INTERVIEW: The 82nd Airborne’s Heroic D-Day Mission with Author James Donovan

Hey guys, welcome back to the Why Wars Happened History Podcast, where you learn about the causes of wars and things like, why did it happen? Was it inevitable? Who was involved?

Sometimes I go back hundreds of years just so we can understand what happened in our narrative episodes covering the long course of a war and the background of the war. And if you want to talk more about war, we also have authors, historians, war generals, royalty, actors, filmmakers, a whole bunch of people come on as guests and we talk about everything about before, during, and after war. So let's go!

The Why Wars Happened History Podcast covers The American Revolution, World War I, World War II, Medieval Wars in England, The Habsburg Empire, The War in Iraq, Scottish wars, The War of the Roses, The Cuban Missile Crisis, The Cold War, The Thirty Years War, The Hundred Years War, The American Civil War, and many others.

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INTERVIEW: The 82nd Airborne’s Heroic D-Day Mission with Author James Donovan

In this episode of Why Wars Happened, bestselling author James Donovan joins us to tell the gripping story of the 82nd Airborne on D-Day. Based on his book Nothing but Courage, Donovan walks us through the chaos, bravery, and brutal reality faced by American paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines. From navigating dark skies over Normandy to seizing key bridges like the one at La Fière, this mission was anything but simple—and it was critical to the Allies’ success. It’s a story of guts, grit, and soldiers who refused to quit.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

01:08 Overview of the 82nd Airborne's D-Day Mission

03:34 Strategic Importance of the Bridges

05:53 Challenges Faced by the 82nd Airborne

09:55 The Chaotic Night Jump

14:43 Eisenhower's Contingency Letter and the Stakes of D-Day

19:26 Swift Attack and Battle of the Bulge

20:17 High Casualties and Courage

20:44 The Title 'Nothing but Courage'

22:37 Extraordinary Leadership: Ridgeway and Gavin

26:59 Training and Initiative of the 82nd Airborne

31:59 The Lafayette Bridge Assault

35:15 Legacy and Remembrance

37:03 Author's Research and Personal Connection

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