Black '41: The West Point Class of 1941 and the American Triumph in World War II

by Bill Yenne, Michael J.L. Greene (Foreword by)

Black ’41 opens with the arrival of the class of 1941 at the gates of West Point in the spring of 1937. It follows that class—nicknamed “Black ’41” for their misdeeds while at the Academy—over the course of the next four years, as they absorb the lessons that will help them become military leaders. Their cadet days provide the backdrop for the ominous events in a world headed toward war.

 

It would be a war, as Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson underscored in his commencement address to the class in June 1941, that “may fall, in large measure, upon your shoulders.” The U.S. Army into which those new graduating second lieutenants were commissioned in 1941 was in many ways a holdover from the army of an earlier era, with plenty of cavalry but without a single armored division. Black ’41 became a key part of the new army, quickly transitioning to a mechanized force and growing its air arm. By the time of the major Pacific and European action, Black ’41’s officers were captains and majors, and leading soldiers into some of the critical fighting in the war.

 

Told largely through the words of the graduates, Black ’41 is the coming-of-age story of West Point’s finest, during the hour of our country’s greatest need.

Genres: History, World War II

408 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1991

About the author

Bill Yenne is the author of several novels and over three dozen books on historical topics. He has also been a contributor to encyclopedias of both world wars.

The New Yorker wrote of Sitting Bull, his biography of the great Lakota leader, that it "excels as a study in leadership." This book was named to the number 14 spot among Amazon's 100 Best Books of the Year.

Library Journal observed that "enthusiastic World War II readers will be drawn to" his dual biography, Aces High: The Heroic Story of the Two Top Scoring American Aces of World War II.

Recently, his book Convair Deltas was named as Book of the Month by Air Classics, while his book Tommy Gun was named Pick of the Month by Shooting Illustrated.

His book Guinness: The 250 Year Quest for the Perfect Pint was listed among the top business books of the year by Cond Nast Portfolio Magazine, which rated Yenne's tome as its TOP pick for "Cocktail Conversation."

Yenne's Rising Sons: The Japanese American GIs Who Fought for the United States in World War II, was praised by Walter Boyne, former Director of the National Air & Space Museum, who called it "a fast moving... page turner," and the "best book yet written on the saga."

The Wall Street Journal wrote, when reviewing his Indian Wars: The Campaign for the American West, that Yenne writes with "cinematic vividness," and says of his work that it "has the rare quality of being both an excellent reference work and a pleasure to read."

The author lives in San Francisco, California, and on the web at www.BillYenne.com

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Reviews

[John E · Rating 3 out of 5]

A superficial history of American military history from 1941 to 1991 showing what the men of the class of 1941 did in each episode. Most of the book is concerned with World War II since these men were all active in one aspect of the war or another. It was here that most of those who were Killed In Action fell in combat. The chapters on the actual was activities were hindered by the total lack of maps.

Over their careers these men sure moved around a lot.

[Stan Skrabut · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1991, Bill Yenne published Black '41: The West Point Class of 1941 and the American Triumph in World War II . This book recognizes the accomplishments of the West Point class of 1941 and follows them through their first days at West Point until their 50th reunion. The book took into account the preparation before World War II, the war itself, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. It also recognizes the accomplishments of exceptional classmates who helped to shape American history. Read more