuss their reactions to the show, as well as their thoughts on the major themes of race and service in the MCU and how it relates to current events in our world. The Banterers also take in-depth looks at characters like John Walker and Isaiah Bradley, as well as highlighting the arcs of other characters in the show as well, like Sharon Carter and Baron Zemo. Of course, it our duty to warn you that there are MAJOR SPOILERS in this episode if you have not yet started or finished "Falcon and the Winter Soldier". So keep that in mind before you listen; if you have seen it and want to know our reactions and thoughts, then enjoy!

Join Avery on another solo installment in the Korean War 70th Anniversary series where this episode focuses on the largest battle of the Korean War: The Chinese Spring Offensive. In late April of 1951, the III, IX and XIX People's Volunteer Army of China Groups attacked the in-depth defenses of the U.S. Eighth Army on the Korean Peninsula; approximately 700,000 Chinese and North Korean soldiers engaged 450,000 United Nations soldiers from the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Puerto Rico, Turkey and the Philippines.. This episode will cover the first phase of the offensive and will briefly summarize the events of that fateful spring. Enjoy!

On this date 160 years ago today, the American Civil War officially began with the recently founded Confederate States of America firing on the Federal installation of Fort Sumter in the middle of Charleston Harbor. So for this episode, Avery, Codie & Tony are joined by their friend, Rebekah Ryer, to discuss the first military engagement of the "War Between the States" and how it all played out. This episode not only delves into the battle, but the events that led up to it and the lasting ramifications of Fort Sumter not just in the context of the rest of the Civil War, but in our collective American Past as well. This was a good time for the BnB team and were happy to drop this on the 160th anniversary of the battle itself. Enjoy!

On another installment in the "Battle Memory" series, Avery and Codie are joined by Jake Wynn of the "Wynning History" blog and "Pennsylvania in the Civil War" page. Jake stuns Avery and Codie with the incredible accounts of Irvin Schwartz, who hailed from Schuylkill County, PA and went on to serve in the 26th Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division (The Big Red One) in the European Theater of World War II. Schwartz saw many significant actions during his time in Europe including the Normandy Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge, where he would have his most harrowing war experience yet. The guys discuss the importance of primary sources and how significant these types of accounts are in shaping our perceptions of major historical events. Avery & Codie also take the opportunity to promote Jake's new, upcoming podcast, "The Gazette", which will be an episodic telling of the American Civil War as it happened through the words of the Pittston Gazette. Check it out on both iTunes and Spotify and subscribe in the days to come! Enjoy!

On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery is joined by Justin Voithofer and Patrick McGuire of "The History Things Podcast" to hit the high seas for the first naval battle of this show. Avery, Pat & Justin talk the Battle of Jutland, fought between the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet in the North Sea, just off the coast of the Jutland Peninsula of Denmark. The guys discuss the plans of both sides, as well as the effect that heavy dreadnoughts had on not just World War I, but naval warfare going forward as well. So man your battle stations and **INSERT NAVAL JARGON HERE** for one heck of an episode! Enjoy!

A not so long time ago, in a Skype Call pretty close by, the Battles & Banter crew return to the Star Wars Universe to discuss one of the best installments in the franchise. Avery is joined by Jeff Martin and Justin Voithofer to dissect the Battle of Endor, the climactic showdown between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance as seen in the 1983 film "Return of the Jedi". The guys examine the engagement from all angles, including the Rebel, Imperial & Ewok forces. Furthermore, they talk about the significance of the battle, it's ramifications for the rest of the Star Wars galaxy, and how real-life military conflicts relate to the fictional one that plays out on screen. Strap in for another nerdy installment in the Fictional Battle series of BnB! Enjoy!

On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery, Codie & Tony return to Korea to discuss one of the most heroic battles of the conflict; one that has been heralded as the "Gettysburg" of the Korean War. Encircled at the small South Korean village of Chipyong-ni, the U.S. 23rd Regimental Combat Team fought off elements of five different Chinese People's Volunteer Army divisions from February 13-15, 1951. The guys hash out the battle and the significant role it played in the Korean War, as well as it's effect on the turning of the tide. Enjoy!

Hello everyone and welcome to a new year of Battles and Banter! 2021 kicked off with a literal bang so Avery, Codie & Tony decided that the first episode of the new year should do the same; the guys will be covering the insurrection that took place at Capitol Hill on January 6th during the certification of the electoral votes from the 2020 Presidential Election. The guys discuss their initial reactions to hearing the news the day of January 6th while also comparing the events that took place that day to other historical episodes involving coups and insurrections both foreign and domestic. Strap in for this one!

Happy New Year, everyone! Thank you for listening to Battles and Banter Podcast for their first full year as a show. If you've been with us through the ups and downs, we are eternally grateful for your support. We have a lot of great topics planned for 2021 so stay tuned, but we're going to end 2020 with some Star Wars. On this episode, Avery is joined by Mary Challman of the "Monster Movie Happy Hour" Podcast, Julia Wall and Justin Voithofer to discuss the first major engagement of the infamous Clone Wars: The First Battle of Geonosis. The four enjoy some beverages while discussing the chaotic nature of the battle on the red rock planet of Geonosis; the awesome, yet flawed tactics of the Jedi Strike Team, and the lasting ramifications of the Clone Troopers' first engagement with the Separatists' droid army. Keep your fingers crossed for a better year in 2021 and join us as we have some fun at the end of this dumpster fire of a year! Enjoy!

On the last nonfiction episode of 2020, the Battles & Banter crew tackle the Battle of Kamdesh, or more famously known as the Battle of Combat Outpost Keating, which occurred on October 3, 2009. Avery, Codie & Tony are joined by Justin Voithofer to discuss one of the most pivotal battles of the War in Afghanistan and its lasting ramifications on how the US wages war in country. From discussing the reasons why the outpost was put in such a precarious position to the physical layout of the camp itself, the guys discuss the significance of COP Keating and how the battle played out for the men on the ground. They also compare the real life event to the movie adaptation that was directed by Rod Lurie that came out earlier this year. Enjoy!

As 2020 winds down, the Battles & Banter team dish out their final episodes of the year. Avery & Codie are joined by Patrick McGuire of the "History Things Podcast" and Rich Condon of "Civil War Pittsburgh" to talk about the climax of one of the most overlooked campaigns of the American Civil War: The Battle of Nashville. Part of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign of 1864, the fighting around the famous Tennessee city between December 15-16 signaled not only an end to the campaign, but the end of John Bell Hood's Confederate Army of Tennessee as an effective fighting force. It was perhaps the most devastating military defeat for the Confederacy during the entire Civil War, which is probably why it is one of the least preserved major Civil War battlefields in the country next to Franklin just a few miles away. The guys talk about the campaign and the lasting consequences of the Union victory that marked the beginning of the end for the Southern Confederacy. Enjoy!

Hey everyone! Hope Thanksgiving went safe and smoothly for all of you out there. On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery and Codie discuss one of the most harrowing and incredible battles in American military history: The Battle of Chosin Reservoir. 70 years ago on the shores of a man-made lake in North Korea, 15,000 U.N. forces, most of which were U.S. Marines, were attacked and surrounded by over 60,000 Chinese soldiers of the 9th People's Liberation Army. From November 27th to December 17th, the UN X Corps troops had to fight for survival in subzero temperatures against an enemy who attacked at night and outnumbered them almost 4 to 1. Avery & Codie discuss the fighting around the reservoir itself, the breakout of the UN X Corps from encirclement and one of the most successful military evacuations in history at the port of Hungnam. This battle would become noted for its extraordinary circumstances and along with the debacle at the Ch'ongch'on River, would change the war in Korea forever. Enjoy!

As we move into Thanksgiving 2020, many of us might find it difficult to be thankful for anything in this dumpster fire of a year while others might be the exact opposite. However, 70 years ago in North Korea, many soldiers of the UN forces would be in the same boat in more ways than one. Thanksgiving Day 1950 was followed by a massive onslaught from the Chinese 13th Army as they smashed into the U.S. Eighth Army at the Ch'ongch'on River (Nov. 25 - Dec. 2, 1950). This marked the beginning of the Chinese Second Phase Offensive, the result of which saw the Chinese deal the UN forces a decisive defeat and transform the Korean War into an entirely new conflict. Join Avery for his solo presentation of one of the most chaotic blunders in American military history. Enjoy and stay safe out there!

Hello again, everybody! On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery & Tony pine for an absent Codie but keep the ship level nonetheless by tackling the Battle of Britain, which was fought from July 10th to October 31st, 1940. 80 years ago, the skies over Great Britain were a battleground between the British Royal Air Force and the German Luftwaffe. The battle would mark a significant turning point for the Allied forces as the British held their own against the might of the German war machine. However, the battle also marked the beginning of 'The Blitz', which was the devastating bombing of London & other civilian targets by the Germans. Avery & Tony highlight the layout of the fight, and talk the pros & cons of both the British defense and German attack. They also talk A LOT about planes so hang in there. Enjoy!

Here we are at the 50th Episode, everyone! Halfway to 100 episodes and still going strong! Until then, this one is all about Veteran's Day. Avery, Codie & Tony are joined by numerous guest hosts from past episodes: Mary Challman, Patrick McGuire, Julia Wall, Jeff Martin, Ryan Quint, Rebekah Oakes Ryer, Justin Voithofer and Kaleb Kusmierczyk to not only celebrate the podcast, but veterans as well. For this episode, everyone has assembled stories of many different veterans from many different military conflicts. Some are family members while others are not. It's an episode jammed with incredible stories on more of a serious note to pay our respects to those who served. Thank you for your service, veterans. Enjoy!

In the midst of vote counting, we're all on the edge of our seats. So to pass the time, here's another Battle & Banter Special featuring our very own Codie Eash. From this past spring of 2020, Codie presents a lecture on the Presidential Election of 1864 that pitted incumbent President Abraham Lincoln against his former General-in-Chief, George McClellan. It's a darn good way to help pass the time as well as remain relevant to current events. Enjoy!

Join Avery on another solo episode that's part of Battle and Banter's Korean War 70th Anniversary Series, detailing the Battle of Unsan. Taking place between October 25th and November 4th, 1950, the fighting that took place around the North Korean village of Unsan, some 50 miles north of the Ch'ongch'on River, marked the beginning of hostilities between the United Nations forces and the Communist Chinese Forces (CCF) during the Korean War. It was also the first time during the war that a significant group of Chinese and American forces engaged each other in a major battle. The battle would prove to be one of the first Chinese victories of the Korean War, and signaled that the tide was about to turn again...against the U.N. forces in country. Next episode will be our 50th Episode Special so in the meantime, enjoy!

In what could be described as the scariest year yet (for some of us anyway), the Battles and Banter family still tries to celebrate Halloween 2020 right! On this year's special, Avery is joined by horror movie expert Mary Challman of the "Monster Movie Happy Hour Podcast" to talk about a movie that used to scare the living daylights out of him as a child: DOG SOLIDERS (2002). Written and directed by Neil Marshall (The Descent, Hellboy), this film tells the story about a squad of British Army soldiers who do battle with a pack of werewolves in the Scottish Highlands. Avery and Mary dive into a SPOILER-heavy review of the film, as well as the events of the battle that would take place in Uath's Glen, named for the family that lived there...and who just happened to be the ones indulging in certain lunar activities. It's a heck of a good time so strap in for BnB's 2020 Halloween Special on a movie that truly is a horror-war hybrid. Enjoy and Happy Halloween!

On another solo episode of Battles & Banter, Avery dives into the brief but significant battle around the North Korean capital of Pyongyang that took place between the diminished forces of the Korean People's Army and the recently victorious United Nations forces that made up the U.S. Eighth Army. Between October 17-19, the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division and ROK 1st Infantry Division pushed into and conquered the North Korean capital, with many soldiers believing it meant the end of the war. Then between Oct. 20-22, a U.S. airborne operation took place to try to cut the North Koreans off from retreat, and resulted in a heated battle around the village of Yongyu between North Korean and Australian soldiers in an apple orchard. These U.N. victories would be the last bit of good news that Gen. MacArthur and his commanders received before the game changed again. Enjoy!

On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery, Codie & Tony discuss one of the most dramatic events of the Second World War: the "Miracle at Dunkirk". Taking place between May 26-June 4, 1940, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from the European mainland (codenamed Operation Dynamo) was one of the most successful military undertakings in world history. However, it came on grim tidings as France began to fall to Nazi Germany at the same time. By July 1940, Great Britain would stand alone against the Axis Powers. The guys discuss the significance of Dunkirk, while also comparing it to Christopher Nolan's 2017 film of the same name. Also, Tony possibly gets abducted by Harry Styles of One Direction, Codie sings a song that Jonathan Groff would either love or hate, and Avery effectively butchers various European accents with the help of IPAs. Enjoy!

Join us for another Battles and Banter Podcast bonus episode, where co-host Codie Eash gives a stirring lecture on Frederick Douglass and his thoughts on the legacy of Confederate General Robert E. Lee following the end of the American Civil War. The presentation was given digitally to the Cleveland Civil War Round Table and the audio was formatted into this special. Codie would like to thank Steve Pettyjohn for the invitation and Andrew Mangels for organizing the meeting digitally. We hope to have more content of this nature later on. Enjoy!

On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery, Codie & Tony are joined by Mary Challman of the "Monster Movie Happy Hour Podcast", Patrick McGuire of the "History Things Podcast", and newcomer Kaleb Kuzmierczyk to discuss one of the most interesting topics in the American history field today: the practice of Living History compared to the hobby of war reenacting. All of the guests on this episode have had experience with both topics in the past, and get into an important discussion on the differences between the two, the pros and cons of each, and how both play into this very uncertain present timeline. The banter gets real and ,at times, hilarious. Also, Avery expresses his love for the hit show "Peaky Blinders". Enjoy!

On this episode of Battles and Banter, Avery, Codie & Tony continue the Korean War 70th Anniversary series with their analysis on Operation Chromite, the codename for the United Nations forces landing at the South Korean port of Inchon on September 15, 1950. In the following days, the X Amphibious Corps would advance to the South Korean capitol of Seoul and liberate the city from North Korean possession, which would occur nearly three months after the city fell earlier that summer. The guys analyze the details and significance of the operation, how it affected the the events taking place on the Pusan Perimeter, and how everything tied into the bigger military picture in Korea. Plus, Codie has another song for everyone so there's that! Enjoy!!

On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery returns to the Western Front of WWI with recurring regular Justin Voithofer and historian/author Ryan Quint to discuss the vicious fighting and legacy of Belleau Wood, the battle that earned fame for the United States Marine Corps in June 1918. Today, Belleau Wood is the location of the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and the resting place of nearly 2,300 Americans who gave their lives for their country, and ultimately other countries as well. Avery, Ryan & Justin highlight the significance of the battle, and why people should care about it today outside of the Marine Corps', who have immortalized it as beginning of the USMC as we know it today. Unfortunately, ignorance is prevalent right now in the U.S., and we here at Battles & Banter want to make it clear that men who gave the last full measure of devotion at Belleau Wood ARE NOT LOSERS. So if you have never heard of Belleau Wood and want to know more, this episode is a good place to start. Enjoy.

On this very special episode of Battles & Banter, Avery is joined by Codie and regular recurring guest Julia Wall to pay tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, who passed away on August 28, 2020. Boseman was most famously known for portraying T'challa aka Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but also portrayed famously historic Black American figures such as Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, and James Brown. Avery, Julia & Codie highlight Boseman's career and then dive into the MCU headfirst to take on the climax of 'Black Panther': the clash between T'Challa and Erik Killmonger, as well as their forces, at the top of Mount Bashenga aka the Great Mound. It's a more somber episode, but a great one at that! Chadwick, this one is for you.

On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery, Codie & Tony pick up where they left off with the first part of the Pusan Perimeter analysis and dive into the second and final installment. The guys discuss the second phase of the fighting that took place around the Pusan Perimeter defenses in September of 1950 during the Korean War. Keeping up with the 70th Anniversary of the first year of the conflict, the guys discuss some of the pivotal actions that resulted in the first major United Nations victory of the war that was hard fought and paid for in the blood of young soldiers. Also, Codie delivers quality podcasting content with another amazing song. Enjoy!

Today is the 75th Anniversary of the announcement of the Japanese surrender ending WWII, which became heralded as Victory in Japan Day or V-J Day. On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery, Codie & Tony are joined by Justin Voithofer to talk about the events that seemingly led to that announcement: the atomic bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima & Nagasaki. Perhaps one of the most hotly debated events in world history, these bombings were the first and (hopefully) last instances of nuclear weapons being used on people. The guys talk about the popular history around these bombings and dissect the #1 question that has haunted historians for years: was there any other alternative? Strap in for the 40th Episode of the podcast some people are talking about. Enjoy!

On this episode of Battles and Banter, Avery is joined by Codie & Tony for the next installment in the Korean War 70th Anniversary Series to cover the first large scale battle of the Korean War: the Battles around the Pusan Perimeter. In August 1950, the United Nations Forces comprising of American, South Korean and British soldiers held off multiple attacks by North Korean forces in the rectangular defensive position around the port city of Pusan in southeast South Korea. The guys talk about the engagements that made up the first phase of the battle and how important the tactical successes of the U.N. forces were in the larger scope of the conflict. Codie also has another phenomenal song for you all so don't miss out! Enjoy!

On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery is joined by Rich Condon of "Civil War Pittisburgh" and Patrick McGuire of "The History Things Podcast" to discuss the Civil War Battle of Franklin, Tennessee (November 30, 1864). This will be the first battle from the Western theater of the American Civil War that the BnB squad has talked about. The guys will discuss the importance of John Bell Hood's Tennessee Campaign of late 1864 and how the Battle of Franklin was the battle that broke the Confederate Army of Tennessee's back. Enjoy!