The U.S. Army evolved into a truly modern fighting force during World War I. When the U.S. entered the war in 1917, the infantry was its primary offensive arm. Training focused mainly on target practice, bayonet charges and marching drills. Antiquated tactics emphasized massive attack waves relying on ferocity to achieve battlefield objectives. Heavy casualties resulted when inexperienced American troops encountered entrenched German veterans trained in the use of modern artillery and machine guns. By war's end the American Expeditionary Force had progressed along a bloody learning curve, developing sophisticated techniques-small flexible formations, fire-and-maneuver and infiltration-for breaking the trench warfare stalemate. Eventually, the AEF integrated new weapons like poison gas, tanks and aircraft into its offensive tactics and pioneered the mechanized combined arms warfare still practiced by the U.S. Army. The exploits of the Fifth ""Red Diamond"" Division exemplify this critical period of development.

The year 1953 represented a pivotal moment in the Cold War and set the course of global affairs for the next sixty-five years. The cessation of hostilities in the Korean War resulted in the creation of two opposing countries separated by a contentious demilitarized zone. This book presents how Great Britain's Ambassador to the US, Sir Roger Makins, provided the British Foreign Office with weekly summaries of American political and diplomatic affairs throughout 1953. Examining the events of this critical year through the eyes of this British diplomat provides a fresh perspective on the Cold War.

College students in the twenty-first century will venture into a complex society of diversity, multiculturalism, and global interconnectedness. This collection of essays encourages students to think about and respond critically and analytically to the opportunities and challenges posed by modern globalization. In Aspiration & Dissonance: Readings in History, Religion, and Global Affairs, the contributing authors provide eclectic perspectives on and interpretations of provocative topics, such as slavery, ideological revolutions, imperialism, religious tolerance, and terrorism. Each author's commentary is enhanced by excerpts from primary sources, suggested readings, and questions for further discussion. The interdisciplinary nature of this work makes it an ideal supplementary reader for a wide variety of courses across the humanities and social sciences.