Ernie Pyle WWII Museum Podcast

In this episode I spoke with Ron May about his book "World War II Indiana Landmarks". World War II Indiana Landmarks features places throughout the state that played significant roles during World War II. Many of these locations memorialize those who fought as well as those who contributed to the war effort.

In this episode I spoke with Margie Bucheit about her book "We Chose Resistance". We Chose Resistance takes readers into the heart of rural France during wartime, where a courageous and poorly armed volunteer "army" stubbornly defies the occupying enemy each day to win back France

In this episode, I spoke with author Christopher C. Gorham about his book "The Confidante: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win WWII and shaped A Modern America". For readers of A Woman of No Importance and Eleanor: A Life, the first-ever biography of Anna Marie Rosenberg, the Hungarian Jewish immigrant who became FDR’s closest advisor during World War II and whose influence on American history, from the New Deal to the Cold War and beyond, has never before been told.Ernie Pyle museum is located in Dana, IN! 

In this episode I spoke with David Chrisinger (author of The Soldier's Truth) about Ernie special drink simple called "44".  David explains the story behind the drink.Ernie Pyle Museum is located in Dana, IN!

In this episode I spoke with Steve Snyder regarding his book "Shot Down: The true story of pilot Howard Snyder and the crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth". SHOT DOWN is set within the framework of World War II in Europe and recounts the dramatic experiences of each member of a ten man B-17 bomber crew after their plane, piloted by the author's father, was knocked out of the sky by German fighters over the French/Belgian border on February 8,1944.Ernie Pyle Museum is in Dana, IN! 

In this episode, I spoke with Tobias Straumann regarding his book "Out of Hitler's Shadow: Debt, Guilt and The Economic Miracle". Why were the United States and its Western Allies so lenient after the most atrocious war of all times? Out of Hitler's Shadow answers this question, and considers why the Allies concluded that imposing unrealistic financial conditions on a defeated country would do more harm than good.This is a short and a well written book. 

In this episode I spoke with Jan Cress Dondi about her book "The Navigator's Letter: The True Story of Two WWII Airmen, a Doomed Mission, and the Woman Who Bound Them Together". The Navigator’s Letter brings to light one of the best untold and dangerous stories of World War II, chronicling a moving and heroic story of patriotic duty, familial bonds, brotherhood, and love.

Guest Host James Lott Jr talks about the Museum.Ernie Pyle World War II Museum📍 Address: 120 Briarwood Ave, Dana, IN 47847, USA 🌐 Website: https://erniepyle.org/

In this episode, I spoke with Mark Stille, about his book "Pearl Harbor Japan's Greatest Disaster". In this the first comprehensive treatment of Pearl Harbor since the early 1990s, respected Pacific War naval historian Mark E. Stille traces the road to war and the Japanese attack itself. He examines the role of the man behind the operation, Japanese Admiral Yamamoto, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the plan. The American preparations for an attack are also carefully reviewed. The heart of the book is a comprehensive narrative of Pearl Harbor along with an appreciation of its results placed in proper perspective.Erniepyle.org

For the Last episode of 2025, James Lott Jr is the host and talks about what Ernie yle and other War Correspondents when through during World War II.Thank you Doug Hess, and the Friends of Ernie Pyle for a great year of shows! See you in 2026!

Guest Host James Lott Jr talks about the life of the World War 2 War correspondents like Ernie Pyle. They are all heroes!The Ernie Pyle Museum is in Dana Indiana. 

In this episode I spoke with author Christopher Allen Gordon about his latest book "Letters Home from WWII St. Louis".  Letters Home from World War II: St. Louis captures the experiences of St. Louisans who served in World War II, sharing their struggles, fears, and hopes through letters sent home. Scattered across battlefields, remote bases, and ships at sea, these men and women endured the hardships of war, finding solace in the letters they received from loved ones.The Ernie Pyle WWII Museum is located in Dana, Indiana.Doug Hess is the Producer and Host of the podcast.

In this episode I spoke with author Stephen L. Moore about his book "Fighting Fifteen: The Navy's Top Ace and the Deadliest Hellcat Squadron of the Pacific War". The inspiring, action-packed tale of VF-15, the elite group of U.S. Navy “top gun” pilots that destroyed more enemy planes than any other Pacific War squadron. Out on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Doug Hess is the hos and producer. 

Steve Key is the President of the Board of Directors for the Friends of Ernie Pyle which oversees the Ernie Pyle WWII Museum. James Lott Jr has a fun chat with him and they talk about his involvement plus Steve's own professional history!erniepyle.org 

James Lott Jr talks about the museum! 

In this episode, we discuss Rona Simmons book "No Average Day: The 24 Hours of October 24, 1944". On Tuesday, October 24, 1944, nearly three years after the United States entered World War II, over 2,600 Americans perished—more than on any other single day of the conflict—yet the day remains overshadowed by more widely remembered dates in WWII history. Drawing from the accounts of men from diverse backgrounds who served in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Corps, she offers a gripping retelling of the fateful day, hour by hour and incident by incident. 

Guest Host James Lott Jr wishes he could have interviewed one on one Mr Ernie Pyle. SO he imagines if Ernie lived longer and James got to ionterview him, what would the questions be? James tells you 10 Questions he would ask Ernie Pyle.Ernie Pyle WWII Museum is in Dana, Indiana.

In this episode, I spoke with author William Nester on his book "General George S. Patton and the Art of Leadership: One of America’s Greatest Ever Generals". For General George S. Patton, “Leadership is the thing that wins battles. I have it—but I’ll be damned if I can define it. Probably it consists in knowing what you want to do and then doing it and getting mad if anyone steps in the way. Self-confidence and leadership are twin brothers.”

Co Hosting for the 1st time, JLJ and Doug Hess speak with Actor/Writer/Producer and Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation Board Member Michael Brainard. He has a Substack which is compiling and archiving and releasing to the public, the Complete Works of Ernie Pyle. goto michaelbrainard.substack.com

Doug Hess is the host!Ernie Pyle WWII Museum is in Dana Indiana! 

In this episode, I spoke with Joe Sentell and Steve Maddox regarding the movie "Joe's War Record" that Joe and Steve cowrote. Doug Hess is the host! 

In this episode, I spoke with author Samuel de Korte about his book "Tuskegee Airmen: Dogfighting with the Luftwaffe and Jim Crow". During the Second World War, the Tuskegee Airmen had not one but two enemies to overcome: the German Luftwaffe and Jim Crow. In this book, the inspiring history of these men is recounted detailing the struggles the men faced at home and abroad.

In this episode I spoke with author Michael H. Zang regarding his book "Guest of Adolf". Ernest Virgil Focht was born and brought up in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. He was drafted into the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in April 1941 and assigned to the 105th Infantry Battalion (Anti-Tank). After training he participated in the Carolina Maneuvers. The National Guard unit was redesignated as the 805th Tank Destroyer Battalion, being deployed to North Africa in January 1943.

In this episode, I spoke with author David F. Winkler regarding his book "The Mighty A: The Mighty A: The Short, Heroic Life of the USS Atlanta (CL-51): America's First Warship Commissioned After Pearl Harbor". Prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Navy’s leadership discovered that the surface fleet was highly vulnerable to air attack, thanks to the introduction of drone aircraft that could simulate attacks on its warships. The Navy’s gunners simply did not have the coordinated firepower to knock them down. Recognition of this vulnerability resulted in a new class of warship led by USS Atlanta.

Ernie Pyle died APril 18, 1945 and CEO of JLJ Media, James Lott Jr has a few words to say.

In this epiosde, I spoke with Lawrence V. Drake regarding his latest book "Pilots and Painted Ladies: 493rd Bomb Squadron and the Air War in the CBI". Raised on a farm in Montana, Vernon Drake enlisted in the Army Air Corp in the spring of 1942. Assigned to the 493rd Bomb Squadron, 7th Bomb Group of the 10th Air Force stationed in India, he piloted B-24 bombers into Burma in a fight to prevent the Japanese from advancing north to China, then flew C-108 gas-hauling tankers across the formidable Himalayas to support the U.S. and Allied armies.

Guest host James Lott JR talks about Dana Indiana! 

CEO of JLJ media guest hosts, James Lott Jr and talks about collegues of Ernie Pyle! 

In this episode I spoke with Taylor Downing about his latest book " The Army that Never Was: George S. Patton and the Deception of Operation Fortitude ".On May 29th, 1944, General George S. Patton gave a speech in the southeast of England to the men of the U.S. Army where he spoke of the American desire to win and of how losing was hateful to Americans.

Guest host and CEO of JLJ Media talks about Reasons To Go to Ernie Pyle WWII Museum.erniepyle.org

In this episode we spoke with Ted Savas (Managing Director) of Savas and Beatie (https://www.savasbeatie.com/).  Ted spoke to us today regarding what it takes to pitch a idea regarding a history subject matter.

Guest Host James Lott Jr, CEO of JLJ Media,  talks about the 5 Ways Ernie Pyle Changed The Journalism World.

In this episode, I spoke with author James Ellman about his book "MacArthur Reconsidered". One of America's most controversial generals, Douglas MacArthur’s rise through the U.S. Army’s ranks was meteoric. 

In this episode, I spoke with Major General Jason Q. Bohm regarding his book "Washington's Marines: The Origins of the Corps and the American Revolution 1775-1777".  The fighting prowess of United States Marines is second to none, but few know of the Corps’ humble beginnings and what it achieved during the early years of the American Revolution.

Guest Host James Lott Jr talks about Ernie Pyle and his discovery of him and his work. erniepye.orgErnie Pyle WWII Museum is 120 W. Briarwood Ave.Dana, Indiana 47847Phone: 765-665-3633

In this episode I spoke with author Joe Pappalardo's regarding his book Inferno tells the true story of the men who flew the deadliest missions of World War II, and an unlikely hero who received the Medal of Honor in the midst of the bloodiest military campaign in aviation history.

In this episode, I spoke with author Garrett M. Graff about his book "When The Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day".  June 6, 1944—known to us all as D-Day—is one of history’s greatest and most unbelievable military triumphs. Though the full campaign lasted a little over two months, the surprise sunrise landing of more than 150,000 Allied troops on the beaches of occupied northern France is one of the most consequential days of the 20th century.

On this special episode, CEO of JLJ Media travels to Dana Indiana and goes to the Ernie Pyle WWII Museum and he shares his experience.www.erniepyle.org765-665-3633Maple Street, Dana IN 47847

In this episode, Museum President Steve Key joins us to discuss the latest item that was donated to the museum.

In this episode, I spoke with author Robert Schmuhl about his latest book "Mr. Churchill In The White House: The Untold Story of a Prime Minister and Two Presidents." Well into the twenty-first century, Winston Churchill continues to be the subject of scores of books. Biographers portray him as a soldier, statesman, writer, painter, and even a daredevil, but Robert Schmuhl, the noted author and journalist, may be the first to depict him as a demanding, indeed exhausting White House guest. 

In this episode, I spoke with author Michel Paradis about his book " The Light of Battle: Eisenhower, D-Day, and the Birth of the American Superpower". A thrilling new biography of Dwight Eisenhower set in the months leading up to D-Day, when he grew from a well-liked general into one of the singular figures of American history.

In this episode, I spoke with Allen Packwood regarding his book "Churchill's D-Day: The British Bulldog's Fateful Hours During The Normandy Invasion". From the world’s greatest collection of his papers comes the genesis, execution, and aftermath of D-Day through the eyes of Winston Churchill himself.

Utilizing the voices of the B-24 Liberator “Worrybird” and her crew, the heroic and costly story of the air war over Europe unfolds.

In this episode, I spoke with the author Marting Dugard about his latest book "Taking London: Winston Churchill and the Fight to Save Civilization". Great Britain, summer 1940. The Battle of France is over. The Battle of Britain is about to begin. Adolf Hitler’s powerful armies control Europe. England stands alone against this juggernaut, the whole world knowing it is only a matter of time before Nazi Germany unleashes its military might on the island nation. In London, a new prime minister named Winston Churchill is determined to defeat the Nazi menace, no matter the costs.

In this episode, I spoke with Troy Fears who is the Executive Director of the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center.  CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center1532 S. 3rd StreetTerre Haute, IN 47802

In this episode, we continue to look at Ernie Pyle and his relationship with Indiana University.

In this episode, we remember Ernie Pyle's IU Ties.  Part 1

In this episode, I spoke with author Alex Kershaw regarding his book "Patton's Prayer: A True Story of Courage, Faith, and Victory In World War II".  General George Patton needed a miracle. In December 1944, the Allies found themselves stuck. Rain had plagued the troops daily since September, turning roads into rivers of muck, slowing trucks and tanks to a crawl. A thick ceiling of clouds had grounded American warplanes, allowing the Germans to reinforce. The sprint to Berlin had become a muddy, bloody stalemate, costing thousands of American lives.Kershaw is the Resident Historian for Friends of the National WWII Memorial. The book will be out on May 21, 2024.

In this episode, I spoke with author Larry Alexander to discuss his latest book "Shattered Jade: A Novel of Saipan". From New York Times bestselling author Larry Alexander comes a gritty historical novel of World War II, told through the eyes of soldiers on both sides of the firing line.Tarawa was hell but Saipan is worse.