This Week on History Happy Hour: In January 1945, as the Battle of the Bulge was coming to an end, the 29th Division readied itself to be at the point of the fourth Allied offensive in eight months. There, along the banks of the Roer River, is where volume five of Joe Balkoski’s epic series on the 29th gets under way.

Joe will join us on his sixth History Happy Hour to talk about that book, The Last Roll Call, and the many decades he has spent telling the story of the 29th.

Joe Balkoski is a renowned American military historian who has authored eight books on American involvement in the ETO during World War II. This includes a five-volume series on the history of the 29th Infantry Division in World War II and a two-volume set on American participation in the D-Day invasion. He has appeared as a D-Day expert on MSNBC, and his work has been praised by Joe Scarborough, the New York Post, World War II Magazine, and others.

This Week on History Happy Hour: Tyler Perry’s new WWII movie Six Triple Eight is out on Netflix. It tells the story about the only predominantly all-black US Women's Army unit sent overseas during World War II. Their mission: raise soldiers morale by improving the disastrously backed up mail.

The movie was based on an article written by HHH Alum Kevin Hymel, and we welcome Kevin back to the show to hear about what that experience of working on the movie has been like – as well as what the movie gets right and wrong.

Kevin Hymel has served as a historian at the U.S. Army Combat Studies Institute at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He was also the Research Director for WWII History and Military Heritage magazines. Kevin leads the “In Patton’s Footsteps” tour for Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours, and has appeared in numerous documentaries. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from LaSalle University and Master’s Degree from Villanova University, both in History.

This Week on History Happy Hour: From his first visit in 1941 to his last one eighteen years later, Churchill made himself at home in the White House, sometimes staying for weeks at a time. These extended stays at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue changed the course of history. We will explore this story with Robert Schmuhl, author of Mr. Churchill in the White House: The Untold Story of a Prime Minister and Two Presidents.

Robert Schmuhl is a Professor Emeritus in American Studies and Journalism at the University of Notre Dame. He has been on the Notre Dame faculty since 1980. He’s the author or editor of fifteen books, including “The Glory and the Burden” about the US presidency.

This Week on History Happy Hour: No Guest – Just Us! We’re bringing back another edition of History Happy Talk!

What would you like us to talk about. The Battle of the Bulge? Recent trips you have been on? Who should have won the War for Independence? Send an email to info@historyhappyhour.net with your questions/topics/suggestions. Get us going! And when you tune in, we’ll have some questions for you as well. A free-flow, interactive, fun time on HHH. Just make sure you have your cocktail in hand – we sure will!

This Week on History Happy Hour: It is one of the most famous and controversial battles the British fought in Normandy. On June 13, British forces were ambushed at Villers Bocage by Waffen SS German Panzers, including one commanded by German Panzer ace Michael Wittmann. This kicked off a two-day battle that resulted in a major British withdrawal.

Chris and Rick dig into this story with Daniel Taylor author of Villers-Bocage: Operation Perch: The Complete Event. The debate still swirls: Was it a crushing British defeat, or a compelling recovery from an ambush that was misunderstood by an already nervous high command? And has Wittmann’s role been exaggerated, or was he really the hero the Nazis made him out to be?

This Week on History Happy Hour: The legendary ‘Red Devils’, British Airborne troops, were created at Winston Churchill’s instigation in June 1940. They started with just 500 men and grew into three 10,000-strong airborne divisions.

British military historian Saul David returns this encore episode of History Happy Hour to talk about book Sky Warriors: British Airborne Forces in the Second World War. We’ll talk about their role in iconic operations such as Pegasus Bridge, Arnhem Bridge, and Operation Varsity, the biggest parachute drop of World War II.

This Week on History Happy Hour: The story of British scientists who developed cutting-edge underwater science that helped make D-Day possible.

Chris and Rick welcome Rachel Lance, author of Chamber Divers. A long-classified tale of eccentric researchers who conducted life threatening experiments on themselves to pioneer the safe use of miniature submarines and breathing apparatuses used to reconnoiter the D-Day beaches.

This Week on History Happy Hour: One thousand years ago, Native American cities in North America rivaled urban centers around the world in size and scope. But has the surprising history of Native Americans has been obscured by historians’ intent on minimizing the role of their still thriving societies?

Chris and Rick talk about one thousand years of Native American history with Kathleen DuVal, author of Native Nations: A Millennium in North America,” a book The Wall Street Journal calls “An essential American history.”