In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

a C k n o w l e d g m e n t s I am indebted to a host of family, friends, mentors, colleagues, veterans, and archivists, all of whom contributed significantly to this project. In the interest of brevity I can thank by name only a few, though my burden to many is immense. By far I owe the greatest debt to my faculty advisors at The Ohio State University. Prof. Allan Millett helped me refine the project after an innocuous conversation about competing interpretations of U.S. Army and Marine Corps combat effectiveness in 1950. His guidance, suggestions, and long-distance mentorship throughout the life of this project ensured it would reach fruition. Professors John Guilmartin and Alan Beyerchen cheerfully endured hours of painstaking review of several drafts, and Dr. Beyerchen’s willing digressions from our “official” lunch topics to cover various points of argument proved to be some of the most intellectually rewarding events of my life. Their comments and suggestions have made this an infinitely better product than I could have rendered without their support. I must also recognize the moral and intellectual support given me by my colleagues and superiors at the U.S. Military Academy, especially Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Doughty, Col. Matthew Moten, Prof. Jenny Kiesling, and Lt. Cols. Tom Rider, Bryan Gibby, and Rick Black as well as the cadets in the fall of 2003 who enrolled in History 386: Korea and Vietnam. Their encouragement and our many spirited discussions helped me refine my argument in several places. A host of archivists at several repositories ensured that I found the requisite documentary evidence upon which to base my thesis. The staff of the National Archives and Records Administration at College Park, Maryland; the U.S. Army Military History Institute; the Truman Library; and the U.S. Military Academy Library provided outstanding support during my several visits. Despite the fact that I descended upon them annually with a dizzying variety of requests, they managed to find almost every document and photo I sought. Without their assistance this project would have been impossible. The many veterans and family members with whom I spoke brought this project to life and gave it purpose. All veterans are proud of their personal involvement in the military, whether the overall experience was pleasant or not. xvii The men of the Eighth Army with whom I spoke remained defiantly proud of their outfits despite decades of boilerplate referring to them as everything from slackers to cowards. If my work accomplishes nothing except to give those men the satisfaction of knowing that their contributions are recognized and appreciated , then I will have begun to repay the debt I owe them for taking the time to talk to me. Mary Lenn Dixon and the staff of the Texas A&M University Press have demonstrated the patience of Job throughout my many delays in delivering required items, delays for which I alone am to blame. Their acceptance of an unexpected eighteen-month extension resulting from a tour in Iraq and their timely reminders sustained me and focused my efforts. Finally and most importantly I must thank those closest to me. My wife Karen served as my editor and my timekeeper during the last crucial months; she is the real reason I finished this project. I owe my children Regina, John, and Aimee an ineradicable debt for their patience, their understanding, and their love over the course of the last several years. My father Lee and our comrades at VFW 5919 in Excelsior, Minnesota, motivated and sustained me while I served in Iraq so I could return and finish this project. The soldiers, sergeants, and officers with whom I’ve served taught me daily that excellence in service to others is the highest of man’s endeavors, and I have striven to live up to their example and pass that virtue on to others. With all the help and support I have received, I have rendered as accurate and complete a record of the achievements of the Eighth U.S. Army as is physically possible. Knowing that any work of history must remain imperfect, I accept full responsibility for any errors that remain. A c k n o w l e d g m e n t s xviii ...

Share