Description
Book SynopsisJohn Wilson “Iron Mike” O’Daniel was one of the U.S. Army’s great fighting generals of the 20th century. He began his military career with the Delaware Militia in 1914, served on the Mexican border in 1916, received a Distinguished Service Cross in World War I, was Mark Clark’s man for hard jobs in the early days of World War II, and commanded the storied 3rd Infantry Division from Anzio to the end of the war in Europe, ending the war in Salzburg after liberating Munich, and Hitler’s Berghof and Eagle’s Nest on the Obersalzberg, Bavaria, Germany. “Iron Mike “commanded I Corps in Korea 1951–1952 and ended his career as the Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Vietnam in the early days of American involvement there.
LTC Stoy paints a vivid picture of this great American warrior who played an important role in World War II, became an ardent anti-Communist crusader after duty in Moscow as Military Attaché 1948–1950 as the Cold War intensified, laid the foundation for the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, and remained an ardent supporter of President Ngo Dinh Diem while serving as Chairman of the American Friends of Vietnam from his retirement in 1956 until 1963, shortly before Diem’s assassination.
Trade ReviewTimothy Stoy has crafted a superb biography of 'Iron Mike' O’Daniel. Through exhaustive research and the use of techniques not normally seen in a biography, he has clearly told the story of O’Daniel. In doing so, he has done a great service to the public. He has exposed many to a soldier and leader who made huge contributions to the U.S. Army and to the Nation. * Military Review *
Warts and all, we are introduced to the very essence of the man, a complete American warrior, one who spent more time under fire with his front-line troops than behind the safety of his office desk. * AR Gunners 04/01/2023 *
Table of ContentsForeword, Major General Anthony A. Cucolo, III. Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Early Days 2. WWI 3. Nogales and the 25th Infantry Regiment 4. The Interwar Years 5. WWII - ETO and Operation Torch with the 168th Infantry Regiment 6. Arzew, Algeria; Italy - including Sicily, Salerno, Anzio, and Rome 7. France, Germany, and Austria 8. The Infantry Center and School at Fort Benning, Georgia 9. Moscow and Army Ground Forces 10. Korean War and Command of I Corps 11. Indochina and Vietnam 12. The American Friends of Vietnam and the Final Years 13. Conclusion Appendices Bibliography and Sources
