Not much it seems...Originally Posted by jmm99
Let's repeat your Vandegrift quote:
"Positions are seldom lost because they have been destroyed, but almost invariably because the leader has decided in his own mind that the position cannot be held."
-A. A. Vandegrift
Happy that my position is much the same as this.
Starting with Percival's surrender in Singapore in 1942 of a force of 138,000 men which was a huge embarrassment to the British and a major Allied setback in the war. "It was the largest surrender of British-led forces in history."
Percival's WW1 record was good during which he was awarded the Military Cross, Croix de Guerre and the Distinguished Service Order. From Wikipedia: "He ended the war as a respected soldier, described as "very efficient" and was recommended for the Staff College."
So what happened here? What about his character was missed? Can modern officer and soldier selection select out for this?
Now compare him to this character:
"All right, they're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of
us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time"
- Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, USMC
"For a desperate three hours his battalion, stretched over a mile-long front, was the only defense between vital Henderson Airfield and a regiment of seasoned Japanese troops. In pouring jungle rain the Japanese smashed repeatedly at his thin line, as General Puller moved up and down its length to encourage his men and direct the defense. After reinforcements arrived, he commanded the augmented force until late the next afternoon. The defending Marines suffered less than 70 casualties in the engagement while 1400 of the enemy were killed and 17 truckloads of Japanese equipment were recovered by the Americans." (http://www.tricitymarines.com/puller.htm)
You got to hand it to the yanks they have some endearing characters...
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