General William E. Depuy: Preparing the Army for Modern War(American Warriors)

This "excellent biography" of one of the US Army's unsung heroes "provides a much-needed re-examination of the early post-Vietnam Army" (Bowling Green Daily News). By the 1970s, the United States Army was demoralized by the outcome of the Vietnam War and shifting attitudes at home. The institution as a whole needed to be reorganized and reinvigorated--and General William E. DePuy was the man for the job. In 1973, DePuy was appointed commander of the newly established Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). By integrating training, doctrine, combat developments, and management in the US Army, he cultivated a military force prepared to fight and win in modern war. General William E. DuPuy is the first full-length biography of this key figure in American military history. With extensive interviews with those who knew DePuy, as well as access to his personal papers, Henry G. Gole chronicles and analyzes his unique contributions to the Army and nation. Gole guides the reader from DePuy's boyhood and college days in South Dakota through the major events and achievements of his life. During World War II, DePuy served in the 357th Infantry Regiment in Europe from the Normandy invasion until 1945, when he was stationed in Czechoslovakia. DePuy was asked by George Patton to serve as his aide; he supervised clandestine operations in China; he was instrumental in establishing Special Forces in Vietnam; and he briefed President Lyndon B. Johnson in the White House. But his finest contribution was fixing a broken Army.

About the Author :
Henry G. Gole has taught at West Point, the U.S. Army College, the University of Maryland, and Dickinson College. He is the author of The Road to Rainbow: Army Planning for Global War, 1934-1940 and Soldiering: Observations from Korea, Vietnam, and Safe Places. In addition, he served as a rifleman in Korea and completed two tours as a Special Forces Officer during the Vietnam War.

Review :
""[DePuy] was a dynamic, intelligent, hard-driving officer whose personality an military record have been well captured by author Henry G. Cole." Journal of America's Military Past" -- "Journal of America's Military Past" ""Readers less familiar with that army might better understand how painfully slow its post-Vietnam healing was, and the extent of heroin addiction, racism, illiteracy, and gener"al systematic dysfunction that junior combat arms leaders continued to confront daily." Military History of the West" -- "Military History of the West" "An excellent biography of a man who has been largely ignored by historians. It provides a much needed re-examination of the early post-Vietnam Army and the men who created and built what is regarded today as the best army in the world." -- "Bowling Green Daily News" "An unbiased and objective study, the book reveals both DePuy's great strengths and his human weaknesses." -- "Air Power History" "Gole not only conducts a comprehensive examination of DePuy's contributions to the Army but also provides insight into the complexities of the man and his motivations.... Well written in a highly engaging style and extremely informative." -- "Marine Corps University Journal" "" -- ""General William E. DePuy had an interesting and significant career spanning from combat in the World War II through the rebuilding of the Army after the Vietnam War. Henry Gole's excellent biography is an important contribution to American military history." Edward M. Coffman, author of The Regulars: The American Army, 1898-1941" -- Edward M. Coffman ""General William E. DePuy: Preparing the Army for Modern War is a superb contribution to our knowledge of our army's transformation and provides much food for thought about the forthcoming challenges of regeneration and reorientation the nation faces."--Parameters" -- ""The book is loaded with valuable information about Gen. William E. Depuy. It answers many questions and leaves the reader wanting to know more about the man."--Army Magazine" --