7 Leadership Lessons of D-Day: Lessons from the Longest Day—June 6, 1944

by John Antal

“Drawing universal truths from urgent battlefield crises, the author provides a terrific guide and training tool for leaders at all levels” (Ralph Peters, New York Times–bestselling author).The odds were against the Allies on June 6, 1944. The task ahead of the paratroopers who jumped over Normandy and the soldiers who waded ashore onto the beaches, all under fire, was colossal. In such circumstances, good leadership can be the deciding factor of victory or defeat. This book is about the extraordinary leadership of seven men who led American soldiers on D-Day and the days that followed. Some of them, like Eisenhower, Theodore Roosevelt Jr., and Lt. Dick Winters, are well known, while others are barely a footnote in the history books.This book is not a full history of D-Day, nor does it cover the heroic leadership shown by men in the armies of the Allies or members of the French Resistance, who also participated in the Normandy assault and battles for the lodgment areas. It is, however, a primer on how you can lead today, no matter what your occupation or role in life, by learning from the leadership of these seven figures.A critical task for every leader is to understand what leadership is. Socrates once said that you cannot understand something unless you can first define it in your own words. This book provides the reader with the means to define leadership by telling seven dramatic, immersive, and memorable stories that the reader will never forget.“Nobody tells a story better than John Antal and nobody knows better how to root out the lessons of history.” —James Jay Carafano, author of Wiki at War

Genres: Leadership, History

293 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 19, 2017

About the author

Colonel John Antal, US Army (Retired)served 30 years in the US Army as a leader, senior staff officer and commander. He commanded tank and combined arms combat units at platoon, company, battalion and regimental level. He is Airborne and Ranger qualified. He has served in sensitive joint, combined Army staff assignments in the US and overseas. He also served as the Special Assistant to the United States Military Academy at West Point, the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. Since his retirement from the US Army in 2003, he has become a successful author, speaker, magazine editor, film adviser and personality, mass-market video game developer, explainer-integrator, journalist, and leadership expert.

Reviews

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book highlighting 7 different actions in which 7 different leadership abilities came to the fore to carry the day during the D-Day invasion. The author focuses just on the American contribution to the operation, and the 7 lessons are well laid out in it's own chapter with the ability named at the beginning of each chapter that makes the read more enjoyable.

The book is not a history of D-Day, but even if you know nothing of the events, the author does give great background info into the operations, though some of it becomes repetitive during the chapters. Some of the stories of these brave men, all officers, are well known, but there are some lesser known actions in the book that makes it an even better read.

The book is well researched and written, and there are some great lessons in here that are worth taking note of. Highly recommended reading!!

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent over view of the D Day operation but more importantly, the lessons in leadership to be learned by future generations.

John Antal has once again taken the reader into the hearts and minds of the men on the field and given us insights into the real key to turning a battle. Not the weapons and the machines or technology but the leadership spirit and drive of the men who motivated others to push fear aside to accomplish the mission.

There is much to be learned from this not just by students of military and military history but of anyone who wishes to motivate others.

Great read, recommend it highly.

[Todd Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Probably will read again to reinforce the leadership lessons discussed

[Joseph Ebuen · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like history and like learning about leadership.... this is the book for you. Antal does a great job of sharing the stories and then extracting the leadership lesson from it. Very fun and interesting read. The stories bring concrete to the leadership lessons he is teaching.

[Mark Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author uses inspiring vignettes from d day to illustrate examples of leadership. Easy to read and practical. Enjoyed it and gave me great context to all that was d day. Picked it up at the new and inspirational Eisenhower memorial in DC.

[John Flint · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring stories of incredible men during the liberation of Normandy.