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 Power of NEAT — Move a Little to Lose a Lot
The Feel-Good Method of Productivity
Fat Loss Made Simple
Declutter, Downsize, and Move Forward With Your Life
Duty, Honor, and the Unlikely Heroes Who Helped Win the Battle of the Bulge
Season’s Screenings — A Tour of Classic Christmas Movies
The Hobbit Virtues
A Carpenter's Notes on the Art of Good Work
Unpacking The Emotion No One Likes to Talk About
Increase Your Influence With the Science of Immersion
Turn Your Anxiety Into a Strength
Counterintuitive Ideas About Marriage, Family, and Kids
The Cues That Make You Charismatic
The Japanese Practice That Can Give More Meaning to an American Holiday
The Leadership Qualities That Will Set You Apart From the Pack
The Lesser-Known Philosophy of the Iron Age Greeks
10 Unchanging Ideas for Navigating an Ever-Changing World
How to Avoid Death by Comfort
The 3 Types of Failure (And How to Learn From Each)
What Lifting Ancient Stones Can Teach You About Being a Man
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West