Links

This page contains the resources that I have found useful in my personal and professional life. Admittedly, it is an eclectic list. It contains everything from quotes and books that I like to podcasts, videos, and slideshows.

If you don’t want to scroll through the entire list, you can click on one of the links below and filter the resources by specific category.

I will update this list as I discover new resources. If you have a resource you think I should add, please email me.

Navajo Code Talker Chester Nez: Telling a tale of bravery and ingenuity

Stars and Stripes by Meredith Tibbetts
November 13, 2015

Navajo Code Talker,  Chester Nez

Chester Nez, Navajo Code Talker, relied on his native language to develop the code, which helped to turn the course of World War II in the favor of the Allies. “I was very proud to say that the Japanese did everything in their power to break that code but they never did,” Chester Nez said in an interview with Stars and Stripes. If any Navajo Code Talker was caught, he said, they would be tortured and their tongues cut out. They risked everything for the United States, even though they were raised in military boarding schools that prohibited them from speaking their native language.

Chester Nez

Chester Nez in uniform

That didn’t stop them from whispering Navajo to each other in secret, said Latham Nez, who travels with his grandfather helping him tell his story. Their language, however, would serve the United States well later, in 1942, when Americans were dying in rising numbers overseas, especially in the Pacific. The Japanese seemed to know what the U.S. military was planning well before it took place.

Find more stories of virtue tested in battle at MitchSchmidtke.com.

Stories Of Humanity And Compassion From Throughout The Second World War

War History Online by Jinny McCormick
October 25, 2017

Stories Of Humanity And Compassion From Throughout The Second World War: Even in the crucible of conflict, there are moments of humanity. Here are three moments in our history that reflect the virtue of compassion.

The Jeep: A Visual History of America’s ‘Mighty Midget’

The Atlantic by Emily Anne Epstein and Nshira Turkson
November 13, 2015

Stories of people when confronted with conflict always fascinate me, but I am somewhat of a gear nut. One of the pieces of gear I think had a huge impact on WWII was the Jeep. Yes, I’ve owned a Jeep…or two.

The U.S. forces in Britain in a jeep attack through a smoke screen during maneuvers Oct. 5, 1942. (AP Photo)

Medal of Honor Recipient Capt. Mike Rose Inducted Into Hall of Heroes

Army News Service By Devon L. Suits
October 25, 2017

If you didn’t catch this story, Medal of Honor recipient retired Army Captain Mike Rose was awarded the Medal of Honor and inducted into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon. He served as a medic in the U.S. Army Special Forces, received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Laos from September 11-14, 1970, as part of Operation Tailwind. It is an amazing story and worth the read.

Mike Rose in Vietnam

WHO ARE THE GREATEST ARMY GENERALS?

Modern War Institute at West Point, by James King
September 21, 2017

WHO ARE THE GREATEST ARMY GENERALS?

“Only about one percent of any given officer year group in the Army will make it to the level of general officer. Most of those who do will serve their time and retire without much notice by the general public. Even amongst those in the Army, most general officers are only known by those within their sphere of influence. Not until history steps in do general officers become famous for having perfected their craft. Even then only a small number of those generals seize the opportunity, distinguishing themselves above their peers.”

Everybody has their favorite generals and I have mine, most of which the general public never heard of. As a retired Colonel, I’ve worked under some fantastic General Officers. They are tireless, smart, driven and true leaders of character. What are yours?

Connect with me and tell me your favorite by clicking here.

The U.S. Army’s all Mexican-American Infantry Unit – Little-Known Heroes of the Italian Campaign of WWII

War History Online
Mar 18, 2017

This storyline has particular meaning for my family. A relative of my step-father served during the Italian Campaign of WWII. While not a member of 141st Infantry, he was killed during the amphibious assault during Battle of Anzio, Operation Shingle.

Donald Malarkey, portrayed in ‘Band of Brothers,’ has died

Stars and Stripes
October 1, 2017

Donald Malarkey, a World War II paratrooper who was awarded the Bronze Star after parachuting behind enemy lines at Normandy to destroy German artillery on D-Day, has died. He was 96.

Malarkey was one of several members of “Easy Company” to be widely portrayed in the HBO miniseries, “Band of Brothers.” He died Sept. 30, 2017  in Salem, Oregon of age-related causes.

Dunkirk: the man who won the Second World War.

ExtraNewsfeed
August 4, 2017

British Admiral Bertram Ramsay was the mastermind of behind Dunkirk. “Dunkirk kept Britain in the war, enabling all that followed, culminating in the Allied invasion of Europe in 1944. Without Dunkirk, 400,000 British soldiers — five times as many as our entire regular army today — would have been killed or in prison camps in Germany.” Full article here.