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War Stories

From the two World Wars, to Korea, Vietnam and today’s conflicts, War Stories reveals the courage and sacrifice of the Americans who serve in our nation’s military.

Latest Episodes:

The Life And Times Of General Douglas MacArthur Mar 15, 2018

This is the story of an American military legend - the recipient of America's highest decorations for valor: The Medal Of Honor, The Distinguished Service Cross, seven Silver Stars - and more than a dozen awards from allied nations. From the time he graduated 1st in his class from West Point until he retired with 50 plus years of service, he was a complex combination of valor and vanity, a figure of legendary victory and terrible loss. To this day, he is one of the most controversial military leaders in U.S. history. I'm Oliver North - and in this War Stories podcast you will learn more about General Douglas MacArthur than you ever knew - from people who knew him best - those with whom he served - those who loved him - and the president who fired him. Stay with us for the remarkable life story of a man who honed his battle skills in the trenches of World War I and who still inspires future generations of soldiers and military planners. You'll hear how this legendary leader enjoyed great victories - and persevered through devastating defeats - on battlefields - and in bedrooms. In an exclusive War Stories interview, listen to my conversation with General Alexander Haig, who served with MacArthur during the Korean War as he recalls MacArthur's daring master-stroke... And after you hear from the man who delivered the message to General MacArthur that he had been fired by the President of the United States, let me know: Did President Harry Truman do the right thing when he fired this controversial American hero?

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Operation Iraqi Freedom Mar 15, 2018

When we filed our first "sitrep" from Kuwait on Thursday, 6 March, 2003, neither my field producer nor I had the answer to the #1 question from FOX News HQ in New York City: "When will hostilities against Saddam Hussein commence?" Two weeks later we could answer the question - because we were embedded with the U.S. Marines who were the first to fight. I'm Oliver North, and in this FOX News War Stories podcast you can join cameraman & field producer Griff Jenkins and me as we cover the opening of Operation Iraqi Freedom - from pre-hour action - and the first American combat losses, through the liberation of Baghdad and to the capture of Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. Come with us as we keep company with America's newest generation of heroes as they topple Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and his bloody regime that terrorized the Iraqi people for more than 25 years. The voices and sounds you hear in this podcast are the real thing - captured on our microphones during vicious gunfights while we were embedded with units of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and later with the Army's 4th Inf. Div. On D-minus one we rode into battle with HMM 268 - the Red Dragons - commanded by Marine Lt. Col Jerry Driscoll. His squadron of marine CH-46 helicopters was the primary cas-evac unit for Regimental Combat Team 5 - led by then Colonel "Fighting Joe Dunford - destined to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs Of Staff. RCT 5 was the lead combat element of the 1st Marine Division - commanded by Major Gen. Jim Mattis - now the Secretary Of Defense. In this podcast you will hear first-hand from the troops Mattis led and inspired to go further, faster & with fewer casualties than any armed force in history. While you listen, judge for yourself, whether I was right to describe the young American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Guardsmen & Marines we accompanied in this bloody contest as "the brightest, best and bravest of their generation."

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The Furious Fight For Dong Ha Mar 15, 2018

By the spring of 1972, the Vietnam War - in which my U.S. Army brother and I both served - was supposed to be "winding down." President Richard Nixon's commitment to "Vietnamization" - training, equipping & "supporting" the South Vietnamese government & military - was well underway. In February 1972, the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne - the last U.S. ground combat division in The Republic of Vietnam - headed home. By March 1972, U.S. combat troop levels "in country" had dropped from a high of 500,000 American Soldiers & Marines in 1969 to just two Army brigades guarding fixed installations and a few thousand U.S. "advisors" embedded with South Vietnamese forces. With President Nixon facing re-election - and making overtures to Beijing & Moscow - North Vietnam's General Vo Nguyen Giap convinced the Politburo in Hanoi that the spring of 1972 was the "perfect time" to strike a devastating blow against the U.S. supported government in Saigon. Giap chose noon, Thursday, 30 March - the eve of Good Friday and Easter weekend and the holiest of holidays for Christians in South Vietnam - as "H-Hour." His intent was to make this assault an even greater propaganda victory than "Tet 1968." He nearly succeeded. Tens of thousands of North Vietnamese troops and hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles poured across the Demilitarized Zone and raced toward a strategic bridge U.S. Navy "Seabees" had built over the Cua Viet River near the town of Dong Ha, less than 8 miles south of the DMZ. It was there that a battalion of Vietnamese Marines and a handful of American advisors were all that stood in the way of the enemy. Among them - U.S. Marine Captain John Ripley - was determined to keep the North Vietnamese Army from crossing the river. The raw courage and personal resolve he showed has become legend in the annals of American military history. To make this riveting documentary, our War Stories team returned to Vietnam with my dear departed Marine friend, Colonel John Ripley. We retraced the epic battle & walked ground we both defended when we served in 3rd Battalion 3rd Marine Regiment. You'll also meet the South Vietnamese Marine Battalion Commander - Major Nguyen Binh - whose men fought to the death beside Captain Ripley in Dong Ha during the Easter '72 offensive. If you're not moved by the accounts of the eyewitness participants in this bloody fight, seek immediate medical attention. Your heart may have already stopped. That's an order!

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Leave No One Behind Mar 15, 2018

"Leave no one behind." It's a sacred promise our military makes to all who serve in uniform. To keep that pledge, in October 2003 The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command - JPAC - was created by President George W. Bush with the mission of finding and bringing home America's missing in action - no matter where or when they were lost. I'm Oliver North, and in this War Stories podcast you will meet members of a military unit unlike any other in the world. The Pentagon dubbed it - "JPAC" - The Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command. In 2010, in between deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan & other hot spots, our FOX News War Stories team was dispatched to document how JPAC accomplished their unique military mission. We began at JPAC headquarters at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, where 18 teams of specialized investigators, forensic scientists and active-duty military personnel were based when not deployed around the globe. These JPAC teams had a daunting task: traversing trackless deserts, snake infested jungles, remote mountain ranges and ocean depths to recover, identify & return to their loved ones the remains of missing U.S. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Guardsmen & Marines. Success for JPAC required cutting-edge forensic technology, age-old detective work and sometimes the skill of explosive ordnance technicians. In this riveting podcast of "War Stories," come with us as we accompany JPAC search and recovery teams on high-risk missions; meet scientists devoted to the task of identifying the remains of those who have fallen; and hear the powerful account of a "mission accomplished." Lt. Fredrick Joel Ransbottom, an Oklahoma native was declared "MIA" - missing in action - in Vietnam in 1968. Listen as his family recounts the 38 years they spent searching for answers and how a brother-in-arms provided clues to what happened to the young lieutenant. You'll also learn how the dedicated sleuths of JPAC tackled one of the most enduring mysteries of World War II - the whereabouts of 19 Marine raiders lost on Makin Island in 1942. In January 2015, JPAC was merged with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Today, the grueling task of analyzing, investigating, recovering & identifying the remains of American MIA personnel continues so that the families of the missing may have closure on what happened to their loved ones. The mission: "leave no one behind" continues...

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War Stories Afghanistan: American Special Ops Feb 14, 2018

He was the world's most wanted criminal, with a 25 million dollar bounty on his head. For almost ten years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, Osama bin Laden was on the run, his whereabouts unknown. On May 1, 2011, under cover of darkness, a US special operations team lead by Navy SEALs descended over a compound in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad. Within forty minutes, Osama bin Laden was dead. It was a perfectly executed, covert mission of American Special Ops. In this 'boots on the ground' episode of "War Stories," you'll get a gripping, inside understanding of covert intelligence collection, high risk meets with clandestine informants, and rapid response capture-kill missions. From three month-long embeds with US soldiers and Marines, Special Operations units and the DEA, our "War Stories" team takes you on heart-thumping raids into Taliban strongholds, and you'll meet the unsung heroes who fight in the shadows to take down the Taliban. And from Kabul, General David Petraeus, the commander of all US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, gives Oliver North his assessment of the war. It's a front line view of how brave American men and women are fighting in Afghanistan and the unique mission of American special operations.

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Siege At Khe Sanh Feb 14, 2018

A remote combat base in the Vietnamese highlands, Khe Sanh was the scene of one of the most ferocious and controversial battles of the Vietnam War. The 6,000 Marines and soldiers at the base were surrounded by a massive North Vietnamese enemy force numbering more than 20,000. From January through April 1968, they endured unrelenting enemy fire, heavy casualties and dwindling supplies of ammunition, food and water. Overhead, B-52s dropped more tons of bombs than had been dropped on any one place in history. This transformed what were once lush, green mountains into a barren dustbowl that resembled the surface of the moon. Through it all, the Americans held their ground and broke the back of the enemy. But U.S. military commanders decided to abandon the base soon after the siege was broken. This left many of the Marines and soldiers who defended it extremely bitter. In this action-filled episode of "War Stories with Oliver North," get to know several of the men who nearly lost their lives at this dangerous and remote outpost. Go back to Khe Sanh with on Marine for his emotional return to the very bunker he lived in for those 77 days under siege.

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Bandages On The Battlefield Feb 14, 2018

They put their own lives in danger to rescue their fallen comrades. They are the warriors of medicine, a special breed tested at every turn. They are the medics, corpsmen, nurses and doctors who often risk their own lives to save the lives of others. In this exciting episode of "War Stories with Oliver North," you'll meet a brave World War II nurse who was captured by the Japanese and spent nearly three years behind bars as a POW. And, you'll hear from one of the nurses who served in the real MASH unit during the Korean War. This episode also features the only known audio recording of military action that led to a Medal of Honor for "Dustoff" pilot Patrick Brady. You'll hear pilot Brady on the day he rescued more than 50 injured Americans, despite being shot down three times in different helicopters. These amazing tales of battlefield bravery will move and inspire you. And they'll demonstrate why today's nearly 1.4 million men and women in our armed forces so confidently put their lives in the hands of these courageous warriors of medicine.

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Winter Warriors: The 10th Mountain Division Feb 14, 2018

When the call went out for America's first ski troops, men of the mountains came running and set in motion a story that would become legendary in military history. They came from all walks of alpine life to converge on a brand new base high in the Colorado Rockies...world champion ski racers, ski jumpers, mountain climbers, muleskinners, and guides. These men would become the elite 10th Mountain Division, America's fighting winter warriors. These ski troops would face one of the toughest tasks of the Second World War: breaking Hitler's iron grip on the steep mountain faces of Italy. In this gripping episode of "War Stories with Oliver North," you'll hear of their battles with bitter cold, blinding snow, and tough German troops desperately holding on to their last line of defense. And you'll hear from Senator Bob Dole as he recounts his four-year struggle to recover from terrible wounds he suffered during a heroic attempt to save one of his men during the 10th's bloodiest battle. You will discover why there never has been, and may never be, another division like the 10th. And now, their legacy lives on in the tough mountains of Afghanistan in the War on Terror.

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The Pueblo Incident Jan 03, 2018

This is a story that has all the ingredients of a Hollywood thriller, including high-tech espionage, Communist villains and American military heroes captured and subjected to brutal torture for months on end. But this is no Hollywood movie. It is the true story of the USS Pueblo and her brave crew of 83. In this podcast, you will hear about an incident that began in January 1968 and still resonates today. The USS Pueblo, an American surveillance vessel, was on her maiden voyage under orders to gather intelligence on North Korea. But the North Koreans had other plans. For the first time in some 150 years, an American Navy ship was seized in international waters. The astonishing action nearly brought the United States to the brink of war, and the staggering intelligence loss from the ship's capture compromised national security for nearly two decades. Hear from the men who endured eleven months of brutal captivity, including the ship's commander, Lloyd "Pete" Bucher, who returned home only to face court-martial. The end to this story has yet to be written. The North Koreans continue to hold the ship captive and now use it as a "tourist" attraction.

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Hell In The Pacific: Guadalcanal Jan 03, 2018

Guadalcanal was "a place the no one ever heard of." History would show this small island from the Solomon chain near Australia would prove to be the first steppingstone on the road to Tokyo and ultimate victory in the Pacific. But getting there would be nothing short of hell. Beginning in August 1942, this was America's first ground offensive in World War II against the Japanese who had been unstoppable in the Pacific. In some of the fiercest combat ever recorded, more than 7000 Americans would die fighting on these distant shores. Japan endured losses of more than thirty thousand. Our Navy sustained some of its greatest losses in history. On this compelling episode of "War Stories with Oliver North," you will go inside Operation Watchtower as Admirals Chester Nimitz and Ernest King lock horns with General Douglas MacArthur about strategy in the Pacific. And you will meet and hear from two Marines, ace pilot Joe Foss and machine gunner Mitch Paige, as they recount harrowing battles for Henderson Field. Both men received the Medal of Honor for their personal valor and unyielding devotion to duty. In the great Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, you will hear from sailor Frank Holmgren, only one of the ten survivors from the USS Juneau, who watched his comrades die in shark-infested waters. Finally, you will hear a secret chapter of history -- how a band of Solomon Islanders and civilian coastwatchers helped the Americans to victory by spying on the Japanese.

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The New Face Of War In Iraq Jan 03, 2018

The long war in Iraq may finally be coming to an end. Our War Stories team was there when it started, and has chronicled how it has been fought ever since. This compelling episode of War Stories was compiled during six lengthy embeds with U.S. forces in the land between the rivers. You are there with the Marines of the 3/2 in "Operation Matador" as they go hunting for terrorists along "rat lines" near the Syrian border. You'll meet Iraqi commandos and security forces and hear in their own words how they perceive the War on Terror. Go inside joint raids in the city of Ramadi where tips from local citizens contributed to the seizures of weapon caches and terrorist propaganda. And we pay tribute to those Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice in Operation Matador so that others may live free.

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The Tet Offensive Jan 03, 2018

In this War Stories podcast you are going to hear the story of a U.S. And allied tactical victory and a strategic defeat. It was 1968. Here in the U.S. there were anti-war riots, anti-draft riots, the assasination of Martin Luther King - and even more riots. In Vietnam 500,000 U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines were fighting a war that was broadcast into American living rooms every evening on the nightly news. On 17 January 1968, President Lyndon Baines Johnson delivered his State of the Union address - and reassured Congress and the American people that we were winning the war. Less than 2 weeks later - as the Tet new year celebrations began, the North Vietnamese army and the Vietcong launched a massive surprise assault on more than 100 cities and towns in South Vietnam. The "Tet Offensive" shifted the fighting from the jungles and rice paddies of Vietnam to the streets of Saigon and the imperial city of Hue. The terrible images of dead and wounded seen back home had the effect on America that the North Vietnamese had wanted - despite their own terrible losses. In this gripping War Stories podcast, you'll hear from the eyewitness participants in the bloody battle to re-take the U. S. Embassy; The Marines who weathered the pounding at Khesanh - and those helped pry the city of Hue out of enemy hands.

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The Real Story Of Hamburger Hill Dec 11, 2017

It is one of the Vietnam War's most famous battles. The locals called it "Dong Ap Bia" or "Mountain of the Crouching Beast"; the Americans came to know it as Hamburger Hill. But what do you really know about the fight? Risking serious injury due to unexploded bombs and ordnance, "War Stories Investigates" journeyed to the top of Hamburger Hill. We traveled over 8,000 miles and, in doing so, "War Stories" became the first journalists or camera crew to visit Hamburger Hill since the Vietnam War. This unprecedented expedition will provide you an amazing understanding of what it is was like to do battle on this rain forest-covered mountain. In May of 1969 the famed 101st Airborne Division launched "Operation Apache Snow." The goal was simple: enter the A-Shau Valley, find the enemy and kill them. But, even a good plan never survives first contact with the enemy. From the beginning of the war, the A-Shau's steep, jungle covered slopes and valleys were an enemy stronghold. This American and South Vietnamese assault would be met with stunning force, but not where or how anyone expected. In this fascinating episode of "War Stories" you will meet a Vietnamese veteran who fought with the enemy. Hear him talk about the tactics that worked against America and our weapons he most feared. You will also learn what it was like from American veterans. "War Stories" sat down with over a dozen men who battled for the mountain. Men like Frank Boccia, John Snyder and Ray Walker, all members of Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 187th Regiment of the famed "Screaming Eagles." On May 11, 1969, it was Bravo Company that first encountered the heavily armed and fortified positions of the North Vietnamese Army's 29th Regiment. The days that followed took hundreds of lives and wounded thousands. You need to hear this episode of "War Stories Investigates with Oliver North" if you truly want to understand the battle for Hamburger Hill.

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The Battle For The Frozen Chosin Dec 11, 2017

It's been called The Forgotten War. Many in this country remember Korea as the setting for the film and television comedy series M.A.S.H. But for the 18 million who fought there, there was nothing funny about it. In this podcast, we bring you the story of the battle of the Chosin Reservoir - The Frozen Chosin - one of the coldest battles since Napoleon set foot in Russia. This is a story of exceptional bravery and courage above and beyond the call of duty. An epic tale of endurance and perseverance, not just by a small handful of troops, but by the thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, including some British commandos. These are the people who made up the X Corps in Korea during that terrible winter of 1950. Join us for the unforgettable story of true heroism as War Stories brings you The Battle for the Frozen Chosin.

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A War Stories Salute To The USO Dec 11, 2017

In this special edition of "War Stories with Oliver North," come along for an insider's tour of the historic USO (United Service Organizations). Oliver North travels from Hollywood to Washington D.C. to the battle zones inside Iraq to bring you the USO in action. Up close and in person, you'll hear stories from entertainers of all eras who have traveled to these dangerous areas for more than 60 years to give service and smiles to our troops. North talks with Hollywood icons and musical legends such as Mickey Rooney, Johnny Grant, Connie Stevens, Ann-Margret, Wayne Newton, Bo Derek and Bob Hope's son, Tony. They share their recollections of performing from steamy islands in the South Pacific to the jungles of Vietnam, to bases all over the world. Plus, acclaimed actor Gary Sinese sits down with North to share his pride in working with the USO since being inspired by the events of September 11, 2001. Then, hear how rocker Joan Jett tells of her dedication to performing for the troops in places that "aren't cushy." The USO was formed in 1941 at the request of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to support the rapidly growing number of troops. A private, non-profit organization, the USO would provide many services, from organizing dances to building the USO centers that have become the soldier's "home away from home." Finally, you'll find out how the USO has survived some lean times, including being temporarily disbanded in the late 1940s. In the years that followed, the need for the USO never again waned. The services the USO provides have brought much needed support to our military men and women for over six decades.

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The Desert War Nov 15, 2017

The North African desert... Its mysteries have made it a land of intrigue and espionage and armies have fought over it almost since time began. In November 1942 American and British troops landed on its shores to begin the first offensive against the axis powers. Three months later, in February 1943, American troops first encountered Hitler's Panzer divisions in a bloody battle at Kasserine Pass. These were battles fought in the barren trackless terrain of North Africa, where inexperienced leaders and raw American soldiers, some just weeks out of recruit training saw the horror of war for the first time. In this exciting episode of "War Stories with Oliver North," you'll hear the stories of five army soldiers who survived their first time under fire against a combat-hardened German army, led by Erwin Rommel -- "the desert fox." From this bloody first offensive against Hitler emerged a battle-tested American army. The skills they honed in 1942 and 1943 in the north African desert are still used today.

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Fighting ISIS in the Battle for Mosul Nov 10, 2017

After two years of Operation Inherent Resolve, ISIS still holds Mosul, Iraq's second largest city--terrorizing, murdering and enslaving its 1.5 million citizens into the hell of the Islamic State. Lt. Col. Oliver North and the "War Stories" team travel to the frontlines inside Iraq to see how the battle is being fought against a barbaric enemy. "War Stories" embeds with the Peshmerga--the Kurdish fierce fighting forces--who have had the most success fighting ISIS in Iraq. Cameras are rolling when we take you inside a gun battle with ISIS that rages on the outskirts of Mosul as citizens flee the city. And see the humanitarian efforts as NGOs or non-governmental organizations hand out much needed food and water to the refugees under siege. We take you to the trenches in the Iraqi independent province of Kurdistan where they have literally dug into the ground to keep ISIS fighters from moving in. You'll also hear the stories from the victims of ISIS rescued from Mosul. In addition, this FOX News special explores the challenges facing the new administration after President Elect Donald J. Trump is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. Is the Battle for Mosul and liberating Iraq from this ISIS stronghold also setting the stage for new borders---perhaps a new country---Kurdistan? This "War Stories" special marks the 102nd episode of this acclaimed FOX News series.

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The Remarkable Life And Mysterious Death of General Patton Nov 10, 2017

Gen. George S. Patton was one of the most fascinating military figures to dominate the last century. Quite simply, he was a genius for war. But at 11:45 on the morning of December 9, 1945, Gen. Patton was en route to a pheasant hunt near Mannheim, Germany, when his Cadillac staff car suddenly collided with a two-and-a-half ton U.S. Army truck. Twelve days later, the four-star general -- who had triumphed against Hitler's best from North Africa to Europe -- was dead. The Army concluded it was merely a traffic accident, but others believe it was an assassination attempt. On VE Day May 8, 1945, American GIs were ready to return home. But George Patton wanted to keep fighting. The always-outspoken general was vocal about who his new enemy was: the Russians. Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower disagreed, and so did many others in Washington. In this episode of "War Stories Investigates with Oliver North," we'll explore the rumors, myths and conspiracy theories surrounding Patton's mysterious accident and death. We will also explore the highlights of his military career with members of his family. Patton had planned to leave Germany and return home and retire. Strangely, he was the only one injured in the crash. The official Army accident report is still missing. You'll hear a firsthand account from Patton's driver that day, PFC Horace Woodring. You'll also hear from military author Robert Wilcox, who claims that the accident was staged by American and Russian intelligence and says he knows who killed Patton. And meet nurse Lt. Bertha Hole who cared for him during his final days. Finally, Patton's grandchildren speak out and share intimate details about their grandfather's life and death.

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Confrontation In Cuba Oct 10, 2017

The beautiful island of Cuba, once a hotspot for American tourists in the 1940's and 1950's, is now an oppressed nation of 11 million people governed by a ruthless communist dictator. In this gripping episode of "War Stories with Oliver North," you'll see how Fidel Castro brought a country together with promises and hope, and then tore it apart in one swift grab for power. You'll witness how Castro committed this ultimate betrayal through a campaign of murder, mayhem and lies to his fellow countrymen. Learn how as a Catholic schoolboy, who once wrote letters to President Roosevelt, Castro rose to command an army of idealistic revolutionaries to overthrow Fulgencio Batista. You'll bear witness to Castro's 1959 victorious entrance into the city of Havana from the man who rode alongside him. In a rare firsthand account, Oliver North interviews Huber Matos, one of Castro's most trusted commanders. Matos was betrayed, tortured and jailed by Castro for 20 years. You will meet the brave men who fought for the freedom of Cuba only to be abandoned at the last minute by President John F. Kennedy in the debacle known as the Bay of Pigs. You'll go inside the ensuing Cuban Missile crisis and see how a nuclear holocaust was narrowly avoided between America and the Soviet Union. From the pilot himself, you will hear him retrace the mission of a U-2 spy plane that provided the proof the world needed that ballistic missiles were aimed at the United States. And you'll hear from the ordinary Cuban citizens who fled from their beloved homeland in search of freedom. This is the story of a people who have struggled, fought, and continues to hope for the inevitable day when Cuba will be free again.

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The Life And Times Of Lyndon Baines Johnson Oct 10, 2017

When Vice president Lyndon Baines Johnson accompanied President John F. Kennedy to Dallas in November of 1963, Johnson's long political career seemed to be over. With rumors abounding that Kennedy was going to drop him from the ticket in the upcoming 1964 election, Johnson had resigned himself to returning to a quiet life on his Texas ranch. Then an assassin's bullet forever changed Lyndon Johnson's political fortune. In this special biography episode of "War Stories with Oliver North," you'll see how a former Texas school teacher made a rapid ascent through the ranks in Washington to become a political powerhouse. Lady Bird Johnson's home movies will give you a behind-the-scenes look at three decades of her husband's life. Former speech writer Harry Mcpherson reflects on how Johnson pushed sweeping civil rights reforms and dramatically expanded federal social programs through a reluctant congress. And you'll hear how LBJ got what he wanted by using the legendary "Johnson treatment." Johnson's gradual escalation of the war in Vietnam divided the country, overshadowed his domestic policies and forever tainted his administration's accomplishments. Racial violence, political assassinations and growing opposition to the war made the 1960's one of the most tumultuous decades in our nation's history. Former secretary of health, education and welfare Joseph Califano recalls how the weight of trying to lead our country through the chaos took a terrible toll on the man who envisioned America as the "great society," and gives you the inside story on the night LBJ went on national television and shocked the nation.

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The Battle For Leyte Gulf Oct 10, 2017

The Battle of Leyte Gulf in October, 1944, was a desperate gamble by the Japanese navy to stop in its tracks America's march straight toward Tokyo. It also marked the moment when the attack on Pearl Harbor was truly avenged, as some of the ships resurrected from the bottom of Pearl Harbor took on the Japanese fleet with some devastating results. In this exciting episode of "War Stories with Oliver North," you'll meet some of the men who landed with General Douglas MacArthur on the beaches at Leyte, and engaged in brutal jungle fighting with crack Japanese troops. You'll also meet some of the sailors who, when faced with unbelievable odds and the biggest and best of the Japanese navy, didn't turn and run. Instead they headed straight for what the rules of modern warfare spelled as certain defeat. Legendary Admiral James Holloway talks about wreaking havoc on part of the Japanese fleet at Suriago Strait, using a textbook maneuver taught at every naval school. And you'll find out if the man in charge of the Third Fleet, Admiral William "Bull" Halsey, really did fall for one of the oldest tricks in the book. The Battle of Leyte Gulf was the last great naval battle of World War II, and laid to waste the once invincible Japanese navy.

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The Big Red One Oct 10, 2017

Since the First World War erupted in 1917, one U.S. Army division has been on activation longest, ready to defend the United States and its freedoms. Known as The Big Red One -- from its distinct arm patch - the First Infantry Division has fought in all major American military campaigns of the last 80 years. In this gripping episode of "War Stories with Oliver North," you'll go inside the battlefields of World War I all the way through Operation Iraqi Freedom with those who proudly served in the Big Red One. You'll hear from veterans who suffered mustard gas attacks in the trenches of Europe. This was the U.S. Army's brutal initiation into 20th Century warfare. You'll go along with the Division as it returns to Europe 27 years later to take on Hitler's elite Panzer Divisions. In that epic struggle, the fighting First Division took part in three amphibious invasions and five major land battles. Barely 20 years later, in the jungles of Vietnam, The Big Red One continued the fight against Communist insurgents. And during 1991's "Operation Desert Storm," the First Division was chosen to breach Saddam Hussein's defenses and take on the dictator's well-trained Republican Guard in the fight to liberate Kuwait. In this episode, you'll also learn the story of General Terry Allen, the little known, but beloved commander of The Big Red One during its first battles with Hitler's legions. From his granddaughter, you'll hear the inside story of the controversy surrounding General Allen, and the sacrifice made by his namesake son a generation later in Vietnam. The story of The Big Red One is the history of soldiers in the United States Army. And, in the words of First Infantry Division veterans: "They always say, if you're going to be one, you got to be a Big Red One!"

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The Black Sheep Squadron Sep 11, 2017

Their Marine Corps designation was VMF-214, but for millions of people around the world, they will always be remembered by the name they gave themselves: the "Black Sheep Squadron." Though they fought together for just twelve short weeks under the command of Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, the Black Sheep became the most famous fighter squadron in American aviation history. "Baa Baa Black Sheep," a television show loosely based on their exploits, portrayed them as rebels and misfits but as you will see, their real story shatters the televised myths and boasts an ending that rivaled anything from a Hollywood scriptwriter. In this unforgettable episode of "War Stories with Oliver North," you'll take off with five of the original Black Sheep as their F4-U Corsairs roar into battle against the legendary Japanese Zero. In two combat tours they'd lose twenty percent of their fellow pilots but before they were disbanded in March of 1944, the 51 men of the Black Sheep were credited with an incredible 94 enemy kills. Was "Pappy" Boyington the two-fisted drinker he was portrayed to be? What really happened to him on his fateful final mission? From blistering dogfights over the South Pacific to bar room brawls on the ground, this is the real story of the Black Sheep Squadron from the men who were there.

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Running The Gauntlet: The Merchant Marine Sep 11, 2017

In World War II, the U.S. Merchant Marine played a crucial role in every theater of war. Without them, without the bridge of merchant ships delivering weapons, troops, food, ammo, and fuel from the home front to the battle lines, there would have been no Allied victory. While transiting the ocean, the United States Merchant Marine had to contend with German u-boats, dive-bombers, surface raiders, auxiliary raiders, and mines. When World War II ended in 1945 nearly 80 thousand Allied mariners and 5,000 ships lay at the bottom of the sea. In this poignant episode of "War Stories" you'll hear firsthand accounts from mariners who were torpedoed, shot at, and captured. You'll meet a member of Hitler's Unterseebootwaffe and see the inside of a u-boat. And you'll learn why it took them over forty years to gain veteran status. This is the story of The United States Merchant Marine.

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Animal Warriors Sep 11, 2017

Why was a cat recruited to spy for the CIA during the Cold War? What led President Roosevelt to approve the development of a bat bomb to be used against the Japanese in World War II? And how were dolphins trained to seek out enemy divers in Vietnam? Find out all this and more in this riveting episode of "War Stories with Oliver North." From antiquity to present day, you'll learn how these unsung heroes have braved enemy fire to keep our troops safe. You'll hear from a 103-year-old World War I cavalryman, and a Vietnam veteran who wouldn't be alive if it weren't for his war dog Kelly. We also take you inside behavioral training of animals that, at first glance, don't appear to be trainable. And go along for a day in the life of today's war dogs at the Department of Defense Military Working Dog School at Lackland Air Force Base. You'll see how our four-legged warriors are being trained in drug and explosive detection.

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The Forgotten Front And The 1st Air Commandos Aug 16, 2017

This is one of the most overlooked chapters of World War II. This is the story of the 1st Air Commandos and their top-secret missions. Imagine flying a canvas-covered plywood glider without an engine 200 miles deep into Japanese territory in the dead of night transporting over 500 troops, hundreds of tons of cargo, as well as mules and horses. This was the monumental task undertaken by the volunteers of the 1st Air Commandos. They were 523 handpicked men, chosen to help protect and regain lost territory in the beleaguered China-Burma-India Theater. In this gripping episode of "War Stories with Oliver North," you'll meet the masterminds of "Operation Thursday." They were two trailblazing American lieutenant colonels, John R. Alison and Philip G. Cochran, who joined hands with an extraordinary British general, Orde C. Wingate. Together they accomplished what had never been done before: penetrating so deep behind enemy lines that it wouldn't be done again until the War on Terror in Afghanistan. You'll also learn about the distinguished "Flying Tigers" and how they became the only source of hope in this often forgotten theater of operations. You'll also hear from courageous veterans of this little known place on earth and how they proved they were indeed ready "Any Time, Any Place".

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Flashpoint Vietnam – The Road To War Aug 16, 2017

How did the United States find itself embroiled in Vietnam - fighting a war that lasted more than a decade and cost more than 58,000 American lives? You'll witness the rise of a determined Communist leader named Ho Chi Minh and go inside the U.S. Marines first major operation, "Starlite." This is the story of how Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Baines Johnson led America into a war that may have been doomed from the start. In this electrifying episode of "War Stories with Oliver North," you'll meet one of the very first Americans to see combat in Southeast Asia, U.S. Army Special Forces soldier Billy Waugh, who spent seven and a half years fighting in Vietnam. Hear how Navy pilot Everett Alvarez became the first American shot down over North Vietnam. As a prisoner of war, he endured more than eight years of brutal captivity at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton." And you'll meet Colonel Robert Nett, a legendary WWII Medal of Honor recipient who served as a military advisor in Vietnam in 1963. From the White House, you'll hear recordings of private conversations between Defense Secretary Robert McNamara and the two presidents he served - JFK and LBJ. "Flashpoint Vietnam: The Road to War" is a close look at the early days of the only conflict where we won all the battles but still lost the war.

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Hill Battles Of Korea Aug 16, 2017

America's post World War II euphoria was shattered in the summer of 1950, when North Korean communist forces invaded democratic South Korea. The Korean campaign of 1950-1953 has been called the "Forgotten War." More than 1.7 million Americans served in Korea and over 35,000 of them died there fighting at places like "Bloody Ridge," "Pork Chop Hill" and "Heartbreak Ridge." These were the treacherous "hill battles" known for some of the most brutal combat in military history. They fought for hills that were sometimes smaller than a football field. In this exciting episode of "War Stories with Oliver North," you'll meet some of the heroic men who survived this unbelievable carnage. You'll hear how one trapped soldier stacked frozen enemy torsos to protect himself from enemy artillery fire. And yet another soldier vividly remembers a face on a hill that haunts him today. And you'll meet the man who would later be portrayed by screen legend Gregory Peck in the classic war drama, "Pork Chop Hill."

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The Secret Race For The Atomic Bomb Aug 16, 2017

The worldwide race to build the atomic bomb involved scientists, soldiers and spies. With a price tag of two billion dollars, it was a daunting task accomplished in one thousand days. The Americans emerged as victors and ended mankind's bloodiest conflict...but the road to the world's first nuclear bomb wasn't an easy one. In this unique episode of "War Stories with Oliver North", you'll meet the characters of an international game of cat and mouse. In this tale of intrigue, deception and espionage, go along with Oliver North as "War Stories" follows the footsteps of Col. Boris Pash, Dr. Samuel Goudsmit and team ALSOS -- a top-secret Allied task force assigned to snatch German scientists on the run and beat the Soviets to the finish line in the race for the world's first atomic bomb. You'll meet ALSOS veterans Robert Furman and Eddie Dolan as they trekked through Europe leaving no stone unturned, searching for hidden secrets of Hitler's nuclear program in a difficult and often dangerous mission. You'll also hear from a German scientist whose father was kidnapped by the Soviets and forced to work under harsh conditions for over a decade. Come along as "War Stories" takes you on a journey through Hitler's Germany...and meet the men behind the secret race for the atomic bomb.

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