Ray Harris Jr. has a degree in history from James Madison University.

NFORMATION TO JUSTIFY YOU LISTENING TO MY PODCAST Ray Harris Jr. has a degree in history from James Madison University. I’ve been obsessed with the events and people from WWII since I first learned of them. I’ve been waiting years for someone to do a podcast on WWII and couldn’t wait any longer.

29 comments on “About

  1. ian meacham on said:

    Hi i love your podcast and since i found it i have been listening to one a day while working and have almost caught up(next week i think).I want to say how much i have found out about the war through you that i had no idea about,Hitler in Liverpool really?That one knocked me for 6 and i still can’t quite belive it.I love history and know a fair bit about it but with all the indepth details i am always learning.Thank you for making the working day better. PS. 50 episodes and still only on Battle of Britain this is going to be a long haul for you and years of listening for us!

  2. Darren Swift on said:

    Hi Ray – reeally enjoying the pod – can’t wait until you get into the action on the Eastern Front – Leningrad, Stalingrad etc. Have you watched the World at War series from the BBC…really good?

    Both my Grandfathers fought in the War – one was a dessert rat in north africa and my family (all passed away now) lived through the London blitz

    I’m mailing you from my office in the Docklands, East London – hard to imagine how this place was being bombed nightly all those years ago in the blitz.

    There is a plaque at Bethnal Green Tube station commerating the people who died (crushed to death) during an air raid – it was the biggest loss of civilian life at the time…mostly women & children (very sad).

    Best Regards
    Darren
    London

    • Paul on said:

      Hi Darren, please submit your stories on the ‘your stories’ page so other visitors can rad them.
      http://worldwariipodcast.net/wordpress/stories/

      Thanks

      Paul Finch

    • matthew on said:

      Hi Ray
      Just a reply from England to say a big thank you for your podcast.I really appreciate the effort you put into it especially fitting it in around your working and family life.
      The podcasts are so full of detail and having been a WW2 buff for many years,the detail and build up to events are really great.
      Like others i am looking forward to years!! of podcasts especially Arnham!! my favorite period of the war and my favorite film!!!
      Thanks for making the working day alot better
      Matthew

  3. Ray,

    Thanks for the podcasts bro!!

    Cheers,

    Bob

  4. garus on said:

    Hi Ray, your podcast is so much rich in material, good English and good voice. Am from nigeria and just started listening to it and always can’t waite for the next episode. Please keep up uploading. As Darren say, we are waiting for eastern front episodes.

  5. Pingback: My Homepage

  6. Chris on said:

    Hi Ray,

    Found your podcast last week after deciding my knowledge of WWII is pretty poor and now I’m very addicted. Listen to two a day on my commute from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, makes a very boring drive hugely interesting and I’m learning so much. Also, I’d just like to comment on the improvement on each podcast from the raw beginnings to where I am at epidsode 14, well done.

    Thank you for your great efforts.

    Chris (British expat)

  7. Ryan k on said:

    Hi Ray,

    I came across your podcast about a month ago and I have found it so captivating that I have put all others on hold for the time being.

    One of my grandfathers served under Patton during the Battle of the Bulge. Also a Great Uncle was a Navy doctor captured in the Phillipines. Unfortunately he passed just a few months before the war ended from malnutrition and disease due to the extremely poor conditions found in the Japanese prison boats/camps. Letters from his fellow POWs say that he faithfully carried out his duties to the very end.

    Thank you for spending so much of your time putting these podcasts together for your listeners. Not only is it educational but it honors all of those who sacrificed so much.

  8. Dear Paul.
    I recently discovered your podcast by chance on iTunes. As a great history fan myself, I was instantly a fan, love the way you really cover the subjects.
    So, you have a great fan in Denmark :)

  9. Finn on said:

    Hi Ray,

    I’m just saying a huge thank you for all the time and effort you’ve put into this delightful podcast.
    You’re excellent use of the english language and your clear voice make this my personal favourite podcaste ever!

    Kepp up the good work;

    Finn.

  10. Chris B on said:

    Hi Ray

    Great podcast.

    Wish I could come on the tour this year. Maybe I will be able to make it in the future, as im hoping it will happen again.

    I’m British but living in Asia, maybe I can catch the asian leg of the tour? I have travelled in malaysia and thailand and as you know there are some amazing stories here.

    Any way mate keep up the good work

    chris

  11. Werner on said:

    Hi Ray,

    Great podcasts. Glad I found your site and glad someone found this subject worth making a podcast about.

    Like you, I became completely enamored of WWII from a very young age. I’ve been fortunate to have known many combat veterans from all theaters of the war. Only a handful of my older friends are left.

    Even my own parents were child witnesses to the war (Mom from England, Dad from Germany). I’ve had relatives fighting on both sides of the European Theater – and dying. The War also directly affected my parents’ families.

    Imagine my delight, when my Dad was a working on contract in Germany for 2 years, as a child of 12 being on the Normandy beaches, seeing the cemeteries (of both sides) and still remember going past the Maginot Line. We lived in a small town in Bavaria and drove past the Dachau concentration camp on many occasions. This was at a time when it was still an abandoned, dark and sad place – not the commercialized tourist site it is now.

    To me the war became less about the statistics of the battles, the armaments and vehicles involved – and mostly about the people who experienced the war up close and personal. I enjoy when you personalize the podcasts with the experiences of those that were there.

    All my life, every time I met a WWII veteran I thanked them for their service – for what they did. All my life I have lived in awe of these humble men (and women) who stopped tyrants from taking over the world. They truly are THE Greatest Generation.

    Best Regards,
    Werner Meyer

  12. Mike Sturrock on said:

    Ray,
    I’m really enjoying the podcast. As a Brit, who’s father lived throught the blitz in South London, and who was brought up on a diet of war films and documentaries I thought I pretty much knew about WW2. You’ve put me straight on that! I had not even scratched the surface. I’m completely hooked with the detail you’re providing and the easy style that makes that detail easy to access and remain engaged with. thank you for all your efforts and commitment. really appreciated.
    regards
    Mike

  13. Brilliant show!!!…
    I listen to it every night, if it were a book I’d never put it down!
    You do a great job!
    My father trained Bill Foxley.. The spit pilot who played the roll of the burned pilot on the film the battle of Britain.. He was an engineer after the war..
    Anyway.. Back to your podcast !
    Thank you again !

  14. Andy Wallace on said:

    Hi Ray,

    Congratulations on doing such a wonderful job.

    Highly detailed and informative………..and addictive!

    Thank you
    Andy

  15. Hi Ray,
    Your podcast is terrific. I listen everyday while walking. I just finished Episode 8. Obviously, an incredible amount of work has gone into it. I love that it is so thorough, covering the events leading up to the war in Italy and Japan as well as Germany.

  16. Hey just started listening to your podcast. I think its awesome being A canadian though I do feel you missed a bit about our effort to the war. we were a huge part in the battle of the Atlantic and the air battle for Britain but other than that amazing. I cant stop listening keep up the good work. Pretty upset I missed the trip in October. I plan on going to Europe and following in the foot steps of my great grandpa starting with him being posted to A Canadian mobile artillery regiment. Im going to write about it and maybe even make a podcast so hopefully we can keep in touch

    Mike !

  17. You’re so awesome! I do not suppose I’ve read through a single thing like that before.
    So nice to find another person with a few genuine thoughts on this subject.

    Really.. thanks for starting this up. This web site is one thing that is needed on the
    web, someone with some originality!

    Ervin

  18. David Plazak on said:

    Ray:

    I came upon your podcast after listening to some others (Mike Duncan, Dan Carlin..) and am really enjoying it. I’m about a year behind but catching up fast. Your episodes on the fall of France and Dunkirk were really great. I gained a lot of insight, especially in terms of what what going on politically behind the scenes. Your attention to detail is impressive. Thanks!

  19. Robert Lewis on said:

    A wonderful, detailed exegesis of the events day by day, thoroughly absorbing, endlessly fascinating. A 4-star general at US European Command once told me over a beer that when amateurs get together they talk strategy. But when professionals get together they discuss logistics. I have read reams of WWI and WWII books’ — I am the amateur. You are the professional. Thank you, from my entire family. We really enjoy your podcast.

  20. Michael on said:

    Ray, your podcast is stunningly detailed and that’s what I love about it. Not a HUGE fan of the talk radio episodes, but I’d rather have them then not have them. Best WWII podcast on the net, and while you probably have 2-3 years left until you reach the conclusion of WWII, I’d love to hear that you’ll do WWI next!

  21. neil bellamy on said:

    Ray, thank you so much for the podcasts – I’m really enjoying them and just caught up yesterday after many, many weeks listening in the car. I now feel like i’m properly in the podcast club now!

  22. Peter tya52 on said:

    Ray,
    I discovered your podcast in Nov//2012 through the History of Rome series that I loved as well.
    I’m a History buff especially the WW 2 period & love your Podcast.
    I love the way you deliver the details & am now on The Dunkirk episode.
    I listen to your Podcast while I walk my dogs & at the Gym during my workouts
    Keep it up, your Podcasts are an indispensable part of my daily routine.
    Peter, Toronto, Ontario,

  23. Shane Donohoo on said:

    Ray,

    I have really enjoyed listening to your podcast and keenly await each one. I would like to become a member. Is there a mechanism in iTunes allowing me to do this?

    I hope I am not missing something obvious here!

    Please keep the episodes coming – I have so much to learn!

    Thanks

    Shane Donohoo
    Sydney Australia

  24. Malcolm Brown on said:

    Hi Ray’

    at long last I ot round to making a donation to “help the cause” and keep the podcasts coming. As on my review on iTunes I really love the way you mangle various place names you mention to do with the war! Having said that the one thing that made it for me is when you mentioned the small town of Cullercoats on the North East English coast just a mile or two North of Tynemouth on the mouth of the River Tyne and now part of the Suburbs of Newcastle [upon Tyne] and only a short train ride from my home, on the South side of the Tyne. I suppose like a lot of people I often feel the war happened somewhere else and the mention of Cullercoats really brought it home, as Britian was “the Front” being so close to mainland Europe compared to the U.s. Equally I think it’s great to have an American who takes the view that WWII didn’t start with President Roosvelts’ Day of Informy in [7th] December 1941.

    • Andy on said:

      Hi Malcolm

      I’m from south of the river too (Sand Dancer) and have always been fascinated by the local history and WW2. Have you spotted the remains of the Flying Boat track on the little north beach (low tide needed)? I was lucky enough to see the last Short Sunderland fly over there too. On the north side Blyth Battery is now open to the public and there is a re-enactment group there soon, check out blythbattery.org.uk they are always putting interesting stuff on. Not to mention great fish and chips and ice cream about ten yards away :)

      Cheers!

      Andy

  25. Don S on said:

    Wow
    I listened to 74 podcasts in
    3 months. Totally blown away by your perspective and insight thanks ray

  26. Emmy Hashaka on said:

    Just discovered your ww11 podcasts and i must say i am totally hooked. In such2 days already on episode 13. In my marketing career i heard abit about the war strategies during brand marketing sessions and have always been fascinated by ww11. Getting to learn about the war in such detail is amazing. Great work….Asante (swahili for “thank you”)

    Emmy Hashaka
    Kampala, Uganda

  27. Beetle on said:

    Love the podcast. Thanks for the effort you put in it.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

14,538 Spam Comments Blocked so far by Spam Free Wordpress

HTML tags are not allowed.