If you had just jumped against the Germans, what book would you want?

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Friday, October 7, 2011 - 11:12 AM Share

If you were Maj. Gen. James Gavin, sleeping on the ground in Holland after Operation Market Garden, it would be this, as described in a letter to his daughter written in October 1944:

Would you ask Mommie to get me a copy of the latest volume of 'Lee's Lieutenants' by Douglas Southall Freeman, I believe it is Vol. III and has just been published. It may be difficult to obtain. I'll send you a check along when I can get to my checkbook if you will let me know the cost.

(From: P. 137, Barbara Gavin Fauntleroy, The General and His Daughter: The Wartime Letters of General James M. Gavin to His Daughter Barbara.)

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JPWREL

3:51 PM ET

October 7, 2011

Gen. James Gavin a man after

Gen. James Gavin a man after my own heart! Freeman’s superb three-volume history of the Army of Northern Virginia 'Lee’s Lieutenant’s' was not only Gavin’s delight but George Marshall’s also. In fact Marshall became fast friends with D. S. Freeman who at he time was the editor of the Richmond Examiner as I recall.

The VMI graduate Marshall was much attached to the story of Lee and his extraordinary army. In its short life the ANV in my very biased and humble opinion (and I sense perhaps Marshall’s also) was easily the most astonishing fighting force in American history.

Freeman also did a multi-volume biography of George Washington as well as his famous four-volume bio of Robert E. Lee. Freeman, admitted that of his attachment to these two great Virginians his attachment to Lee was the greater.

Years ago I acquired a Freeman signed copy of his ‘Lee’s Lieutenant’s’ that I treasure to this day. My guess would be that I have probably read them front to back at least four or five times in my reading life.

JPWREL

4:50 PM ET

October 7, 2011

An addendum. . .

In my comment above I forgot to mention that D. S. Freeman had a relationship with George Marshall for over twenty years before the war and also maintained a wartime correspondence with Adm. Chester Nimitz another of his friend’s and very avid reader. He knew MacArthur but likely as a result of his tidewater Virginia manners found his flamboyant personality ‘unfortunate’.

TYRTAIOS

5:01 PM ET

October 7, 2011

JPWREL, you astound me. . .

JPWREL, you astound me. . . Freeman's autograph in your Lee's Lieutenants set (mine have torn dust covers)!

You know, Pres. Carter had Jumpin Jim's name on his short list for the job of D/CIA, but settled on Adm. Turner, who leaned toward tech intel collection and let our HUMINT atrophy. . .something I doubt (anecdotal) Gavin would have, considering he used his personal relationship with Le Grand Charles to thaw U.S. relations with France, as JKF's ambassador to that country (an old first sergeant, who had been on embassy duty in Paris told me Gavin always stopped by for a quick word with the Marine watch standers now and then).

JPWREL

5:18 PM ET

October 7, 2011

Gavin was a good guy and

Gavin was a good guy and right as rain on Vietnam. In 1967, he returned from a Vietnam inspection convinced that ''we are in a tragedy.'' As a Brig, Gen. at Normandy he constantly carried an M1 Garand an knew how to use it.

PHIL RIDDERHOF

6:27 PM ET

October 7, 2011

Influential books

Beyond Gen Gavin, the issue of what books Generals are reading or have read is a fascinating one. The two books that I have seen mentioned in a few WWII memoirs are Freeman's "Lee's Lieutenants" and, interestingly enough, John Hershey's "Bell For Adano" (In Buckner's diary on Okinawa, he remarks about setting up civil government and references, "none of that "Bell For Adano" crap").
The most complete description of a General's reading is Nye's excellent "The Patton Mind."

HUNTER

5:21 PM ET

October 8, 2011

Patton Mind

...is excellent. He was a crazy coot, but hellaciously well-read (esp. given that he was likely dyslexic) and damn good in a fight.

MGUNNS

5:14 PM ET

October 8, 2011

Lee's Lieutenants

I remember noticing in my readings about Patton and Chesty Puller that both were huge fans of DSF.