This week on History Happy Hour: Author Dan King interviewed more than 100 Japanese veterans while living in Japan, and has written a series of books telling the story of the war from their POV.

In this encore episode, we’ll talk to him about his latest book, The Iron Graves of Saipan, about the men of the 9th Japanese Tank Division. Their story begins with training, chow halls, talent shows, pranks, and USO shows on the Manchurian border. But their journey ends in the brutal battles of the Mariana Islands, where only 4% survived.

Dan King earned a degree in Japanese language from Cal state University, then worked at a tech company in Japan for 10 years. During that time, he interviewed 103 Japanese veterans about their wartime experiences, and often had the opportunity to review scrapbooks, letters and diaries as well. He is the author of Blossoms From the Sky, The Last Zero Fighter, A Tomb Called Iwo Jima, and The Yalu River Boys, all based on those interviews. He has also worked as a technical / historical / language advisor on films and documentaries including: The Last Samurai, Windtalkers, Flags of Our Fathers and others.

This week on History Happy Hour: Thomas Paine was a man whose words helped launch a revolution. In January 1776 he wrote Common Sense, which helped inspire the Continental Congress to declare Independence. In late November that same year, while serving in George Washington’s army during the Colonies’ most desperate hour, he picked up his pen again. “These are the times that try men’s souls” he began, and his words lit a fire in the men who would soon win a critical victory at the Battle of Trenton.

In this encore episode, Chris and Rick talk to HHH alum Jack Kelly, author of Thomas Paine’s War: The Words That Rallied a Nation and the Founder for Our Time.

As an Amazon Associate, HHH earns from qualifying purchases

Jack Kelly is an award-winning historian and author. He has been on History Happy Hour twice, to talk about his books Valcour: The 1776 Campaign that Saved the Cause of Liberty and God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America's Most Hated Man. He is also the author of Band of Giants: The Amateur Soldiers Who Won America’s Independence, which received the DAR History Medal. He has appeared on NPR, PBS, and the History Channel, and has written for national publications including the Wall Street Journal. He lives and works in Hudson Valley, New York.

This week on History Happy Hour: During the Vietnam War, 300 thousand black soldiers were drafted and sent overseas. At home, Black anti-war protesters were vilified for jeopardizing the fight for civil rights.

Matthew Delmont comes back to History Happy Hour to talk about his new book Until the Last Gun is Silent: A Story of Patriotism, the Vietnam War, and the Fight to Save America's Soul.

Sunday at 4PM ET on History Happy Hour, where history is always on tap.

As an Amazon Associate, HHH earns from qualifying purchases

Matthew F. Delmont is a History Professor at Dartmouth College. A Guggenheim Fellow and expert on African American history, he is the author of five books, most recently Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad. He appeared on History Happy Hour in December 2023. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and on NPR. He has a BA from Harvard University and his MA and PhD from Brown University.