Ricks, Thomas E. The Generals: American Military Command from World War II to Today. 2012. 576p. ISBN 978-1-5942-0404-3. Available at 355.009 RIC on the library shelves.
Wars are often won or loss based on the leaders at the top of the military chain of command. In the United States, generals are tasked with implemented the civilian leadership's will into action on the battlefield. During the First World War, General Pershing was in charge of all US troops in Europe, and he forced through leadership changes that enhanced what the army was doing.
In the Second World War, General Marshall crafted a policy that ensured generals would perform at appropriate levels, and those who could not would be relieved. As a result, the army was innovative and took well-evaluated risks to move their campaigns forward. Generals like Eisenhower, Patton, and Bradley were very successful in prosecuting war with Germany.
Following the end of the war, however, the army found itself without a mission. The Korean conflict saw a swift rearmament, but suddenly military leadership became skittish. The Marshall policy of removing low-performing generals was ignored, which led to a leadership vacuum at the front. Leadership errors from the Korean war were compounded in Vietnam, where no general was held accountable for military and strategic failures.
The army was reformed after the 1970s, but though it became a more lean and efficient fighting machine, the leadership at the top was itself not transformed. As a result, the United States army continues to win impressive battles but suffer strategic setbacks that prevent it from successfully completing wars, from Iraq to Afghanistan to Syria.
Fans of history will appreciate reading about the generals that influence the last 120 years of American military life. Lessons learned are exposed, and the flaws that led to today's environment are dissected, with suggestions on what can be done to improve both morale and strategic leadership.
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