Mg (Ret) Benjamin J. Butler: A Historical Perspective of Leadership on the Battlefield.
Abstract
This paper is a study in leadership. It is based on the World War II experiences of Major General (Retired) Benjamin J. Butler using the July 1990 version of Army Field Manual 22-100 "Military Leadership" as its framework. This study is about a leader who consistently displayed his knowledge, skills, and abilities in meeting battlefield challenges by instilling in his soldiers a will to "fight and win." Though this paper represents only a brief overview of MG Butler's World War II experiences, it archives an important part of history wherein an individual leader demonstrated the motives and traits necessary to be successful in combat and in life. Specifically, this paper emphasizes to students, as future military commanders, the importance of studying history and the challenges faced by past leaders in applying the art of war. As part of the Military History Institute's Senior Officer Oral History Program, Lieutenant Colonel David L. Evans conducted interviews with MG Butler in January and February 1998. These accounts of historically significant events experienced by MG Butler will provide future students and military commanders with a more thorough perspective of leadership on the battlefield in World War II. The MG Butler autobiographical interview transcripts are in the archives at the U. S. Army Military History Institute, 22 Ashburn Drive, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania 17013-5008.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 27, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA345612
Entities
People
- David L. Evans
Organizations
- United States Army War College