Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast

Yorktown Damage Assessment at Coral Sea and Midway with Brian Perry – Episode 622

43K views · 3d ago · 1:32:41

Guest: Brian Perry

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall are happy to welcome a member of The Nerderati to the show as Brian Perry comes aboard to talk about Yorktown’s damage at Coral Sea and Midway. Brian gets into the deep weeds about what happened to Ole Yorky at Coral Sea and if the damage she suffered actually played any part in her performance at Midway.

Sunday Scuttlebutt - 02

32K views · 5d ago · 1:36:37

Guest: Sunday Scuttlebutt

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall tackle some of your Sunday Scuttlebutt questions while we dig through the inbox. The guys cover topics like Halsey, relief of the Philippines, Mitscher, Japanese defensive positions, and the dreaded “what ifs” that I love so much. Hope you guys like this off the cuff episode.

Iron and Fire: The Pacific War of Bruce McCandless with Bruce McCandless III – Episode 621

41K views · 1w ago · 1:18:39

Guest: Bruce McCandless III

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall are joined by Bruce McCandless III, Grandson of the Medal of Honor recipient, and son of the astronaut, to discuss Bruce's new book about his grandfather's wartime experience. In 2022, Bruce discovered his grandfather's unpublished memoir of his World War Two service, quite literally, under a hay bale and a barn.

The Fall of Corregidor – Episode 620

53K views · 2w ago · 1:32:15

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall Bring the long story of the Philippine campaign of 1941 to 1942 to an unceremonious and tragic end with the fall of the fortress of Corregidor. After week upon week of relentless artillery barrage and aerial assaults, the Japanese put boots on the ground of Corregidor during the night of May 7th 1942. Initially, the enemy was met with fierce American fire that laid waste to the initial Japanese assault waves that hit the beach.

Yamato: The Ship, The Myth, The Legend with Alex Wooley – Episode 619

90K views · 3w ago · 1:41:53

Guest: Alex Wooley

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome a new guest to the show, author Alex Wooley, to discuss Alex’s new book about the legendary Japanese battleship Yamato. The guys get into the conversation with Alex about the deep ties that the Japanese people have with the legendary ship even to this day and how the ship has morphed into symbols of both peace and war and places beyond.

The Siege of Corregidor – Episode 618

67K views · 1mo ago · 1:37:52

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall Take a look at the Siege of Corregidor. One of the main linchpins and the American planned defense of Manila, Corregidor was built to be an impregnable fortress that guarded the coast of Luzon from all attackers. While that plan may have been effective in the early part of the twentieth century, by 1942, Corregidor surrounded by Japanese captured territory and lacking in modern weapons, was obsolete.

Filipinos in the Guerilla Movement 1942-45 with Desiree Benipayo – Episode 617

40K views · 1mo ago · 1:33:27

Guest: Desiree Benipayo

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall along with a new guest, their good friend, Filipino historian Desiree Benipayo, discuss the guerrilla movement that began in 1942 almost immediately after the Japanese invaded. Desiree gives a unique perspective into the legacy of the movement, as well as some of the more important Filipino figures within the guerrilla war.

USS Princeton and Taffy 3 Archival Footage – Episode 616

64K views · 1mo ago · 1:23:25

ATTN!! Make sure and preorder Seth and Bill's book, The Killing Sea: The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal that Turned the Tide of the Pacific War. It publishes in May 2027, and you can preorder your copy now

Sunday Scuttlebutt 01 with James Scott

48K views · 1mo ago · 1:26:10

Guest: James Scott

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall are joined by the very good friend author and historian James Scott for the first episode of our new series called Sunday Scuttlebutt. In this once a month, maybe, series Seth and John and a guest we'll tackle recent listener/viewer questions and talk about recent topics to keep you guys up to date with what's going on.

Birth of the Philippine Guerilla Movement with John Bruning – Episode 615

37K views · 1mo ago · 1:37:19

Guest: John Bruning

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome back their good friend author and historian John Bruning to the show To discuss the birth of the Filipino guerrilla movement. John gets into some of the more polarizing figures of the movement, including Harry Fenton, James Cushing and his brothers, Chick Parsons and more.

The Bataan Death March - Episode 614

68K views · 2mo ago · 1:49:48

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at one of the blackest periods of the Pacific war, the Bataan Death March. In one of the darkest, most sincere episodes of the entire series, the guys get into the minute-by-minute accounts of several of the veterans, and survivors, of one of the worst war crimes perpetrated on Americans and Filipinos and the entire war.

Empire of Ashes-Truman, Hirohito and Total War with James Scott – Episode 613

59K views · 2mo ago · 1:41:58

Guest: James Scott

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome their good buddy author and historian James Scott to the show to discuss James's new book, Empire of Ashes. In this week's episode the guys dig into the other American president of World War II, Harry S Truman and his decision to use the atomic bomb on Japan and all the intricacies therein.

The End on Bataan: April 1942 - Episode 611

33K views · 2mo ago · 1:31:41

This week Seth Paridon and John Parshall take a look at the unfortunate, but inevitable, end of the defense of Bataan. After months of defending the peninsula valiantly, and short on everything but guts, the defenders finally capitulate under the guns and relentless assault of the Japanese army. Sick, exhausted, demoralized, and flat worn out, the Americans and Filipinos do the best they can against the fresh troops of General Homma’s 14th army.

The Battle of the Pockets and MacArthur’s Departure – Episode 610

34K views · 2mo ago · 1:44:58

This week Seth Paridon and John Parshall dig into the Battle of the Pockets on Bataan in February 1942. As the Japanese continue to try and push their advantage along the rear battle position, after having forced the Fil-American forces to retreat from their main line of resistance, the month before, The previously victorious Japanese run into a buzz saw of defensive lines.

Guadalcanal’s Forgotten Fight: The US Army’s Crucial Role with Dave Holland - Episode 612

30K views · 3mo ago · 1:26:05

Guests: Guadalcanal’s Forgotten Fight, Dave Holland

We’re doing a little switch in the lineup this week, moving this show up a couple of weeks and moving other shows back a couple of weeks. Sorry for the confusion. This week, Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome back their good buddy author and historian Dave Holland to the show to talk about Dave's new book. In his second book, Dave takes on the underappreciated and largely misunderstood role of the United States Army on Guadalcanal.