John Curatola, PhD, is the Samuel Zemurray Stone Senior Historian at the Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy. A US Marine Corps officer of 22 years, he graduated from the University of Nebraska and is a veteran of Operation Provide Hope in Somalia, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the 2005 Indian Ocean tsunami relief effort. He holds master’s degrees in both American and military history. With a PhD from the University of Kansas, Curatola’s research focuses on World War II, airpower, and the early Cold War period. Previously, he taught history at the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. His first two books, Bigger Bombs for a Brighter Tomorrow and Autumn of Our Discontent, assess US national security and nuclear capabilities in the early Cold War period. His forthcoming work, Armies Afloat: How the Development of Amphibious Operations in Europe Helped Win World War II, is scheduled for release by University of Kansas Press in spring 2025. Curatola’s works can be found in compendium books, popular magazines, and academic journals, and his many presentations are available for viewing on C-SPAN and YouTube.
John Curatola, PhD
Military Historian

More from the Contributor
-
Article Type
Last Surviving Pilot from Battle of Britain Passes Away at 105
John “Paddy” Hemingway, along with his fellow RAF pilots who have been revered as “the Few,” played a critical role in defending the United Kingdom against Nazi Germany during the summer of 1940.
-
Article Type
Iwo Jima: Sacrifice and Sanctuary
In the annals of US Marine Corps history, few battles resonate like that of Iwo Jima.
-
Article Type
Decoding WWII Plane Nose Art
World War II is widely considered the golden age of nose art. With the proliferation of air forces and airpower, the presence of this unique art form grew exponentially.
-
Article Type
Oscar Perdomo: The Last Undisputed ‘Ace in a Day’
While becoming an "ace" pilot requires a number of finely honed skills and exceptional aeronautical ability, it is even harder to achieve this status in only one day.
-
Article Type
Typhoon Cobra: Halsey Versus Mother Nature
With Japan on the strategic defensive and her combat power waning, another fleet moving against the island nation also felt the wrath of Mother Nature.
-
Article Type
The Battle of Peleliu: The Forgotten Hell
Underscoring its ferocity, future commandant of the Marine Corps General Clifton Cates argued that “the fight for Peleliu was one of the most vicious and stubbornly defended battles of the war.”
-
Article Type
Landing Vehicle Tracked: Armored Ship-to-Shore Movement
On display in the John E. Kushner Restoration Pavilion, The National WWII Museum’s LTV-4 is a testament to American innovation.
-
Article Type
Lend-Lease to the Eastern Front
Despite being overlooked in many circles, American “Lend-Lease” support sent to the USSR not only tipped the scales in Eastern Europe but enabled the victory on the Russian Front.
-
Article Type
D-Day Doctrine: Six Elements for a Successful Landing
Planning the Overlord assault didn’t just happen overnight. It was a result of a prewar doctrinal framework built upon six identified components for an amphibious assault.
-
Article Type
The Friendly Invasion
Often referred to as the “Friendly Invasion,” the mixing of Yanks with British subjects often made for a clash of cultures.