Building a movement always challenges the status quo. Leaders must act, they must willingly risk the things they love and unfortunately, many leaders are frozen by the lethargy of indecision i. Union General George B. McClellan, who was meticulous in his planning and preparations, was also known for not aggressively challenging his opponents on a fast-moving battlefield environment. He chronically overestimated the strength of the enemy and was reluctant to apply principles of mass, frequently leaving large portions of his army unengaged at decisive points ii. At no time was this more evident during the only battle of the Civil War in which McClellan led his troops from start to finish. His performance during the bloody Battle of Antietam blunted General Robert E. Lee’s invasion of Maryland, but also allowed him to eke out a precarious tactical draw and avoid destruction despite being grossly outnumbered on the battlefield iii. His missteps challenged the principles of building cohesive teams thru mutual trust, creating shared understanding, and above all, accepting prudent risks.…
The aim of this paper is to analyze the ideas, theory, command, leadership and management style of Brigadier General William Billy Mitchell and draw a lesson in the context of present and future challenges.…
The First World War invoked feelings of pride in the hearts of the Canadian citizens for the nation as victories were gained on the battlefields by Canadian armies. The victory at Vimy Ridge is one of the battles that stirred within the hearts of Canadians’ a strong pride for their nation, because “for the first time, all four divisions of the Canadian Corps had attacked and triumphed together”. In the battle there were 10 602 casualties, but this did not stop the Canadian army from defeating the enemies and taking command over the whole crest of the Ridge. This victory was a major event that instilled within the hearts of Canadians a great pride for their nation who had taken command over the whole crest of the Ridge by defeated their enemies…
Leading up to the official declaration of war between the United States of America and Great Britain; Boston, Massachusetts was regarded as a geostrategic epicenter of pre-revolutionary activity, and represented a key political and military stronghold in New England and the entire Northern Theater of the war that eventually erupted. Following the punitive passage of the Massachusetts Government Act in 1774, royal British officials took residence in Boston, conducting most of their gubernatorial business from within the confines of the city. British troops, who have been stationed in Boston since 1768 in response to ever-growing civic unrest and public protests (previously culminating in such focal junctures as the Boston Massacre in 1770 and the Boston Tea Party in 1773), served as the city’s garrison, martial police force, and bodyguard to the royal officials. The newly appointed governor of Boston, General Thomas Gage, was at the time also the incumbent commander-in-chief of British forces in all of North America and oversaw a force of 4,000 regulars garrisoned within the city . The commencing actions of this rudimentary corps under his command defined the early onset of the Revolutionary War, highlighted in particular by the Battle of Bunker Hill - the significance and impact of which on the greater war itself is the answer I aim to provide in response to the research question.…
“The rebels have done more work in one night than my whole army would have done in one month,” said the famous British General, William Howe. The Battle of Bunker Hill started when the American forces learned that the British were going to take over the hills around Boston to gain a big tactical advantage. As a result of this information, the American forces secretly moved onto Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill. Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill were two unoccupied hills outside of Boston in Charlestown, Massachusetts, on the North side of Boston Harbor. The Americans built up fortifications during the night and got ready for battle. The American troops built dirt walls stacked six feet high! The Americans worked hard to protect their fort, to…
It was 1944, and the United States had now been an active participant in the war against Nazi Germany for almost three and a half years, nearly six years for the British. During that period occurred a string of engagements fought with ferocious determination and intensity on both sides. There is however, one day which stands out in the minds of many American servicemen more often than others. June 6, 1944, D-Day, was a day in which thousands of young American boys, who poured onto the beaches of Utah and Omaha, became men faster than they would have ever imagined possible. Little did they know of the chaos and the hell which awaited them on their arrival. Over the course of a few hours, the visions of Omaha and Utah Beaches, and the death and destruction…
A good leader encourages the people who work for them to think and problem solve whereas a person in a position of authority can sometimes be reluctant to the process and change. This thought process and resistance to change became glaringly evident in the events leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Many military leaders did not think that the aircraft carrier was a powerful weapon and still relied on the battleship. The Japanese proved how powerful of a weapon the carrier could be.…
On June 6, 1944, our future President Dwight D. Eisenhower who was a general at the time and Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe, gave permission for Operation Overlord. This operation was a massive invasion in Europe during the German Nazi era. Eisenhower’s motivational speech was full of positivity and confidence for the troops. Using phrases such as, “The eyes of the world are upon you,” and “We will accept nothing less than full victory,” shows how the usage in Eisenhower’s words are meant to pressure the soldiers. He therefore wants his men to know that not only does he have expectations for them, but America as well. Eisenhower appeals to the emotions of his audience by targeting the values and purpose of serving…
It is said that fear leads to paralysis in anybody, including great leaders. General Patton overcame his fears by acting on his instinct and making decisive decisions, which often times surprised his enemy leading him to victory. Patton also was a leader with great discipline, which may have been his most recognizable leadership attribute. Patton implemented strict rules that often times were not popular with his subordinates but over time gained him respect and increased morale among his troops. This ultimately led to the tide turning for Patton and the Allied Forces (Leadership With You, Sept. 2012). General Patton is one of the greatest situational leaders of all time, based on his ability to adjust his leadership according to the situation, and surrounded himself with competent people and allowed them to do their job. (Pannone, 2012) (tkdtutor, Feb.…
Lt. Audie L. Murphy’s name stands as one of the most prominent in American military history. He was a figurehead of leadership and the epitome of the seven Army Values (Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage). He was a model for every soldier to follow, one that overcame every odd that was ever against him and rose to conquer every challenge. In his personal memoir “To Hell and Back”, he expressed a very personal view of what it takes to embody these characteristics which would eventually encourage anyone who reads it. In the next few paragraphs I will expound on his leadership and analyze what it really takes to be a leader.…
Everyone loves the story of the underdog. In the J.R.R. Tolkien Lord of the Rings novels, the “Miracle on Ice” hockey game of 1980, and The Rocky boxing movie, we witness an underrated ‘little-guy’ taking down a much larger and more powerful threat. While there are many famous fictional stories of overcoming impossible challenges, the ones from real life moments are possibly the most famous and awe-inspiring. One such case is the American Revolution. With the entire war itself being a triumph over a much more powerful enemy, one battle in particular is truly known to show the mentality of “if there is a will, there is a way”. It is The Battle of Bunker Hill. While the British won the fight in the military sense, it gave a boost to the possibility…
"why did the Allies win?" For Overy, to ask such a question is to presuppose that there was nothing pre-ordained about Allied success (Overy pg 1). To understand the Allied victory, Overy asserts that we must realize that explanations of resources, technology, of fighting men, are not enough on their own to explain victory. The moral dimension to warfare, he asserts, is inseparable from any understanding of the outcome. The role of human agency is extensive. With this…
After my reading of Robert Ferrell’s America’s Deadliest Battle, I was capable of grasping an understanding of the American Expeditionary Force’s preparation for their battle against Germany in 1918, in addition to assessing the quality of some of the officers and men within the AEF, and some of the actions that displayed the weaknesses and strengths of the AEF as well. Additionally, I will be touching basis on other measures that gave the battle at the Meuse-Argonne its name as “America’s deadliest battle,” and discussing my overall opinion on America’s fighting ability in World War I.…
Bibliography: Adams, Michael C. C. The Best War Ever: America and World War II. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 1994. Print.…
Although there were no military battles fought on the mainland of the United States, World War II had a profound effect on the nation as the Federal government mobilized its economic, financial, and human resources to defeat Axis aggression. This war returned the nation to economic prosperity after a decade of dismal depression, promoted the growth of big business, and enhanced a close relationship between industry and the military. Politically, the power of the presidency and influence of the Federal government increased, and socially and economically, the war, through common sacrifice made by all, became a vehicle for improving the status of Americans. In short, the war…