Command Missions: A Personal Story [Hardcover]

Lucian K. Truscott (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 570 pages
• Publisher: Presidio Pr (April 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891413642
• ISBN-13: 978-0891413646
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #147,935 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best World War 2 Memoir, February 25, 2006

By 

Michael Surace "ETO amateur historian" (Binghamton, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Command Missions: A Personal Story (Hardcover)

General Lucian K. Truscott's memoirs are the only WWII comparable to US Grant's. General Truscott commanded the 3rd Infantry Division in Sicily and Italy. He also relieved General Lucas in command of the VI Corps at Anzio. He then led the VI Corps to Rome and the invasion of Southern France. He ended up commanding the 5th Army during the Po River Campaign in Italy.

General Truscott is the grandfather of the fiction writer Lucian Truscott IV. In my opinion the General was gifted with far more literary skills. General Truscott was portrayed in the movie "Patton" as the officer who was ordered to make an amphibious end run around the German lines in Sicily.

General Truscott was probably the best all around Army or Army Group commander in WWII. If you read the Papers of Dwight D. Eisenhower he will know that Truscott was wanted by Ike to lead an army in Overlord, but he couldn't be spared from Italy. He was almost as aggressive as Patton, but without episodes of poor judgement.

His memiors are honest, modest and without self serving. An example is when the 1st,3rd and 4th Ranger battalions were almost totally destroyed in an attack at Anzio, another general intimated that they better come up with an excuse for General George C. Marshal. General Truscott said, "The responsibility is entirely my own."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TRUSCOTT, Gen. Lucien, September 13, 2009

By 

James E. Girzone - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Command Missions: A Personal Story (Hardcover)

Although devoted to a profound, detailed examination of perhaps, one of the greatest military Generals of World War II, this book, additionally, serves as a study in humility in the face of almost genius, obedience and loyalty to the Oath to which he pledged.

General Truscott was a man and Leader, likely ahead of his times when it came to an uncommon, pervasive respect for the uniqueness, honor and resilience of the common man. He observed and practiced those beliefs and convictions and insisted that his subordinate Command expected no less from their charges!

A man of monumental capacity to assess conditions and act accordingly with conviction and uncompromising determination to prevail mark his distinguished career. His military genius, envied by other powerful, politically-connected generals exiled Truscott to the shadows of press coverage and history books. He was always 'on-thefront-lines' with his troops and told reporters if they wished to speak with him, that's were they'd have to go!; many declined!

He conceived of an literally created the distinguished corps of specially trained soldiers who would master the 'state-of-theart' fighting skills whom he name, THE RANGERS, one of the most distinguished military units of history.

This is truly a 'must read' and once done, one cannot help but "know" this man and hold him in highest respect!