Podcasts about Pearl Harbor

Air Force veteran Cami Gage shares her journey from competing in track and cross country at the Air Force Academy to becoming a professional triathlete and coach. After her military career, Gage found deeper purpose in coaching adaptive and wounded veteran athletes, helping them overcome physical and psychological barriers through organizations like the Air Force Winter Warrior program and Semper Fi & America's Fund. In this episode, she discusses the power of breathwork, mental regulation, and the fulfillment that comes from guiding others to achieve what they never thought possible. She reflects on the importance of continuing service, mental health and gratitude — and why showing up for people matters more than ever.Also in this episode, a chat about Pearl Harbor's legacy, discussing the future of the USS Arizona, the continuing impact of service from those lost in the attack and more.

This week’s episode of The Chuck ToddCast dives into the full spectrum of Donald Trump’s political chaos — from a deadly Venezuela boat strike that jolted Congress awake to an explosive shooting in Washington, D.C., where Trump delivered the most divisive response imaginable. Chuck breaks down how the shooter’s surprising CIA ties, Trump’s immediate “blame game,” and his increasingly politicized rhetoric toward the military risk putting service members in harm’s way. He examines Trump’s contradictory foreign policy moves, including pardoning a cocaine-trafficking former Honduran president and a billionaire fraudster, all while saber-rattling toward Venezuela and relying on Roger Stone as his unofficial “pardon broker.” With Republicans bracing for a wave of resignations and watchdog committees gearing up for investigations, Chuck argues that the founders never intended the pardon power to be used this way — and that a constitutional fix may now be essential. Then, editor of The Dispatch, Sarah Isgur joins Chuck for a sweeping conversation about the Supreme Court, constitutional design, and the modern dysfunction of Congress. Sarah argues that SCOTUS is the only institution still operating as the founders intended—and with two major cases on the docket, the Court could soon reshape the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches. She and Chuck examine how the activist class has abandoned Congress, why long-term challenges like climate change require legislation rather than court battles, and how a dramatically expanded House—potentially 1,200 members or more—could restore true representation. They dig into how the collapse of traditional parties, the rise of communications-focused lawmakers, and the outsize influence of small states have all warped American governance. The conversation then widens into history, culture, and political “what-ifs”—from Ken Burns’ Revolutionary War documentary to the chaotic post-Lincoln era, to the tantalizing possibility that a surviving President Garfield might have accelerated civil rights by a century. Chuck and Sarah compare Obama to Chester Arthur, debate whether Democrats learned the wrong lessons from Trump, and revisit the alternate timelines of Chris Christie, Carly Fiorina, and the Tea Party. They close with a provocative question: Should the DOJ be structurally separated from the executive branch? And, more fundamentally, should it be far easier to amend the Constitution for a modern nation of 300 million people? Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to December 7th, 1941 when FDR addressed the nation via radio after Pearl Harbor, and traces the history of media fragmentation throughout the decades. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and gives his college football update. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:00 We got the full spectrum of Trump this week 02:45 Venezuela boat strike has awoken congress from its slumber 03:15 Pete Hegseth could take the fall for war crime strike 04:00 Resignation of head of SouthCom was a flashing red light 05:45 Two national guardsmen shot in Washington D.C. 06:45 Trump’s response to shooting was most divisive possible 07:30 Surprising that shooter was Afghan employee of CIA 08:45 It’s likely shooter was mentally unstable & something triggered him 09:30 Trump immediately went into “blame game” mode after shooting 10:15 Trump’s entire political currency is division 11:00 Trump’s politicization of military risks putting target on their back 12:00 Trump blames Biden’s vetting, but administration rarely vets anything 12:45 Trump gave away everything U.S. won in Afghanistan to Taliban 14:30 Every president in the 21st century has screwed up Afghanistan 15:45 Trump tried to weaponize the shooting for political gain 17:30 Pay attention to what Trump does, not what he says 18:15 Trump pardons cocaine trafficking ex president of Honduras 19:00 Trump threatens war with Venezuela over drugs, then gives this pardon?? 20:00 Trump threatens voters of Honduras over their election 20:45 Roger Stone has become Trump’s pardon merchant 21:45 Pardon was direct result of Roger Stone’s lobbying 22:15 Trump has normalized pardoning of convicted felons 24:15 Trump pardons executive guilty of 1.6B fraud scheme 25:15 Trump’s pardons are far more corrupt than prior president’s pardons 27:30 We need a constitutional amendment to change the pardon power 28:30 Founder imagined congress would prevent abuse of pardon power 29:15 We’ll likely see 2-4 retirements per week in congress through December 30:45 Senate Armed Services committee will do thorough investigation of strike 32:15 Trump is likely to give an illegal order w/ military action in Venezuela 33:45 Trump’s coalition wanted less military intervention overseas 39:30 Sarah Isgur joins the Chuck ToddCast 41:00 SCOTUS is the only institution functioning as founders intended 41:30 SCOTUS has 2 cases that could rebalance other two branches 42:45 SCOTUS may strengthen executive while empowering congress 45:00 What if SCOTUS gives Trump everything he wants? 46:30 Activist class has given up or ignored congressional authority 47:30 You need legislation to address long term problems like climate change 49:00 The house needs to be expanded to make it more representative 51:15 The house should have 1200+ members 52:45 We replaced political parties with high dollar special interests 53:30 Members aren’t attending town halls, they’re posting on social media 56:00 The two leaders of each chamber run congress, not committee chairs 56:45 Legislators are frustrated with the broken nature of congress 58:00 Members aren’t hiring legislating staff, they hire comms staff 59:30 Boebert, AOC, MTG would be backbenchers without comms 1:01:00 Small states are getting far too much influence electorally 1:04:00 The constitution is a good ballast if we follow it and regularly amend it 1:05:00 Ken Burns was gutsy to make a doc on the American revolution 1:06:30 If you want 300 million people to follow a law, it should take time to pass 1:08:30 Death By Lightning was too short to tell the whole story 1:10:30 “Manhunt” really painted a picture of Andrew Johnson 1:11:30 Lincoln assassination was meant to upend Lincoln's administration 1:12:15 Holiday reading list 1:13:30 End of 19th century was a weird time for the U.S. presidency 1:15:30 Rehnquist’s book comments on Bush v Gore through 19th century lens 1:17:15 Thomas Jefferson impeached justices in order to get a SCOTUS rubber stamp 1:18:00 Chuck’s project to create a scripted TV show about Garfield & reconstruction 1:19:15 George Washington wanted D.C. to be the biggest port city on east coast 1:22:00 1860-1865 was a fascinating time for the city of Washington DC 1:23:30 If Garfield lived we might have gotten the Civil Rights Act 100 years sooner 1:25:00 Parallels between Obama and Chester A. Arthur presidencies 1:26:00 Democrats learning from Trump that action matters over process 1:27:00 Dems gutted their bench during Obama years 1:28:00 Obama endorsing Clinton was a massive mistake for the Democratic Party 1:30:30 GOP voters realized the “nice” candidate like Romney couldn’t win 1:32:00 Without “bridgegate”, Chris Christie may be president instead of Trump 1:33:30 Chris Christie is a wildly talented politician, but mismanaged era with his shot 1:35:00 The Tea Party energy in GOP could have derailed Christie’s ambitions 1:36:15 Christie derailed Carly Fiorina’s campaign in 2016 1:37:30 Should DOJ be detached from the executive branch? 1:40:00 Founders never specified how many justices should be on SCOTUS 1:42:45 Ford pardon was a huge mistake, created protected political class 1:44:15 Where to find Sarah’s work 1:45:30 It should be easier to pass constitutional amendments 1:49:00 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Sarah Isgur 1:49:45 ToddCast Time Machine - December 7th, 1941 1:50:30 The shock of Pearl Harbor is almost gone from living memory 1:51:00 Pearl Harbor showed the power of shared media experience 1:52:00 Radio was the height of communal media 1:52:15 December 1945, FCC gave massive expansion of FM radio 1:53:00 FM created the first fragmentation of media 1:54:00 Summer of 1980, Walkman introduced personalization in media 1:55:30 The Walkman was the beginning of mass media fragmentation 1:57:30 By 1990, 40% of minutes listened in the car weren’t radio 1:58:15 Radio never recovered from the Walkman 1:58:45 Streaming and social are diminishing TV & cable 1:59:30 For Americans under 60, almost all media consumption is on smartphones 2:02:00 Ask Chuck 2:02:15 Love for “The Barn” and the book recommendations 2:05:30 Is there any hope for a return to respectful bipartisan discourse? 2:11:15 Should we consider distributing presidential roles & diluting power? 2:16:00 What benefits do members of congress receive after leaving? 2:21:00 College football updateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s episode of The Chuck ToddCast dives into the full spectrum of Donald Trump’s political chaos — from a deadly Venezuela boat strike that jolted Congress awake to an explosive shooting in Washington, D.C., where Trump delivered the most divisive response imaginable. Chuck breaks down how the shooter’s surprising CIA ties, Trump’s immediate “blame game,” and his increasingly politicized rhetoric toward the military risk putting service members in harm’s way. He examines Trump’s contradictory foreign policy moves, including pardoning a cocaine-trafficking former Honduran president and a billionaire fraudster, all while saber-rattling toward Venezuela and relying on Roger Stone as his unofficial “pardon broker.” With Republicans bracing for a wave of resignations and watchdog committees gearing up for investigations, Chuck argues that the founders never intended the pardon power to be used this way — and that a constitutional fix may now be essential. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to December 7th, 1941 when FDR addressed the nation via radio after Pearl Harbor, and traces the history of media fragmentation throughout the decades. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and gives his college football update. Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:00 We got the full spectrum of Trump this week 02:45 Venezuela boat strike has awoken congress from its slumber 03:15 Pete Hegseth could take the fall for war crime strike 04:00 Resignation of head of SouthCom was a flashing red light 05:45 Two national guardsmen shot in Washington D.C. 06:45 Trump’s response to shooting was most divisive possible 07:30 Surprising that shooter was Afghan employee of CIA 08:45 It’s likely shooter was mentally unstable & something triggered him 09:30 Trump immediately went into “blame game” mode after shooting 10:15 Trump’s entire political currency is division 11:00 Trump’s politicization of military risks putting target on their back 12:00 Trump blames Biden’s vetting, but administration rarely vets anything 12:45 Trump gave away everything U.S. won in Afghanistan to Taliban 14:30 Every president in the 21st century has screwed up Afghanistan 15:45 Trump tried to weaponize the shooting for political gain 17:30 Pay attention to what Trump does, not what he says 18:15 Trump pardons cocaine trafficking ex president of Honduras 19:00 Trump threatens war with Venezuela over drugs, then gives this pardon?? 20:00 Trump threatens voters of Honduras over their election 20:45 Roger Stone has become Trump’s pardon merchant 21:45 Pardon was direct result of Roger Stone’s lobbying 22:15 Trump has normalized pardoning of convicted felons 24:15 Trump pardons executive guilty of 1.6B fraud scheme 25:15 Trump’s pardons are far more corrupt than prior president’s pardons 26:30 We need a constitutional amendment to change the pardon power 29:30 Founder imagined congress would prevent abuse of pardon power 28:15 We’ll likely see 2-4 retirements per week in congress through December 29:45 Senate Armed Services committee will do thorough investigation of strike 31:15 Trump is likely to give an illegal order w/ military action in Venezuela 32:45 Trump’s coalition wanted less military intervention overseas 38:45 ToddCast Time Machine - December 7th, 1941 39:30 The shock of Pearl Harbor is almost gone from living memory 40:00 Pearl Harbor showed the power of shared media experience 41:00 Radio was the height of communal media 41:15 December 1945, FCC gave massive expansion of FM radio 42:00 FM created the first fragmentation of media 43:00 Summer of 1980, Walkman introduced personalization in media 44:30 The Walkman was the beginning of mass media fragmentation 46:30 By 1990, 40% of minutes listened in the car weren’t radio 47:15 Radio never recovered from the Walkman 47:45 Streaming and social are diminishing TV & cable 48:30 For Americans under 60, almost all media consumption is on smartphones 51:00 Ask Chuck 51:15 Love for “The Barn” and the book recommendations 54:30 Is there any hope for a return to respectful bipartisan discourse? 1:00:15 Should we consider distributing presidential roles & diluting power? 1:05:00 What benefits do members of congress receive after leaving? 1:10:00 College football updateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when you discover that the reason your father never speaks about his parents or his childhood growing up in Hawaii is because his mother, father, and older sister were Nazi spies? And not just any Nazi spies–the spies sent by Berlin to help the Japanese surveil Pearl Harbor.Chris­tine Kuehn was living a qui­et sub­ur­ban life when a mys­te­ri­ous let­ter in 1994 pierced that bub­ble, send­ing her on a thir­ty-year quest to dis­cov­er the truth behind a hor­ren­dous fam­i­ly secret kept hid­den for half a cen­tu­ry. The result is the new book, FAMILY OF SPIES. Fol­low­ing a career in jour­nal­ism, pub­lic rela­tions, and non­prof­its, Chris­tine now lives in Mary­land with her hus­band, Mark Schiponi, who helped her research the book for 30 years.In this conversation, Greg Olear talks to the couple about how the book came to be, the long and unusual research process, and the emotional impact of learning the truth.Buy the book:https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250344465/familyofspies/Support the podcast:gregolear.substack.com Make America Great Gatsby Again!https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-great-gatsby-four-sticks-press-centennial-edition/e701221776c88f86?ean=9798985931976&next=tSubscribe to The Five 8:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0BRnRwe7yDZXIaF-QZfvhACheck out ROUGH BEAST, Greg's new book:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D47CMX17ROUGH BEAST is now available as an audiobook:https://www.audible.com/pd/Rough-Beast-Audiobook/B0D8K41S3T Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Peter Boyles talks with Christine Kuehn (Author of "Family of Spies") and her husband Mark Schiponi. The story of How the Book Came to Be, Explosive Family Secrets, An Affair with Joseph Goebbels, Spying for the Japanese, How long was the Pearl Harbor attacked planned for?. And much more! LINK TO YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/live/DV_mat-BCqY?si=jJT3zZh3JOEUw_ipSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talk of the Town with Tracy Lundeen ~ Saturday mornings 8:00-10:00 a.m. on 610AM, 650AM & 103.9FM or stream at northlandnewsradio.com Just Tracy and Tyler, AKA "TnT", this week. Jay Hagen calls in to talk about the upcoming Pearl Harbor remembrance dinner on December 4th. Tracy Scott calls in and gives some insight to the Ice Bocce tournament coming up at the Arrowhead Ice Fishing Show December 12th-14th. We wrap the show talking with "Super" Dave Anderson and Michael Baldwin from Northern News Now and their contributions to this years "Christmas By the Lake" CD. Also check out Dave's segment on the Bluebird Foundation on Tuesday nights news broadcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit andrewsullivan.substack.comMichel is a human rights lawyer and author. He's currently a lecturer at Columbia Law School, where he teaches national security law and jurisprudence. He's also a contributing editor at Lawfare. His latest book is The Light of Battle: Eisenhower, D-Day, and the Birth of the American Superpower — an accessible, racy account of the run-up to D-Day, along with fascinating snapshots of his entire career.For two clips of our convo — why FDR picked Eisenhower to orchestrate D-Day, and why he's the antithesis of Trump — head to our YouTube page.Other topics: Michel raised by a single mom in Allentown who became an Allentown DA; his scholarship to Oxford for computational linguistics; his work on human rights and defending Gitmo detainees; John Adams and due process; the Dish's coverage of torture; the ways Eisenhower was misunderstood; his self-effacement; his religious pacifist parents; his abusive dad; his Horatio Alger story; Kansas conservatism; the knee injury that ended his football stardom at West Point; the scandal that nearly ended his career early on; the scarlet fever that killed his son; his early friendship with Patton; his intellectual mentor Fox Conner; Ike a protege of MacArthur until they soured on each other; his moderation and suspicion of ideology; his workaholism and stoicism; Pearl Harbor; his uneasy relationship with FDR; unexpectedly picked over George Marshall to lead D-Day; his knack for building consensus; winning over Monty and the other Brits; Churchill's antics and his opposition to a Normandy landing; haunted by Gallipoli; the Atlantic Wall; Rommel; shouting matches at the Cairo Conference; Ike's quiet charisma; the alleged affair with his Irish driver Kay Summersby; and how the weather nearly ruined D-Day.Browse the Dishcast archive for an episode you might enjoy. Coming up: George Packer on his Orwell-inspired novel, Shadi Hamid on US power abroad, Simon Rogoff on the narcissism of pols, Jason Willick on trade and conservatism, Vivek Ramaswamy on the right, and Arthur Brooks on the science of happiness. Please send any guest recs, dissents, and other comments to dish@andrewsullivan.com.

… und reißt historische Wunden in China auf.Ein Kommentar von Rainer Rupp.Kaum einen Monat im Amt, hat Japans neue Ministerpräsidentin Sanae Takaichi mit einer einzigen Aussage einen explosiven Start hingelegt und heftige diplomatische Reaktion ausgelöst. Ein „Taiwan-Notfall“, so erklärte sie, sei eine „existenzbedrohende Situation für Japan“. Für Peking war dies eine direkte Einmischung in innere Angelegenheiten Chinas und ein Bruch mit dem international anerkannten „Ein-China-Prinzip“. Chinas Außenamtssprecher Lin Jian warnte Japan öffentlich, es solle „aufhören, mit dem Feuer zu spielen“.Takaichis Tabu-Bruch war kein Ausrutscher, sondern Teil einer Serie von Provokationen Tokios seit ihrem Amtsantritt. Die Regierungschefin folgt damit einer Linie, die stark an die deutsche Entwicklung unter Verteidigungsminister Pistorius und Kanzler Merz erinnert: In beiden Ländern wird der Nachkriegspazifismus sichtbar zurückgedrängt, während militärische Fähigkeiten und sicherheitspolitische Ambitionen wachsen.Ein belasteter Begriff und seine WirkungDer Kern der chinesischen Empörung liegt jedoch in Takaichis Wortwahl. „Existenzbedrohende Situation“ ist nicht nur ein juristischer Terminus des japanischen Sicherheitsrechts. Er weckt Erinnerungen an die Rhetorik der japanischen Militärführung vor und während des Zweiten Weltkriegs.Damals beriefen sich japanische Führer auf „Überlebensbedrohungen Japans“, um ihre mit äußerster Brutalität vorangetriebenen Aggressionen in Ostasien, insbesondere aber die Invasion Chinas zu rechtfertigen. Dies begann mit dem Ersten Japanisch-Chinesischen Krieg (1895), der zur Annexion Taiwans führte, und steigerte sich durch die Invasion der Mandschurei (1931) bis hin zum totalen Krieg (1937–1945), der über 30 Millionen chinesische Tote, massive Zerstörungen und Gräueltaten wie das Massaker von Nanjing Zigtausende von Toten forderte.Dieser Begriff der „Überlebensbedrohung“ diente auch zur Begründung des Angriffs auf Pearl Harbor (1941) als präventive „Überlebensmaßnahme“. Für China streut die Benutzung dieses Begriffs durch Japans Ministerpräsidentin Salz in immer noch rohe Wunden. Denn Tokio hat sich für seine „enormen Verbrechen“, einschließlich biologischer Kriegsführung und Experimente mit chinesischen Gefangenen und Zivilisten, z.B. durch die berüchtigte Einheit 731, nie entschuldigt. Das macht die aktuelle Rhetorik für China umso schmerzhafter.Abkehr von strategischer AmbiguitätIn einer Parlamentsanhörung am 7. November 2025 erklärte Takaichi, schon eine chinesische Blockade Taiwans könne eine „überlebensbedrohende Krise“ darstellen. Damit gab Japan erstmals seit dem Zweiten Weltkrieg seine strategische Zweideutigkeit gegenüber Taiwan offiziell auf. Selbst eine Blockade ohne Invasion würde nach dieser Logik militärische Intervention im Rahmen kollektiver Selbstverteidigung an der Seite der USA juristisch erlauben....https://apolut.net/japans-neue-ministerprasidentin-setzt-auf-remilitarisierung-von-rainer-rupp/Diese Entwicklung ähnelt Deutschlands sicherheitspolitischem Kurswechsel. Berlin hat nach Jahrzehnten militärischer Zurückhaltung unter dem Druck geopolitischer Spannungen ebenfalls rote Linien verschoben, von der Aufrüstung der Bundeswehr bis zur engeren Anbindung an US-Sicherheitsstrategien. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's refusal to retract her erroneous remarks on theTaiwan question, together with Tokyo's accelerating military buildup near China's doorstep, threatens to push China-Japan relations to a dangerous inflection point.日本首相高市早苗拒绝收回其在台湾问题上的错误言论，加之东京正在中国家门口加速军事扩张，这一态势可能将中日关系推向危险的转折点。By linking the Taiwan question to a "survival-threatening situation" and implying the possibility of Japan's armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait, Tokyo has not only touched China's red line but also shaken thepolitical foundation of bilateral relations.日本政府将台湾问题与“生存威胁”挂钩，并暗示日本可能对台湾海峡采取武装干预，此举不仅触碰了中国的红线，更动摇了双边关系的政治根基。Takaichi's remarks encapsulate a policy orientation that contradicts thesolemn commitments the Japanese government has made regarding the Taiwan question in the four political documents between China and Japan, which leave no room for ambiguity or misinterpretation.高市早苗的言论所体现的政策取向与日本政府在《中日四项政治文件》中就台湾问题作出的庄严承诺相悖，这些文件不留任何模棱两可或误解的余地。As Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized on Sunday, if Japan persists in its own way and keeps making the same mistakes, all countries and people who advocate justice have the right to reexamine Japan's historical crimes and the responsibility to resolutely prevent theresurgence of Japanese militarism.正如中国外交部长王毅周日强调的，如果日本一意孤行、重蹈覆辙，所有主张正义的国家与人民都有权重新审视日本的历史罪行，更有责任坚决防止日本军国主义死灰复燃。Recent developments have reinforced the gravity of the situation. Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has announced that Tokyo will proceed with thedeployment of intermediate-range missiles on Yonaguni Island—barely 110 kilometers from China's Taiwan region—and the rapid expansion of Japan Self-Defense Forces' facilities across the Ryukyu Islands.近期一系列事态发展进一步凸显了局势的严峻性。日本防卫大臣小泉进次郎宣布，东京将推进在距中国台湾地区仅110公里的与那国岛部署中程导弹，并加速在琉球群岛全境扩建日本自卫队设施。These moves, as Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday, are a deliberate attempt to create regional tension and provoke military confrontation. They come alongside Japan's first export of lethal weapons since the relaxation of arms export rules and renewed discussions within the Liberal Democratic Party on revising the three non-nuclear principles upheld by Japan and further increasing its defense spending.正如中国外交部发言人毛宁周一所言，这些举动是蓄意制造地区紧张局势、挑起军事对抗的行径。与此同时，日本在放宽武器出口规则后首次出口致命武器，自民党内部也重新讨论修改日本奉行的“三无核原则”，并进一步增加国防开支。The Potsdam Declaration clearly prohibits Japan from rearming and Japan's pacifist Constitution establishes the exclusive defense-oriented principle. High vigilance from the international community is imperative given Tokyo's obvious intent to brush this principle aside.《波茨坦公告》明确禁止日本重新武装，而日本和平宪法确立了以防卫为宗旨的排他性原则。鉴于东京方面明显有意无视这一原则，国际社会必须保持高度警惕。The moves Japan has taken since Takaichi took office last month all demonstrate Japan is trying to break free from the bounds imposed on it by the postwar arrangement that sought to prevent a repeat of its aggression. The international community therefore has every reason to ask—what exactly is Japan seeking to achieve?自上月高市早苗上任以来，日本采取的一系列举措都表明，该国正试图摆脱战后为防止其侵略历史重蹈覆辙而设定的桎梏。因此，国际社会完全有理由追问：日本究竟意欲何为？China has noted Japan mentioning its "consistent position" on the Taiwan question, but as the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman asked, what exactly is this so-called "consistent position"? Can Japan fully and publicly articulate it? If Japan merely reiterates the concept of "an unchanged position", while remaining vague about its specific content and constantly overstepping its boundaries with its actions, then such reiteration is empty rhetoric.中方注意到日方提及在台湾问题上的“一贯立场”，但正如外交部发言人所问，所谓“一贯立场”究竟是什么？日本能否完整、公开地阐述？如果日本只是重复“立场不变”的概念，对具体内容含糊其辞，同时不断以行动越界，那么这种重复不过是空话。Sino-Japanese relations cannot be built on ambiguity, provocation or historical amnesia, which would only become a prelude to repeated history.中日关系不能建立在模糊不清、挑衅和历史遗忘之上，这些只会成为历史重演的前奏。The historical parallel is chilling. The use of pretexts such as "survival-threatening situation" has been a recurring tactic of Japanese militarism—from its 1931 invasion of Northeast China to the expansion of its aggression across Asia and the attack on Pearl Harbor. As the Chinese nation marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War, the alarm cannot be ignored. It seems the only thing the Takaichi government learns from history is that it learns nothing from history.历史的相似性令人不寒而栗。日本军国主义屡屡以“生存威胁”等借口为由发动侵略——从1931年侵占中国东北，到在亚洲扩张侵略，再到袭击珍珠港。值此中华民族迎来抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利八十周年之际，这般警钟不容忽视。高市早苗政府从历史中汲取的唯一教训，似乎就是“不汲取任何教训”。Japan's current stance also tramples on historical facts. For half a century, Japan forcibly occupied China's Taiwan island, inflicting enormous suffering on the local population. Taiwan's restoration to China is explicitly affirmed in the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender. Taiwan is China's inalienable territory—this is not only a matter of sovereignty but also an integral part of the postwar international order. Japan is the least qualified to make irresponsible remarks on Taiwan, and any attempt to interfere will not be tolerated.日本当前的立场也践踏了历史事实。半个世纪以来，日本强占中国台湾岛，给当地民众造成巨大苦难。《开罗宣言》《波茨坦公告》和《日本投降书》都明确确认台湾回归中国。台湾是中国不可分割的领土——这不仅是主权问题，也是战后国际秩序的重要组成部分。日本最无资格对台湾问题妄加评论，任何干涉企图都绝不容忍。The consequences of Japan's wrongful words and deeds are already emerging. The Chinese people's outrage is real, and it is affecting bilateral exchanges—from declining tourist flows and canceled flights to a reduced market for Japanese products. These are the natural results of public indignation toward provocations that harm China's core interests.日本的妄言妄行已然引发后果。中国人民的愤慨是真实的，正影响着双边交流。从游客减少、航班取消到日本商品市场萎缩，这些都是公众对损害中国核心利益的挑衅行为感到愤慨的自然结果。If Japan truly wants "constructive and stable ties" with China as Tokyo claims, the Takaichi government must first retract the erroneous remarks, take earnest steps to honor its commitments, and stop crossing China's red line on the Taiwan question. Merely asserting that its position has not changed while acting in direct contradiction to that claim will only escalate tensions.如果日本真心希望与中方建立“建设性稳定关系”，正如其一再宣称的那样，高市早苗政府首先必须收回错误言论，切实履行承诺，停止在台湾问题上触碰中国红线。仅声称立场未变却采取与之相悖的行动，只会加剧紧张局势。Taiwan question台湾问题political foundation of bilateral relations双边关系政治基础solemn commitment郑重承诺deployment of intermediate-range missiles中程导弹部署resurgence n./rɪˈsɝː.dʒəns/复苏；兴起；再次兴起；死灰复燃

Hello everyone, a big thanks to all of you who joined the patreon and voted for this to be the next episode, you all are awesome. This is a part 2 about Hirohito's responsibility during the wars of 1931-1945, so if you have not heard part 1, perhaps go do so, or maybe you just don't care about 1931-1940 and just want to hear about the 1941-1945 period, hell by all means enjoy.   So last time we kind of left it on a bit of a dramatic cliff hanger. I spoke about Emperor Hirohito's involvement in what was called at the time the “China Incident”. It was not an official declared war until December of 1941. We left off in 1940, Hirohito was struggling with a situation of juggling two things: 1) how the hell to finally end the China War 2) how to do it without receiving horrible ramifications from the international world. On July 22nd of 1940, Konoe was back and formed a second cabinet. Notably General Hideki Tojo went from vice to army Minister during this time. If you guys ever want a podcast on Hideki Tojo, let me know, he is one rather bizarre figure that's for sure. Konoe tackled his job by holding an imperial HQ government liaison conference. For 90 minutes everyone worked on a new national policy designed to exploit the international situation, IE: Germany bulldozing europe.  The result was a document on national policy dated July 27th. It shifted focus to the “southern area” IE: southeast asia and the Pacific if the China war did not end quickly. Its basis was to exploit the foreign nations that had their hands full in europe, France, Britain and the Netherlands. It called for an invasion of French Indochina to establish bases to launch assaults against the Dutch East Indies for natural resources if diplomatic means failed. It acknowledged if the Dutch East Indies were seized through military means, Japan would also seek to fight Britain, but not the US, instead Japan would prepare for a possible war with the Americans. To all of this Hirohito approved. The army also kept pressuring its desire to ally with Germany. Throughout 1939-1940 Hirohito rejected this idea, not because of any ideological differences, it was because of Germans anti aggression pact with the USSR. If Japan were to ally to Germany, Hirohito wanted it to be mutually to fight the USSR. The Navy likewise opposed allying to Germany because they believed it would force Britain and the US to increase their aid to Chiang Kai-shek.   However the Blitzkrieg changed everything. Everyone was shocked at how well Germany was doing. Prince Chichibu repeatedly argued with Hirohito to change his mind over the alliance idea. Then suddenly the Navy changed their mind and began favoring an alliance. This changed came about in June of 1940 when the France fell. The Navy changed their mind based on a few factors, a major component was the belief if Germany and the USSR were allied, than at least Japan would not have to worry about the USSR and could focus on the pacific. Both the IJA and the IJN believed Hitler would soon take Britain and thus there was a huge desire to join the new international order on the winning side. A third factor was a new clause in negotiations with Germany and Japan, that if they allied Japan would not automatically be drawn into a war with Britain against her will. Some in the navy also believed perhaps Germany could help their diplomatic situation with the Americans. So the army and navy were now both demanding an alliance with Germany, it was all up to hirohito.    At an imperial briefing on June 19th of 1940, Hirohito asked chief of staff Prince Kan'in and the Army Minister Hata “At a time when peace will soon come in the European situation, will there be a deployment of troops to the Netherlands Indies and French Indochina?” Such as question revealed Hirohito's perception at the time that Germany was on the verge of victory and that he was gradually considering the deployment of troops in French Indochina and the Dutch East Indies as neither parent nation were in a position to defend their holdings. In regards to the China war, the Japanese sought to end leaks of materials getting into China from places like Hong Kong. Hirohito received reports indicated Britain would not accept closing the movement of materials into China via Hong Kong. The military acknowledged it would probably be required to invade Hong Kong and thus declare war on Britain. Upon hearing of this Hirohito remarked “Should that happen, I am sure America will use the method of an embargo, don't you agree?” To this his lord of the privy seal, Kido reassured him stating “the nation must be fully resolved to resist to proceed cautiously and not to be dragged into events precipitated by the overseas agencies”. Konoe's second cabinet resolved to end the China war, construct a new order in greater east asia and to complete war preparations as a national defense state. On July 27th at a liaison conference a document was adopted, affirming a course of advancing to the south and to ally with Germany. Japan would incorporate the Dutch East Indies, British Malaya and other resource rich areas of Southeast Asia into its new order while simultaneously bolstering its relationship with the Axis states. After hearing and reading everything, Hirohito sanctioned it all. Thus Hirohito had sanctioned the preliminary actions that would set Japan into a collision course with the US.   In September Japan began sending troops into northern French Indochina after concluding its Tripartite alliance with Germany and Italy. Now Hirohito was briefed beforehand by Army Minister Tojo and other chiefs of staff about securing bases in northern French indochina. Hirohito agreed to this under the belief acquiring such bases would stop more leaked materials going into China and thus contribute to the fall of Chongqing. But Hirohito also sanctioned it under the full knowledge it was preparing the Nanshin-ron advance and that carried a risk of going to war with Britain and by proxy the US. Naturally he wanted to thwart any war breaking out with the US by it seems his officials had convinced him they could manage most of their plans without aggravating the US.   On July 29th with the German offensive aimed at finishing off Britain, Hirohito summoned his chiefs and vice chiefs of staff to the imperial HQ. He began to question the prospects of war with the US. Prince Fushimi replied “[u]nless we complete our domestic preparations, particularly the preparation of our material resources, I do not think we should lightly start war even if there is a good opportunity to do so.” Hirohito then asked if  “the Army were planning to occupy points in India, Australia, and New Zealand.” But overall Hirohito seemed to be the most concerned about the US, Germany and the USSR. “Could Japan, obtain a victory in a naval battle with the United States as we once did in the Battle of the Japan Sea? . . . I heard that the United States will ban exports of oil and scrap iron [to Japan]. We can probably obtain oil from other sources, but don't you think we will have a problem with scrap iron?” In regards to the USSR “If a Japan-Soviet nonaggression treaty is made and we advance to the south, the navy will become the main actor. Has the army given thought to reducing the size of its forces in that case? . . . How do you assess the future national power of Germany? . . . Both Germany and the Soviet Union are untrustworthy countries. Don't you think there will be a problem if one of them betrays us and takes advantage of our exhaustion fighting the United States?I]t seems as though you people are thinking of implementing this plan by force because there is a good opportunity at this moment for resolving the southern problem even though some dangers are involved. . . . What does a good opportunity mean? [To this question Sawada replied: “For example, if a German landing in England commences.”] In that case wouldn't the United States move to aid Britain? . . . Well, I've heard enough. I take it, in short, that you people are trying to resolve the southern problem by availing yourselves of today's good opportunities.”   You can tell Hirohito understood the very real threat of an Anglo-American alliance and was very cautious. It seemed to Hirohito, that his officials were trying to take the limelight off the abysmal situation in China but emphasizing a southern advance. Well Americans response to the Japanese movement into northern French indochina was to see it as a direct threat. Something I have not paid much attention to was Hirohito's decision making being the direct result of trying to mediate between competing entities, ie: the IJA and IJN. At this point in time the IJA and IJN top officials had the power to simply stop governmental functions from occurring altogether whenever they were displeased with a decision. As you can imagine the IJA and IJN were also competing for resources and political power. Thus Hirohito spent a lot of time and effort trying to formulate decisions that at a minimum kept the governance going.    In the end Hirohito sanctioned Imperial HQ army order number 458, ordering the area army to begin the entry into French Indochina. Thus once again Hirohito sanctioned aggression aboard. America began what it called a “moral embargo” on aircraft parts, scrap iron and aviation gasoline. This was one of many gradual steps America took to incrementally sanction Japan, while aiding China to keep it bogged down. Japan's direct response was joining the Axis with a clause “to assist one another with all political, economic and military means if attacked by a power at present not involved in the European War or in the Sino-Japanese conflict”. This clause was designed specifically to check Britain and the US. Hirohito knew this was a turning point carrying the possibility of war with the US. Later he would blame some officials and even his brothers Chichibu and Takamatsu, but not his own actions sanctioning the Axis pact.    Speaking of his brothers, at this time Chichibu got severely ill with tuberculosis and as a result retired from active public life, now Prince Takamatsu stood as next regent. Thus Takamatsu would begin reading reports and advise Hirohito. Takamatsu like Chichibu approved the Tripartite Pact and found his brother Hirohito's performance lacking. Meanwhile Britain responded to the Tripartite pact by opening up the Burma road and America made a loan to Chiang Kai-shek.   The Soviets came to Japan for a neutrality pact and sweetened the deal by offering Soviet coal and oil concessions in North Sakhalin. Hirohito ratified the treaty on April 25th of 1941. 5 weeks later on June 5th, the Japanese ambassador to Berlin, General Oshima Hiroshi reported to Hirohito and the high command that Hitler was about to invade the Soviets. The Army high command sprang into action drafting plans to open a war with the Soviets while simultaneously advancing south into French Indochina. But many in the military also sought to wait until the time was ripe, and a rift emerged. Operation barbarossa commenced and on June 23rd the IJN high command gave their opinion that Japan should seize all military bases and airfields in southern French Indochina even at the risk of war with Britain and America. Can you say boy that escalated quickly?   There was obvious temptation to invade Siberia towards Lake Baikal, but at the same time the western powers were tightening sanctions on Japan, she needed resources. At this point Japan had been stuck in China for 4 years and 5 months, the army had expanded from 17 divisions totalling 250,000 men in july of 1937 to 51 divisions at 2.1 million men in December 8th of 1941. On July 2nd, 10 tens into Operation barbarossa, Konoe summoned an imperial conference to debate actions going forward. The consensus was that southern French Indochina needed to be taken and that it probably would not provoke the US going to war with Japan. Hirohito sanctioned it and on July 30th made a major operational intervention by advising General Sugiyama to build up forces in Manchukuo to prevent the Soviet Far Eastern Army.   Japan negotiated with Vichy France to allow Japanese troops to occupy southern parts of French Indochina. What was to be originally just 40,000 IJA forces turned into 185,000 and in response America increased sanctions and began preparing the Philippines for war. Roosevelt froze Japanese assets in the US on July 26th and by August the 1st a total embargo of oil and gasoline exports to Japan. Konoe's cabinet, the military high command, pretty much everyone was shocked by how harsh the economic sanctions were. Emperor Hirohito told Sugiyama to halt mobilizing forces in Manchukuo and the army basically dropped all plans of attacking the USSR. A month after the US oil embargo suddenly the army had changed its mind to go all in on the southern advance. Britain likewise began sanctions against Japan and both Britain and the US managed to convince the Dutch to follow suit by refusing to sell oil to Japan. The Dutch even took it a step further and followed Americans lead in freezing Japanese assets.    Konoe was in full panic mode, be believed his ambassador to washington was a moron and sought to go in person to speak to Roosevelt. At 11:40am on August 4th Konoe spoke to Hirohito about the plan, but Washington kept making up excuses prolonging any meeting from taking place. Meanwhile Washington was building up its navy, and the IJN were stressing, in the words of Admiral Takagai “As time passes and this situation continues, our empire will either be totally defeated or forced to fight a hopeless war. Therefore we should pursue war and diplomacy together. If there is no prospect of securing our final line of national survival by diplomatic negotiations, we must be resolved to fight.” Hirohito understood the predicament full well, that each day Japan was wasting its oil reserves, if they were to strike it had to be quickly.    On september 3rd at a liaison conference it was decided Japan was to prepare for a war against the US, UK and Netherlands while simultaneously pursuing diplomacy. If diplomacy failed by early October the decision for war would be made. Konoe presented everything to Hirohito on September 5th and requested an imperial conference on the matter. The most important decision of his life was about to be made.    Now take a second to feel the moment. Germany's invasion of the USSR was in its 6th week and not producing a decisive victory; Britain was still in the fight and the Japanese ambassador to London reported back Britain would allow Japan to maintain its great power status and exert influence in asia if they stayed out of the European War and “re-examined their current policy”. An olive branch. Hirohito had options is what I am arguing. He could stale things, he could mobilize units into Manchukuo to simply threaten the Soviet border, he could simply stay out of new wars, even it the China war would get worse, but try to profit from the situation in Europe. He could stop the southern advance, lose the chance to seize the resource in southeast asia, but perhaps the US, UK and Netherlands would lift some sanctions.   After speaking back and forth with Konoe while scolding Sugiyama here is a bit of their conversation:    Emperor: In the event we must finally open hostilities, will our operations have a probability of victory?  Sugiyama: Yes, they will.  Emperor: At the time of the China Incident, the army told me that we could achieve peace immediately after dealing them one blow with three divisions. Sugiyama, you were army minister at that time. . . .  Sugiyama: China is a vast area with many ways in and many ways out, and we met unexpectedly big difficulties. . . . [ellipses in original]  Emperor: Didn't I caution you each time about those matters? Sugiyama, are you lying to me? Nagano: If Your Majesty will grant me permission, I would like to make a statement.  Emperor: Go ahead.  Nagano: There is no 100 percent probability of victory for the troops stationed there. . . . Sun Tzu says that in war between states of similar strength, it is very difficult to calculate victory. Assume, however, there is a sick person and we leave him alone; he will definitely die. But if the doctor's diagnosis offers a seventy percent chance of survival, provided the patient is operated on, then don't you think one must try surgery? And if, after the surgery, the patient dies, one must say that was meant to be. This indeed is the situation we face today. . . . If we waste time, let the days pass, and are forced to fight after it it is too late to fight, then we won't be able to do a thing about it.  Emperor: All right, I understand. [He answered in a better mood.]  Konoe: Shall I make changes in tomorrow's agenda? How would you like me to go about it? Emperor: There is no need to change anything.   There is no need to change anything. Konoe grabbed Hirohito for a private audience afterwards and tried to get Hirohito to revise the outline, but Hirohito ignored this. Hirohito at that point could have stopped or at least slowed down the countdown to all out war. Hirohito instead did not want to displease the pro-war factions in his military, perhaps he saw them as a threat to his authority. Hirohito was not at all pleased with the policy plan. When he was shown in on september 5th, he looked extremely irritated and blew up on Sugiyama and the army high command as a whole. 20 minutes before the Imperial conference on September 6th, Hirohito spoke with his lord of the privy Kido and told him he was going to raise some questions at the meeting. Kido told him that it would be best to leave the questions at the very end, basically he was advising to allow for things to go through. Thus Hirohito sat through the meeting and sanction the preparations for war. Here is a conversation between Hirohito and the Chiefs of the general staff:   Emperor: You may go ahead and mobilize. But if the Konoe-Roosevelt talks go well, you'll stop, won't you?  Chief of the General Staff: Indeed, your majesty, we will.  Emperor: I will ask you one more time: Is there any possibility that the north [that is, the Soviet Union] may move against us while we are engaged in the south [emphasis added]?  Chief of the General Staff: I cannot say that will absolutely not occur. However, because of the season it is inconceivable that large forces will be able to attack us   Meanwhile Konoe's deadline to reach a diplomatic resolution with the US was fast approaching. On October 13th Hirohito told Kido “In the present situation there seems to be little hope for the Japan–U.S. negotiations. If hostilities erupt this time, I think I may have to issue a declaration of war.” The next day Konoe held his last cabinet meeting and Army minister Tojo took the lionshare of talking:   For the past six months, ever since April, the foreign minister has made painstaking efforts to adjust relations [with the United States.] Although I respect him for that, we remain deadlocked. . . . Our decision was “to start the war . . . if by early October we cannot thoroughly achieve our demands through negotiations.” Today is the fourteenth. . . . We are mobilizing hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Others are being moved from China and Manchuria, and we have requisitioned two million tons of ships, causing difficulties for many people. As I speak ships are en route to their destinations. I would not mind stopping them, and indeed would have to stop them, if there was a way for a diplomatic breakthrough. . . . The heart of the matter is the [imposition on us of] withdrawal [from Indochina and China]. ...If we yield to America's demands, it will destroy the fruits of the China Incident. Manchukuo will be endangered and our control of Korea undermined   And so Konoe resigned two days later, but before he did his last official action was to recommend Prince Higashikuni to succeed him, in fact he got Tojo to do the same. Prince Higashikuni was deemed capable of controlling both the Army and Navy. And what did Hirohito say to this? He said no, and appointed Hideki Tojo. Why? As going back to the beginning of this series, to protect the Kokutai. He did not want a member of the royal family to hold the seat as Prime Minister during a time when war might be declared, a war that Japan might lose, which would toss the responsibility onto the imperial house. It was a threat to the Kokutai. Hirohito chose Tojo because Tojo was 100% loyal subject to the emperor. Tojo was the perfect fall guy if one ever existed.    Between November 8-15th, Hirohito received a full rundown of the Pearl Harbor surprise attack plan and sanctioned it. The deadline to reach a diplomatic solution with the US was set for midnight December 1st.    Hirohito ever since the Mukden Incident had expressed fear that not taking warlike actions, not pumping up the kokutai or not suppressing dissent would jeopardize the imperial system of government and damage the imperial institution itself. For Hirohito domestic conflicts were more dangerous than external ones, because they carried the risk of eroding the monarchy. As the time approached for his finally decision on declaring war, Hirohito requested a last round of discussion. The carriers enroute to Pearl harbor departed on november 27th, while on December 1st, 19 leaders, the entire Tojo cabinet and Emperor met. Tojo pulled a rather cheeky maneuver, he reported the response from America, the famous Hull note by stating “the United States . . . has demanded that we withdraw troops from all of China [emphasis added],” but in fact, Hull had used only the word “China.” Hara asked “I would like to know,whether Manchukuo is included in the term ‘China'? Did our two ambassadors confirm this point?” Togo's reply to this was “However . . . the American proposal [early in the negotiations on] April 16 stated that they would recognize the state of Manchukuo, so Manchukuo would not be part of China. . . . On the other hand . . . there has been a change in their position . . . they look upon Chungking as the one and only legitimate regime, and . . . they want to destroy the Nanking regime, [so] they may retract what they have said previously” A nonsensical gibberish answer, intentionally done to make everyone think America did in fact include Manchukuo, thus forcing everyone to see the demands as impossible to comply with. Togo finished the meeting : “Once His Majesty decides to commence hostilities, we will all strive to meet our obligations to him, bring the government and the military ever closer together, resolve that the nation united will go on to victory, make an all-out effort to achieve our war aims, and set his majesty's mind at ease. I now adjourn the meeting.” Hirohito simply nodded. Sugiyama remarked that the emperor did not show the slightest sign of anxiety, in fact he looked like he was in a good mood.   Hirohito's naval aid Jo Eiichiro wrote minutes on the first day of the pacific war, recording the emperors actions. 4 A.M. (Japan time): Japan issued a final ultimatum to the United States. 3:30 A.M.: the Hawaiian surprise attack was successful. 5:30 A.M.: Singapore bombed. Great results. Air attacks on Davao, Guam, Wake. 7:10 A.M.: All the above was reported to the emperor. The American gunboat Wake was captured on the Shanghai front. The British gunboat Petrel was sunk. From 7:15 to 7:30 the chief of the Navy General Staff reported on the war situation. At 7:30 the prime minister informally reported to the emperor on the imperial rescript declaring war. (Cabinet meeting from 7 A.M.). At 7:35 the chief of the Army General Staff reported on the war situation. At 10:45 the emperor attended an emergency meeting of the privy council. At 11:00 A.M. the imperial rescript declaring war was promulgated. 11:40 A.M. Hirohito conferred with Kido for about twenty minutes.] At 2:00 P.M. the emperor summoned the army and navy ministers and bestowed an imperial rescript on them. The army minister, representing both services, replied to the emperor. [At 3:05 P.M. the emperor had a second meeting with Kido, lasting for about twenty minutes.] At 4:30 P.M. the chiefs of staff formally reported on the draft of the Tripartite (Germany-Italy-Japan) Military Pact. At 8:30 P.M. the chief of the Navy General Staff reported on the achievements of the Hawaii air attack. . . . Throughout the day the emperor wore his naval uniform and seemed to be in a splendid mood.   Hirohito believed Germany would win, thus if with their help he believed Japan could thwart off the US until a negotiated peace. Having made his choice, Hirohito devoted himself to presiding over and guiding the war to victory at all costs. He was a extremely cautious person, every single campaign he looked for what could go wrong, made worse case scenario predictions and was very suspicious of reports from his high officials. He was notably very harsh and critical on said high commanders. Although he did not visit the war theaters as did other commanders in chief, he exercised and controlled influence on theater operations, both in the planning and execution whenever he chose to do so. As was the same case with the China war before it, he issued the highest military orders of the Imperial HQ, performed audited conferences and led to decisions transmitted in his name. He received generals and admirals to the imperial palace who gave full reports of the battlefront. He visited bases, battleships, various army and naval headquarters. He inspected military schools, you know the full shebang.    After 26 months of war, the naval air force had lost 26,006 aircraft, nearly a third of its total power, thousands of veteran pilots were dead. Hundreds of thousands of tons of warship was sunk, the merchant and transport fleet was crippled. Late 1943 saw the Americans turning the initiative of the war, Japan was on the defensive. Guadalcanal had been the major turning point. During the staled battle for the philippines, Hirohito pressed upon Army chief of staff Sugiyama to increase troop strength to knock out Bataan. The problem persisted, on February 9th and 26th Hirohito pressed Sugiyama again about getting more troops to take Bataan.   Hirohito was confronted with the prisoner of war issue after the doolittle raid. When the pilots were caught, Togo initially opposed executions, but many in the IJA sought all 8 men executed. Hirohito chose to intervene and commuted the execution of 5 out of the 8. Why just 5, no one knows to this day, but its theorized it was to demonstrate his benevolence while simultaneously giving a bit of what the army wanted.    The CBI theater took the lionshare of his attention in 1942, he continuously pressed up Sugiyama when a final blow would be delivered against Chongqing. When the Midway disaster occurred, Hirohito was given a full report of what happened, but he chose to hid the extent of the loss from the IJA. In fact in response to the Guadalcanal campaign he was heard once asking “I wonder if this is not the start of the AmericanBritish counteroffensive?” He urged his commanders to increase offensive activities and to toss all weapons possible at the enemy, because Japan needed more time to secure its reserves of vital oil, rubber and iron. When he heard the first report of the Ichiki detachment being wiped out, he simply stated “I am sure it [Guadalcanal] can be held.” With numerous reports pouring in about the men dying from tropical disease and starvation, Hirohito kept demanding greater efforts from them. Hirohito continuously applied pressure on his naval and land commanders to recapture the island. On September 15th, November 5th and November 11th he called for more IJA troops and aircraft to be allocated to it. Sugiyama was nervous about sending more IJA pilots as they were inexperienced in transoceanic combat and he sought to reinforce the north china army to hit Chongqing. Hirohito demanded it a second time and Sugiyama replied the IJA had deployed its air power instead to New Guinea and Rabaul. Hirohito continuously hammered the issue despite the high level commanders disagreeing with it. By late november it was clear guadalcanal was a lost cause.    At an imperial HQ conference on December 31st of 1942, the chiefs of staff reported they would cancel the attempts to recapture guadalcanal. Hirohito sanctioned it but stated “It is unacceptable to just give up on capturing Guadalcanal. We must launch an offensive elsewhere.” Hirohito forced the issue and it was decided the new strategic points would be in the solomons north of New Georgia and the Stanley range on New Guinea. Hirohito in fact threatened not to authorize the withdrawal of men from Guadalcanal until such a plan was made. Hirohito would go on to oppose the withdrawal from the Munda airfield on New Georgia since it contradicted the new defensive line. As the defensive perimeter in the central and northern solomons was crumbling, Hirohito continued to demand the navy fight decisive battles to regain the initiative so ships could begin transports supplies to the countless soldiers trapped on islands without them. When Hirohito heard of the navy's failure to reinforce Lae on March 3rd he stated  “Then why didn't you change plans immediately and land at Madan? This is a failure, but it can teach us a good lesson and become a source of future success. Do this for me so I can have peace of mind for awhile.” “Do this for me” would become his signature message.    In August of 1943 as the fall of the solomons progressed, Hirohito lambasted “Isn't there someplace where we can strike the United States? . . . When and where on earth are you [people] ever going to put up a good fight? And when are you ever going to fight a decisive battle?Well, this time, after suffering all these defeats, why don't you study how not to let the Americans keep saying ‘We won! We won!'[emphasis added]”” Hirohito berated his chiefs of staff and in the face of mounting defeats he remained undismayed, rigidly self disciplined and aggressive as ever. When he received a report on September 21st of 1943 that the allies were heading for Finschhafen he replied “Being ready to defend isn't enough. We have to do the attacking.”   When the Americans destroyed the main naval anchorage at Truk forcing the navy to evacuate it, leaving behind numerous tanks, the dream of fighting one great decisive naval battle in the central pacific was over.    On February 21st of 1944, Hirohito took the unprecedented action to force Sugiyama to resign so Tojo could assume his position, alongside that of army minister and prime minister. He did this to end dissent. Hirohito and Tojo oversaw the haymaker attempts in 1944, like operation Ichi-go and the Imphal campaign fall into ruins. It looked like the Philippines, Taiwan, Okinawa, the Bonin islands and eventually the home islands would be invaded. When Saipan fell, the home islands had at last come into range of the dreaded B-29 Super flying fortresses. Hirohito had warned Tojo “If we ever lose Saipan, repeated air attacks on Tokyo will follow. No matter what it takes, we have to hold there.” For two days his chiefs of staff explained the dire situation on Saipan was hopeless, but Hirohito ignored their advice and ordered Admiral Shimada to recapture it, the first department of the navy general staff immediately poured themselves into the problem. Day and night they worked, until a draft plan was created on June 21st, 3 days later the combined fleet gave opposition. Tojo and Shimada formally reported to Hirohito the recapture plan needed to be canceled. Hirohito refused to accept the loss of Saipan and ordered his chief aide General Hasunuma to convene in his presence the board of field marshals and fleet admirals. They all met on the 25th, upon which they all unanimously stated the reports indicating Saipan was a lost cause were valid, Hirohito simply told them to put it in writing and he left the room.    Hirohito finally decided to withdraw his support of Tojo, allowing Tojo's numerous enemies to take down his cabinet on July 18th 1944. But Hirohito was undaunted in determination to steal victory from the allies. Imperial HQ on October 18th ordered a decisive naval battle and the battle of Leyte Gulf was it. After the war Hirohito would go on the record stating “Contrary to the views of the Army and Navy General Staffs, I agreed to the showdown battle of Leyte thinking that if we attacked at Leyte and America flinched, then we would probably be able to find room to negotiate.” This statement shows the facts as they were, Hirohito and his chiefs of staff forced the field commander, General Tomoyuki Yamashita to engage the American invasion force in a place Yamashita did not want to fight nor prepared adequate defenses. It was a horrible loss.   The Kamikaze attacks increased as Japan's desperation wore on. On new years day of 1945 Hirohito inspected the special last meal rations given to departing kamikaze units. Iwo Jima fell. Okinawa remained, and Hirohito lashed out “Is it because we failed to sink enemy transports that we've let the enemy get ashore? Isn't there any way to defend Okinawa from the landing enemy forces?”  On the second day of Okinawa's invasion Hirohito ordered a counter landing by the 32nd army and urged the navy to counterattack in every way possible. It was a horrible failure, it cost the lives of up to 120,000 Japanese combatants, 170,000 noncombatants. The Americans lost 12,500 killed and 33,000 wounded. An absolute bloodbath.    Konoe re-entered the stage writing to Hirohito pleading with him to order a surrender because from his perspective “The Soviet Union is Japan's biggest threat. Defeat was inevitable, but more to be feared than defeat was the destruction of the Kokutai. Sue quickly for peace, before a Communist revolution occurred that would make preservation of the kokutai impossible”. Hirohito was taken aback by this, as he shared his military's hope that the Soviets would help Japan reach a peace settlement. So he rejected the advice of Konoe. Hirohito remarked “If we hold out long enough in this war, we may be able to win, but what worries me is whether the nation will be able to endure it until then.” Then Japan's intelligence units reported the Soviets were going to break the neutrality pact and join the war once the Germans were done. Meanwhile Tokyo was turned to rubble on March 9th 1945 by 334 B-29's dropping firebombs, 40% of the capital was destroyed, up to 100,000 were dead. Hirohito remained undaunted. 60 Japanese cities were leveled by firebomb campaigns. Europe's war finished. Then the battle for Okinawa was lost, suddenly Hirohito began looking for ways to end the war.   On June 22nd Hirohito personally informed the supreme war leadership council his desire to see diplomatic maneuvers to end the war. A special envoy was sent to Moscow, while Hirohito publicly issued an imperial rescript ordering the nation “to smash the inordinate ambitions of the enemy nations and achieve the goals of the war”. B-29's began dropping leaflets with joint declarations issued by the US, UK and China requesting the citizens of Japan demand their government surrender. Prefectural governors, police chiefs and officers began submitting home ministry reports on the rapid deterioration of the nations spirit.   Germany signed the unconditional surrender documents on May 7th and 8th of 1945, Japan was alone. Newly installed President Truman declared on May 8th, Japan's surrender would not mean the extermination or enslavement of the Japanese people, but the unconditional surrender principles remained unaltered. The Japanese meanwhile were awaiting word from the Soviets. The Americans unleashed their first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6th of 1945 killing up to 140,000 people. Then on August 8th the Soviet Union declared war on Japan and began an invasion of Manchuria. On August 9th the second atomic bomb hit Nagasaki killing around 40,000 people.   Thus began the surrender clock as I like to say. After the first atomic bomb, Hirohito said and did nothing about the surrender terms. Hirohito then authorized Togo to notify the world on August 10th that Japan would accept the allied terms of surrender with one condition “that the said declaration does not comprise any demand which prejudices the prerogatives of His Majesty as a Sovereign Ruler.” The next day, Secretary of State Byrnes replied by alluding to the subordination of the emperors authority to the supreme commander of the allied powers. It was ambiguous as hell. The Japanese leaders erupted into arguments, and on August 14th, Hirohito went before a microphone and recorded his capitulation announcement which aired on August 15th to all in Japan, they surrendered. Why did it take so long?   The peace talks between the Japanese and Soviets went on through June, July and early August. Japan offered the Soviets limited territorial concessions and they refused to accept the envoy on July 22nd because the Japanese were being too ambiguous in their terms. There was continuous back and forth between the intelligence of Moscow and Japan trying to figure out the stance of the other, but then Stalin heard about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, he was shocked and ordered an invasion of Manchuria in response. In the meantime the Japanese were tossing all sorts of concessions at Moscow, they stated they would allow Japanese to be used as forced laborers in Siberia, a form of reparation as it were, that they would demobilize the military and so on. The response was the invasion of Manchuria.    Hirohito knew prior to the bombing of Hiroshima that the cabinet was divided on accepting the Potsdam terms. Hirohito also knew he and he alone could unify governmental affairs and military command. Why then did he wait until the evening of August 9th to surrender?   The reality of the matter is its complicated, numerous variables at play, but let me try to pick at it. The people of japan under the firebomb campaigns were becoming hostile towards the military, the government and many began to criticize the emperor. Hirohito was given reports from the Home Ministry from governors and police chiefs all over Japan revealing people were speaking of the emperor as an incompetent leader who was responsible for worsening the war situation. Does that sound like a threat to the Kokutai? People were starving en masse, the atomic bomb is flashy, but what really was killing the Japanese, it was starvation. The home islands were blockaded and the sea approaches mined as pertaining to the optimally named “operation starvation”. Hirohito knew full well how bad his people were suffering but he did not surrender for so long.   After Hiroshima was bombed, Hirohito delayed for 2 days before telling Kido at 10am on August 9th “quickly control the situation, the Soviet Union has declared war and today began hostilities against us”. Now here is a piece of Hirohito's surrender proclamation to the citizens of Japan    “Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization. Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers... The hardships and sufferings to which Our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all of you, Our subjects. However, it is according to the dictates of time and fate that We have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is unsufferable ”.   Hirohito wanted to obfuscate the issue of accountability, to prevent expressions of strife and anger and to strengthen domestic unity around himself, to protect and raise the kokutai. Did you know there was a rescript of this proclamation that was made to the entire IJA and IJN? Yes Emperor Hirohito gave out two different proclamations for surrender, here is what the armed forces heard.   “ Now that the Soviet Union has entered the war against us, to continue . . . under the present conditions at home and abroad would only recklessly incur even more damage to ourselves and result in endangering the very foundation of the empire's existence. Therefore, even though enormous fighting spirit still exists in the Imperial Navy and Army, I am going to make peace with the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union, as well as with Chungking, in order to maintain our glorious national polity”.   The proclamation does not speak of the atomic weapons, but emphasizes the Soviet invasion of Manchuria. Hirohito was presented as a benevolent sage and an apolitical ruler that had ended the war. Hirohito sought to justify the surrender upon the bombs to the public, but did he believe so, did his armed forces believe so? People debate to this day why the surrender occurred, I love the fact there are two message offered because both are true. Hirohito's decision to surrender was based on numerous variables, the atomic bombs, the invasion of Manchuria by the soviets, but above all else, what really was important to the man, the emperor, the god? The kokutai. The Soviets were more of a threat to the kokutai, thus Hirohito jumped into the arms of the Americans. The language between the Americans and Japanese in the communications for unconditional surrender were ambiguous, but Hirohito and the high commanders knew there was zero chance of the kokutai surviving if the Soviets invaded Japan, perhaps the Americans would allow it to continue, which is just what they ended up doing. The entire purpose of this series would to emphasize how Hirohito definitely had a active role in the war of 1931-1945, he had numerous occasions where he could put the hammer down to stop the situation from escalating. But in the end when his back was against the wall, he did what he did to cling on to the Kokutai.   I shall leave you with this. On August 12th, as Hirohito came to inform the imperial family of his decision to surrender, Prince Asaka asked him whether the war would continue if the Kokutai could not be preserved, what do you think he said? “Of Course”. 

Japan's nominal unconditional surrender was conditional on retaining Emperor Hirohito, who was deemed helpful for managing troops and legitimizing the US occupation. General MacArthur, haunted by the Bataan Death March, conducted immediate, swift trials via military commissions against two former enemies. MacArthur initially planned a short, six-month trial focused only on aggression at Pearl Harbor.

For this interview I was joined by Mark Stille to discuss his latest book, Pearl Harbor: Japan's Greatest Disaster. https://www.ospreypublishing.com/us/pearl-harbor-9781472865311/ Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to advertise on History of the Second World War. History of the Second World War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This heartfelt episode features a candid conversation between Mike and Emma O'Connell, father-daughter members of O'Connell Family Funeral Homes, as they reflect on legacy, loss, and growing up in a family funeral home. From prom pranks to life-shaping grief experiences, they share the emotional realities and quiet joys that come with serving others in their most tender moments.Episode Highlights (Timestamps):00:01:00 – The rich family history behind OCFH00:03:00 – How funeral homes evolved from furniture makers00:06:30 – The threat of corporate consolidation in funeral care00:08:00 – Emma's winding journey to joining the family business00:10:55 – Memories of growing up around the funeral home00:14:30 – Mike's pride in watching Emma comfort grieving families00:16:30 – Childhood stories (yes, a scooter crash is involved)00:27:00 – Honoring a Pearl Harbor veteran00:32:00 – How grief changed Mike after his brother's death00:35:00 – Emma's personal take on compassion and legacy00:41:30 – The values Emma hopes to pass on to the next generationTakeaways:Funeral service is not just a profession, it's a calling.Legacy is built one story, one act of service, and one person at a time.Grief, when met with community and compassion, can shape a life of meaning.The little moments, like scooter crashes or meatball dinners, often leave the deepest marks.Family-run funeral homes offer a level of personal care that corporate chains cannot replicate.Memorable QuotesEmma O'Connell:You never know what someone's going through. That's why compassion matters.Grief doesn't scare me, it unites people.My job is to offer comfort in the storm.Church basement dinners? A core memory!

This is the VIC 4 VETS, Weekly Honored Veteran. SUBMITTED BY: @NativeAmerican_ on X Code Talker Thomas H. BegayThomas H. Begay was born on November 26, 1926, in a traditional Navajo hogan in a remote area south of Gallup, New Mexico, near Chichiltah and is one of the two last surviving Code Talkers from WWII. He grew up speaking only the Navajo language until age 13, when he was sent to an Indian boarding school in Fort Defiance, Arizona, where he learned English. Inspired by the attack on Pearl Harbor, Begay enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at age 16 in September 1943, though his age was considered flexible at the time. Military Service Initially aspiring to become an aerial gunner, Begay was instead selected for the Navajo Code Talkers program due to his fluency in Navajo. He completed specialized training and was assigned to the 5th Marine Division's Signal Company, specifically the 27th Marine Regiment. As one of approximately 400 Navajo Code Talkers, he helped develop and use an unbreakable code based on the Navajo language (Diné) to transmit secure messages during World War II. He served in the Pacific theater, notably during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945, where he was sent as a replacement for a Code Talker killed in action. On the first day of the battle, two Code Talkers were killed and three wounded; Begay transmitted hundreds of error-free messages, contributing to the Allies' success by confounding Japanese codebreakers. He was honorably discharged from the Marines in July 1946. In 1947, Begay reenlisted in the U.S. Army as a communications specialist and paratrooper with the 7th Infantry Division. He saw intense combat during the Korean War, including surviving the brutal Battle of the Chosin Reservoir in late 1950. He left the military in 1953. Post-War Life and Career After his military service, Begay worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for 40 years on the Navajo Nation reservation. He began as an employment assistance officer, helping Navajos access jobs and education, and advanced to Agency Superintendent of the Chinle Agency, overseeing tribal trust programs. Motivated by his own experiences, he encouraged others, stating, "If I can be a Code Talker, any Navajo can go out and be anything." Begay has remained active in the Navajo Code Talkers Association, traveling to speak publicly, and has written and performed songs in Navajo about World War II. He resides in Window Rock, Arizona, and is described as a community leader and family man. Honors and Legacy Begay's military honors include the Presidential Unit Citation with three Bronze Stars, the Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Korean Service Medal with five Bronze Stars. In 2001, he was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal for his service as a Navajo Code Talker. In 2023, he served as the World War II Veteran Grand Marshal in the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade. As of November 2025, at age 98 (turning 99), Begay is one of only two surviving Navajo Code Talkers, alongside Peter MacDonald. His contributions symbolize Indigenous valor, resilience, and the pivotal role of Navajo Code Talkers in U.S. military history. honoringamericasveterans.org ___________________________________________________________ This Week’s VIC 4 VETS, Honored Veteran on NewsTalkSTL.With support from our friends at:Alamo Military Collectables, and Monical’s PizzaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the VIC 4 VETS, Weekly Honored Veteran. SUBMITTED BY: @NativeAmerican_ on X Code Talker Thomas H. BegayThomas H. Begay was born on November 26, 1926, in a traditional Navajo hogan in a remote area south of Gallup, New Mexico, near Chichiltah and is one of the two last surviving Code Talkers from WWII. He grew up speaking only the Navajo language until age 13, when he was sent to an Indian boarding school in Fort Defiance, Arizona, where he learned English. Inspired by the attack on Pearl Harbor, Begay enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at age 16 in September 1943, though his age was considered flexible at the time. Military Service Initially aspiring to become an aerial gunner, Begay was instead selected for the Navajo Code Talkers program due to his fluency in Navajo. He completed specialized training and was assigned to the 5th Marine Division's Signal Company, specifically the 27th Marine Regiment. As one of approximately 400 Navajo Code Talkers, he helped develop and use an unbreakable code based on the Navajo language (Diné) to transmit secure messages during World War II. He served in the Pacific theater, notably during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945, where he was sent as a replacement for a Code Talker killed in action. On the first day of the battle, two Code Talkers were killed and three wounded; Begay transmitted hundreds of error-free messages, contributing to the Allies' success by confounding Japanese codebreakers. He was honorably discharged from the Marines in July 1946. In 1947, Begay reenlisted in the U.S. Army as a communications specialist and paratrooper with the 7th Infantry Division. He saw intense combat during the Korean War, including surviving the brutal Battle of the Chosin Reservoir in late 1950. He left the military in 1953. Post-War Life and Career After his military service, Begay worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for 40 years on the Navajo Nation reservation. He began as an employment assistance officer, helping Navajos access jobs and education, and advanced to Agency Superintendent of the Chinle Agency, overseeing tribal trust programs. Motivated by his own experiences, he encouraged others, stating, "If I can be a Code Talker, any Navajo can go out and be anything." Begay has remained active in the Navajo Code Talkers Association, traveling to speak publicly, and has written and performed songs in Navajo about World War II. He resides in Window Rock, Arizona, and is described as a community leader and family man. Honors and Legacy Begay's military honors include the Presidential Unit Citation with three Bronze Stars, the Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Korean Service Medal with five Bronze Stars. In 2001, he was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal for his service as a Navajo Code Talker. In 2023, he served as the World War II Veteran Grand Marshal in the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade. As of November 2025, at age 98 (turning 99), Begay is one of only two surviving Navajo Code Talkers, alongside Peter MacDonald. His contributions symbolize Indigenous valor, resilience, and the pivotal role of Navajo Code Talkers in U.S. military history. honoringamericasveterans.org ___________________________________________________________ This Week’s VIC 4 VETS, Honored Veteran on NewsTalkSTL.With support from our friends at:Alamo Military Collectables, and Monical’s PizzaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the calm of a Sunday morning in Hawaii to the sands of the South Pacific, this chapter marks the turning of the tide. It begins with the shock of Pearl Harbor and the desperate stands at Wake, Guam, and Corregidor, small garrisons that fought to the last shot. It follows the first lonely outpost in Iceland, where Marines waited through wind and ice while the world slipped into war, then turns to the islands of the Solomons, where the Corps learned to fight, bleed, and win in the jungles of the Pacific. Out of fire, hunger, and mud, a new kind of Marine emerged: amphibious, relentless, and ready for the long road to victory. Support the Series Listen ad-free and a week early on historyofthemarinecorps.supercast.com Donate directly at historyofthemarinecorps.com Try a free 30-day Audible trial at audible.com/marinehistory Social Media Instagram - @historyofthemarines Facebook - @marinehistory Twitter - @marinehistory

Sydney Levit was 17 years old when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Like most kids his age, he was eager to serve. In 1943, Levit was drafted into the U.S. Army and he soon had the opportunity to join the airborne, training as a paratrooper and also with gliders. He became part of the 17th Airborne Division.In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Levit describes the rigorous training he went through as part of the airborne, including his first jump out of an airplane and learning how gliders work. He then explains how his unit spent months training in England, waiting to enter the fight. Their first action was at Malmedy and was both vicious and chaotic.Levit details the logistical fight against the Germans at the Bulge and the separate struggle against the brutal and unrelenting cold that was also a daily fight to stay alive.Then, Levit takes us into Operation Varsity, the massive airborne campaign designed to help the Allies cross the Rhine River. Yet, very few Americans are even aware of it.Levit also shares memorable moments away from the fighting, including his interactions with prisoners, being stunned by the death of President Roosevelt, and being surprised when a Hollywood star just popped into his tent.

We are back from our first Aulani trip so that means trip recap time! Listen in on our first two days at Aulani where we went to Pearl Harbor, experienced the Kawa'a luau and all that Aulani has to offer.Watch us on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@makeitmagicalpodInstagram: @makeitmagicalpodSupport the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MakeitmagicalpodSupport the show and Buy Us a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/makeitmagicalUse our code MAGICALPOD20 for 20% on your next order at Park Hop TeesUse our code MAGICAL10 for 10% off your next order at Crowned AthleticsUse our code MAGICAL15 for 15% off your next order at Magic Candle CompanyGrab some Disney books from our Amazon StorefrontEmail us anytime at:  makeitmagicalpod@gmail.com

Feliks Banel's guest on this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY is author and radio historian Michael C. Keith. He's a retired academic, and prolific author and editor of fiction and non-fiction. Among his titles are the iconic text book THE RADIO STATION, and the collection of essays RADIO CULTURES: THE SOUND MEDIUM IN AMERICAN LIFE. Michael C. Keith also worked closely with the late Norman Corwin, American radio playwright and author, and the man responsible for WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS. WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS was a live broadcast on all four American radio networks on December 15, 1941 - just eight days after the attack on Pearl Harbor - marking the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights. CASCADE OF HISTORY will be presenting WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS live from, and in partnership with, Town Hall Seattle and live on SPACE 101.1 FM on December 15, 2025 at 7:30pm Pacific Time. We spoke with Michael C. Keith on November 13, 2025 in order to provide some history context in advance of the 2025 production. For more information about attending WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS at Town Hall Seattle: https://townhallseattle.org/event/we-hold-these-truths/ CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms' quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle. Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes.

Agradece a este podcast tantas horas de entretenimiento y disfruta de episodios exclusivos como éste. ¡Apóyale en iVoox! Acceso anticipado para Fans - ** VIDEO EN NUESTRO CANAL DE YOUTUBE **** https://youtube.com/live/zPMRsTIts-4 +++++ Hazte con nuestras camisetas en https://www.bhmshop.app +++++ #historia #historiamilitar En este episodio de Bellumartis Historia Militar, analizamos gracias a José Antonio Mayo Davó, autor de "Ellos estuvieron allí" ** https://amzn.to/3Lma2bt **, la trascendental Batalla de Midway, el enfrentamiento naval que cambió el curso de la Guerra en el Pacífico. Tras el golpe en Pearl Harbor y la expansión japonesa en el Pacífico, el almirante Yamamoto planeó una trampa para destruir la flota estadounidense. Sin embargo, gracias a la inteligencia y al descifrado de códigos, la Marina de los EE.UU. logró anticipar el ataque y preparar una respuesta decisiva. Revive los momentos cruciales del combate: los ataques de los escuadrones de torpederos, la audaz ofensiva de los bombarderos en picado y la dramática destrucción de los portaaviones japoneses. Una batalla que selló el destino del Imperio Japonés y marcó el inicio de la contraofensiva aliada. OTROS EPISODIOS - “SOL NACIENTE” https://youtube.com/live/ZlVMDh9m4J0 SEGUNDO EPISODIO -"LA BLITZKRIEG JAPONESA" https://youtube.com/live/dUKLm0CBNgQ - "EL ATAQUE A PEARL HARBOR" https://youtube.com/live/0KLNGhMZfQk - "DE FILIPINAS AL MAR DEL CORAL" https://youtu.be/7C2X_5AuBvQ COMPRA EN AMAZON CON EL ENLACE DE BHM Y AYUDANOS ************** https://amzn.to/3ZXUGQl ************* Si queréis apoyar a Bellumartis Historia Militar e invitarnos a un café o u una cerveza virtual por nuestro trabajo, podéis visitar nuestro PATREON https://www.patreon.com/bellumartis o en PAYPALhttps://www.paypal.me/bellumartis o en BIZUM 656/778/825 Escucha este episodio completo y accede a todo el contenido exclusivo de BELLUMARTIS PODCAST. Descubre antes que nadie los nuevos episodios, y participa en la comunidad exclusiva de oyentes en https://go.ivoox.com/sq/618669

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What do propaganda posters have in common across nation and time, and how is that related to the medial prefrontal cortex? What is behind repeating cycles of societal polarization? What does any of this have to do with the American Civil War, hippies vs soldiers, border ruffians vs free-staters, hanging chads, Pearl Harbor, and why education can serve as an immune response to mind viruses?

Dr Adam Koontz and Col Willie Grills talk about why Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Communist influence in America, and understanding history without the filter of modern consensus. Visit our website - A Brief History of Power Sign up for Memento, a Lutheran devotional for men. Thanks to our sponsor, Gnesio Health Dr Adam Koontz - Redeemer Lutheran Church Pr. Willie Grills - Zion Lutheran Church Music thanks to Verny

With Imperial Japan's military panicking over the oil embargo from the United States, the leaders of the Empire of Japan decided to respond by launching one of the most famous and deadliest surprise attacks in history.Support the show My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platforms!

Last episode we talked about Hawaiian ghosts, and there are many more for us to talk about like the Honolulu airport, Pearl Harbor, Hickam Air Force base.Drinking Killians Red ale. Went simple tonight.Remember to follow us on social media!We have a TikTok store under Spirit Chasers

Last episode we talked about Hawaiian ghosts, and there are many more for us to talk about like the Honolulu airport, Pearl Harbor, Hickam Air Force base.Drinking Killians Red ale. Went simple tonight.Remember to follow us on social media!We have a TikTok store under Spirit Chasers

Ten Years before Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor, a powerful and increasingly autonomous military force had already pushed Japan down the path to war. That force was the Kwantung Army. In this episode, James interviews author Quin Cho about his new book The Rise of the Kwantung Army: Japan's Empire in Manchuria to 1932. In this excellent work, Cho provides in-depth insights into the motivations, strategies, and often rogue actions of the force that propelled Japan down its disastrous path toward Pearl Harbor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have reached the drunkest podcast of the season! The guys get into the 3-hour nightmare that is Pearl Harbor. And before any says anything, it's the script, acting, and Ben Affleck that made the movie awful! But to the veterans of Pearl Harbor, to the WWII veterans, and all veterans we thank you for everything you've done for this country.

Dan reveres our veterans and honors their service on this Veterans Day - and every day - revistiing archival audio of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt announcing the response of the United States to the attacks on Pearl Harbor by Japan.By contrast, former First Lady Michelle Obama strikes a sour note with tone-deaf complaints about her lavish life in the White House during her eight years there.

Dean Karayanis, sitting in for Derek, digs into his archives at the History Author Show to bring you the voices of men who served in World War II on Veterans Day 2025. First up is Captain Roger Boas who rolled with General George S. Patton's 4th Armored Division and, at age 94 he published his memoir, “Battle Rattle: A Last Memoir of World War II.” Next is Lt. Jim Downing, author of “The Other Side of Infamy: My Journey Through Pearl Harbor and the World of War,” written when he was 103. Finally, a clip of legendary character actor and D-Day veteran Charles Durning reading Lester Tenney's story of the Bataan Death March and the atrocities he witnessed at the hands of Imperial Japan. Thank to all our veterans and to the families who support them.

No other American has a family history quite like Christine Kuehn. Through years of doing painstaking interviews, hunting down letters, and pouring through FBI records, Christine learned that her German-born aunt had a fling with Nazi politician Joseph Goebbels. When he found out she was half-Jewish, Goebbels sent the family to Hawaii to spy. After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Christine's grandfather was found guilty of providing intelligence to the Japanese. In this episode we hear how Christine Keuhn strung together her family secrets to tell her family history in her book, Family of Spies, which is coming out November 25th.  Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic,  you can reach us by E-mail at SpyCast@Spymuseum.org,  This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, Airwave, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Late autumn 1941. The Sunday service had just concluded. As their father lingered at the little north-country church, my dad and his siblings walked the short distance home. When their father came up the snowy hill to the farmhouse, he was crying. He’d just learned Pearl Harbor had been bombed. His sons—my dad included—would be going to war. Dad always recalled the moment in vivid detail. Researchers call such events “flashbulb memories”—moments seared into our minds. Think of 9/11, or the day you lost someone close. Think too of your most joyous experience. Imagine the flashbulb memories of Jesus’ disciples. They witnessed miracle after miracle. Suddenly, catastrophe struck. The Son of God was arrested and crucified. But then, resurrection! Mary Magdalene hurried to tell the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18). Still, the disciples hid in fear. They didn’t believe the news (Luke 24:11), not until “Jesus came and stood among them” (John 20:19). Then, “The disciples were overjoyed” (v. 20). John recorded some of those moments, saying, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (v. 31). “Flashbulb memories” with eternal significance.

Today we're going back to 1942 for a wartime drama from The Cavalcade of America, one of radio's most unsung A-list anthology series. This episode, In The Best Tradition, stars Orson Welles and was originally broadcast in honor of Navy Day. It's pure patriotic storytelling, tracing the proud history of the U.S. Navy from its founding in 1775 to the modern age of steel and ordnance. You'll hear about heroes like John Paul Jones and Commodore Oliver Perry, the invention of the mighty Dahlgren cannon, and even a moving scene set during the attack on Pearl Harbor. It's a powerful slice of history, mixing courage, innovation, and sacrifice; the perfect listen as we honor Veterans Day. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD

Feliks Banel's guest on this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY is Mark Knutzen, president of the Burlington Historical Society in the Skagit County town of Burlington, Washington. In a far-ranging conversation, Mr. Knutzen describes the history of Burlington and Skagit County, as well as his group's effort to preserve and share artifacts and stories from Burlington and surrouding areas. The all-voluntter group is working with the City of Burlington, and hopes to create a history center within the city's old 1916 Carnegie Library. Until then, the Burlington Historical Society presents special programs at least twice a year, including a World War II homefront history event taking place on Saturday, November 15, 2025 from 1pm to 4pm at the current Burlington Library at 820 East Washington Avenue. The event is free and open to the public, and will feature several speakers, including two who remember when the U.S. was plunged into World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor - and who were living in Skagit County at the time. For more information about the WWII homefront history event at Burlington Library on Sat., Nov. 15, 2025 from 1-4pm via the Burlington, WA Historical Society's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Cb1KMmiuA/ CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via flagship station SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms' quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle. Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes.

Vokabelkritik ist zu Kriegszeiten das Gebot der Stunde. Ich veröffentliche in unregelmäßigen Abständen eine Sammlung teils verharmlosender, teils lügenhafter Wörter oder Formulierungen, deren Sinn und Funktion es ist, unsere Gesellschaft – uns alle – an das Undenkbare zu gewöhnen und möglichst geräuschlos in Richtung „Kriegstüchtigkeit“ umzukrempeln. Von Leo Ensel. Dieser Beitrag ist auch als Audio-PodcastWeiterlesen

November 7, 1944. A spy who predicted the Nazi invasion of the USSR and Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is executed. This episode originally aired in 2024.Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more.History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.Go to HistoryDaily.com for more history, daily.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Martha MacCallum, executive editor and anchor of The Story on Fox News, co-anchor of Fox News Politics, and author of Unknown Valor: A Story of Family, Courage, and Sacrifice from Pearl Harbor to Iwo Jima, joined The Guy Benson Show today to unpack the results from last night's off-year elections in NYC, NJ, and VA. MacCallum discussed the New Jersey governor's race and why Democrats' blowout win over Jack Ciattarelli caught many off guard, especially as Ciattarelli appeared close in the most recent polling. MacCallum analyzed how young and Latino voters appeared to swing back toward Democrats after previously moving towards Trump in 2024, and why economic and foreign policy issues may have played a key role in the Democrats' sweep. MacCallum also weighed in on Zohran Mamdani's tone-shifting victory speech, which leaned heavily into identity politics and grievance narratives. Finally, MacCallum explained how California's Prop 50 has once again flipped the redistricting debate on its head following Texas' redistricting efforts, and finally, she touched on King Charles' decision to strip Prince Andrew of his royal title. Listen to the full interview below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome their mutual buddy, John McManus to the show to discuss the role of the US Army at Pearl Harbor. Everyone knows what the Navy and Marine Corps did and went through during the Japanese attack on Oahu, but do you know the role of the US Army? Tune in to this episode and you will find out. The guys get into such topics as the Coast Artillery, Army AAA during the raid, individual heroics, attacks on Schofield Barracks and Fort Shafter as well as the role of US Army doctors and nurses in treating the legions of wounded as a result of the attack. Finally, the guys get into a rare "what if" when they discuss what would have happened if the Japanese had actually tried to land on Oahu following the air raid. Interesting to say the least. Check it out! #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #mastersoftheair #8thairforce #mightyeighth #100thbombgroup #bloodyhundredth #b17 #boeing #airforce wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #oldbreed #1stMarineDivision #thepacific #Peleliu #army #marines #marinecorps #worldwar2 #worldwar #worldwarii #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf #rodserling #twilightzone #liberation #blacksheep #power #prisoner #prisonerofwar #typhoon #hurricane #weather #iwojima#bullhalsey #ace #p47 #p38 #fighter #fighterpilot #b29 #strategicstudying #tokyo #boeing #incendiary #usa #franklin #okinawa #yamato #kamikaze #Q&A #questions #questionsandanswers #history #jaws #atomicbomb #nuclear #nationalarchives #nara #johnford #hollywood #fdr #president #roosevelt #doolittle #doolittleraid #pearlharborattack #salvaged

1. LONDINIUM 91 CE. Seven Warnings, Part I. Gaius and Germanicus, joined by retired centurions, convened at the Friends of History Debating Society to discuss Germanicus's list of seven maxims detailing how empires, specifically the US, engage in self-harm or self-destruction. Gaius offered the example of the emperor deciding Nigeria needs attention due to the killing of Christians, asserting America has no interest whatsoever in this venture. He contrasted this unnecessary entanglement with Rome's historical method of handling threats in its self-interest. Rome, when it decided to win, completely wiped out resisting enemies, as demonstrated by the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE and the earlier obliteration of Sepphoris, the capital of Galilee, around 4 BCE. The Romans even renamed Judea to Palestine to deny the populace their historical identity. Germanicus then presented the first four maxims routinely ignored by US war fighters: (1) Never let a foreign power define your interests and objectives—this warning cited historical entanglement examples, including the British in two World Wars and modern manipulation by Ukraine, NATO countries, and Israel; (2) Never let initial success fool you into thinking you're winning—Germanicus noted that this "victory disease" affected the Japanese after Pearl Harbor and the US during the invasion of Iraq and the initial stages of the Ukraine war; (3) The failure chosen now is always better than the failure forced upon you later—this maxim addresses the destructive "stay the course" mentality, exemplified by the Vietnam War, driven by courtiers worried about reputation rather than effectiveness; (4) Judgment of the enemy should not be confirmed by internal biases—this bias leads to disastrous strategy, such as the initial belief that the Japanese could not fly effectively due to poor eyesight, viewing Pearl Harbor as a "freak." NERO

"Reject the contract." That's the call from union leaders, as a "last, best, and final offer" is given to over a thousand local transit workers. The latest on the negotiations and what it could mean for your commute. New resistance against a proposed tourist attraction on Oahu's North Shore. Despite the federal shutdown, Pearl Harbor remains open with help from local businesses.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the catastrophic bombing at Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans were forced out of their homes and transferred to Relocation Centers scattered throughout the United States, one of those places was Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming. The ones fortunate enough to survive would stay here until the war was over. CREDITS & LINKS  CITY SHOUT OUT:

Au lendemain de l'attaque japonaise sur Pearl Harbor, naît l'idée d'un raid, d'une frappe éclaire sur Tokyo, dans l'esprit des aviateurs américains les plus téméraires.Mention légales : Vos données de connexion, dont votre adresse IP, sont traités par Radio Classique, responsable de traitement, sur la base de son intérêt légitime, par l'intermédiaire de son sous-traitant Ausha, à des fins de réalisation de statistiques agréées et de lutte contre la fraude. Ces données sont supprimées en temps réel pour la finalité statistique et sous cinq mois à compter de la collecte à des fins de lutte contre la fraude. Pour plus d'informations sur les traitements réalisés par Radio Classique et exercer vos droits, consultez notre Politique de confidentialité.Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Au lendemain de l'attaque japonaise sur Pearl Harbor, naît l'idée d'un raid, d'une frappe éclaire sur Tokyo, dans l'esprit des aviateurs américains les plus téméraires.Mention légales : Vos données de connexion, dont votre adresse IP, sont traités par Radio Classique, responsable de traitement, sur la base de son intérêt légitime, par l'intermédiaire de son sous-traitant Ausha, à des fins de réalisation de statistiques agréées et de lutte contre la fraude. Ces données sont supprimées en temps réel pour la finalité statistique et sous cinq mois à compter de la collecte à des fins de lutte contre la fraude. Pour plus d'informations sur les traitements réalisés par Radio Classique et exercer vos droits, consultez notre Politique de confidentialité.Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

McNamara's Path to Power: Statistical Control at Harvard Following Pearl Harbor William Taubman, Amherst College, with John Batchelor The discussion with Professor William Taubman focuses on Robert McNamara, a brilliant student his whole life who was famously known for his roles as Defense Secretary and World Bank leader, and later for apologizing for Vietnam War mistakes. The conversation traces the moment McNamara moved from being a young professor at Harvard Business School to making decisions for the U.S. Air Force. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, McNamara, wanting very much to participate in the war, rushed to discuss the conflict with his neighbors. The war came to him when Tex Thornton, who was at the Pentagon, arrived from Washington to establish a school at Harvard where officers would learn statistical control. McNamara was one of the first Harvard instructors to agree to teach the new curriculum. Thornton quickly realized that McNamara was the "pick of the litter at Harvard" and the ideal person to fit his mission of attracting brilliant Harvard professors to teach statistical control to American officers, thus beginning McNamara's influential career.

In both this week's new remarks and our reissue, we go back to pre-Pearl Harbor 1941 and the days when Joe DiMaggio was, day by day, counting up hits and the president, without the medium of television available to him, spoke on a nationwide radio broadcast—an event so new that it caused a major league game to be put on pause. Meet the old boss, different than the new boss, because the world was demonstrably on fire. Then we return to a segment about a manager getting too much credit for helping, which seems timely in a postseason in which managers are taking a good deal of deserved credit for inflicting harm.The Infinite Inning is a journey to the past to understand the present using baseball as our time machine. America's brighter mirror, baseball reflects, anticipates, and even mocks the stories we tell ourselves about our world today. Baseball Prospectus's Steven Goldman shares his obsessions: history from inside and outside of the game, politics, stats, and Casey Stengel quotations. Along the way, we'll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can't get anybody out? 

4. Heroism Without Orders and the Last Stand AUTHOR NAME: Admiral James Stavridis, United States Navy (Retired) BOOK TITLE: To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision This segment emphasizes extreme courage. Cook Third Class Doris "Dorie" Miller, an African-American man in the segregated Navy, displayed pure heroism at Pearl Harbor by aiding the wounded captain and operating an anti-aircraft gun, earning the Navy Cross. Commander Ernest Evans led the heroic "last stand of the tin can sailors" at Leyte Gulf, charging the massive Japanese fleet (including Yamato) and successfully bluffing their retreat. 1944 IMPERIAL JAPANESE DESTROYER IN LEYTE GULF

4. The Aggressive Commander: Nimitz Appoints Bull Halsey AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay Perceiving that Admiral Ghormley was too cautious and in poor health, Nimitz replaced him with Admiral William "Bull" Halsey to rescue the precarious situation at Guadalcanal. Nimitz knew Halsey's aggressive nature ("Kill Japs. Kill Japs. Kill more Japs.") and used him primarily for "cavalry charges," preferring Spruance for thoughtful planning. While Halsey's attack strategy led to some naval losses, Nimitz appreciated his belligerent approach against the Japanese strategy of attrition. Halsey and General Douglas MacArthur, co-commanders of separate theaters, met in Brisbane; MacArthur avoided a clash by charming Halsey to ensure cooperation. The strategic debate between MacArthur's South Pacific route to the Philippines and the Navy's preferred Central Pacific island-hopping campaign is introduced. 1911 USS MAINE IN HAVANA HARBOR

5. Tarawa, Towers' Rivalry, and the Kwajalein Calculated Risk AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay The Central Pacific campaign began with the bloody amphibious landing at Tarawa in November 1943. High casualties resulted from a neap tide stranding landing craft on a coral shelf, infuriating Marine General Holland "Howling Mad" Smith. Nimitz had to manage internal conflicts, including Deputy Commander Admiral John Towers, who was foisted upon him by King. Towers was difficult because he believed only aviators should hold carrier command, creating tension with black shoe officers like Nimitz and Spruance. Nimitz, believing in second chances, restored Marc Mitscher to a carrier command, against Spruance's wishes. Learning lessons from Tarawa's bloodshed, Nimitz applied a calculated risk by overriding his subordinates and attacking the main Japanese base at Kwajalein directly, succeeding quickly with minimal loss.

3. Guadalcanal, Ghormley's Struggle, and Nimitz's Personal Management AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay Despite the "Europe first" strategy, the success of Midway prompted King to push for an immediate offensive. The target shifted from the Santa Cruz Islands to Guadalcanal in August 1942 when news arrived that the Japanese were building an airfield there. This amphibious operation began "on a shoestring" with inadequate supplies. Nimitz managed the pressure by adhering to a routine, power walking up to 10 miles daily, and finding respite with the Walker family. Admiral Ghormley, commanding the operation from Noumea, struggled due to inadequate resources, illness, and excessive caution. Nimitz sympathized with Ghormley's dilemma but felt he needed to be more proactive. The segment also notes King's unjustified animosity toward Admiral Fletcher. 1905 DINNER WITH TR

7. Kamikazes, Typhoons, and the Unstoppable Halsey AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay Admiral Halsey recklessly navigated his fleet through two major typhoons (December 1944 and June 1945), causing severe losses including three ships sunk and 800 lives lost in the first storm. Despite recommendations for dismissal, Nimitz refused to fire Halsey, using calculated risk that removing the popular, iconic commander would negatively impact American morale. Nimitz moved his headquarters to Guam to be closer to the fighting. At Iwo Jima, Marine commanders argued the Navy provided inadequate preparatory gunfire, though the Japanese tactic of fighting to the death was the primary cause of casualties. During the Okinawa campaign, the Japanese introduced the terrifying Kamikaze tactic—the one element Nimitz noted the Naval War College had not anticipated. The Kamikazes inflicted horrific losses, but ultimately failed to force negotiations. 8. Blockade vs. Invasion: Ending the Pacific War and Post-War Command AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay Nimitz and King opposed the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands (Operation Downfall), arguing that a strict naval blockade, executed primarily by submarines, combined with bombing, would force surrender. They calculated that an invasion would cost hundreds of thousands of American lives and millions of Japanese lives, given the culture of fighting to the death. Nimitz was informed about the secret development of a special weapon (the atomic bomb) in March 1945 to ensure targets were reserved. After the war ended, Nimitz was the logical candidate for Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), though he faced opposition from the aviation community (Towers). He accepted a two-year term as CNO. Admiral Spruance declined high command, instead choosing to become President of the Naval War College to teach future officers the lessons learned in the Pacific War.