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PODCAST

Key Battles of American History

Key Battles of American History

War has played a key role in the history of the United States from the nation’s founding right down to the present. Wars made the U. S. independent, kept it together, increased its size, and established it as a global superpower. Understanding America’s wars is essential for understanding American history. In the Key Battles of American History, host James Early discusses American history through the lens of the most important battles of America’s wars. James is an Adjunct

history

All Episodes

59:05

VW20: Epilogue to the Vietnam War

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/11/05

In this episode, the last of the Vietnam War series, Sean and James discuss the postwar lives and careers of top American and Vietnamese leaders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

49:17

Born on the Fourth of July

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/11/01

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1989 film Born on the Fourth of July, directed by Oliver Stone and based on the autobiography of Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic. Tom Cruise stars as Kovic, a patriotic young man who enlists in the U.S. Marine Corps, only to be paralyzed in combat and deeply disillusioned by the war and its aftermath. The film follows Kovic’s journey from idealistic soldier to anti-war activist, chronicling his physical and emotional struggles, his alienation upon

en-US

53:52

VW19: The Legacy of the Vietnam War

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/10/29

In this episode, Sean and James reflect on the long-term consequences of the war for the Vietnamese people, the United States, and the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

53:00

90 with Bruce Wasser

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/10/22

In this episode, James interviews author Bruce Jay Wasser about his book90: A Conscientious Objector’s Journey of Quiet Resistance. In this book, Wasser tells the story of his struggle to gain Conscientious Objector status during the Vietnam War.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

71:28

The Trial of the Chicago Seven

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/10/18

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 2020 film The Trial of the Chicago Seven, a historical legal drama written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. Based on true events, the film dramatizes the trial of seven anti–Vietnam War activists charged with conspiracy and inciting riots during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

39:20

VW18: The Antiwar Movement

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/10/15

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the complex and multifaceted anti-Vietnam War movement in the United States and around the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

46:32

The Hanoi Hilton

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/10/11

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1987 film The Hanoi Hilton, which portrays the harrowing experiences of American prisoners of war held in North Vietnam’s infamous Hoa Lo Prison—nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton"—during the 1960s and 1970s.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

40:53

VW17: Casualties, POWs and MIAs

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/10/08

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the horrific human costs of the Vietnam War, including the nature and number of casualties on each side, the specific number of people that each side had killed and wounded, and the experience of those who were captured and made prisoners of war. Take back your personal data with Incogni! Use codebattlesat the link below and get 60% off annual plans:https://incogni.com/battlesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

47:01

VW16: The Vietnamese Combat Soldier

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/10/01

In this episode, a companion to the previous one, Sean and James discuss the experience of Vietnamese front-line combat troops in the Vietnam War, including members of the North Vietnamese Army, the Viet Cong, and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

53:06

Good Morning Vietnam

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/09/27

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1987 film Good Morning Vietnam, a war-comedy film starring Robin Williams as Airman First Class Adrian Cronauer, a charismatic and irreverent DJ assigned to the Armed Forces Radio Service in Saigon during the Vietnam War. Set in 1965, the film follows Cronauer as he energizes the troops with his unfiltered humor, rock music, and offbeat broadcasts—much to the dismay of his rigid superiors. Loosely based on a true story, the film was a critical and

en-US

63:09

VW15: The American Combat Soldier

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/09/24

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the experience of American front-line combat troops in the Vietnam War, focusing on their background, training, equipment, combat roles, and coping mechanisms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

34:11

BAT-21

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/09/20

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1988 film BAT-21, which is based on the true story of U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Iceal “Ham” Hambleton, portrayed by Gene Hackman. After his aircraft is shot down behind enemy lines, Hambleton—an expert in electronic warfare with top-secret knowledge—must evade capture by North Vietnamese forces. The film centers on the intense rescue effort led by Capt. Bartholomew “Birddog” Clark, a reconnaissance pilot who maintains

en-US

68:27

VW14: The Air War

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/09/17

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the air war over Vietnam and Laos from 1964-1973, including an overview of the major US aircraft used in the war, the major bombing campaigns over North Vietnam, Close Air Support over South Vietnam, Search and Rescue missions, and the key role of helicopters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

46:09

VW13: The Naval War in Vietnam

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/09/10

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the crucial but often overlooked role that the U.S. and Allied navies and the U.S. Coast Guard played in the Vietnam War. Your lovable hosts show how naval power shaped strategy, logistics, and combat operations throughout the conflict.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

56:50

Return to the War with Fred Apgar

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/09/03

In this episode, James interviews Fred Apgar, who served as a pilot during the Vietnam War and participated in several missions over Laos. Fred discusses his book Return to the War, in which he narrates his war service and his decision to return to Laos decades later.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

76:59

The Deer Hunter

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/08/30

This week, Sean and James review the classic 1978 film The Deer Hunter, a powerful war drama that explores the impact of the Vietnam War on a group of working-class friends from a small steel town in Pennsylvania. The story follows three friends—Michael, Nick, and Steven—who are sent to fight in Vietnam, where they endure horrific experiences, including being captured and forced to play Russian roulette by their captors. The film contrasts their traumatic war experiences with their lives

en-US

59:13

VW12: The End of the War

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/08/27

In the 1972 presidential election, Richard Nixon defeated antiwar Democrat George McGovern in a landslide, aided by the announcement of a tentative peace deal. However, South Vietnamese President Thieu rejected the agreement, fearing it would lead to Communist domination. Talks broke down, prompting Nixon to launch the intense “Christmas Bombings” (Operation Linebacker II) in December 1972. The bombings pressured North Vietnam back to the negotiating table. The Paris Peace Accords were

en-US

92:34

Apocalypse Now

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/08/23

In this episode Sean and James review the classic 1979 film Apocalypse Now, a surreal and haunting war film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, inspired by Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness. Set during the Vietnam War, the story follows U.S. Army Captain Benjamin Willard, who is sent on a secret mission to travel up the Nung River into Cambodia and assassinate Colonel Walter Kurtz, a once-respected officer who has gone rogue and is now leading a cult-like group of followers deep in the

en-US

58:52

VW11: The US Tries Again; North Vietnam Pulls Back

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/08/20

In 1971 and 1972, American troop withdrawals accelerated under President Nixon’s Vietnamization policy. The South Vietnamese Army faced its first major test during Operation Lam Son 719 in Laos, which ended in a costly failure and revealed the ARVN’s limitations. Domestically, antiwar sentiment intensified, fueled by the Winter Soldier Investigation, rising drug use and fragging within the military, and the explosive release of the Pentagon Papers. In 1972, North Vietnam launched the

en-US

43:01

Gardens of Stone

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/08/16

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1987 film Gardens of Stone, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Gardens of Stone is a Vietnam War-era drama set far from the battlefield, focusing on the ceremonial soldiers of the U.S. Army’s Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery. Rather than depicting combat, Gardens of Stone offers a somber, character-driven meditation on the cost of war and the quiet heroism of those who serve behind the scenes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

en-US

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