In this Book
- West Point ’41: The Class That Went to War and Shaped America
- Book
- 2014
- Published by: University Press of New England
summary
Bataan. North Africa. Sicily. Omaha Beach. The Ardennes. West Point 41: The Class That Went to War and Shaped America is an uplifting story of ordinary young men in extraordinary times, in extraordinary places, who graduated directly into the teeth of battle and displayed unwavering leadership, honor, duty, and determination. From Sandy Nininger, awarded the first Medal of Honor of World War II for his actions leading Philippine Scouts in the early days of the war, to Charlie Fletcher, Ed Rowny, Paul Skowronek, Herb Stern, and dozens of others who quickly found themselves leading companies, battalions, and regiments, these young officers struggled with the fog and terror of war and early command. In a postwar era of unprecedented military latitude, they helped shape defense strategy, led development of America’s rocket programs, and created the theory and practice of helicopter airmobile combat that came to dominate in Vietnam. In Europe, Asia, and with the Soviets, 41ers practiced diplomacy and tradecraft as architects of American Cold War policy. All the while, they clung tightly to tenets of duty and moral courage inculcated at West Point: often tested, but holding firm to the bonds that make up the “Long Gray Line.”
Table of Contents
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- Contributors
- pp. xiii-xviii
- 1 | Hell on the Hudson
- pp. 1-9
- 3 | At the Post
- pp. 16-21
- 4 | Pass the Ammunition
- pp. 22-33
- 5 | Humble Honor
- pp. 34-48
- 6 | Baptism into War
- pp. 49-65
- 7 | Jump Time in Sicily
- pp. 66-78
- 8 | Dawn and Dusk
- pp. 79-91
- 9 | Gothic Fronts
- pp. 92-111
- 10 | The Nose of the Bulge
- pp. 112-122
- 11 | Contact at Houffalize
- pp. 123-132
- 12 | The Empire is Unseated
- pp. 133-147
- 13 | Bittersweet Freedom
- pp. 148-157
- 14 | Victory Europe
- pp. 158-168
- 15 | Bombs Away
- pp. 169-174
- 16 | Bataan a Yard at a Time
- pp. 175-188
- 17 | Shifting Gears
- pp. 189-199
- 18 | Going Up, Under, and Over There
- pp. 200-217
- 19 | The Chill of the Cold War
- pp. 218-228
- 20 | Gazing into the Future
- pp. 229-251
- 21 | Little Gold Corvette
- pp. 252-262
- 22 | Anticipating New Fronts
- pp. 263-274
- 23 | Trials and Trauma of the Vietnam Era
- pp. 275-286
- 24 | Permission to Withdraw
- pp. 287-303
- Acknowledgments
- pp. 307-308
- Bibliography
- pp. 323-330
- Index of Formations and Units
- pp. 331-332
- Index of Names and Subjects
- pp. 333-351
Additional Information
ISBN
9781611685725
Related ISBN(s)
9781611684698
MARC Record
OCLC
882423021
Pages
352
Launched on MUSE
2014-07-01
Language
English
Open Access
No