The "We're Not Lost, Private" Podcast
Whether you’re interested in learning more about the real Band of Brothers, or exploring the people, places and things associated with a wide range of World War II battles, the “We’re Not Lost, Private” Podcast is the pod for you. We focus on telling the stories of the members of the Greatest Generation who served at the bayonet point and were involved in the battles that helped define the 20th Century and beyond. We’ll talk with historians, authors, battlefield guides and family members of the men and women that were there during one of the most climactic events in human history. Learn what it was like for these service members to take part in a combat parachute assault, an amphibious assault on an enemy held beach, knocking out an enemy strong point, or countless other actions across the breath and width of World War II. The “We’re Not Lost, Private” Podcast puts you right next to them during that action.
Episodes
52 episodes
EP47 - Guadalcanal’s Longest Fight w/Dave Holland
Due to the popularity of John Basilone and the Battle of Alligator Creek, the Battle for Guadalcanal looms large in the public eye regarding World War II in the Pacific. The Pacific miniseries reinforced those popular images. But like most batt...
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1:46:48
EP46 – The Combat Mindset: The 29th Infantry Division – From Omaha Beach to St. Lo and Beyond, w/ Joe Balkoski
The 29th Infantry Division was one of the earliest National Guard units to be federalized after the attack on Pearl Harbor. They would soon ship to England where they would train until D-Day. After landing on France that fateful day, they would...
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1:12:26
EP45 – Embattled Marines at Air Station Ewa, w/Josh Donohue
When Marine Air Group 2 was stationed at Ewa Airfield on the island of Honolulu, none of the Marines there could have anticipated what would happen on the morning of December 7th, 1941. Join Joe and Josh Donohue as they examine significance of ...
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1:06:34
EP44 – The Battle for Les Droueries: Part 2
The seesaw fight for Le Ferme Delaunay and Les Droueries. Despite launching multiple concerted attacks against German positions, LTC Robert Ballard found himself and his 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry in a death struggle. It was a test...
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1:15:03
EP43 – Robert Martin: Tuskegee Airman Shot Down in Croatia
Sometimes interesting history topics develop out of nothing more than a quick conversation. In this case, an offhand comment from his father-in-law led Joe to an amazing story of how a Tuskegee Airman, shot down during his 64th mission, found r...
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8:47
EP42 – The Battle for Les Droueries and Beyond: 6-7 June 1944
It was a battle that was never meant to be. Two Robert’s, Ballard and Wolverton, each commanded a battalion in the 101st Airborne, and each was tasked with capturing bridges over the Douve River. But before the battalions could accomplish their...
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53:19
EP41 – Easy Company: Separating Myth from Reality…Part 2
Second time’s a charm. Join Joe as he deep dives some of the currently circulating myths and misconceptions created and promoted by an unscrupulous YouTuber. It’s all about educating and informing folks as to the truth about Easy Company and no...
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43:59
EP40 - "Bloody Valentine's Day" - The Battle for Sidi Bou Zid: Setting the Stage for the Debacle at Kasserine
Kasserine Pass. The fighting for that geographic novelty has an almost mystical aura around it as it was the US Army’s first large-scale battle against the Germans in North Africa. And they fared poorly. But did you know about the smaller, yet ...
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1:08:29
EP39 – Famous Currahee Family Members
Have you ever wondered if you have a famous relative? We all have at some point thought about the possibility, especially if you ran across someone with a similar last name. In this episode, Joe examines the cases of three members of the 3rd Ba...
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16:55
EP38 – Easy Company: Separating Myth from Reality…Again
It happens more often than most fans of Band of Brothers would like. YouTube channels and podcasts pop up with poorly contextualized, subpar content designed as clickbait. It’s frustrating for both real historians and genuine fans of the book a...
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53:44
EP37 – Trip Report: The Museum of the Mighty 8th Air Force & The UDT/Navy SEAL Museum
I was able to bookend visits to the Museum of the Mighty 8th and the UDT/Navy SEAL Museum during a recent vacation. I had previously visited the Mighty 8th, but had never done so with the the SEAL Museum. Both are high quality with wonderful di...
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24:50
EP36.5 - A D-Day Anniversary Tribute
Stop by the pod for a quick tribute to the D-Day warriors on this 81st Anniversary of the attack on “Fortress Europe.” In this episode Joe reads a tribute to the men of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment describing their wait to launch Opera...
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8:16
EP36 - In The Sausages - Preparing to Embark the D-Day Assault Force
Episode 36 of The "We're Not Lost, Private" Podcast drops today! A lot of time is given to D-Day…in the press, on TV shows, on pods…you name it. But far less time is spent examining what happened during the run up to that momentous ...
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58:39
EP35 – Edgar Prichard, the OSS, and the Fredericksburg Connection
Have you ever wondered what the connection might be between World War II and your hometown? Join Joe as he looks at his hometown of Fredericksburg’s role during the war and how it served as a training ground for operative trainees of the fledgl...
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28:07
EP34 – Revisiting Ravenoville, and Some Wilmington, NC Thoughts
Join Joe as he revisits EP21 in light of new information provided by the daughter of Bob Cahoon, a C/502 veteran of the fighting in and around Ravenoville on D-Day. He also discusses his personal correspondence and time spent with A Company, 50...
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18:44
EP33 – The D-Day Odyssey of the Hitztaler Brothers w/ Adam Berry
Two brothers from Wisconsin, separated by geography and service. William and Anthony Hitztaler would meet once before D-Day and never see each other again. Join Adam Berry and I as we discuss what happened with each brother on D-Day and how fat...
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54:47
EP32 – Black Dragon: Fox Company, 23rd Marines and Iwo Jima, w/Steven McCloud
“2-F’23” as the Fox Company veterans used to describe themselves, fought at Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. Join Steven McCloud and I as we discuss the formation of the Company, and trace its actions during World War II, including its ...
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1:45:23
EP31 - Operation Villain: The 509th "Gingerbread Men" at Tafaraoui
During Operation Villain, the 2nd Battalion, 509th PIR conducted the first combat parachute assault in the history of the U.S. Army in Algeria, as part of a larger action of Operation Torch. But the lead up to their jump was fraught with poor p...
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1:01:06
EP30 - NCDU & Gap Assault Teams on D-Day w/Dev Ramsamy
Two of the most under-reported units to take part in the D-Day assaults on Omaha and Utah Beaches were the Navy Combat Demolition Units and the Gap Assault Teams. Join Dev Ramsamy and I as we discuss the weapons & equipment, composition &am...
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1:25:16
EP29 - Robert Capa and His D-Day Photos: Separating Myth from Reality, w/Charles Herrick
We've all seen the Capa D-Day photos. They appear like locusts every time there's an anniversary of that momentous day. The capture and hold our attention because of what we think they represent. But did you ever wonder about the circumstances ...
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1:30:46
EP28 - The Last Gasp of the Das Reich Division: Manhay & Grandmenil with Bob Konings
Despite the swift reaction of the US Army to the German attacks during the Battle of the Bulge, some German units made good headway towards their objectives. The Das Reich Division was one of those divisions. Join me as I sit down with Bulge hi...
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1:26:41
EP27 - The First Ranger Battalion: From Creation to Arzew
The 1st Ranger Battalion is one of the most storied units in the US Army, and it had its roots in World War II. From the stand up of "The Originals" to its training with the British Commandos, the Rangers were destined to be the spearhead of ac...
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48:56
EP26 - The Real Story of Operation Pegasus w/Jo Hook & Edwin Popken
Just a cracking episode. Two hours of all things Operation Pegasus (and a bunch of stuff that isn't!)...just a tour-de-force...everything you ever wanted to know about the rescue of the Red Devils that was featured in Band of Brothers Episode 5...
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2:02:44
EP25 - "Overpaid, Over Sexed, and Over Here"
The first US GIs landed in the UK on January 26, 1942. Join Joe as he looks into the arrival of those troops, their acclimation to being stationed on the British islands, how Allied strategy influenced their deployment, and the enduring legacy ...
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17:55
EP24 - The Savage Fighting Around Holdy on D-Day Morning
D-Day morning...so many violent clashes between groups of US paratroopers and German defenders. Holdy was no different. Join me for a deep dive on the fighting in and around the small Norman hamlet. Possessing an artillery battery not unlike Br...
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38:28