World War II

This Thursday, 75 years ago, most of the troops earmarked for the invasion of Normandy made their final pre-deployment movement into the “Sausages.” They would reside within them until called to mount their transport aircraft or board their ships for what would be the largest single purpose operation of our civilization. Here, they would mentally prepare themselves for what lay ahead. It was not particularly pretty, but the program was singularly effective.

The beach today is broad, clean and filled with the life that Liberty bestowed 75 years ago. As I walk, I reflect on what I read and what I heard from those that were here on that day of days.

"The Luckiest Guerrilla: A True Tale of Love, War and the Army" by Patricia Murphy Minch was recently published by First Steps Publishing, a small traditional publisher in Oregon The book is available in several formats through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and others.

Japan’s defeat at Guadalcanal was led by its “closed systems,” the military culture of Gekukojo, and a military strategy dismissive of operational art.

One consistently wrong—but always convenient—prediction has been the improbability of ground wars and the declining utility of ground forces.

Knowing the balance between when to exercise power and when to hold back is vital to maintaining America’s strength.

What is operational art? An example from the Normandy breakout in WWII.

Naiveté clouded the lens through which they viewed military power.

A direct action case study from World War II.

On Memorial Day, read a tale of significant sacrifice.