Accession Number:

ADB006689

Title:

Galahad Redux: An Assessment of the Disintegration of Merrill's Marauders

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.

Corporate Author:

ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS

Personal Author(s):

• Gaither, John B.

Report Date:

1975-06-06

Pagination or Media Count:

99.0

Abstract:

Galahad Redux is an attempt to analyze the disintegration of Merrills Marauders, by emphasizing the intangible, subjective factors present in the leadership environment. The focus is on the disbandment of the 5307th in August 1944. The causes of the units loss of integrity are related through the perceptions of five men who were there. Their recorded testimony makes it clear that poor discipline, the effect of rotating commanders, a feeling that the unit was not good enough, a lack of attention, and broken promises led to a complete breakdown of morale in June 1944. Re-telling the Marauder story one more time hopefully reinforces two aphorisms that are deeply embedded in American military traditions. One is that soldiers minds are as important as their numbers. The other is that force of character is a commanders greatest strength.

Descriptors:

• *COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS
• *MORALE
• ATTITUDES(PSYCHOLOGY)
• BURMA
• CHINA
• DECISION MAKING
• DEGRADATION
• EFFICIENCY
• ENEMY PERSONNEL
• ENLISTED PERSONNEL
• HEART
• HISTORY
• INFANTRY
• LEADERSHIP
• MILITARY COMMANDERS
• MILITARY FORCES(FOREIGN)
• MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY
• RATINGS
• REACTION(PSYCHOLOGY)
• THESES
• TROPICAL DISEASES

Subject Categories:

• Personnel Management and Labor Relations
• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE