Most scholars agree that Robert E. Lee's loyalty to Virginia was the key factor in his decision to join the Confederate cause. Richard B. McCaslin demonstrates that beyond such loyalty; Lee's true call to action was the legacy of the American Revolution viewed through his reverence for George Washington. In this thematic biography of the commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. McCaslin locates the sources of Lee's devotion to Washington and shows how this bond affected his performance as a general in battle.
#803894 in Books Jerry E Strahan 1998-10-01 1998-10-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.90 x .80 x 5.90l; 1.17 #File Name: 0807123390400 pagesAndrew Jackson Higgins and the Boats That Won World War II
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Impressive - the Book and the ManBy matt8386An excellent biography of a most impressive man. Higgins had insight; guts; drive and the arrogance to take on the US Navy...and win!"Wars are won in the factory" Stalin once said - given that Higgins build over 12;000 (90% of all naval craft) boats for the navy in WW2; it's a good thing he was so persistent. Andrew Jackson Higgins had a fast learning curve; was an aggressive salesman with a phenomenal memory. He not only mass produced more craft than anyone else; he did so with an eye to those on the factory floor. He took care of 'his' people - indeed; the workers built their own community calling it Our Town.Higgins was not afraid to bend rules - if he didn't exactly have the legal rights to expand his factories into the neighboring cemetery; well; he was sure he would soon get approval (he did). If he needed critically short supply high quality steel; his men could 'liberate' it and later repay for it (he did).Ironically; the company he founded was lost; not to inability to change from war time to peace time production; but for labor disputes created by a multitude of unions fighting amongst themselves over who would represent the workers. Also revealing questions regarding whether or not returning war vets should have priority of jobs vs. those who did not serve.I would have preferred to see some diagrams; cut-aways; blue prints of the craft under discussion; but this is a biography of Higgins; not a technical manual of what he designed. There is enough detail for the layman to understand and this book is fantastic enough without them. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn more about a powerful; self made man; WW2 logistics and the 'can-do' patriotic spirit that existed in WW2.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. was glad that he had the willpower to carry it through ...By Ocean JaguarThis is one of the most informative books that I have ever read in regarding World War II. It is not often that we are privy to the day to day struggles of a hard working genius pitted against the ignorance and prejudice of the US Navy. Mr Higgins goal was to provide the most efficient and safest watercraft for the US Military as they fought against the Axis powers in both the Atlantic and Pacific areas of combat. He was truly a man with a mission; and I for one; was glad that he had the willpower to carry it through to the end.19 of 19 people found the following review helpful. Heroic Citizens Beat Petty Bureaucrats--A Cautionary TaleBy Robert David STEELE VivasI wish every doctoral dissertation were this useful. Under the guidance of Stephen E. Ambrose; well known for his books on the citizen-soldiers of World War II; the author has produced a very readable and moving book about one brilliant caustic citizen's forgotten contributions to World War II. Two aspects of this book jump out at the reader: the first is that Americans are capable of anything when motivated. Andrew Jackson Higgins and his employees; most trained overnight for jobs they never thought to have; was able to create an assembly line producing one ship a day. He was able to design; build and test gun boats and landing craft on an overnight basis. He is remembered by Marines; and especially General Victor Krulak; for having given America the one missing ingredient necessary for successful amphibious landings-in this way; he may well have changed the course of the war and the history of our Nation. The second aspect that jumps out at the reader is that of bureaucratic pettiness to the point of selfishly undermining the war effort within the Department of the Navy and the Bureau of Boats. In careful and measured detail; the author lays out the history of competition between trained naval architects with closed minds; and the relatively under-trained Higgins team with new ideas; and shows how the bureaucracy often conspired to block and demean Higgins at the expense of the Marines and the sailors on the front line. There is less of that sort of thing these days; but it is still with us; as we contemplate the need for a 450-ship Navy that is fully capable for Operations Other Than War (OOTW). This book should be included on the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Chief of Naval Operations lists of recommended professional readings; and it should be studied by anyone contemplating the hidden dangers of bureaucratic interests that often override the public interest and undermine our national security.
