S25-15 US Army in the Pacific 1941-43 - From Pearl Harbor to Recapturing the Aleutian Islands NEW
Class | Registration opens 3/9/2025 9:00 AM EST
This course will examine the history of the U.S. Army, from the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor to the recapture of the Aleutian Islands (June 1942 to August 1943). The U.S. Army (1.8 million), Marine Corps (550,000) and the U.S. Navy (1.4 million) fought valiantly throughout the Pacific from 1941-43. The U.S. Army suffered its greatest defeat in history when more than 76,000 American and Filipino soldiers surrendered on Corregidor. As many as 18,000 soldiers died while on the Bataan Death March in April 1942. When American and Allied troops began their offensive action against the Japanese, it started with the campaign at Guadalcanal. Army troops replaced the 1st Marine Division with soldiers from the Army 25th Infantry and the 23rd “Americal” Division in October 1942. In this complex story, the role of personalities, weapons and technological changes will be covered. In addition, the roles of the U.S. Navy and the Army Air Corps during this critical period of World War II history will be examined. Members of the class will be given time to discuss the role of their family and family members during World War II
William Bailey
Bill received a B.A. and M.A. in History and Ph.D. in Family Financial Planning from Texas Tech University and an M.Th. from SMU. He has previously taught this class at Cuyahoga Community College in its Encore program and at ILR-East. His professional teaching career spans more than 40 years. During this time, he has taught students from elementary school to medical school. He served on the faculty of several universities - the University of Wyoming and IUPUI (Indiana U./Purdue U.) and for more than 20 years at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He and his extended family moved to Rocky River in 2018.