Captain Bloom will discuss Union efforts in the Civil War to gain control of the Mississippi River, including key battles, little-known engineering schemes, and colorful anecdotes. The 3-part series concludes with a summary of the importance of the Western theater as the key to the Union victory in the war.

Instructor: Captain Bloom retired from a 31-year career as a U.S. Navy officer and physician in 2011 and returned to his childhood home in central Pennsylvania. A 1975 undergraduate of Penn State, Captain Bloom attended the University of Pittsburgh medical school, then entered active duty with the Navy. In addition to clinical duties, he served as Deputy Chief of the Medical Corps, 6th Fleet surgeon, and Commanding Officer of Naval Hospital Sigonella, Sicily. He is a popular OLLI instructor and is currently the vice president of the Central PA Civil War Roundtable.