The military decision to switch to the 9mm was based more on logistics than kill effectiveness. Too bad our soldiers are using the "minimum" level handgun. Basically the rest of the world was using 9mm. To get .45 ammunition to wars we had to cart the stuff over ourselves. You can get .9mm ammunition everywhere. Another case of Globalization not being the best for the US. I suppose the logistics wonks in the military like the switch. But I'd rather have the bigger gun.
I agree with your disdain for the 9mm in a military setting. That said, there probably would not have been the amount of complaints about the Beretta's stopping power if we weren't restricted by treaty from using modern hollow point rounds.