Episodes

Aug. 17, 2025

THE LAST STAND OF CASTLE ITTER 1945: WWII'S LAST AND STRANGEST MAJOR BATTLE

The closing days of the war in Europe provided some of the most dramatic mmoments of the war, and the battle at Castle Itter in the Tyrolean Alps, a well-guarded Nazi "prison" for high-value political prisoners, was no exception. With Hitler's suicide followed by the announcement of Germany's surrender, many German troops began running for cover or surrendering, as did the castle guard at Castle Itter, however, the ever faithfull Waffen-SS had not surrendered and was killing as many prisoners an...
Aug. 10, 2025

THE SEIGE OF BASTOGNE AND THE LAST STAND OF TEAM DEBRAY AT NOVILLE

Our story details the legendary last stand of Commander William Desobry's Team of 400 troops and 15 Sherman tanks who were assigned to capture and defend Noville, France , thereby preventing the German ofensive from overwhelming Bastagnge and Antwerp in Dec '44-Jan of 1945. Deobry's units, as well as others, faced 10-1 odds, including an entire Panzer division, for 2 whole days, taking over 50% losses, and giving the allies the critical hours needed to prepare defenses for Bastogne.
Aug. 10, 2025

HISTORY MAJORS-FIND OUT WHAT COLLEGE WAS LIKE 105 YEARS AGO! TODAY AT 1001 STORIES FROM THE GILDED AGE

In just a few minutes you can treat yourself to one of the greatest historical paradoxes ever written at 1001 Stories From The Gilded Age- Its 1910 ( or so) .Anne of Green Gables is headed for college. She will actually attend classes in daytime No wild parties No drinking Actual studying No demonstrations No burning police cars This will rock your idea of what colleges should be about! Apple LInk (for anyone) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-stories-from-the-gilded-age/id148...
Aug. 9, 2025

COMING TO 1001 STORIES FROM THE GILDED AGE: ANNE OF THE ISLAND (FROM THE ANNE OF GREEN GABLES SERIES)

It's "Back to School" time for Anne Shirley of Green Gables- as well as your kids and neighbor's kids-Coming Sunday Aug 10 (tomorrow as I write this) at noon EDT -Chapter 1 of the 3rd 'Anne of Green Gables' story- called 'Anne of the Island'- narrated by Gizelle Erickson- who is introducing herself soon over at 1001 Stories From The Gilded Age. Its a combination romance/adventure/coming of age story that will take you back to a simpler time! Join us at 1001 Stories From The Gilded Age Apple Us...
Aug. 2, 2025

THE CURSE OF BUNNYMAN

In a new suburban development outside of Fairfax, VA, in 1970, a young military man and his bride to be were stopping to visit a family member who had recently purchased a new home across from a vacant lot. Suddenly a man in a bunny suit approached their car, slinging an axe, and shouting at them to leave. He then broke their car window, splattering the young lady with glass, and, before they were able to pull away, threw the axe into the car as he screamed "You people are destroying the land......
July 26, 2025

THE SEIGE OF KHE SANH 1968: U.S. MARINES HOLD AGAINST OVERWHELMING ODDS (1001 HEROES SUMMER OF LAST STANDS #3)

On 21 January 1968, the PAVN surrounded and besieged the key US Marine base near the border of Laos. In the ensuing five months, KSCB and the hilltop outposts around it were subjected to daily North Vietnamese artillery, mortar, and rocket attacks, and several infantry assaults. More than 274 U.S. troops were killed and more than 2,500 wounded. This is their story. Resources: • "BRCC PRESENTS - The Siege at Khe Sanh." Black Rifle Coffee Company, YouTube • "Battle of Khe Sanh." Wikipedia, Wikime...
July 20, 2025

THE VALIANT DEFENSE OF RORKE'S DRIFT (#2 SUMMER SERIES FAMOUS LAST STANDS)

# 2 In our summer series "Famous Last Stands" is The Valiant Defense of Rorke's Drift, which was a 10 hour battle between a beleagured British outpost in the center of Zulu territory which was attacked by a very large Zulu force in 1879. Outnumbered 40 to 1 , the small garrison fought bravely, often in hand to hand combat, with many surviving and claiming 20 Zulus for every fallen soldier. Coming Sunday 12:30 ET: The Battle of Khe Sanh "Hold At All Costs". 2,500 US Marines, Army, AF, and ARVN vs...
July 13, 2025

THE LAST STAND AT THERMOPYLAE: COURAGE, TREACHERY, AND ENDURING LEGACY

Part one of our three part summer series "Last Stands" at 1001 Heroes! The incredible story of Greece's effort to fight off the Persian Empire's attempt to occupy Greece by sending their best warriors from their united city-states- the battle being ended with the last 300 Spartans led by King Leonidas in a 7 days long effort to fend off 200,000 Persians. The Spartan ethos remains today not only in our military but in each one us as we seek the determination and courage to face our live's chal...
July 6, 2025

HOW MONUMENT VALLEY SAVED HOLLYWOOD WESTERNS AND LAUNCHED JOHN WAYNE'S CAREER

Journey with me back to 1938 as a young couple named Mike and Leone Goulding, having invested in a trading post in Navaho Country and fallen in love with the beautiful landscape and the Navaho people who populated what we call Monument Valley Utah/Arizona today- saved their pennies and photos and took a long road trip to Hollywood to find director John Ford and convince him that their valley would be the ideal place to film his next western movie, despite there being no lodging, no restaurants, ...
July 3, 2025

JULY 4TH SPECIAL: SGT. DINWIDDIE'S WAR: B-17'S AND THE BELGIAN UNDERGROUND IN WWII

The story of Sgt. Don Dinwiddie, radioman on the B-17 GI Sheets, and his crew as they barely survived being shot down in German-held territory on Jan 29th, 1944,as told by author Terry Irwin. Today's history classes really don't teach the many ways that commen men with uncommon courage fought for our freedom in WWII- and this story is a great example. Check out our new website at www.bestof1001stories.com! Thanks for listening!
June 29, 2025

MISSING DOWN UNDER: THE TOM PHILLIPS STORY

Tom Phillips and his three young children disappeared from the isolated rural Waikato town of Marokopa on 9 December 2021. New Zealand Police believe that the children were taken by their father to a location somewhere in the western Waikato, after a dispute with their mother. Phillips is alleged to have committed a bank robbery in September 2023, but the first sighting of all three children with their father was on 3 October 2024, when they were spotted walking through Marokopa farmland. Howeve...
June 26, 2025

JON'S TOP 10 WWII (#3) GREG "PAPPY" BOYINGTON'S BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON

Gregory "Pappy" Boyington (December 4, 1912 – January 11, 1988) was an American combat pilot who was a United States Marine Corps fighter ace during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. A Marine aviator with the Pacific fleet in 1941, Boyington joined the "Flying Tigers" (1st American Volunteer Group) of the Republic of China Air Force and saw combat in Burma in late 1941 and 1942 during the Second Sino-Japanese War. In September 1942, Boyington rejoined the Marine C...
June 22, 2025

REMEMBERING THE HARVEY GIRLS AND HOW THEY TAMED THE WILD WEST

By 1880 the ATS&F Railroad had laid tracks from Kansas City to California- and people and products were starting to move through the still untamed west. Food along the way, however, was a spotty proposition, and the railroad was faced with a...
June 15, 2025

THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE (WHICH RESULTED IN) OUR NATIONS FIRST MEDAL OF HONOR

On the 26th of March, 1863, the first six Medals of Honor were awarded to 6 surviving members of the Andrew's Raiders, who, one year earlier , had participating in a daring union raid into the south to commandeer a railroad engine and hobble Confederate supply lines around Chattanooga. The first of the six went to private Jacob Parrott. This is the story. Resources: • https://www.thoughtco.com/great-locomotive-chase-2360250 • Andrews Raiders - Warfare History Network https://warfarehistorynetw...
June 8, 2025

THE MAURY ISLAND UFO INCIDENT & THE MEN IN BLACK BIRTHDAY BASH

Here is our interview with filmmaker/producer Steve Edmiston ("The Maury Island Incident", Youtube) regarding the Maury Island UFO incident which occurred in June 1947 in the Seattle/Tacoma area. For all of you who live within a day's drive of Seattle WA you really need to consider attending the 4th annual,MIBB- the Men in Black Birthday Bash-to honor the event which all began with the alleged sighting of three UFO's by Harold Dahl, son, and boat crew in 1947, just a few days before. Come dresse...
June 5, 2025

JON'S TOP TEN WWII PICKS (#1 OF 10) THE COMMANDO RAID ON ST. NAZAIRE

JON'S TOP TEN WWII FAVORITES: #1 OF 10 BEST "The Commando Raid on St. Nazaire: the Most Daring Raid of WWII": The St. Nazaire Raid, also known as Operation Chariot, was a British Amphibious attack on the heavily defended Normandie drydock at St. Nazaire on March 26th, 1942. The objective of the raid was to destroy the drydock in German-held St. Nazaire, thus denying an Atlantic repair port to the new and powerful German battleship Tirpitz, which by itself was capable of winning the battle for ...
June 1, 2025

REMEMBERING THE TUSKEEGEE AIRMEN OF WWII (INCLUDES BONUS INTERVIEW WITH LT. COL HARRY STEWART)

The Tuskeegee Airmen of WWII were the first black pilots to break the color barrier in our Army/Airforce- a job in itself- and this is their heroes story as they paved the way for big changes in our military as well as our industries in the 40's and beyond. Included you will find our 2022 interview with Lt.Col. Harry Stewart as he shares his stories and gives advice to our younger generation about being the best you can be if you want to succeed in life. Lt, Col. Stewart passed this past Feb 202...
May 25, 2025

THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF BUTCH O'HARE: AMERICA'S 1ST WWII FIGHTER ACE

I first heard this story on Paul Harvey years ago., and I've retold it in part but never in full. This is the story of Lieutenant Commander Edward Henry O'Hare (March 13, 1914 – November 26, 1943) who was an American naval aviator of the United States Navy, who on February 20, 1942, became the Navy's first fighter ace of the war when he single-handedly attacked a formation of nine Japanese medium bombers approaching his aircraft carrier. Even though he had a limited amount of ammunition, he was ...
May 10, 2025

IMBEDDED ENEMY: THE INSIDER THREAT by COMMAND SGT. MAJ BART WOMACK TERROR ON OUR BASES

Interview with Command Sgt. Maj. Bart Womack New Book- IMBEDDEDD ENEMY Shortly after deploying for the war in Iraq, an unprecedented attack was about to take place; the first of it's kind in U.S. military history. Embedded Enemy is the true story of the deadly attack against the men and women of Headquarters and Headquarters Company First Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. The Bastogne Brigade was staged at Camp Pennsylvania in Kuwait where they prepared for combat. During the early morning hou...
May 4, 2025

SPITFIRES: THE AMERICAN WOMEN WHO FLEW IN THE FACE OF DANGER IN WWII w BECKY AIKMAN

Britain was fully involved in WWII in 1940-41 prior to the US entering the war- and they were defending their island against Germany to the last man if need be. So many British pilots had been killed that they despertaely needed women to ferry war...