Barnabas File

The title of Supreme Commander is rather intimidating, but it is one that was used to define an American from the small town of Abilene, Kansas, who became the most influential military figure of World War Two.  Dwight Eisenhower did not seek out the title, but he defined it by his leadership, intelligence, wisdom, and diplomatic skills. In The Supreme Commander: The War Years of Dwight D. Eisenhower , historian Stephen E. Ambrose gives a clear and concise account of the war years of General Eisenhower, from the time that he was sent to Europe by Chief of Staff George Marshall until the victory over Nazi Germany. Ambrose’s account gave me a new appreciation for Eisenhower’s leadership in four areas. First, I always knew that Eisenhower was a gifted logistician, but Ambrose helps the reader to see how essential to victory was the provision of not only men and equipment, but maintenance and supply lines.  An army can only perform effectively if ...

We may have a hard time understanding the way that Americans approached World War Two.  Everyone was involved in some way.  If you were not in service or did not have a loved one in the military, you probably knew someone who was.  The average citizen was also impacted by rationing and the repurposing of various public services in order to support the war effort. We also might not to understand why men who were, if not at the top of their careers, at least heading in that direction would be willing to give up their livelihoods in order to serve in the military.  In his book Five Came Back:  A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War , Mark Harris writes about five men who were not only willing to serve but actually sought the opportunity.  Directors John Ford, William Wyler, John Huston, Frank Capra, and George Stevens were considered among the top directors in Hollywood prior to the war.  All offered their services to the military and found ...