Confused Heap of Facts

Episode 63 – He Who Desires Peace, Let Him Prepare for War:” Hosler Talks Vegetius Nov 01, 2024

Dr. Jonathan Abel is joined by Dr. John Hosler to discuss the Roman military theorist Vegetius. They discuss Vegetius’s work and its themes. They trace its transmission and influence through the medieval period. They examine its use in early modern France. They conclude by discussing one of the major misuses of Vegetius and similar works.

“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield

Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH

DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance

Artwork: Daniel O. Neal

Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 62 – Clemis on Twentieth-Century Vietnamese Politics Oct 01, 2024

Drs. Jonathan Abel and Bill Nance continue their discussions about Vietnam with Dr. Martin Clemis. They dive into Vietnamese politics throughout the twentieth century. They begin with major influences on Vietnam like China, France, Marxism, and Buddhism. They detail how politics evolved throughout the century, particularly in the North. They explain how America’s Vietnam War shaped those politics. They conclude by explaining why the US often mis-read Vietnamese politics during its war.

“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield

Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH

DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance

Artwork: Daniel O. Neal

Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 61.5 – Schedule Announcement Sep 23, 2024

A short of announcement that we'll be moving to a once-a-month model for CHF instead of the twice -a-month.

Episode 61 – Brown on Eisenhower’s New Look Sep 15, 2024

Dr. Jonathan Abel is joined by Dr. Gates Brown to discuss Eisenhower’s New Look policy. They outline the background to Eisenhower’s strategic views via the late 1940s and early 1950s. They explain what Eisenhower’s approach to deterrence was via the New Look and Massive Retaliation. They explore the responses within the Army, particularly the Pentomic Division, to that policy. They then conclude with some lessons learned from the period.
“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 60 – Rafuse on the 1862 Valley Campaign Sep 01, 2024

Dr. Jonathan Abel is joined by Dr. Bill Nance to discuss the 1862 Valley Campaign of the U.S. Civil War with Dr. Ethan Rafuse. They discuss the background of the campaign and how it fit into the other Union efforts that spring. They detail the fighting in the valley and how Union efforts failed. They conclude with lessons from the campaign, including Stonewall Jackson’s operational art and leadership.
“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 59 – Abel on Early Modern European Military Theorists Aug 15, 2024

Dr. Bill Nance interviews Dr. Jonathan Abel about military theory during the early modern period, especially in France. They discuss the gap in knowledge between Machiavelli and Clausewitz that many modern students of the subject have, and how it developed. They detail the theorists who worked between those periods and how theory evolved. They talk about the Military Enlightenment and how it led to the works of Jomini and Clausewitz at the advent of the modern era.
“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 58 - Kuehn talks JC Wiley Aug 01, 2024

Dr. Jonathan Abel is joined by Dr. Bill Nance and guest Dr. John Kuehn to talk about an under appreciated theorist: JC Wiley. They discuss his background and how it shaped his theory. They note his service record in World War II, including his participation in the foundation of the Combat Information Center (CIC). They then explore his theories, including how strategy relates to the other levels of war.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Phillip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band :

Episode 57 – Clemis on Dau Tranh Jul 15, 2024

Drs. Jonathan Abel and Bill Nance sit down with Dr. Martin Clemis to discuss Vietnamese communist strategy in the Vietnam War, especially what is known as “dau tranh.” Clemis describes the holistic communist approach that stymied efforts by the French, Americans, and Chinese to defeat it. He traces its origins in Marxism and Maoism, and he discusses how it functioned. Finally, he offers some personal opinions on why the US struggled with dau tranh.
“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 56 – Nagel on Race Relations in the US Army 1900-1918 Jul 01, 2024

Drs. Jonathan Abel and Bill Nance are back with Dr. Amanda Nagel to talk race relations in the US Army in the early twentieth century. The dig into social and military issues as Jim Crow began its long reign in the US, including the Army. They detail the struggle of Black American officers to find justice and equity in the Army leading into World War I. They discuss some of the influence that that war had on the topic, looking forward to the burgeoning civil rights movement.
“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 55 – Babb on the Russo-Japanese War Jun 15, 2024

Dr. Jonathan Abel, with Dr. Bill Nance, talks with Dr. Geoff Babb about one of the most important twentieth-century conflicts: the Russo-Japanese War. They discuss why the Russians were not prepared for the war, while the Japanese were. They detail the difficulties both sides faced in fighting it. They conclude by discussing its influence, particularly looking towards World War I.
“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 54 – LTC Hatzinger on the US Army Mortuary Service May 31, 2024

Drs. Jonathan Abel and Bill Nance talk to LTC Kyle Hatzinger, PhD, from the Department of Sustainment and Force Management, about the US Army Mortuary Service. He describes its origins in the nineteenth century during the US Civil War and the Spanish-American War. He details how many of the Mortuary Service’s traditions and procedures originated in World War I. He concludes by discussing how those evolved over the remainder of the twentieth century.
“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 53 – Abel on the French Revolution May 15, 2024

Drs. Jonathan Abel and Bill Nance discuss the French Revolution. They explore its origins and its various stages. They discuss the different groups involved in it and their machinations as they sought to gain power and shape France in their image. They explore the military aspect of the Revolution as it came to an end under Napoleon. They conclude by examining some of its various elements and legacies.
Corrections: the Glorious Revolution in England took place in 1689, not 1789, and the French fully conquered Italy only during the War of the Second Coalition.
“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 52 – Whitford on British Leadership in the Early 20th Century May 01, 2024

Dr. Jonathan Abel and Dr. Bill Nance are back with LTC Andy Whitford, PhD, of DDE to discuss British army leadership in the early twentieth century. They trace the early career of General Nevil Macready through the Boer War and the Tonypandy Riots of 1910-1911. They detail how he managed to use military force effectively to keep peace in his various postings in Egypt, South Africa, and Wales. Finally, LTC Whitford offers some insights into lessons that may be learned from Macready’s career and approach.
“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 51 – Gerges on Napoleonic Cavalry in the Peninsular War Apr 01, 2024

Dr. Jonathan Abel and Dr. Bill Nance talk with Dr. Mark Gerges, Napoleonist, about Napoleonic-era cavalry in the Peninsular War. They begin by describing the conflict and the characteristics of the operating environment. They explore Napoleonic cavalry in general, particularly British and French. They detail how British cavalry fought in the conflict, and how Wellington managed his forces in Iberia. Finally, they explain how the lessons from the conflict are still relevant.
“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 50 – On the Road at the 2024 CRE Apr 01, 2024

Dr. Jonathan Abel is on the road at the 2024 meeting of the Consortium on the Revolutionary Era in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His first discussion is with Dr. Julia Osman, Associate Professor of History at Mississippi State University, about early modern French soldiers. They examine misconceptions of soldiers of the period, particularly about their literacy and agency, and explore exciting new research avenues in the field. His second discussion is with Dr. Alexander Burns, Assistant Professor of History at Franciscan University of Steubenville, about various approaches to history. They explore historical reenactment, experimental archaeology, wargaming, and video gaming as methods of learning and teaching history. They examine which have the most value alongside traditional academic history, and they opine on the pitfalls inherent in some.
“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 49 – Jennings on Winfield Scott Mar 14, 2024

Dr. Jonathan Abel, with Dr. Bill Nance, talks to LTC Nate Jennings, PhD, of DJIMO about the life and career of Winfield Scott. They discuss the early American army and Scott’s place in it as a leading intellectual. They then detail his role in the Mexican-American War from its beginnings to his triumph in Mexico City. They explore how Scott was a joint-minded commander, able to work equally well across branches, services, and domains of warfare.
“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 48 – Hosler on Crusades and Crusading Mar 01, 2024

Dr. Jonathan Abel sits down with Dr. John Hosler, DMH medievalist, to discuss the Crusades and Crusading. They examine the terminology and interrogate what constitutes a “Crusade.” They discuss the people who went Crusading and their motivations. They interrogate the time range in which Crusades took place. Finally, they opine on the utility of such discussions.
“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 47 – Nagel on Race Relations in the US Army 1865-1906 Feb 22, 2024

Drs. Jonathan Abel and Bill Nance talk with Dr. Amanda Nagel about race relations in the US Army between the Civil War and World War 2. They discuss the participation of Black soldiers in Reconstruction and how many transitioned to being Buffalo Soldiers in the American West. They detail the issues those soldiers faced, both within the Army and in wider American society of the time. They trace race relations through the Spanish-American War in 1898. Finally, they explore how the Progressive Era did and did not improve race relations, culminating in the 1906 Brownsville Affair.
“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 46 – Hull on International Law Feb 01, 2024

Dr. Jonathan Abel, joined by Dr. Bill Nance, talk international law with Dr. Mark Hull. He examines the effects of World War 2, especially the Nuremberg Trials, on the development of international law. He discusses how international law and its implementation languished in the late twentieth century before picking up again in the 1990s. He explains how enforcement evolved after the end of the Cold War and how it might continue in the future.
“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 45 – Zinsou on French Politics in WW2 Jan 15, 2024

Dr. Jonathan Abel and Dr. Bill Nance discuss French politics before and during World War 2 with Dr. Cameron Zinsou. They analyze the impact of World War 1 on France and how it shaped the French military going in to the next war. They outline the politics of the Third Republic and explain why they were so fractious. They detail how politics changed (and didn’t change) during the war. Finally, they conclude with an analysis of how those politics continued after the war.
“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 44 – Babb on Stilwell Dec 15, 2023

Dr. Jonathan Abel, with Dr. Bill Nance, discusses the career of General “Vinegar Joe” Stilwell before and during World War II with DMH China expert Dr. Geoff Babb. They explore Stilwell’s early career in the slim interwar-years Army and how it uniquely qualified him for service in East Asia. They detail how this resulted in an important civil-military position in China that culminated in his appointment as Chief of Staff to the Nationalist army. Finally, they examine how personality quirks undermined Stilwell’s mission and ultimately cost him his position.
“History is only a confused heap of facts.” – Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 43 - Whitford on Britain in the Vietnam Era Dec 01, 2023

Drs. Jonathan Abel and Bill Nance meet with special guest LTC Andy Whitford, PhD, of the Department of Distance Education, about Britain during the Vietnam era. He outlines the difficulties of post-war and post-colonial Britain and how they influenced politics. He discusses Britain's efforts at mediation throughout the US-Vietnam conflict. He concludes by examining the British efforts to help refugees from the conflict.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 42 - Jennings on the 1973 War Nov 15, 2023

Dr. Jonathan Abel, joined by Dr. Bill Nance, talks with special guest LTC Nate Jennings, PhD, of the Department of Joint, Interagency, and Multinational Operations, about the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. They discuss the background of the conflict, particularly coming out of the 1967 Six-Day War. They detail why the 1973 War was such a surprise for Israel and how the Arab Coalition, particularly Egypt, achieved that. They explore how the Israelis and Egyptians responded to the initial combat in the Sinai and around the Suez. Finally, they opine on the importance and influence of the war.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 41 - Abel and Nance on Professionalism Nov 01, 2023

Drs. Jonathan Abel and Bill Nance interview each other about a key element of modern militaries: professionalism. Dr. Abel discusses what constituted professionalism and merit in early-modern France, especially in the transition from the noble Old Regime to the French Revolution and Napoleonic armies. Dr. Nance explores how that changed in the American Army from the nineteenth to the twentieth centuries, especially as realized in America's largest war in World War 2.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 40 - DiMarco on Urban Warfare Oct 15, 2023

Dr. Jonathan Abel, joined by Dr. Bill Nance, discusses urban warfare with the dean of the subject, Dr. Lou DiMarco. They discover the unique nature of urban warfare and what challenges it poses to militaries. They trace the origins of urban warfare through the ancient, medieval, and early-modern eras, as technologies and techniques changed. They explore how ideas of warfare changed, leading to changes in urban warfare, as technology also pushed war into cities towards the modern era.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 39 - Kuehn on Mahan Oct 01, 2023

Drs. Jonathan Abel and Bill Nance talk with Dr. John Kuehn about the naval theorist Alfred Mahan. He explains Mahan's background and why he chose the Navy over his father's Army. He traces Mahan's career during the middle of the nineteenth century, correcting several errors that have entered the historical record about it. He then details Mahan's theories and how they interacted with his history and those of his contemporaries, like Teddy Roosevelt. Finally, he summarizes Mahan's influence.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 38 - Clemis on Pacification in Vietnam Sep 16, 2023

Drs. Jonathan Abel and Bill Nance talk with Dr. Martin Clemis about pacification efforts during the conflicts in Vietnam in the mid-twentieth century. He explains how the US got involved in the region and how the conflicts originated. He details various methods of pacification, and challenges to them, by US and US-allied organizations. Finally, he examines why they ultimately failed.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 37 - Schneider on Limiting War Sep 01, 2023

Drs. Jonathan Abel and Bill Nance talk with Dr. Benjamin Schneider about efforts to limit war via law between the US Civil War and the mid-twentieth century. They discuss historical antecedents and why the mid-nineteenth-century wars inspired a push for formal laws of war. They trace those efforts through World War II and conclude by examining the efforts to redress war crimes in that conflict.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 36 - Periodization with Hosler Aug 15, 2023

Dr. Jonathan Abel is joined by Dr. Bill Nance and Dr. John Hosler to nerd out about a controversial topic in historiography: periodization. They discuss why periodization is important, how it can be done, and what issues accompany it. They also illustrate some of the pitfalls of periodization, including whose stories it might prejudice.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 35 - Cotter on the 2003 Iraq Invasion Aug 01, 2023

Dr. Bill Nance, joined by Dr. Jonathan Abel, talk to Dr. Dave Cotter about the 2003 US invasion of Iraq. Dr. Cotter outlines his role in the invasion, working in one of the logistics units that enabled it. He explains the difficulties of operating in the theater and what workarounds he and his team developed. Dr. Nance discusses the invasion from his perspective, at its front lines, and how Dr. Cotter's role enabled his actions.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 34 - Bonura on French Influences on the US Army Jul 15, 2023

Dr. Jonathan Abel and Dr. Bill Nance sit down with special guest Dr. Mike Bonura of DJIMO to discuss the French influences on the US Army from its earliest years to the US Civil War. He outlines how the French were the paradigm army of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries and what immediate and long-term influences that had on US Army theory and practice.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 33 - Kuehn on the Strategic Roots of WW2 in the Asia-Pacific Jul 01, 2023

Dr. Jonathan Abel is joined by Dr. Bill Nance to discuss the deep roots of the Asia-Pacific theater(s) of World War 2 with Dr. John Kuehn. Dr. Kuehn analyzes the growing conflict around the turn of the nineteenth century between Japan and its neighbors China and Russia, then how that led to animosity with the United States. He details the roles each country with interests in the Pacific, including the aforementioned and many European powers, played in the strategic environment of the pre-war period. Finally, he discusses at length how important China was in the conflict that was perhaps inevitable.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 32 - Vietnam Vets Jun 15, 2023

Dr. Jonathan Abel is joined by Drs. Martin Clemis and Bill Nance in a very special episode where they talk to three Vietnam War veterans about their experiences in that conflict. Guests LTC Jack Burkett, BG William West, and COL Thomas Dials (Retired) all served in Vietnam between 1966 and 1972 in a variety of capacities. They detail their backgrounds and experiences before and during the war. They also explain public opinion of the war as they experienced it, both in the US and in Vietnam. Finally, they address what modern officers might learn from the conflict.
Note for listeners: some explicit language is used
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, and Bill Nance
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 31 - Jennings and Nance on Cavalry Jun 02, 2023

Dr. Jonathan Abel is joined by LTC Nate Jennings, PhD, and DR. Bill Nance to discuss the history and evolution of cavalry. They begin in the earliest recorded periods, discussing what the mounted arm brought to ancient warfare. They then trace its development through the early-modern and Napoleonic eras before explaining the effects on cavalry of motorization, mechanization, and armor. Along the way, they explain basic cavalry concepts like screening and scouting, shock, and the petite guerre.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, Bill Nance, and Angela Riotto
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 30 - Dutch Army Historians May 16, 2023

Dr. Jonathan Abel, joined by Dr. Bill Nance, hosts a very special episode with two historians from the Royal Dutch Army, Marco Middelwijk and Jaus Müller. They discuss the importance of history in professional military education and how the Dutch Army makes use of it. They also talk about how the Dutch, and the Dutch Army, approach their own history, including the difficult period of the Second World War.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, Bill Nance, and Angela Riotto
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 29 - Riotto on US Civil War POWs May 02, 2023

Dr. Jonathan Abel, joined by Dr. Bill Nance, discuss US Civil War POWs with Dr. Angela Riotto. She explains how a soldier might become a POW and what the differences in kinds of POWs were. She details how POWs thought about themselves during and after their captivity. She discusses the conditions of the camps, which worsened throughout the war, especially in the South. Finally, she outlines how POWs and memory helped shape the Lost Cause.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, Bill Nance, and Angela Riotto
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 28 - On the Road at the 2023 SMH Apr 15, 2023

Dr. Jonathan Abel is on the road at the 2023 meeting of the Society for Military History in San Diego, California, speaking with a variety of military historians on topics ranging from the late seventeenth century to Vietnam.
Lineup:
Eighteenth-century grand strategy and Corsica with Dr. Joshua Meeks, Assistant Professor of Strategy and Policy at the US Naval War College
WASPS with Dr. Sarah Myers, Assistant Professor of History at Messiah University
Late seventeenth- and early eighteenth-century studies with Dr. Mark Danley, independent scholar, librarian, and KSU PhD history grad; and Dr. Caleb Karges, Associate Professor of History at Concordia University
The US soldier in Vietnam with Dr. Amber Batura, Assistant Professor of Military and Security Studies, US Air Force Air Command and Staff College
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Credits:
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, Bill Nance, and Angela Riotto
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 27 - Jennings on the US Army and History Apr 01, 2023

Dr. Jonathan Abel is joined by Dr. Bill Nance to examine with LTC Nate Jennings, PhD, how the US Army uses history. They discuss the role of history in professional military education within the Army, including how it shapes officers' education and training. They interrogate the utility of history, especially military history, in the Army. They conclude by drawing some connections between history and modern events.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, Bill Nance, and Angela Riotto
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 26 - Ringgenberg on US Army Signals in WWI Mar 15, 2023

Dr. Jonathan Abel is joined by Dr. Bill Nance to discuss US Army signals with Professor Dirk Ringgenberg. They begin by dissecting the origins of the US Army Signal Corps, particularly as technology developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They detail how the Army procured both equipment and experts in that equipment, allowing it to maintain technological currency. Finally, they discuss many of the difficulties of battlefield signals during the Great War.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, Bill Nance, and Angela Riotto
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 25 - Fry On US Civil War Battlefields Mar 01, 2023

Dr. Jonathan Abel is joined by Dr. Bill Nance to discuss US battlefields with Dr. Zach Fry, especially Civil War battlefields. They explore what constitutes a battlefield, how battlefields are created and curated, and what meaning that process creates. They examine the influence of battlefields and preservation on American memory, particularly of the Civil War. Finally, Dr. Fry explains how visiting battlefields benefits his research and his students' learning.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, Bill Nance, and Angela Riotto
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 24 - On the Road at the 2023 CRE Feb 15, 2023

Dr. Jonathan Abel goes on the road at the 2023 meeting of the Consortium on the Revolutionary Era, a yearly conference dedicated to the history of the period 1750 to 1850, especially military history. He first sits down with Dr. Alexander Mikaberidze of LSU-Shreveport and the Knoll Collection and Jack Gill of the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies and the International Institute for Strategic Studies to discuss logistics in the Napoleonic era. He then has a conversation with Dr. Alexander Burns about the late Christopher Duffy and his legacy, and about soldiers in the eighteenth century.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, Bill Nance, and Angela Riotto
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 23 - Kuehn on the US Navy during and after World War I Feb 03, 2023

Dr. John Kuehn joins Drs. Jonathan Abel and Angela Riotto to discuss the 1910s and 1920s US Navy. He begins by explaining the nature of the Navy and its place in the government during the period. He elaborates on its mission during the Great War. He then details the various missions it undertook after the war, as the US gained international commitments that the diplomat-commanders of the Navy were well-suited for.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, Bill Nance, and Angela Riotto
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 22 - Cotter on the Holocaust Jan 16, 2023

DMH Director and instructor Dr. Dave Cotter joins host Dr. Jonathan Abel and Dr. Angela Riotto to discuss the Holocaust. He outlines its various elements and how the were carried out. He discusses the importance of the Holocaust to World War 2 studies and military history, and the importance of war crimes to military history and historiography in general.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
DMH Podcast Team: Drs. Jonathan Abel, Mark Gerges, Bill Nance, and Angela Riotto
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 21 - Dean On Doctrine Nov 17, 2022

Special guest LTC Nikki Dean of the US Army Combined-Arms Doctrine Directorate (CADD) joins host Dr. Jonathan Abel and Dr. Angela Riotto to discuss doctrine and its importance. The discuss what doctrine is and how it's used in the US Army. They detail how doctrine is created and what misconceptions people have about it. LTC Dean describes how she uses her unique voice on social media to encourage reading and understanding of doctrine. Finally, they explain how history and doctrine interact.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 20 - Sterrett on Wargaming Nov 01, 2022

Special guest Dr. James Sterrett, Deputy Director in the Directorate of Simulation Education at CGSC, joins Dr. Jonathan Abel to discuss the history and importance of wargaming. They begin with a discussion of the origins of wargaming in the Prusso-German system. They turn to the purpose of wargaming and why it's such an important part of officer education. They also discuss the practice of wargaming in professional military education, particularly in cultivating decision making and strategic thinking.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 19 - Babb on China's "Century of Humiliation" Oct 15, 2022

Dr. Geoff Babb joins Dr. Jonathan Abel and Dr. Angela Riotto to talk about China's "Century of Humiliation," referring to the period from around 1840 to 1950 when internal issues and outside powers combined to destroy the Qing Dynasty and eventually see the seizure of power by the Chinese Communist Party. Babb begins with the intervention of the British and other foreign powers in China in the mid-nineteenth century and the internal unrest that followed, including the Taiping and Boxer Rebellions. He then discusses the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in the early twentieth century and the ensuing Chinese Civil War between the nationalists and the communists of Mao Zedong. Finally, he explains how the Japanese invasions of the 1930s provided the catalyst for the communist victory in the war. He concludes with an explanation of how the current Chinese government speaks of the period, envisioning it as a "century of humiliation" against which it feels it must react.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 18 - Maxwell on the Racial Integration of the US Army Oct 03, 2022

Dr. Jeremy Maxwell joins Dr. Jonathan Abel and Dr. Angela Riotto to talk about the racial integration of the US Army in the mid-twentieth century. He begins by discussing the segregation of the Army and how it began to be questioned in the early part of the century. He details how World War 2 was a turning point, both for Black Americans and for President Harry Truman, in how America viewed segregation within the Army. He then discusses how the segregation was ordered and carried out, explaining how it took decades to really take hold within the institution.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 17 - Demystifying Deterrence Theorists with Kalic Sep 15, 2022

Dr. Sean Kalic, DMH Master Instructor, talks with Drs. Jonathan Abel and Angela Riotto about deterrence theory in the twentieth century. They begin with the immediate post-World War 2 period and the advent of nuclear weapons, first by the US in 1945 and then by the Soviets by 1950. They discuss how American and Soviet theorists reacted to the weapons, their potential uses, and what nuclear conflict might look like. They analyze the effects of the Korean and Vietnam Wars on deterrence theory, creating a delectate balance of limited war and theoretical nuclear apocalypse. Finally, they conclude with the late Cold War, as both sides struggled for ascendancy even while reducing their nuclear stockpiles.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 16 - Hospodor on the Sicilian Campaign in WW2 Sep 01, 2022

Special guest Dr. Greg Hospodor of TRADOC talks to Dr. Jonathan Abel about the Sicilian Campaign in World War 2. He explains the planning and strategy behind the campaign, detailing why the Allies chose to invade the island. He walks us through the campaign itself, illustrating how the Axis forces defended it and how the Allies responded to operational and tactical challenges. Finally, he concludes with the significance of the campaign.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 15 - Hanson on the US Army in the Korean War Aug 15, 2022

Dr. Tom Hanson talks with Dr. Jonathan Abel about the US Army before and during the Korean War. They begin with a discussion of the draw-down in forces after World War 2, including plans to dispense with entire services in the wake of nuclear capabilities. They then detail the process of garrison duty in Japan by US forces stationed there after the war and the conditions that prevented them from engaging in proper preparation for large-scale combat. They interrogate the fate of Task Force Smith and other US forces during the Korean War, especially in its opening months. They concluded with an analysis of the effects and lessons of the period, including the infamous "No more Task Force Smiths" statement of the 1990s.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 14 - Zinsou on Southern France in World War 2 Aug 01, 2022

Dr. Cameron Zinsou joins Dr. Jonathan Abel to discuss a lesser-known theater in World War 2: Southern France. He discusses the planning for Operation Dragoon and the Allies' strategy in going there. He then details the experience of the French citizen in the region, particularly in the town of Montélimar, as they juggled daily life with Vichy, German, Italian, and Allied presence.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 13 - CGSC Student Panel on History Jul 15, 2022

Dr. Jonathan Abel, joined by Dr. Bill Nance, talks to a panel of award-winning students from the AY22 CGSC class. They discuss the importance of history to their careers and to the military profession, and how CGSC uses history in its curriculum.
Panel participants:
Major Molly McIntyre, US Army: Winner of the Father Donald M. Smythe Military History
Major Michael Rasak, US Army: Winner of the General Douglas MacArthur Military Leadership Writing Competition, Arter-Darby History MMAS Award, and Birrer-Brooks MMAS Award
Major McLeod "Woody" Wood, Australian Army: 3rd Place, General Douglas MacArthur Military Leadership Writing Competition, and author of "Studying History Improves Soldiers' War Performance"
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 12 - Jennings on Texas Frontier Cavalry Jun 14, 2022

Dr. Nate Jennings talks to Dr. Jonathan Abel, joined by Dr. Bill Nance, about cavalry on the Texas frontier. He outlines how the cavalry tradition began with the first American settlers there; their relationship with the local Comanche, Apache, and other indigenous groups; and how that evolved into a cavalry tradition that paid dividends in the Texas War of Independence. He then discusses how the Texas cavalry tradition was invaluable in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War, and how it influences cavalry practice and doctrine in the present.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 11 - War Crimes Panel at the Dole Institute Jun 01, 2022

A very special podcast episode: the audio from a panel on war crimes in World War 2, featuring Drs. Mark Hull and Benjamin M. Schneider. Hull and Schneider discuss German incitement to violence and American war crimes, respectively, illustrating areas of the war and war crimes that are not traditionally or popularly considered. The panelists then take questions from the audience. Special thanks to the Dole Institute at the University of Kansas for providing the venue and the audio.
Dole Institute Events Student Assistant: Olivia Korte
Dole Institute Technical/AV: Mark Crabtree
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Mark Gerges, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 10 - Brown on Eisenhower in Korea May 15, 2022

Dr. Gates Brown talks to Dr. Jonathan Abel, joined by Dr. Bill Nance, about Dwight Eisenhower and the Korean War. He details Eisenhower's background, experience, and personality, and then illustrates how they influenced the US exit from the Korean War.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 9 - Abel on the Military Enlightenment May 01, 2022

Dr. Jonathan Abel joins Dr. Bill Nance to discuss the Military Enlightenment, a relatively new field of historiography. He details how early-modern militaries were the perfect organizations to implement Enlightenment-style reforms, discusses how those reforms were envisioned and practiced, and explains how that implementation proceeded.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Bill Nance, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 8 - Hull on Nazi German Propagandists Apr 15, 2022

Dr. Mark Hull joins Dr. Abel and Dr. Bill Nance to discuss the post-World War II trials of Nazi propagandists Veit Harlan, Fritz Hippler, and Philipp Rupprecht. Hull discusses how the filmmakers Harlan and Hippler developed their anti-Semitic tropes, which mirrored those Rupprecht used in his cartoons. He explains how they were rooted in European and German culture and how they manifested during the war. He also discusses the difficulty of prosecuting the three men in post-war Germany, and the general problem of the crime of incitement.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 7 - Hosler on Jerusalem Apr 01, 2022

Dr. John Hosler joins Dr. Jonathan Abel, along with Dr. Bill Nance, to discuss the military history of Jerusalem. Hosler explains how Jerusalem figures in the campaigns waged in the Levant over the millennia, from the historical Omride period through the late Middle Ages. He details elements of several sieges, including during the Crusades, and addresses some myths that have accreted around them.
Note: "cultic center" is an academic term and is not intended to be an imprecation.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 6 - Kuehn on the Washington Naval Conference Mar 15, 2022

Dr. John Kuehn joins Dr. Abel to talk about the Washington Naval Conference, a meeting of the world powers after World War I that attempted to ratchet down world tensions by limiting naval tonnage. Dr. Kuehn outlines how the conference evolved out of the popular navalism of the late nineteenth century, the naval races that preceded the Great War, and the few naval battles of the war itself. He details the conference proceedings and outcomes, particularly the elevation of Japan to great-power status in its wake. Finally, he explores its implications.
"History is only a confused heap of facts." - Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 5 - Nance talks Simpson, WW2 Feb 15, 2022

Dr. Bill Nance joins Dr. Abel to talk about General William Simpson, commander of 9th Army in the European Theater of Operations in World War 2. Nance details how, unlike better-known contemporaries like George Patton and Omar Bradley, Simpson was a team player who didn't fight with his peers and commanders throughout the conflict, and gives us some lessons we might learn from him.
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 4 - Mills on the Berlin Wall Jan 26, 2022

Dr. Abel, joined by Dr. Bill Nance, interviews Dr. Dave Mills, early Cold-War historian, on the Berlin Wall. We discuss why it was built, what it represented, and what life was like on both sides. We also examine what it meant when the Wall fell in 1989, both in history and in memory.
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 3 - Laver talks Grant Jan 26, 2022

Dr. Abel, joined by Dr. Bill Nance, interviews Dr. Harry Laver, one of CGSC's Civil War experts, on the life and career of US Grant. Dr. Laver discusses Grant's early failures, temperament, and baptism by fire, which led to his later successes in the war. We trace Grant's Civil War career, from the Trans-Mississippi theater to the surrender in Virginia. Finally, we conclude by examining his presidency briefly and debating his legacy.
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 2 - Clemis on Vietnam Jan 26, 2022

Dr. Abel, joined by Dr. John Hosler, interviews Dr. Martin Clemis on Vietnam, discussing the war's origins, the difficulties of prosecuting the war from both sides, and how those influenced the conflict.
Host: Dr. Jonathan Abel, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

Episode 1 - Abel and Gerges talk Napoleon Jan 10, 2022

Dr. Hosler interviews Drs. Jonathan Abel and Mark Gerges, DMH Napoleonists, on the great man himself. We talk about military leadership, philosophy, government structure and policy, and the French Emperor's legacy.
Host: Dr. John Hosler, CGSC DMH
Artwork: Daniel O. Neal
Music: SSG Noah Taylor, West Point Band

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