Seth, Bill, Jon, You were right about me seeing your podcast. Few can imagine the abject difficulty and indescribable horror the army experienced on Okinawa. This is history worth remembering.
It wasn't until I spent the night on Hacksaw Ridge, retracing my father's steps, alone in the darkness, and vividly imagine carrying the wounded to the edge of the cliff, despite everything that was going on around him, that I gained a new appreciation for what he accomplished. The love he had for his country, and fellow soldiers, is what caused him to become "a symbol throughout the 77th infantry division for gallantry far above and beyond the call of duty."
When I saw the movie, Hacksaw Ridge, I said "it is a love story wrapped in Carnage."
Desmond Doss, Jr.

I'm so happy John's wall paper was able to join the show

You can absolutely throw a hand grenade 300 feet—my Uncle Al Blozis threw one almost 110 yards. He holds the “0fficial” Army record at 285 .5 feet, but unofficially he routinely threw them farther. He was 6’ 7”, a world class shot-putter, and played pro football for the NY Giants.  He was a 1st Lieutenant, and died from a machine gun wound in Belgium in the Spring of 1945.

I'm a Seventh Day Adventist and had the honor to meet Desmond Doss at my church a couple of years before he died.  Got to shake his hand, such an honor to meet him!  Our Church has a young youth group called "Pathfinders" which is like boy scouts and he learned his rope knots he used to lower those men off the escarpment, while he was a Pathfinder in his local SDA church..

My grandfather-in-law was at Okinawa with the 1st Marine Division.  It was his last campaign after surviving Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, and Peleliu.  Also the battle of Pavuvu vs. rats , land crabs, and rotten coconuts. He WAS one of those veterans who was with the division all along from pre-war, 1940.  By Okinawa he was a sergeant with mortars.  Sgt. Ken Malick, 7th Marines, 2nd Battalion, Fox Company. Look him up, Seth, Bill, and Jon.  I was very glad to be able to sit down with him and interview him, gathering his stories prior to his passing 17 years ago.

Regarding Bill Reeder’s range of throw, I saw a collegiate pitcher throw a grapefruit at least 250 feet horizontally and five stories high from the front door of a fraternity house onto the roof of Kaplan Arena at the College of William and Mary.
That grapefruit was probably close to the weight of a grenade. I was floored. Especially because I had started to date his girlfriend.

Yours is the only YouTube channel -- out of dozens -- for which I hit the "Like" button the moment the vid starts. I know I'm going to like every episode.

my grandfather was killed when his destroyer was hit by a kamikaze during the battle of Okinawa…..
These episodes hit hard.  We haven’t even gotten to the naval battle yet.  I have upmost respect for these reg gentlemen and their presentation of the Pacific war during World War II. They honor the fallen.  They don’t sugarcoat and cheerlead about America rah rah rah.  They give credit where credit is due both of the Japanese and American forces, and they are true professionals in their presentation.  This is the best podcast out there in my mind concerning military matters

my grandfather was killed when his destroyer was hit by a kamikaze during the battle of Okinawa…..
These episodes hit hard.  We haven’t even gotten to the naval battle yet.  I have upmost respect for these gentlemen and their presentation of the Pacific war during World War II. They honor the fallen.  They don’t sugarcoat and cheerlead about America rah rah rah.  They give credit where credit is due both of the Japanese and American forces.  This is the best podcast out there in my mind concerning WWII.

Very heartfelt thanks to the three of you for the top notch work on this episode.  My great uncle, William R. Allen of Junction, Texas was in the 96th Infantry Division, 381st Regiment.

Billy wanted to be an Army Officer, and joined the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets in order to obtain a commission.  In 1942, after the Pearl Harbor attack, every member of the Aggie Corps of Cadets (Billy included) was drafted, with most of the men sent to the Pacific.  Billy was drafted, and assigned to the 96th.

He rarely talked about his experiences, but he was wounded on Okinawa.  After the war he returned to his Junction, Texas ranch and spent the remainder of his life as a Texas rancher and family man.

This episode truly helps me and my family - Billy’s descendants - truly appreciate the sacrifices and horror he experienced as a young man.  We knew it was bad, but had no idea how bad.

I want to thank you for reminding all of us what a true debt of gratitude we all owe to our departed ancestors like Billy Allen.

As a retired US Army combat veteran I truly appreciate that you guys give the entire story of WW2 in the Pacific. In most presentations of the ground combat in the Pacific you would think it was the Marines who took every death or wound received. Thanks to you we have been educated that the lion’s share of devastation was taken by the Army. Thanks.

The terrible trio. You guys are the tip of the History spear. Entertaining even in the face of horror. I salute you gentlemen with pride and respect. Thank you so much for makeing clear what our boys and men went through. God Bless guys.

The Medal of Honor was awarded Desmond Doss.

I didn’t realize just how bloody the bloody the battle of Okinawa was for the US Army. It’s astonishing to know that 96th Infantry Division lost 1,598 men killed on Okinawa. To put that into perspective, the 101st airborne, in Europe, lost 1,766 men killed during the entire war.

The men of the 96th are rarely talked about. Yet they fought just as hard and with just as much courage as the more famous American units of the war. It’s a great thing to see people talking more about them.

I have been reading about and studying World War II for multiple decades and I have to say what you have created is a record that will rival the greatest War documentaries ever. The BBC created a multi-episode series about WWI back in the 1960s when they were still a reputable news organization that in my opinion is the gold standard of documentaries about a war. Victory at Sea is another example of the level of quality documentaries I am referring to and you are providing. You are one of a small circle of YouTube creators that I actively anticipate your next work. Great job.

Hey guys i was riding my motorcycle at about 3 am the other night and met the local lieutenant for the Sheriff's Dept. Long story short.... we became friends.... he is prior USMC im prior Army and Airforce but i knew all about a guy named Chesty Puller and it blew his mind to hear me tell about Puller in the 1st Marines.
I owe you guys a drink
                 Griffin

I will have the pleasure of accompanying Jon Parshall this October to Japan and Okinawa through the World War II Museum sponsored tour.  I looked up on YouTube for any video commentary he may have been involved in producing as it pertains to Okinawa and Japan.   I was richly rewarded in discovering the “Unauthorized" series to view before the trip.  What a masterpiece of historical reporting.  I have a profound respect for all the servicemen who were involved in the calamitous battles.   Those that survived made America great upon their return home.   If only the Baby Boomers like me had such knowledge while they lived among us.  Many thanks to Seth, Bill, and Jon for your stellar production.

As to Charles Dawes, the medic.  Given that the VC is the highest award in the British Armed Forces and is given out on a very selective basis, just like the Medal of Honour, only  three men have ever earned a SECOND VC: Captain Charles Upham (a Kiwi) was the only combat soldier, and who survived WWII -  the other two were MEDICS : Col A Martin-Leake, who received the decoration in the Boer War and the First World War; and Capt N G Chavasse, who was killed in France in 1917.  It takes amazing courage to go towards the fight without something to defend oneself.

My great uncle was skipper of an LCM-R at Okinawa.  (Landing Craft Medium -Rocket) he was part of the bombardment force offshore.  His craft, equipped with radar, was later assigned as a picket ship to warn against kamikazes.  His ship ended up being attacked by kamikazes, and he was decorated for his handling of the ship and situation.  I was also able to sit down and get his stories, including working with the amphibious forces in the Solomons, 1942-43.

5:00 a.m. - getting ready to teach. New episode pops up. Click within the first 20 minutes of posting. Already a couple hundred watching. AT 5:00 A.M.! That says quite a bit, gentlemen. Thank you for all your fine work!