Someone Talked!

In this episode, Brothers in Arms author James Holland recounts the harrowing tails of the Sherwood Rangers, the legendary tank unit that would receive the most battle honors of any unit ever in the British army. Both a combat story and a human story, we discuss memorable characters and how scarred ground reveals where history took place. A special tribute to Hershel “Woody” Williams, the longest surviving Medal of Honor recipient from WWII in our “We Salute You” segment.

Richard B. Frank is a graduate of the University of Missouri and Georgetown University Law Center. He served in the Vietnam War with the 101st Airborne Divisions as an aero rifle platoon leader.Frank is an independent scholar specializing in the Asia-Pacific War and served as a consultant for the HBO miniseries The Pacific. He joins the program to discuss Tower of Skulls, the first volume of his trilogy covering the entire Asia-Pacific War from 1937-1945.

Self-proclaimed "groupie for the 1st Division" Gregory Fontenot returns to further discuss his divisional history of The Big Red One.In "We Salute You," as a child Charles Chibitty was sent to a school to erase his native tongue. Ironically, the U.S. government would later rely on Chibitty's indigenous language on D-Day.

Col. Gregory Fontenot joins the podcast to discuss his latest book, No Sacrifice Too Great: The 1st Infantry Division in World War II. As a soldier in a graves registration company, Robert Berry cared for D-Day's fallen and later helped the National D-Day Memorial develop the world's most complete account of those lost that day. His legacy of service in "We Salute You."

2023 National Infantry Association Order of St. Maurice recipient Joe Balkoski rejoins the podcast. As research moves from veteran accounts to archeology, we discuss the future of D-Day scholarship.Blinded while in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, Thomas Gagnet would later testify in the war crimes trials in Japan, with the hope that just punishment would help prevent another war. We honor his service in "We Salute You."

Named "top living D-Day historian" by USA Today, author Joe Balkoski takes us back to Utah Beach.In "We Salute You," we honor Peter Monsma, a Dutch native who would return to the Netherlands while serving his adopted home as a U.S. Army chaplain.

Our hosts jump right into the airborne experience in Normandy in this discussion of paratroopers and gliders. In "We Salute You," we honor, Herman Addleson, a paratrooper who was so eager to serve but lost his life in the early hours of D-Day.

Peggy Noonan wasn't alive when Rangers scaled the cliffs but was tasked with writing President Reagan's speech to be delivered at Pointe du Hoc. In the audience - the veterans who saved the world. No pressure!As an army photographer, Kegham Nigohosian was supposed to capture the history Noonan would write about at Pointe du Hoc. We honor his service in out "We Salute You" segment.

Someone Talked! is the official podcast of the National D-Day Memorial.Paratrooper-turned-historian James M. Fenelon re-joins our hosts to discuss the 11 thAirborne Division’s Pacific campaigns, narrated in his latest book Angels Against theSun.English at birth and American by wartime, Charles Rippon returned to England to trainbut never made it home to Pennsylvania after D-Day. The story of his service is in our“We Salute You” segment.Explore the National D-Day Memorial, plan your visit, and learn about upcoming eventsat dday.org. This program was supported by a grant from Virginia Humanities. To learnmore, visit VirginiaHumanities.org. Email the Someone Talked! team atpodcast@dday.org.

Someone Talked! is the official podcast of the National D-Day Memorial.Four Hours of Fury author James M. Fenelon goes from Europe to the Pacific as hechronicles another lesser-known airborne unit in his latest book, Angels Against theSun.In “We Salute You,” we honor the service of paratrooper Don Jakeway and tell you thestory of his wristwatch, which became a silent witness to history not once, but threetimes.Explore the National D-Day Memorial, plan your visit, and learn about upcoming eventsat dday.org. This program was supported by a grant from Virginia Humanities. To learnmore, visit VirginiaHumanities.org. Email the Someone Talked! team atpodcast@dday.org.