The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War

The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast is the creation of Seth Paridon and Bill Toti. Seth is a World War II historian with over 20 years experience who's many roles also was serving as a chief historian for The National WWII Museum for 15 years. Bill is not a historian, but is a retired submarine commodore and military planner with a special interest in the Pacific War. Bill has a unique perspective to offer as one who spent more than a decade sailing those same waters where the action in “The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War” took place. Each week, Bill and Seth dive deep into topics pertaining to the Pacific War during World War II. We dissect the battles, tactics, strategies, and personalities that drove the United States' victory on the largest battlefront in human history. Seth and Bill bring out the hard facts about the war that resonates deeply today, some 80 years after the war was fought. New episodes are released on this channel every Tuesday, and the audio versions of each episode are released at the same time everywhere you receive your podcasts. Make sure you subscribe to get notifications of every fresh upload and new show! If you prefer an audio-only version of “The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War,” it can be heard here: And for those of you interested in the transition from active duty to industry, Bill’s book “From CO to CEO: A Practical Guide for Transitioning from Military to Industry Leadership” is available in hardback at Amazon and other resellers, in eBook format on Kindle and Apple, and in audiobook format on Audible.

Latest episodes

Oct 22, 2024 • 2h 21min

The Invasion of Okinawa: Cactus, Kakazu, and Hacksaw Ridge with Jon Parshall - Episode 419

This week Seth and Bill welcome back good buddy Jon Parshall and the three amigos take on the US Army's portion of the early fight for Okinawa. the guys break down the slugfest at Cactus Ride, Kakazu Ridge, and Hacksaw Ridge, digging into the stories of the heroics at each location diving into the stories of Medal of Honor recipients, Desmond Doss, Edward Moskala, and others. The fighting done by the US Army from April 4 through the end of the month in 1945 along those ridges was amongst the most brutal of the entire war. Seth, Jon and, Bill also get into Japanese General Cho Isamu's ill-advised counter-offensive in the middle of April that saps strength from the defenders and wastes lives by the bushel. Tune in and check out Part 2 in our Okinawa land campaign series. #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 #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

Oct 15, 2024 • 1h 31min

Operation ICEBERG-The Invasion of Okinawa Part 1 with Jon Parshall - Episode 418

This week Seth and Bill welcome good buddy Jon Parshall to discuss the planning and setup for the last great invasion of World War II, the invasion of Okinawa. In this episode the guys get deep into the weeds discussing the origins of the campaign, the American plans for invasion, and the Japanese plans for defense. Japanese General Ushijima, General Cho, and Colonel Yahara are discussed in depth as the team breaks down the intricate Japanese defensive network that starts at Kakazu Ridge. The trio then gets into a passionate discussion on the Okinawan civilians, their treatment at the hands of the Japanese Empire, and the results of that treatment today. The episode wraps as the Americans land on Love Day-Easter Sunday 1945- to discover the beaches undefended. All of these topics set up next week's discussion of the first few weeks of combat as we dive headlong into Operation ICEBERG and the campaign for Okinawa ashore.

Oct 8, 2024 • 1h 58min

Tailhookers Over Tokyo-Carrier Raids on the Home Islands with Jon Parshall-Episode 414

This week Seth and Bill welcome back good buddy Jon Parshall to talk about the first American carrier raids on the Japanese Home Islands since the Doolittle Raid in April 1942. In February 1945, just before Iwo Jima, Task Force 58 under the command of Marc Mitscher sails to within 60 miles of Honshu to launch the first US Navy carrier raids against Tokyo. Fighting the Japanese as well as terrible weather, the results are less than spectacular. A month later Spruance and Mitscher return, this time to Kyushu, to hit the birthing grounds of the kamikazes. In the two-day fight, American pilots ravage Japanese installations, but the fleet takes a beating in return, with 6 carriers suffering damage. Tune in to hear this oft-forgotten series of strikes in the latter stages of the war in the Pacific.

Sep 10, 2024 • 2h 7min

The Ace Race 1944-45 with John Bruning - Episode 413

This week Seth and Bill welcome back good friend John Bruning to wrap up the discussion on the great Ace Race in the Pacific during World War II. The trio gets into a discussion on one of the fieriest leaders of the Pacific theater, P-47 Thunderbolt ace, Neel Kearby, and his 348th Fighter Group. n The guys break down Kearby's "freelancing" fighter missions and the incredible risks he took all to get that brass ring title of Ace of Aces. After that, the team sets out to blow apart the myth of Charles Lindbergh and his so-called "contributions" to the air war. The guys really get into the dirt and settle, once and for all, the myths surrounding the Lone Eagle's supposed Pacific tour. Finally, the team gets into the final days of P-38 Ace and aerial legend, Tommy McGuire and how the great ace met his untimely end, thus ending the great ace race of the Pacific theater. #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 #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 #charleslindbergh

Sep 3, 2024 • 1h 41min

Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy - Episode 412

This week Seth and Bill take a deep look at the man that some called the second most powerful man in the world during WWII. US Navy Admiral William D. Leahy's naval career, as well as diplomatic and advisory career are examined by the team as they go through the astounding rise of one of the United States' true leaders and great men. Tune in to see just how much power the first Fleet Admiral wielded and how much his influence and voice changed the course of history.

Aug 27, 2024 • 1h 47min

Halsey's Carrier Raids in the South China Sea-Episode 411

This week Seth and Bill take a look at Admiral William F. Halsey's carrier raids into the South China Sea in January 1945. As early as October 1944, Halsey realized that the South China Sea was an untapped hunting ground for Japanese shipping. These vital supply lines brought most of Japan's oil, foodstuffs, and raw materials to or from the Home Islands. Only recently penetrated by American submarines, the South China Sea was seen as open ground by Halsey. In January 1945, Bill Halsey took his 3rd Fleet into the sea and wreaked havoc across the area over a week. The destruction wrought by Task Force 38 was, at that time, unprecedented in terms of Japanese shipping sunk in a week's time. With the Japanese oil supply already at a critical level, Halsey and his carrier aviators put even more pressure on the Empire in this little-known, but vastly important, series of aircraft carrier raids. #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 #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

Aug 20, 2024 • 2h 3min

Operation DETACHMENT-The Invasion of Iwo Jima Part 2 with Jon Parshall-Episode 410

This week Seth and Bill welcome back good friend Jon Parshall to wrap up the bitter fight for Iwo Jima. The guys cover all aspects of the struggle for Iwo beginning in the days after the flag raising on Mount Suribachi all the way through the bitter end. in this episode we cover the Medal of Honor stories of Woody Williams, William Harrell, George Wahlen, and several more. Uncommon valor, truly was a common virtue on Iwo Jima in 1945. #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 #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

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