The Fifth Star: High Command in an Era of Global War
In modern times, ten Americans rose to five-star rank: Pershing (who chose to wear only four stars), Leahy, Marshall, King, Arnold, MacArthur, Nimitz, Halsey, Eisenhower, and Bradley. In concert with the Roosevelts, Wilson, Truman, and Sir Winston Churchill, they were at the helm as the world transformed from the machinations of regional despots to an era of global war. With few exceptions, these men exercised their responsibilities with remarkable integrity and ability. The first part of this book reviews the biography and military highlights of each five-star; the second analyzes and compares the ten to identify common features of the elements of command and leadership.

While studying the careers of these distinguished men, Hall also provides an insight into the analysis of war. He explains that war operates on five levels of perspective: heroism, tactics, operations, theaters, and national purpose. When these levels conflict, even the best leaders are fortunate to escape with their reputations intact. This volume details how these commanders achieved success by understanding and properly maintaining these different perspectives almost unfailingly. Consequently, they reached the pinnacle of power in the military profession.

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The Fifth Star: High Command in an Era of Global War
In modern times, ten Americans rose to five-star rank: Pershing (who chose to wear only four stars), Leahy, Marshall, King, Arnold, MacArthur, Nimitz, Halsey, Eisenhower, and Bradley. In concert with the Roosevelts, Wilson, Truman, and Sir Winston Churchill, they were at the helm as the world transformed from the machinations of regional despots to an era of global war. With few exceptions, these men exercised their responsibilities with remarkable integrity and ability. The first part of this book reviews the biography and military highlights of each five-star; the second analyzes and compares the ten to identify common features of the elements of command and leadership.

While studying the careers of these distinguished men, Hall also provides an insight into the analysis of war. He explains that war operates on five levels of perspective: heroism, tactics, operations, theaters, and national purpose. When these levels conflict, even the best leaders are fortunate to escape with their reputations intact. This volume details how these commanders achieved success by understanding and properly maintaining these different perspectives almost unfailingly. Consequently, they reached the pinnacle of power in the military profession.

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The Fifth Star: High Command in an Era of Global War

The Fifth Star: High Command in an Era of Global War

by George M. Hall
The Fifth Star: High Command in an Era of Global War

The Fifth Star: High Command in an Era of Global War

by George M. Hall

Hardcover

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Overview

In modern times, ten Americans rose to five-star rank: Pershing (who chose to wear only four stars), Leahy, Marshall, King, Arnold, MacArthur, Nimitz, Halsey, Eisenhower, and Bradley. In concert with the Roosevelts, Wilson, Truman, and Sir Winston Churchill, they were at the helm as the world transformed from the machinations of regional despots to an era of global war. With few exceptions, these men exercised their responsibilities with remarkable integrity and ability. The first part of this book reviews the biography and military highlights of each five-star; the second analyzes and compares the ten to identify common features of the elements of command and leadership.

While studying the careers of these distinguished men, Hall also provides an insight into the analysis of war. He explains that war operates on five levels of perspective: heroism, tactics, operations, theaters, and national purpose. When these levels conflict, even the best leaders are fortunate to escape with their reputations intact. This volume details how these commanders achieved success by understanding and properly maintaining these different perspectives almost unfailingly. Consequently, they reached the pinnacle of power in the military profession.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780275948023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date: 03/30/1994
Pages: 248
Product dimensions: 6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.62(d)
Lexile: 1240L (what's this?)

About the Author

GEORGE M. HALL graduated from West Point in 1958 and served five years in the Corps of Engineers. He left the service to teach, returbaning to active duty from 1977-1982. He is a graduate of the Air War College, the Naval War College, and the Army War College and earned his doctorate at American University. He is a frequent contributor to professional jourbanals of all three services, and presently teaches at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona.

Table of Contents

Preface
The Principals
Global Olympus
John Joseph Pershing
William Daniel Leahy
George Catlett Marshall
Ernest Joseph King
Henry Harley Arnold
Douglas MacArthur
Chester William Nimitz
William Frederick Halsey, Jr.
Dwight David Eisenhower
Omar Nelson Bradley
Perspective
Elements of Command
Facets of Leadership
Entanglements
Comparisons
Summing Up
Index

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