Team America: Patton, MacArthur, Marshall, Eisenhower, and the World They Forged – A Biography of Four Military Leaders Who Saved the Free World

by Robert L. O'Connell

Now in paperback, from national bestselling author and acclaimed military historian Robert L. O’Connell, a dynamic history of four military leaders whose extraordinary leadership and strategy led the United States to success during World War I and beyond. By the first half of the twentieth century, technology had transformed warfare into a series of intense bloodbaths in which the line between soldiers and civilians was obliterated, resulting in the deaths of one hundred million people. During this period, four men exhibited unparalleled military leadership that led the United States victoriously through two World Wars: Douglas MacArthur, George Patton, George Marshall, and Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower; or, as bestselling author Robert O’Connell calls them, Team America. O’Connell captures these men’s unique charisma as he chronicles the path each forged—from their upbringings to their educational experiences to their storied military careers—experiences that shaped them into majestic leaders who would play major roles in saving the free world and preserving the security of the United States in times of unparalleled danger. O’Connell shows how the lives of these men—all born within the span of a decade—twisted around each other like a giant braid in time. Throughout their careers, they would use each other brilliantly in a series of symbiotic relationships that would hold increasingly greater consequences. At the end of their star-studded careers (twenty-four out of a possible twenty-five), O’Connell concludes that what set Team America apart was not their ability to wield the proverbial sword, but rather their ability to plot strategy, give orders, and inspire others. The key ingredients to their success was mental agility, a gravitas that masked their intensity, and an almost intuitive understanding of how armies in the millions actually functioned and fought. Without the leadership of these men, O’Connell makes clear, the world we know would be vastly different.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, American History, World War II, Military History, Politics

576 pages, Hardcover

Published May 17, 2022

About the author

Robert L. O'Connell is an American historian, intelligence analyst, and author known for his thought-provoking works on war, weaponry, and human aggression. With a career spanning both public service and academia, he spent three decades as an intelligence analyst at the National Ground Intelligence Center and later served as a visiting professor of defense analysis at the Naval Postgraduate School.
O'Connell's books blend historical insight with philosophical inquiry. His acclaimed works include Of Arms and Men, Sacred Vessels, and Ride of the Second Horseman, each exploring the evolution of warfare and its roots in human behavior. He also authored the illustrated volume Soul of the Sword and ventured into fiction with Fast Eddie: A Novel in Many Voices.
Driven by a lifelong passion for storytelling, O'Connell has described his writing process as a trance-like state where ideas seem to flow from an external source. Whether writing history or fiction, his work reflects a deep engagement with the human condition through the lens of conflict and creativity.

Reviews

[Dan Fendel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the information is very interesting, but I have to say this author's style is so painful to read and so full of himself and smarmy that it makes the book an ordeal instead of a pleasure. He mixes metaphors, thinks he knows language he misuses, and generally writes about his personal predelictions (you'd think a book that starts well before WWI wouldn't compare EVERY moment in these men's lives to the post-Cold-War Atomic Bomb universe, but that's the author's hobbyhorse and he rides it endlessly.) For one example, he calls the aides and officers to these four generals "henchmen" over and over again--a term that means the helpers of CRIMINALS. He uses endless sports analogies that are tortured and add nothing to the story. He gets some basic history dead wrong. AGAIN, the four men are fascinating, and learning about their lives and experiences that aren't well-known (the reason I bought the book) is worthwhile and interesting to any buff or fan of biography and history and this period....but wading through the author's smartass ego crapola to get to it is WORK. I have never been so HAPPY to be finished with a book as I was when I finished this one and was tempted to drop it mid-stream many, many times. Good content, painful style, so be forewarned if you have taste in good writing and hate bad writing as much as I do.

[Chuck McGrady · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent retelling of the military strategy and the history of World War II. It is told from the perspective of four army leaders: Patton, MacArthur, Marshall, and Eisenhower. Most of this book relates to the Atlantic theater, although Patton was in the Pacific theater. A similar book is The Admirals by Walter R. Borneman who highlights the Five-Star Admirals that won the sea war (but which includes a whole lot about MacArthur which is largely consistent in its description of him).

My take: Patton was no doubt a great military leader in the field, but was otherwise a very difficult and egotistic person. MacArthur was much like Patton---not lacking in ego. Marshall was someone I would have liked to have met. I loved the description of his leadership skills. Eisenhower obviously had the largest role, ultimately, when he was elected President. He was much like Marshall. Again, someone I would have like to have met.

[Brendan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ambitious book is effectively four biographies in one, chronicling the lives from birth-to-death of the four standout American military leaders of WWII: Patton, the tactical genius, MacArthur, the master of the Pacific Theater, Eisenhower, who won the European war, and Marshall, the strategist and armorer.

It mostly succeeds, explaining the career paths that led the generals to their key roles in WWII and the experiences in WWI that shaped them. All but Patton, who died shortly after WWII ended, had "second acts" in the Korean War (MacArthur), the Marshall Plan and as US President, which O'Connell also covers.

A challenge with the four-biographies-at-once approach is that there are many names and it's hard to keep track of who is on whose staff at any time and who is allied or at odds with whom. This isn't helped by O'Connell's inconsistent naming conventions. Sometimes it's MacArthur, other times "Mac" or "Doug." Then there are the two Georges - Patton or Marshall.

I wasn't persuaded this was a "Team," either. The four generals are sometimes rivals and often are in totally different places doing different things. This "team" idea also leads to the most annoying part of the book: the incessant use of sports metaphors. You've got generals "on deck," a "murderer's row" of talent, and a war in the "early innings." It's annoying both because sports metaphors are so trite and cliche and also because it's inappropriate to compare war, which is serious and deadly, to games, which are not. A small battle in which a hundred people died is not "spring training."

[Duncan Swann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great overview of the coming-of-America as heralded by these 4 men. Good mix of military history with biography, expertly handled and weaved into a narrative. Paints a picture of the threat of nuclear war too and how each of these men perceived the changing nature of war (as they were all generals at heart).

[Jack Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the book. The author did a good job of telling each story while connecting them together. Obviously hard to balance the lifetime accomplishments and stories of the 4 men but I would have enjoyed less time spent on their youth/education. All in all would definitely recommend

[Bill Linton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know this is a recent release, but I find it hard to believe that readers of this book would rate but not review it.

This could have been a seminal work on four of the most important warriors in WW. II. In fairness, this is an incredible well researched work. Mr. O’Connell does a masterful job of showing how their interactions over the course of their careers shaped what a ‘murderers’ row’ of US Army all-stars.

While I knew roughly 70% of the material shared here, how their relationships were forged and the resulting success from this was illuminating. Even if one is well versed in the lives of the individuals, how their interactions during and after WW I shaped the success of the USA’s war efforts in WW II, and in the case of Marshall and Eisenhower, their impact on the US and Europe, this books offers an impressive trove of new perspective.

This could have been a 5 star effort, in my opinion, we’re it not for two things. First, Mr. O’Connell use of baseball analogies goes to far. After the first quarter of the book, they become annoying and trite. Referring continually to the President as the team’s manager becomes disrespectful. Finally, in the book’ last pages, he turns from capturing history to editorializing. Save the editorializing for the papers.

Still, this is a fascinating read well worth the investment.

[Bill Manzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Team America is a combined look at the lives and military careers of four of America's greatest military leaders during World War II. Each of these leaders has had much written about them so I was a bit apprehensive about this approach but it worked. It is not at all comprehensive but will give a reader not overly familiar with these military giants a great look at their lives and careers. The interactions between them were not as extensive as you might have thought so the book really focuses on the individuals.

The book offers a detailed and insightful analysis of each of these four generals, exploring their backgrounds, personalities, leadership styles, and strategic vision. The author does an excellent job of bringing these legendary figures to life, revealing their strengths, weaknesses, and the challenges they faced during the war.

There certainly is plenty to write about. Whether it's Patton's early commitment to mechanized warfare, MacArthur's daring amphibious landing at Inchon, Marshall's tireless efforts to coordinate between the services and the massive egos of the individual commanders, or Eisenhower's masterful planning of the D-Day invasion, the book offers a vivid and engaging account of these historic events.

There are many very interesting pieces of history that tell us much about these leaders in the book. The one I would highlight came from Ike, which the author highlights as a leadership trait that showed Ike to be cold-blooded, and willing to trample friends and utilize those he was not crazy about if that is what he thought needed to be done to accomplish a necessary task. In the example Ike was willing to run over Omar Bradley to get the job done.

“His solution tells us a lot about the real Dwight D. Eisenhower; when pressed, he could be ruthless to his friends and reliant on those he despised—anything to get the job done. In this case, he turned over Bradley’s First and Ninth Armies to Bernard Montgomery. He may have been his personal bête noire, but Monty’s headquarters was already in the northern sector, and Eisenhower knew nobody was a better battlefield commander, the energizer needed to get Simpson and Hodges back in the fight. It worked like magic: Montgomery immediately began to “sort things out” and “tidy up the mess,” scattering order over chaos almost like pixie dust. He certainly stabilized the north, but, being Montgomery, the blowback was his backstabbing campaign to also replace Ike. Then there had been the matter of telling Bradley.
“By God Ike, I cannot be responsible to the American people if you do this. I resign.”
“Brad, I—not you—am responsible to the American people. Your resignation means absolutely nothing. . . . Well, Brad those are my orders.”

Team America.

The book provides other valuable insights into the leadership qualities that made these men successful, such as their ability to inspire their troops, their strategic thinking, and their willingness to take risks when necessary. We also get a look at the personal relationships between these generals, to the extent they existed, and their subordinates, as well as their interactions with political leaders such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.

Despite having read many military histories of World War II I found "Team America” to be an excellent book that offers a captivating look into the lives and careers of some of America's greatest military leaders. It is recommended.

[Sheila Eddings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this book fascinating. It starts chronologically by date of birth and does a section on each general from his family history, his early years, etc. and takes each man to the point where their lives will begin to intersect (military academies, etc.). I thought the in-depth sections on each of them gave a rich background showing how they came to view the world, the military, etc.
Then the chapters continue with the overlapping stories of scholastic achievement or not, entrance into military academies or not, how their families adapted to their choice of career or not and how they viewed WWI which greatly depended on their proximity to trench warfare. As world events built toward WWII, some hot stars before others, some t great reputations and others floundered a bit.
The final chapters of the book talk about how WWII played out for each of them, decisions made, policies developed and their varying attitudes to the new reality of war. In the new atomic age, all out war by any combatants could mean the end of the world so how do we manage conflict in a way that doesn’t take us to that brink. Learned a lot and gained great respect for Eisenhower, as a general, poker player and President.
Highly recommend the book, not just as biographies but as a thoughtful discussion of how war changes from before WWI to after and then after WWII. Good read and lots of very well researched information.

[Gunnar Esiason · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really informative and engaging read… minus the incessant baseball metaphor. Team America is a thoughtful look at four of America’s most important leaders during the cataclysmic shift from the pre-war era to the modern era. While I felt like I knew a bit about each from other period pieces, Team America does a great job bringing the four together and providing the context that linked them across their lifetimes.

Be warned that while the writing is crisp, colorful and engaging, the constant baseball team metaphors run dry almost immediately. Maybe it was an attempt to be creative? Instead, it’s distracting and out of context. In truth, the “team” presented as something akin to a baseball team leaves this book somewhere between 3-4 stars, but I rounded up because the subject matter, when not being told through the lens of a game, is really quite good.

[Vanessa Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a HUGE challenge for me. I am glad I went for the audiobook version in this case, I do not think I would have made it through using a traditional printed book. I am glad I pushed through, this is truly an incredible read.

The author did a fantastic job of weaving together the stories of Patton, MacArthur, Marshall and Eisenhower without reaching. I appreciated his commitment to including the personalities of each man, humanizing them while also talking about their impact on the war. I most enjoyed learning about Eisenhower, but since he became president, there was just more content about him in general I think.

If you're interested in American history around this period, this one is worth a read.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read just about every book about this group of military generals. After reading so many books on all these characters I didn't feel it had anything new that hasn't already appeared in a slew of sources for many decades, but that is just me. For the first time reader it has wealth of information that is interesting and compelling look into each person's personality and personal life. O'Connell captures these men's unique charisma as he chronicles the path each forged from their upbringings to their educational experiences to their storied military careers. A terrific overview of each man's ascent up the ranks, career successes and setbacks. The first, among many WWII histories I've read, to convey in detail the incredible contributions these men have made to this country.

[Justin.Brouillette · Rating 5 out of 5]

With four generals all of whom have incredible stories, it seems like a foreboding task to cover them all in one work. However, Robert O'Connell does it well, especially showing where the characters cross over with one another. There are many great insights when considering all of these men together, and while much of it can seem like a review from history class, there are plenty of new things to be learned along the way. The author also makes heavy use of sports metaphors which sometime drive home the point and at other times just seem cheesy. All in all great read for anyone interested in this era of history.

[Jim Meehan · Rating 5 out of 5]

General Patton was once my Dad’s boss!

I read the book to better understand my father’s role in the Third Army that he was drafted into in 1942. He served as Sargent in Intelligence G-2 Section and awarded a Bronze Star. But I learned so much more about his world that he continued to live in after his service and into his years as a War Plans Officer in the Air-force Reserve and Finance Center. In a world with autocrats peak out or in your face this book will give you hope that democracy will prevail. Once leaders of character step forward.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four of America's greatest soldiers and generals were all on the world's stage at the same time. As I've read through the biographies of great American's, I always find myself asking the age-old question, do the times make the men or the men make the times? The more a learn, the more I think the answer is both. You cannot truly have one without the other.

This book really takes you through the careers of all four generals from their (sometimes inauspicious) beginnings to the (sometimes bitter) ends. It's a comprehensive look at not only four generals, but four wars (WWI, WWII, Korea, and Cold). My only real complaint is that in interweaving the four's narratives, I sometimes lost track of which one we were with at the time.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much! I love to learn about the different perspectives of major events and how different thinkers solve problems. With this book, I got to get inside the minds of four of the Generals during a major time of war. Learning about their lives from childhood, through their military training was interesting. Then to see how they applied lessons from life to leading people.

[Richard Littel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author does a wonderful job of bringing in details that bring the four subjects of the book to life and to give insight as to why they were extraordinary individuals who provided leadership during one of the most crucial periods of World history. The only mild criticism I have of this book is there is a bit overuse of the “Baseball Team” analogies. Overall though, an excellent read.

[Mitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very solid story of Generals Patton, MacArthur, Marshall, and Eisenhower, including their early life, formation in the Army of WWI, and then how they all rose to prominence during the Second World War. Very interesting how their lives somewhat converged from time-to-time and also how each never had a strong tie with one another. I enjoyed this one.

[Raymond Pohl · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible writing style , sorry to say. The historical facts were good. Too many cliches and bromides on every page to introduce the accompanying subject matter. A difficult "read" and I had to quit at 11%

[HAROLD H CLAUSEN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inside of the warriors

Well researched examination of 4 great leader/warriors. Warts and all. Nicely balanced tome.
I remember the events happening, but interesting to read more of the inside details.

[Chris Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of all time. The stories told both simultaneously and separately weaved together perfectly.

If you nit pick, it’s 4 biographies weaved into one. You aren’t getting the depth… but this to me is a perfect 200 level view of these 4 and their impact on US History.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four biographies in one--I liked the format. It was an excellent book, but it took a big effort to get through it.

[Doug]

Interesting recap of four individuals who really did not like each other but lead the United States through WWII

[Jim Benton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched and smartly written. But the baseball analogy wears 5jin after the first 400 pages

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

We should all be lucky enough to like through difficult time with great men protecting us. Not perfect, but great. I only hope that the USA has those kind of men ready today if need be.

[J.w. Larrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about the four commanding generals of WW2. They were so integral to the ultimate victory that our nation achieved.

[Linda]

DNF

[Barry Davidoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fascinating book about four of the greatest generals in American history. The author has a true grasp of all the information and is able to write a very convincing history.
The book compares and contrasts the styles of each of the four. Patton is clearly the best warrior but his behavior constantly produced issues. The author admires Ike the most. Ike was very hard working, a true politician and a master of understanding the entire complex scene.
O'Connell gives credence to Ike having an affair with Kay Summersby. This is still questionable and though Kay was part of his immediate enterouge historians always will debate how close they truly were.
The author has a nice style in developing each general at a point of time and not skipping back and forth too much.
A truly excellent and very readable book about the generals who led World War II