Great Generals

This new addition to Wesley Clark's Great Generals Series features the principal architect of the Allied invasion of Europe during World War II and his relevance today. World War II expert John Wukovits explores Dwight D. Eisenhower's contributions to American warfare. American general and thirty-fourth president of the United States, Eisenhower led the assault on the French coast at Normandy and held together the Allied units through the European campaign that followed. The book reveals Eisenhower's advocacy in the pre-war years of the tank, his friendships with George Patton and Fox Conner, his service in the Philippines with Douglas MacArthur, and his culminating role as supreme commander of Allied forces in Europe. Wukovits skillfully demonstrates how Eisenhower's evolution as a commander, his military doctrine, and his diplomatic skills are of extreme importance in understanding modern warfare. "In his highly readable and concise style, John Wukovits has once again succeeded in packing a wealth of information into a single volume on the life of one of the greatest soldier-statesmen in history. He conveys the strength of character and innate leadership of Dwight Eisenhower in a manner which will captivate the reader." "John Wukovits now offers a concise portrayal of the commander who served as the chief architect of D-Day and the campaign in northwest Europe." "Wukovits gives us a portrait of a general who devised and sustained a broad-front strategy that led to Germany's unconditional surrender, and a man who never took his eyes off the prize." "With his depth of research, insightful approach, and clarity of style, the author and military historian John Wukovits has managed to put a human face on one of the twentieth-century's greatest figures and turn an historical icon into a flesh-and-blood human being." "Wukovits' book is excellently researched, but his greatest merit as an historian is a rare ability to make the past a real, living thing…A superior history of an intensely human man."

Deemed "irreplaceable" by Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson assumed his nickname during the Battle of Bull Run in the Civil War. It is said that the Army of Northern Virginia never fully recovered from the loss of Jackson's leadership when he was accidentally shot by one of his own men and died in 1863. Davis highlights Stonewall Jackson as a general who emphasized the importance of reliable information and early preparedness, who so believed in information that he had a personal mapmaker with him at all times, and he details Jackson's many lessons in strategy and leadership. "Davis' exceptional biography of Stonewall Jackson breathes new life into the Civil War legend and his foot cavalry. Davis deftly reveals the relevance today of the man who created a textbook on tactics by accomplishing so much, so often, with so little." "Offers insightful analyses of Jackson's tendencies and behavior…Davis intensifies his subject's relevance by interjecting several allusions to the current war in Iraq…An excellent little book." "This rapid read ably introduces the famous warrior."

Douglas MacArthur is best remembered for his adaptability that hoisted him to his greatest accomplishments. Adaptability now reigns as the most indispensable trait for high military leadership in an era of technological leaps that guarantee the nature of war will radically change during the span of an ordinary career. No American figure better exemplifies this trait than the man who was commissioned before the Wright Brothers' first flight but became a keen exponent of an entirely new dimension in warfare. He was also in charge of the US occupation of Japan, the most successful occupation in history. Foreword Introduction 1 - Beginnings 2 - Chief of Staff 3 - From the Center to the Fringe 4 - Catastrophe 5 - An Expensive Education 6 - Parameters 7 - Apprenticeship 8 - Breakthrough 9 - Return and Redemption 10 - Regression, Invasion, and Surrender 11 - Shogun in Khaki 12 - Triumphs and Challenges 13 - Korea Triumph 14 - Korea Defeat 15 - The Sum of the Man "Tom Weiner's straightforward narration is an excellent fit for the no-nonsense story of a boy born in military barracks and brought up in a military family…With a crisp, unfussy delivery, Weiner portrays a man whose actions in Korea enabled the containment of Communist China for 50 years and whose ego made many powerful enemies, ultimately leading to the end of his military career." "A vivid, compelling portrait of our most enigmatic battlefield commander. Richard B. Frank strips away both myth and malarkey to reveal both Douglas MacArthur the general and Douglas MacArthur the man." "Douglas MacArthur was either the greatest American military commander of the 20th century-or a dangerous megalomaniac. In this shrewd, fair, but unblinking biography, MacArthur is both-at once-brilliant and deeply flawed and, in Frank's skillful telling, an endlessly fascinating character. Rich Frank has long been a premier historian of the Pacific War. Now he has shown that he is first rank biographer as well." "A classic example of good things in small packages, this addition to the Great Generals Series owes much to its author, an expert on the Pacific War…A good addition for any and all twentieth-century American history collections." "Richard B. Frank's incisive biography of General Douglas MacArthur offers not only a great read, but a timely and useful study both of the dilemmas of civil-military relations and the challenges facing American military leaders thrust onto a global stage. The writing is always clear, the history always accurate, and the analysis consistently stimulating. For all his faults, MacArthur was indisputably a great man among great contemporaries-this book will make the reader ponder the disappearance of such greatness among our nation's leaders, military or civilian." "Enthusiastically recommended."

In this persuasive biography, Jim Lacey sheds light on General Pershing's legacy as the nation's first modern combat commander, setting the standard for today's four-star officers. When the US entered into World War I in 1917, they did so with inadequate forces. In just over a year, Pershing built and hurled a one-million-man army against forty battle-hardened German divisions, defending the hellish Meuse-Argonne and turning the tide of the war. With focus and clarity, Lacey traces Pershing's development from Indian fighter to guerrilla warrior against the Philippine insurgency to victorious WWI commander. "A first-rate life of a great American general who is all too often overlooked or underestimated today." "Well researched, well presented, and well reasoned." "Jim Lacey has provided a wonderful study of Pershing and his generalship that is well researched, but even more important brings a real understanding of the art of leadership to the subject." "Tom Weiner's resonant baritone voice is a good match for Pershing's story. His staccato delivery is somewhat quick but clear, and he narrates with the confidence and authority befitting a general. Weiner makes one want to hear the entire work in one sitting." "Lacey's contribution to the Great Generals series substantially redresses the balance in Pershing's favor by underlining his achievements."

George S. Patton was a general who achieved greatness in his field by contradicting his own nature. A cavalryman steeped in romantic military tradition, he nevertheless pulled a reluctant American military into the most advanced realms of highly mobile armored warfare. An autocratic snob, Patton created unparalleled rapport and loyalty with the lowliest private in his command. An outspoken racist, he led the only racially integrated US military unit in World War II. A profoundly insecure individual, he made his Third Army the most self-confident and consistently victorious fighting force in the European theater. An exuberantly profane man, he prayed daily and believed God had destined him for military greatness. Alan Axelrod delivers a fascinating account of Patton's extraordinary life and legacy. "Axelrod has captured Patton's checkered legacy in a balanced biography." "An engaging minibiography...Patton's race across France has become legendary, but Mr. Axelrod reminds readers that it was the result of careful planning." "Concise, incisive, and authoritative, Axelrod's Patton is a clear and entertaining biography of the famous general that captures both his complicated personality and the monumental events that made him perhaps the most controversial warrior in American history." "Axelrod's powerful prose and historical insight bring the epic bronze monument of George Patton to vibrant life in glorious tones, personal secrets and dramatic action. A compelling story that is a pleasure to read and read again--and to rely on as a rock-solid reference book" "Axelrod offers new and interesting insight into General George S. Patton…Brian Emerson's reading mirrors the ebbs and flows that characterized Patton's life. At times, Emerson's style is understated, yet at other moments he sounds as though he inhabits Patton's psyche, capturing the General's insecurity, intensity, and brilliance." "Emerson handles his job flawlessly. He reads in an unvoiced conversational tone that is completely unobtrusive; he lets the listener's imagination carry the story."

It was Andrew Jackson's military heroism that helped to usher him into the presidency. From the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812 to the Indian Wars and his unorthodox presence in the White House, Jackson is one of the most fascinating figures in American history. Here is his life as told by the foremost Jackson historian of our time. "Palgrave's Great Generals Series is an important and inspiring contribution to our understanding of modern-day warfare. Every book in the series will provide invaluable insight into the legacies of eminent military leaders and take the reader on a griping tour of the most spectacular maneuvers, missions, and battles in world history." "Remini, an old hand at unraveling the politics of this era, writes with assurance and cuts through hoary legends.A stimulating reassessment." "The best biography of Andrew Jackson available." "Persuasive and well documented." "This Andrew Jackson biography is as exciting as it is important, and shows how a very complex military was molded from frontier clay during America's formative years."

Packed with breathtaking air battles and ground tactics, this new addition to the Great Generals Series features the controversial command and strategies of the former Air Force Chief of Staff. Curtis LeMay was a terrifying, complex, and brilliant general. In World War II, he ordered the firebombing of Tokyo and was in charge when atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. He was responsible for tens of thousands of civilian deaths, a fact he liked to celebrate by smoking Cuban cigars. But LeMay was also the man who single-handedly transformed the American Air Force from poorly trained and badly equipped pilots into one of the fiercest weapons of the war. Over the last decades, most US military missions were carried out entirely through use of the Air Force. This is LeMay's legacy. Foreword by General Wesley K. Clark Introduction Chapter 01. Wings Chapter 02. Bombers Chapter 03. England Chapter 04. China Chapter 05. Marianas Chapter 06. Postwar Chapter 07. SAC: Forging the Weapon Chapter 08. SAC. Wielding the Weapon Chapter 09. Washington Chapter 10. Retirement Chapter 11. Debrief Chapter 12. The Legacy "A brilliant book! Barrett Tillman describes the true magnitude of LeMay's achievements, while rendering the first posthumous biography of a complex, controversial figure. Objective and beautifully written…an absolute must for every aviation or military historian and for anyone interested in leadership." "Mr. Tillman finds much to admire in LeMay, a general who led his own bomber missions and was more familiar with flying equipment than his own men." "Thorough, balanced, and insightful, Barrett Tillman's masterful biography of Curtis LeMay is a long-overdue and thought-provoking study, one certain to become a standard." "Curtis E. LeMay…was far more complex than his detractors claim. Barrett Tillman, one of America's top history writers, gives us an authentic feel for LeMay and for the way LeMay left his mark on the twentieth century."

Known by his troops in World War II as "The GI General" because of his close identification with the men under his command, Omar Bradley commanded the Twelfth US Army Group in Europe. By the spring of 1945, this group contained four field armies, twelve corps, forty-eight divisions, and more than 1.3 million men, the largest exclusively American field command in US history. A mild mannered man, General Bradley created the impression less of a soldier than of a teacher, which he was during much of his early career in the Army. He earned a reputation as an eminent tactician and rose through the ranks to become a five-star general. "He was America's General, embodying…core values of integrity and respect that reflected the democracy he served…The leadership lessons are universal, and they are timeless." "There could hardly be a better guide to the life and career of Omar Bradley, the least heralded and last of the Army's five-stars, than Alan Axelrod."

General Robert E. Lee was a complicated man and military figure. In Robert E. Lee, the eleventh book in the critically acclaimed Great Generals Series, Noah Andre Trudeau follows the general's Civil War path with a special emphasis on Lee's changing set of personal values as the conflict wended through four bloody years, offering tantalizing glimpses into Lee's character and exploring his famous skills as a crafty and daring tactician. This insightful new account delivers a fresh perspective on one of the most beloved and enigmatic military leaders of all time, as well as on the war that divided our nation and led to many of the sectional political issues that have since cast a long shadow over American politics. "For a century after the death of Robert E. Lee in 1870, his image achieved iconic status in the South-and beyond. In recent decades, however, historians have discovered a flesh-and-blood Lee who is far more complex and interesting than the marble man of yore. Trudeau's fast-paced biography offers a well-rounded portrait of Robert E. Lee." "Noah Andre Trudeau's Robert E. Lee offers an insightful portrait of one of America's greatest generals. In a brisk narrative, Trudeau delineates the personal and professional attributes of the famous Confederate leader. A reader will learn much in these pages about a fascinating, historic figure." "A crisply written and compelling biography of one of America's most celebrated soldiers. Trudeau's keen insights and considerable talents as a writer and historian make this book a must read for anyone wishing to understand Lee's remarkable military career and mastery of the battlefield."

William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator, and author who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy, as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched earth" policies that he implemented in conducting total war against the Confederate states. Military historian Basil Liddell Hart famously declared that Sherman was "the first modern general." "Military historian Steven Woodworth has cracked the code of one of the Civil War's best-known, complex, and most controversial [figures]…Woodworth has fully captured the man with concision, precision, and style." "[A] gem of a military biography. To read it is to cut through the myth and see the real William T. Sherman." "Taking guidance from the story's description of Sherman's personality, narrator Tom Weiner speaks with an assertive, strong voice. He strikes a brisk pace through Sherman's training at West Point, his early army experiences, and finally his battles, culminating in the capture of Atlanta from the Confederates at the war's end. Weiner's strong performance helps showcase an exemplary biography of character and leadership."