Episode description
My guest is a West Point classmate of mine, Chris Petty, a retired Brigadier General. He created the book and online resource Battle Digest to fill the gap in military history education, offering concise lessons from historic battles. A former Rugby player, he emphasizes how studying history builds battlefield awareness and strategic thinking. Each digest follows a clear structure, covering strategic context, maneuvers, tactical actions, and lessons learned, making evident the principles of warfare.
In this episode we discuss pivotal battles like Lexington and Concord, Yorktown, and the Alamo to show how intelligence, deception, and leadership shape outcomes. He points to examples like Washington’s Yorktown feint and the intelligence victory at Midway to stress the critical role of foresight. Reflecting on modern warfare, he emphasizes the importance of drones, intelligence, and learning from missteps in Iraq and Afghanistan. Petty argues that understanding history helps commanders recognize patterns and apply key principles like unity of command.
I share a legendary Chris Petty anecdote, whose service and work combine his passion for military excellence with a drive to make military history current and accessible.
12 Battles Every American Should Know, Chris Petty
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