prbeckman
@prbeckman
Documentary producer & director, PA Books host, drone videographer. Strategy Bridge Podcast host. Interested in books, history, art, strategy.
One of my ancestors, Francis Sermersein, served in the 27th Indiana which fought its way into this meadow before being stopped by heavy Confederate fire.
Popped down to Gettysburg for breakfast and a short tour of the battlefield before it gets too hot, (but it’s already 89 degrees.) Visited the Indiana memorial at the base of Culp’s Hill.
The view from Oak Ridge looking out across the field that troops from Alabama and North Carolina would march across to attack troops from Maine, NY, and Pennsylvania on July 1, 1863.
Kuerner hill on a beautiful sunny day. It’s great to have the opportunity to explore the landscape that Karl Kuerner and Andrew Wyeth painted.
Here are the detailed orders from JCS to CINCPOA and CINCSWPA outlining courses of action.
March 1944 - "the Joint Chiefs of Staff have decided that our first major objective in the war against JAPAN will be the vital LUZON-FORMOSA-CHINA COAST Area. Strategy will be directed to attain this objective by the most direct and expeditious course possible"
"I recommend that the Joint Chiefs of Staff issue a directive now for the progressive advance of SWPA forces into the CENTRAL PHILIPPINES to be followed by the establishment of POA forces in the FORMOSA STRAIT REGION with a target date of 15 February."
"If we are to obtain advantages of establishment of our forces in FORMOSA STRAIT region prior to end of typhoon season 1945 CAUSEWAY must follow as closely after LEYTE as movement and preparation of forces will permit."
This is interesting. Nimitz's proposal for a series of operations leading to Formosa-China Coast. Note the key role of SWPA forces in Central Philippines in his plan.
This is the Command History of the 7th Amphibious Force which served in SWPA in WW2. And below is the list of amphibious operations the 7th executed. www.history.navy.mil/research/lib...
After the Yap invasion was canceled, Nimitz offered the 24th Corps (7th, 96th, and 77th Infantry Divisions) to MacArthur for the Leyte op. But he was also considering using the 24th Corps to seize Iwo Jima. That would have been an interesting alternative history.
"Destruction of the enemy fleet is always the primary objective of our Naval Forces. Attempts by enemy fleet units to interfere with amphibious operations are both hoped for and provided against..."
The draft plan for Operation Olympic, the invasion of Honshu, scheduled for 1 Nov 1945.
The Army divisions in WWII website has been updated. armydivs.com/divisions?vi... These are the 21 Army divisions that served in the Pacific War.
In 1914, Marines robbed the Haitian national bank. If this were fiction it would be a great movie, but the fact that it’s real, well, it’s shameful.
King to Nimitz: IN CONSONANCE WITH BASIC STATEGIC POLICY OF GOVERNMENTS CONCERNED YOUR ASSIGNED TASKS ARE...
The orders from JCS to Nimitz, MacArthur, and Arnold (20th AF) in spring 1945.