General Lesley J. McNair: Unsung Architect of the U. S. Army (Modern War Studies (Hardcover)), by Mark Calhoun
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General Lesley J. McNair: Unsung Architect of the U. S. Army (Modern War Studies (Hardcover)), by Mark Calhoun
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George C. Marshall once called him "the brains of the army." And yet General Lesley J. McNair (1883-1944), a man so instrumental to America's military preparedness and Army modernization, remains little known today, his papers purportedly lost, destroyed by his wife in her grief at his death in Normandy. This book, the product of an abiding interest and painstaking research, restores the general Army Magazine calls one of "Marshall's forgotten men" to his rightful place in American military history. Because McNair contributed so substantially to America's war preparedness, this first complete account of his extensive and varied career also leads to a reevaluation of U.S. Army effectiveness during WWII. Born halfway between the Civil War and the dawn of the twentieth century, Lesley McNair―"Whitey" by his classmates for his blond hair―graduated 11th of 124 in West Point's class of 1904 and rose slowly through the ranks like all officers in the early twentieth century. He was 31 when World War I erupted, 34 and a junior officer when American troops prepared to join the fight. It was during this time, and in the interwar period that followed the end of World War I, that McNair's considerable influence on Army doctrine and training, equipment development, unit organization, and combined arms fighting methods developed. By looking at the whole of McNair's career―not just his service in WWII as chief of staff, General Headquarters, 1940-1942, and then as commander, Army Ground Forces, 1942-1944―Calhoun reassesses the evolution and extent of that influence during the war, as well as McNair's, and the Army's, wartime performance. This in-depth study tracks the significantly positive impact of McNair's efforts in several critical areas: advanced officer education; modernization, military innovation, and technological development; the field-testing of doctrine; streamlining and pooling of assets for necessary efficiency; arduous and realistic combat training; combined arms tactics; and an increasingly mechanized and mobile force. Because McNair served primarily in staff roles throughout his career and did not command combat formations during WWII, his contribution has never received the attention given to more public―and publicized―military exploits. In its detail and scope, this first full military biography reveals the unique and valuable perspective McNair's generalship offers for the serious student of military history and leadership.
General Lesley J. McNair: Unsung Architect of the U. S. Army (Modern War Studies (Hardcover)), by Mark Calhoun- Amazon Sales Rank: #511834 in Books
- Brand: Calhoun, Mark T.
- Published on: 2015-05-15
- Released on: 2015-04-20
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.00" h x 1.50" w x 5.90" l, .0 pounds
- Binding: Hardcover
- 432 pages
Review "A thoroughly researched, critically analytical account of the impact General Lesley J. MacNair had on the Army, particularly from World War I to his death in July 1944."—Journal of Military History"An important addition not only to the existing literature on the US Army but also that of World War II."—Washington Book Review“A superb biography of a man who George C. Marshall called ‘the brains of the army.’ Although McNair played a seminal role in the organizing, mobilizing, and training of US Army Ground Forces that fought WWII, he died an untimely death and there has never been a definitive examination of his life and career. Meticulously documented, this book seeks to redress that situation and does an admirable job in doing so. It is an important addition to the historiography of WWII and deserves a wide readership.”—James H. Willbanks, author of A Raid Too Far: Operation Lam Son 719 and Vietnamization in Laos“Mark Calhoun has done American military history a great service with this long overdue biography of an important but little understood figure. His book is a case study in what we now call ‘talent management.’ Senior army leaders leveraged McNair's intellect, drive, and his formative WWI and interwar experiences through a series of assignments and educational opportunities that made him the right man in the right place at the right time for our army as it entered WWII. Mark also puts McNair's influence in its proper context, dispelling many myths about him and the army that grew from a cadre to the force that defeated the Axis.”—LTG Sean MacFarland, III Corps Commanding General“A noteworthy and well-researched analysis of one of America's most brilliant and proficient officers. Calhoun not only discloses Lesley J. McNair's intellect and character in peacetime and war, but compellingly debunks the belief that US army generals were ill-prepared technically, educationally, and doctrinally for the rigors of WWII.”—Walter E. Kretchik, author of U.S. Army Doctrine: From the American Revolution to the War on Terror“General Lesley J. McNair has long needed a biography. Now thanks to Mark Calhoun, we not only have one but we have what will assuredly be the standard for years to come. Calhoun demonstrates the important role McNair played in building the US army for the challenges it would face in WWII. This is an important contribution for those seeking to understand the development of the interwar US army.”—Kevin Holzimmer, author of General Walter Krueger: Unsung Hero of the Pacific War"An exceptionally well researched and argued reappraisal of the career of Lesley J. McNair and his role in fashioning American ground forces before and during World War II. Calhoun argues convincingly that far from the ineffectual general of common lore, McNair was a crucial architect of Allied victory. A must-read for students of modern U.S. and World War II military history."—Peter Mansoor, author of The GI Offensive in Europe: The Triumph of American Infantry Divisions, 1941-1945“An insightful portrait of a large, enigmatic, and controversial figure in American military history. In Mark T. Calhoun, General Lesley J. McNair finally has the biographer he deserves.”—Rick Atkinson, author of The Guns at Last Light: The War in Western Europe, 1944–1945Well written, clear, concise, and balanced, this work will remain the standard reference work in the life, career, and influence of McNair, a general officer arguably second in importance only to George C. Marshal."—Peter Schifferle, author of America's School for War: Fort Leavenworth Officer Education and Victory in World War II"Tremendously well-researched, Dr. Calhoun’s detailed biography on Lieutenant General Lesley J. McNair debunks some long-standing myths on his effectiveness and serves to restore him to the position of honor as one of our top military thinkers of all time. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand how we set the conditions for success in WWII."—Brigadier General Tom Graves, USA
About the Author After a twenty-year career as an Army Aviator and military operational planner, Mark T. Calhoun now serves as an associate professor at the United States Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies.
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Most helpful customer reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Long Overdue Insights into One of the Most Prominent Figures in the World War 2 US Army By Writing Historian The accepted wisdom portrays Lesley J. McNair as a key figure in the fielding of the American Army that went on to defeat its German, Italian, and Japanese opponents in World War 2. Because the Americans started preparing for the war much later than the Axis or Allies, the US Army is portrayed as borrowing ideas from enemies, friends, and its experience from World War One. As a result, the US Army got some things right, some things wrong, with the blame or credit somehow always attributed to McNair. The disconcerting thing about that story line is that few of the historians who support that particular narrative cannot answer why McNair was allegedly at the center of things.Mark T. Calhoun, despite being counseled by many colleagues not to waste his time on researching McNair - who did not leave behind a collection of papers chronicling his deeds - has produced a wonderfully nuanced and impeccably researched view of the individual long identified the father of the American Army in World War 2. By doing so, however, Calhoun clearly found himself in the position of explaining that the subject of his book did not have the sweeping authority to do many of the things he was credited with accomplishing (or screwing up). In fact, George C. Marshall not only allowed McNair very little initiative, but the machinations of Army Service Force's commander, Brehon B. Somervell and General Henry A. Arnold of the Army Air Forces often relegated McNair's Army Ground Forces to a distant third place when it came down to influencing the Army Chief of Staff.While Calhoun places McNair's actions as Army Ground Forces commander in long overdue perspective, he also reveals how the talented McNair gained a well-earned reputation for excellent staff work and innovative thinking during World War One and between the wars. McNair, for example, played a pivotal role in the development of modern artillery tactics at Fort Sill, Oklahoma during the 1920's. These experiments were supported by McNair, who acknowledged that the French methods of firing by map or in accordance with a preplanned schedule had not served the American Expeditionary Force well during World War One. During McNair's tenure at Fort Sill, the US Army Artillery School developed innovative fire control methods that were applicable to modern battlefields. McNair also took part in several other innovative projects, such as the multi-year effort during the 1930s to create the Triangular Infantry Division (which proves that modularity is NOT a new idea) and the streamlining of the Command and General Staff College curriculum just prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor.Another major positive point for this book is - like James S. Corum's excellent biography of Luftwaffe General Wolfram Von Richthofen - it provides the reader with marvelous insights into how the Army worked, how equipment performed, and how McNair's professional environment influenced him as well as how he influenced his professional environment.The book is organized with three main sections, each consisting of 3 - 4 chapters averaging 30 - 40 pages in length. The epilogue begins on page 312, endnotes on page 333, and bibliography on page 385. Part I is entitled "Innovation in War and Peace." It includes chapters "From Cadet to Commander: Birth of an Innovator," "World War 1," and "McNair: War Planner." Section II focuses on "Interwar Education and Training," as Calhoun explains the impact that academic, professional, and personal influences shaped the man who took command of the Army Ground Forces in 1942. Its chapters include, "Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Perdue," "The Army War College Class of 1928 - 1929," "Getting over the Hump" [referring to the slow promotion ladder in the US Army following WW1] and Rise to Prominence, 1935 - 1940." The final section discusses World War II, which witnessed McNair's death as a result of errant bombing by USAF aircraft in Normandy during late July 1944. These chapters are entitled, "Protective Mobilization," "Training the Army Ground Forces," and "The Army Ground Forces at War."Highly recommended to serious students of military history. Calhoun has clearly mined a number of primary sources, to include some long neglected records, to provide readers with what will stand as the definitive biography of Lesley J. McNair.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. History deserves to trumpet McNairs impact to the ages! With his research and intent Col. Calhoun provides a long overdue story! By Ray Peterson The only detailed and serious storyline of one of the most important Minnesotans to be killed during WWII.Col. Calhouns book explains the puzzle of McNairs obscurity in history books, and the enormous impact of his innovative abilities in structuring and progressively building the liberating U.S. Ground Forces seemingly out of thin air.To any historian who still believes McNair was just a staff officer, Calhouns book clarifies how McNairs experience and insight were instrumental in the time saving trick of forming an army that surpassed anything the world had yet seen.And, god knows it's about time this book was on the reference shelves. Thank you Col. Calhoun!
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Interesting - but frustrating at times. By John Hamill As important a figure as Lesley McNair was, this is the first biography of him, and it is long overdue. McNair was in charge of the US Army Ground Forces during World War II, and he is frequently blamed for its flaws. The book's great strength is that it shows that McNair was not guilty of many of the things that he has been accused of. Tank destroyers, for instance, were not something that he dreamed up, and contrary to what is sometimes said, they were to be used as part of a combined arms team and not as aggressively as their motto suggests - "Seek, Strike, Destroy" . Tank development was left largely to the Army Service Force, and the general consensus within the Army was that because of a scarcity of shipping, a medium tank was preferable to a heavy one. The discussion of the shipping issue could have been expounded upon, I thought. Early versions of what became the Pershing tank required twice the maintenance of a Sherman, so its introduction was delayed until too late in the war. The author shows that George C Marshall gave McNair little authority or initiative, and we are left wondering if Marshall is largely to blame for what many accuse McNair. One of the Army's great strengths during the war was artillery, and the author shows how McNair's reforms in the 1930s helped centralize the use and coordination of the artillery, allowing for quick support of the front lines. This fascinating and neglected topic perhaps deserves a book of its own. McNair also preferred the 155mm over the 105mm piece.The book is somewhat frustrating because it seems to have two aims, first to defend McNair from unfair criticism, which it does well, and secondly to defend the Army of World War II from charges that it was ineffective. It is the defense of the Army that is the book's weakness. Citing books from Michael Doubler and Peter Mansoor, the author states that the US Army was more tactically adept than is often stated. Over time, I have come to better appreciate these arguments, but I do not think that this book adds much to the discussion. Mission command is not even mentioned, and the education system, which McNair was involved with, isn't seriously questioned. (On this topic, I suggest Jorg Muth's "Command Culture".) The author asserts that the Army did well operationally, citing Michael Matheny's "Carrying the War to The Enemy", a book that does well with joint operations and the Pacific War but has relatively little content about the European Theater. Eisenhower may have had talent for operations, but many American generals lacked creativity. (I suggest John A Adams' "Battle for Western Europe, An Operational Assessment")McNair himself - his personality and humanity - are not the focus of this biography, but we get perhaps as good of an idea as we can about the man and how he thought and worked. I am left wondering about the historians who have criticized McNair and the reasons for their conclusions. Although well worth reading for those with a serious interest in the war, I wondered if the book should either have been much shorter and limited itself to McNair, or much longer and expanded with a better defense of the US Army. Regardless, it is an important addition to our understanding of the Second World War.
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