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Tiger Jack
SPECIAL EDITION LIMITED TO 500 COPIES AUTOGRAPHED 1979 Hardcover Edition By Pulitzer Prize winning author, Hanson W. Baldwin (March 22, 1903 - November 13, 1991) was the long-time military editor of the New York Times. He won a Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of WWII. Prompt shipping with a Free Delivery Confirmation.
- GenresBiography
198 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1979
10 people want to read
About the author
Hanson W. Baldwin
67 books4 followersHanson Weightman Baldwin was the longtime Military Analyst of the New York Times. His coverage of the early days of the Second World War earned him a Pulitzer Prize. During his long career, he wrote and/or edited many books, primarily in the field of politico-military history.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 10, 2020
Looking for an example of how the U.S. Army intends to fight today? Tiger Jack lays it out from a point in the past. Major General John Wood led the 4th Armored Division in Europe during WWII and epitomizes the Army's culture of combat leadership, known as mission command.
Wood ignored the formalism of WWI ordered warfare and created a culture of action in his unit. He had a system to get his instructions out quickly. Here he gave oral instructions to subordinates leaving his staff to write short and simple orders to synchronize the essential. The hallmarks of the division were rapid flanking movement, deep penetration, and constant movement coupled with violent execution of fire and maneuver. Liddell-Hart said Wood was the foremost U.S. expert in maneuver warfare.
About a third of this short book is from Wood's own hand. Baldwin uses Wood's papers extensively and has quotes from several of Wood's subordinates who became generals, most notably Creighton Abrams. It is an easy read that can be done on a Saturday and leaves you with a philosophy to ponder.
Wood ignored the formalism of WWI ordered warfare and created a culture of action in his unit. He had a system to get his instructions out quickly. Here he gave oral instructions to subordinates leaving his staff to write short and simple orders to synchronize the essential. The hallmarks of the division were rapid flanking movement, deep penetration, and constant movement coupled with violent execution of fire and maneuver. Liddell-Hart said Wood was the foremost U.S. expert in maneuver warfare.
About a third of this short book is from Wood's own hand. Baldwin uses Wood's papers extensively and has quotes from several of Wood's subordinates who became generals, most notably Creighton Abrams. It is an easy read that can be done on a Saturday and leaves you with a philosophy to ponder.
March 24, 2025
This book was a rare find after years of searching. Very few copies were printed. Written by Pulitzer Prize winner Hanson Baldwin in 1979, it is both a story of leadership and command, and a revealing essay on the relationships amongst the US Third Army's commanders in Europe, in World War II.
It is most of all an inspiring read about one of WW2 's most successful generals. General John S. Wood led one of the most storied, most successful armored divisions - the 4th Armored, in General Patton' s Third Army. Wood and Patton had a mix of similarities and contrasts in temperament, tactical techniques, motivation, and leadership acumen, all of which both complemented and contrasted their characters. This mix led to a command relationship that was almost paternal, except that the ranks and command structure did not always manifest who was father and who was son. After having led the 4th Armored through the exhilirating Normandy breakout, the race across France, and the challenging Lorraine campaign, Wood was relieved of command and sent home to "recuperate," on the eve of the pivotal. Battle of the Bulge. Why?
I was intrigued by Wood's performance, his complex relationships with his Corps commander, General Manton Eddy, and his Third Army Commander, Patton. Did I admire Wood for his bold if rebellious leadership, or Patton for the latter's time-honored decision to preserve and respect the Army's command structure? Interestingly, Wood's 4th Armored Division performed outstandingly in the relief of Bastogne, just weeks after Wood's departure While they had a new commander, the men of the 4th Armored always looked to Wood as their true leader.
Among the hundreds of WW2 histories on my shelf, I treasure this rare first edition volume the most.
It is most of all an inspiring read about one of WW2 's most successful generals. General John S. Wood led one of the most storied, most successful armored divisions - the 4th Armored, in General Patton' s Third Army. Wood and Patton had a mix of similarities and contrasts in temperament, tactical techniques, motivation, and leadership acumen, all of which both complemented and contrasted their characters. This mix led to a command relationship that was almost paternal, except that the ranks and command structure did not always manifest who was father and who was son. After having led the 4th Armored through the exhilirating Normandy breakout, the race across France, and the challenging Lorraine campaign, Wood was relieved of command and sent home to "recuperate," on the eve of the pivotal. Battle of the Bulge. Why?
I was intrigued by Wood's performance, his complex relationships with his Corps commander, General Manton Eddy, and his Third Army Commander, Patton. Did I admire Wood for his bold if rebellious leadership, or Patton for the latter's time-honored decision to preserve and respect the Army's command structure? Interestingly, Wood's 4th Armored Division performed outstandingly in the relief of Bastogne, just weeks after Wood's departure While they had a new commander, the men of the 4th Armored always looked to Wood as their true leader.
Among the hundreds of WW2 histories on my shelf, I treasure this rare first edition volume the most.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews