Patton: Operation Cobra and Beyond - Softcover

Michael Green is a freelance writer, researcher, and photographer. He specializes in military subjects and has authored and coauthored over 90 books. In addition, Michael Green has written numerous articles for a variety of national and international military-related magazines. Mr. Green is a lifetime member of the Marine Corps Tanker's Association and a tour guide at the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation.

Michael Greene'sOperation Cobra and BeyondReview by Charles M. ProvinceAs the founder and president of The George S. Patton, Jr. Historical Society, I am obliged to purchase a copy of every "Patton book" that comes on the market, quality notwithstanding. Be it a well written or poorly written book makes no matter. Be it a pro-Patton or anti-Patton book makes no difference, either. Each and every one belongs in the Patton Society's library.I am glad to have the opportunity of acknowledging that Michael Greene's new book Patton's Dash Across France is one of the good books. It is a book I will purchase and be delighted to place into the Society's library. I heartily recommend it.Greene has taken on a very difficult job in that he has tried to squeeze the entire Third Army's World War II record into a mere thirty thousand word book. He has, however, admirably accomplished his goal.Greene's knack of understanding which of the smallest details are the most pertinent in relation to the overall "Big Picture" allows him to succinctly explicate the role of the Third Army in the overall European Theater of Operations and to untangle the complex organizational structure of Patton's Army. His explanations encompass all levels of command, from Army and Corps to Division and Battalion all the way down to company level and the infantry rifle platoon. Most people in the United States todayincluding many who have served in the military-possess very little understanding of the upper echelons of command, i.e. what commanders do and why they do it and how they accomplish the massive job of running an army. Greene has penned a book that is not only interesting to avid history buffs but one that could be used as a primer of military organization for neophyte readers.Greene gives explanations of some major problems encountered by the U.S. Army during its initial attack on the European continent. Problems other than those posed by the German Army. The matter of hedgerows comes to mind. Although hedgerows are mentioned innumerable times in many books, unless a reader has seen one, they probably don't really know what they are or what they look like. Dating from Roman times, hedgerows caused incessant and disastrous problems for the Allies both in time lost and more importantly lives lost. Ile hedgerows were easily as much a deterrent as were the Germans. Greene explains all.Patton was one of the first U.S. Army officers to fully understand and use airplanes for air cover. Greene describes the relationship between Patton's Third Army and Brigadier General Otto P. Weyland's XIX Tactical Air Command (TAC). Greene reports that when the Third and the XIX met, it was love at first sight. Patton and Weyland worked so closely together that Patton even used them for flank cover when Walton Walker's XX Corps lacked the necessary men and material to adequately cover the Loire River.For avid Patton fans the real story of Patton's Third Army starts with chapter three, Patton's Third Army On The Offensive. Within weeks of being unleashed, the mighty Third was attacking Germans on all four points of the compass. Aggressiveness was the byword of the Third Army infused by the most aggressive army commander in the European Theater of War.One of the most interesting parts of chapter three to me at least-was Greene's report on what became known as "Patton's Household Cavalry." Originally named the 6th Mechanized Cavalry Group, their name was officially changed to the "Army Information Service." It was a highly specialized unit that Patton used for the purpose of reporting activities of combat units down to battalion level. According to Patton, "You can never have too much reconnaissance. Use every means available before, during, and after battle. --By A Customer