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Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > Military life & institutions > General
This book features a military academy as a microcosm of modern
American culture. Combining the nuanced perspective of an insider
with the critical distance of a historian, Alexander Macaulay
examines The Citadel's reactions to major shifts in postwar life,
from the rise of the counterculture to the demise of the Cold War.
The Citadel is widely considered one of the most traditional
institutions in America and a bastion of southern conservatism. In
""Marching in Step"", Macaulay argues that The Citadel has actually
experienced many changes since World War II - changes that often
tell us as much about the United States as about the American
South. Macaulay explores how The Citadel was often an undiluted
showcase for national debates over who deserved full recognition as
a citizen - most famously first for black men and later for women.
As the boundaries regarding race, gender, and citizenship were
drawn and redrawn, Macaulay says, attitudes at The Citadel
reflected rather than stood apart from those of mainstream America.
In this study of an iconic American institution, Macaulay also
raises questions over issues of southern distinctiveness and sheds
light on the South's real and imagined relationship with the rest
of America.
The mission was to kill the most wanted man in the world--an
operation of such magnitude that it couldn't be handled by just any
military or intelligence force. The best America had to offer was
needed. As such, the task was handed to roughly forty members of
America's supersecret counterterrorist unit formally known as 1st
Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta; more popularly, the
elite and mysterious unit Delta Force.
This is the real story of the operation, the first eyewitness
account of the Battle of Tora Bora, and the first book to detail
just how close Delta Force came to capturing bin Laden, how close
U.S. bombers and fighter aircraft came to killing him, and exactly
why he slipped through our fingers. Lastly, this is an extremely
rare inside look at the shadowy world of Delta Force and a detailed
account of these warriors in battle.
The original 1944 G.I. Bill holds a special place in the American
imagination. In popular mythology, it stands as the capstone of the
Greatest Generation narrative of World War II, a fitting reward for
the nation's heroes. Given the almost universal acclaim afforded
the bill, future generations of warriors might well have expected
to receive similar remuneration for their sacrifice. But when
soldiers of the Vietnam conflict shed their fatigues and returned
home to civilian life, they found that their G.I. Bills fell well
short of what many of them believed they had earned.In this first
legislative history of the G.I. Bill during the Vietnam Era, Mark
Boulton takes the story of veterans' politics beyond the 1944 G.I.
Bill as he seeks to uncover the reasons why Vietnam veterans were
less well compensated than their predecessors. In crafting their
legislation, both conservative and liberal politicians of the
Vietnam era wrestled with fundamental questions about the
obligations of American citizenship. What does it mean to serve
one's country? What does society owe those civilians it puts in
uniform? Repeatedly, in answering those questions, lawmakers from
both ends of the political spectrum found reasons to curb the
generosity of the benefits offered.The G.I. Bills should play a
central role in our understanding of the Vietnam veteran's
post-service lives, just as they do for World War II veterans.
Taking the story of the G.I. Bills beyond the World War II
generation allows for a more complete understanding of the veteran
experience in America.
This provocative new study traces the origins of the modern
military-industrial complex to the Progressive ideology of the late
nineteenth end early twentieth centuries. Borden examines the
crucial changes that occurred in World War I and its aftermath,
when the progressives deliberately broadened the functions and
philosphoy of the military, with profound consequences for the
social, political, and economic life of the nation. Switching from
pacifism to "preparedness" during World War I, the Progressives
transformed the army--hitherto an exclusivist "frontier"
force--into a potent instrument for social engineering. Borden
explores this transformation and shows how the social management
techniques and elitist biases of progressivism affected military
training. Under the control of civilian administrators, the War
Department was charged with effacing illiteracy, instilling
patriotism, enforcing homogeneity, and morally enlightening the
nation's young men. The author discusses the continuing
"socialization" of the military, as defense budgets begin to
include social betterment programs to justify appropriations and
ensure their uninterrupted flow. She looks at the intimate
civilian-military ties that developed as the military increasingly
involved itself in civil matters, producing a web of alliances that
was to play a major role in creation of the military-industrial
complex. A penetrating analysis of the use of the military for
social control, this study will be of interest to academics and
students in American history, military history, and political
science.
Surveys show that the all-volunteer military is our most respected
and trusted institution, but over the last thirty-five years it has
grown estranged from civilian society. Without a draft, imperfect
as it was, the military is no longer as representative of civilian
society. Fewer people accept the obligation for military service,
and a larger number lack the knowledge to be engaged participants
in civilian control of the military.
The end of the draft, however, is not the most important reason we
have a significant civil-military gap today. A More Perfect
Military explains how the Supreme Court used the cultural division
of the Vietnam era to change the nature of our civil-military
relations. The Supreme Court describes itself as a strong supporter
of the military and its distinctive culture, but in the
all-volunteer era, its decisions have consistently undermined the
military's traditional relationship to law and the Constitution.
Most people would never suspect there was anything wrong, but our
civil-military relations are now as constitutionally fragile as
they have ever been.
A More Perfect Military is a bracingly candid assessment of the
military's constitutional health. It crosses ideological and
political boundaries and is challenging-even unsettling-to both
liberal and conservative views. It is written for those who believe
the military may be slipping away from our common national
experience. This book is the blueprint for a new national
conversation about military service.
In the last decade there has been a plethora of books about Irish
soldiers in the First World War, yet the fact that recruitment to
the British forces continued into the interwar period and the
Second World War has received comparatively little attention.
Steven O'Connor's work addresses this gap by providing a
much-needed assessment of officer recruitment to the British
military after Irish independence. Based on archival research, oral
testimony and a database of 1,000 officers it examines the reasons
why young Irish people took the king's commission. It explores
their subsequent experiences and identity in the forces, and places
them within the wider context of Commonwealth recruitment to the
British forces. Drawing on evidence from police reports, debates in
town councils and local newspapers this volume also offers the
first comprehensive account of reactions in independent Ireland to
British recruitment and the shared military past.
"Don't be too ready to listen to stories told by attractive women.
They may be acting under orders." This was only one of the many
warnings given to the 30,000 British troops preparing to land in
the enemy territory of Nazi Germany nine-and-a-half months after
D-Day. The newest addition to the Bodleian Library's bestselling
series of wartime pamphlets, "Instructions for British Servicemen
in Germany, 1944" opens an intriguing window into the politics and
military stratagems that brought about the end of World War
II.
The pamphlet is both a succinct survey of German politics, culture,
and history and a work of British propaganda. Not only does the
pamphlet cover general cultural topics such as food and drink,
currency, and social customs, but it also explains the effect of
years of the war on Germans and their attitudes toward the British.
The book admonishes, "The Germans are not good at controlling their
feelings. They have a streak of hysteria. You will find that
Germans may often fly into a passion if some little thing goes
wrong." The mix of humor and crude stereotypes--"If you have to
give orders to German civilians, give them in a firm, military
manner. The German civilian is used to it and expects it"--in the
text make this pamphlet a stark reminder of the wartime fears and
hopes of the British.
By turns a manual on psychological warfare, a travel guide, and a
historical survey, "Instructions for British Servicemen in Germany,
1944" offers incomparable insights into how the British, and by
extension the Allied forces, viewed their fiercest enemy on the eve
of its defeat.
Ever since the American Revolution, military service has been a
proud tradition for the Zumwalt family. Tradition initially led the
author to join his father and brother in the Navy, before later
transferring to the US Marine Corps. During his 26 years in
uniform, the author saw service in three conflicts-Vietnam, Panama
and the first Persian Gulf war. It was Vietnam, however, that
ultimately would launch him on an unexpected journey-long after the
guns of that war had fallen silent-triggered by the loss of a
brother who had fought there. This journey was an emotional
one-initially of anger towards the Vietnamese and the conflict that
claimed his older brother. But it unexpectedly took a change in
direction. In Vietnam almost two decades after Saigon's fall, the
author, in a private talk with a former enemy general officer, came
to understand an aspect of the war he never before had. In that
talk, they shared personal insights about the war-discovering a
common bond. It unlocked a door through which the author passed to
start his own healing process. It began a journey where he would
meet hundreds of North Vietnamese and Viet Cong veterans-listening
to their personal stories of loss, sacrifice and hardship. It
opened the author's eyes to how a technically inferior enemy,
beaten down by superior US firepower, was able to get back
up-driven by an "iron will" to emerge triumphant. "Bare Feet, Iron
Will" takes the reader on a fascinating journey, providing
stories-many never before told-as to how enemy ingenuity played a
major role in the conflict, causing us not to see things that were
there or to see things there that were not It shares unique
insights into the sacrifice and commitment that took place on the
other side of Vietnam's battlefields. About the Author JAMES G.
ZUMWALT Lieutenant Colonel James Zumwalt is a retired Marine
infantry officer who served in the Vietnam war, the 1989
intervention into Panama and Desert Storm. An author, speaker and
business executive, he also currently heads a security consulting
firm named after his father-Admiral Zumwalt & Consultants, Inc.
He writes extensively on foreign policy and defense issues, having
written hundreds of articles for various newspapers, magazines and
professional journals. His articles have covered issues of major
importance, oftentimes providing readers with unique perspectives
that have never appeared elsewhere. His work, on several occasions,
has been cited by members of Congress and entered into the US
Congressional Record.
Since the early days of the American Republic, African Americans
have been active participants in the military history of our
nation. However, until the late 1940s, their experiences in the
military, for the most part, occurred during the period of racial
segregation, which often resulted in their being assigned to
non-combat duties. Nevertheless, in spite of their status, they
continued to exhibit loyalty to their country and served honorably.
Students of American history are familiar with great military
leaders whose heroic deeds during the military conflicts of the
19th and 20th centuries have become a part of our historical
legacy. Much has been written about them as highly visible symbols
of courage and leadership. Yet others, equally deserving remain
unknown and have not received the same visibility in terms of
public recognition. When I became aware of the life and career of
General Roscoe Robinson, Jr., the first United States Army African
American four-star general, I was surprised to learn so few
people-even among my own generation of African Americans-had ever
heard of him. Even in one of the most comprehensive history books
about African Americans - From Slavery to Freedom, written by the
well-known scholar, John Hope Franklin, Roscoe Robinson is not
mentioned. In authoring this biography, I seek to fill this gap in
our knowledge of this remarkable man who, from humble beginnings,
rose to the pinnacle of military success through perseverance,
discipline, and commitment to duty and country. Whenever I write
something of an historical nature pertaining to the life and times
of African Americans, I am always reminded of the admonition of one
of America's most distinguished men of color - William E. B. Du
Bois. It was he who-in a presentation in 1898 before the American
Academy of Political and Social Science-advanced the notion that
understanding black life in America required a systematic
assessment of the influence of broad historical, cultural, social,
economic, and political forces that shaped the times. There is no
way of denying the subject of race in the military. It was an
inescapable condition, which has riveted American social, cultural,
and political systems before and during Robinson's time in the
military. I have tried to convey that circumstance as accurately as
possible. Indeed, in many respects, from his early childhood
through his retirement years, Robinson lived through one of the
most historic periods in race relations in this country - both
within and outside the military. Today, men and women of all races
make immense sacrifices to serve their country, defend our
liberties, and protect our interests around the world; often
without the gratitude and recognition, they deserve. It is my firm
hope that this book will not only serve as an inspiration to all
who read it, especially to the current generation of young African
Americans (including my children and grandchildren) about whom
General Robinson cared deeply, but that it will enable the readers
to develop a greater appreciation for those who serve in the
military. About the Author: Leon L. Haley, PhD, is a professor
emeritus in the Graduate School of Public and International
Affairs, University of Pittsburgh. Over twenty-five year tenure at
the University, he served in a number of capacities, including an
Associate Dean, Acting Dean, and a Vice Chancellor for Student and
Public Affairs. With African American history as an avocation, in
addition to The Quiet One, he is the author of From the Staunton to
the Allegheny: an African American Family Journey. Specializing in
strategic planning, he now serves as a consultant for nonprofit
organizations.
This book explores how public cultures shape women's military
participation within the European Union. It analyzes the way in
which different policy options have been elaborated in the United
Kingdom, France and Germany and examines patterns of women's
military participation across societies.
This collection examines soldiers as combatants, tourists, family
men and as citizens. In particular, chapters trace the theme of the
'citizen soldier' through the initiatives of the period that placed
civilian men under arms. In these ways and more, this new book
explores 'soldiering' as an activity, an identity, a career and a
way of life.
A blockbuster. . . sure to be controversial. A major work, not just
in military sociology but among concerned citizens generally. The
Hollow Army is one of a kind in that it completely runs against the
conventional wisdom that today's American Army is an effective
fighting force. Henderson's argument is brilliantly conceived,
backed with data and penetrating insight. . . . The scholarship is
extremely sound. . . and the use of data is peerless. Charles C.
Moskos Chairman, Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and
Society William Darryl Henderson maintains that despite highly
successful marketing efforts to sell the image of a new quality
army to the American public, the Congress, and to the U.S. Army
itself, the Army has, in fact, not risen above mediocre performance
levels. Henderson dispels the myth of today's quality army, and
explores the long buried and avoided MPT (manpower, personnel, and
training) issues that are expanded on in succeeding chapters. The
24 charts, 13 tables, and 9 chapters of this compelling and timely
investigation factually demonstrate the real army story. Henderson
insists, in an introductory chapter, that everything, even the bad
news must be told. Chapter 2 suggests that the nature and
significance of the army's mission are changing and gaining in
importance and the exploration of the actual number of combat
troops in Chapter 3 concludes that the most important principle of
war can no longer be effectively employed by the U.S. Army. The
vital areas of training, personnel, and the small combat unit are
addressed in the next four chapters. Chapter 8 details the
unfocused character of the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Corps.
The final chapter suggests that if the army is to perform its
stated function and achieve maximum value for the manpower and
funds allocated, a rigorous structural-functional systems analysis
and a searching review of underlying assumptions must be
undertaken. This ambitious and eye-opening examination should be
required reading not only for students and scholars of defense and
military studies but for Congressional members, government
officials, army personnel, and U.S. taxpayers as well.
Karen Shelby addresses the IJzertoren Memorial, which is dedicated
to the Flemish dead of the Great War, and the role the monument has
played in the discussions among the various political, social and
cultural ideologies of the Flemish community.
This reference examines the wide-ranging impact of military life on
families, parenting, and child development. It examines the complex
family needs of this diverse population, especially as familiar
issues such as trauma, domestic violence, and child abuse manifest
differently than in civilian life. Expert contributors review
findings on deployed mothers, active-duty fathers, and other
military parents while offering evidence for interventions and
prevention programs to enhance children's healthy adjustment in
this highly structured yet uncertain context. Its emphasis on
resource and policy improvements keeps the book focused on the
evolution of military families in the face of future change and
challenges. Included in the coverage: Impacts of military life on
young children and their parents. Parenting school-age children and
adolescents through military deployments. Parenting in military
families faced with combat-related injury, illness, or death. The
special case of civilian service members: supporting parents in the
National Guard and Reserves. Interventions to support and
strengthen parenting in military families: state of the evidence.
Military parenting in the digital age: existing practices, new
possibilities. Addressing a major need in family and parenting
studies, Parenting and Children's Resilience in Military Families
is necessary reading for scholars and practitioners interested in
parenting and military family research.
Explores the history of Britain's colonial army in West Africa,
especially the experiences of ordinary soldiers recruited in the
region. West African Soldiers in Britain's Colonial Army explores
the complex and constantly changing experience of West African
soldiers under British command in Nigeria, the Gold Coast (now
Ghana), Sierra Leone, and the Gambia. Since cost and tropical
disease limited the deployment of British metropolitan troops to
the region, British colonial rule in West Africa depended heavily
on locally recruited soldiers and their families. This force became
Britain's largest colonial army in Sub-Saharan Africa. West African
Soldiers looks at the development of this colonial military from
the conquest era of the late nineteenth century to decolonization
in the 1950s. Rather than describing the many battles fought by
this army both regionally and overseas, and informed by the concept
of military culture, the book looks at the broad and overlapping
themes of identity, culture, daily life, and violence. Chapter
topics include the enslaved origins of the force, military
identities including the myth of martial races, religious life,
visual symbols like uniforms and insignia, health care related to
tropical and sexually transmitted diseases, the experience of army
wives, disciplinary flogging, mutiny, day-to-day violence committed
by troops, and the employment of former soldiers by the colonial
state. Based on archival research in five countries, the book
derives inspiration from previous work on ordinary African soldiers
in the British and German colonies of East Africa and in French
West Africa.
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