Galahad Redux: An Assessment of the Disintegration of Merrill's Marauders
Abstract
Galahad Redux is an attempt to analyze the disintegration of Merrill's 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 unit's 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 commander's greatest strength.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 06, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADB006689
Entities
People
- John B. Gaither
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College