Douglas Macgregor, Margin of Victory: Five Battles that Changed the Face of Modern War

Pritzker Military Library, Chicago ^ | 5/8/2017

[JerryBlackwell]

I suggest replacing army group center with Stalingrad...the Germans knew better than to try to take the city and did so anyway. Would have taken the back door to Suez if they just by passed that one city.

[AllAmericanGirl44]

bkmk

[archy]

I’ve always considered Coral Sea and Midway as almost one battle with a one month pause. Both were part of a response to one overall campaign by Japan consisting of diversionary attacks in New Guinea and the Aleutians followed by the main attack on Midway.

And, of course, to Japan's suddenly-discovered need to extend their aircraft interception zone for their Home Islands from another Doolittle Raid. Which was in many ways the first opening shots of the Battle of Midway. War without end: The Battle of Shanghai, 1937 --

[archy]

I’ve always considered Coral Sea and Midway as almost one battle with a one month pause. Both were part of a response to one overall campaign by Japan consisting of diversionary attacks in New Guinea and the Aleutians followed by the main attack on Midway.

Many of the records of the 4th Marine Regiments and the Army's 31st Infantry Regiment from the final days of the US Military presence in China during WWII remain classified to this day. One reason may have been technical reports as to the use of chemical weapons by the Japanese during the Battle for Shanghai, and another may have been the presence of a member of the Japanese Imperial family in the ranks of the Japanese senior commanders. In any event, Major, later LtCol [eventually Major General] William A. Wortonran some VERY high-level intelligence operations in the area at the time, with only two other officers in the country knowing about his operations, and acting under Presidential authority. I really doubt the whole story has ever been told, and likely never will be.

Author James Brady touched on the period and events with his novel about Billy Port's Ride. It's one of the greatest stories of leadership, courage, and personal heroism the USMC can be proud of.