I was just reading some of the columns provided on the link to IU's School of Journalism. I found an interesting paragraph in one, about the Sicilian campaign:
The engineers were very careful throughout the campaign about tearing up native property. They used much extra labor and time to avoid damaging orchards, buildings, or vineyards. Sometimes they'd build a road clear around an orchard rather than through it.
This consideration helped make us many friends here.
It seems that being kind to the conquered is not a new characteristic of the American soldier.