There's a War to Be Won: The United States Army in World War II

Startlingly, in World War II the U.S. Army lost not a single campaign--and only one major battle (Sidi Bou Zid in Tunisia)--out of more than 100 fought around the globe. Perret here describes how Gen. George C. Marshall, the Army chief of staff, created a magnificent field force in double-quick time with no precedent to guide him, developed a systematic approach to training, logistics and fighting, and oversaw victory in several theaters. The narrative is crowded with vivid portraits of the generals who fought in Marshall's army (Eisenhower, MacArthur, Bradley, Patton et al.) and contains a wealth of interesting facts. Perret gives a good account of the development of the Army's ``table of organization & equipment'' as well as tactical doctrine during the campaigns between 1942 and 1945. Included also is a stirring story of Marshall's role in bringing black and nisei GIs into combat formations. By the author of Days of Sadness, Years of Triumph , this is a vastly engrossing chronicle of the creation and deployment of the wartime U.S. Army. Photos. (Nov.)