The Army’s Origin Story: Rick Atkinson on War, Leadership, and Legacy

Send us Fan MailIn this special Army Birthday Week episode, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Rick Atkinson joins Joe to explore the deep roots of the U.S. Army and what its 250-year journey can teach today’s leaders. Known for his Liberation Trilogy and now two volumes into his Revolution Trilogy, Atkinson brings the American Revolution to life—warts, wonder, and all—and makes a compelling case for why understanding our founding story is essential for anyone in uniform.In this episode, they explore:What it was like growing up as an Army brat—and how Atkinson’s father’s 30-year career shaped his lifelong fascination with military historyThe surprising parallels between Washington’s army and today’s force, from self-study and logistics to leadership under pressureHow George Washington’s instinct for civilian control—and his rapid growth as a commander—still echoes in the Army’s DNAWhy the American Revolution was, in Atkinson’s words, “our first civil war,” and how its complexity is far more compelling than its mythologyLafayette, logistics, and the brutal truth of 18th-century expeditionary warfare (including the grim sound of horse carcasses hitting the sea)The power of books, curiosity, and informal learning among Washington’s officers—and why that tradition matters more than ever for leaders todayWhat Atkinson hopes readers, soldiers, and citizens will carry forward from the Founding Generation—and why we must not lose sight of what they gave usWhether you’re a company commander, a military history buff, or someone simply trying to understand where the Army came from and where it’s headed, this episode is a timely reminder: the past isn’t just prologue—it’s instruction.Rick Atkinson is the bestselling author of eight works of narrative military history, including The Fate of the Day, The Guns at Last Light, The Day of Battle, An Army at Dawn, The Long Gray Line, In the Company of Soldiers, and Crusade. He also was the lead essayist in Where Valor Rests: Arlington National Cemetery, published by National Geographic. He was a reporter, foreign correspondent, war correspondent, and senior editor at The Washington Post for more than twenty years. His many awards include Pulitzer Prizes for history and journalism, the George Polk Award, the George Washington Prize, and the Pritzker Military Library Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement in Military Writing. He lives in Washington, D.C.A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it’s banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind.