211: Pacific Theater Epilogue with Capt. Mac Caldwell

**Greg Jackson** (0:08)
Welcome to History That Doesn't Suck. I'm your professor, Greg Jackson. And today, we're going to take a break from our narrative episodes to unpack some of the bigger themes and discuss stories we couldn't fit into our recent Pacific-focused episodes. I'm joined by Riley Neubauer, my executive editor as co-host. Together, we're welcoming back Captain Mac, also known as Mark Caldwell, a Marine veteran and favorite guest, returning three years after our first conversation in Episode 135 about Marines at Belleau Wood in World War I. In this epilogue episode, we're diving deeper into the Pacific, answering listener questions, unpacking the strategy battles, we might say, between Douglas MacArthur and Chester Nimitz, analyzing the evolution of amphibious warfare, marveling at the Forrest Gump-like life of Lieutenant Colonel Evans Carlson and the story of his Marine Raiders, and reflecting on how World War II was an incredible moment of sacrifice and unity among Americans, from privileged elites and movie stars to everyday heroes. I love this conversation. But first, let me share a few quick updates about everything we have going on at History That Doesn't Suck. If you haven't heard, we have a new series called Government That Doesn't Suck. New episodes of GTDS drop during the off weeks of History That Doesn't Suck in its own feed. Just search for Government That Doesn't Suck to learn more about how our government's designed and times when it's delivered on that constitutional mandate to provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty. It's certainly not a love letter to government, but I think you'll find some moments of perspective that may help interpret the depressing Everything Is Broken headlines today.
And on that topic, I also humbly recommend my book, Been There Done That, How Our History Shows What We Can Overcome. It's available wherever you get your books and audio books. The audio book is narrated by me, of course.
Finally, we've just announced new tour dates for the Pacific Northwest. I've never been to that part of the country, and I can't wait to bring my live show there. More dates will be added for 2027, so be sure to go to htdspodcast.com for the latest, as well as follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Now, let's go Gunnhoe Island Hopping through the Pacific Theater with my special guest.
Mac, I realize that you've moved on from the Marine Corps, and yet, once a Marine, always a Marine, right?

**Mac Caldwell** (2:36)
Indeed.

**Greg Jackson** (2:37)
So I'm going to stick with Captain. It's how both I and our listeners all know you.
Right before we got rolling, you were telling me about an experience you had shortly after our Bella Wood chat.

**Mac Caldwell** (2:49)
Shortly after we recorded our first episode on Bella Wood, Greg, back in 2023 I left active duty.

**Riley Neubauer** (2:56)
I can't believe it's that long ago.

**Mac Caldwell** (2:57)
Yeah, I know, right. I left active duty and I went to actually use the GI Bill to go back to school and get a master's degree.
Eventually, I had an alumnus from my business school reach out to me and say, oh my gosh, I just heard you on History That Doesn't Suck. You're Mac Caldwell. Turns out this guy, I'll shout him out, his name is Mick Denner. Mick was a captain himself in the Marine Corps. He went to business school a couple of years ahead of me. We ended up becoming great friends. I worked an internship for him a couple of years ago.
You and your podcast have connected me to some great Marines and great legacy, but Mick is one of those. He's an Afghanistan veteran. Mick, thanks for your service and thanks to all the Marines who listened in on the Bella Wood episode.

**Greg Jackson** (3:41)
And yes, thank you to you and all of our service members across the branches.
Well, Riley, you are our director today. Please lead us. Where are we starting?

**Riley Neubauer** (3:51)
All right. So one of the things that we're planning to do differently with this epilogue episode is that we've asked all of you, our listeners, if you had any questions about the Pacific War. And so we'll do our best to answer as many of those questions as possible as we have this more fluid conversation.
But I'd like to kick us off with one from Mrs. Kelly Jones who sent it in via Instagram. And she is asking why it's called a theater of war. So why do we refer to this as the Pacific Theater? And I think Captain Mac, you're probably the most poised to answer this one.

**Mac Caldwell** (4:25)