This week on History Happy Hour: Remarkable stories of ordinary people who did the extraordinary during WWII, and the unparalleled role that food played in their survival.

We will talk with award winning chef Alon Shaya and author June Hersh about their new book “Memories of a Good Meal: Recipes of Resilience Inspired by Stories of World War II Survival.” A culinary journey that celebrates the tenacity of the human spirit, from Holocaust, soldiers, and POW, as well as the transformative power of a good meal.

Alon Shaya is the multiple James Beard Award-winning chef and co-founder of Pomegranate Hospitality. Born in Israel, raised in Philadelphia, and a proud New Orleanian, his food spans continents and cultures, from his modern Israeli restaurants Saba (New Orleans) and Safta (Denver) to the acclaimed Miss River (New Orleans), a love letter to Louisiana. In 2021, Alon spearheaded the Rescued Recipes initiative with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, which has raised close to one million dollars.

June Hersh combined her passions as an avid cook and writer in her first book, Food, Hope & Resilience (originally Recipes Remembered), with all proceeds benefiting Holocaust-related organizations and institutions. She is also the author of The Kosher Carnivore, Still Here: Inspiration from Survivors and Liberators of the Holocaust, and Iconic New York Jewish Food, among others.

This week on History Happy Hour: The little-known story of FBI agents who went undercover to hunt down U.S. traitors on foreign soil during World War II. The goal: to identify and capture U.S. citizens plotting against their own country in the shadows of war-torn Europe. To accomplish this, a small group of federal agents assumed new identities to infiltrate underground networks, interrogate key suspects, and conduct a secret manhunt as harrowing as any Hollywood cliff-hanger.

In this encore episode we talk to Stephen Harding, author of G.I. G-Men: The Untold Story of the FBI's Search for American Traitors, Collaborators, and Spies in World War II Europe. HHH Alum Andrew Roberts says “Stephen Harding, America’s leading commentator on the extraordinary scenes that define the finale of World War II, has done it again.” And you’ll also get to see what happens when Rick’s hotel has a fire alarm! (Goodbye Rick!)

Stephen Harding is the author of ten previous books, including the New York Times bestseller The Last Battle and Last to Die. He is a longtime journalist specializing in military affairs. For nearly two decades he was on the staff of Soldiers, the official magazine of the US Army, reporting from Northern Ireland, Israel, Egypt, New Zealand, Bosnia, Kuwait, and Iraq. Currently he is editor-in-chief of Military History magazine.

This week on History Happy Hour: Author Dan King interviewed more than 100 Japanese veterans while living in Japan, and has written a series of books telling the story of the war from their POV.

In this encore episode, we’ll talk to him about his latest book, The Iron Graves of Saipan, about the men of the 9th Japanese Tank Division. Their story begins with training, chow halls, talent shows, pranks, and USO shows on the Manchurian border. But their journey ends in the brutal battles of the Mariana Islands, where only 4% survived.

Dan King earned a degree in Japanese language from Cal state University, then worked at a tech company in Japan for 10 years. During that time, he interviewed 103 Japanese veterans about their wartime experiences, and often had the opportunity to review scrapbooks, letters and diaries as well. He is the author of Blossoms From the Sky, The Last Zero Fighter, A Tomb Called Iwo Jima, and The Yalu River Boys, all based on those interviews. He has also worked as a technical / historical / language advisor on films and documentaries including: The Last Samurai, Windtalkers, Flags of Our Fathers and others.