Podcasts about operation gratitude

LaSandra Boykin, CSX's Director of Community Investments, joins JMN to explain why CSX employees will be stuffing thousands of Teddy Bears today! These "Batallion Buddies" will be shipped off in care packages in partnership with Operation Gratitude, an outreach supporting military families. The CSX Pride In Service initiative will have employees over 26 states participating in today's event. Visit CSX.COM or OPERATIONGRATITUDE.COM to learn more!

In this episode of the Leadership Loading Podcast, host Jason McClaren welcomes retired Marine Corps Major Eric Dominijanni, CEO and founder of Fior Scotch. Eric shares his journey from serving 20 years in the Marine Corps to becoming a culinary school graduate and ultimately founding his own premium scotch brand. Eric discusses his military career, the transition to civilian life, and the importance of having a post-military plan. He offers insight into building a business, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the significance of surrounding yourself with the right people. Eric also highlights his collaboration with nonprofit organizations like Operation Gratitude, emphasizing the importance of giving back to the veteran community. Explore the resources mentioned in this episode: Fior Scotch: www.fiorscotch.com Contact Eric Dominijanni: EricD@FiorScotch.com Learn more about Operation Gratitude: www.operationgratitude.com Where to find Fior Scotch: Available online through their website Available at Total Wine locations in Texas (Dallas, Austin, and more) Retail locations in New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Florida, Washington, D.C., and more Tune in to learn about the leadership lessons Eric has carried from the Marine Corps to the boardroom, and how he's leveraging his passions to make an impact. Keywords: Leadership Loading Podcast, Jason McClaren, Eric Dominijanni, Fior Scotch, Operation Gratitude, Marine Corps, Military Transition, Veteran Entrepreneurs, Leadership Lessons, Premium Scotch, Giving Back.

Last time we spoke about the South China Sea Raid. In January, General Krueger reinforced the American beachhead at Lingayen Gulf while Admiral Halsey launched Operation Gratitude, targeting enemy ships based on faulty intelligence. Despite not finding the expected battleships, American forces decimated a Japanese convoy, sinking numerous vessels and claiming 113 enemy aircraft. Meanwhile, on Luzon, the 1st and 14th Corps advanced against Japanese defenses, capturing key positions despite fierce resistance. As both sides prepared for counteroffensives, the battle intensified, marking a pivotal moment in the Philippines campaign. On January 17, the 58th Brigade and supporting regiments launched a daring operation to destroy enemy positions. As American forces advanced, they faced fierce resistance, but some regiments achieved notable successes. Task Force 38 executed airstrikes on Formosa and Hong Kong, inflicting damage despite heavy losses. Meanwhile, Japanese forces struggled to regroup amid American pressure. General Suzuki devised a plan to fortify Leyte, but ongoing air raids hampered supply efforts. Tensions escalated as both sides prepared for decisive confrontations in the ongoing battle for control. This episode is the Mandalay Offensive Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  We last left off with, General Krueger strategically positioned General Mullins' 25th Division on the right flank of the 43rd Division to bolster the assault forces at the Rosario front. This maneuver was also intended to facilitate the continuation of the 14th Corps' advance to the south. Following the successful repulsion of General Nishiyama's local counterattack, General Wing ordered the 63rd, 158th, and 172nd Regiments, which had been stalled, to launch an offensive from the west along the Damortis-Rosario road. Simultaneously, the 103rd and 169th Regiments were tasked with advancing northward along Route 3, originating from Pozorrubio. In contrast, while the 58th Independent Mixed Brigade and the 23rd Division worked to contain General Swift's 1st Corps, General Yamashita was reinforcing the San Jose sector. He further instructed the Shigemi Detachment to maintain a defensive position in Binalonan. Although the 27th and 161st Regiments had successfully relieved the 103rd Regiment in the Binalonan area, Major-General Shigemi Isao ultimately opted to halt further troop movements. He decided to leave only a small garrison in Binalonan while the majority of his forces prepared for a decisive stand at San Manuel.   As the situation unfolded, the 3rd Battalion of the 161st Regiment encountered minimal resistance, allowing them to advance into the northern half of Binalonan by nightfall on January 17. In a parallel effort, General Patrick directed the 1st Regiment towards Urdaneta, where they successfully eliminated a small outpost belonging to the Shigemi Detachment. Additionally, he dispatched the 20th Regiment to the Cabaruan Hills, where they achieved their objective by reaching Lunec and securing the central area of the hills by the end of the day. On January 18, the offensive momentum of the 6th and 25th Divisions persisted. The 20th Regiment advanced to a low ridge approximately 2,500 yards west of Cabaruan, where American forces identified the primary defenses of the 2nd Battalion, 71st Regiment. Meanwhile, the 161st Regiment successfully cleared Binalonan, and the 27th Regiment moved forward to seize control of the Bactad area, further consolidating their gains in the region. Simultaneously, Wing's units were gearing up for a significant new offensive. In line with this strategy, the 2nd Battalion of the 169th Regiment advanced along Route 3, deftly circumventing the town of Sison, and finally reached a crucial road junction located to the northeast of the town. Meanwhile, to the north, the 172nd Regiment executed a successful nighttime ambush against a Japanese artillery battalion. Following this victory, they dispatched a company to seize control of a strategically important hill, rising 600 feet and situated approximately 1,000 yards north of Rosario. This position enabled American forces to exert control over a substantial portion of the surrounding area. By the conclusion of the day, the 158th and 63rd Regiments established contact through patrols about a mile south of Amlang, as they prepared for a coordinated assault that was set to launch on January 19. This offensive culminated in the collapse of the last Japanese defenses just two days later. Concurrently, the 172nd Regiment successfully established a patrol base on Hill 606. From this vantage point, patrols ventured into Rosario, discovering the town was heavily mined, riddled with booby traps, and defended by concealed machine-gunners and riflemen hiding amidst the rubble of the buildings. On January 19, the 103rd Regiment initiated an assault on Hill 600, located at the southern end of the ridge line east of Route 3. At the same time, the 2nd Battalion of the 169th Regiment faced several intense counterattacks from retreating Japanese forces that had been bypassed at Mount Alava and Sison. Despite the fierce resistance, the relentless pressure from Japanese troops and increasingly heavy artillery fire ultimately compelled the battalion to withdraw by noon. Nevertheless, the American operations succeeded in diminishing the Japanese presence in the region. Looking southward, the 161st Regiment cautiously advanced toward San Manuel, while the 27th Regiment effectively moved into Asingan, successfully cutting off Shigemi's escape route. Further south, the 1st Regiment rapidly progressed along Route 3 toward the Agno River, capturing the towns of Villasis, Carmen, and Rosales. Meanwhile, the 20th Regiment commenced an assault on the 2nd Battalion of the 71st Regiment stationed in the Cabaruan Hills. On the front commanded by General Griswold, the 14th Corps was in the process of mobilizing along the Camiling-Anao line, preparing to initiate an advance toward the Tarlac-Victoria line. The 160th Regiment began its march, covering seven miles southward from Camiling along Route 13, while the 129th Regiment took a strong position in Anao, establishing vital contact with other outposts of the 37th Division stationed at Paniqui. The advances made on January 20 were notably swift, with the 148th Regiment successfully capturing the towns of Gerona and Pura. Meanwhile, the 37th Reconnaissance Troop made significant progress by entering the guerrilla-occupied area of Victoria, and units from the 40th Division advanced to within four miles of Tarlac, signaling a promising push toward their objectives. In the area around Cabaruan, the Japanese forces had sustained heavy losses during the initial attack. In response, Colonel Patrick made the strategic decision to withdraw two battalions from the hills to reinforce the southern advance. Probing slowly through the roughest ground in the Cabaruan Hills on January 20 and 21, the 20th Regiment's reinforced battalion jumped off in the morning of the 22nd in what was expected to be the last attack, its way paved by an especially heavy artillery and air bombardment. But from the start, operations did not go as planned. The air strike, conducted by Fifth Air Force A-20s was four hours late, subjecting the infantry to "a nerve racking wait," and did not include requested napalm. Air and artillery concentrations were, however, well placed, and it seemed improbable to the waiting infantry that many Japanese could have lived through them. A combined tank-infantry assault began about 12:30 and proceeded slowly but steadily for almost two hours. Then the attackers were stopped cold by a tremendous burst of rifle, machine-gun, and light artillery fire from the very hillsides that had received the weight of the bombardments. Company E, in the lead, fell back; Company G's officers were all either killed or wounded, and the company was temporarily scattered; Company F was pinned in place; and two supporting tanks were knocked out. Casualties mounted quickly to 10 men killed and 35 wounded. As a consequence, Patrick found it necessary to redirect one battalion from the 1st Regiment to support the ongoing attack. Simultaneously, the remainder of the 20th Regiment pressed forward toward Cuyapo, while the bulk of the 1st Regiment continued its eastward movement toward the guerrilla-held Balungao. Additionally, the 6th Reconnaissance Troop reached Guimba, successfully establishing contact with patrols from the 14th Corps, which was crucial for coordinating their efforts. On another front, with Mount Alava now vulnerable, the 169th Regiment launched a vigorous assault on January 20, managing to secure the summit of the mountain by nightfall. In contrast, the 103rd Regiment continued to face heavy casualties during their frontal assaults against Hill 600, ultimately gaining only a precarious foothold on the exposed southern slopes. Meanwhile, in a significant naval development, Admiral Halsey's Task Force 38 exited the South China Sea through the Balintang Channel on January 20. The task force was poised to execute further strikes against Formosa, aiming to disrupt enemy operations and bolster the Allied offensive in the region. The following day, with significantly improved weather conditions, Admiral McCain's aircraft carriers launched a coordinated series of airstrikes targeting Formosa, the Pescadores Islands, and the southern Ryukyu Islands. These operations resulted in the destruction of 104 Japanese aircraft on the ground, the sinking of seven oil tankers, and the loss of seven transport ships, along with additional damage inflicted on another seven vessels.  For the first time since November 1944, TF 38 felt the sting of kamikazes. Operating just 100nm east of Formosa, TF 38 was not difficult to find. Just after noon, a single aircraft appeared to conduct a conventional bombing attack on TG 38.3's light carrier Langley. One bomb hit forward. Personnel casualties were light, but the carrier was conducting flight operations three hours later. Within minutes, another aircraft also evaded radar detection and the CAP to commence a suicide dive against Ticonderoga. The kamikaze struck the flight deck and penetrated where its bomb exploded. An impending strike was spotted and ready to launch; now these aircraft provided fuel for the fire which was quickly spreading. Just before 1300hrs, another group of eight kamikazes and five escorts resumed the attack on TG 38.3. Only two suicide aircraft survived the CAP to dive on the wounded Ticonderoga. One was sent spinning into the water by antiaircraft fire, but the final attacker crashed into the carrier's island. More fires were started. The crew succeeded in putting out the flames by 1415hrs and correcting a nine-degree list by 1800hrs. Though the ship was saved, the cost was high. Some 143 men were killed and 202, including her captain, were wounded. In addition, the air group lost 36 aircraft. As a final farewell, kamikazes attacked the two destroyers on picket duty just 65nm off Formosa at 1310hrs. A single Zero had joined a returning strike. Before it could be identified as enemy, it dove on destroyer Maddox, striking her amidships. This and the explosion of the bomb aboard created a fire that was quickly extinguished. After a final day of strikes on January 22 against the Ryukyus, during which eight ships were sunk, Task Force 38 set course for Ulithi. Upon arrival, Admiral Halsey transferred command of the Fast Carrier Force to Admiral Spruance, who would lead the final offensives in the Central Pacific.  Meanwhile, back on Luzon, on January 21, the 160th Regiment swiftly cleared the town of Tarlac and began its advance toward San Miguel. Simultaneously, the 145th and 148th Regiments moved unopposed toward La Paz. The speed of 14th Corps' advance had stretched Griswold's supply lines abnormally and had exposed his left from Cuyapo to La Paz, a distance of nearly 25 miles. He had no definite information about suspected Japanese concentrations in the vicinity of Cabanatuan, on Route 5 just 15 miles east of La Paz. His worries about the security of his flank were hardly put to rest by reports of new contacts with Japanese forces at Moncada, now 20 miles behind the front, and at La Paz. Elements of the 129th and 145th Regiments easily took care of the Japanese in the Moncada area; but during the night of January 21, a pitched battle developed at La Paz when a platoon of Japanese infantry, supported by one tank, attacked a 148th Regiment perimeter at a road junction a mile west of town. The Japanese finally withdrew after destroying a bridge that carried a secondary road across a river a mile east of La Paz; but because of this, Griswold reported to General Krueger that it would be impossible to extend 14th Corps' left any further south until he had more information about Japanese forces east of La Paz. To mitigate this risk, he decided to keep General Beightler's 37th Division positioned in reserve while General Brush's 40th Division continued its advance southward along Route 3 toward Bamban. As a result, elements of the 160th Regiment and the 40th Reconnaissance Troop reached Capas and conducted patrols toward Camp O'Donnell on January 22. Meanwhile, the 161st Regiment began probing the defenses established by Japanese forces under Shigemi. The 103rd Regiment faced severe losses during their assault on Hill 600, necessitating a withdrawal to reorganize. Concurrently, the 169th Regiment launched an attack on Hill 355, making slow and costly progress against fierce resistance on the steep, barren slopes. By January 24, most of Hill 355 had been cleared, allowing the 3rd Battalion of the 103rd Regiment to move in and conduct mop-up operations in the area. As the 158th Regiment looked northward and secured the area around Amlang, they initiated an eastward push towards the positions held by the 172nd Regiment. However, their advance was slow, with only a modest gain of 500 yards achieved. Over the next two days, the 158th faced a grueling battle, making painstaking progress as they advanced foot by foot across exposed hills and ridges, all while enduring relentless machine-gun, mortar, and artillery fire. It wasn't until January 26 that they successfully broke through to Cataguintingan, where they provided much-needed support to the 172nd Regiment's ongoing assaults into Rosario. Meanwhile, by the evening of January 23, the 161st Regiment had managed to secure the southern slopes of the barren ridge north of San Manuel. They established trail blocks in the Aboredo Valley, effectively controlling movement in the area. To the south, the 108th Regiment had taken control of the Capas region, while the 160th Regiment successfully captured Bamban. However, it became increasingly evident that the American forces were now confronting the well-fortified and organized defenses of the Kembu Group. The Kembu Group's strength lay in the terrain it held, in the depth of its defenses, and in the great number of automatic weapons (aircraft and anti-aircraft) it possessed. Its major weaknesses were its immobility; the inadequate training and armament of the bulk of its troops; shortages of food, ammunition, and field artillery; and the rudimentary state of many defensive installations, a state deriving from the late start in establishing the positions at and west of Clark Field. The health of the command was poor from the start, and medical supplies were short. Morale was not of the highest order, and many of the troops were easily disaffected Formosan, Okinawan, and Korean labor personnel. In brief, the Kembu Group was the poorest armed, prepared, and supplied of Yamashita's three defense commands. On the other hand, as the 40th Division was soon to learn, even poor service troops, whatever their state of training and armament, can put up stiff resistance in good defensive terrain.  In preparation for the defense of Clark Field, General Tsukada assembled a diverse array of forces, totaling approximately 30,000 troops, although the majority consisted of air and naval personnel. He strategically divided his Army units into four distinct detachments. The Takayama, Takaya, and Eguchi Detachments were positioned along the first and second lines of defense, facing eastward toward Highway 3. Their defensive line extended from the hills west of Bamban to the vicinity of Fort Stotsenburg. In contrast, the Yanagimoto Detachment maintained its mobile units at Angeles and Porac, ready to respond to any potential enemy paratrooper landings on the southern flank of the Clark Field defenses. Additionally, Rear-Admiral Sugimoto Ushie commanded naval units comprising about 15,000 men, tasked with defending positions behind the two forward lines. In light of this formidable opposition, General Griswold made the strategic decision to utilize January 24 for consolidation and regrouping. This involved preparing for further advances southward while also probing into the enemy defenses that had already been uncovered. The 160th Regiment was able to secure Lafe Hill, although they were unable to establish a foothold on Hill 500, highlighting the challenges that lay ahead. To the north, American forces initiated another offensive against the Cabaruan Hills. The units of the 1st Regiment made only modest progress, yet they managed to advance closer to the main defensive positions as night fell. Meanwhile, at San Manuel, the 161st Regiment launched its first assault against the Shigemi Detachment, which encountered unexpectedly fierce resistance. As a result, the Americans were only able to establish a fragile foothold in the northern section of the town. Further north, Wing directed the 103rd Regiment to set up a line of departure along Route 3, aiming to strike eastward at the northwestern slopes of Hill 600. At the same time, they were tasked with advancing up the southwestern slopes of the exposed Hill 700 to secure that strategic location, as well as Hill 800 to the northwest. The 169th Regiment, advancing to the left of the 103rd, was assigned to capture Question Mark Hill. Concurrently, the 63rd and 172nd Regiments were ordered to launch simultaneous assaults on Hills 900 and 1500, respectively, while the reserve 3rd Battalion of the 63rd Regiment was also committed to clear Benchmark Hill. This coordinated attack was scheduled for January 25. The initial phases of the assault showed promise, with the supporting forces making significant headway. However, the 103rd Regiment faced considerable difficulties, managing to secure Hill 800 only by nightfall. Notably, the 172nd Regiment achieved tactical surprise, successfully clearing most of Hill 900. Over the next two days, the 63rd Regiment regrouped around Hill 1500 in preparation for its own offensive. Simultaneously, the 161st Regiment continued its slow advance southward through San Manuel, facing intense opposition. Patrick's units on the Cabaruan Hills managed to gain a mere 300 yards against determined resistance. Meanwhile, Brush pressed his attack on Clark Field, with the 160th Regiment clearing Hill 500 and advancing nearly a mile along the ridge from Lafe Hill, while the 108th Regiment secured Hills E and G. The following day, the 40th Division continued its southward maneuver. Any movement by American troops along the generally open ridges west of Route 3 inevitably brought down Japanese machine-gun and mortar fire, often augmented by fire from the dismounted aircraft automatic weapons, anti-aircraft guns, and light artillery. Seeking cover and usually pinned in place, the American infantry would call for close-in mortar and artillery support, wait for the concentrations to be fired, and then drive forward a few yards, when the process had to be repeated. Each time, the Americans managed to overrun a few Japanese machine-gun or rifle strongpoints. There was little choice of routes of advance. Draws, providing some concealment in scrub growth or bamboo thickets, were usually covered by well-emplaced Japanese weapons both within the draws and on the ridges to each side. Possession of the high ground, as ever, was essential. Yet the troops had to employ draws whenever possible to outflank Japanese ridgeline strongpoints, and often draws and ravines proved to be the only routes by which tanks, tank destroyers, and cannon company self-propelled mounts could get to the front to fire against Japanese cave positions along the sides of the ridges. The capture of one Japanese-held cave served only to disclose another, and one machine-gun position was overrun only to provide access to the next. Dislodging the Kembu Group from such defenses in depth was to prove a slow, laborious, and costly process, demanding the closest teamwork between the infantry and its supporting arms. Casualties, as a rule, would not be heavy on any one day--progress would be too slow and the troops would spend too much of their time pinned down awaiting fire from supporting weapons. But a daily attrition rate of about 5 men killed and 15 wounded for each battalion engaged would soon begin to have its effect. Meanwhile the 160th Regiment swiftly captured Hills 636 and 600 in rapid succession. However, the 108th Regiment lost control of Hill G during the engagement. On January 26, Griswold committed the 37th Division to the fight, with the 145th Regiment successfully capturing Mabalacat and Mabalacat East Airfield. They then shifted westward across Route 3, overrunning Clark Field Runway Number 1. In the Cabaruan Hills, American forces gained only 150 yards at a considerable cost. In response, Patrick decided to deploy another battalion from the 1st Regiment to eliminate this pocket of resistance. The following day, this two-battalion assault proved successful, resulting in the destruction of an entire battalion of Japanese troops, with over 1,400 enemy soldiers killed. Further north, the 161st Regiment finally broke through the main defenses of Shigemi's forces. Before dawn most of the Japanese left in San Manuel scrambled across the draw on the east side of town and fled to join the 10th Reconnaissance Regiment north of San Nicolas, but not before launching a final counterattack to cover their escape. At 0930 the 161st Infantry's two battalions resumed the drive southward through the town, and by 1330 San Manuel was clear. In a heroic but tactically unimportant stand the Shigemi Detachment had virtually fulfilled its self-imposed desire for annihilation in place. The detachment had lost 750 men killed; all its tanks, artillery, trucks, machine guns, and mortars had been either captured or destroyed. Probably no more than 250 troops escaped, and many of them were unarmed and wounded. The 161st Infantry and attached units had lost approximately 60 men killed and 200 wounded; the 716th Tank Battalion lost 3 tanks. Meanwhile, Wing's offensive continued on January 27, with the 103rd Regiment successfully reaching the crest of Hill 700 and the northwestern slopes of Hill 600. Unfortunately, they lost both positions to a brutal Japanese counterattack amidst a violent tropical downpour. On January 28, the 172nd Regiment captured Rosario, while the 63rd secured the southern crest of Hill 1500. Both regiments completed the capture of this strategic feature by January 30, thereby finalizing the occupation of the crucial road junction area. Further south, on January 27, the 160th Regiment advanced only 500 to 800 yards to the west and southwest. The 108th Regiment made a more substantial advance of about 1,000 yards southwest from Hills E and G but failed to reach Hill 5. The 145th Regiment pushed south along Route 3 for an additional three miles, reaching Culayo and Dau before taking control of the guerrilla-occupied Angeles, which had recently been abandoned by the retreating Yanagimoto Detachment. In a similar vein, the 148th Regiment secured Magalang without encountering any resistance. As we shift our focus from Luzon, we turn our attention to Burma, where we will delve into the ongoing developments of Operation Capital. Picking up from our previous discussions, we find ourselves in Central Burma, where the 2nd British Division and the 19th Indian Division are making significant strides toward Shwebo. The 2nd British Division successfully captured Ye-u on January 2, followed by the establishment of a crucial bridgehead across the Mu River just three days later. Meanwhile, the 19th Indian Division also advanced, reaching the Shwebo area by January 5. On January 8, a coordinated assault was launched by units from both divisions, culminating in the capture of Shwebo after two days of intense and brutal combat. To the west, General Festing's 29th Brigade began probing the northern flank of the 15th Division at Twinnge. Concurrently, other elements of the 19th Division worked to solidify their positions by establishing additional bridgeheads over the Irrawaddy River at Thabeikkyin and Kyaukyaung. On January 10, the 20th Indian Division captured Budalin and subsequently pushed towards Monywa, where the 33rd Division had only left a small contingent to serve as a rearguard. However, the campaign faced unexpected challenges; heavy rainfall during the first week of January brought all transport operations of the 4th Corps to a standstill, significantly hampering the Lushai Brigade's planned assault on Gangaw. After enduring a heavy aerial bombardment, the attack on Gangaw finally commenced on January 10. The Lushai Brigade managed to overpower the limited defending forces, forcing them to retreat after a brief skirmish. With Gangaw now under their control, the Lushai Brigade refocused their efforts on reconnaissance, monitoring the flanks of the 7th Indian Division. Meanwhile, the 28th East African Brigade took the lead in the advance, successfully displacing a Japanese garrison at Tilin on January 22. By this time, the 114th Brigade had begun to follow in the wake of the East Africans, while the 89th Brigade executed a long maneuver to the left, advancing toward Pauk in parallel with the other offensives. Although General Kimura was aware of some movements on his southern flank, he perceived these as mere feints by minor forces intended to divert his attention southward. Following a relentless barrage of artillery and air strikes, the 20th Division launched its offensive against Monywa on January 20. This assault faced fierce resistance, and it took two days of intense and bloody combat before the division was able to secure control of the town. After capturing Monywa, the 80th Brigade advanced towards Myaung, while the 110th Brigade shifted its focus to Ayadaw before launching an attack on Myinmu. By January 25, they had successfully established a bridgehead in that area. Meanwhile, to the east, the 2nd Division commenced its assault on Sagaing on January 14. They made significant headway against the forward defenses of the 31st Division, with other units managing to secure a bridgehead at Ywathitgyi. General Katamura, concerned about the expanding bridgeheads established by the 19th Division across the Irrawaddy River, ordered the 15th and 53rd Divisions to neutralize these positions before they could become fortified. As a result, during the last week of January, the Japanese forces executed a series of coordinated night attacks on Kyaukmyaung. By this time, British-Indian troops had dug in deeply, supported by formidable artillery and machine-gun positions. The ensuing conflict was marked by brutal carnage, with the 15th Division suffering a staggering loss of one-third of its personnel, while the 53rd Division was compelled to withdraw to Kyaukse after incurring heavy casualties. In parallel, the 89th Brigade successfully occupied Pauk on January 28, as General Messervy's forces geared up for a decisive push towards Meiktila. Looking northward, General Sultan was also advancing his own offensive aimed at reopening the Burma Road to China. He ordered the 50th Chinese Division to move towards Lashio and deployed the Mars Task Force to Hosi. Additionally, he dispatched the 36th British Division towards Mongmit, although the British advance was expected to be slow until additional forces could be brought into alignment for a more coordinated effort. General Sun's newly established 1st Army initiated a delayed offensive against Namhkam, which resumed in early January. This resurgence was marked by the 90th Regiment's strategic capture of the hill that overlooks the southwestern entrance to the Shweli River valley. Concurrently, the 112th Regiment advanced through Loiwing, subsequently crossing the river to approach Namhkam from the northeast. Meanwhile, the 88th Regiment entered the valley via the main road, making a direct push across the small plain toward Namhkam. The 89th and 114th Regiments executed a broader maneuver around the southern end of the Shweli valley; the 89th crossed the river on January 7 and advanced northward toward Namhkam, while the 114th crossed three days later, navigating through the hills toward the Namhkam-Namhpakka trail. To the south, the 475th Regiment progressed through Mong Hkak and reached Mong Wi on January 6, preparing for another challenging march across the hilly terrain toward Hosi, with the 124th Cavalry Regiment following closely behind. So close is Tonkwa to the mountains that the 475th found the trail rising steeply on the 1st day's march east. Like a crazily twisted drill it bored its way farther east and ever higher. In some places it was 15 to 20 feet across; in others, just wide enough for a man and a mule. As they rounded the turns, the men would peer ahead and look out across the valleys to where lay row on row of hills. Trees were everywhere. In flat places carved by erosion, the Burmese had cut and farmed terraces, and little villages clung to the mountains like limpets to a rock. Because existing maps were unreliable, so that map reconnaissance could not locate water and bivouac areas, and because the sheer fatigue of climbing the steeper slopes was formidable, march schedules went down the mountain side, with quite a few steel helmets and an occasional mule. Halts were a matter of common sense leadership at platoon or company level. The march was tactical but no Japanese were encountered, though rumor of their nearness kept the men alert. The Chinese had passed that way before, while a screen of Kachin Rangers was preceding the American column. Speaking the local dialects and carrying radios and automatic weapons, the Kachins were an excellent screen which masked the MARS Task Force while reporting anything that might be suspicious. Despite the difficult march, crossing the 400-foot wide Shweli was not too hard. The bridge built by the Chinese some weeks before still stood, a triumph of Oriental ingenuity, with bundles of bamboo for pontons and vines for cable. The Shweli was beginning to tear it apart, but work parties from the 475th kept it operable.  Meanwhile, spurred into action by General Wedemeyer after a month of inactivity, General Wei's Y-Force finally resumed its offensive operations in late December. They promptly dispatched the 2nd, 6th, and 71st Armies to launch an assault on the forward positions of the 56th Division at Wanting. Simultaneously, the 53rd Army executed a wide flanking maneuver to the west, aiming to encircle and attack the Japanese forces from the rear. Faced with the intense pressure of this four-pronged offensive, General Matsuyama was compelled to withdraw the 148th Regiment to a position north of Mongyu. He also ordered the Yoshida Force to mount a counteroffensive toward Muse and committed the reserve 2nd Regiment to secure Namhpakka. On January 5, the 53rd Army reached the vicinity of Muse and began crossing the river; however, they were met with fierce resistance from Matsuyama's timely counterattack, which thwarted their advance. Ten days later, Sun's forces initiated a well-coordinated offensive against Namhkam, which ultimately succumbed on January 16 as the 55th Regiment retreated toward Khonung. With the Shweli Valley now firmly under Allied control, Matsuyama began to tighten his defensive perimeter in anticipation of a final withdrawal toward Hsenwi. On January 17, the Mars Task Force made significant progress by reaching the Hosi sector, where they immediately engaged Japanese outposts. The 475th Regiment successfully secured the advantageous high ground near Nawhkam village. Over the next two days, American forces clashed with the 4th Regiment, capturing the strategically important Loikang Ridge and the elevated terrain overlooking Namhpakka. On January 19, the Mars Task Force attempted to disrupt Japanese supply lines by blocking the Burma Road through demolition and artillery bombardment, coinciding with the arrival of the 55th Regiment, which was sent to bolster the defenders. In a parallel effort, the 114th Regiment managed to sever the Namhkam-Namhpakka trail at Loilawn on the same day. Faced with this escalating threat from the south and the intensifying Chinese assaults on Wanting, the 56th Division was compelled to further contract its defensive perimeter. As a result, Wanting fell on January 20. Fortunately for Matsuyama, General Wei received orders from the Generalissimo to conclude the Salween campaign immediately, which meant that the Chinese forces would remain in their positions until they could be relieved by Sultan's units. Over the course of nearly nine months of intense combat, Wei's Y-Force had successfully reoccupied an impressive 24,000 square miles of Chinese territory and had defeated one of the most elite divisions of the Japanese army, along with elements from two additional divisions. However, the fighting was far from over. Sun continued to dispatch the 112th and 113th Regiments toward Wanting and Mongyu, aiming to clear the final stretch of the road leading to China. Meanwhile, the 89th and 114th Regiments pressed eastward to cut off the Burma Road north of Namhpakka, further complicating the situation for the Japanese forces. In the southern region, from January 20 to January 24, the Mars Task Force continued its strategic operations, executing ambushes and demolition missions while successfully repelling several intense counterattacks from enemy forces. By late January, pressure by MARS Task Force and that of the Chinese forces in the north began to register on the Japanese. The soldiers of the 4th Regiment could see the aerial activity that kept MARS supplied. Not recognizing what they saw, they were so impressed by a big supply drop on the 24th that they sent a report to the 56th Division of a large airborne force being landed along the Burma Road. Accepting this report, General Matsuyama decided to destroy his ammunition and retreat south. His superiors on January 24 agreed to let him retreat, but only after he had evacuated casualties and ammunition. Forty vehicles with gasoline accompanied by a Major Kibino of the 33rd Army staff were sent north to support the 56th in its withdrawal. The Japanese truck convoy made its run north the night of January 24. The trucks were heard, and the Americans placed heavy fire on the road. Kibino had been making the trip in a tankette. Hit by a 4.2-inch mortar shell, it burst into flames clearly visible from the American lines. Kibino clambered out, jumped on a truck, and succeeded in getting his convoy through to the 56th Division. Next day the derelict tankette was credited to the 2nd Battalion, 475th Regiment. But  Encouraged by the additional supplies of gasoline and inspired by the heroic examples of Major Kibino and the personnel of the truck companies, the 56th Division renewed its efforts and, during the next four days effected the evacuation of over 1000 casualties and moved several tons of ammunition to Hsenwi.  Meanwhile, General Matsuyama began to systematically reposition his forces toward Namhpakka, a strategic maneuver that would enable Chinese troops to occupy Mongyu on January 27. In a broader context, by the end of January, the 36th and 50th Divisions were also engaged in crossing the Shweli River, preparing to advance their offensives further southward. In the Arakan region, Operation Romulus exceeded expectations. The 1st Battalion of the 111th Regiment had been defending Akyab. On December 31, as the rear guard of the Sakura Detachment crossed the Kaladan River and moved eastward the Battalion was ordered to withdraw to Ponnagyun. As intelligence suggested very few Japanese were left on Akyab island, a recce aeroplane reported the locals showing no anxiety and on January 2 messages were dropped in Urdu and Burmese asking them to sit on the ground if the island was still occupied or stand with their hands in the air if not. Captain Jimmy Jarrett of ‘C' Flight, 656 AOP Squadron, then landed to a rousing reception and found the Japanese had quit on December 31, although nobody believed him until a senior officer flew in to confirm it. This prompted General Christison to swiftly initiate an amphibious invasion. Notably, this operation was executed without the anticipated naval bombardment and without deploying the reserve 26th Indian Division. As a result, the 3rd Commando Brigade successfully captured Akyab on January 3, facing no resistance, and the 25th Indian Division soon followed, reinforcing the area. From Akyab, the 9th York and Lancasters were transported by boat to establish a strategic blockade along the Yo River at Ponnagyun. There, they encountered significant Japanese forces. After a fierce engagement, however, the Japanese defenders were compelled to retreat toward Myohaung by January 11. In response to the evolving situation, Admiral Mountbatten devised a plan to land the 3rd Commando Brigade and the 25th Division on the Myebon Peninsula. This operation aimed to sever the primary lines of communication for Japanese forces, while preparations were made for the 26th Division to conduct a landing on Ramree Island. In response to the urgent military situation, Operation Passport was swiftly conceived and executed on January 12. British-Indian forces successfully landed at the southern tip of the peninsula, supported by both air and naval operations. Once ashore, the commandos advanced inland, facing intense resistance from fortified hill positions. Their efforts culminated in the capture of Pagoda Hill and the village of Myebon. However, as they pushed forward, opposition intensified, making it increasingly difficult for the British-Indian troops to reach Hill 831. Simultaneously, the 82nd West African Division, now commanded by Major-General Hugh Stockwell, entered the Kaladan Valley to relieve the 81st Division, which had been engaged in combat for over a year. The West African forces began to apply pressure against the Matsu Detachment units stationed at Myohaung and Minbya, although these Japanese forces managed to maintain their positions despite the mounting assaults. Meanwhile, planning was underway for the deployment of the 3rd Commando Brigade and the 51st Indian Brigade to land at Kangaw, coinciding with General Lomax's invasion of Ramree Island.  Early on January 21 the naval bombardment group opened fire. Christison and the other Force Commanders were watching through field glasses from the bridge of HMS Queen Elizabeth in her first engagement since the Dardanelles in 1915. Christison later said: ‘Some shells fell on a marsh behind the Jap defences, and I saw a number of duck spring up. “Duck”, I shouted. “The Royal Navy never ducks”, said the Admiral.' With her second salvo Queen Elizabeth scored a direct hit on the Japanese ammunition depot, which facilitated the landing operations. The 71st Indian Brigade successfully captured Kyaukpyu with minimal resistance. This victory enabled them to advance toward Minbyin and Kyaupyauk, both of which fell into their hands by January 23. In the subsequent days, the brigade continued its advance toward the Yanbauk Chaung, where they encountered fierce Japanese defenses. At the same time, other elements of the division worked to secure Cheduba and Sagu Kyun Islands, further consolidating their strategic position in the region. On January 22, the commandos and the 51st Brigade successfully landed in the Kangaw area near the Min River. However, they faced violent and frequent counterattacks from Japanese forces, which hindered their ability to expand their beachhead. Despite these challenges, the intense pressure from the commandos ultimately forced the Japanese defenders at Hill 831, Myohaung, and Minbya to retreat toward Kani, marking a significant shift in the operational landscape. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. General Krueger's forces advanced against Japanese defenses, capturing key positions despite heavy resistance and casualties. Meanwhile, in Burma, British-Indian troops advanced, seizing key locations despite heavy resistance. Both fronts faced intense combat, leading to significant territorial gains against Japanese forces by the end of January.

Last time we spoke about the invasion of Luzon. As Operation Mike 1 commenced, General Swift's 1st Corps prepared to assault Lingayen Gulf while General Griswold's 14th Corps rehearsed at Huon Gulf. Despite successful diversionary strikes, Japanese forces anticipated an invasion. On January 2, enemy ships were spotted heading towards Luzon, confirming fears of a large-scale operation. Kamikaze attacks intensified, damaging Allied vessels, including the USS Long, which sank after being hit. Amidst bombardments, Filipino citizens demonstrated resilience despite the destruction, reflecting their loyalty and hope during the turmoil. As dawn broke on January 9, Kinkaid's amphibious convoys approached Lingayen Gulf, initiating a fierce assault. Preceded by heavy bombardments, American forces landed on the beaches, facing minimal resistance. The 14th Corps advanced toward key locations, while the 1st Corps secured strategic positions despite enduring sniper fire. By nightfall, they established a significant beachhead. Despite sporadic Japanese counterattacks, American troops pressed forward, and reinforcements were deployed to maintain momentum. The stage was set for a crucial campaign in Luzon. This episode is the South China Sea Raid Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  As we last left off, the 1st and 14th Corps had just successfully established a beachhead on Lingayen Gulf. On January 11, General Krueger further reinforced his position by landing additional reserves, aiming to effectively confront the formidable enemy forces entrenched in the eastern hills. Concurrently, Admiral Halsey's 3rd Fleet units made their entrance into the South China Sea to execute an ambitious raid known as Operation Gratitude. This operation was prompted by misleading intelligence reports suggesting that the hybrid battleship-carriers Ise and Hyuga were stationed in Cam Ranh Bay. In response, Halsey ordered Admiral Bogan's Task Group 38.2 to launch an assault on these supposed targets. This task group was primarily composed of the battleships New Jersey and Wisconsin, which were directed to bombard the bay and eliminate any Japanese vessels that had sustained damage from prior airstrikes. To enhance their operational capabilities, Halsey established Task Group 38.5, specifically designed for night operations, which included the night-capable carriers Enterprise and Independence. On January 12, aircraft from these carriers were deployed for a predawn reconnaissance mission over Cam Ranh Bay and its adjacent waters in search of enemy targets. Despite their efforts, the search yielded no results, indicating that the earlier intelligence had been inaccurate. Nevertheless, all three carrier groups proceeded with their planned strikes at 07:30, while the surface action group advanced toward Cam Ranh. Halsey's strategic gamble proved to be remarkably successful. Although the Ise and Hyuga were not present in the bay, American aviators discovered a wealth of enemy shipping, including three significant Japanese convoys. Sherman's TG 38.3 encountered the most valuable target off Qui Nhon north of Cam Ranh. This was convoy Hi-86 with nine merchants and a heavy escort. The convoy had departed Cape St Jacques on January 9 and was headed north. The escort comprised light cruiser Kashii and five kaibokan. Late on January 11, it reached Qui Nhon Bay and anchored. After leaving Qui Nhon Bay, it was discovered by TG 38.3. In two large attacks, aircraft from Essex, Ticonderoga, Langley, and San Jacinto laid waste to the convoy. None of the nine merchant ships in the convoy survived this onslaught. Cargo ships Yoshu Maru and Eiman Maru (loaded with bauxite and raw rubber), along with tanker San Luis Maru, were sunk. The other six ships were damaged and forced to beach. Otsusan Maru (a cargo ship converted to tanker), passenger-cargo ship Tatebe Maru, cargo ship Kyokuun Maru, cargo ship Yusei Maru, ore carrier Tatsubato Maru, and cargo ship Banshu Maru No. 63 all became constructive total losses. The escort for this large convoy met a similar fate. Light cruiser Kashii was hit amidships by a torpedo in the early afternoon. This was followed by two bomb hits aft that detonated her depth-charge magazine. Kashii sank stern first with 621 members of her crew; only 19 survived. CD-23 was attacked north of Qui Nhon and sunk with her entire crew of 155 officers and men. CD-51 suffered the same fate. After she blew up and sank, her depth charges detonated with fatal consequences for any survivors; 159 men were lost. From the entire convoy, only kaibokans Daito and Ukuru, and corvette CD-27 survived, albeit in a damaged state. As a result, Admiral McCain's Task Force 38 conducted an impressive total of 984 strike missions throughout the day. This relentless assault led to the sinking of the light cruiser Kashii, two minesweepers, eight kaibokans, two subchasers, five transport ships, fourteen cargo vessels, and nine oilers. Additionally, four kaibokans, one subchaser, three transports, four cargo ships, and two oilers were damaged. This operation marked the highest number of ships sunk by airstrikes in a single day during the war, showcasing the effectiveness of the American air campaign and the critical role of intelligence in naval warfare. In addition to inflicting significant damage on Japanese shipping, the aviators under Admiral Halsey achieved remarkable success by claiming the destruction of 113 enemy aircraft, both in the air and on the ground, while sustaining the loss of 23 American aircraft. The impact of these operations extended beyond aerial engagements; critical infrastructure was also targeted. Airfields, docks, and oil storage facilities located between Tourane and Saigon suffered considerable damage. Notably, the railway station in Nha Trang and a vital bridge on the route connecting Saigon to Bien Hoa were also affected, disrupting transportation and supply lines.   Meanwhile, Bogan's surface strike group was unable to locate any Japanese vessels during their operations and instead focused their firepower on bombarding Cam Ranh Bay, further demonstrating the ongoing conflict's intensity. Turning to the situation in Luzon, the 1st and 14th Corps were poised to advance their offensives. To the west, the 185th Regiment and the 40th Reconnaissance Troop initiated a push toward the recently vacated Port Sual. The 160th Regiment maintained a watchful presence at Aguilar, while patrols from the 148th Regiment ventured into towns occupied by guerrilla forces, specifically Urbiztondo and Bayambang. In the eastern sector, the 6th Division was temporarily held back to prevent the creation of a potentially hazardous gap along the front of the 1st Corps. However, the reinforced 43rd Division continued its advance against the most formidable Japanese defenses encountered on Luzon to date. Along the coastline, the 158th Regiment dispatched patrols into Damortis, discovering the town largely deserted. The 172nd Regiment attempted an attack on Hill 580, which ultimately proved unsuccessful, while the 63rd Regiment was deployed to close the widening gap between the 158th and 172nd Regiments. The primary objective of these coordinated efforts was to defeat Major-General Sato Bunzo's 58th Independent Mixed Brigade and secure control of the Damortis-Rosario road. The Damortis-Rosario road, a 2-lane, concrete-paved section of Route 3, led east from the junction of Route 3 and the coast road at Damortis, about 8 miles north of San Fabian, to the junction of Routes 3 and 11, 8 miles inland and a mile east of Rosario. Seizure of the Damortis-Rosario stretch of Route 3 would present 1st Corps with an easy means of access to Route 11, in turn providing a 2-lane asphalt-paved axis of advance toward Baguio along the deep valley of the Bued River. Equally important, if the 1st Corps could quickly gain control over the Damortis-Rosario road and the Routes 3-11 junction, the corps could largely overcome the threat of counterattack against the 6th Army's beachhead from the north and northeast. The Damortis-Rosario road ran sometimes across wooded ravines and sometimes over ridge tops for 3/4 of the way to Rosario, and then continued across open farm land and through Rosario to a junction with Route 11. The road was dominated by broken ridges and steep-sided hills to both the north and the south for the first 5 miles inland. South of the road the hills and ridges were grass-covered; to the north many of the draws and ravines contained thick scrub growth. Bare, steep heights north, northeast, and east of Rosario controlled the Routes 3-11 junction. The 58th Independent Mixed Brigade, defending the Damortis-Rosario road, had all the advantages of observation, while the relatively soft rock and dirt mixture of the hills and ridges gave the brigade ample opportunity to indulge in what was soon to appear to the 1st Corps as the Japanese Army's favorite occupation--digging caves and tunnels. Achieving this would mitigate the threat of a counterattack against the 6th Army's beachhead from the north and northeast. With the security of its left flank assured, the 14th Corps could then accelerate its advance toward General Krueger's main objective: the Central Plains-Manila Bay region. This strategic maneuvering was crucial for consolidating American forces and ensuring a successful campaign in the Philippines. At the same time, the 169th Regiment faced ongoing challenges at Hill 318 and the southern part of the Japanese-held third ridgeline, while the 103rd Regiment made unsuccessful attempts to advance toward the Hill 200 complex, which was firmly defended by the 2nd Battalion, 64th Regiment. Meanwhile, General Tominaga executed his final large-scale kamikaze attack during the Philippines Campaign, successfully damaging two destroyer escorts, one destroyer transport, and five merchant ships. The final attacks were recorded on January 13. Only two suicide aircraft were dispatched, both IJA Ki-84 Franks. One surprised the crew of escort carrier Salamaua. Unengaged by antiaircraft fire, the Frank hit amidships. One of the aircraft's bombs exploded on the hangar deck and the second passed through the ship creating a hole near the waterline. The carrier was left without power while major fires took hold. Damage control was ultimately successful, but not before 15 were killed and 88 wounded. Salamaua was out of the war until April. Also on this day, attack transport Zeilin was hit by a probable IJN aircraft conducting an impromptu suicide attack. Ultimately, the 4th Air Army was scheduled to evacuate to Formosa on January 15, marking the end of the threat from Japanese air power in the Philippines, although the Allies were not yet aware of this. Since the initial kamikaze assault on the Mindoro-bound convoys on December 13, Japanese aircraft had sunk 24 vessels and damaged 67 others. Casualties from these air attacks aboard ships were approximately 1,230 men killed and 1,800 wounded, while the Allies estimated they had destroyed around 600 Japanese aircraft during the same timeframe. Back in Lingayen Gulf on January 13, the 172nd Regiment once again advanced up the grassy, steep slopes of Hill 580, successfully securing most of the area against fierce resistance. Simultaneously, the 63rd Regiment attacked north from Hill 247 and captured Hill 363, despite lacking artillery support. Artillery support was to have been provided by the 43rd Division's 155-mm. howitzer battalion, the 192nd Field Artillery Battalion, since the 63rd Regiment's own 105-mm. battalion had been sent south with the rest of the 6th Division. Unfortunately, the 192nd Field Artillery did not learn it was to support the 63rd until after dark on January 12, and could not start moving to good close support positions until daylight on the 13th, after the 63rd had started its attack. Unlike a 105-mm. battalion, the 192nd did not normally operate in direct support roles and lacked the forward observers and communications the lighter battalions possessed. The 192nd might therefore have been expected to take some time to prepare for its direct support mission, but the battalion reported it could have provided some support--with at least one battery--by noon on the 13th had not Colonel Ralph C. Holliday, commanding the 63rd Regiment, insisted that wire be laid for artillery liaison officers and forward observers, a job that was not completed for almost 36 hours. Colonel Holliday may have been influenced in his decision by the fact that the artillery's SCR-610 radio did not work efficiently in the broken terrain of the middle ridge line where the 63rd was attacking. It was not, indeed, until the 43rd Division had supplied the 192nd Field Artillery with infantry SCR-300 sets that the battalion was able to establish satisfactory radio communications. Then, on January 14, the first radio brought up to the battalion's forward observers was promptly destroyed by Japanese artillery, which also cut wire that had already been laid. Support was again delayed, so the entire battalion was not in position and ready to give the 63rd Regiment the support it needed until midafternoon on January 15. Meanwhile the 169th Regiment completed the clearing of the southern end of the ridgeline, while the 103rd Regiment continued its unsuccessful efforts to take Hill 200. To the west, the 6th Division established a fortified line extending from Malasiqui to Manaoag. They promptly dispatched reconnaissance units to the east and south to gather intelligence on enemy movements. The 185th Regiment achieved a significant victory by successfully assaulting Port Sual, while the 160th Regiment engaged in several skirmishes with the reinforced 23rd Reconnaissance Regiment, which had retreated from Port Sual at the onset of the conflict. Meanwhile, patrols from the 148th Regiment advanced into Wawa, strategically located between Bayambang and Urbiztondo. The following day, the 185th Regiment continued its momentum by capturing the crucial road junction town of Alaminos on the Bolinao Peninsula. Some of its elements also pushed northward toward Cabalitan Bay, where they discovered that Allied Naval Forces had already landed to establish a seaplane base, enhancing their operational capabilities in the region. Looking to the east, the 103rd Regiment made gradual but consistent progress along Hill 200, while the 169th Regiment executed a costly frontal assault to clear Hill 318, suffering significant casualties in the process. The 172nd Regiment advanced north along the third ridge, successfully seizing Hill 565 despite facing scattered resistance. The 63rd Regiment continued its slow advance northward, persistently harassed by Japanese artillery and mortar fire, which impeded their progress. Additionally, the 158th Regiment initiated an offensive toward Rosario but was quickly compelled to retreat due to intense Japanese artillery and machine-gun fire. In contrast, General Yamashita, while cautious about launching a major counteroffensive, recognized the necessity of limited offensive actions to regain the initiative. He believed that such actions would effectively disrupt the enemy's advance inland. Consequently, he ordered General Nishiyama's 23rd Division to conduct a robust raiding attack against the San Fabian-Alacan sector during the night of January 16. This strategic decision aimed to exploit the element of surprise and inflict damage on the enemy forces, thereby buying time for his troops to regroup and fortify their positions. In a strategic initiative aimed at maximizing the destruction of enemy weaponry, supplies, and critical base installations, the 58th Brigade, along with the 71st and 72nd Regiments, was instructed to assemble specialized "suicide" raiding units. These units comprised carefully selected soldiers, heavily armed with automatic firearms and supported by demolition teams trained for explosive operations. In addition, a fourth unit was to be formed from the Shigemi Detachment of the 2nd Armored Division, which had recently positioned itself on the southern flank of the 23rd Division. This unit would consist of a mobile infantry company and a medium tank company. The operational plan called for these units to breach the enemy's beachhead perimeter simultaneously at various locations on January 17. Their objective was to swiftly execute their missions and then withdraw to safety. As preparations for this limited counteroffensive unfolded, the American forces continued their own offensive operations, which had commenced on January 15. In this context, the 158th Regiment launched an eastward assault, successfully advancing approximately 1,000 yards. Meanwhile, the 63rd Regiment cautiously pushed forward over a mile and a half northward from Hill 363. The 172nd Regiment made a rapid advance to the Cataguintingan road junction, effectively establishing a battalion at the edge of Route 3, about a mile and a half west of Rosario. In contrast, the 169th Regiment encountered challenges during a two-pronged attack on Hill 355, leading General Wing to order the regiment to bypass the hill to the south and reposition overland to Route 3 at barrio Palacpalac. Conversely, the 103rd Regiment achieved significant success in their assault on the Hill 200 complex. Further to the west, patrols from the 185th Regiment advanced westward, successfully reaching Dasol Bay. Additionally, a battalion from the 129th Regiment crossed the Agno River at Wawa and continued south along a dusty gravel road toward Camiling. Other elements of the 160th Regiment also moved down from Aguilar to Camiling, consolidating their position in the area. After completing refueling operations over the previous days, Task Force 38 resumed its northern advance to launch an assault on Formosa on January 15. Despite Admiral McCain's recommendation to cancel the strike due to inclement weather conditions, Admiral Halsey opted to proceed with the operation. As a result, a series of airstrikes were executed against Formosa and the Pescadores Islands throughout the day. The 16 fighter sweeps conducted during this operation managed to destroy only 16 Japanese aircraft in the air and an additional 18 on the ground. However, the bombing missions targeting enemy shipping proved more effective, leading to the sinking of the destroyers Hatakaze and Tsuga, along with one transport vessel and two merchant ships, albeit at the cost of losing 12 American aircraft. Following these strikes, Task Force 38 redirected its course toward Hong Kong, which came under attack on January 16. Unfortunately, the American forces encountered severe weather conditions and faced intense anti-aircraft fire. This resulted in a limited success, with the Americans sinking just one transport ship, five oilers, one cargo vessel, and one guardboat. Additionally, they inflicted damage on the destroyer Hasu, three destroyer escorts, one corvette, one transport, and one oiler. The strikes also caused significant destruction to key infrastructure, including Kai Tak Airport, the Kowloon and Taikoo docks, the Aberdeen dockyard, the Kowloon-Canton railway, and the Macau Naval Aviation Center. In a broader campaign, the Americans executed secondary strikes against Canton and Hainan Island, as well as targeting several airfields along the Chinese coast, particularly between the Leizhou Peninsula and Swatow. However, this ambitious operation came at a steep cost, with Task Force 38 suffering a total loss of 49 aircraft—27 due to operational issues and 22 as a result of enemy action. With the South China Sea Raid concluded, Admiral Halsey directed his fleet toward the Luzon Strait, adhering to Admiral Nimitz's request. Ultimately, Halsey's aggressive campaign resulted in the destruction of approximately 300,000 tons of Japanese shipping and an estimated 615 Japanese aircraft, all at the expense of 201 American planes. Returning to the Lingayen Gulf, Wing's offensive operations persisted on January 16. The 63rd, 158th, and 172nd Regiments continued their assaults toward the town of Rosario. However, they encountered fierce resistance from the determined Japanese defenders, which significantly hampered their progress. In contrast, the 169th Regiment achieved a notable advancement by reaching Palacpalac, while the 103rd Regiment successfully captured the strategically important Hill 200 complex. From their newly secured positions, elements of the 103rd Regiment pursued the retreating Japanese forces toward Pozorrubio. Meanwhile, two reinforced companies advanced toward Potpot, and both towns ultimately fell into American hands on January 17. In a broader strategic context, General Krueger directed General Griswold to dispatch additional troops south of the Agno River in preparation for a decisive push toward Manila. By January 17, the 14th Corps had established outposts at key locations including Moncada, Nampicuan, Anao, and Paniqui, solidifying their control over the area. Simultaneously, Japanese General Nishiyama was preparing to initiate a local counteroffensive by nightfall on January 16. However, the 72nd Regiment's raiding unit was unable to participate due to enemy penetrations disrupting their plans. On the northern front, Sato's raiding unit conducted a minor raid against an artillery position held by the 158th Regiment, but this attack proved largely inconsequential. In contrast, the raiding unit from the 71st Regiment executed a more impactful maneuver by advancing down the Bued River valley. They successfully infiltrated the rear installations of the 172nd Regiment, where they ignited a gasoline dump, damaging several trucks in the process. This raid resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and injuries to eight others. At Palacpalac, confusion reigned as the retreating 2nd Battalion of the 64th Regiment inadvertently engaged with the perimeter of the 1st Battalion of the 169th Regiment. This chaotic encounter cost the Japanese approximately 100 men before they retreated in disarray, further illustrating the tumultuous nature of the battlefield. In a dramatic turn of events, the tank raiding unit launched a surprise attack on the newly established outpost at Potpot. Initially, the first two tanks managed to breach the perimeter, unleashing a barrage of machine-gun fire in all directions as they sped away down the road toward Manaoag. However, the remaining tanks, along with their infantry support, encountered fierce resistance from determined defenders, leading to a sharp and intense fire fight that lasted two hours. Despite their initial success, the attackers were ultimately repelled. As dawn broke, the two tanks that had previously penetrated the defenses returned down the Manaoag road, but this time they met their demise, successfully destroyed by the defenders who had regrouped and fortified their positions. Since the onset of the invasion, the 1st Corps had suffered significant casualties, with approximately 220 men killed and 660 wounded. In stark contrast, Griswold's forces experienced far lighter losses, with only 30 killed and 90 wounded. With the enemy's counterattack thwarted, the 43rd Division managed to secure positions that effectively reduced the likelihood of another large-scale surprise offensive from the Japanese forces. However, to completely eliminate the remaining threats, Commander Wing recognized the necessity of securing control over the Rosario junction and establishing a solid hold on Route 3 to the south of this critical point. The challenge was considerable, as Japanese artillery, mortars, and machine guns positioned on the surrounding high ground commanded all approaches to Rosario. Consequently, Wing had no choice but to restrict the 172nd Regiment to a defensive holding action on its left flank while directing its right flank to seize the high ground immediately to the north and northwest of Rosario. In addition, the 63rd and 158th Regiments were tasked with neutralizing the enemy stronghold along the Rosario-Damortis road. To expedite the capture of the road junction, Wing also planned for the 103rd and 169th Regiments to launch an offensive drive north along Route 3. This coordinated effort aimed to strengthen their strategic position and diminish the Japanese threat in the region, ultimately paving the way for a more secure and stable front. In response to the evolving battlefield situation, General Krueger ultimately ordered General Mullins' 25th Division to secure the right flank previously held by Wing's forces. This strategic move prompted the 27th and 161st Regiments to begin the process of relieving the 103rd and 169th Regiments. By doing so, the 6th Division would be able to resume its advance, now directed towards Urdaneta and the Cabaruan Hills, critical areas for the ongoing campaign. To the west, Krueger aimed to maintain the 14th Corps along the Agno River line until General Swift's 1st Corps could effectively neutralize the enemy resistance stretching from Damortis to Urdaneta. This would enable Swift's forces to maneuver southward alongside Griswold's corps. However, General MacArthur was eager to initiate a southern advance toward Manila as soon as possible. Consequently, he instructed the 14th Corps to reposition its main forces back to their previous outpost line south of the Agno by January 20. Following this, the corps was to launch an offensive towards Tarlac and Victoria. Once they established a presence along the Tarlac-Victoria line, the corps would prepare to advance toward Clark Field, a vital objective necessary for the successful neutralization of Japanese strongholds at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. To bolster this offensive, MacArthur also planned to deploy the 11th Corps on the western coast of Luzon, just north of the Bataan Peninsula. This amphibious operation aimed to disrupt Japanese defensive strategies in the Clark Field area, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of the Allied campaign. In contrast, in reaction to the loss of the Hill 200 complex, Japanese General Yamashita ordered the 2nd Tank Division to advance immediately into the Tayug sector. There, Lieutenant-General Iwanaka Yoshiharu would take command of the 10th Division forces already stationed in the region. The armored units were tasked with positioning themselves along the trail north of San Nicolas and on both sides of the Ambayabang River, with the objective of containing any potential enemy advances to the east. Additionally, the Shigemi Detachment received orders to move its main forces from San Manuel to Binalonan, where they were to defend the town resolutely, prepared to hold their ground against any assault. In addition, General Okamoto was tasked with positioning his main forces to secure the immediate approaches to San Jose. Meanwhile, General Tsuda's 105th Division was instructed to advance northward through Cabanatuan as quickly as possible to establish defensive positions behind the 10th Division, specifically at Minuli and north of Carranglan. However, not all of these strategic plans could be effectively executed. By January 17, Yamashita discovered that the Villa Verde Trail was impassable for tanks and trucks, rendering it unusable for the planned armored movements. Furthermore, the terrain in the Tayug-San Nicolas area proved to be unsuitable for armored operations, complicating the situation further. On January 17 the 14th Area Army commander belatedly learned that the 10th Division had never concentrated at San Jose and that it had made no real effort to dispose itself along the entire Tayug-Umingan-Lupao-San Jose defense line for which it was responsible. General Okamoto, the division commander, had decided that he did not have sufficient strength to hold the relatively open ground assigned to him. Most of his 39th Regiment was with the Kembu Group; the bulk of the 10th Regiment, greatly understrength, was attached to the 103rd Division for the defense of northern Luzon; and, at least as late as of January 15, he had received no word as to when he might expect the attached Tsuda Detachment to arrive in the San Jose area from the east coast. He had therefore withdrawn most of his troops up Route 5 from San Jose and had started disposing them along the line Yamashita had intended the 105th Division to hold; leaving behind only a reinforced infantry company and two artillery battalions to secure the all-important railhead. Okamoto had directed the 10th Reconnaissance Regiment to remain in the San Nicolas area, and he stationed three or four rifle companies of his 63rd Regiment along the Tayug-Lupao line and in rising ground to the southwest. Confronted with these unexpected developments, Yamashita concluded that he had no choice but to accept the redeployment of the 10th Division as an established fact. Consequently, he ordered the 2nd Tank Division, which had already begun its movement toward Tayug, to concentrate its main forces southeast of Tayug to safeguard the immediate approaches to San Jose. Additionally, the 6th Tank Regiment was assigned to position itself in Muñoz to cover the southwestern approach to the area. To further bolster defenses, Tsuda was instructed to deploy two of his five advance battalions to San Jose. However, as these tactical adjustments were being made, it became necessary to shift focus away from Luzon and turn attention toward Leyte, where the final operations on the island were unfolding. It is important to note that the majority of General Suzuki's forces had successfully retreated to the Villaba-Mount Canguipot region, although some strong elements remained isolated further to the east. With General Eichelberger's 8th Army assuming control of the island, American forces commenced the final phase of operations to secure Leyte, methodically working to eliminate any remaining pockets of resistance. From January 1 to February 15, the 11th Airborne Division conducted patrols in the Burauen area, where they engaged and successfully eliminated a well-entrenched enemy force positioned on the southern slopes of Mount Majunag. Meanwhile, the 96th Division carried out extensive patrols in the eastern mountainous regions before taking over from the 11th Airborne Division. In the southern part of the island, the 7th Division launched numerous patrols and deployed a reinforced battalion that effectively neutralized all enemy forces in the Camotes Islands. Additionally, the 77th Division focused on clearing various pockets of enemy resistance located in northwestern Leyte. By late January, the Americal Division arrived to assist in the cleanup operations in Samar and Leyte, a mission that was successfully completed by February 24, with support from the 1st Filipino Regiment. However, during this time, Japanese General Suzuki was formulating his strategy for Operation Chi-Go. This operation involved the amphibious movement of several military units to different islands within the Visayas using large motorized landing barges. Suzuki's initial plan entailed deploying the majority of the 1st Division to establish a garrison on Cebu Island, while the headquarters of the 35th Army was to relocate to Davao. This strategic move would enable him to take direct command of military operations on Mindanao. Following this, he intended to dispatch the 41st and 77th Regiments to Mindanao, assign the 26th Division to the Bacolod area on Negros Island, and send the 5th Regiment along with units from the 102nd Division to Cebu. Furthermore, the 16th Division and the 68th Brigade, commanded by General Makino, were to remain in Leyte to engage in guerrilla warfare tactics.  The 102nd Division presented certain difficulties. There had been instances of 40 to 50 deserters fleeing to Cebu or Negros on boats they had built for themselves. Deserters that were apprehended were court-martialed. General Suzuki for some time had been out of touch with General Fukei, the commanding general of the 102nd Division, which was in the Mt. Pina area. By chance, one of Suzuki's officers learned that Fukei was planning to evacuate to Cebu. Suzuki was incensed since he and his staff felt that Fukei "was violating the military code in taking these steps without consent." He therefore ordered Fukei to remain at Leyte. Fukei did not answer but his chief of staff sent the following reply: "We appreciate the efforts of Army but at the present time we are very busy preparing for retreat. The division commander and chief of staff are unable to report to Army Headquarters." Suzuki was "entirely displeased" with the reaction of Fukei and sent his chief of staff, General Tomochika, to investigate the situation. When Tomochika arrived he found that Fukei, with his chief of staff and some headquarters personnel, had already left for Cebu. The sequel to these events was that Suzuki relieved Fukei of his command and ordered him to remain on Cebu until he received further orders. Upon the arrival of Suzuki in Cebu in the spring of 1945, Fukei was sentenced to confinement for thirty days. Suzuki asked IGHQ in Tokyo for authority to court-martial Fukei but no reply was forthcoming. In the end, Fukei was released and later returned to command of the 102nd Division. In the midst of ongoing military operations, Suzuki implemented measures to ensure that the forces stationed on Leyte could sustain themselves. He instructed his troops to make the most of local resources by utilizing available food and materials. This included directives to cultivate sweet potatoes and Indian corn, with the hope of sourcing all necessary provisions from the surrounding areas outside their operational base. However, the Japanese forces faced significant challenges due to relentless American air raids and mop-up operations, which severely hindered their ability to procure supplies. The hostile environment made it difficult for them to plant and harvest the crops they had intended to grow. Despite these obstacles, the Japanese managed to capitalize on the conclusion of the harvest season. They were able to secure substantial amounts of food that had been stored by local Filipinos, including a considerable quantity of coconuts and sweet potatoes. By early January, the 1st Division began its gradual movement toward Cebu, successfully transporting around 800 men to the island by mid-January. Unfortunately, the situation worsened as enemy PT boats established a stringent sea blockade, rendering maritime transportation impractical until mid-March. This blockade left approximately 2,000 men from the 1st Division, along with other units of the 35th Army, stranded on Leyte. Simultaneously, the Imahori Detachment, alongside the Mitsui Shipping Unit and the 77th Regiment, advanced to the southern Matag-ob area and subsequently moved toward Villaba, reaching their destination in early February. The majority of the 26th Division also made progress, arriving in the region north of Ormoc in mid-January before commencing a northwestward movement. By February, they successfully established contact with the rest of the 35th Army. Meanwhile, the remnants of the 16th Division could only reach the Valencia area in February, where they would remain until the end of the month. For the foreseeable future, the Japanese units left behind on Leyte faced the daunting task of defending against the advancing Americal Division and the 1st Filipino Regiment, which were steadily gaining ground.  I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Admiral Halsey launched Operation Gratitude, targeting Japanese shipping. Despite misleading intel, they decimated enemy convoys, showcasing the effectiveness of airstrikes and securing strategic advances in Luzon. American forces advanced through Luzon while Task Force 38 struck Formosa and Hong Kong. Despite fierce Japanese resistance and challenging weather, the Allies steadily gained ground, though both sides suffered significant losses in the campaign.

Last time we spoke about the Aitape-Wewak Campaign. General Dunckel's task force successfully invaded Mindoro, establishing airfields to support operations on Luzon. With General Eichelberger's 8th Army and General Krueger's 6th Army poised to capture Lingayen Gulf, guerrilla forces on Luzon provided crucial intelligence. As plans for the Luzon invasion solidified, General Yamashita prepared defenses, predicting an assault between January 10 and 20. Despite dwindling resources, he aimed to delay the enemy's advance. Meanwhile, Allied forces readied for a swift amphibious attack to secure Manila and restore the Philippine government. In December, Australian forces established outposts at Yasile and Yambes, successfully repelling Japanese attacks. After fierce clashes, they advanced 40 miles along the coast. Meanwhile, the U.S. military bolstered defenses in Saipan and launched bombing raids on Japanese facilities, achieving mixed results. Despite heavy losses, they began to impact Japanese production capabilities. As the month ended, the Japanese launched a final assault on the Marianas, but the Allies continued their strategic advances, setting the stage for future operations. This episode is the Invasion of Luzon Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  We last left off with the plans for Operation Mike 1 being finished. General Swift's 1st Corps was ready to land on the eastern beaches of Lingayen Gulf, while General Griswold's 14th Corps prepared to go ashore on the western beaches. Additionally, successful diversionary operations had been conducted on Mindoro, and Admiral McCain's Task Force 38 executed several moderately successful strikes against Formosa and the Ryukyu Islands in early January. Meanwhile, the 14th Corps elements staging at New Britain completed loading on 10 December; those mounting at Bougainville finished two days later. On the 17th all groups of the III Amphibious Force rendezvoused at Huon Gulf, eastern New Guinea, to rehearse the Lingayen assault. General Griswold felt that the 37th Division's rehearsal was satisfactory but had much fault to find with the 40th Division, remarking upon a "general failure to observe the spirit of the rehearsal." As a result, further training was conducted at Manus Island in the Admiralties, where the convoy reassembled on 22 December. On December 27, Admiral Wilkinson dispatched his LSTs and LSMs, followed by the remainder of Task Force 79 four days later. On the same day, Admiral Barbey's convoy, which included Major-General Leonard Wing's 43rd Division, loaded at Aitape before proceeding to Sansapor to load Major-General Edwin Patrick's 6th Division. Task Force 78 departed Sansapor on December 30, heading to a rendezvous point with other elements of Admiral Kinkaid's Luzon Attack Force. By January 4, all components of Task Force 77 had successfully gathered at Leyte Gulf, with MacArthur personally boarding the light cruiser Boise. Kinkaid's minesweepers, Admiral Oldendorf's Bombardment and Fire Support Group, and most of Admiral Durgin's escort carriers had already left the gulf on January 2 to conduct preliminary operations off Luzon. By January 6, the rest of the Luzon Attack Force began moving toward Lingayen Gulf, led by Admiral Berkey's light cruisers. As Mindoro-based aircraft significantly increased the intensity of their assaults during the last week of December—sinking seven transports and two escorts, and destroying over 140 aircraft. General Yamashita's tense and expectant forces were still racing against time to complete,their battle preparations when the first warnings came that the enemy was again on the move. At 1322 on 2 January, a naval lookout post on Surigao Strait reported that a long train of about 80 enemy ships, screened by destroyers, was moving through the strait into the Mindanao Sea. Other reports which followed immediately warned that large numbers of invasion craft were gathered in the Leyte, Palau and Marianas areas, and that enemy submarines had appeared in force off the west coast of Luzon. At first it was thought that the enemy convoy was merely a reinforcement and resupply group destined for Mindoro. On 3 January, however, developments began to point more conclusively toward a full-scale amphibious operation against Luzon. In the afternoon, just as the initially sighted enemy group passed into the Sulu Sea, a large enemy naval task force, including 12 escort carriers, four battleships and eight cruisers, was reported following in its wake through Surigao Strait. Another delayed report stated that an enemy transport convoy of 90 ships, under strong naval escort, had been spotted the previous day northwest of Palau, heading in the direction of Leyte Gulf. General Yamashita grew concerned that a large-scale amphibious operation against Luzon was imminent. Consequently, he decided to relocate his headquarters to Baguio. These concerns were validated in early January when Japanese lookouts spotted Kinkaid's warships and transports approaching the island. In response, General Tominaga ordered aggressive kamikaze attacks on the Allied vessels, with a major assault on January 4 causing severe damage to the escort carrier Ommaney Bay, which ultimately had to be scuttled. The following day, Japanese attacks persisted, damaging two escort carriers, two cruisers, and three destroyers, among other ships. In retaliation, Durgin's carrier aircraft launched strikes on Manila Bay, successfully sinking the destroyer Momi and damaging the Hinoki. On January 6, McCain's carriers joined the effort, with American pilots tasked with targeting air facilities at Manila and Clark Field. Despite adverse weather conditions limiting the effectiveness of the strike, they succeeded in sinking one transport and six oilers, as well as destroying 32 Japanese aircraft. Meanwhile, as Oldendorf's warships commenced their bombardment and minesweeping operations, kamikaze attacks continued. The destroyer minesweeper USS Long (DD-209/DMS-12) missed the attack on Pearl Harbor by about two days, but then immediately started anti-submarine patrols and escort missions. Its long trajectory in the Pacific War saw it make escort runs to Midway, Palmyra and Canton; participate in the invasions of Amchitka, Attu and Kiska in Alaskan waters; escort reinforcements to Roi and Namur in the Marshalls; participate in the invasions of the Admiralties, Hollandia, Saipan and Palau; and be one of the first vessels to enter into Leyte Gulf back in October. During the invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Long began mine sweeps on January 6, evading and firing upon Japanese aircraft as she carried out her intricate mission. Shortly after noon, beginning her second run, Long spotted two Zeros heading for her. Long went to 25 knots and opened fire, but a kamikaze crashed into her portside below the bridge about 1 foot above the waterline. With fires and explosions amidships, Long lost power and internal communications, and was unable to fight fires forward. Her commanding officer, Lieutenant Stanley Caplan, fearing an explosion in the forward magazine, gave permission for men trapped on the forecastle to leave the ship; but through a misunderstanding the crew abandoned ship. Later that afternoon a second plane attacked Long and exploded at the same spot, destroying the bridge and breaking the ship's back. Long finally capsized and sank the following morning. Alongside the Long, battleships California and New Mexico, along with the cruisers Columbia, Australia, and Louisville, five destroyers, another minesweeper, and one transport were damaged. Admiral Oldendorf was worried with good reason. Previously, kamikaze operations against his ships and those of other naval commands, though dangerous, had generally been executed by relatively untrained pilots who had taken few precautions to avoid detection and anti-aircraft fire and who often appeared to be flying partially damaged, lightly armored planes carrying little ordnance. In January the kamikazes had been operating in a far different manner. There was now a definite program of kamikaze operations, for the vast majority of the perhaps 100 Japanese aircraft that had attacked the forces under Admiral Oldendorf's command since January 2 had at least attempted kamikaze crashes. In addition, the pilots seemed to be more skilled. They took every advantage of radar-blanketing terrain, especially in the Lingayen Gulf area, and flew toward target ships at extremely low altitudes, thus helping to avoid both radar and visual detection. Flight tactics included radical maneuvering designed not only to avoid anti-aircraft fire and Allied planes but also to confuse observers as to which ship was the actual target. Finally, many of the kamikaze planes were heavily armored and armed. The Allies had expected great results from the relatively new proximity fuze for shipboard 5-inch antiaircraft weapons, but the Japanese planes usually appeared so suddenly and took such violent evasive action that 5-inch batteries could seldom track properly. The employment of the expensive special ammunition was, therefore, generally useless, and was sometimes even dangerous to friendly ships. Having missed approaching kamikazes by such distances that fuzes were not activated, shells sometimes sailed on to explode on or near Allied vessels, thereby causing some damage and many casualties.  Concerned about the effectiveness of the kamikaze attacks and recognizing that achieving air superiority did not prevent the enemy's suicide planes, Oldendorf opted for a psychological strategy. He ordered the minesweeper and bombardment groups to persist with their operations, even while sustaining damage, to convince the Japanese that their suicide missions were failing. Kinkaid shared these concerns and requested the cessation of all diversionary air operations to concentrate the main air offensive on Luzon. As a result, Admiral Halsey's carrier-based aircraft and General Kenney's ground forces were tasked with neutralizing all Japanese airfields in Luzon, supported by Durgin's escort carriers. On January 7, McCain's strikes on Luzon and Oldendorf's bombardment of the Lingayen beaches continued, while underwater demolition teams entered the gulf to undertake the dangerous mission of dismantling beach obstacles. Again contrary to expectations, no beach obstacles were found. The "frog men" encountered only a little rifle and machine gun fire, and the few beach defenses they observed appeared to be unoccupied. Their tasks and those of hydrographic ships were completed on the 8th. In retaliation, 20 to 25 kamikazes targeted various segments of the Luzon Attack Force, managing to sink two minesweepers and damage one LST. That night, Kinkaid's destroyers successfully sank the Hinoki off Manila Bay. However, on January 8, the 3rd Fleet units began advancing towards Formosa, as MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz suspected that the kamikazes were launching from there. Without Halsey's additional air support, the Japanese suicide planes once again attacked the Luzon Attack Force, this time damaging the cruiser Australia and the escort carriers Kitkun Bay and Kardashan Bay, as well as inflicting damage on an LSI, an LST, and an APA. Due to significant losses, by the end of the day, the 2nd Air Fleet and the 1st Combined Base Air Force headquarters were disbanded. The 1st Air Fleet received orders to withdraw to Formosa for reorganization, while the severely weakened units of the 4th Air Army were set to continue limited attack operations for a short time until a final evacuation could be carried out. Returning on the morning of the 8th to resume bombardment about 08:00, one section again hit the Lingayen area. About ten minutes later a destroyer standing close inshore and a spotting plane from a battleship reported that Filipinos were forming a parade, complete with United States and Philippine flags, in the town of Lingayen. The fire was shifted to more westerly targets while leaflets were quickly prepared instructing the Filipinos to clear the area. A spotting plane dropped the leaflets and the paraders dispersed. Bombardment started again as soon as the area seemed vacated. The reasons for resuming the bombardment of Lingayen and its environs in the face of this friendly demonstration ashore are unknown, especially since neither underwater demolition teams nor spotting planes had discovered any signs of Japanese activity in the area. The town, at least, seemed safely in the hands of the Filipinos. The most obvious explanation is that erroneous intelligence, having indicated that strong defenses would be encountered in the area, made it incumbent upon Admiral Oldendorf to continue the bombardment whether he wanted to or not. Too much was at stake to take a chance. The Filipinos in the Lingayen area could hardly have been pleased as they saw their homes and public buildings damaged or destroyed by what to them must have seemed an unnecessary bombardment. It seems a tribute both to the Filipinos and to the prewar administration of the United States in the islands--as well as a severe and obvious indictment of Japanese occupation policies--that the people of the Philippines took such adversities in their stride, not permitting personal resentments to overcome judgment and loyalty. Throughout the rest of 8 January, bombardment of the landing beach areas continued without incident. Practically no military installations or targets were found in the Lingayen town and airstrip area, and relatively few were discovered in the San Fabian region. The San Fabian bombardment vessels ran out of targets by 1530 and moved back up the gulf to strike the San Fernando area for another forty-five minutes, completing the task that the Japanese kamikazes had interrupted on the 6th. The Lingayen area ships had long since ceased their firing for the day. Thus ended preliminary bombardment operations. The heavy bombardment of the San Fernando sector on the 6th aroused great anxiety in General Yamashita's headquarters. An enemy landing in that sector would fall north of the main positions of the 58th Independent Mixed Brigade and create serious danger of a thrust toward Baguio over the Bauang-Naguilian Highway. The only means of meeting this potential threat was to change the planned employment of the 19th Division. The division was still in the San Fernando-Naguilian area due to postponement of its scheduled movement inland, and intense enemy air activity over the whole Lingayen area made it improbable that it could move in any case. Consequently, on 7 January, the Area Army ordered the division to assume responsibility for the defense of the sector north of a line running through Santiago, Magungunay, Mt. Bilbil, and Asin. Its main strength was to be concentrated between Naguilian and Baguio. With preliminary operations finished, Kinkaid's amphibious attack convoys arrived at the entrance to Lingayen Gulf around 04:00 on January 9. As the amphibious ships began landing operations, the fire support vessels of Admirals Barbey and Wilkinson positioned themselves for final pre-assault bombardment. In support of these efforts, McCain struck Formosa, destroying 47 Japanese aircraft, sinking seven ships, and damaging eleven others. Throughout the week, the fast carriers conducted a total of 3,030 offensive sorties, dropping approximately 700 tons of bombs at the cost of 86 aircraft. Pleased with the results of the anti-kamikaze operation, Nimitz finally permitted Halsey to launch a major raid into the South China Sea, codenamed Operation Gratitude. Meanwhile, back in Luzon, the pre-assault bombardment commenced at 07:00, gradually shifting fire from the landing beaches to the flanks of the assault area. At 09:00, the first amphibious vehicles began their approach from a departure line about 4,500 yards offshore, while rocket-armed landing craft and aircraft bombarded the beaches. The landing beaches of the 14th Corps were located across the middle of Lingayen Gulf's southern shores and centered on Lingayen airstrip and the nearby grounds of the capitol of Pangasinan Province. In peacetime one would have considered the shore line a beautiful swimming beach, a magnificent strand of firm sand stretching eastward almost 9 miles from the mouth of the Calmay River to the mouth of the Dagupan. The east bank of the Dagupan, which enters the gulf midway between Lingayen and San Fabian, delineated the boundary between the 14th and the 1st Corps, and bridges over the Dagupan were expected to provide the first easy means of contact between the two corps. Since there was a gap of over 6 miles between the 1st Corps' westernmost beaches and the 14th Corps' easternmost, it was imperative that the Dagupan crossings be seized without delay. Planners anticipated that inasmuch as 1st Corps troops would be a mile or so closer to the river at the moment of landing they would be the first to reach the bridges, but it was 14th Corps' responsibility to relieve 1st Corps at the crossings as soon as possible. The 37th Division was to drive toward the Dagupan, while the 40th Division would make a quick thrust west and northwest to Port Sual and Alaminos. Port Sual, located at the southwestern corner of Lingayen Gulf, and at the western extremity of the Army Beachhead Line, possessed some importance as the site of minor port facilities. Alaminos, about twelve miles northwest of Port Sual, lay inland on the Bolinao Peninsula. Early capture of road junctions at Alaminos would help forestall Japanese attempts to organize counterattacks against the 6th Army's right flank. In contrast, the beaches assigned to the 1st Corps were more widely spaced. The units of the 6th Division were scheduled to land on the Blue Beaches, located midway between the Dagupan River mouth and that of the Bued River. The 103rd Regiment was to land on White Beach 3 at San Fabian, while the 169th Regiment would land on White Beach 2, nearly two miles to the northeast. Additionally, the 2nd Battalion of the 172nd Regiment was set to land on the nearby White Beach 3. Fortunately for the American forces, they encountered minimal resistance as the initial waves approached the shore, facing only some challenges from the ebb tide. Shortly after 09:30, the 1st and 20th Regiments landed on the Blue Beaches, with the 1st Regiment quickly securing the mouth of the Bued River and advancing three miles inland to Mangaldan, while the 20th Regiment moved toward Dagupan. Meanwhile, Wing's regiments landed on their designated beaches to the northeast but faced harassment from snipers, artillery, and mortar fire from Lieutenant General Nishiyama Fukutaro's 23rd Division. However, the assault waves of the 14th Corps moved more slowly than expected, reaching the western beaches only by 09:40. The 185th Regiment captured Orange Beach, the 160th Regiment took Green Beach, the 148th Regiment secured Yellow Beach, and the 129th Regiment landed unopposed on Crimson Beach. After landing on the beaches, the 1st Battalion of the 185th Regiment marched to the Agno River's mouth. Meanwhile, the 40th Reconnaissance Troop established a roadblock on the main road, just three miles east of Port Sual. The 2nd Battalion of the 185th Regiment advanced directly inland through Lingayen, successfully crossing the Calmay River and an east-west segment of the Agno River. Similarly, the 160th Regiment crossed the Calmay and assembled nearly four miles inland. The reserve 2nd Battalion of the 108th Regiment landed at Lingayen, while the 148th Regiment moved straight inland, crossing both the Calmay and Dagupan Rivers toward San Carlos. The 129th Regiment entered Dagupan and crossed the Patan River to reach Calasiao, with its 3rd Battalion eventually extending the line to connect with the 148th. By the end of the day, Griswold had established a beachhead stretching northwestward from Calasiao for nearly twenty miles to the outpost near Port Sual. At the same time, Wing's units encountered the most significant resistance from three tiers of ridges that overlooked the 43rd Division's beaches from the north, northeast, and east.  The 43rd Division had the most hazardous and difficult S-day tasks. On the division's left low hills lay scarcely three-quarters of a mile inland from WHITE Beaches 1 and 2. Stretching northward, and coming still closer to Lingayen Gulfs eastern shore, a first line of low, grass-covered hills formed a somewhat broken ridge line, the seaward slopes of which grew steeper as the hills proceeded north along the coast. Beyond this first range, which averaged less than 250 feet in height, lay another, more irregular north-south ridge that rose to 350 feet. Still further east--a little over three miles inland--was yet a third steep-sided, grass-covered ridge line, this one averaging around 600 feet high. The three tiers of ridges overlooked the 43rd Division's beaches from the north, northeast, and east. They provided the Japanese with natural defensive terrain, excellent observation, good positions from which to deliver direct fire on the beaches, and cover behind which there was protection from the essentially flat trajectory of naval support fires. Moreover, the ridges were close to assembly areas further inland that could provide large Japanese forces with cover and concealment. In a single night the Japanese could move considerable strength from these assembly points into the tiers of hills to launch a counterattack against the 6th Army's left. While the 2nd Battalion of the 172nd Regiment advanced toward Hill 247, the 169th Regiment moved eastward, successfully reaching Binday and extending its lines north along the gentle slopes leading to Hill 470. Meanwhile, the 2nd Battalion of the 172nd Regiment quickly secured the barrios of Mabilao and Alacan, ultimately capturing Hill 247 despite scattered resistance. As small arms and mortar fire intensified, combat patrols advanced toward Hill 385, coinciding with the remainder of the 172nd coming ashore. Finally, the 103rd Regiment took control of San Fabian without facing any opposition and then advanced generally south and southeast toward Hill 200, halting just north of San Jacinto by the end of the day. While the assault units of the 1st Corps successfully landed by dusk on January 9, Swift's advance was not as deep as Griswold's, leaving several dangerous gaps between his units. Throughout the day, the Japanese launched sporadic kamikaze attacks on the Luzon Attack Force, causing significant damage to the battleship Mississippi, hitting the cruisers Columbia and Australia again, and damaging one destroyer escort. Meanwhile, friendly anti-aircraft fire resulted in numerous casualties aboard the battleship Colorado. In response to the enemy landings, Yamashita decided to deploy the 2nd Tank Division to the Agno River line near Tayug, where the armored units were to execute a counterattack from the northern flank if the enemy overextended. He also sent five battalions under Lieutenant-General Tsuda Yoshitake to secure the Cabanatuan area, ordered Lieutenant-General Okamoto Yasuyuki's 10th Division to position elements in the Triangle Hill and Tayug sectors to counter a potential enemy advance from Lingayen toward San Jose, stationed the majority of the 11th Independent Regiment at Bongabong, and directed the Noguchi Detachment to move from Bicol to the Manila area. During the night, the 12th Surface Raiding Regiment, based at Port Sual, attempted to disrupt further enemy landings with a full-scale suicide boat attack on ships near the beachhead. Taking advantage of the element of surprise, the small explosive-laden boats approached undetected but only succeeded in sinking one LCI and damaging eight other vessels. In other areas, increased guerrilla activities and Allied airstrikes in northern Luzon had nearly stopped the Japanese from collecting and transporting vital food supplies to the critical defense zones within the Baguio-Mankayan-Bambang triangle. This disruption would hinder the 14th Area Army's capacity to conduct a prolonged defensive campaign. Although plans for a desperate, full-scale counteroffensive were developed, Yamashita decisively rejected this strategy, instead ordering the 2nd Tank Division to cancel its intended counterattack and regroup at Lupao, approximately eight miles northwest of San Jose. Meanwhile, on January 10, Griswold's forces continued their advance inland: the 185th Regiment moved west toward Port Sual; the 160th Regiment progressed southward about eight miles; the 148th Regiment quickly advanced to San Carlos; and the 129th Regiment pushed forward to Malasiqui, where the 14th Corps faced enemy resistance for the first time since the landing. Additionally, the reserve 108th and 145th Regiments successfully landed on the Lingayen beaches. To the north, the 6th Division shifted generally south and southeast, covering about four miles across flat, dry, open farmland, and by nightfall, it secured a front of approximately seven miles from west to east. As they continued northeast, the 103rd Regiment expanded its front, with its 2nd Battalion advancing toward Manaoag while the other two battalions moved to the area northwest of Hill 200. Lastly, the 169th and 172nd Regiments encountered the most intense resistance thus far, providing an early glimpse of the challenges that would impede the 43rd Division for the upcoming month. The 1st Battalion, 169th Regiment, supported by close artillery and mortar fire, engaged in combat along the steep, grassy slopes of Hill 470, ultimately capturing the summit by nightfall. Meanwhile, the rest of the regiment advanced across the Bued River toward Hills 355 and 318, but halted near the river due to heavy artillery, mortar, and machine-gun fire. To the north, the 172nd Regiment cleared Hill 385 and then moved toward Hills 351 and 580, gradually advancing along the southern section of the third ridge line, which was located inland from the beaches. Additionally, its 1st Battalion progressed two miles along the graveled coastal road and conducted patrols along the ridge crest. By nightfall, Krueger had determined that the 6th Army Reserve should be deployed in the 1st Corps' area, as outlined in the pre-assault plans, due to the significant resistance faced by the 43rd Division. He suspected that the apparent lack of enemy resistance to the west was a trap, designed to lure the 6th Army into overextending its lines, making its flanks susceptible to a counterattack from the east. Fortunately for the Americans, Tominaga's kamikaze attacks began to diminish in the days following the landing, with an attack on January 10 resulting in damage only to the destroyer escort LeRay Wilson and one transport ship. The next day, the 43rd Division continued to face challenges in Luzon. The Japanese mortar and artillery fire along the 172nd's eastern front was so severe that Wing decided to shift the regiment's attack direction from east to north, resulting in minimal progress as they redeployed to strike toward Hills 351 and 580 from Hill 470. Additionally, the reserve 158th Regiment was landed to relieve the 1st Battalion, 172nd Regiment, on the coastal road. Looking southeast, the 169th Regiment nearly encircled Hill 318. However, despite receiving maximum support from Durgin's carrier aircraft, naval gunfire, and division artillery, they were unable to dislodge the Japanese forces, who had entrenched themselves in the hillside. Meanwhile, Griswold's advance inland to secure the Army Beachhead Line continued to progress well on January 11. On the 11th the 185th Infantry patrolled and consolidated its positions on the west flank, suffered no casualties, killed 5 Japanese, and captured another. Early in the morning a Chevrolet sedan of 1940 or 1941 vintage, occupied by two Japanese, came calmly down the coast road from the direction of Port Sual. Obviously unaware that Company C, 185th Infantry, maintained a roadblock on the highway, the Japanese practically ran into the American outpost before they realized their situation. Before they could recover from their surprise and consternation, both Japanese were dead, and Company C had acquired some luxurious transportation. Meanwhile the 160th Regiment reached Aguilar, a road junction already held by Filipino guerrillas. The 108th Regiment closely followed the 160th, and the 148th Regiment established a line from Dumpay westward for four miles to Bacnar, with patrols extending further south to Urbiztondo and Bayambang. By the end of the day, the 14th Corps had either occupied or outposted nearly all the territory within the Army Beachhead Line in its sector. However, with Swift's units unable to keep up with the advance southward, Griswold faced the risk of exposing his eastern flank if he continued to push forward. Therefore, the 1st Corps needed reinforcement to prevent widening the gap along the corps boundary. As a result, the reserve 63rd Regiment and the 13th Armored Group were deployed in the San Fabian area, while the 6th Ranger Battalion, which had landed at Blue Beaches the previous day, moved to the Dagupan area. Additionally, Major-General Charles Mullins' 25th Division began to assemble between the Agoi and Patalan Rivers. Despite these developments, casualties had been significantly lower than expected, with 55 men killed and around 185 wounded, primarily from the 43rd Division. Japanese casualties in ground operations were also relatively low, with American estimates suggesting between 150 and 200 Japanese killed. Meanwhile, Task Force 38 made its way into the South China Sea via the Luzon Strait on January 10, accompanied by the refueling group. Although poor weather conditions thwarted a scheduled refueling on that day, Task Force 38 was completely fueled by noon on January 11 and prepared to carry out Halsey's ambitious raid. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. As Allied forces prepared for a major assault on Luzon, kamikaze attacks intensified, leading to fierce battles and unexpected challenges, but Filipino resilience shone through despite devastation. On the shores of Lingayen Gulf, American forces launched a strategic landing, facing minimal resistance, but soon encountered fierce Japanese counterattacks as they advanced inland.

In this episode, we are joined by Caila Holm, a well-known Military Family Advocate from TikTok. Caila shares her extensive 11-year journey as a military spouse and her career dedicated to supporting military families through various roles, including work with Army Community Services, the American Red Cross, and as a social worker. Caila discusses the challenges military families face, especially younger spouses who often seek basic information about military resources on social media platforms like TikTok. Her passion for helping others led her to create 'Military Family Advocate,' an initiative to provide accessible resources and guidance for military spouses online. Sabrina, Ashley, and Caila go on to discuss all of their favorite resources available to military families across the nation. Resources Mentioned: Sesame Street for Military: https://sesamestreetformilitaryfamilies.org/ Cohen Clinic: https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/ MSAN: https://www.militaryspouseadvocacynetwork.org/ Operation Gratitude: https://www.operationgratitude.com/ Operation Baby: https://www.operationbaby.org/ InstaTeams: https://instantteams.com/ United Through Reading: https://unitedthroughreading.org/ Military YMCA: https://www.ymca.org/what-we-do/social-responsibility/military-outreach Pillar Digital Retreat: https://pillardeploymentretreat.com/ Find Caila here: https://www.instagram.com/milfamadvocate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@milfamadvocate Find us or reach out here: Website: www.deployedlove.org/podcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruckupbuttercup Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruckupbuttercuppodcast Email: sabrinajohannes@deployedlove.org

On January 16, 1945, dozens of U.S. Navy aircraft took off for China's southern coast, including the occupied British colony of Hong Kong. It was part of Operation Gratitude, an exercise to target airfields, ports, and convoys throughout the South China Sea. U.S. pilots bombed targets in Hong Kong and, controversially, in neutral Macau as they strove to cut off Japan's supply chains. They encountered fierce resistance: Japan said it shot down ten planes, four pilots were captured. The Jan. 16 raids are the centerpiece of Steven Bailey's Target Hong Kong: A True Story of U.S. Navy Pilots at War (Osprey, 2024), which tells the story of the U.S. Navy's raids on Hong Kong, starting with the Japanese invasion in 1941 to the final recovery of the airmen that were lost. Steven K. Bailey is an established author and tenured faculty member of Central Michigan University (CMU) with expertise in nonfiction writing, the history and culture of Hong Kong, the Second World War, and U.S. military aviation. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Target Hong Kong. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

On January 16, 1945, dozens of U.S. Navy aircraft took off for China's southern coast, including the occupied British colony of Hong Kong. It was part of Operation Gratitude, an exercise to target airfields, ports, and convoys throughout the South China Sea. U.S. pilots bombed targets in Hong Kong and, controversially, in neutral Macau as they strove to cut off Japan's supply chains. They encountered fierce resistance: Japan said it shot down ten planes, four pilots were captured. The Jan. 16 raids are the centerpiece of Steven Bailey's Target Hong Kong: A True Story of U.S. Navy Pilots at War (Osprey, 2024), which tells the story of the U.S. Navy's raids on Hong Kong, starting with the Japanese invasion in 1941 to the final recovery of the airmen that were lost. Steven K. Bailey is an established author and tenured faculty member of Central Michigan University (CMU) with expertise in nonfiction writing, the history and culture of Hong Kong, the Second World War, and U.S. military aviation. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Target Hong Kong. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

On January 16, 1945, dozens of U.S. Navy aircraft took off for China's southern coast, including the occupied British colony of Hong Kong. It was part of Operation Gratitude, an exercise to target airfields, ports, and convoys throughout the South China Sea. U.S. pilots bombed targets in Hong Kong and, controversially, in neutral Macau as they strove to cut off Japan's supply chains. They encountered fierce resistance: Japan said it shot down ten planes, four pilots were captured. The Jan. 16 raids are the centerpiece of Steven Bailey's Target Hong Kong: A True Story of U.S. Navy Pilots at War (Osprey, 2024), which tells the story of the U.S. Navy's raids on Hong Kong, starting with the Japanese invasion in 1941 to the final recovery of the airmen that were lost. Steven K. Bailey is an established author and tenured faculty member of Central Michigan University (CMU) with expertise in nonfiction writing, the history and culture of Hong Kong, the Second World War, and U.S. military aviation. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Target Hong Kong. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

On January 16, 1945, dozens of U.S. Navy aircraft took off for China's southern coast, including the occupied British colony of Hong Kong. It was part of Operation Gratitude, an exercise to target airfields, ports, and convoys throughout the South China Sea. U.S. pilots bombed targets in Hong Kong and, controversially, in neutral Macau as they strove to cut off Japan's supply chains. They encountered fierce resistance: Japan said it shot down ten planes, four pilots were captured. The Jan. 16 raids are the centerpiece of Steven Bailey's Target Hong Kong: A True Story of U.S. Navy Pilots at War (Osprey, 2024), which tells the story of the U.S. Navy's raids on Hong Kong, starting with the Japanese invasion in 1941 to the final recovery of the airmen that were lost. Steven K. Bailey is an established author and tenured faculty member of Central Michigan University (CMU) with expertise in nonfiction writing, the history and culture of Hong Kong, the Second World War, and U.S. military aviation. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Target Hong Kong. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

On January 16, 1945, dozens of U.S. Navy aircraft took off for China's southern coast, including the occupied British colony of Hong Kong. It was part of Operation Gratitude, an exercise to target airfields, ports, and convoys throughout the South China Sea. U.S. pilots bombed targets in Hong Kong and, controversially, in neutral Macau as they strove to cut off Japan's supply chains. They encountered fierce resistance: Japan said it shot down ten planes, four pilots were captured. The Jan. 16 raids are the centerpiece of Steven Bailey's Target Hong Kong: A True Story of U.S. Navy Pilots at War (Osprey, 2024), which tells the story of the U.S. Navy's raids on Hong Kong, starting with the Japanese invasion in 1941 to the final recovery of the airmen that were lost. Steven K. Bailey is an established author and tenured faculty member of Central Michigan University (CMU) with expertise in nonfiction writing, the history and culture of Hong Kong, the Second World War, and U.S. military aviation. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Target Hong Kong. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

On January 16, 1945, dozens of U.S. Navy aircraft took off for China's southern coast, including the occupied British colony of Hong Kong. It was part of Operation Gratitude, an exercise to target airfields, ports, and convoys throughout the South China Sea. U.S. pilots bombed targets in Hong Kong and, controversially, in neutral Macau as they strove to cut off Japan's supply chains. They encountered fierce resistance: Japan said it shot down ten planes, four pilots were captured. The Jan. 16 raids are the centerpiece of Steven Bailey's Target Hong Kong: A True Story of U.S. Navy Pilots at War (Osprey, 2024), which tells the story of the U.S. Navy's raids on Hong Kong, starting with the Japanese invasion in 1941 to the final recovery of the airmen that were lost. Steven K. Bailey is an established author and tenured faculty member of Central Michigan University (CMU) with expertise in nonfiction writing, the history and culture of Hong Kong, the Second World War, and U.S. military aviation. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Target Hong Kong. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/asian-review

Commander John Lamade started the war in 1941 a nervous pilot of an antiquated biplane. Just over three years later he was in the cockpit of a cutting-edge Hellcat about to lead a strike force of 80 aircraft through the turbulent skies above the South China Sea. His target: Hong Kong. As a storm of antiaircraft fire darkened the sky, watching from below was POW Ray Jones. For three long years he and his fellow prisoners had endured near starvation conditions in a Japanese internment camp. Did these American aircraft, he wondered, herald freedom?Today's guest is Steven Bailey, and he discovered that much of the story of the U.S. Navy airstrikes on Japanese-held Hong Kong during the final year of World War II had never been told despite being an important step on the march toward Japan. Operation Gratitude involved nearly 100 U.S. Navy warships and close to a thousand planes. Bailey is the author of “Target Hong Kong,” and we look at the air raids through the experiences of seven men whose lives intersected at Hong Kong in January 1945: Commander John D. Lamade, five of his fellow U.S. Navy pilots and the POW Ray Jones.

Steven Bailey discovered that the story of the U.S. Navy airstrikes on Japanese-held Hong Kong during the final year of World War II had never been told. Operation Gratitude involved nearly 100 U.S. Navy warships and close to a thousand planes. His new book ‘Target Hong Kong' brings this massive operation down to a human scale, recounting the air raids through the experiences of seven men whose lives intersected at Hong Kong in January 1945.    Steven joins us to share the story and help us better understand the Operation, its people and its legacy.    Recorded 19th Feb 2024     Contact Us: GetInvolved@aviation-Xtended.co.uk     You can order a copy of this book whilst supporting local bookshops here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11161/9781472860101     Osprey  https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/target-hong-kong-9781472860101/       Please leave us a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your podcast playing app. Here is a link to all the pod players https://pod.link/1611149544      Aviation Xtended Partners  Royal Aeronautical Society https://www.aerosociety.com/  Global Aviation Resource http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/  XTPMedia https://www.xtpmedia.co.uk/  Ellie Carter https://twitter.com/dragongirl94    Show Supporters  The Aviation Historian http://www.theaviationhistorian.com/  Aviation Enthusiasts Book Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/359410134220076    Xtended Podcast family  AeroSociety https://www.aerosociety.com/events/catch-up-on-events/video-audio-archive/   AirplaneGeeks http://www.airplanegeeks.com/   PCDU https://www.planecrazydownunder.com/   Wings Over New Zealand Show http://cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show.html  You can shop through this Amazon link (No cost to you but a small benefit to us:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/?tag=xtenaeroradi-21&linkCode=ur1  

In January 1945, Admiral Halsey, with the third Fleet, conducted a raid into the South China Sea. This was designated Operation Gratitude. The raid was to support the landings on Luzon, in the Philippines, with the aim of destroying the Japanese navy, supply convoys and any air assets in the area. As part of this operation, Hong Kong would be attacked. Steven Bailey joins me. Steven is the author of Target Hong Kong, which looks at the raid from numerous angles, including an eyewitness account from a British prison officer held in a Japanese internment camp on the island.   Patreonpatreon.com/ww2podcast  

Dr. Chaps interviews Paul Greene, a modern icon of Christmas films. Parade gives a synopsis for “Bringing Christmas Home." While some service members are lucky enough to make it home for the holidays, a large number remain on active duty in the United States and abroad. A simple postcard or care package goes a long way, and sites like Operation Gratitude or Forgotten Soldier Outreach help the layperson get their holiday message to those serving. Forgotten Soldier Outreach even allows you to email a soldier if you don't want to send a card. In Great American Family's latest holiday film, Bringing Christmas Home, an antiques store owner and a military history professor come together to search for clues and information in hopes of returning a WWII uniform and love letters back to the soldier's family. Get free alerts at http://PrayInJesusName.org © 2023, Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt, PhD. Airs on NRB TV, Direct TV Ch.378, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, GoogleTV, Smart TV, iTunes and www.PrayInJesusName.org

*THIS WEEK:* “This Week in Boycotts” We're long overdue for a anti-woke, “Disco Demolition Night”! Remember when your college professor wielded a machete? From the people who brought you tolerance!*On “A la Carte”:* Accurate Bookkeeping Matters, "Instagram models” aren't models, Lizzo MAD!, and you're never too old to be stupid.*On “3 Pro Things”:* a sports reporter calls out the weak links in women's sports, a non-profit that has helped almost 4 million American servicemen and women, and a song that puts a target on Target.*DRYBAR COMEDY SPECIAL: “Amateur Nation*”: https://www.drybarcomedy.com/lous**MAIN: https://www.lousantini.com/**SUBSCRIBE* on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOh5fIZVQdT0VG2M59S0Vwg* *Facebook:* https://facebook.com/lousantinientertainment *Instagram:* https://www.instagram.com/lou.santini3/*Truth Social:* https://truthsocial.com/@lousantini3*LinkedIn:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/lousantini/*GETTR:* https://gettr.com/user/lousantini

The Texas Veterans Commission, Women Veterans Program, and Operation Gratitude invite women veterans to participate in A Day of Recognition and Service on Saturday, June 3. The event will kick off with a recognition ceremony at 9 a.m., with Ms. America 2022-23 and Coast Guard veteran Athena Fleming giving the keynote speech. Refreshments and brunch will be provided, and participants will receive gift packages to recognize their service. After brunch, participants are invited to continue to serve by assembling care packages for veterans, active military, and first responders. Alternatively, participants can hang out with other women veterans in the canteen...Article Link

Founder Carolyn Blashek explains how a chance meeting with a soldier who felt he had nothing to live for inspired the creation of Operation Gratitude.

Today we're speaking with James Johnson. James has had an amazing military career, but currently, he is the president and CEO of Operation Gratitude. It's an incredible organization, and we'll go through all of the giving that they provide, and all of the thanks that we need to see, and certainly helping our armed services' mental health and well-being activities.

Melisa Griffith, formerly Development Director of Global Philanthropy at Young Living Essential Oils and now Chief Development Officer for Operation Gratitude, has always been passionate about working with girls and women to help them see their worth and become financially independent. In this episode, Melisa shares how her experience assisting at a safe haven center for trafficked individuals around the world pushed her to help others more. Listen in to hear how Melisa's big heart and bold personality are her forces for being successful in her career.

After 9-11, Operation Gratitude founder Carolyn Blashek began volunteering at the Los Angeles airport military lounge. In March 2003, a soldier came into the office and broke down at her desk. He was on leave from a war zone for his mother's funeral, his wife had left him, and his only child had died as an infant—he had no one else in his life. It was then he told her, “I'm going back over there. I know I won't make it back this time, but it really doesn't matter because no one would even care.” Right then, Blashek realized that when bullets are flying, troops must believe that someone at home cares about them as an individual. That's when operation gratitude was born. The post AWTR Show #929: Operation Gratitude first appeared on Army Wife Network.

After 9-11, Operation Gratitude founder Carolyn Blashek began volunteering at the Los Angeles airport military lounge. In March 2003, a soldier came into the office and broke down at her desk. He was on leave from a war zone for his mother's funeral, his wife had left him, and his only child had died as an infant—he had no one else in his life. It was then he told her, “I'm going back over there. I know I won't make it back this time, but it really doesn't matter because no one would even care.” Right then, Blashek realized that when bullets are flying, troops must believe that someone at home cares about them as an individual. That's when operation gratitude was born. The post AWTR Show #929: Operation Gratitude first appeared on Army Wife Network.

When people are at their lowest point, sometimes something as simple as a note or small gift can make a world of difference. Major General (Ret.) James Johnson, the head of Operation Gratitude, an organization that sends gift packages to service members overseas, speaks with host Holly Dailey and co-host Maria McConville about the power of gratitude. And then social scientist Dr. Alaina Hansom joins to discuss research that proves the benefits of showing gratitude.   (In the spirit of this show… THANK YOU for listening to this episode!)      Hosts: Holly Dailey, AUSA's Director of Family Readiness Maria McConville, Spouse of the Chief of Staff of the Army   Guests:  MG (Ret.) James Johnson, President and CEO, Operation Gratitude Alaina Hansom, PhD, Social Fitness Scientist, (HFJ) Human Performance Resources by CHAMP (HPRC), Uniformed Services University   Opening Credits:   Narrators: Kevin Irwin, Carrie Varouhakis, LaSherryn Duncan Script: Anthony Del Col Sound Design: Andy Bosnak   Resources:   Operation Gratitude Website: https://www.operationgratitude.com/   Human Performance Resources by CHAMP (HPRC) Website: https://www.hprc-online.org/   Human Performance Resources by CHAMP (HPRC) – #GotMySix Campaign Website: https://www.hprc-online.org/total-force-fitness/gotmysix  

On this episode of Come Rain or Shine, retired Major General James Johnson joins the show to discuss Operation Gratitude. As a senior executive with over three decades of leadership experience in the United States Air Force, James explains the origins of Operation Gratitude and its role in allowing civilians to give to military and first responders. Having learned from his father, James hopes the volunteer service goes beyond operation and inspires the next generation to make generosity a contagious element for supporters nationwide. James also shares some guidance for new job seekers and the health of organizations that train and develop their prospects from day one.  Resources: Website: https://www.operationgratitude.com/?operationgratitude_com Connect with Dan: www.dancockerell.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dancockerell/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dancockerell/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/dancockerellspeaker Quotes: “A lot of people don't get involved in things because they don't think they can give something to make a difference. That's not how it works. Doing anything makes a difference.”

A few weeks ago, our family visited Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. We learned so many things about this historic location, so much so that it will be the focus in this episode. Sophia and Olga share their thoughts on one of the most tragic days in the history of our country, and the amazing female heroes from that day including Ann Danyo Willgrube and Marguerite H. Gambo.    This week, our challenge for you Big Dreamers is to learn more about our heroes. Who is your favorite? How can you help honor their legacies? You can also show appreciation to our troops by checking out Operation Gratitude.    You can send them letters or care packages.  Even at times at peace, there are American soldiers stationed all over the world, away from their families and keeping us safe.  We're sure it will mean a lot to them. Enjoy!

In honor of Military Appreciation Month, Operation Gratitude President and CEO, James Johnson, joins the MakingCents podcast and new host, Brandi Gomez, to share his own military experience and discuss the non-profit's work and partnership with Navy Federal. Tune in to learn more.

Jennifer Jones Lee hosts your Friday morning Wake Up Call. Russian President Putin has claimed victory over Mariupol but the mayor is saying 'not so fast'. James Johnson, CEO of Operation Gratitude, talks about their event being held in Chatsworth this weekend to send care packages to US troops in Europe. The House Whisperer Dean Sharp joins the show to share the secret of being the best host to guests staying in your home. And Jason Nathanson gives an Entertainment update.

Jennifer Jones Lee hosts James Johnson, CEO of Operation Gratitude, to talk about their event this weekend in Chatsworth as the LA Nonprofit sends thanks to U.S. troops in Europe.

Jennifer Jones Lee hosts your Friday morning Wake Up Call. The Department of Homeland Security is evaluating Ukrainians' asylum claims on a case-by-case basis. James Johnson, CEO of Operation Gratitude joins the show. And The House Whisperer Dean Sharp comes on to talk about the drought and whether or not it really matters when it comes to your home.

Operation Gratitude CEO, James Johnson joins Jennifer to discuss the organizations work to give some thanks to those who serve the country.

Thank you for being a part of A Conversation with Joshua T Berglan & John Duffy. This is one of the most uplifting and inspiring broadcast you will ever hear and is full of surprises. John Duffy is a Film Producer, Director, Professor, Author and Motivational Speaker who shares a powerful message of over-coming all odds to succeed in life. John's journey took him from “The South South Bronx to Hollywood” and from “The Ghetto to Greatness”, dropping out of High School at age 15 to today when he is a Hollywood Producer, Film Professor and Motivation Speaker. He has produced over 40 feature films, television pro-gramming and commercials. He is also very active in military veteran support and mentoring activities in the film industry. He directed two short films “The Flag” that screened at the GI Film Festival in Wash DC and at the Smithsonian Museum in DC. He recently became an Ambassador for Operation Gratitude which is a national volunteer organization that has sent over 3 million care packages to the troops and now has a campaign to write letters of support to all the police officers in New York City. John recently Produced the Feature Film “Left Behind” in Calgary, Canada. He pre- viously Line Produced Martin Guigui's latest film “Paradise Cove” and Kevin Sor- bo's Film “ Miracle in East Texas in Alberta, Canada. He also Co-Produced the fea- ture film “The Sunday Horse” directed by Vic Armstrong and starring Nikki Reed, Ving Rhames and William Shatner . He also Co-Produced a short film “Mercy” that for Music Artist Robin Thicke's directorial debut. John is an Adjunct Film Professor at Art Center in Pasadena and was an Adjunct Professor at John Paul the Great Catholic University and teaches Film Production classes to students in the MBA program. John also line produced the TV movie “The Wonder Girls” that aired on Teen Nick, “The Ghastly Love of Johnny X” which just premiered at the Cinequest Film Festi- val and “Beneath the Darkness” with Dennis Quaid which opened in theaters in January. Prior to that he line produced the Mixed Martial Arts film “Blood & Bone” with Michael Jai White. He also line produced three feature horror films for the late Steven J. Cannell including: Demon Hunter starring Sean Patrick Flanery and Colleen Porch, The Garden starring Lance Henriksen and Sean Young, and Left in Darkness. John was also a Consultant/Producer and completed three films for IDT/Anchor Bay (owned by John C. Malone's Liberty Media). He also Produced the film “Devil's Den” for IDT. Television programming includes producing a season of “UFO Hunters” on the History Channel and Frankie Muniz Hoopla LA Celebrity Basketball Event for the Starlight Foundation and Fox Sports West. He has also line produced a series of training videos for the United States Marine Corp. (USMC) and line produced two 3D commercials for Coke. John Co-Founded a non-profit “Vet's on Set” to help military vets obtain work in the film and television industries. He has been active in veteran support activities doing trainings for Veterans in Media & Entertainment (VME). John started out in the entertainment industry acting in New York in theater and film. After moving to Los Angeles John made the transition into producing and has actively been working in the film industry for the past 25 years. He has excel- lent relationships with cast, crew, vendors and completion bond companies. John has a life long commitment to Personal Development. Tony Robbins has been a mentor that transformed John's life and he has attended and crewed dozen of Tony's events. John has walked on hot coal over a dozen times and twice across glass. He has read over 500 books in the fields of Personal Development, Psychology, and Entrepreneurship. He brings a passion to inspire others to their greatness and brings his education from the streets of The Bronx. John has presented keynote speeches on “Take Two - Give Your Life a Hollywood Ending at events at NASA in Houston and Notre Dame. John has written two memoirs of his life and journey that are being shopped with publishers. The first is “Black Irish - Not Your Average White Boy” and the second is “Mao to Reagan - A Born Again American”. John is an avid fitness enthusiast working out 7 days a week at the Mecca of Bodybuilding Gold's Gym in Venice CA. He is also a Basketball fanatic playing Basketball weekly. He is presently working on producing a feature film based on the incredible true story of a Houston Boxer Maurice Termite Watkins who took Iraq to the Olympics in 2004. The film is entitled “They Call Me Termite.

Thank you for being a part of A Conversation with Joshua T Berglan & John Duffy. This is one of the most uplifting and inspiring broadcast you will ever hear and is full of surprises. John Duffy is a Film Producer, Director, Professor, Author and Motivational Speaker who shares a powerful message of over-coming all odds to succeed in life. John's journey took him from “The South South Bronx to Hollywood” and from “The Ghetto to Greatness”, dropping out of High School at age 15 to today when he is a Hollywood Producer, Film Professor and Motivation Speaker. He has produced over 40 feature films, television pro-gramming and commercials. He is also very active in military veteran support and mentoring activities in the film industry. He directed two short films “The Flag” that screened at the GI Film Festival in Wash DC and at the Smithsonian Museum in DC. He recently became an Ambassador for Operation Gratitude which is a national volunteer organization that has sent over 3 million care packages to the troops and now has a campaign to write letters of support to all the police officers in New York City. John recently Produced the Feature Film “Left Behind” in Calgary, Canada. He pre- viously Line Produced Martin Guigui's latest film “Paradise Cove” and Kevin Sor- bo's Film “ Miracle in East Texas in Alberta, Canada. He also Co-Produced the fea- ture film “The Sunday Horse” directed by Vic Armstrong and starring Nikki Reed, Ving Rhames and William Shatner . He also Co-Produced a short film “Mercy” that for Music Artist Robin Thicke's directorial debut. John is an Adjunct Film Professor at Art Center in Pasadena and was an Adjunct Professor at John Paul the Great Catholic University and teaches Film Production classes to students in the MBA program. John also line produced the TV movie “The Wonder Girls” that aired on Teen Nick, “The Ghastly Love of Johnny X” which just premiered at the Cinequest Film Festi- val and “Beneath the Darkness” with Dennis Quaid which opened in theaters in January. Prior to that he line produced the Mixed Martial Arts film “Blood & Bone” with Michael Jai White. He also line produced three feature horror films for the late Steven J. Cannell including: Demon Hunter starring Sean Patrick Flanery and Colleen Porch, The Garden starring Lance Henriksen and Sean Young, and Left in Darkness. John was also a Consultant/Producer and completed three films for IDT/Anchor Bay (owned by John C. Malone's Liberty Media). He also Produced the film “Devil's Den” for IDT. Television programming includes producing a season of “UFO Hunters” on the History Channel and Frankie Muniz Hoopla LA Celebrity Basketball Event for the Starlight Foundation and Fox Sports West. He has also line produced a series of training videos for the United States Marine Corp. (USMC) and line produced two 3D commercials for Coke. John Co-Founded a non-profit “Vet's on Set” to help military vets obtain work in the film and television industries. He has been active in veteran support activities doing trainings for Veterans in Media & Entertainment (VME). John started out in the entertainment industry acting in New York in theater and film. After moving to Los Angeles John made the transition into producing and has actively been working in the film industry for the past 25 years. He has excel- lent relationships with cast, crew, vendors and completion bond companies. John has a life long commitment to Personal Development. Tony Robbins has been a mentor that transformed John's life and he has attended and crewed dozen of Tony's events. John has walked on hot coal over a dozen times and twice across glass. He has read over 500 books in the fields of Personal Development, Psychology, and Entrepreneurship. He brings a passion to inspire others to their greatness and brings his education from the streets of The Bronx. John has presented keynote speeches on “Take Two - Give Your Life a Hollywood Ending at events at NASA in Houston and Notre Dame. John has written two memoirs of his life and journey that are being shopped with publishers. The first is “Black Irish - Not Your Average White Boy” and the second is “Mao to Reagan - A Born Again American”. John is an avid fitness enthusiast working out 7 days a week at the Mecca of Bodybuilding Gold's Gym in Venice CA. He is also a Basketball fanatic playing Basketball weekly. He is presently working on producing a feature film based on the incredible true story of a Houston Boxer Maurice Termite Watkins who took Iraq to the Olympics in 2004. The film is entitled “They Call Me Termite.

In March 2003, Operation Gratitude sent its first four care packages to deployed service members in Iraq. Since then, the nonprofit has successfully provided opportunities for millions of Americans to express their appreciation through hands-on volunteerism and has lifted the spirits of more than 3.3 million deployed troops, recruit graduates, veterans, military families, first responders, and healthcare heroes. Operation Gratitude is one of the largest and most impactful nonprofits in the country for hands-on volunteerism in support of military, veterans, and first responders, offering volunteer opportunities for every American to express their appreciation to all who serve and protect our nation. Operation Gratitude - Thanking All Who Serve"Thank you to BetterHelp for sponsoring today's episode!Behind the Service listeners can get 10% off by visiting:https://betterhelp.com/behindtheserviceHome » Coming Home WellWe are a 501C3 nonprofit organization.Make sure you like, leave a review and share with a friend!Follow us on IG @behindtheservice and @cominghomwell_btsFacebook at Behind The Service or Coming Home WellLinkedIn at Coming Home Well or The Military Spouse Perspective Behind The Service made the list!We're #12 and proud to be listed with so many other great podcasts!Best 20 Military Wife Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021 (feedspot.com)

Hour 1 -  Nick Reed is live on location at Scramblers Diner for the Friday Road Show. Here's what he covers: Join us at Scramblers Diner! We have cinnamon hot chocolate, Mannheim Steamroller CD's, and gifts from Honor Flight of the Ozarks. The Omicron variant led to long lines for COVID-19 testing across New York City on Thursday — with demand outstripping supply at some spots. President Biden warned Thursday that the unvaccinated “will soon overwhelm” US hospitals and vaccine refusers will experience “a winter of severe illness and death.” There is a new horrific TikTok "Challenge"... Inciting violence within school and even school shootings. The "Challenge" is encouraging students to bring weapons to school on Dec. 17. ALSO -  Chris Stark with Honor Flight of the Ozarks joins Nick Reed this morning: Operation Gratitude teams up with Honor Flight of the Ozarks each year to give goodie bags to Veterans on the flights. Chris brought extra bags for any Veteran that would like to grab one today! Just stop by Scramblers Diner before 9 a.m. and pick one up. Mark your calendar for the next Honor Flight of the Ozarks Gala - March 12th. The Gala will be held at the Oasis at 6 p.m. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Don Carriker stops by for a quick chat: Don brought metal water bottles and Lil' Oliver The Orphan Kitty books. Stop by and grab one before they're gone. Don also brought Nick and Sarah wonderful Christmas gifts this morning. Don welcomes a brand new addition to his family! And of course, if you need a home loan, reach out to the Carriker team today!

Want to become a Personality Movement Affiliate? Get in touch with me and I will get you off to a great start! alextrefney@outlook.com Looking for he best business banking? Download Novo today! Click Here! Help me support Operation Gratitude, help our First responders and front line workers! Donate Here! Accepting reality is essential in order to truly evaluate with radical honesty! When you feel fear or anxiety today lean into it! Don't fight it! Accept it! Download Audible today and get The Power of Now!! It is a great book that teaches you about the power in the present moment! Learn to respond from a deep level of consciousness. Accept your reality but only tolerate what your deserve. Accept yourself, practice radical honesty, control your fear and emotions, depend on your abilities and try to step outside of yourself. Try to observe your challenges or obstacles as a third party removed from the event. Act as if you are not involved and trying to find the positive. You must always be Raising Your Level when going around the Dial in Loop. This will happen naturally as you deposit personal power and practice letting go. Then you will learn to trust your abilities and lean into Fear and Anxiety with confidence! Find the flow and recognize the beauty in how life unfolds! The Dialing in Phase is the period of time it takes to adjust your approach based off of real-time feedback. You must be fluid, judgment-free, macro focused while also adjusting micro aspects of your approach. The dial-in period of change can last one day or 30 days( 31, 68, 126! as long as it takes!) it really depends on your level of focus and ability to let go of your expected outcome of reality. You have to be able to let go forgive yourself quickly and analyze every aspect of your behavior without judgment. You also must recognize the importance of evaluating from a non-emotional perspective in order to modify your approach and improve your overall results. If you avoid self judgment when starting a personal challenge or implementing a new habit and make observations of your approach without emotion you will truly be able to implement any change in your life. You have to pivot, accept and embrace the current reality, review your approach, evaluate your results and let go of what you thought reality would turn out to be. Then move forward and take immediate action. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/alexander-trefney7/message

Check out PersonalityMovement.com and take your Personality Assessment Today! Help me support Operation Gratitude, help our First responders and front line workers! Donate Here Get Started on your Personal Challenge with Zoom or in Person Coaching - Request your appointment today and learn to apply The In Loop! Are you looking to Raise your Level? Do you want the tools to radically improve your quality of life? With a Personal Challenge you will learn more about yourself and help permanently encode desired behaviors. You will have to go through a Dial In Period in order to get warmed up and be able to handle the demands of your journey. Then applying the Dial In Loop will help you get the desired results you are looking for. This experience will help with sales, customer service, interacting with coworkers, finding the right job, starting a business, it will improve relationships in your personal and professional life and will help with any goal, dream or desired change. I tailor each training to fit your schedule and budget. Even a 15 minutes Personality Basic Training would have a huge impact. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/alexander-trefney7/message

The Great @Louieveegang on TikTok! Order your Personality Movement T-Shirts here! Be Sure to follow on TikTok! Help me support Operation Gratitude and help out First Responders! Click Here to Donate Now! Want to Raise Your Level and Become a Personality Warrior? Are you ready to walk The Personality Warrior Path and exceed your potential? If you are you trying to make more money, improve your health, start your own business, accomplish a lifetime goal or radically change your life in any way the Personality Warrior Path might be perfect for you! This is one on one coaching that will develop a unique program just for your personality blend. Sign up for The Personality Warrior Program Today. Start your Journey Here! You can also request One-on-One Coaching - 24hour turn around! Click here! Personality Affiliate Program - Free Affiliate Marketing Training Included! Are you looking to make money working from home and have the power to choose when you work? Our affiliate program will give you the flexibility you need and unlimited earning potential. Did I mention that all training and support is free? I will teach you everything you need to know and get you started making money! We have specialized programs for you, whether you have a million followers on social media or just starting out, we can help you be successful. Email me today, take action. Be sure to include your phone number and the best time you can be reached. Serious Inquiries only! Consider this email your first impression, not everyone is selected for the affiliate program! Affiliate Marketing takes a lot of work and consistency but the rewards can be unlimited. With the right approach, set up and activity loop you can create huge passive income! Get started today!! Email me at alextrefney@outlook.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/alexander-trefney7/message

Joining us today on the Hardwick Life Podcast is Doc Jacobs.Daniel “Doc” Jacobs is a 36 year-old medically retired Navy Corpsman. He served eight years and two months in the United States Navy. He has served six- years and six months of this service as a combat wounded Corpsman. Doc was sent to 3rd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment just weeks prior to their deployment to Ramadi, Iraq in September of 2005. Doc was in combat for six and a half months on a seven-month deployment when his “gun truck” was struck by an I.E.D (improvised explosive device) that consisted of three 155mm artillery rounds. Up until that point, Doc had over 225 Combat Patrols. After two full years of full physical, mental, and spiritual recovery which included losing his left leg (below the knee), three toes from his right foot, and three partial fingers from his left hand, Doc returned to the Fleet Marine Force and became one of the few in the Navy to do so. Not only was Doc one of the few amputees to return to the Fleet Marine Force for the Navy, but he also made US Naval and Marine Corps history by being the first amputee Corpsman and of all Naval Personnel to EVER be assigned to an infantry unit. Doc did more than just his job as a Corpsman: he has done 21 world marathons, most recent being the San Diego Rock and Roll Half Marathon on June 2, 2019 with a modest time of 2 hours and 50 minutes and Detroit's International Half Marathon on October 20, 2019 in 3 hours and 2 minutes. All marathons were completed as an amputee. Doc is planning to be one of the few amputees to ever run a half marathon on all seven continents. Doc has not only had a passion for helping those in uniform but has a passion helping all that need any assistance. He founded the Doc Jacobs Foundation (an official 501(c)3). The Doc Jacobs Foundation (www.docjacobsfoundation.org) funds sports scholarships for kids of military and veteran families. To date, the Doc Jacobs Foundation has funded thirty scholarships totaling $17,610 (an average of $587.00 per scholarship) in sports scholarships and has embarked on a partnership with the San Diego Gulls (AHL Team for the Anaheim Ducks). He played on the US Paralympic Sitting Volleyball team while trying out for Major League Baseball (2013-2015 with the Dodgers, White Sox, Tigers and Brewers) and running half marathons. During Doc's various tryouts and training he played in the San Diego Adult Baseball League, was a Team Captain for Purple Heart Baseball and played in College Wood Bat Summer Leagues while working on his degree. Doc is also featured in a documentary, produced by Anthony Edwards, called: “Searching for Home: Coming Back from War”. Doc has also recently co-stared in a Sharp Healthcare Commercial that has aired on Hulu and throughout the San Diego County. Doc has been featured on ABC Nightly News, NBC World News Tonight, ESPN on the 4th of July, FOX5 San Diego and various other news outlets. He volunteers as a keynote speaker, leader, an athlete and an inspiration for the Gary Sinise Foundation, Achilles Freedom Team, Semper Fi Fund, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Waterboys, Chris Long Foundation, Operation Gratitude, California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance, Air Compassion for Veterans, as well as various military commands throughout the world.You can find Doc Jacobs at:https://www.docjacobsfoundation.orgPrivacy Policy and California Privacy Notice.

I really hope John is alive and well somewhere but I feel like the deep state might have got him...Don't forget to support Operation Gratitude and help our first responders! Click here to donate! Or donate on my TikTok! Help support The Personality Movement @ cashtag $personalitymovement The Personality movement is a world wide movement of empowered individuals who better understand themselves and others. Every individual who seeks to understand the DISC model and apply their improved communication techniques is a part of the movement! Now, more than ever, improved communication and better understanding is needed in our world. Understanding the personality puzzle leads to better sales, clear communication, improved morale, increased employee retention, and overall improved cohesiveness at work and at home! Our Mission: To help individuals raise their level of personal understanding and improve overall communication while empowering them to impact others and genuinely connect with all personality blends. Join The Personality Movement! Take your Personality Assessment Here! Interactive Zoom Coaching - Request your appointment today! Are you looking to Raise your Level? Do you want the tools to radically improve your communication skills? With the Personality Basic Training Program you will learn more about yourself and how you interact with others in a way that will help you get the desired results you are looking for. This training will help with sales, customer service, interacting with coworkers, finding the right job and will even improve relationships in your personal life. Personality Basics Training is meant to help you clearly understand your own personality blend, other personality blends and how they interact. I tailor each training to fit your schedule and budget. Even a 15 minutes Personality Basic Training would have a huge impact. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/alexander-trefney7/message

About Today's GuestRetired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Schmiegel is the CEO of Operation Gratitude, whose mission is to forge strong bonds between Americans and their Military and First Responder Heroes through volunteer service projects, acts of gratitude, and meaningful engagements in communities nationwide. Since 2003, Operation Gratitude has mobilized millions of volunteers nationwide and impacted over 3 million deployed Service Members, their children left behind, and First Responders, Recruit Graduates, Veterans, Wounded Heroes and their Caregivers, as well as COVID-19 Frontline Responders. Schmiegel's role is to oversee strategic planning and build national partnerships to further Operation Gratitude's reach as a preeminent military support organization while expanding hands-on volunteerism to help bridge the civilian-service divide in communities across America.Prior to Operation Gratitude, Lieutenant Colonel Schmiegel founded Hiring Our Heroes – a nationwide grassroots campaign run through the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation to help veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment in hundreds of cities across America. Since its inception, Hiring Our Heroes has held more than 1,000 job fairs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and on military installations overseas. To date, more than 500,000 of our nation's heroes have been hired as a result of the program. He went on to serve as the first-ever President of Thanks USA, expanding the scope of its mission from providing post-secondary, need-based scholarships to military spouses and children to include Pathways for Patriots, an innovative program to provide meaningful employment for the scholars upon graduation.LtCol Schmiegel is a Class of 1989 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel after 20 years on active duty. In addition to an early combat tour to Kuwait for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Schmiegel served as the principal adviser to the NATO commander from 2003-2006, deploying to over 50 countries in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Schmiegel also wrote the strategic plans for NATO's training mission in Iraq, its increased presence in Afghanistan, and disaster relief operations for Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Pakistan. In 2008, Schmiegel served as the military assistant to the special envoy for Middle East Regional Security and deployed to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where he worked with Israeli and Palestinian authorities on the peace process.Kevin lives in Arlington Virginia with his wife Laura. When he is not working, he focuses all of his time and energy on their five children and two dogs.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeOperation Gratitude Web Site: https://www.operationgratitude.comPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThe PsychArmor resource for this week is resource of the week is the course Myths and Facts of Military Leaders. When you think of a military leader, what comes to mind? There are several stereotypes and myths regarding military leaders that are common Among those who don't have a connection to military personnel and culture. This course identifies. four of the most popular myths about military leaders and how they don't align with the reality of working alongside service members and veterans. Tom Creiger, veteran and chief operating officer of PsychArmor also covers how the training that military personnel have received has endowed them with a set of skills and responsibilities that make them an asset to the workplace. Find the course at https://psycharmor.org/courses/myths-facts-military-leaders/.This Episode Sponsored By:This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.Join Us on Social Media PsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don't Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com

Good Morning Veterans, Family, and Friends, welcome back to the NINETEENTH EPISODE of the Veteran Doctor. On this week's episode, we will discuss Helping Veteran Ideas. We will also continue our fun facts of UBI (Useful Bits of Information) and Veteran News, so stick around for the program! Hello fellow veterans! I hope everyone is doing well during these challenging times we are in with the COVID-19 quarantine. It seems like we have been experiencing issues for a while now with no light at the end of the tunnel. I guess you can say we are establishing a new normal for our way of life. Who knows!? Anyway, I want to talk about help veterans today! We always discuss this at our meetings, and our primary mission as an organization is to help veterans within our community. I think we do an outstanding job at this! However, what do we do as individuals? If you would like to show some gratitude for the sacrifices made and support veterans, there are many ways to make it happen. Sometimes even a small gesture can have a significant impact. Our veterans have many needs and challenges because of their military service, and they can use support and assistance in various ways that may not always be obvious. It is just a thought, and it does not take much to devote a little time to help a fellow veteran out. Here are some ideas. (NOTE: I realize some of these ideas do not comply with current COVID-19 quarantine restrictions. So please use with caution and be safe). Some of these ideas may have to wait till after all of this COVID-19 stuff calms down. Pick up the tab for a Veteran's coffee or meal. The next time you see a veteran in a restaurant or standing in line for coffee, pick up the tab. You can do so anonymously if you would prefer, but even a quick "thank you for your service" would mean a lot to the veteran. You don't have to limit yourself to dinner or a latte—you could pay for a tank of gas, a prescription, or a cart of groceries. Show you, support Veterans, by Providing Transportation. One way to support veterans in your local area is to provide necessary transportation to get to medical and mental health treatment appointments. The VA has a volunteer transportation network that allows volunteers to donate their time and/or the use of their vehicles for veterans in need. Donated vehicles may also be used or accepted by the program. Visit Wounded Vets in a Nearby VA Facility. Another great way to show that you support veterans is to pay a visit to wounded vets at a VA facility near you. These injured veterans may not have many visitors to brighten their day. Once you find the nearest VA facility, contact the staff, and find out if you can arrange a visit. The staff may be able to identify veterans who would benefit the most from a visit. Say Thank You and Mean It. One of the easiest ways to support veterans is a simple thank you, as long as it is heartfelt and sincere. A simple act of gratitude for everything that the veteran faced and gave up seems like such a small thing, but it is something that American veterans do not hear as often as they should. These two words can brighten even a lousy day for a veteran because you acknowledge their service.In particular, saying, “Welcome home. Thank you for your service” to Vietnam veterans can have a substantial emotional impact on them since Vietnam era veterans did not experience even the lip-service support from American society that today’s veterans receive. Fight Homelessness, Eviction, and Foreclosure among Veterans. If you support veterans, then you realize that many veterans face foreclosure, eviction, and homelessness. You can volunteer with the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, donate your time and effort to Homes for Our Troops, or even provide financial assistance to veteran organizations to prevent the eviction of a military family. Perform Home Repairs or Household Chores for a Veteran in Need. One terrific way to support veterans is to perform home repairs or household chores for a veteran in need. Many veterans in your area may need help with household chores or home repairs because of a disability, a severe injury, or even a lack of financial resources. When you help out in this way, you will gain an incredible sense of satisfaction while helping repay a veteran who deserves it. Donate your Time to a Veteran Organization. There are other ways to support veterans, even if you do not have special skills or a lot of knowledge in-home repair. You can volunteer with a veteran organization and make a difference. These organizations depend on volunteers to keep costs down. Clerical work, answering phones, organizing, and stepping in to help with menial work can make an enormous difference. The National Veteran Foundation welcomes volunteers of all ages and skill levels at our offices in Los Angeles. Replace one light bulb in your home with a green one. The Greenlight a Vet project is a simple way to remind yourself and others about the sacrifice veterans have made for our country and to show your appreciation to them. Simply purchase a green bulb and place it somewhere in your home—a porch lamp is ideal since it's most visible to others. Over 9 million people across the nation have logged their green lights into the project's nationwide map so far. Volunteer your Services to Help Vets in Need. If you do have special skills that you can offer, whether these are IT skills, tax preparation training, or medical training, then you can support veterans by providing your skills free of charge. You will be able to use your knowledge and training to help veterans who need these skills right now and who may have limited financial resources to pay for this type of assistance. Write a letter to thank a veteran. Operation Gratitude is an organization that coordinates care packages, gifts, and letters of thanks to veterans. You can work through them to send your appreciation to a vet or volunteer to help assemble care packages. And, if you still have candy kicking around from Halloween, Operation Gratitude also mails sweets to deployed troops. Spend Time with a Vet and Take the Time to Listen. One way that you can give something back to a veteran who was willing to sacrifice everything is to spend time with them and listen to them. Many veterans end up socially isolated, and this can have a negative effect on their mental and physical health. Get to know veterans in your area and spend time with them so that they have social opportunities and do not end up isolated. Provide Food for Veterans. Many veterans are hungry, and a home-cooked meal will provide them with much-needed nutrition. Even vets that are not lacking food will benefit from a meal or a homemade batch of cookies. It shows them that someone cares. Contact your local church or veteran organization to see who might appreciate your culinary delights. Feed Our Vets is an organization that specializes in feeding hungry veteran families. Get involved with a Veterans assistance program. There are veterans in your community that could use help—but how do you find them? Contact a local veterans assistance program, such as the one offered by DAV. They'll be able to put you in touch with local vets who need help doing chores like yard work, housework, grocery shopping, or running errands. Help Veterans with job training. Adjusting to civilian life after military service isn't always smooth sailing. Hire Heroes helps vets with interview skills, resumes, and training so they can find a post-military career. They even partner with various employers to host a job board. Through Hire Heroes, you can help veterans with mock interviews, career counseling, job searches, workshops, and more. Help build a house for a Veteran. Building Homes for Heroes builds or modifies homes to suit the needs of veterans injured in Iraq or Afghanistan. The houses are given mortgage-free to veterans and their families. You can volunteer your painting, carpentry, plumbing, wiring, and other skilled services—or you can just donate to the cause. Volunteer for an "Operation Reveille" or “Stand Down” event for homeless veterans. The VA continually hosts Operation Reveille or Stand Down, a series of one- to three-day events that give much-needed supplies and services to homeless veterans. Vets can receive everything from food and clothing to health screenings, housing solutions, substance abuse treatment, and mental health counseling. They take place at various places across the nation all year long, so contact the representative in your state about when and how you can volunteer. Visit a Vet with your Pet. It is a well-known fact that animals provide emotional and physical benefits. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Animal-assisted therapy can significantly reduce pain, anxiety, depression, and fatigue in people with a range of health problems.” Dogs are the most commonly used for therapy and service dogs. A well-behaved dog can receive certification and be able to bring some affection and calmness into a vet’s life. Send a care package. In addition to helping people send care packages to active duty members, Operation Gratitude’s “Welcome Home Heroes” initiative sends care packages to veterans. “Just as with our care packages to deployed troops, we want to put a smile on the face of every veteran who courageously served our nation,” says Operation Gratitude’s founder Carolyn Blashek on the organization’s website. Veteran care packages can include many of the items sent to active-duty troops, including personal letters of thanks, snacks, books, magazines, and hygiene items. So, this list is not inclusive by any means. Please add to it and be creative in your ways to give back to Veterans in our community. They will appreciate it, just as you did when you received something in the past. Believe it or not, it is also just as therapeutic for you to help and give to other veterans.

Our guest today is Tullana Salis (Character from the mind of Joy). Tullana is a Wӧdr (Or otter folk) from the land of Fenrayne. We talk about what her home town is like, the best thing she ever built, and where she sees herself far into the future. So, without further ado, Tullana. The Otherplace Website: nightcastcreative.com/the-otherplace System: Genesys System (Fantasy Flight Games) Content Warnings: mentions of family disappointment and violence. Operation Gratitude: operationgratitude.com/ Make sure to come be a part of the Fantasy Talk Show community Discord Invitation: https://discord.gg/FZAnk523wy Follow on Twitter: Twitter.com/FantasyPodShow Like and Follow on Facebook: Facebook.com/FantasyTalkShow Cover Art by Josiah Pyles: Instagram.com/digitalartventure_josiahpyles Music by Sasquatch #13: https://campsite.bio/sasquatchnumber13    

In this episode: We meet Alan Mittelman, Founder, CEO, and President of SunTiger, Inc./DBA Eagle Eyes Optics. In the late 1980s, Alan acquired this unique intellectual property for lenses adapted from an innovation originally developed by physicists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and used by astronauts while building the International Space Station (ISS). The technology can both protect vision and enhance sight by selectively blocking ultraviolet light and blue light radiation. This became the foundation of SunTiger, and after utilizing SunTiger’s U.S. and Japanese patents to refine the technology, Mittelman negotiated a manufacturing/distribution relationship with Mitsubishi Gas Chemical of Japan. Within two years, his wholly owned company in Japan became the world’s largest manufacturer and distributor of polarized polycarbonate lenses to the sunglasses industry. Today, the Eagle Eyes product line is comprised of hundreds of models for every style preference, and almost every light condition including bright sunlight, night driving, low-light conditions, computer screen viewing, gaming, office wear, travel, and occupational safety glasses. Continually finding ways to bring their glasses to high-risk populations, Eagle Eyes also regularly donates glasses to Space Foundation education initiatives, and Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude. In describing NASA’s initial development of the technology, Alan says, “These NASA scientists —physicists — knew that radiational light was harmful to the human eye. They knew that welders needed very, very heavy protection here on Earth. So, of course, being that there is no ozone in outer space, just mere protection from the sun is much more important.” To learn more about Eagle Eyes and their products, visit EagleEyes.com. Introductory and closing music: Paint the Sky by Hans Atom © copyright 2015, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/hansatom/50718 Ft: Miss Judged

A New York-based group is trying to keep morale high among police officers and members of the military in these days when thanks may not be obvious. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our next guest joining us on ADJUSTED is Natalie Torres with WorkFinders USA. In this episode, Greg, Claire, and Natalie discuss the successful return to work: why it's important, what to do if modified duty isn't available, the challenges of finding modified work. Check out the Return-to-Work Network, CardzForKidz, and Operation Gratitude. Our next special guest will join us for episode 8 on March 15, 2021, to discuss bill negotiations. Music by Cameron Runyan. Email camrunyan9@gmail.com for inquires.

Kevin Schmiegel, retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel and CEO of Operation Gratitude, A DotCom Magazine Exclusive Interview. In his role as CEO, Schmiegel oversees the day to day operations of the organization and works closely with the Board to develop and implement the strategic plan, providing opportunities for all Americans to express their appreciation to those who serve. Drawing on his experience building grassroots campaigns and public-private partnerships, Schmiegel works to further Operation Gratitude's reach as the largest and most impactful nonprofit in the country for hands-on volunteerism in support of Military, Veterans, and First Responders.Operation Gratitude's (www.operationgratitude.com) mission is to forge strong bonds between Americans and their Military and First Responder heroes through volunteer service projects, acts of gratitude, and meaningful engagements in communities nationwide. Since its inception in March 2003, Operation Gratitude has positively impacted 3 million Military, Veterans and First Responders across America and across the globe. Corporate partners and grateful citizens from across the country donate more than 15 million “Wish List” and handmade items each year to share their gratitude. Volunteers are the heart and soul of the organization, participating in #VirtualVolunteerism and in-person volunteerism, through donation drives, letter-writing campaigns, craft projects, hands-on service projects, and other activities. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Can I just say, I'm so grateful for you?!! As we approach a Thanksgiving that will look very different for so many of us, I want to take this moment to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, I'm so grateful for every single one of my listeners. You're awesome!! My hope is that wherever you are, whoever you're with or not able to be with, I want you to know you are loved. I hope this episode gives a dose of encouragement and a sliver of motivation, and most of all a smile. Build a box online for Operation Christmas Child HERE. "Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude." — A.A. Milne "Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." — Charles Dickens

"This cannot happen in our country right now. We cannot have a civilian-service divide." Kevin Schmiegel is the CEO of Operation Gratitude, which is the largest non-profit in the country for hands-on volunteerism in support of the military, veterans and First Responders. Operation Gratitude has expanded their essential operations to support doctors, nurses and hospitals during the Covid19 pandemic. In this episode we discuss how service is critical to bridging divides in our society, why Operation Gratitude expanded its operations to support the medical community, and effective ways to respond to "Thank you for your service" Please subscribe to and rate Explore The Space on Apple Podcasts or wherever you download podcasts. Email feedback or ideas to mark@explorethespaceshow.com Check out the archive of Explore The Space Podcast as well as our White Papers and much more! Follow on Twitter @ETSshow, Instagram @explorethespaceshow Sponsor: Elevate your expertise with Creighton University’s Healthcare Executive Educational programming. Learn more about Creighton’s Executive MBA and Executive Fellowship programs at www.creighton.edu/CHEE. Key Learnings 1. The current strategic picture for a conversation around giving, gratitude, and service 2. Reflecting on the word "Giving", how it's analogous to service which is a common feature across Americans 3. Overcoming inertia around service & the origin story of Operation Gratitude 4. Waning morale and widening gaps between doctors, nurses, HCWs and their communities during the pandemic and how to bridge that gap 5. The need for comfort, how Covid makes that more difficult, and the need for empathy in that space 6. Addressing "Thank you for your service" with a response that can start a conversation 7. How getting special treatment or recognition makes people serving feel even more distant 8. Building a sense of community at the local level that can be sustained whether times are hard or not Links Twitter @OpGratitude, Instagram @opgratitude Operation Gratitude Kevin's essay in The Hill about how service can help unite communities Giving page to support California firefighters Virtual Volunteering "A grateful nation that serves together is united" #service, #gratitude, #MarineCorps, #veteran, #firstresponder, #soldier, #podcast, #podcasting, #healthcare, #digitalhealth, #health, #leadership, #mentorship, #coaching, #FOAmed, #doctor, #nurse, #meded, #education, #hospital, #hospitalist, #innovation, #innovate, #medicalstudent, #medicalschool, #resident, #physician

Howdy! this is our most defensive pod to date. Like is it an actually good defense?Check out our charity of the week, Operation Gratitude, at www.operationgratitude.com

In this special Halloween episode, 27 yr Marine Corp Veteran and COO of Operation Gratitude, Paul Cucinotta shares details about their Halloween Candy Give-Back Program.Founded in 2003, Operation Gratitude's mission is to forge strong bonds between Americans and their military and first responder heroes through volunteer service projects, acts of gratitude, and meaningful engagements in communities nationwide.Show notes:www.snackimpactpodcast.com/Operation Gratitude:www.operationgratitude.com/Halloween Candy Give-Back Program:www.operationgratitude.com/halloween-candy-give-back-program/

Lieutenant General Mark Hertling retiring from the US Army in January 2013 and recently served as Senior Vice President at Florida Hospital. He is now an advisor to the Advent Health Leadership Institute, where he designed and teaches a physician and healthcare strategic leadership development program. His book, Growing Physician Leaders, was published in May 2016. Mark served in the US Army as the Commanding General of the US Army Europe, after leading over 60,000 soldiers and partnering with the Armies of 51 other nations. He served a total of 38 months in combat, including a tour Commanding the US Army’s 1st Armored Division and Task Force Iron in Northern Iraq for 15 months during the surge. He was also the First commander of the Army’s Initial Military Training Command, where he revamped basic training for incoming soldiers, and he also commanded at each of the Army's three training centers. Among many of Mark’s awards and decorations are the Distinguished Service Medal, several Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, the Parachutist Badge and awards from international governments including Romania, Poland, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.In 2019, Mark received a Doctorate in Business Administration from the Crummer School of Business at Rollins College, where his thesis addressed the efficacy of formalized leadership programs for physicians and healthcare administrators. After retiring from the Army, LTG Hertling was appointed by President Obama as one of 25 members to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sport and Nutrition. Mark serves as an advisor to the non-profit organizations “Mission: Readiness” in California, “Operation Gratitude” in Washington DC. He is an adjunct scholar at West Point’s Modern War Institute, serves as an executive member of the Dean's Alliance at the School of Public Health of Indiana University, and is an adjunct professor of strategic leadership at the Crummer School of Business at Rollins College. He is the senior military and national security analyst for CNN/CNN International. Mark is married to his best friend, Sue and they have two sons, and five grandsons.If you want more information about us or our podcast, you can visit leadingtherounds.com

Welcome to the 'We've Come Along Way' episode, where Todd Raphael, Head of Content at Eightfold is my special guest. Todd has a rich a career in the talent space and shares his insights on the topics we cover during our conversation including candidate experience, diversity, remote work and more. If you like what you're hearing on this podcast please subscribe wherever you enjoy podcasts and do share with others. If you like what you're hearing on this podcast please subscribe wherever you enjoy podcasts and please share with others. Want to comment, discuss, provide feedback you can send me a note via LinkedIn, or via the contact form on our website TheCX.xyz or via audio message below. Thank you for listening! Chuck Solomon Host of The Candidate Experience Podcast This episode was recorded in August, 2020 and originally aired on August 28, 2020. Special thanks to Eightfold for their support and sponsorship of this episode. Resources: Todd Raphael - LinkedIN -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddraphael/ Eightfold -- https://eightfold.ai/ Careers @ Eightfold -- https://app.eightfold.ai/careers/ ERE highlights an episode of The Candidate Experience Podcast -- https://www.ere.net/show-candidates-the-love/ Harvard Business Review article, 'Why Women Don't Apply for Jobs Unless They're 100% Qualified' -- https://hbr.org/2014/08/why-women-dont-apply-for-jobs-unless-theyre-100-qualified Benefits of working remotely - visualization -- https://public.tableau.com/en-us/gallery/benefits-working-remotely Carry The Load - non-profit supporting veterans and first responders -- https://www.carrytheload.org/ Operation Gratitude - non-profit supporting military, veterans and first responders — https://www.operationgratitude.com/ #candidateexperience #candidatejourney #employerbrand #HR #talentacquisition #culture #workplaceculture #recruiting #worklifebalance #talent #worklifeboundaries #recruitmentmarketing #employerbranding #diversity #diversityandinclusion #hiring #networking #career #WFH --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/candidate-experience/support

Welcome to the We've Come Along Way episode, where Todd Raphael, Head of Content at Eightfold is my special guest. Todd has a rich a career in the talent space and shares his insights on the topics we cover during our conversation including candidate experience, diversity, remote work and more. If you like what you're hearing on this podcast please subscribe wherever you enjoy podcasts and do share with others. If you like what you're hearing on this podcast please subscribe wherever you enjoy podcasts and please share with others. Want to comment, discuss, provide feedback you can send me a note via LinkedIn, or via the contact form on our website TheCX.xyz or via audio message below. Thank you for listening! Chuck Solomon Host of The Candidate Experience Podcast This full episode will originally air on August 28, 2020. Resources: Todd Raphael - LinkedIN -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddraphael/ Eightfold -- https://eightfold.ai/ Careers @ Eightfold -- https://app.eightfold.ai/careers/ ERE highlights an episode of The Candidate Experience Podcast -- https://www.ere.net/show-candidates-the-love/ Harvard Business Review article, 'Why Women Don't Apply for Jobs Unless They're 100% Qualified' -- https://hbr.org/2014/08/why-women-dont-apply-for-jobs-unless-theyre-100-qualified Benefits of working remotely - visualization -- https://public.tableau.com/en-us/gallery/benefits-working-remotely Carry The Load - non-profit supporting veterans and first responders -- https://www.carrytheload.org/ Operation Gratitude - non-profit supporting military, veterans and first responders — https://www.operationgratitude.com/ #candidateexperience #candidatejourney #employerbrand #HR #talentacquisition #culture #workplaceculture #recruiting #worklifebalance #worklifeboundaries #recruitmentmarketing #employerbranding #diversity #diversityandinclusion #employerbrand #opensource #hiring #networking #career #WFH --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/candidate-experience/support

Chef Andre Rush is one of the top chefs in the United States. He's a retired Military Master Sergeant, a globally recognized celebrity chef and a motivational speaker. He was the White House Executive Chef for 4 Presidential Administrations and a member of the United States Culinary Arts Team, where he competed and won 150 awards. Chef Rush firmly believes in working to improve mental health with a positive attitude and exercise. He's involved in countless charities supporting a variety of causes. On today's episode, Chef Rush joins Serena to talk about his daily gratitude practice, why he does 2,222 push-ups a day, what it’s like to cook for a Presidential Administration and Operation Gratitude.   LEARN more about Chef Andre Rush at: Website: https://chefrush.com/ IG: @realchefrush Twitter: @realchefrush FB: https://www.facebook.com/andre.rush.7   LEARN more about Serena Poon: Website: https://www.serenaloves.com/ IG: @chefserenapoon TW: @chefserenapoon FB: @chefserenapoon   SUBSCRIBE to SERENA LOVES TV: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZya285uY3fNcv4KHAGg-hw    

Happy 4th of July celebrating 244 Years of Independence in Our United States of America! Tonight at 9:00PM ET on @siriusxm Channel 103 #siriusxmfaction @rolandsfoodcourt with @gennaro.pecchia We making it an all American great food & wine show with a few of the leaders in the biz! First, we chat with Meat Maestro @marcsarrazin from New York's Butcher @debraggameats Founded in 1927 by Marc Sr, serving 1st quality meats, poultry & more to the restaurant industry & now directly to the public, lucky us! Marc is a culinary wonder, he on the board of the @theculinaryinstituteofamerica & uses his goodness to give back to many charitable organizations since taking over the company. He also been able to grow #debraggameats¿with the additions of assistance of his sons who are making sure they continue to be prime time players in the food industry! So make sure to visit www.debragga.com. We also realize you can't eat your meat without great wine! We've got you covered & paired up with California greatness with winemaker #josephcarr from beloved @joshcellars #joshcellars was founded in 2007 by vintner Joseph as a tribute to his dad, Josh. The brand started with one varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon, and today features a diverse portfolio of well-balanced and delicious wines made to exacting standards. Sourced from across California’s great winegrowing regions, every vintage represents a very personal promise to make great wine in honor of Joe’s dad, Josh. We had the honor of trying the new 2018 Vintage 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve & it is outstanding! Bourbon barrel aged made with award-winning cabernet sauvignon aged in oak bourbon barrels for 2 months. As Joseph states, "I have fun everyday..." You can taste the passion in every sip. Joseph also loves giving back to our Heroes! Currently, @opgratitude is leading one of the largest coordinated efforts in the country to support the brave individuals on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. For every bottle sold of this limited release, Deutsch Family will donate $1 to Operation Gratitude (up to $180,000) To contribute visit www.operationgratitude.com We, along with our producer @paulofcharsky wish you all a safe 4th!

It’s another way of saying thank you to our frontline health care workers. Jumbo Care Packages --- the work of the nonprofit Operation Gratitude as well as Newark’s own Prudential and Mars Wrigley --- have made their way to hospitals in Newark as well as the police and fire departments. Inside are snacks, candy, coffee, and handwritten thank you letters from Prudential employees and others. Are they helping? Jim Beamesderfer, Prudential’s head of veterans initiatives, says you can always tell if someone is smiling, even with a mask on. He says they wanted to make sure all types of hospital workers were included, so there are letters addressed not just to doctors and nurses, but to forklift operators and truck drivers. Prudential, Mars and several other companies put together $1.5 million along with $5 million in product donations to make this happen. Over the past month, Jumbo Care Packages with more than 2,000,000 items and letters have also made their way to New York City, Seattle

Nicolette Jennings was Miss Florida USA 2019 and placed Top 10 at Miss USA 2019.  She is currently finishing her master's program and will graduate with a Masters in Sports Management from Texas A & M University.  Nicolette works as a pharmaceutical sales representative with AstraZeneca and loves how she is able to have a positive impact on patients lives.  Nicolette also works for Bombshell Fitness as the "B-Crowned" program coach, where she helps women achieve their fitness and wellness goals preparing them to compete in pageants.  Another new venture in her life is working with the State of Florida's Department of Education and Florida's First Lady to strengthen the H.O.P.E Innovators program in schools, connecting students and parents to available mental health resources.  Nicolette enjoys volunteering with Best Buddies and Operation Gratitude. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/themichaelcalderinshow/message

Today's special guest is our very own Miss Florida USA 2019, Nicolette Jennings! Nicolette Jennings was Miss Florida USA 2019 and placed Top 10 at Miss USA 2019. She is currently finishing her master's program and will graduate with a Masters in Sports Management from Texas A & M University. Nicolette works as a pharmaceutical sales representative with AstraZeneca and loves how she is able to have a positive impact on patients lives. Nicolette also works for Bombshell Fitness as the "B-Crowned" program coach, where she helps women achieve their fitness and wellness goals preparing them to compete in pageants. Another new venture in her life is working with the State of Florida's Department of Education and Florida's First Lady to strengthen the H.O.P.E Innovators program in schools, connecting students and parents to available mental health resources. Nicolette enjoys volunteering with Best Buddies and Operation Gratitude. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/themichaelcalderinshow/message

In this episode, find out what we have been up to during quarantine. Then, we share opportunities you can take part in from home including how to learn new skills, give back to the community, and gain insight to the medical field! We know pre-meds and high school students will not be able to do what they planned on, so we hope these resources we mention help you continue to grow this summer! LEARN Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/ Free MCAT prep subject breakdowns: http://mcat-review.org/general-chemistry.php Free MCAT prep video series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzlVacEHVuw VOLUNTEER The Trevor Project (helping LGBTQ people who are coming out with mental health) : https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-involved/volunteer/ Digital Wellness Movement: https://www.icanhelpdeletenegativity.org/studentvolunteer Red Cross Coding: https://volunteerconnection.redcross.org/?nd=rco_opportunity_detail&opportunity_id=175754&postal_code=48168&return_nd=rco_opportunity_browse_list Bookshare (helping people with reading disabilities): https://www.bookshare.org/cms/get-involved/volunteer/opportunities-us Chemo Angels (sending well wishes to cancer patients): https://www.chemoangels.com/angel-pre-app Operation Gratitude (sending well wishes to first responders): https://www.operationgratitude.com/ For more local volunteering opportunities: https://www.volunteermatch.org/covid19 SHADOW - These are some videos that follow different doctors' days in their life or follow different students as they shadow doctors. Watching them is somewhat like shadowing them to some extent. Ophthalmology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw-vnttMq6s Plastic Surgery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il8a7nrs_24 Pediatrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyzpSVYM5xw Surgery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa_vbqSLQHA Emergency Medicine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHerDuD2180 Anesthesiology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47sf6xs9JrI Interventional Radiology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3o6bvyPIoM Cardiology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoaQphOLU9k Internal Medicine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nI8u7NT-V4 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lasya-marla/message

If you really want to feel inspired to be more grateful, listen to this week's podcast. Kevin Schmiegel, CEO of Operation Gratitude, shares stories about his military career, lessons he's learned, and the words that stuck with him throughout his lifelong journey. He gets to see gratitude every day, inside Operation Gratitude. Retired  Marine  Lieutenant  Colonel  Kevin  Schmiegel  is  the  CEO  of   Operation  Gratitude,  whose  mission  is  to  forge  strong  bonds   between  Americans  and  their  Military  and  First  Responder  Heroes   through  volunteer  service  projects,  acts  of  gratitude,  and   meaningful  engagements  in  communities  nationwide.  Since  2003,   Operation  Gratitude  has  mobilized  millions  of  volunteers   nationwide  and  delivered  more  than  2.4  million  Care  Packages  to   deployed  Service  Members,  to  their  children  left  behind,  and  to   First  Responders,  New  Recruit  Graduates,  Veterans,  Wounded   Heroes,  and  their  Caregivers.  Schmiegel’s  role  is  to  oversee   strategic  planning  and  build  national  partnerships  to  further   Operation  Gratitude’s  reach  as  a  preeminent  military  support   organization  while  expanding  hands-­on  volunteerism  to  help  bridge   the  civilian-­service  divide  in  communities  across  America.       Prior  to  Operation  Gratitude,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Schmiegel  founded  Hiring  Our  Heroes  –  a   nationwide  grassroots  campaign  run  through  the  US  Chamber  of  Commerce  Foundation  to  help   veterans  and  military  spouses  find  meaningful  employment  in  hundreds  of  cities  across   America.  Since  its  inception,  Hiring  Our  Heroes  has  held  more  than  1,000  job  fairs  in  all  50   states,  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  on  military  installations  overseas.  To  date,  more  than   500,000  of  our  nation’s  heroes  have  been  hired  as  a  result  of  the  program.  He  went  on  to  serve   as  the  first-­ever  President  of  Thanks  USA,  expanding  the  scope  of  its  mission  from  providing   post-­secondary,  need-­based  scholarships  to  military  spouses  and  children  to  include  Pathways   for  Patriots,  an  innovative  program  to  provide  meaningful  employment  for  the  scholars  upon   graduation.       LtCol  Schmiegel  is  a  Class  of  1989  graduate  of  the  College  of  the  Holy  Cross  in  Worcester,   Massachusetts.  He  was  commissioned  a  second  lieutenant  in  the  United  States  Marine  Corps   and  retired  at  the  rank  of  lieutenant  colonel  after  20  years  on  active  duty.  In  addition  to  an  early   combat  tour  to  Kuwait  for  Operation  Desert  Shield/Desert  Storm,  Schmiegel  served  as  the   principal  adviser  to  the  NATO  commander  from  2003-­2006,  deploying  to  over  50  countries  in   Europe,  Africa,  and  the  Middle  East.  Schmiegel  also  wrote  the  strategic  plans  for  NATO’s   training  mission  in  Iraq,  its  increased  presence  in  Afghanistan,  and  disaster  relief  operations  for   Hurricane  Katrina  and  the  earthquake  in  Pakistan.  In  2008,  Schmiegel  served  as  the  military   assistant  to  the  special  envoy  for  Middle  East  Regional  Security  and  deployed  to  Tel  Aviv  and   Jerusalem,  where  he  worked  with  Israeli  and  Palestinian  authorities  on  the  peace  process.         Kevin  lives  in  Arlington  Virginia  with  his  wife  Laura.  When  he  is  not  working,  he  focuses  all  of  his   time  and  energy  on  their  five  children  and  two  dogs. www.operationgratitude.com https://www.facebook.com/OperationGratitude https://twitter.com/OpGratitude https://www.instagram.com/opgratitude/#

Kevin joined The Protectors to discuss the mission of Operation Gratitude.  Operation Gratitude is committed to not just the military, but also the first responder community.  It is the season of giving, and not only money, Op Gratitude has numerous opportunities to give back to the community through volunteer opportunities, collection drives, etc.  Listen in…About Kevin: Kevin serves as the CEO of Operation Gratitude. Operation Gratitude's mission is to help “forge strong bonds between Americans and their Military and First Responder heroes through volunteer service projects, acts of gratitude, and meaningful engagements in communities nationwide.” They send more than 300,000 individually addressed care packages every year. Currently, they have sent 2,393,363 packages since its start in 2003.https://www.operationgratitude.com/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/theprotectors)

From hitchhiking across the US at 19, mastering a wine cork and a book, to a successful career in the wine business, Joseph Carr has many life lessons to share, with a few aha moments mixed in there. You can learn more about Joseph at Joshcellars.com, josephcarrwine.com Facebook page: Joseph Carr and check out Operation Gratitude.

Jacks and Shawl were so excited to recap with Hallmark Channel family member and actor, Mark Deklin. Mark and the ladies break down all the romantic, joyful and heartfelt moments in this Miracles of Christmas military story. Follow Mark Deklin Instagram @markdeklinTwitter @markdeklin Follow The Bubbly Sesh Instagram: @thebubblysesh Twitter: @thebubblysesh HallmarkChannel.com/TheBubblySesh American Humane https://www.americanhumane.org/Adoption Ever After: www.hallmarkchannel.com/adoptioneverafter Operation Gratitude: https://www.operationgratitude.com/

Guys, we almost did it... we ALMOST made it a week without talking about Star Wars movies, but alas here we are. We’re also missing a Roxy Striar (for today) and a Josh Macuga (for a while), but host Dorina Arellano, Mark Reilly, John Rocha, Cody Hall, and Alex Marzoña will attempt to steer the ship without them! We’ll also welcome in friend of the show Ashley Victoria Robinson to talk about Operation Gratitude and the Comic Drive for Service Members and all the other news in the world of things! Follow Ashley Victoria Robinson: https://twitter.com/AshleyVRobinson Find out more about Operation Gratitude and donate comics to the Comic Drive for Service Members: https://bit.ly/2Q0OLcq 03:53 how much news do we have - Joker news? Okay fine. And I guess we’re talking about Justice League and BvS cool 09:58 Star Wars movies to go on hiatus, but what do we want to see next? 20:53 Ian McKellen justifies weird CGI in Cats 33:49 Ashley V. Robinson joins the table to talk about Operation Gratitude and the Jawiin Comic Drive for Service Members, and Science! / Jupiter Jet vol. 2 43:35 pros and cons of writing comics 47:10 calls - favorite trailer music; AEW v NXT and PPV; favorite composers SUBSCRIBE ? ? https://bit.ly/1qU5ENT This Veteran's Day, give back to those who serve: https://www.operationgratitude.com Interested in comics? Get your fix here: https://www.comicsandcards.net #ColliderLive: You have no idea what might happen in this off the wall show that is a mix of nonsense, shaken with comedy, and served every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday live from Collider Studios. Make sure you like and share the show so we can build it TOGETHER. Make sure you give it a like as well and subscribe to the Collider Podcast feed! Watch the latest short film from The Wangers/Amateur Hour Films, “Reel Talk with the Reel Robbie”: https://youtu.be/Pkj4z7uHo9o Watch some comedy sketches from Roxy and Dorina! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8pCYooVfso&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FucLJ8Evtrs&feature=youtu.be Listen to (Alex) Marzoña’s music: https://www.youtube.com/user/alexmarzonamusic Follow Dorina: https://twitter.com/EvilDorina Follow Rocha: https://twitter.com/TheRochaSays Follow Reilly: https://twitter.com/ReillyAround Follow Cody: https://twitter.com/TheRealCodyHall Follow Alex: https://twitter.com/AlexMarzona More Great Collider Content ??Movie News & Analysis: https://bit.ly/2n1MZb7 ??Celebrity Interviews: https://bit.ly/2OyLjSU ??Video Games: https://bit.ly/2vszg0Z ??Sports: https://bit.ly/2Au5rmv ?????Pro Wrestling: https://bit.ly/2LKhWzy ??Breaking News: http://collider.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColliderVideo Instagram: https://instagram.com/ColliderVideo Facebook: https://facebook.com/colliderdotcom Want to listen to Collider on the go? Search "COLLIDER" wherever you get your podcasts for original shows plus audio versions of your favorite video content.

On today’s ALL NEW Nerdtastically Newsworthy ‘Monday Geek Mash-Up’ episode of #NerdORama HBO Max is entering the streaming war within the nerdverse with a volley of big hitters but Disney answers back with big guns of their own…PLUS – Details on how you can support our Troops at home and abroad with comics!!!

Nicolette Jennings graduated cum laude from the University of Florida in four years with a B.S. degree in Telecommunications and an outside concentration in sports management. While attending the University of Florida, she worked as a sports reporter and sports anchor at WUFT, a student-run on-campus news station, and a sports coordinator for ESPN 98.1 FM 850 AM WRUF. She was Vice President of Membership, and President at Zeta Tau Alpha. This past fall Nicolette interned with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in charge of producing live shows for social media outlets, interviewing players and coaches, creating and producing video stories about players and taking video of different games and Sportsy events, including game action. Currently, Nicolette is working towards her master's degree in sports management online at Texas A & M University. Once she has graduated with her master's degree, Nicolette wants to work for a professional sports team as a team reporter. Nicolette's ultimate career goal is to be a sideline reporter for a major sports network. When she is not studying for school, watching or playing sports, Nicolette enjoys relaxing on the beach, working out and volunteering. Some of the charities for whom she enjoys volunteering are Claudia Meyer Foundation, Women with Purpose, Bright Pink, Children's Miracle Network, Operation Gratitude, Our Military Kids and Junior Achievement. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/themichaelcalderinshow/message

Nicolette Jennings graduated cum laude from the University of Florida in four years with a B.S. degree in Telecommunications and an outside concentration in sports management.  While attending the University of Florida, she worked as a sports reporter and sports anchor at WUFT, a student-run on-campus news station, and a sports coordinator for ESPN 98.1 FM 850 AM WRUF.  She was Vice President of Membership, and President at Zeta Tau Alpha.  This past fall Nicolette interned with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in charge of producing live shows for social media outlets, interviewing players and coaches, creating and producing video stories about players and taking video of different games and Sportsy events, including game action.  Currently, Nicolette is working towards her master's degree in sports management online at Texas A & M University.  Once she has graduated with her master's degree, Nicolette wants to work for a professional sports team as a team reporter.  Nicolette's ultimate career goal is to be a sideline reporter for a major sports network.  When she is not studying for school, watching or playing sports, Nicolette enjoys relaxing on the beach, working out and volunteering.  Some of the charities for whom she enjoys volunteering are Claudia Meyer Foundation, Women with Purpose, Bright Pink, Children's Miracle Network, Operation Gratitude, Our Military Kids and Junior Achievement. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/themichaelcalderinshow/message

Welcome to episode 20 with your host this week, Lori Ann Bailey, who will be sharing the history of Joan of Arc and how she became a saint. Have history, book or wine question you want us to answer in a future show?Email us! historybooksandwine@gmail.com This episode was paired with: Josh Operation Gratitude Lodi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon What I read this week:Ribbons of Scarlet by Kate Quinn, Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie, E. Knight, Heather Webb, and Sophie Perinot: https://amzn.to/2X5Zkj7My book(available online where books are sold!):Highland Deception: https://amzn.to/2YKegQ9 Our Websites-- find our links to social media on our websites and sign up for our newsletters!Lori Ann BaileyEliza KnightMadeline Martin Follow History, Books and Wine on Social Media!Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/HistoryBooksandWineTwitter: @HistoryBksWineInstagram: @HistoryBksWine Stay tuned for our next shows!July 4th: Next Happy Hour - All About Inspiring Women in American History!July 11th: Madeline Martin on Hats Through HistoryJuly 18th: Lori Ann Bailey with Jewelry Through HistoryJuly 25th: Eliza Knight on Shoes Through History Support the show!https://www.patreon.com/historybooksandwineSupport the show

Shooters and Prospectorshttps://www.facebook.com/SWShooterSuppliesAndProspecting/XTREME SCOOPShttps://www.facebook.com/XTREMEScoops/DETECTEEShttps://detectees.onlineweb.shop/Beyond_Sight_and_Sound/p5708246_19397084.aspxXP TEAM USAhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/xpdteamusa/XP hard transport case review XP Team USA blog http://xpdeus-usa.com/xp-hard-transport-case-first-impression-and-review-by-josh-kimmel/?fbclid=IwAR3BeogLD3OSgqSZjLrTyAwSVds9fV5V3jrmIqu1Oj8-_SYKiw7GG1Tl_fAXP Team USA Podcast https://www.spreaker.com/show/xp-team-usa-podcasts-showVote for our Operation Gratitude quick deploy braceletshttps://woobox.com/srwgc8/gallery/xZ-CaSipWegAll Metal Militia on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/AllMetalMilitia/All Metal Militia on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtI2ITrfeRB6rDc73_F2PtA

Shooters and Prospectorshttps://www.facebook.com/SWShooterSuppliesAndProspecting/XTREME SCOOPShttps://www.facebook.com/XTREMEScoops/DETECTEEShttps://detectees.onlineweb.shop/Beyond_Sight_and_Sound/p5708246_19397084.aspxXP TEAM USAhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/xpdteamusa/XP hard transport case review XP Team USA blog http://xpdeus-usa.com/xp-hard-transport-case-first-impression-and-review-by-josh-kimmel/?fbclid=IwAR3BeogLD3OSgqSZjLrTyAwSVds9fV5V3jrmIqu1Oj8-_SYKiw7GG1Tl_fAXP Team USA Podcast https://www.spreaker.com/show/xp-team-usa-podcasts-showVote for our Operation Gratitude quick deploy braceletshttps://woobox.com/srwgc8/gallery/xZ-CaSipWegAll Metal Militia on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/AllMetalMilitia/All Metal Militia on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtI2ITrfeRB6rDc73_F2PtA

Shooters and Prospectorshttps://www.facebook.com/SWShooterSuppliesAndProspecting/XTREME SCOOPShttps://www.facebook.com/XTREMEScoops/DETECTEEShttps://detectees.onlineweb.shop/Beyond_Sight_and_Sound/p5708246_19397084.aspxXP TEAM USAhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/xpdteamusa/XP hard transport case review XP Team USA blog http://xpdeus-usa.com/xp-hard-transport-case-first-impression-and-review-by-josh-kimmel/?fbclid=IwAR3BeogLD3OSgqSZjLrTyAwSVds9fV5V3jrmIqu1Oj8-_SYKiw7GG1Tl_fAXP Team USA Podcast https://www.spreaker.com/show/xp-team-usa-podcasts-showVote for our Operation Gratitude quick deploy braceletshttps://woobox.com/srwgc8/gallery/xZ-CaSipWegAll Metal Militia on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/AllMetalMilitia/All Metal Militia on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtI2ITrfeRB6rDc73_F2PtA

Shooters and Prospectorshttps://www.facebook.com/SWShooterSuppliesAndProspecting/XTREME SCOOPShttps://www.facebook.com/XTREMEScoops/DETECTEEShttps://detectees.onlineweb.shop/Beyond_Sight_and_Sound/p5708246_19397084.aspxXP TEAM USAhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/xpdteamusa/XP hard transport case review XP Team USA blog http://xpdeus-usa.com/xp-hard-transport-case-first-impression-and-review-by-josh-kimmel/?fbclid=IwAR3BeogLD3OSgqSZjLrTyAwSVds9fV5V3jrmIqu1Oj8-_SYKiw7GG1Tl_fAXP Team USA Podcast https://www.spreaker.com/show/xp-team-usa-podcasts-showVote for our Operation Gratitude quick deploy braceletshttps://woobox.com/srwgc8/gallery/xZ-CaSipWegAll Metal Militia on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/AllMetalMilitia/All Metal Militia on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtI2ITrfeRB6rDc73_F2PtA

Colossians 3:1-11

Colossians 3:11, 18-23, 4:1  "Wives submit to your husbands; Husbands love your wives" 

Colossians 3:11-17

It's easy, and it means so much...

It's easy, and it means so much...

On the eve of completing our Candy Collection for Operation Gratitude, this week I take a moment to talk about the importance of giving back to our communities.

Colossians 2:8-23

Colossians 2:1-7

Colossians 1:15 Jesus is the image of the invisible God

Colossians 1:3-14 [Seemingly] Unimportant people become important when they pray, when they love, and when they give thanks.  

Here's how you can send your Halloween Candy to the deployed troops & first responders via Operation Gratitude!

Here's how you can send your Halloween Candy to the deployed troops & first responders via Operation Gratitude!

Filmmaker Jordan Brady ("I Am Comic") traveled to Afghanistan to perform stand up comedy for our U.S. Troops and filmed the entire trip. The result is "I Am Battle Comic", a compelling look at the highs and lows facing the men and women in the military, balanced with wonderful laughs the comedians bring. This is the third documentary in his trilogy of films depicting life as a comedian. Back in the States, "I Am Battle Comic" screened in select cities with all proceeds donated to charities helping veterans and our troops. including the National Family Association, Operation Gratitude and Semper Fi Fund. Now available for download, a portion of the film's proceeds go to the National Military Family Association when you use this link. Here's a few links to help you get the most out of Story Worthy- if you're listening on an iPhone, all you need to do is tap the cover art while the show is playing, and you'll see the episode notes, including the links. Please subscribe and join the Story Worthy Facebook page! We'd love to hear from you at info@storyworthypodcast.com or on our survey at wondery.com/survey. Plus, when you go to storyworthypodcast.com you'll also find special deals courtesy of our sponsors like FabFitFun, Sustain Natural, Hello Fresh, ThirdLove, Casper Mattress, LeTote, and Audible (promo code STORYWORTHY). It's good karma guys! Oh, and make it a Story Worthy Day!Privacy Policy and California Privacy Notice.

Filmmaker Jordan Brady ("I Am Comic") traveled to Afghanistan to perform stand up comedy for our U.S. Troops and filmed the entire trip. The result is "I Am Battle Comic", a compelling look at the highs and lows facing the men and women in the military, balanced with wonderful laughs the comedians bring. This is the third documentary in his trilogy of films depicting life as a comedian. Back in the States, "I Am Battle Comic" screened in select cities with all proceeds donated to charities helping veterans and our troops. including the National Family Association, Operation Gratitude and Semper Fi Fund. Now available for download, a portion of the film's proceeds go to the National Military Family Association when you use this link. Here’s a few links to help you get the most out of Story Worthy- if you’re listening on an iPhone, all you need to do is tap the cover art while the show is playing, and you’ll see the episode notes, including the links. Please subscribe and join the Story Worthy Facebook page! We’d love to hear from you at info@storyworthypodcast.com or on our survey at wondery.com/survey. Plus, when you go to storyworthypodcast.com you’ll also find special deals courtesy of our sponsors like FabFitFun, Sustain Natural, Hello Fresh, ThirdLove, Casper Mattress, LeTote, and Audible (promo code STORYWORTHY). It’s good karma guys! Oh, and make it a Story Worthy Day!

Emily Rich is Director of National Development for Operation Gratitude, a non-profit organization that annually sends 150,000+ care packages to new recruits, veterans, first responders, wounded warriors, care givers and to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed overseas.   Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude has shipped more than 1.2 million care packages.  Emily is responsible for Operation Gratitude’s nationwide campaigns, including corporate partnerships, cause marketing, large scale employee volunteerism, sports marketing and annual support.Emily has devoted her professional life to non-profit organizations.  In addition to Operation Gratitude, she has served in leadership positions with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Foundation Fighting Blindness and Fund for the Public Interest Research Group. In the first six years of her career in nonprofit development, Emily has raised over $6 million for nonprofit organizations.Emily graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication.  She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA) and the National Association of Professional Women.Music:Wartime by Javier & The Innocent SonsWebsite:  http://www.javiermatosmusic.com/Purchase CD:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/javiertheinnocentsonsShow Notes:  http://VeteranPodcast.com/013

Hosted by Ken Napzok, the producer of the popular Schmoes Know Movie Show and co-host of the Jedi Alliance podcast, The Napzok Files is a show about life, the universe, and everything. (Douglas Adams would agree.) Each episode Ken welcomes the important, cool, and fancy people in his life onto the airwaves to explore, explain, and exclaim the interesting and entertaining. On this episode, Ken catches up with with good friend Tom Connolly, a comedian, actor, producer, and angry man! Tom and Ken look back on their time in stand-up comedy and talk about not being married. But beyond that... they get deep with Tom's recent decision to set it all aside and walk across the United States of America to raise funds for Operation Gratitude. It's a great journey for a great cause. https://giving.operationgratitude.com/events/tom-connolly-walk-across-america/e47358 Please Rate & Review on iTunes. On Twitter: Ken Napzok (@KenNapzok) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-napzok-files/support

Will talks to Coast Gaurd Veteran Ramon Fraga, and actor Vivian Bang (Sullivan & Son) about joining the military, going on USO tours, not being fully prepared for USO shows, and seeing beautiful women in uniform with large weapons. They also discuss pranks and various smells human and otherwise. And as always a support group for troops or vets such as Operation Gratitude, who puts together care packages for soldiers overseas. They are currently looking for volunteers ages 12 and up for August 23rd at the National Gaurd Armory, where the 405 and the 101 meet. Be sure to rate and comment on iTunes. Also, you can find the show on Stitcher.

Today's episode features the lovely Ms. Bonnie-Jill Laflin.  Bonnie-Jill is the first and only female scout in the NBA, a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, model, actress, fashion line creator, but most importantly she is a bourgeoning philanthropist, Bonnie-Jill is a dedicated supporter of the troops and has traveled to Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries on 17 Goodwill and USO tours as the only female celebrity. She recently returned from her 7th Goodwill tour in Iraq and is currently featured on the cover of the 2011 “Battlefield Babes” Calendar” with proceeds going to the Wounded Warriors Project. She takes her 18th trip, to Afghanistan this August.   Bonnie-Jill is also heavily involved in animal welfare issues and has been featured in three international PETA campaigns as well as a PSA for the Humane Society encouraging compassion for all animals. Laflin has recently started her own non profit Hounds and Heroes benefiting the military and animal welfare. She also donates her time to Operation Baghdad Pups, ASPCA, Humane Society, Special Olympics, Best Buddies, Operation Gratitude, Wounded Warriors Project, GallantFew and visiting war veterans in VA hospitals. The New American Veteran explores transition challenges for Special Operations veterans leaving active duty, identifies veterans that have become successful in their work and communities after serving, and organizations that provide innovative and effective treatment for conditions effecting veterans - PTSD, homelessness, unemployment, suicide..

SEO Mom checks in with Meg Walker, Direct Online Markerter for PR Web. They talk about Operation Gratitude and AffCon 2010 Panels.