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
Jun 18, 2024 • 1h 58min
The Liberation of Luzon with John McManus - Episode 401
In the first episode of Season 4, Seth and Bill welcome good buddy John McManus as the trio takes on the topic of the Liberation of Luzon in 1945. The guys discuss the initial landings and successes while also getting into Douglas MacArthur's personal feelings and courage displayed on the island during the campaign. The guys then dig into some of the combat, including the Medal of Honor story of Robert Laws from the 43rd Infantry Division. General Robert Eichelberger, the 11th Airborne assault on Nasugbu and Manila, Rod Serling and more. Tune in to see what the guys have to say about the largest amphibious operation thus far in the Pacific war.
#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
Jun 14, 2024 • 3h 1min
The Battle off Samar with Jon Parshall (both episodes combined)
Again, due to popular request, we have combined both Samar episodes with Jon Parshall into this long-form version. This is both parts 1 and part 2 combined. Hope you enjoy.
This week Seth, Bill and good pal Jon Parshall get into the much anticipated Battle off Samar! The guys get into the background of the epic fight, the commanders on both sides, Ernest Evans, Ziggy Sprague, and others as they start to break down some of the myths surrounding one of the most well-known naval battles in all of history. The guys get into the ships such as Samuel B Roberts and USS Johnston of Taffy 3 and the aircraft as well. The guys get deep into the weeds about the legendary destroyer charge of USS Johnston, USS Samuel B. Roberts, USS Hoel and USS Heerman as well as the other destroyer escorts of Taffy 3. The guys dispel a few of the myths about the battle and dig into the effectiveness of both the American surface counterattacks and the aerial assault by Taffys 2 and 3 on Kurita's Center Force. Tune in and hear what the guys have to say.
#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
Jun 11, 2024 • 3h 15min
The Battle of Surigao Strait with Jon Parshall and Tony Tully (Both Episodes Combined)
Due to popular request, I have combined both parts of the Surigao Strait shows and released them as one, here. As Bill and I prepare for Season 4, please enjoy the long-form version of Surigao Strait with our buddies Jon Parshall and Tony Tully.
Jun 7, 2024 • 6min
Want to help an active duty person transition to civilian industry?
Captain Bill Toti talks about what led him to write his book, "From CO to CEO: A Practical Guide for Transitioning from Military to Industry Leadership."
The book is available here:
https://www.amazon.com/CO-CEO-Practical-Transitioning-Leadership/dp/1637630638/ref=sr_1_1?crid=323AAEQTQ2XJZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hpvYz2JpfclBGK_hqITNxCgAXH0a7JJFfYxQNXVDWyfq-jzpAXxzR8J6HUzc2PwlfHO86ACibW88Tx6Yi4I0kw.WGJYEenLKdlocDQpXPDroGuY-Eni1watgqE1XFIGmsU&dib_tag=se&keywords=from+co+to+ceo+by+william+toti&qid=1717514487&sprefix=from+co+to+ce%2Caps%2C309&sr=8-1
Jun 4, 2024 • 1h 51min
We Answer MORE of Your Questions-Episode 335
This week, Seth, Bill and new guest, retired US Army Major Shawn Bergstrom return to answer another round of your questions. In this final episode of season 3, we get into some cool topics that include, the fate of battleships, the morality and necessity of liberating the Philippines, and more. Tune in and see if your question is one of the ones we answer. Season 4 starts in three weeks.
#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 #liberation #macarthur
May 28, 2024 • 1h 53min
We answer your questions about the Pacific War-Episode 334
This week Seth and Bill answer your questions in this first part of our Q&A session. The team welcomes new guest retired Army Major Shawn Betgstrom to the crew to moderate the questions and lead the team as we go through the many fantastic questions sent in by our audience. We hope you guys enjoy this episode, and we will definitely do this again.
May 27, 2024 • 13min
Captain Toti's Memorial Day Remarks, May 27, 2024
From Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, Mims, Florida.
May 21, 2024 • 1h 21min
Wrapping up 1944 in the Pacific-Episode 333
This week Seth and Bill wrap up 1944 in the Pacific as we near the end of Season 3. The guys go through the reasons why 1944 was the tipping point in the war in the Pacific with Bill's Top 4 List. We discuss leadership, training, logistics, industrial base and much more. Tune in as we wrap up the most pivotal year in World War II in the Pacific.
#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
May 14, 2024 • 1h 30min
US Naval Academy World War II Legacy of Valor event
Seth joins Bill at his alma mater, the US Naval Academy, on April 24, 2024, along with Captain Stan Fisher, USN and Lt. Col Pete Owen, USMC (Ret), at the Legacy oof Valor event. Hosted by the US Naval Academy Alumni Association. Copyright US Naval Academy Alumni Association.
May 7, 2024 • 1h 15min
The Liberation of Leyte Part 2 with John McManus-Episode 332
This week Seth, Bill and John McManus wrap up the liberation of Leyte by talking about the fights at Breakneck Ridge, the Japanese landings and the subsequent US counter landings at Ormoc Bay. The guys get into the stories of the 11th Airborne Division, 77th Infantry Division and the bravery and actions of one General Douglas MacArthur. Tacked into the overall narrative is the almost unbelievable story of Medal of Honor recipient Robert Nett. Check it out as we wrap Leyte.
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