When people think of the paratroopers of World War II, they tend to think of the European theater — the 101st Airborne Division and the Band of Brothers.
But paratroopers were also deployed in the Pacific, and here to unpack their lesser-known but equally epic and heroic story is James Fenelon, a former paratrooper himself and the author of Angels Against the Sun: A WWII Saga of Grunts, Grit, and Brotherhood. Today on the show, James tells us about the formation, leadership, and training of the 11th Airborne Division, the role they played in the campaigns of the Pacific — which included being dropped one by one out of a tiny plane described as a “lawnmower with wings” —how they built a reputation as one of the war’s most lethal units, and the division’s surprising connection to the creation of the Twilight Zone. At the end of our conversation, James shares what lessons we all can take away from the exploits and spirit of the 11th Airborne.
Resources Related to the PodcastThe 3 Musical Geniuses Behind the Most Popular Jazz Album of All Time
A Butler's Guide to Managing Your Household
Down With Pseudo-Productivity: Why We Need to Transform the Way We Work
The 5 Factors for Crafting Simple (Read: Effective!) Messages
The Misconceptions of HIIT (And the Role It Can Play in Your Fitness Routine)
The Making of a Stoic Emperor
The Secrets of Supercommunicators
7 Journaling Techniques That Can Change Your Life
Busting the Myths of Marriage — Why Getting Hitched Still Matters
Chasing Shackleton — Re-creating the World’s Greatest Journey of Survival
Night Visions — Understand and Get More Out of Your Dreams
Shakespeare on How Leaders Rise, Rule, and Fall
Launch a Million-Dollar Business This Weekend
The Case for Minding Your Own Business
The Mundanity of Excellence
A Guide to Protecting Yourself Against Unexpected Violence
Come Alive Again by Having More Fun
An Insider's Guide to the Rise of the American Mafia
How Curiosity Conversations Can Supercharge Your Success
Feeling Depressed and Discombobulated? Social Acceleration May Be to Blame
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West