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History Matters: Shreveporters honor a Doolittle Raider, but who were they?

Gary Joiner, Ph.D.
Dr. Gary Joiner
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Dr. Gary Joiner
Gary Joiner, Ph.D.

Doolittle's Raiders made history during World War II as they flew over the Japanese Home Islands to attack targets in Tokyo and other cities. Retired Col. Richard Cole, 98, was co-pilot to Lt. Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, and was in Shreveport last week to receive the Spirit of Independence Award. Commentator Gary Joiner visited with Cole and fills in the history of Doolittle's dangerous mission. 

Gary Joiner is a cartographer and an associate professor of history at LSU in Shreveport. He is the author or editor of 12 books including “Shiloh and the Western Campaign of 1862,” “One Damn Blunder From Beginning to End: The Red River Campaign in 1864,” “Through the Howling Wilderness: The Red River Campaign and Union Failure in 1864,” “Red River Steamboats,” and “Mr. Lincoln's Brown Water Navy: Mississippi Squadron.”