While serving in Vietnam . According to formerly classified Army documents, an investigation disclosed that from at least March 1968 through October 1969, "Vietnamese [civilian] detainees were subjected to maltreatment" by. He was certainly nave, but the Boy Scouts need to be defended here. Seared into all who fought it and many who merely lived through it that conflict remains a bitter stew of second-guessing and recriminations. Here is a list of the 10 most famous Chinese generals in history. Darius did not take the field against Alexander until a year and a half after Granicus, at the Battle of Issus. In a war that saw more than its share of unskilled politically appointed generals, Pillow was arguably the worst on either side. While Hull dithered, Brock captured Fort Michilimackinac, establishing British control of the Straits of Mackinac. Loyalty to himself and himself alone would be something of a running theme in the narrative of Santa Annas life, and his rise to power in Mexico was characterized by near-constant vacillation and betrayal of his allies. Implementing the attrition strategy, Westmoreland typically employed a series of large unit sweeps conducted in the deep jungle regions along South Vietnams western borders. Along with Communist China and other Communist movements in the region, who were fighting to reunite the Vietnams under the red banner, there were other belligerent, free countries in the region who had an interest in keeping South Vietnam away from the Commies. Have your boss report to the French gentleman whose name begins with J at a place which begins with D which is five grid squares to the left of M. The Kasserine disaster had repercussions. We ended up, he said, with no operational plan that had the slightest chance of ending the war favorably. Westmoreland could not or would not ever bring himself to acknowledge that reality. In 1847, U.S. troops once again surprised Santa Anna and captured his prosthetic leg. Applications for the Gettysburg College-Gilder Lehrman MA program are open and considered on a rolling basis. Mexican general Antonio Lpez de Santa Anna probably wished that everyone really did remember the Alamo, because: (1) he actually did win that battle (he outnumbered his opponents between 10- and 30-to-1); and (2) during the 13-day siege, he somehow resisted the urge to betray all his allegiances and change sides. These are the incompetents, the idiots, the bumblers who have represented armies or nations at war only to lead them to defeat or shame. 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A Texan with the U.S. Army's 1 st Infantry Division, Nolan reportedly slipped away from his basecamp in Tay Ninh Province on Nov. 22, 1967 and turned himself over to the Viet Cong. 88,594. He continued on to suffer defeats at Spion Kop and Vaal Krantz, almost letting the war slip away from the British. Haste risked casualties and defeats at the hands of a formidable opponent like Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia. He was also supremely gifted at overestimating the size of his opponents armies to a degree that beggared belief. - 4 Worst: 1990 Cleveland Cavaliers. Even a string of bad days does not guarantee entry. (Photo: Warner Bros.) Roger Ebert called "Gods and Generals" a film "Trent Lott would enjoy," referring to the Senator's praise of segregationist Strom Thurmond. But the inducements encourage U.S. companies to invest only at homenot elsewhere. James Madison spared him from execution. But Gates could have doomed the American Revolution. Two years later, he lost a leg fighting the French. Today's list: The top ten reasons Gen. Westmoreland lost the war in Vietnam By the way, here is the first review I have seen of Sorley's new biography of Westmoreland, which I read in galleys. The Romans lost an estimated 80,000 infantry and perhaps 40,000 auxiliaries and cavalry, numbers that dwarf the staggering totals at Cannae. Having several decades of duplicity to draw on at this point, everyone had a pretty good idea of how any such deal would turn out, and the aging general was rebuffed by both parties. This would be known as the Tet Offensive and would become a major turning point in the war. War is an extension of politics, and if commanders dont help secure the desired political ends, they get a failing grade. What does that mean for trade and globalization? But then MacArthur thrived on controversy like bread thrives on yeast. The Soviets saw the American humiliation in Vietnam as a turning point. Antonio de Padua Mara Severino Lpez de Santa Anna. To accomplish this goal, Vietnam employs repressive policies that often contravene international human rights law. For one thing, we wouldnt haveSpartacuson Netflix. Read More. The Worst American Civil War Generals and Commanders Delivered Thursday. The enemy did not lose heart, did not cease aggression. Maximus managed to form up his men but to no avail. In a war that saw more than its share of unskilled politically appointed generals, Pillow was arguably the worst on either side. NEW FOR SUBSCRIBERS: Who is Che in NBA 2k20? - Sport-net While Maximus was conducting negotiations with the Cimbri, a Germanic tribe that had invaded the Roman province of Transalpine Gaul, Caepio rashly attacked the Cimbri army on October 6, 105 BCE. The Vietnam War, as Seen by the Victors - The Atlantic George Custer at the Little Big Horn and Lord Chelmsford at the Battle of Isandlwana leap to mind. Is the Biden administrations China policy too hawkish? 5. Cue the protests from other parts of the globe: A chorus of nations are accusing Washington of fostering unfair competition. General Westmoreland had complete freedom of action in deciding how to prosecute the war within South Vietnam. If it was, half to three-quarters of them would be in jail. 10 Redvers Buller Weekly update on developments in India and its neighbors. On March 24, 1976, Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1 st Viscount of Alamein, hero of World War II, died at home in England. Military greatness can most easily be defined by comparison. However, not even they managed to get themselves court-martialed and sentenced to death for ineptitude on the battlefield. These are the incompetents, the idiots, the bumblers who have represented armies or nations at war only to lead them to defeat or shame. Like it or not, the U.S. military would become the governing authority. Some staff officers who briefed him one-on-one at deskside were dismayed when Westmoreland occupied himself by signing photographs of himself, one after another, during their presentations. The Worst Military Leaders in History is meant to be thought-provoking, and it surely is that." ARMY Magazine "Few subjects get military historians and history buffs talking like a debate over the best military leaders in history. The 1970s were scary times. Wrote Kevin Buckley in a scathing review, From the beginning Westmoreland probably expected to write a memoir of victory similar to Crusade in Europeand the defeat in Vietnam has not deterred him from this.. Fortunately, along came Reaganif not for that, Westmorelands military reversals could well have signaled the beginning of our end. Germanic tribes sacrificed Roman officers on altars to their gods. World War I provided a forum for any number of truly horrible commanders to assert themselves. Little Mac would prove himself to be a superb organizer who kept his army well supplied, efficiently run, and happy. Francisco Solano Lpez managed to stumble into a war with pretty much all of that. The world over, countries are embarking on ambitious projects of industrial policy. The rise of American-made chatbots has kicked off a flurry of Chinese activity. Evening roundup with our editors favorite stories of the day. Concurrently with hi. Feel free to mention any others you may know of in the comments. Seriously, who represents The British Empire; had the worlds greatest navy, enough cash to hire half the mercenaries of Europe, and the advantage of having a pretty pathetic-looking foe: a rag-tag army of ill-equipped rebels. Santa Anna, a lifetime gambler, was known for his risk taking in battle, but also his brutality. He was called the "inevitable general." A West Point graduate, he served in World War II and Korea. FPsRavi Agrawalsat down with U.S. Trade RepresentativeKatherine Tai, the Biden administrations top official tasked with mapping out and implementing the White Houses trade policy. Quintus Servilius Caepio takes the cake amongst the worst Roman generals ever to take command of a legion though. Fighter Aircraft of All Time, his army being routed by a smaller force of Redcoats and Loyalists at the Battle of Camden in South Carolina in 1780, When the Germans shattered his troops and his reputation at Kasserine Pass in Tunisia in early 1943, Fredendall was only a major general and a corps commander, Listing MacArthur as one of America's worst generals will be controversial, 5 Israeli Weapons of War ISIS Should Fear, But MacArthur's strategy certainly helped unleash 300,000 Chinese "volunteers" who inflicted significant casualties on United Nations forces, But Franks, who commanded the invasion, made a bad situation worse, Critics say that Franks and senior officials, such as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, concocted an invasion plan that used too few troops. Jamie founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure, and bizarre facts. Although he managed to escape the battle unharmed, Caepio was stripped of his Roman citizenship and exiled. The Top Ten. The elder Lpez had bequeathed to his son a relatively powerful military by regional standards but had cautioned Francisco against using it to settle diplomatic issues. Approaching his 60th birthday and exhibiting a timidity that had no place in a general about to lead an invasion, Hull also had the misfortune of facing two of the most gifted commanders ever to operate in North America. FPsRavi Agrawalsat down with U.S. Trade RepresentativeKatherine Tai, the Biden administrations top official tasked with mapping out and implementing the White Houses trade policy. Contrarily, I would not so stigmatize another important player often criticized by others, Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge. DE AGOSTINI PICTURE LIBRARY/Contributor/Getty Images, Biden Proposal Puts Climate Agenda Above Americas Defense, Russias New START Breach Means U.S. Nuclear Weapons Modernization Is a Must. Sun Wu Sun Zi, or Sun Tzu, was a prominent military general during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) who is always regarded as one of the greatest military strategists in China and even the World. In fifteen thought-provoking essays, each written by a professional military historian, readers are introduced . The premise was that, if he could kill enough of the enemy, they would lose heart and cease their aggression against the South Vietnamese. Hulls nerve was shattered. In 1975, when the Vietnam War ended, the Vietnamese army had only 36 generals, but by 2018, peace-time Vietnam had 415 military officers holding general ranks. in history from Michigan State University in 1995. Here are five of America's worst generals: Great generals have great talents, and usually egos and ambitions to match. Necessarily, more is lost to time than is remembered. Jessica Chen Weiss, formerly a senior advisor for policy planning at the State Department under the Biden administration, makes the case that the United States is becoming consumed by competition with China, a strategy that could lead to dangerous conflict. Needs to Talk About the Risk of War With China, Putin Has Assembled an Axis of Autocrats Against Ukraine, The Conversation About Ukraine Is Cracking Apart. But the award for the biggest Persian loser goes to Darius III. Santa Anna would lose Texas at the Battle of San Jacinto. McClellan was removed from command immediately after. A very significant instance was his determination to arbitrarily hold down the estimate of enemy strength during a 1967 order of battle controversy. Thus it was under Darius rule that the Persian Empire fell and was conquered. When all is said and done, it doesnt matter how nice, brave, courageous, gutsy, loyal, or brilliant commanders theyve been. By the way, here is the first review I have seen of Sorley's new biography of Westmoreland, which I read in galleys last summer, and enjoyed. Military Corruption is the Worst Enemy of the Vietnamese Army Registration for summer courses begins March 18, 2023 and ends June 7, 2023. The South Vietnamese thus went for years equipped with castoff WWII-vintage U.S. equipment while outgunned by the communists, who were armed with the AK-47 assault rifle and other top of the line equipment. Westmoreland told him, "We're killing these people at a ratio of 10 to 1.". Pillow escaped during the night, leaving Simon B. Buckner to surrender the fort and 15,000 Confederate troops. Who was the worst US general during the Vietnam War? - Quora A final humiliation came during Mexican-American War. They dramatically upped their game, pressing the U.S. worldwide. McClellan was a proto-Douglas MacArthur who bad-mouthed his president and commander-in-chief. Soon after declaring himself dictator of Mexico, rebels who opposed the Mexican dictatorship created three new republics, one of them being the Republic of Texas. He was responsible for coming up with the idea of using force to restore constitutional order in Chechnya. And how might that be impacting the world? The 1970s were scary times. James K. Polk. Muammar Al-Gaddafi. Todays list: The top ten reasons Gen. Westmoreland lost the war in Vietnam, Want to read more on this topic or region? A common view holds that 138,708 Allied personnel surrendered or were killed by fewer than 30,000 Japanese. One-stop digest of politics, economics, and culture. [1] A very influential visitor, Senator "Fritz" Hollings from Westmoreland's home state of South Carolina, had warned him about reliance on such ratios. But he also displayed remarkably bad judgment, as when he was commander in the Philippines in 1941. The Persians had a mixed record against the Greeks. Despite reports of the build-up of German forces and even knowing the date of the Germans attack, Gamelin did nothing, stating that he would await events. General Harold K. Johnson was an authentic battlefield hero, and as noted above was fundamentally at odds with Westmorelands approach, but he was not in the chain of command. It would be nice if all American generals were great. His poor tactical decisions resulted in his army being routed by a smaller force of Redcoats and Loyalists at the Battle of Camden in South Carolina in 1780. He was called the inevitable general. A West Point graduate, he served in World War II and Korea. From Kaiser Wilhelm to Hitler and Saddam Hussein and Gadhafi, there is no end of national leaders who squandered their nations blood and treasure in futile conflicts. Here's What You Need To Remember:The Soviets saw the American humiliation in Vietnam as a turning point. On the night of August 15, 1812, Tecumseh led his forces across the Detroit River, and Brock followed the next morning. Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security. Fighter Aircraft of All Time). Grant left politics to the politicians and did what had to be done. His 1812 campaign against Russia ended in complete disaster. To that Hollings responded, "Westy, the American people don't care about the ten. This piece originally appeared in The National Interest https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/6-worst-military-leaders-ever-167526. There's an entire myriad of generals from the American Civil War that fought for the Union that were incredibly inept. But with that kind of advantage in troops and firepower, who wouldnt? Overseas during World War II he had limited line duty (16 months of battalion command, then 13 months in staff positions) and of 14 months of command during the Korean War and its immediate aftermath he spent eight months in reserve in Japan and only six months in Korea, and that during the mostly static final months of the war. These Are the Five Worst Generals of All Time bar is to mention Vietnam. What is the standard of shame for induction? Casey was an Army insidera four-star general and the son of the highest-ranking American casualty of the Vietnam War, a division commander who was killed in a July 1970 helicopter crash. He was uninterested in other viewpoints on how the war might be prosecuted, dismissing the PROVN Study sponsored by Army Chief of Staff General Harold K. Johnson (which concluded that Westmorelands way of war was not working and could not work) and basic disagreements with Westmorelands organization and approach voiced by his brilliant classmate General Bruce Palmer Jr. 7. In the famous Battle of the Alamo, Santa Anna struggled to defeat about 250 Texans with 2,400 Mexicans and subsequently lost nearly 600 men. (The leg did get a state funeral). Stay updated on the topics you care about with email alerts. Some captured Romans were placed in wicker cages and burned alive, others were enslaved or ransomed.
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