EP-205
Author Dr. Roger Newman
The What’s The Scuttlebutt Podcast This week, we are joined by author Dr. Roger Newman to discuss his new novel, *Boys*. The book follows the story of Alex, a young Black boy who finds refuge on a dairy farm after his family is murdered by the Ku Klux Klan during the Great Depression. Taken in by the farm’s White owners, Alex grows up alongside their son, Pete, and the two consider themselves brothers. Together, they navigate the harsh realities of Jim Crow-era racial intolerance in the South.
As war looms, they join a segregated U.S. Army and find their own identities through the crucible of battle. Separated for years by their military careers, they reunite at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in 1969, facing the tensions of the Civil Rights and antiwar movements. When Pete is brutally attacked off-base, Alex must uncover the truth while confronting his past and what it means to be a Black man with a White brother. We also dive into the history of Hill 314, a crucial battle during the siege of Mortain in August 1944. As part of Operation Lüttich, German forces launched a counteroffensive against Allied troops in an attempt to halt their advance in France. The **2nd Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment**, held their ground on Hill 314 for nearly a week, cut off and outnumbered. Facing relentless German assaults, artillery barrages, and dwindling supplies, the American defenders suffered heavy casualties—approximately 300 men started the defense, with nearly 200 becoming casualties.
Their fierce resistance played a pivotal role in preventing the German breakout, ultimately shaping the lead-up to the “Battle of the Bulge* Tune in for a compelling discussion on *Boys, military history, and the lasting impact of these pivotal moments in history!
