The True Story of the Makin Island Raid-Episode 216

This week Seth and Bill take a step back to 1942 and look at the somewhat audacious, somewhat foolhardy Makin Island Raid of August 1942. Colonel Evans Carlson and his 2nd Raider Battalion, Carlson's Raiders, launched an audacious, ferocious and extremely hazardous raid behind enemy lines on Makin Atoll in August of 1942. Hailed as a success by the American press at the time, the team breaks down whether or not it really was as successful as originally said to be.
#wwii #worldwarii #ww2 #pacific #usa #usnavy #usmc #saipan #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #halsey #admirals #admiral #general #indianapolis #submarine #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #mastersoftheair #8thairforce #mightyeighth #100thbombgroup #bloodyhundredth #b17 #boeing #airforce wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #oldbreed #1stMarineDivision #thepacific #Peleliu #army #marines #marinecorps #worldwar2 #worldwar #worldwarii #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf

[@ryanhuffstutler1471]

Has anyone noticed that Captain Toti has 7 Legions of Merit? We are lucky to have him as our co-host to this great show!

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Thank you

[@flparkermdpc]

Help me. Where do you see them displayed?

[@johnn8223]

@@flparkermdpc Not sure if they're visible in the background, but it's listed on his Wikipedia page.

[@sailordude2094]

One is what most officers have for a highlight, I'm impressed Sir!

[@JeffK1962]

He did need an award for me to realize he is a true national treasure

[@gdolson9419]

As a retired Marine with an interest in history I knew how much of a debacle Makin was. What I didn't know was how much Carlson himself was responsible for it.

[@platoscave99]

My dad was a Carlson raider who was at Makin Island, Guadacanal, and Iwo Jima. He never spoke much about the campaigns other than terse remarks like, "It was rough" or "A lot of great guys, I lost some good friends." Thank you for creating this documentary. It adds so much depth to my understanding of my dad's past.

[@charliegreer4507]

What was your father’s name? I’ve been studying the Makin Raid specifically for the last 5 years, and have been working with multiple Makin Vets’ families to produce a full narrative of the raid which I plan on turning into a website to teach the public about the raid, and the men who fought in it.

[@platoscave99]

@@charliegreer4507 Rolland Oliver. RIP 2020.

[@crazygame2724]

My cousin B. Michael Beeler was also a Carlson Raider. He missed the Makin Island Raid but participated in the Long March on Guadalcanal. Once Marine Always a Marine. He died in 2000 and was buried in his Marine dress uniform.

[@lukashaz4548]

@@charliegreer4507Hello. I recently became interested in use of Boys anti-tank rifle during Makin Raid. Do you happen to know more about it than that there were two two-man Boys rifle teams and one of them were PFC Winters and Sgt Carroll?

[@charliegreer4507]

@@lukashaz4548 the other BOYS rifle team consisted of Sgt. Howard “Buck” Stidham and Cpl. Robert “Bob” Poarche (Poarche died on Iwo Jima later in the war). Carroll led the B Company team, while Stidham led the A Company team. Stidham used the BOYS to destroy a Japanese truck in the Raider ambush of the Japanese at around 0630 on the 17th. Stidham’s team is also credited with greatly contributing to shooting down the Japanese H8K Emily, which still rests in Makin (Butaritari) Lagoon.

[@db321g]

My mom's cousin Ashley Hicks was killed on Makin during the raid. His body was found in 1999 along with many of the others in a mass grave. He was in company A.

[@alangreer1142]

This is almost unbelievable, what a total "F" up this was.....far cry from the movie and facts I was told in my youth. Great show as always!

[@dave3156]

What a fiasco! I cannot believe a Marine commander would order his troops to discard their weapons. Think I would have disobeyed that one. And to offer surrender at this point? And what platoon commander/platoon sergeant/squad leader wasn't counting heads? Leaving 9 men behind is a disgrace! I wasn't there so I guess there may be things that didn't come up, but I think I would have court martialed the commander. Thanks Seth and Bill for this episode even though it was a sad story

[@HeatherRaasch]

Seth and Bill are National Treasures! I enjoy history and came here to learn more about the Yamamoto raid, now I am listening to all of the episodes. Thank you fellas!

[@richardbennett1856]

Agreed. Both are treasures. Captain Bill for President. Awesome guests.

[@MadLudwig]

Those glasses look great on you! I've worn glasses my entire adult life Bill. Kept me from becoming an Army pilot. BUT, the Navy actually tried to recruit me for the AVROC program when I was an Army ROTC cadet. Almost took the bait until they told me I would have to ride in the back seat of an F14. So I became an Abrams tanker and here I am years later as a retired Army Colonel. 😅

[@richardbennett1856]

2012/2015 eyesight, and the Marines told me in 73 that I qualified for a pilot and an 9:38 officer. The AF and Navy didn't. I researched what Marines offered...A warrant officer in a chopper was what they wouldn't let me know. (Probably a crew cheif/ door gunner at best.) I went in AF 3 years later.

[@richardbennett1856]

Thank you, Sir for doing an awesome job doing what I'd rather not do. Parachutes were preferable to ground pounding, but we got your Six!

[@CorePathway]

I wish I still had a pair of my Govt Issue “Birth Control Glasses”

[@fxdpntc]

Carlson is one of those types that “looks good on paper”.

[@jeffreymartin8448]

Capt Toti should do a channel dedicated to attack submarines. He has thousands of amazing stories. Enough unclassified versions for a channel. Can you imagine just how damn captivating such a thing would be! After UA History of the Pac completes years down the road of course.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

My passion is with WWII history, and that keeps me busy enough! Maybe one day....

[@ramal5708]

Been waiting for this, probably the first submarine borne troops/special forces raid on enemy territory. Also respect to the Raiders who were left behind.

[@skipdreadman8765]

It seems that Marine SOF put themselves in the hole with their first actions. Makin, Jalalabad... starting out in a hole. Makin was made out to be a success, while J-bad could not be hidden due to the speed of modern communications. After rough starts, MARSOF built better reputations in both cases. Your podcast is awesome, gentlemen. Please continue.

[@alganhar1]

To be fair the first SAS Operation was a complete failure as well. It was only after that that they paired up with the Long Range Desert Group (a long range desert recon force if you are not aware of them). The skills they learned from the LRDG, along with their cooperation with that remarkable unit were what really saved the SAS in its early days. And yeah, the LRDG if you are not aware of them were a truly remarkable outfit that are rarely given the recognition they deserve. Not a raiding force like the SAS they were a pure Reconnaissance but they regularly crossed the Qattara Depression, which in those days without the benefit of modern navigational aides was not an easy task! Unfortunately after North Africa was wound up the LRDG was broken up, many of them actually going on to join the SAS and emerging SBS. Unfortunately also they are not in the scope of this channel, it would be fascinating to see what Bill and Seth would make of the LRDG. Alas that will not happen.

[@scottgrimwood8868]

I really appreciated your detailed and frank discussion of the Makin Island Raid. Too bad you didn’t discuss the film “Gung Ho” and it’s role in hiding the true story of the raid.

[@auscolpyrtosspott9175]

That propaganda reel at the end probably was enough cringe.

[@riftraft2015]

After my own amateur war history buff reading, enough to suspect the raid was a fiasco,,,The movie made me cringe. I never watched a Randolph Scott movie again.

[@marksimmons7972]

Remembered watching Gung Ho as a kid. What a diversion from the truth it was. No reflection on the brave marines who volunteered and died on Makin but definitely on the corp allowing Carson ever to lead men again in combat

[@marksimmons7972]

​@@riftraft20151:39:47

[@oceanhome2023]

Slightly off the topic but I WANT That Huge Globe as seen on 8:37 but I need a room large enough for it to fit in ! A Huge Globe and a partially disassembled Radial engine are the best conversation pieces ever !!

[@gagamba9198]

Great topic! Thank the heavens for Japan's misguided faith in banzai charges. The gift that kept on giving. Re Carlson's criticism of US not supplying China, I think it was bit unwarranted. After the invasion of north China in July '37, the IJN began blockading China's coast to interdict shipments of material. However, this caused Tokyo diplomatic problems with nations that objected to their flagged vessels being stopped and searched. US exports to China increased by 56% from 1936 to 1937, however the majority of this cargo was transported aboard non-US vessels because the US merchant fleet was the world's most expensive (Seaman's Act of 1915 significantly increased wages and improved working conditions, but to the detriment of US carriers' competitiveness internationally. The majority of international trade to/from the US was carried by foreign bottoms). The IJN then landed forces in China's major port cities to seize control in order to prevent war material being delivered. This severed China's principal supply route. US deliveries shifted to British Hong Kong (which was second fiddle to China's own ports), and this route was cut off from China when Japan seized Canton (Guangdong). What remained was French Indochina and Burma, with Indochina becoming the more important supply route. France had no direct interests in the region which were the immediate issue of the Sino-Japanese conflict; it is also that it did not have economic ties comparable to those of Great Britain and the US. The small importance of French economic interests in China therefore seems to have been a factor in the official appeasement policy pursued towards Japan. France prohibited the transport of arms between Indochina and China in order to counter the Japanese threat, but it also closed its eyes on the reality of active smuggling. For two years US war material was delivered to Haiphong port and transported via rail (but only one rail line along the coast, so incapable of mass delivery) across the border and onward to Yunnan - the French owned the railway in China as well. Chinese junks were also active transiting goods. This was the $25,000,000 commercial credit to China as well as US Treasury arrangement for the acquisition of dollar exchange by the Central Bank of China for currency stabilisation purposes - Japan was attempting to undermine the Chinese currency to establish the yen bloc. BTW, Soviet aid to China (to Chiang and not Mao) also went via Indochina. This included tanks and artillery. It should be mentioned France's tolerance of lethal aid waxed and waned due to Tokyo's protests and Japanese military advances in the region, such as the invasion of Hainan island. Japan's invasion of northern Indochina in '40 severed this path. Burma was the most isolated and had the inefficient route having no rail link to China. The planned line to Yunnan was cancelled decades earlier, so what had been built terminated at Lashio, Burma, about 200km south of the Chinese border. But this was no easy 200km. The British constructed the Burma road (about 1200km long) from Lashio to Kunming in '37 and '38. This was not an improved road by any stretch of the imagination. It's quite easy to say 'give them more weapons', but doing so was far more difficult.

[@Antnapoli]

Seth and Bill, thank- you so much for creating these podcasts. Born in the '70s, I never really appreciated or understood the heroism of the young men in the Navy, Marines, and Army Air Force whose actions saved this country from Japan. I didn't understand their heroism and I certainly didn't understand just how close America came to suing for peace with Japan, were it not for the glorious victory at the Battle of Midway. I continue to learn and I am blessed and enriched to listen to these podcasts and the guests who appear. Keep up the fantastic work.

[@birddog7492]

Well Seth just looking at you I knew your wife was blind. I am very happy she has good hearing. :) I love watching you guy's I learn so much. My father was a Marine so I have heard of Carlson and his Raiders. You guy's bring this history to life by telling it the way it was. Thank you. I wish your son a happy B-day, best wishes for you all.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Yeah I definitely married above my grade for sure.

[@birddog7492]

@@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar So did I sir.

[@birddog7492]

@@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar Thinking about Carlson and knowing he had seen combat many times I wonder if we are seeing some form of PTSD. This should have been his hour of gold but he falls apart. I don't think anything else really explains this.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

@@birddog7492 I don’t think so. I think he simply panicked.

[@birddog7492]

@@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar 10/4, I can understand that as well. Respect to your opinion.

[@richardbennett1856]

Finally! Bill would get my full attention in any class. Seth is a great historical reference... Thank you so much for entertaining us with your terrific guests. Shattered Sword, Thunder Below, and 3 others have added to my library because of these podcasts.

[@stefanlaskowski6660]

Amazed that Carlson's career didn't end right then and there.

[@Arkondak1]

Bro was best buddies with King Franklin the first of house Roosevelt. His career was never in danger.

[@robertmoffitt1336]

I've been binge-watching, started back at episode 101. Today is the day I finally caught up to the current episode! I am learning so much more about the Pacific War, than I could have ever possibly imagined! This podcast is simply phenomenal! Thank you so much Seth, Captain Toti and all of the amazing guess that you have on!

[@luthershealy8144]

When Bill explains the military culture / "Gung - Ho" philosophy that Evan Carlson used in the 2nd Raider Battalion as it pertains to "..giving conviction through persuasion" to the Marine Raiders by explaining to them their mission task (what there were going to do) and their mission purpose (why they were are doing it) so every Marine understood the essence of their mission, this sounds exactly like the modern day U.S. Army's Mission Command doctrine which descends from the Prussian concept of auftragstaktik. The essence of which is that if subordinates know what their mission is (task) and why they are doing the mission (purpose) then in the chaotic and typically rapidly changing conditions on the battlefield, subordinates can make appropriate initiative oriented decisions without having to ask permission and thus get inside the enemy's decision cycle (OODA loop). This is the concept of mission command embraced at all levels in today's Army and I believe embraced by the Marines and Navy too. Bill di you use mission command on the USS Indianapolis?

[@Boron121]

Y'all keep on improving. As far as Bill's glasses go, Kamarov said "Give me a stopwatch and a map, and I'll fly the Alps in a plane with no windows" (The Hunt for Red October). If that's true all you need is eyesight good enough to read the charts 😷As you were talking about Carlson's mistakes, Lloyd Fredendall came to mind, both were the wrong men for the job. At least Fredendall, as commander of the US 2nd Army, redeemed himself by training 5 million men for combat in WW2. Did Carlson deserve such a chance?. Had I been president and he offered to give up my son without knowing exactly what was going on, I would have done everything in my power to see him dishonorably discharged and serve time breaking rocks.

[@toms6213]

Gung Ho means eliminating 'Need To Know'. Operational security within the unit becomes a problem when you leave personnel behind.

[@patrickshanley4466]

FIRST-the glasses make you look distinguished! SECOND-I have read 4 or 5 stories about the Makin raid . This episode was far and away the best!! Keep up the great work guys.

[@jamesberlo4298]

Another mistake from Nimitz (and Halsey was Right!) was agreeing with McArthur on Peleliu.

[@davidlee8551]

Thank you both for your interpretations of history! This is how we learn.

[@sorrel7554]

The way the raid went for Peatross reminds me of a team leader I had at my old job. You could tell when he wasn't there because things were actually running smoothly. Ironically, this seems like a situation where every soldier having an equal say could have actually helped out tremendously. Imagine if, for example, one of them had equal sayed "Hey Evan you're not doing too hot it seems. How's about we keep our weapons and make some kind of a defensive perimeter?"

[@robertzimmerman6772]

Once again, well done gentleman. I appreciate the unfettered honesty with which you tell our history. It is a quality that is far too short in our world today. Thank you for all your efforts. They are immensely appreciated.

[@jammininthepast]

Roosevelt was intrigued by the British SAS "Butcher and Bolt" that Churchill helped along in the UK. Both men loved cloak and dagger stuff and would facilitate operations all through the war. Wild Bill Donovan recruited the most bizarre characters for European duty. Thanks, you're appreciated.

[@nomar5spaulding]

DUDE! How freaking cool is it to be able to say, "I was nominated for an astronaut mission specialist."

[@Thumpalumpacus]

As the proud dad of a new Marine myself, I wish your son the best! I know how you feel here.

[@allenbuck5589]

Old as a Marine he is in good hands. Semper fi.

[@dankelly2147]

Semper fi

[@markpaul-ym5wg]

I know that Seth stays pumped up all the time because of where he is,camp Shelby. Their is a lot of action around there because of different units training there.M1 tanks,Bradleys,and a lot of command structure going on there.Lucky guy.I have been there a few times during training and live fire exercises on the abrams.Thanks guys for analyzing the pacific war during WW2 and telling everyone the information that can't be found in a book.😊

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

It's a jumpin joint.

[@briangibbs3774]

Glasses look great on you, Commodore. Cheer up - trust me - the first sixty-six years of wearing glasses are the hardest!

[@davidlove21]

This show & its participants rock.

[@Off-HandedBarrel]

Having had training as a boat marine from drawing the short straw, Toti only got the good half of it. Didnt have to unpack and build the boats, get in and out, or raise and lower them. Also, nothing like paddling out to the middle of the open ocean at night and bobbing around, hoping your pick-up shows up after exfil. Or paddling away from, and eventually all the way back to, an LHA. All because nobody wants to "risk the ship" by getting close enough to the shore to make it easy on you.

[@chuckokelley2448]

Would love to see an episode about the Navajo code talkers And the Alamo scouts.

[@Vaul_Fusbin]

every tuesday is like Christmas for me now. Thankyou guys!

[@PPISAFETY]

I' glad I decided to watch this. Prior to this episode, my only "knowledge" of the Makin Island raid came from fictional sources, namely the W.E.B. Griffin "The Corps" Series of novels. and the 1943 film "Gung Ho" in which Carlson is portrayed as a brillian hero. It appears that the truth, at least in terms of his decision making was otherwise. I was appalled to hear that he ordered Marines to abandon their rifles, and even more so that he was willing to offer surrender of his men to the Japanese without a recon to see what he was actually up against. Finally, the abandonment of nine brave Marines to torture and execution seems almost inexcusable, even though I realize that there is much confusion in war. I think there is probably more to how those nine got left behind than a simple miscount. I see another comment from a nephew of one of the Raiders that says his uncle told him that those nine went off for some extracurricular activities with the native women and got left behind. I have no idea if that is true or not, but stranger things have happened. I suppose in 1943 when the movie was released, the American public needed heroes more than they needed the full truth of what happened. I get that, but I also see that Carlson served as a technical adviser on the film, and said he was "pleased" with the product. I imagine I'd be pleased too with a film that glorified my successes, even though under a differently named character, and completely omitted my tragically bad decisions. I think it was fitting that the Marine Corps chose to put him in non-command roles after the raid. I imagine they could not realistically discipline the "hero of Makin Island", and pretty much had to give him his Brigadier's star.

[@kaylemoine1571]

Really good history. Talking about the history, without lots of hype, is much more effective. We need to remember this pivotal history of America and the world.

[@vincentlavallee2779]

After studying WW II, and specifically the Pacific War, it was fairly common for the Japanese to launch Banzi charges against their enemy because it had worked so well for them, BEFORE they encountered the US Marines. This went on throughout the war, except at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, by which time they had finally learned that this technique did not rattle the Marines ever. The Banzi charge failed against the Marines because of TWO reasons: (1) The Marines did not get rattled, and held their ground, even when it came to hand-to-hand combat, where the Japanese soldier was at a definite disadvantage. (2) The Marines were far more heavily armed that the other forces the Japanese encountered elsewhere, and did not understand the impact of the M1, the BAR, and the submach8ine gun. Another absolutely outstanding video! You guys are terrific. Also, I just learned a couple of weeks ago that Spielberg and Tom Hanks are doing another WW II series (unfortunately only on Apple +), this time about the fly boys in Europe. I met the person at a local gun show who supplied them with the WW II uniforms for both sides, and saw some stills of this new series, so this project is in progress. I wrote to the two of them about 10 years ago after watching 'The Pacific' many times, that they should do a series on the fly boys in Europe and another one on the Navy in the Pacific as well. Their initial two series were so good (the first being 'The Band of Brothers'), that they should cover others who contributed so much. I cannot take any real credit about this new series since I suspect MANY other people suggested the very same thing. I will write them again, and once again suggest covering the Navy in the Pacific. In the advent they ever do undertake this project, you two should somehow get involved and contribute to this Navy oriented series.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Seth worked on "The Pacific"

[@brushhogg1]

Being an amateur Pacific history buff, I never knew that Carlson had made that surrender offer. That has been always glazed over....

[@williamfankboner4206]

Apparently a lot has been "glazed over" with regard to the raid. We owe Seth and Bill high praise for finally delivering a factual account of the raid, showing that it was not only poorly planned, but poorly executed, proving once again that the first casualty of war is the truth. There are still many military analysts today who consider the raid a "success" and who believe that Carlson, who under normal circumstances would have been relieved of command, is an authentic American hero.

[@mikeat2637]

This debacle was buried deep and really glossed over. A disgrace.

[@TacticalOni]

To be completely fair, Argonaut was a minelayer (though that equipment was removed by the start of WWII,) Nautilus and her sister Narwhal were just "cruiser" submarines, which had the mine tubes replaced with regular torpedo tubes, and had the gun deck raised to allow for firing the 6" guns they carried in worse conditions than Argonauts flush deck would allow! Great episode!

[@Steve-dg3md]

Glasses are a necessity in my life now.... in my younger years I trained snipers!!! Now I wear tri-focals.😢

[@stevemolina8801]

Another Fantastic presentation! Thank you. Happy Birthday to your Son! Go Navy!

[@ronaldfinkelstein6335]

Were I in Nimitz shoes, I would have seen to it that Carlson were made a 2nd Lieutenant, and assigned to the Attu invasion force, then stationed at Dutch Harbor(in the Aleutians), and not given another command.

[@williamrobinson827]

Maybe a better posting for him would have been cleaning the latrines at Quantico. Come to think of it, that would also have been a good position for "Dugout Doug" at West Point.

[@tonydevos]

You have 12k subs but already 10k in views in the first day. That means your subs are real devotees to the subject, and to the way you gentlemen do business

[@jimwatts914]

Comprehensive look at the Makin debacle with no punches pulled. The effort to transplant Chinese communists ideas and fighting methods to the USMC in the early days of the Pacific War was a doomed experiment. Thanks for another great episode of this effort.

[@therealuncleowen2588]

Carlson should have established a perimeter, sent out some recon, gotten some idea how many Japanese he was facing, put any gearheads to work on the boat engines, dug in for the night. Failing unexpected success with the boat motors, wait for the seas to calm to provide a window to get off the island. He panicked. He forgot that Marines can adapt and overcome. Carlson should have been moved to a desk after this performance. Not his fault that the boat motors failed but it was his fault that he buckled when an obstacle appeared.

[@lhartatt]

I, too, had lascivious surgery about 15 years ago. Did not know it degraded over time. Damn. GuessI will never be an astronaut.

[@94djeep]

Man I really enjoy the way you guys flush out the history. I wasn't old enough to find out if my great grandpa would talk about it. He was Navy, but that's all i really know. I appreciate your efforts to add in the nuances of the situations. Thank you for your efforts to bring history to life. It's delightful to sit in on your conversations and learn.

[@michaelmckinley1514]

Thanks Seth and Bill! Keep up the great work.

[@timothyreilly4499]

You guys work so well together! Always a joy to listen.

[@PelicanIslandLabs]

This episode was really tough to listen to. A real cluster .......F of an operation. Thanks for getting this info out!

[@jerrygeorgopoulos2313]

Incredible presentation. Surrender to the Japanese with the President's son? Something went terribly wrong with Carlson's reasoning and judgment. The extreme pressure must have overwhelmed him. Great episode as always. Congrats to your son on his soon to be Eagle Scout Seth, amazing accomplishment and belated happy birthday to your boy as well.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Many thanks

[@stevewaldschmidt4344]

@@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar As the dad of 2 Eagle Scouts, I understand the pride you have in your son's accomplishments! I still sit on boards of review for many scout promotions. Also, congratulations to your wife - the dads often help with the project, but it's usually the moms who ensure the paperwork gets filled out properly and filed on time!! Regarding James Roosevelt, the time to be thinking about his possible capture was before he ever became exec. As the president's son, he should never have been allowed to see active combat - still serve yes - but purposely go in harm's way - NEVER! The negative effect his death or capture would have had on the president would have been unacceptable.

[@RobertHinkle-xe7it]

@@stevewaldschmidt4344 How many son of todays presidents would go into battle, president Roosevelt had to know but did not stop it.

[@cf453]

@@RobertHinkle-xe7it Beau Biden served in Iraq when his dad was veep. Granted he was a JAG, but it wasn't the safest place in the world, and that's a pretty big target on his back.

[@Jakal-pw8yq]

Happiest of birthdays 🎂 to your son Seth! Your pride for your son is palpable and we all feel the love ❤ that you hold for him! You're a great father and it shows!😊🙏🇺🇲⚓️🎁🎂👍💖😉

[@elizabethhappel6438]

I love your podcasts and have a suggestion. You often refer to books out of print. It would be nice if there were a site that had a growing list of your book recommendations. I've found that I can access the out of print ones through the library, via e-reader. Most of the time, I am listening to your podcasts while driving into work. Aside from this, I have learned so much from both of you. Too bad my high school history teachers weren't this interesting! Looking forward to the next one!

[@jimbe01]

Wild Bill Donovan, amongst others were impressed by the British Commandos. Possible/probable nucleus for U.S. Raider capabilities?

[@jamesthompson8133]

Seth great job man this world needs more dads like you!!!

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Thank you

[@careywillits]

The movie sure painted a different picture!

[@ph89787]

Finally! I’ve been waiting for you guys to do an episode on Makin.

[@cheesenoodles8316]

Spent time as a lad playing in a rubber raft in the CA surf with my friends. Very hard to do without practice. Navigating surf is an artform.

[@tonyvancampen-noaafederal2640]

Snag and tow sounds a lot like the old whaling day - Nantucket sleigh ride.

[@Canadian_Skeptical]

Bill and Seth, think about the Dieppe raid. A disaster, yet it's now seen as a success overall, because of all the valuable lessons learned. How do the costs of the Makin raid compare to Dieppe? So then how would you say the costs of the raid compare to the short term, and long-term benefits? Bill, you're too hard on some of these guys. The war had just began! How much fighting was there in the United States armed forces at the start of the war? This is what this was, a learning experience. Remember how effective was the French army and air force in 1940?

[@katharinelong5472]

Interestingly the Dieppe raid was about a week after the Makin raid. I disagree about it being considered a success, more like a mistake from which valuable lessons were learned.

[@karinschultz5409]

Carlson wasn't the only one fascinated with the Communists at this time. Norman Bethune, a Canadian surgeon went to China and used his medical skills to help organize medical services for Mao. Bethune, who was a member of the Canadian Communist Party, organized medical services for Republicans fighting against Franco in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). I wonder, was Carlson ever in Spain at this time? Or was he more enamored with China in general, rather than the Communism movement globally? After Franco won, many Republicans in the International Brigade went to help out Communists elsewhere. China was a popular destination.

[@jamesrice4072]

I normally don't like these types of documentaries. But I love yours. As a truck driver, I can't watch, only listen. Yall paint a good picture. Thanks

[@henriyoung3895]

Thanks guys, another top notch video. Happy Father's day from Thailand. SGT DOUG, RECON, 101ST, RVN 68-69

[@m.r.donovan8743]

All of this makes perfect sense when you consider the fact that one key postulate of communist thought is that individual soldier's lives are basically worthless. Learning that Carlson was a devotee of that ideology should be no surprise when his actions are analyzed. His decisions were almost manic throughout the raid. The real surprise here is that there were not more American casualties. Another fantastic breakdown of the events as they unfolded. Thanks to you both!

[@thomasjamison2050]

While not entirely relevant to the topic, the whole background of political influence during and after WWI, which is something Carlson was clearly absorbed with, as well as was Roosevelt, is an incredibly fascinating area of American history. The whole background of popular American thinking about the era is incredibly complex. Roosevelt in particular is a fascinating study in the way he went from a profoundly ardent admirer and supporter of Woodrow Wilson to what one might call the complete opposite at his apotheosis. Baker, in his biography of Wilson recounts the deep conviction of the Americans at Versailles that the Soviet Union was to soon outshine the US in every aspect of human development, but within a few years Colonel House was haunting the White House with his great admiration of Mussolini, replete with bragging that he had taught Mussolini everything he knew. This also explains how it is that behind the Speaker's rostrum in the House of Representatives hang two copies of the great symbol of Mussolini's Italian Fascism. They are sort of like Prince Harry and his clearly out of the genealogical line red hair, they can't not be seen but a great deal of care is taken by almost everyone not to notice the obvious misplacement. Colonel House's book "Philip Dru - Administrator, which is a very poorly written thing which was once immensely popular in the US, could be thought of as the Jan 6 handbook of American politics. It is a tale of the overthrow of the American government by a popular uprising. Another point raised reflects on Carlson's attempts to use the press. Need I mention one fellow by the name of MacArthur who did likewise, but with somewhat greater success? And at this point I can't resist citing the comment General Lee made during the middle of the Civil War. Lee noted that it seemed clear to him that the problem with the progress of the war was that all of newspaper correspondents were the truly great generals of the war, and that all of his generals were actually newspaper correspondents.

[@mkaustralia7136]

Not a Prince Harry fan at all, but Prince Philip did sport a red beard in the time he was in the RN. I always wondered about the ginger colour of Harry until I read an extract of a letter from the then Princess Elizabeth which referred to it. Do not know the genetic workings of red hair, so someone with real knowledge there may prove that the Philip genes could not be the cause.

[@jackvonkuehn9038]

Congrats to your son. I have 2 sons. 1 is already an Eagle Scout. on USS JFK and the other is Life and just turned 14 today. Best of luck to you.

[@blakekeithley3400]

LCR landing craft rubber. Awesome boats made by B.F. Goodrich. Triangular bow tapers to the stern inner and outer tubes inflatable floor motor mount d rings to mount .30s tapered plugs to fill any bullet holes . Only problem is that the matrix holding the two pieces of neoprene is made of cotton . The cotton dry tots over time and delaminated the boat.

[@jameshannagan4256]

You guys are starting to get to the part of the war I do not know as much about really looking forward to the lost year 1943 (at least for me).

[@johnrisher3007]

Thank you Captain Toti for your service. God bless you always 🙏❤

[@russfranck3491]

You guys make a great pair. I hope you fine success. Really interesting subject matter.

[@jagsdomain203]

There is a book call wild bill donovin. That book stated that almost everything he touched went bad.

[@robertibert9269]

You 2 gentlemen do a fine job telling this history. Thank you. PS my dad flew f6f as a night pilot he told a few stories.

[@DS_Boston]

Merritt Edson was part of the board who evaluated battle rifles for the USMC in 1940. That board officially selected the M1903 Springfield. Edson clearly saw the value of the semiautomatic M1 Garand (selected by the Army in 1937), and equipped his Raider Battalion with them.

[@Chief-Solarize]

44 minutes in / US NAVY pics Good stuff Skipper

[@williamlarson3623]

As former Navy AE3, I had served three overseas tours of duty Vietnam era (c '66-'68), including two in Tonkin Gulf, on carriers Bon Homme Richard CVA-31, and Ticonderoga CVA-14, and which is why I came to this site. Am looking for info on Pres. Gerald R. Ford and his service as navy phy ed officer (or something like that), also on gunner crew aboard carrier Monterey during '42 Makin Raid. The president showcased here, however, has nothing to do with Ford, and wondering why. Your interesting info, opinions on Makin Raid impressive, though. Thanks.

[@sailordude2094]

Now that's a very interesting history topic, thanks! I didn't know about Carlson, great insight about the meaning of gung ho, I wont talk about it with a Marine I run into, just to not blow their minds. BTW, I did that eye operation also and regressed back to glasses. My hearing sucks too, maybe all those work place ship noises? lol. o7 Sir.

[@joemcdonnell2854]

Excellent podcast gentleman!

[@Jakal-pw8yq]

Hey Captain Bill! Loved your story about submarine stealth and inserting troops for surprise tactics and rescuing hostages. I love the picture that you showed too! You are the man sir!❤😊

[@Cosmic.G1234]

Bill, it’s amazing that you quote Monty Python, I love Monty Python. We never hear Americans talk of appreciate Monty Cheers heaps

[@69Applekrate]

great episode. thank you. It was good to learn more of this raid

[@lavernedofelmier6496]

This is amazing , you couldn’t make up the content in your podcast . Learning more with every video thanks.

[@stevegt2682]

I don't think the part where Carlson surrendered made it into the Randolph Scott movie...

[@spidrespidre]

Very illuminating. Thanks again for another excellent podcast

[@jean-francoislemieux5509]

tuesday's always a good day now!

[@garyrunnalls7714]

Happy birthday to Seth's son🎉

[@OpusXtr]

Capt. Toti, there is another option, though it doesn’t move as many troops as rubber boats. I spent a 4 yrs out of Pearl on the USS Cavalla (SSN684) in the late 80s. We spent a lot of time with swimmers. (We only had Squadrons 1 and 7 at Pearl back then)

[@Toto-no3mv]

I just checked the Wikipedia page on the raid, which describes it as a "tactical victory" for the US.

[@sethparidon8654]

Wikipedia is not a source. And it was not a victory.

[@morganhale3434]

Domestic peace for your goatee Bill. You are the senior officer present so I defer to your decision. You did look super cool and awesome with a goatee.

[@strydyrhellzrydyr1345]

Lol.. right.. I wrote about how cool and just a bit younger he looked with that facial hair.. Also... Can you tell me what he says... He said, his wife has. . . Something... The goatee. I just can't tell what word he uses... It sounds like Nix or something

[@strydyrhellzrydyr1345]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that asked him to grow it out

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

@@strydyrhellzrydyr1345 I said she nixed the goatee

[@garymackey850]

Not the Senior Officer present....she is....🤣

[@morganhale3434]

@@garymackey850 Bill still had to make a command decision that would go down in his fitness reports. Remember, every soldier has a marshal's baton in his knapsack. Napoleon was the creator, more or less, of the modern professional military, the limeys wouldn't agree but that is why we fought a Revolution: to not care what the British think.

[@warrensmith2902]

Did the LASIC's thing years ago. Best thing ever. But there were some down sides. Lost some of my far vision and my night depth-of-field. Came in to land and it took a while to get the plane on the ground. That was over 25 years ago. Now, I need glasses again. And don't forget Churchill's love of Commando units. Operation Claymore 1941 (Norway), and the soon to be done raid on Dieppe France later in 1942.

[@anthonybush607]

My understanding is that some of the bad blood between Edson and Carlson started after Edson was forced to transfer a number of personnel to the 2nd Battalion when it was being formed. Carlson promptly rejected the majority of the transfers which Edson took as a personal insult and insult to the 1st battalion.

[@garyrunnalls7714]

Thanks again guys, loving your episodes❤Love to see an episode on USS Archerfish sinking IJN Shinano❤

[@saenole66]

Excellent episode, as usual. I really enjoy the detailed treatment you exercise in your segments. It appears that the plan of landing was poorly executed and maybe the approach should have been from the calmer lagoon side of Makin. A fiascoindeed.

[@therealuncleowen2588]

What a story. Giving a 20 year old American the choice of surrendering to the Japanese or swimming to the submarine, I'd think the correct choice would be to swim for it or die trying. Screw surrendering to those cruel bastards. I'd swim through sharks to get off that island under those conditions.

[@coachhannah2403]

This was FDR's Churchill moment...

[@Steve-dg3md]

I have worked with some LtCol's who thought they were all that and a bag of chips.😮 I just stepped back and let them fall on their sword.... they always did. Semper Fi

[@Cuffsmaster]

This was not the war for Raiders to have anything but an obscure part in the whole process.

[@douglasturner6153]

I find it hard to believe Carlson would have surrendered. He knew the Japanese well and the President's own son was his Exec.

[@tkeune]

CAPT you might consider one of the programs available for readjusting the muscles around your eyes. I did this about 20 years ago and still sport approximately 20/20 vision though I use reading glasses to make life a computer nerd easier