The Last Cavalryman: The Life of General Lucian K. Truscott, Jr. (Volume 48) (Campaigns and Commanders Series)

“Truscott was one of the really tough generals,” soldier-cartoonist Bill Mauldin of the 45th Infantry Division once wrote. “He could have eaten a ham like Patton for breakfast any morning and picked his teeth with the man’s pearl-handled pistols.” Not one merely to act the part of commander, Mauldin remembered, “Truscott spent half his time at the front—the real front—with nobody in attendance but a nervous Jeep driver and a worried aide.” In this biography of Lucian K. Truscott, Jr., author Harvey Ferguson tells the story of how Truscott—despite his hardscrabble beginnings, patchy education, and questionable luck—not only made the rank of army lieutenant general, earning a reputation as one of World War II’s most effective officers along the way, but was also given an honorary promotion to four-star general seven years after his retirement. For all his accomplishments and celebrated heroic action, Truscott was not one for self-aggrandizement, which may explain in part why historians have neglected him until now. The Last Cavalryman , drawing on personal papers only recently made available, gives the first full picture of this singular man’s extraordinary life and career. Ferguson describes Truscott’s near-accidental entry into the U.S. Cavalry (propelled by Pancho Villa’s 1916 raids) and his somewhat halting rise through the ranks—aided by fellow cavalryman George S. Patton, Jr., who steered him into the nascent armored force at the right time. The author takes us through Truscott’s service in the Second World War, from creating the U.S. Army Rangers to engineering the breakout from Anzio and leading the “masterpiece” invasion of southern France. Ferguson finishes his narrative by detailing the general’s postwar work with the CIA, where he acted as President Dwight Eisenhower’s eyes and ears within the agency. A compelling story in itself, this biography of Lucian K. Truscott, Jr.—a cavalryman to the last—fills out an important chapter in American military history. Truscott Was One Of The Really Tough Generals, Soldier-cartoonist Bill Mauldin Of The 45th Infantry Division Once Wrote. He Could Have Eaten A Ham Like Patton For Breakfast Any Morning And Picked His Teeth With The Man's Pearl-handled Pistols. Not One Merely To Act The Part Of Commander, Mauldin Remembered, Truscott Spent Half His Time At The Front--the Real Front--with Nobody In Attendance But A Nervous Jeep Driver And A Worried Aide. In This Biography Of Lucian K. Truscott, Jr., Author Harvey Ferguson Tells The Story Of How Truscott--despite His Hardscrabble Beginnings, Patchy Education, And Questionable Luck--not Only Made The Rank Of Army Lieutenant General, Earning A Reputation As One Of World War Ii's Most Effective Officers Along The Way, But Was Also Given An Honorary Promotion To Four-star General Seven Years After His Retirement. For All His Accomplishments And Celebrated Heroic Action, Truscott Was Not One For Self-aggrandizement, Which May Explain In Part Why Historians Have Neglected Him Until Now. This Book, Drawing On Personal Papers Only Recently Made Available, Gives The First Full Picture Of This Singular Man's Extraordinary Life And Career. Ferguson Describes Truscott's Near-accidental Entry Into The U.s. Cavalry (propelled By Pancho Villa's 1916 Raids) And His Somewhat Halting Rise Through The Ranks--aided By Patton, Who Steered Him Into The Nascent Armored Force At The Right Time. The Author Takes Us Through Truscott's Service In World War Ii, From Creating The U.s. Army Rangers To Engineering The Breakout From Anzio And Leading The Masterpiece Invasion Of Southern France. Ferguson Finishes His Narrative By Detailing The General's Postwar Work With The Cia, Where He Acted As President Eisenhower' S Eyes And Ears Within The Agency. A Compelling Story In Itself, This Biography Fills Out An Important Chapter In American Military History. Cn The Border With The Horse Cavalry -- The Early Truscotts -- Hawaiian Holiday -- Back To The Mainland -- The Dead -- The Down And Out -- Student And Instructor Again -- Preparing For War -- Called To Washington, 1942 -- A Truscott Returns To England -- First Look At War -- Preparing For Battle -- Invading North Africa -- Running Ike's Advanced Command Post -- Invasion Planning, Sicily -- Loss Force Assault -- The Bloody Pursuit Through Sicily -- Salerno And The Road To Anzio -- Cassino : No Light At The End Of The Tunnel -- Anzio, A Halfway Measure -- Taking Charge -- The Wait -- Southern France, The Perfect Invasion -- Attempting A Cannae -- Return To Italy -- The Final Push -- Last Battle -- The End Of A War And Other Affairs -- Spying On The Spies And Retirement -- A Cavalryman's Last Parade. Harvey Ferguson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents Illustrations Preface Introduction Prologue 1 On the Border with the Horse Cavalry 2 The Early Truscotts 3 Hawaiian Holiday 4 Back to the Mainland 5 The Dead 6 The Down and Out 7 Student and Instructor Again 8 Preparing for War 9 Called to Washington, 1942 10 A Truscott Returns to England 11 First Look at War 12 Preparing for Battle 13 Invading North Africa 14 Running Ike’s Advanced Command Post 15 Invasion Planning, Sicily 16 Joss Force Assault 17 The Bloody Pursuit through Sicily 18 Salerno and the Road to Anzio 19 Cassino 20 Anzio, a Halfway Measure 21 Taking Charge 22 The Wait 23 Southern France, the Perfect Invasion 24 Attempting a Cannae 25 Return to Italy 26 The Final Push 27 Last Battle 28 The End of a War and Other Affairs 29 Spying on the Spies and Retirement 30 A Cavalryman’s Last Parade Afterword Notes Bibliography Index In this biography of Lucian K. Truscott, Jr., author Harvey Ferguson tells the story of how Truscott - despite his hardscrabble beginnings, patchy education, and questionable luck - made the rank of army lieutenant general, earning a reputation as one of World War II's most effective officers.