MIKE GUARDIA: THE COMBAT DIARIES
ON BIG BLEND RADIO: Award-winning military historian and author Mike Guardia discusses his new book, “The Combat Diaries: True Stories from the Frontlines of World War II.” Listen here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Spreaker, Podbean, or SoundCloud.
From the beaches of Normandy to the shores of Iwo Jima. Harrowing tales of combat…as told by the men who lived it.
World War II was the most destructive conflict in human history. At its peak, the US military drew some 16 million men into its ranks to defeat the Axis Powers. They came from nearly every walk of life – farmers, tradesmen, teachers, lawyers, professional athletes, and even Hollywood celebrities. But whether they came from the wheat fields of Kansas, the streets of New York, the backlots of Tinseltown, or the dugouts of Fenway Park, these everyday heroes answered the call when their country needed them. They were ordinary men who accomplished extraordinary things. Today, we call them the “Greatest Generation. ”
The Combat Diaries recounts the harrowing tales of more than a dozen heroic veterans – including:
– A young crewman aboard PT-306, who ferried Allied spies and British Commandos onto mainland Europe.
– A young USAAF pilot who was among the few Americans to fly a British Spitfire into combat.
– A Navy combat diver (“frogman”) who swam at night amongst the Japanese-held islands, diffusing underwater mines and setting demolitions to assist the Marines’ amphibious assaults.… and many more.
Members of the Greatest Generation are leaving us at the rate of several hundred per day. Indeed, the youngest veterans of World War II are now in their nineties. “The Combat Diaries” is a testament to their enduring legacy. More at www.MikeGuardia.com