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World War II Discussion Group

Event Type: Adults
Age Group(s): Adults
Date: 1/4/2018
Start Time: 7:00 PM
End Time: 8:30 PM
Description:
 Ronald J. Drez, a local historian and author, will discuss his new book, Predicting Pearl Harbor: Billy Mitchell and the Path to War, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.

This event occurs as part of the monthly meeting of the World War II Discussion Group. It is free of charge and is open to the public. There is no registration.

Drez takes readers through the early history of U.S.-Japan relations, then recounts Gen. Billy Mitchell's fight for more U.S. air power and then predicts the future war with the Japanese. Scorned and ridiculed, he is ultimately court martialed. His trial is eye opening for many of the public.

Drez contends that the most predictable thing about the next war is the unpredictability, but that wasn't the case in the run-up to war with Japan. From Commodore Matthew Perry's voyage into Japanese waters in 1853 to the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the United States and Japan were on a collision course.

This saga is brought to life using primary-source documents, memoirs, and firsthand testimonies of those who lived during that era.

Ron Drez is a decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam War and a former Captain of Marines. He is president of Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours having served both as friend and associate of the late historian. He has written many articles for military history magazines, and is a contributing author and editor to the Encyclopedia Britannica web site for its Normandy feature.

For more information regarding this presentation, contact Chris Smith, Manager of Adult Programming for the library, at 504-889-8143 or wcsmith@jefferson.lib.la.us.

The World War II Discussion Group, headed by local teacher and historian Brian Altobello, occurs the first Thursday of every month. Members discuss the events of the 1930s and 1940s.
Library: East Bank Regional Library    Map
Location: Jefferson Room
Contact: Chris Smith
Contact Number: 504-889-8143
Presenter: Brian Altobello