Our historians are leaders in their field, authors, podcast hosts, documentary filmmakers and sought-after experts for articles, movies and TV shows.

But who are they really? To give you an inkling, we’ve modified the Proust Questionnaire for our historians. Popularized by Marcel Proust, this set of questions is said to reveal a person’s true nature.

Today, historian Phillip Cuccia, Ph.D. answers our Historians Proust Questionnaire. A graduate of the United States Military Academy West Point, Retired U.S. Army Colonel Phillip Cuccia has taught Military History at his alma mater, as well as the U.S. Army War College, and has led staff rides to U.S. and European battlefields for more than 30 years.

Dr. Cuccia leads several of our tours, including the Italian Campaign Tour, WWI: Western Front and the Civil War: This Hallowed Ground Tour.

What is your idea of perfect happiness on tour?

Watching participants’ faces when they come to understand a concept that we have been discussing.

What is your greatest fear on tour?

The bus taking a wrong turn and delaying the tour.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue of a historical figure?

I think the most overrated virtue of a historical figure is “wisdom” in “knowing that the enemy commander would behave a certain way” when in reality the historical figure was just doing the best he could and the outcome was in his favor.

What is the quality you most like in a historical figure?

The quality I like most in a historical figure is honesty – especially as recorded in the historical figure’s memoirs.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse on tour?

“OK, now…”

When and where were you happiest when on tour?

In October 2024 at the Court House Museum in Vicksburg when we found the exact location (the room in the Court House) where one of the tourist found out that his relative signed his parole in that room in July 1863. We found his name in the registry of parolees as well.

Which talent of a historical figure would you most like to have?

The talent of a historical figure I would most like to have is the confidence Eisenhower had on D-Day to go through with a plan even when things are not (were not for him) looking the best.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

If I could change one thing about myself, I think it would be that I was much stronger physically.

What do you consider your greatest achievement on tour?

I consider my greatest achievement on tour is diffusing a situation that may have gotten out of hand with (with respect to other tourists) a particular outspoken tourist in the same group.

If you were to die and come back as a historical figure, who would it be?

Well, I don’t believe in reincarnation but to get to the essence of the question, I would be quite interested to be more familiar with the life and times of Prince Eugene of Savoy.

In which period of history would you most like to live?

The period of history I would most like to live is that between the American Civil War and WWI (Inclusive).

What is your most treasured possession?

My most treasured possession is a Remington Rolling Block Rifle (.50 Cal) manufactured in Bermingham, England, in 1868 for the Papal Zouaves and used in the Italian War of Unification in 1870.

What is your most marked characteristic as an historian?

I supposed my most marked characteristic as a historian is a good knowledge of historical weapons technology.

What do you most value in your guests?

What I most value about my guests is their individualities and their unique backgrounds.

Who are your favorite writers?

My favorite writers  are G. K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkin, and Bruce Catton.

Who is your hero of historical fiction?

My hero of historical fiction is the Lone Ranger.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

The historical figure I most identify with is Belisarius.

Who are your heroes in real life?

My real life heroes are Washington, Lee, Grant, Sherman, Longstreet, Pershing, and Eisenhower.

What is your motto?

My motto is: “institutio puerorum, reformatio mundi” (the proper education of youth will mean improvement for the whole world.)