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
68 episodes
EP61 – LotB – The Battle of the Bulge: Death of a Division
The US 106th Infantry Division was star-crossed at best. Trained to a fine point, its regiments were raided by the U.S. Army to replace casualties suffered during the Battle of France. Its leadership lacked experience and a “hand’s on” approach...
EP60 - Honor Besmirched – British Coxswains at Omaha
The second show in our Lore of the Battlefield series, Episode 60 focuses on a story that has been floating around since 1960. Not one, but two well-respected historians perpetuated the myth, one that spoke poorly of our Allied sailors. The sec...
EP59 – Rhino Tanks and Sticky Bombs: GI Ingenuity in the Second World War w/Bob Wettemann
Coming of age during the Great Depression, the American boys who fought in World War II had, through necessity, developed a unique brand of technological resourcefulness. Joe is joined by Bob Wettemann to discuss how American servicemen grew up...
EP58 – Jump into the Fight, Volume I: A Primer
Back in July of 1942, the Army began constituting at Camp Toccoa what would become one of its most famous units, the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Over the course of fourteen months, Company E of the 506th, would train in Toccoa, Georgia, ...
EP57 – Lore of the Battlefield: Eric Fisher Wood Jr.
The first in our “Lore of the Battlefield” series, Joe looks at the legend of Eric Fisher Wood Jr., an artillery officer from the 589th Field Artillery Battalion. The 589th was assigned to the 106th Infantry Division, “Golden Lions,” and like m...
EP56 – Lighting the Torch w/Sam Wallace
Fought between November 1942 and May 1943, the Second World War’s Tunisian Campaign has often been described as where the Allies ‘learned to fight’. The vital culmination of the conflict fought across the breadth of North Africa, as well as an ...
EP55 – The D+1 Battle at Vierville
D-Day has always been one of the most popular topics of World War II. As a result, it’s the smaller battles that occurred later in the campaign that oftentimes get overlooked. As US tank units landed and began moving inland at Utah Beach, they ...
EP54 – The WWII Roundtable w/Paul Woodadge & Reg Jans
Have you ever just wanted to grab a drink and sit down with a couple of like-minded folks and talk WWII history? Well, grab a pint and tuck in for this show as Joe is joined by old friends Paul Woodadge and Reg Jans as they discuss WWII history...
EP53 – The Big Bulge Show w/Reg Jans
A day late and a dollar short, only we’re neither since the Battle of the Bulge officially ended on 25 January 1945. Join Joe and special guest, Reg Jans, as they examine the opening phase of the battle and some of the key fights that fueled th...
EP52.5 – The Death of Donald Hoobler
Donald Hoobler, Easy Company stalwart, heavily featured in the miniseries Band of Brothers. There’s so much incorrect information out there about how he died. Between Wikipedia, guesswork, and the miniseries, it all contributes to the inaccurac...
EP52 – Agent Zo w/Clare Mulley
During World War II, Elzbieta Zawacka was the only woman to reach London as an emissary of the Polish Home Army command. In Britain, she became the only woman to join the Polish elite Special Forces, known as the "Silent Unseen.” She was secret...
EP51 – The Duplex Drive Tanks of Omaha Beach w/Charles Herrick
Many of you have probably read about the Duplex Drive Shermans, one of “Hobart’s Funnies.” The myths and urban legends about their launching and deployment on D-Day have persisted for decades. Author and historian Charles Herrick joins the pod ...
EP50.5 – Where Does the Gear Go?
Patreon supporter Andrew sent me a question about what happens to a paratrooper’s extra gear and dress uniforms when they are training or deployed on a combat operation. Check out this short to find out!
EP50 – The Marine NCO in Combat in WWII w/Steven McCloud
Noncommissioned Officers, or NCOs, have long been considered the backbone of the Marine Corps. But the crucible of combat in World War II tested the NCO corps like no other event. They acted as the continuity, institutional knowledge and experi...
EP49 – Last Stop Before Destiny, The 101st Airborne Division in England, 1943-44 w/Matthew Pellett
The 101st Airborne left behind a legacy with their service in World War II and their actions gained them a fame that has continued to this day. Much attention has been focused on their storied combat actions like Normandy and Bastogne, while th...
EP48 - The Weslaco Eight w/Andrew Booher
For years the United States Marine Corps has had a recruiting tool called the ‘Buddy Program.’ Using the program, you could join with a friend and essentially be guaranteed to go through recruit training together. During World War II, eight you...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
