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The Hey, folks, welcome to the Battles of the First World War podcast.

So joining me today is Pat Gange, a historian Hey folks, welcome to the Battles of the First World War podcast.

So joining me today is Pat Gang, a historian from Tennessee.

Pat and I met just a few weeks back at the Sergeant Alvin York State Park Great War Expo weekend.

His table was set up near my table with Rob Laplander and Pete Belmontie, and within a short while, we got to talking.

Well, folks, so that's the power of connection that events like these can help create. Pat and I wound up talking for a good while as we walked down to the trench that York State Park has on its property.

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

Pat and I soaked in the sun's warmth

and chatted about various World War I films and books.

And I mean, how many conversations have you had

while standing in a trench?

So Pat joins us today to talk about an American formation that we just haven't had a chance

to cover yet on the podcast, the AEF Second Corps in its two divisions, the 27th and the 30th.

The Second Corps fought with the Australians and British on the Somme in the Allied counteroffensives of autumn 1918.

Looking forward to introducing these units and their actions to the show.

Pat, welcome and thank you so much for coming on the podcast this afternoon.

Well, thank you, Mike, for having me. I appreciate it.

All right. Pat, would you tell us a bit about yourself and how, like, and when, rather, did your interest in the Great War begin?

Well, I was, I've always been interested in history. My mother was, was something of an amateur historian and kind of bit me with the bug.

And then I ended up majoring in history and political science at University of Tennessee,

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