Send us a textFor years the United States Marine Corps has had a recruiting tool called the ‘Buddy Program.’ Using the program, you could join with a friend and essentially be guaranteed to go through recruit training together. During World War II, eight young men from Weslaco, Texas took that theory to the extreme, joining the Marine Corps to serve their nation. One of those young men was Iwo Jima flag raiser, Harlan Block. In a continuation of our Pacific Theater programming, Andrew Booher joins the show to discuss the fascinating topic of the Weslaco Eight, their enlistment, and their service in the Marine Corps during World War II.If you'd like to become a Patreon supporter of The "We're Not Lost, Private" Podcast, check us out here: https://patreon.com/WereNotLostPrivatePodcast You can check us out on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@WereNotLostPrivatePodcast If you like the pod, please hit like, subscribe and share!You can listen to us on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and a host of other podcatchers.We're also on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/werenotlostprivate1944 and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WereNotLostPrivate Support the show
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1:26:00
EP47 - Guadalcanal’s Longest Fight w/Dave Holland
Send us a textDue to the popularity of John Basilone and the Battle of Alligator Creek, the Battle for Guadalcanal looms large in the public eye regarding World War II in the Pacific. The Pacific miniseries reinforced those popular images. But like most battles in the war, much more information is required to get a complete understanding of what happened. Dave Holland, through his popular “Guadalcanal – Walking a Battlefield” Facebook page, has begun lifting the shroud from the Battle of Guadalcanal, and in his upcoming book, Guadalcanal’s Longest Fight, he examines a series of critical battles centered around the Matanikau River. Join Joe and Dave as they discuss those battles as well as the upcoming release of Dave’s book. If you'd like to become a Patreon supporter of The "We're Not Lost, Private" Podcast, check us out here: https://patreon.com/WereNotLostPrivatePodcast You can check us out on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@WereNotLostPrivatePodcast If you like the pod, please hit like, subscribe and share!You can listen to us on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and a host of other podcatchers.We're also on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/werenotlostprivate1944 and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WereNotLostPrivate You can visit Dave's Facebook page @ Guadalcanal - Walking a Battlefield and check out his book, Guadalcanal's Longest Fight, on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/Guadalcanals.../dp/1636245846/Support the show
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1:46:48
EP46 – The Combat Mindset: The 29th Infantry Division – From Omaha Beach to St. Lo and Beyond, w/ Joe Balkoski
Send us a textThe 29th Infantry Division was one of the earliest National Guard units to be federalized after the attack on Pearl Harbor. They would soon ship to England where they would train until D-Day. After landing on France that fateful day, they would essentially remain ‘one the line’ until V-E Day. Joe is joined by esteemed author and historian, Joe Balkoski to help explore the combat mindset of the men of the division as they activate, ship out, take part in one of the most famous amphibious assaults in history, and then slog across western Europe. The ‘two Joe’s’ discuss how exposure to relentless combat, and its associated attritional rate, led to an almost fatalistic outlook on the part of the 29’ers regarding their chances for survival. Don’t miss out on this fascinating discussion!If you'd like to become a Patreon supporter of The "We're Not Lost, Private" Podcast, check us out here: https://patreon.com/WereNotLostPrivatePodcastYou can check us out on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@WereNotLostPrivatePodcastIf you like the pod, please hit like, subscribe and share!You can listen to us on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and a host of other podcatchers.We're also on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/werenotlostprivate1944and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WereNotLostPrivateSupport the show
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1:12:26
EP45 – Embattled Marines at Air Station Ewa, w/Josh Donohue
Send us a textWhen Marine Air Group 2 was stationed at Ewa Airfield on the island of Honolulu, none of the Marines there could have anticipated what would happen on the morning of December 7th, 1941. Join Joe and Josh Donohue as they examine significance of Ewa and the actions of both the Japanese attackers and Marine defenders on that fateful day. It’s an attack that has long been overshadowed by the one that took place at Battleship Row, but one that the Marines that withstood it would never forget. *** Please note that due to some technical difficulties, there are some spots where the podcast audio/video may appear a bit clunky. ***If you'd like to become a Patreon supporter of The "We're Not Lost, Private" Podcast, check us out here: https://patreon.com/WereNotLostPrivatePodcast You can check us out on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@WereNotLostPrivatePodcastIf you like the pod, please hit like, subscribe and share!You can listen to us on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and a host of other podcatchers.Support the show
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1:06:34
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1:06:34
EP44 – The Battle for Les Droueries: Part 2
Send us a textThe seesaw fight for Le Ferme Delaunay and Les Droueries. Despite launching multiple concerted attacks against German positions, LTC Robert Ballard found himself and his 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry in a death struggle. It was a test of will between the Americans and German grenadiers and Fallschirmjäger. Repeatedly taking and giving up ground and even being hit by their own naval gunfire support couldn’t prevent these Geronimo paratroopers from winning. In the second episode of this two-part series, Joe dissects the battle at the tactical level and tells the story using the words of the men that fought it. Check in to hear all about it! If you'd like to become a Patreon supporter of The "We're Not Lost, Private" Podcast, check us out here: https://patreon.com/WereNotLostPrivatePodcast You can check us out on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@WereNotLostPrivatePodcast If you like the pod, please hit like, subscribe and share!You can listen to us on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and a host of other podcatchers.If you’d like to learn more about Joe’s 2026 Path of Easy Company Tour, you can stop by this link: https://ssgtmooch.wixsite.com/joe-muccia/itemsIf you’d like to learn more about Toccoa Tours and our April 2026 event, hit this link: https://brand.site/toccoatours.com/ Support the show
Whether you’re interested in learning more about the real Band of Brothers, or exploring the people, places and things associated with a wide range of World War II battles, the “We’re Not Lost, Private” Podcast is the pod for you. We focus on telling the stories of the members of the Greatest Generation who served at the bayonet point and were involved in the battles that helped define the 20th Century and beyond. We’ll talk with historians, authors, battlefield guides and family members of the men and women that were there during one of the most climactic events in human history. Learn what it was like for these service members to take part in a combat parachute assault, an amphibious assault on an enemy held beach, knocking out an enemy strong point, or countless other actions across the breath and width of World War II. The “We’re Not Lost, Private” Podcast puts you right next to them during that action.
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