I have only seen Scales on TV and I have been impressed with him. I believe he also wrote the official history of the first Gulf War. As for Murray, I liked him as a "P" and also like many of his essays and books. I still remember Murray teaching many interesting theories about airpower and other stories. He had many interesting "insights" on history like was "Nuts" 'really' said at the Battle of the Bulge (Murray said that the real reply was "F... You"...). While Murray seemed happy as a visiting Professor, he since as expressed many dislikes about the army (many of which I can understand), but unlike most airpower guys, Murray at least seems to know that the final say in combat is really done by the guys on the ground....
I was definitely wrong, there ARE two general Scales, and my guy was John Scales. I lost touch with him after his tour as DCO of Special Forces Command; at that time he was a BG and he might have retired. I knew him from LTC on up -- a very good guy, IMHO.
The TV and book Scales is Bob Scales, and he was a Major General on active duty. He commanded the War College for a while. He's apparently no relation to John. I definitely don't know him.
I had heard when I was a pup, from an old War Two SGM, that McAulliffe's reply at Bastogne was actually, "Balls!" which at the time was too coarse for public consumption. The German officer had to have it explained: "I know the word, but not in this context, sir." To which McAuliffe said, "Tell your commander, it means F U, sir... did you understand that?"
Makes a great story... might even be true. They stopped those tank units, and that's definitely true.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F