Joining me in this episode are Dr. Chris Carey and returning guest Tim Gilhool to talk about the Red Ball Express. Both Chris and Tim worked on the Army University Press film covering the Red Ball Express, and Tim is a retired Logistics Officer who currently serves as the Command Historian for CASCOM - the US Army's Combined Arms Support Command.

Links

The Red Ball Express: Past Lessons for Future Wars byChristopher Carey, PhD

(https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/English-Edition-Archives/March-April-2021/Carey-Red-Ball-Express/)

France ’44: Combat Success & The Red Ball Express – ArmyUniversity Press

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6WCFwUrKrA)

“Keep ‘em Rolling” African American Participation in the RedBall Express by Edna Freene Medfor and Michael Frazier

(https://transportation.army.mil/history/studies/red_ball_express.html)

Red Ball Express: The Road to Victory

(https://www.fdmuseum.org/collection/online-exhibits/red-ball-express/)

Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)

Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Dr. John McManus returns to continue the story of the US 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, which enters the fighting in France through the south during Operation Dragoon. This is one of the many stories included in Dr. McManus's book American Courage, American Carnage, which is linked below.

Links

American Courage, American Carnage: The 7th Infantry Regiment's Combat Experience, 1812 Through World War II by John C. McManus (https://www.amazon.com/American-Courage-Carnage-Chronicles-Experience/dp/0765320126)

Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)

Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Dr. David Murphy joins me to talk about some of the many details of Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France following the invasion of Normandy. Often ignored or overlooked because it was overshadowed by the Normandy Invasion, but it is still an important part of this story and it ties in with the next episode which covers the US 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division in Southern France.

Links

Operation Dragoon: The Invasion of Southern France, 15 August 1944 (https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/1944/operation-dragoon.html)

First to the Rhine: The 6th Army Group in World War II by Harry Yeide and Mark Stout

(https://www.amazon.com/-/es/First-Rhine-Army-Group-World/dp/0760331464)

Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)

Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

In this episode, retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel Mark Reardon joins me to talk about Operation Lüttich, one of two counteroffensives the Germans launched following the Allied invasion at Normandy in the summer of 1944; the second being the Battle of the Bulge. Mark provides significant detail from his book, Victory at Mortain: Stopping Hitler's Panzer Counteroffensive, which I will link to below, and he also adds some additional insight he has gained since publishing the book.

Links

Victory at Mortain: Stopping Hitler's Panzer Counteroffensive by Mark Reardon

(https://www.amazon.com/Victory-Mortain-Stopping-Hitlers-Counteroffensive/dp/0700612955)

Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)

Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Retired US Army Sergeant Major Mike Vining joins me in this episode to talk about the history of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Branch and Bomb Disposal during World War II. He also talks with me about his 30 year Army career in both EOD and Delta Force and some of his accomplishments as an EOD historian.

Links

EOD Warrior Foundation (https://eodwarriorfoundation.org/)

Retired Sergeant Major Paved Way for EOD Technicians in Elite Special Forces Unit (https://www.army.mil/article/263293/retired_sergeant_major_paved_way_for_eod_technicians_in_elite_special_forces_unit)

It's A Blast! Podcast -- SGM Mike Vining: From EOD to Military Legend (https://youtu.be/5bJ30HryCEQ?si=HWur_JsXAJSn4qt3)

Troop Support Supports EOD Mission as National Observance Nears -- National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day is the first Saturday in May (DLA Article)

Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)

Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Dr. Bill Nance returns to talk about LTG William Simpson, the US Ninth Army, and how average but doctrinally-proficient leaders made things happen. Not everyone needs to be a Patton. This includes a look at Army Groups and those higher echelon levels of command, command relationships, and intricate coordination to ensure the US forces were able to fight effectively.

Links

Commanding Professionalism: Simpson, Moore, and the Ninth US Army by Dr. William S. Nance (Amazon)

Sabers Through the Reich: World War II Corps Cavalry from Normandy to the Elbe by Dr. William S. Nance and Dr. Robert M. Citino (Amazon)

Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)

Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel and current Command Historian for the United States Army Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM) Tim Gilhool joins me to talk about the "Arsenal of Democracy" which made it possible for the United States to keep the Allies in the fight against the Nazis and Axis forces around the world, while simultaneously arming and equipping a massive American military force that helped fight and win the Second World War.

Links

The Army Green Books (https://www.history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/collect/usaww2.html)

The Blue Books

(https://www.afhistory.af.mil/FAQs/Fact-Sheets/Article/458967/the-u-s-army-air-forces-in-world-war-ii/)

Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)

Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)