Author: The Digression Podcast Guys
Chris and Jody are Air Force vets who enjoy military history and folklore. They have a podcast. They tell stories. They digress. A lot.
105. Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar, born Gaius Julius Caesar, was a prominent Roman statesman, military general, and dictator who played a pivotal role in transforming the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. Born on July 12, 100 BC, in Rome, Caesar rose to power during a time of political turmoil and instability, leaving an indelible mark on Roman…
Right Again!
The RAND Corporation recently released a report on a nationally representative survey of the U.S. veteran community entitled Prevalence of Veteran Support for Extremist Groups and Extremist Beliefs. The report concluded that [t]here was no evidence to support the notion that the veteran community, as a whole, manifests higher rates of support for violent extremist groups or extremist…
ep 104: Real War Movies
Since WWII ended, thousands of movies have explored every conceivable aspect of the conflict. But how often do these films get the story right, let alone the "feel" of the period and the "look" of the uniforms, weapons, cars, landscape, strategy, and tactics? That's the question we're asking in this episode as we present the…
ep 103: Pompey
Pompey, also known as Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, was a Roman general and politician who lived during the late Roman Republic. He was born in 106 BC in Picenum, a region in central Italy, and he died in 48 BC in Egypt. Pompey's military career began at an early age. He served in the Roman army…
ep 102: Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius was a prominent Roman general and statesman who played a pivotal role in transforming the Roman Republic into an empire. He was born in Cereatae into a plebeian family, which meant that he was not of noble birth. However, Marius rose to prominence through his military prowess and political savvy, ultimately becoming one…
ep 101: Scipio Africanus
Scipio Africanus was one of the most outstanding military leaders in ancient history. Born in 236 BC in Rome, Scipio came from a noble family of the Roman Republic. He was the son of Publius Scipio, a distinguished general who had fought in the First Punic War against Carthage. Scipio's early years were marked by…
ep 100: The Real Steve Austin
If you grew up in the 70s, you probably know Colonel Steve Austin. He was an astronaut and test pilot who became the world's first bionic man after a horrific plane crash. Steve Austin was fictional, but that plane crash was real...and so was the pilot--his name was Bruce Peterson. Bruce Peterson was a renowned…
ep 99: Hannibal
Hannibal Barca (247-183/182 BC) was a Carthaginian general and statesman who is widely regarded as one of the greatest military strategists and tacticians in history. He is most famous for leading an army across the Alps into Italy during the Second Punic War (218-201 BC), where he won a series of spectacular victories against the…
ep 98. Alexander the Great
As a young boy, Alexander of Macedonia was tutored by the famous philosopher Aristotle, who spurred his interest in a range of subjects, including philosophy, politics, and science. Alexander showed great intelligence and a thirst for knowledge, serving him well in his later conquests. When his father was assassinated in 336 BC, Alexander became king…
ep 97: The Belknap Bump
The Belknap and Kennedy collision was a tragic incident that occurred on December 22, 1975, during a training exercise in the Mediterranean Sea. The USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), an aircraft carrier, collided with the USS Belknap (DLG-26), a guided missile cruiser, causing significant damage to both ships and resulting in the deaths of seven…
ep 96: Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu was a legendary military strategist who lived during the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history. He was a native of the state of Wu, and his teachings on warfare, strategy, and leadership would go on to influence military leaders for centuries to come. As a young man, Sun Tzu was already known…
ep 95. Leonidas of Sparta
Leonidas of Sparta was a legendary figure in ancient Greek history, known for his bravery and leadership during one of the most famous battles in history, the Battle of Thermopylae. He was born into the Agiad dynasty, one of the two ruling dynasties of the Spartan city-state. He was the son of Anaxandridas II and…
ep 94: The Tomb of the Known Soldier
Lt Michael J. Blassie was a United States Air Force pilot who was shot down and killed during the Vietnam War. His remains were initially listed as "unidentified." They were interred in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery by President Ronald Regan in 1984 as part of a group of remains…
ep 93: Christmas in Wartime
Christmas has always been an important holiday in the U.S., but it took on a special meaning during World War II (1941-45) because so many families had loved ones serving in the armed forces that they could not return home for Christmas. Although the Second World War did not have holidays, Americans at home and…
ep 92. Foxbat Fraud
The spy satellite photos created real panic in the Pentagon! An enormous Soviet airplane–probably an interceptor–with engine intakes the size of small cars. The wings were huge, which suggested it had maneuverability far beyond anything America’s McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II could achieve. The Pentagon was looking at the prototypes of what would become the Mikoyan-Gurevich…
ep 91: Censored!
IN THE NEWS: YouTube censors TDP; Family sues Army over Fort Hood daughter's death; Bonnie Dick sailor acquitted; Maveric's Dark Star steals the show at Edwards; Ukraine meme war; Elon Musk wants DoD to pay for Starlink in Ukraine; Mad cow military can give blood; Selective service says biological men are men; Space Force has…
ep 90. “I Was A Soldier,” Revisited
Revisiting the fateful day that changed the course of Sergeant Major Charles Morris’ life. On June 29, 1966, while on a search-and-destroy mission in Xuan Loc, South Vietnam, he came within 20 feet of a Viet Cong machine gunner and was shot in the chest. He returned fire and took out the machine gun nest…
ep 89: Werewolves of Aachen
As the Allies pushed through Germany in the Autumn of 1944, the Nazi's hatched a plan to position elite guerrilla forces behind enemy lines. They were known as "Werewolves" and the very name struck fear in in the hearts of many Allied soldiers. In the Autumn of 1944, as the allies pushed through Germany, the…
ep 88: Space Isn’t New
IN THE NEWS with guest co-host Christof Ambrosch! VA makes PACT Act conditions presumptive and accepting claims; Ukraine's Zelensky talks war with Jimmy Fallon; While the parliament gives themselves a 70% raise; Pentagon OKs Novavax for COVID19, Civilian Protection Center of Excellence and limiting war casualties; Space is not new; Space Flag and on-orbit combat…
87. Winning Battles, Losing Wars
Among the basic distinctions in warfare is the difference between tactics and strategy. Tactics deal with the form of individual engagement, while strategy deals with its use. So, tactics are the operational techniques military units employ to win battles. Strategy addresses the broader political objectives for which a war is fought and the ends, ways,…
ep 86: The Weasel
In this special episode, we're discussing General Milley's resignation letter to the President that he never sent, deciding instead to work against the Commander-in-Chief from the inside. Military members have a duty to be loyal to the service and the officers appointed over them. Military officers can be punished under the Uniformed Code of Military…
ep 85: Hardcore Mode
IN THE NEWS: We bid farewell to three icons--CMSAF #6, James McCoy; Lt Uhura, Nichelle Nicols; and Dodger's announcer, Vin Scully--Godspeed; Pentagon phone wiping, but it's not what you think; No national guard for DC Mayor Bowser to help with her illegal alien crisis; Space Force ‘ambassadors’--is that even a thing? ; Air Force joint…
ep 84: Angel’s Glow
The US Civil War was America’s bloodiest and most costly conflict. Although the battlefields were covered with death, the field hospitals were perhaps the most frightening places. From the echoing screams of men undergoing amputations to the inexperienced doctors and lack of medical knowledge, many believed it was better to die on the field than…
ep 83: Pronouns
IN THE NEWS: Navy targets pronouns while China launches new carrier; Turns out West Point is teaching woke; Rep Matt Gaetz fighting DEI in the military; Woke military struggles with recruiting; Congress tells Space Force to slow down; Air Force "leaders" discourage gender-specific pronouns in award citations; Competition to replace the Army's Bradley is underway;…
ep 82: Talk To Me Goose!
By now, just about everyone has seen Tom Cruise’s blockbuster movie, “Top Gun: Maverick”...so why are we talking about it? Well, for one thing, it’s “us,” and another is it’s a damn good movie! So if you’re one of the few who have not seen this movie and you’re worried about spoilers in this podcast,…
