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Overview
When the United States entered the Great War in April of 1917, there were few officers with any staff training, and none had actually served on large, complex staffs in combat. This work traces the development of the staff of the AEF and describes how Pershing found the generals to command those divisions that fought on the Western Front in World War I. Many of Pershing's generals had been colonels only a few months prior to assuming command of divisions. John J. Pershing's task was to mold a diverse group of men into effective staff officers and into general officers to face the rigors of modern combat. How he accomplished this task, and how well the AEF did, is the focus of this work on the AEF's command and staff structure.
Synopsis
Relates the development of the U.S. command and staff in World War I.
Booknews
Focuses on Pershing and his command and staff: how the staff grew and became a professional organization in a short time; and how the AEF manned the growing number of combat divisions when trained Leavenworth men were in such short supply. The author refers readers elsewhere rather than rehashing the issues Pershing faced with allies in Europe and the government in Washington, or the two main battles that the AEF fought in 1918. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.