ID | 122407 |
Title Proper | American landpower and modern US generalship |
Language | ENG |
Author | Fivecoat, David G |
Publication | 2012-13. |
Summary / Abstract (Note) | Like his earlier works, Tom Ricks's The Generals: American Military Command from World War II to Today, is entertaining and provocative, and has deservedly been the topic of numerous reviews, blog posts, and discussions around the military. His central thesis is that, since the Korean War, the United States Army has failed to produce general officers who could link strategy with tactics. Ricks argues that one remedy for this deficiency is for the Army to resume publicly firing division commanders for operational shortcomings as a means to increase accountability, like it did under General George C. Marshall in World War II. Ricks is on solid evidentiary ground while documenting the patterns of relief for World War II division commanders, supplementing stories with data. But in his discussion of the leaders of every war afterwards, Ricks switches to anecdotes and assertions to make his case. He also shifts his reference group from division commanders to theater commanders. Much has changed in seventy years, but then, as now, there are significant differences between two and four star generals. Thus, his argument is on less-than-solid ground as he compares World War II "two-star apples" to modern "four-star oranges." |
`In' analytical Note | Parameters Vol. 42, No.4; Winter-Spring 2012-13: p.69-78 |
Journal Source | Parameters Vol. 42, No.4; Winter-Spring 2012-13: p.69-78 |
Key Words | American Landpower ; Modern US Generalship ; World War II ; United States ; Korean War |