Special Forces Soldiers Used in Book, The Ugly American by William J. Lederer and Eugene Burdick

The movie 12 O’clock High was filmed and produced in 1949 directly after World War Two. This was a critical moment in American history simply because this was the first time that America was the greatest power globally. Due to this rise in international responsibility from power, patriotism soared in the United States. Culturally films like 12 O’clock High were produced highlighting important roles that were played in the defeat of the Axis powers during World War Two. On a more extensive note, the film displays what leadership influence tactics can be used to drastically turn a unit around during a time of war. This unit, part of the American Army Air Force, is known as the 918th Bomber Group located in England, during the year of 1942. At the beginning of the film, Col. Davenport was the Air Commanding Officer with Lt. Col. Gately as the Air Executive Officer. However, General Savage had to step in and relieve Col. Davenport of command after several major battle losses cause morale to fall to an all-time low. Additionally, Lt. Col. Gately is also relieved of command as Air Executive Officer and placed as an aircraft commander due to his inability to fly missions and be a part of the “team effort”. This is the major turning point in the movie as from this point forward the 918th Bomber Group eventually becomes a brutal fighting force with the help Major Stovall who is the administrator for the Air Commanding Officer. This paper will discuss the interactional framework:

Deceased philosopher Bertrand Russell once said, “War does not determine who is right- only who is left”. Those left are the soldiers of the 1-502nd, specifically Bravo Company 1st plt, and the Janabi family and to a greater extent, the ever-changing global world we all live in today. The tragic events that conspired in a small Iraqi village became a microcosm of how leadership failures at every level shaped the actions of a few soldiers who committed atrocious acts. One can also see how a high operational tempo, along with prolonged violence and death, has on a person’s psyche. It is the ugly side of war that the average American citizen may not want to hear or talk about. For a soldier, it is inevitably what they train their

In chapter two, weThe Special Operations Forces (SOF) Imperatives are the foundation for conducting Special Operations; however, they also can serve as a guide to ensure success for American efforts abroad. As Special Forces Soldiers, we are constantly in positions where we are working with other nations. Our actions can cause political implications, both good and bad. It is important to adhere to the SOF Imperatives and be aware of the effects that our decisions can have. In the book, The Ugly American, there are many examples of how characters either applied or ignored SOF Imperatives. In this paper, I will demonstrate how the characters Louis Krupitzyn, Father John Finian, and Colonel Edwin Hillandale applied SOF Imperatives to reach their

“It is easier to dress soldiers in bright uniforms and have them march to the sound of a fife-and-drum corps than it is to have them ride six hundred miles through snake-infested desert on the back of camels.” “Underdog strategies are hard.” (p 32)

Throughout the film Seal Team Six: The Raid of Osama Bin Laden, John Stockwell (director) displays the themes of The Club and Heroism like it was shown in the works of Marlantes' book What it is Like to Go to War. The positive and negative ideas within the film are explained by the reviewers and I by going over the true thoughts that we have thought about after watching this film. Also, two reviewers demonstrate their position on the movie and what sticks out to them in regards to the people, the storyline, and themes.

BG Clayton had time to piece together a plan, it would include the 19th Special Forces Group, the 184th Infantry Regiment (Airborne), the Marines out of Camp Pendleton which he already had buy-in from General Charkin and the Air Force at Travis and March Air Force Bases. This was outside of what the Branch Commanders had already planned as a response to Texas entering the war on the side of the SSA. The plan was a major reinforcement of Fort Benning, the 184th would jump into Benning. The 19th SF would HALO onto Lawson Army Airfield and secure it allowing for the Marines to be brought in. Once the Marines had landed they would take over the security of the airfield and then move the main force to fort Benning and its surrounding area.

The Special Operations Force (SOF) Imperatives prescribe key operational requirements that Special Forces Soldiers must incorporate into their mission planning and execution for the greatest chance at mission success. The Ugly American is a fictional book first published in 1958 that offers an insight to American arrogance, incompetence, and corruption, but bears a remarkable resemblance of how America stills thinks and functions abroad today. The book portrays characters serving as foreign dignitaries in Southeast Asia whom, for the most part, were grossly ineffective in their duties. A number of these characters served in key positions that could have made a difference in the struggle with communism had they incorporated the SOF

Louis Krupitzyn used the Special Operations Imperatives to his benefit on several occasions. He understood the operational environment, which ensured his successes in Sarkhan. His thorough study of his eventual country of assignment as an ambassador provided the basis of his understanding. He also anticipated and controlled psychological effects with great ease.

As proper education is essential to succeed in life, so is the adaption to social apprehension. Students within the M.U.S.D. are almost destined to have relation to someone active in military involvement. The reading of B.H.D. gives and understanding of what people in the military do for our country. “Americans watched on television an angry mob drag the body of a dead U.S. soldier through the streets of Mogadishu” (Matray). Having personal ties with soldiers active in battle allows M.U.S.D. students to connect to the intensity of the event in Black Hawk Down. Bowden’s book covers the primary importance to stay humble. Arrogance is a key to failure. As seen in B.H.D., “the over-confidence of the Americans ultimately led to more casualties” (Anderson). One must “count the cost” before going into battle with an arrogant and confident mind. Examination of all perspectives in all situations is another essential factor to success. With Bowden’s fluent change of perspective throughout the book, students

Over the last ten years, the United States has enjoyed unequalled success in multiple campaigns while often in protracted conflict, and astoundingly each victory has been achieved with an all-volunteer force. These accomplishments are a byproduct of the tenacity, personal character, and ethos of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) men and women who are determined to win the fight no matter what the cost; however, it must be considered that this great strength can also precede a great weakness, “forgetting.” The SOF community dare not forge into the future until it considers the lessons that can be learned from the past. “There is nothing new except what has been forgotten.” (Antoinette)

The main wave of the paratroopers drops were accompanied by another wave of diversionary drops. The diversionary planes dropped off chaff, dummies and noisemakers at areas away from the actual Drop Zones. The main wave went around the Cotentin peninsula and entered the German airspace over the west Cotentin coast. They flew in the northwest direction over the Drop Zones, and exited through Utah Beach.

In the case reading “Darker Shades of Blue: A Case Study of Failed Leadership”. This case study showed how Lt. Col. Arthur “Bud” Holland’s used his personal power to influence his leadership to allow him to take uncalculated risks for over three years, which resulted in the crash of Czar 52, killing not only himself, but several other airmen as well. This case also showed how the leadership did not use its position power to stop Lt. Col Holland from exhibiting his risky behavior. In fact, the article states that there is no evidence to indicate that commanders at any level took any action as a result of Lt. Col. Holland’s flight activities.

Paul Du Quenoy is a prolific historian with a plethora of works including books, book collaborations, articles, and review essays on topics spanning a wide swath of Russian history. He has worked in multiple educational establishments, and currently gives lectures on history at the American university of Beirut. This source is an incredible trove of information on the intricacies of the opinions surrounding an overarching topic in Khrushchev's downfall: his foreign policy initiatives and army management. This corroborates the topic of the industrial-military complex in the work Nikita Khrushchev, as well as offer direct references to a report made just for the sake of Khrushchev's dismissal that lists in detail exactly why Khrushchev's foreign

Every boy in his lifetime have a period of time where they wanted to be a hero, to prove they are a man. Henry has done exactly that, by joining the army. This book is called The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. This book is about Henry joining the army wanting to a hero but finds himself doubting his courage. Stephen Crane uses The main character Henry and his green regiment to display the condition and emotions of a soldier and a regiment as a whole.

Rarely are we able to have face to face contact with great leaders let alone have enough time to hear their stories on the battlefield and what secrets lead them to success. A young future military officer may not have the opportunity to meet such great leaders or have the time to interview them but what they do have is time to read. Pete Blaber’s “The Mission, The Men, and Me” exposes his on the ground account of the operations he has commanded and further explains the many guiding principles that lead him to much success in all his endeavors, personal and military. Future officers