Battle At Best [Paperback]

Marshall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1989

S L A Marshall is justly famous for his unique method of battle analysis. In "Battle at Best" he applies this method of the assessment of data gleaned from on-the-spot interviews with the troops themselves - to eight critical actions of World War II and Korea. Taken together, these battles illustrate the infinite variety of combat experience and reveal new truths about soldiers under fire. From the Korean War, General Marshall highlights the role of Easy Company in the attack on Hill 180 ("Fix Bayonets and Follow Me") and two phases of the 1st Marine Division experience during the Chosin Reservoir operation.From World War II comes the title, the fight against overwhelming odds of one platoon of the 101st Airborne Division at Best, Holland and, most movingly, the self-sacrifice of Private Joe Mann. Also included is an account of the 29th Infantry Division at Omaha Beach, two stories of Pacific combat and, finally, a surprising view of the liberation of Paris-and of Ernest Hemingway who participated.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Jove (September 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515101273
• ISBN-13: 978-0515101270
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,633,505 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A different format for Marshall, December 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Battle at Best (Battery Classics Series) (Hardcover)

S.L.A. Marshall was an official historian for the Army during World War II, Korea and served as an advisor in Vietnam. Most of his work deals with the mental, physical, and emotional problems men faced in combat. He always wanted to show what did not work and why tactics failed in the hopes that people would learn from past mistakes. With that goal, Marshall tends to focus on the "bad" side of combat -- men dying needlessly and commanders who botched operations. Battle at Best is not one of his normal books. Marshall culled his interviews (all his research was carried out in the field with combatants who had just finished an action) and came up with examples that show great heroics. Instead of focusing on what went wrong, SLAM delves into what went right and how officers and men came to make the correct decisions. I am a great fan of Marshall's work and this, along with Men Again Fire, is the most enjoyable and enlightening books that I have read.