The U.S. Army and World War II's Pacific Theater with John McManus | BRI Scholar Talks

What was the contribution of the U.S. Army to the American victory against Japan in the Pacific War in World War II? In this episode of Scholar Talks, John McManus, the Curators’ Distinguished Professor of U.S. military history at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, joins BRI Senior Teaching Fellow Tony Williams to talk about his new book "Island Infernos: The U.S. Army’s Pacific War Odyssey, 1944." Together, they discuss the nature of the war in the Pacific between America and Japan, the experiences of soldiers on the ground, and the leadership styles of the U.S. generals involved. Why did 1944 witness a turning of the tide in the U.S. Army's Pacific war effort?

0:00 Intro
3:34 Inspirations For Book
6:06 Cultural Differences in WWII
8:35 Average American Experience in Pacific
12:00 Personalities of the Generals
15:47 1944 Turning Point for US Army
18:03 Outro

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About John McManus:

John C. McManus is the author of thirteen books on military history and also offers his expertise as a speaker and commentator. His critically acclaimed books include "Deadly Sky: The American Combat Airman in World War II," "September Hope: The American Side of a Bridge Too Far," and "The Dead and Those About to Die: D-Day." He has appeared on CNN, Fox News, C-Span, National Geographic Channel, the Smithsonian Network, among others.

About the Bill of Rights Institute:

Established in September 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization that works to engage, educate, and empower individuals with a passion for the freedom and opportunity that exist in a free society. The Institute develops educational resources and programs for a network of more than 50,000 educators and 70,000 students nationwide.