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The Military Historian Podcast

The Military Historian Podcast

By: The Military Historian
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Themilitaryhistorianpod@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-military-historian-podcast--7001526/support.LLoyd William Shellenberger Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • Letters from Baghdad Fatima's Story Part 2

    Letters from Baghdad Fatima's Story Part 2
    Jul 1 2026
    Letters From Baghdad. Fatima’s story Part 2.

    In this episode of The Military Historian, Lloyd Shellenberger sits down with former Iraqi war refuge and Widow Fatima Al Abase turned proud American.

    We dive deep into her new life and the struggles she has endure to crave out a life in America for her family.

    We discuss the newfound freedoms and what Iraq still means to her in a post war era. Fatima Al Abase, and Ahmed Al Abase, native Iraqis talk about what they have seen in their recent visits to Iraq and the future of their beloved country and 21 years later since they left Iraq.

    Ahmed and Fatima remember the days when Iraq wasn’t so friendly a place to be and the dangers he and his family navigated to leave Iraq and escape certain death.

    Fatima talks about the murder of her sister by the Iraqi regime and Saddam. Both Fatima and Ahmed believe she is dead and will never be seen again.

    Fatima discusses January 16, 2005, the day her husband was murdered and her son Omar was also believed to be dead.

    Her initial reaction and her call to action to save her family and children from certain death. Despite the lingering US "Do Not Travel" advisory, the city's physical appearance has shifted dramatically in the last 3 years.

    Since this time, Fatima and Ahmed have visited family members back in Iraq. They give us their impression of Iraq today and where it may be going in the future.

    Fatima speaks directly to the people of Iraq asking them to have patience and believe in the process and to keep hope alive for the future of Iraq while progress slowly erases T-barriers and U.S. military bases.

    👉 Like & Subscribe if you value honest, ground-level military stories. 💬 Comment: What do you think? 🔔 Turn on notifications so you don’t miss future episodes. 🔗 Links & Resources 🎥 Watch more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_rz7hFJGQ8&list=PL1rLt9IdAnJ8_q7EV9VKt6FMoguD5uVim 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryhistorian/ 🎬 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themilitaryhistorianpod IHEART RADIO SPREAKER LINK BELOW https://www.spreaker.com/show/7001526/episodes/feed

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    Like and Share the Military Historian as he shares stories from service members and those who have seen the tip of the spear and survived!

    Themilitaryhistorianpod@gmail.com
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    29 mins
  • Guarding Nuclear Weapons in Cold War Germany | Crystal Turner’s Untold Army Story

    Guarding Nuclear Weapons in Cold War Germany | Crystal Turner’s Untold Army Story
    Jul 1 2026
    What was it like to guard declassified nuclear weapons during the Cold War — while officially “not existing”? In this episode of The Military Historian, host Lloyd Shellenberger sits down with Crystal Turner, a former U.S. Army Military Police officer whose service in Germany placed her at one of the most secretive and dangerous assignments of the era.






    1. Crystal shares her journey from growing up in Milwaukee to joining the Army nearly five decades ago, becoming a female MP in a male-dominated MOS, and serving at isolated nuclear sites that never appeared on any map.
    2. She opens up about racism in basic training, the pressure of 24-hour nuclear security shifts, facing armed responses even while in uniform, and living under constant Cold War threat from terrorist groups like the Baader-Meinhof Gang.
    3. This episode explores: - Life at classified nuclear sites in Cold War Germany -
    4. Being the only woman on isolated military assignments -
    5. Armed encounters, strict security protocols, and constant drills -
    6. Racism, resilience, and breaking barriers as a Black female MP -
    7. The reality of Cold War terrorism targeting U.S. forces -
    8. Faith, service, and Crystal’s lifelong motto: “God First”
    🕒 Timestamps
    00:00 – Introduction to Crystal Turner and her Army service
    01:10 – Why Crystal joined the Army as a single mother
    02:45 – Choosing a male-dominated MP MOS
    04:30 – Basic training at Fort McClellan and early challenges
    06:10 – Racism and leadership pressure during training
    08:20 – Assignment to isolated nuclear weapons sites in Germany
    10:50 – “We were never on the map” — life at classified locations
    12:05 – Guns drawn on Crystal while in uniform
    13:45 – Constant drills, heightened alerts, and nuclear security
    15:00 – Cold War terrorism and the Baader-Meinhof threat
    18:10 – Living near active terror cells while pregnant
    20:55 – The pressure that broke many soldiers
    22:30 – Faith, strength, and surviving the mission
    25:10 – Breaking barriers as a Black female MP
    26:45 – “God First” — Crystal’s lifelong motto
    28:30 – Closing reflections and final thoughts

    👉 Like & Subscribe if you value real military history told by the people who lived it. 💬 Comment: What part of Crystal’s story surprised you the most? 🔔 Turn on notifications so you don’t miss future episodes. 🔗 Links & Resources 🎥 Watch more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_rz7hFJGQ8&list=PL1rLt9IdAnJ8_q7EV9VKt6FMoguD5uVim&pp=gAQB0gcJCaIEOCosWNin 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryhistorian/ 🎬 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themilitaryhistorianpod

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-military-historian-podcast--7001526/support.

    Like and Share the Military Historian as he shares stories from service members and those who have seen the tip of the spear and survived!

    Themilitaryhistorianpod@gmail.com
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    30 mins
  • The Dire Straits of Hormuz

    The Dire Straits of Hormuz
    Jun 23 2026
    On this episode of the Military Historian Host Lloyd Shellenberger does a deep dive into the Hormuz Conflict and the severe long-term friction over nuclear and proxy activities. What events led up to the military conflicts within the region? The Irgc is believed to have killed 30-50 thousand of its own citizens. While actual numbers may never be verified, the mass genocide of its own people has been verified.Pathway Defunct: Iran's primary potential source for weapons-grade plutonium was the heavy-water research reactor at Arak. Under the original 2015 JCPOA, under this framework, the core of this reactor was rendered inoperable (filled with concrete).Focus on Uranium: All mid-2026 U.S. intelligence and IAEA tracking data focus strictly on Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles. As of early 2026, Iran held an estimated 440 kg (970 lbs) of uranium enriched up to 60% (near-weapons grade)Declassified U.S. intelligence assessments and statements from the IAEA continue to state that while Iran possesses the technical capacity to produce fissile material quickly via uranium, there is no evidence the Supreme Leader has ordered the resumption of a structured, systematic nuclear weaponization program.What was the deal that Trump made with Iran yesterday and do we get the enriched Uranium and was there money exchanged?On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, President Trump officially signed a 14-point temporary framework and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the G7 summit in France. What are the particulars?The details regarding the uranium and the financial terms of this preliminary deal outline a distinct shift from the administration's initial demands:The Retaliation (March 4, 2026): Within 48 hours, Iran officially declared the Strait of Hormuz "closed," immediately targeting civilian merchant shipping. Major global shipping conglomerates suspended all routine operations.The Counter-Blockade (April 13, 2026): While Iran initially tried to continue exporting its own oil while denying passage to others, the U.S. Navy implemented a strict "blockade of the blockaders," systematically stopping and disabling unauthorized tankers.The Tactical Hardware: Asymmetric Warfare vs. Naval SupremacyThe battle in the Strait of Hormuz is a classic conflict between high-tech conventional defense and cheap, distributed, asymmetric offense.Loitering Munitions (Drones): Anti-Ship Ballistic & Cruise Missiles Swarming Fast Attack Craft (FAC) Smart Sea Mines Dusting off the A-10 Warthogs for duty. AEGIS Combat System: Deployed on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. "Naval Overwatch" & Omani Coastal Escorts Phalanx CIWS & RIM-116 Rolling Airframe MissilesKharg Island is the single most important geographic location to understand regarding the economic leverage of this war. . Kharg Island handles over 90% of Iran's total crude oil exports. It holds massive storage tank farms, loading docks, and deep-water berths capable of loading massive Supertankers (VLCCs).The 5,000 personnel ordered to the Middle East by Defense Secretary Pete HegsethRegional Strategic Hubs: Elements are tasked with supporting U.S. Central Command objectives, which includes reinforcing the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and securing maritime transit corridorsThe Broader Macroeconomic Ripple Effects. The closure of the Middle East's primary maritime corridors—with both the Strait of Hormuz blocked and the Suez Canal disrupted by simultaneous drone warfare—has triggered a global economic supply shock.The Veins of Global Commerce If the global economy has a circulatory system, maritime chokepoints are its major arteries.The Other Global Chokepoints: Economic & Military ProfilesWith upcoming Midterms a few months away, only time will tell if this conflict remains in the forefront of American voters minds come election time. here’s what's at stake: Voters will decide the composition of Congress, including all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 33 of the 100 seats in the Senate, alongside numerous state and local offices. • Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2026. • Scope: All 435 House seats, 33 Senate seats, and 36 gubernatorial races. • As of June 18, 2026 this is where standThe Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Terms) Please leave a comment at ThemilitaryhistorianPod@gmail.com If you would like to see more of our continuing leadership series, email me at the above address and I will try to accommodate my listeners. 👉 Like & Subscribe if you value honest, ground-level military stories. 💬 Comment: What do you think? 🔔 Turn on notifications so you don’t miss future episodes. 🔗 Links & Resources 🎥 Watch more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_rz7hFJGQ8&list=PL1rLt9IdAnJ8_q7EV9VKt6FMoguD5uVim 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryhistorian/ 🎬 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themilitaryhistorianpod IHEART RADIO SPREAKER LINK BELOW https://www.spreaker.com/show/7001526/episodes/feedBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://...
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    36 mins
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