Image courtesy of Wikipedia. I recently came across an interesting story in Captain Harry C. Butcher’s book about his experiences as an aide to General Eisenhower from 1942 to 1945 (My Three Years with Eisenhower). On page 592 and continuing on 593 (diary entry for June 23, 1944), Butcher relates the story behind the…
Image courtesy of Military Uniform Supply. As I write my dissertation, I’ve spent an awfully long time in General Eisenhower’s papers (emphasis on awful). Though the spade work can get tedious, there have been some bright spots. In The War Years, Volume III, I came across the gem below (on page 1888, entry number 1711). It’s General…
Image courtesy of American History. Very famously, General Douglas MacArthur once said, “On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other days, on other fields will bear the fruits of victory.” But is this true? Does sport participation really produce better military leaders?
Image courtesy of the Washington Post. ISIS is getting high marks – both for the territory that it’s seized (roughly the size of Indiana) – and for it’s use of the media. Consider this comment from a feature story in the New York Times:
Image courtesy of FistfulofTalent. I recently grabbed an old Sports Illustrated (June 23, 2014), and read an Albert Chen story (“Business As Usual”) about the Oakland Athletics. Yes, as the image above would signify, I’m a bit jaded about all the lessons that can be drawn from Billy Beane and the Moneyball approach (*though I…
Image of “Where the Wild Things Are” (by Maurice Sendak) courtesy of Muddying The Waters. For some, this title might seem a bit strange – what could anyone learn about war from a three year old? I’d categorize those people as “non-parents.” Anyone who has regularly faced a small child knows that there are…
Image courtesy of the Wall Street Journal. Pull Pin, Throw Grenade, Run Away: A provocative thought to kick off the weekend… Should retired generals and admirals be allowed to “cash in” and keep their commissions? I realize this is thin ice, but as a commissioned officer and member of the Profession of Arms, I…
Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control. Public Radio International runs a great news program (locally, it’s usually on National Public Radio) called “The World.” The other day the show ran a five minute segment that caught my attention: there was a violent attack on an Ebola clinic in the “West Point” neighborhood/slum…
West Point cadets departing in June 1919 for summer study on European battlefields. *Note: This essay is based on remarks to be delivered on Tuesday, 19 August 2014, at the Defense & Strategic Studies War Council event, “Summer Wars: ISIS, Ukraine, and Gaza.” The Oxford historian Margaret McMillan recently related a story taken from the opening scenes of…
Image courtesy of Flikr user US Air Force. Back in February, I agreed to write a two-part essay for another website – the first part was published – the second was sort of left floundering. I’d actually forgotten that I’d written something until the other day I came across a neat article about the group Ask…