The Making of a Professional - (Contributions in Military Studies) by Henry Gerard Phillips (Hardcover)

About the Book

An examination of the life of General Manton S. Eddy, this study details his experiences in World War II as leader of the U.S. 9th Infantry Division through North Africa, Sicily and France, and subsequently, as commander of XII Corps, into the heart of Germany. While much has been written about the top military leaders of this era, there is little information about corps commanders whose missions were limited to doing battle and whose organizations were tailored exclusively for this task. Eddy's career provides a model for the Army's most ambitious officers, particularly those who, like Eddy, faced the challenge without family connections or the traditional West Point education. He devoted his life to the U.S. Army, enhancing his innate talents through the incorporation of a daily program of self-education.

Eddy had an excellent grasp of the basic principles of military tactics and strategy. He attained this art through home study and assiduous application at the Army's professional education institutions, in particular at the Command and General Staff College, where he served as an instructor for four years. He focused on people, quickly learning and applying basic skills to draw out their best efforts. He came to know what to expect from them in the chaos and under the pressure of combat. This facilitated his development of strong, mission-oriented subordinates. His personal goal was always to maximize all available power at the correct point for crushing his nation's enemies, and to this end, he was extraordinarily successful.

Book Synopsis

An examination of the life of General Manton S. Eddy, this study details his experiences in World War II as leader of the U.S. 9th Infantry Division through North Africa, Sicily and France, and subsequently, as commander of XII Corps, into the heart of Germany. While much has been written about the top military leaders of this era, there is little information about corps commanders whose missions were limited to doing battle and whose organizations were tailored exclusively for this task. Eddy's career provides a model for the Army's most ambitious officers, particularly those who, like Eddy, faced the challenge without family connections or the traditional West Point education. He devoted his life to the U.S. Army, enhancing his innate talents through the incorporation of a daily program of self-education.

Eddy had an excellent grasp of the basic principles of military tactics and strategy. He attained this art through home study and assiduous application at the Army's professional education institutions, in particular at the Command and General Staff College, where he served as an instructor for four years. He focused on people, quickly learning and applying basic skills to draw out their best efforts. He came to know what to expect from them in the chaos and under the pressure of combat. This facilitated his development of strong, mission-oriented subordinates. His personal goal was always to maximize all available power at the correct point for crushing his nation's enemies, and to this end, he was extraordinarily successful.

Review Quotes

"This biography captures the feel of combat from the time when Manton S. Eddy was company commander in World War I. What is rare and remarkable is that it retains that feel through his division and corps command from North Africa through the crossing of the Rhine in World War II. Yet retaining the sense of what it was like at the cutting edge of combat does not prevent Colonel Phillips from analyzing skillfully Manton Eddy's strengths and flaws as a high-level commander, nor from offering fascinating insights into other commanders, notably George S. Patton, Jr."-Russell F. Weigtey Professor of History Temple University

?[A] delightful and rare combination of admiration and scholarship....Phillips successfully manages to pay tribute to his old commander, doing so in a way that completes the record of a soldier who deserved more attention than he recieved in his lifetime.?-Military Review

?A solid biography of one of the best American division and corps commanders in the ETO during World War II....There is a particularly valuable critical analysis of Eddy's strengths and weaknesses. Important reading for anyone interested in the U.S. Army in World War II.?-The NYMAS Newsletter

?I recommend this book to wealthy historians and military leaders. It is an interesting and realistic story of dedication and prevalence in trial.?-The Journal of Military History

?Phillips has written a compelling and inspiring tribute to a gallant, skilled but underrated American soldier.?-ARMY Magazine

?The Making of a Professional is Eddy's first biography, and as such it should serve to bring the general's career and accomplishments to the attention of a larger, contemporary audience.?-Army History

"ÝA¨ delightful and rare combination of admiration and scholarship....Phillips successfully manages to pay tribute to his old commander, doing so in a way that completes the record of a soldier who deserved more attention than he recieved in his lifetime."-Military Review

"[A] delightful and rare combination of admiration and scholarship....Phillips successfully manages to pay tribute to his old commander, doing so in a way that completes the record of a soldier who deserved more attention than he recieved in his lifetime."-Military Review

"I recommend this book to wealthy historians and military leaders. It is an interesting and realistic story of dedication and prevalence in trial."-The Journal of Military History

"Phillips has written a compelling and inspiring tribute to a gallant, skilled but underrated American soldier."-ARMY Magazine

"The Making of a Professional is Eddy's first biography, and as such it should serve to bring the general's career and accomplishments to the attention of a larger, contemporary audience."-Army History

"A solid biography of one of the best American division and corps commanders in the ETO during World War II....There is a particularly valuable critical analysis of Eddy's strengths and weaknesses. Important reading for anyone interested in the U.S. Army in World War II."-The NYMAS Newsletter

About the Author

HENRY GERARD PHILLIPS fought overseas with the 9th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army in Africa and Europe from 1942 to 1945./e After serving as an officer from 1946-1967, he retired Associate Professor of Military Studies, PMC Colleges, Chester, PA 1967-1971. Later he founded and edited a small community newspaper in California. He is the author of three previous books on battles of the 9th Infantry Division.