First Call: The Making of the Modern U.S. Military, 1945-1953.
Language: English
Published by Little Brown, 1992., 1992
- First Edition
- Hardcover
- Used
Seller: Military Books, Washington, DC, U.S.A.Military Books
AbeBooks seller since July 5, 2002
Condition: Used - Fine
US$ 24.00
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
1st ed. 464p. Heavy. Jacket priced. Owner's name. Fine/Fine Copy.
Seller Inventory # 60-1003
- Title
- First Call: The Making of the Modern U.S. Military, 1945-1953.
- Author
- Boettcher, Thomas.
- Publisher
- Little Brown, 1992.
- Publication year
- 1992
- Condition
- Fine
- Dust jacket
- Fine
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0316100927
- ISBN 13
- 9780316100922
- Edition
- 1st.
- Seller catalogs
- AMERICANA::1945-PRESENT, List 60, POST WAR::KOREAN WAR, POST WAR::MODERN ERA FROM 1945
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Reviews
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
A masterful overview of how President Truman restructured the US military in the face of determined opposition from officer elites and of the grave problems attendant on the new cold war. Drawing on a wealth of sources, Boettcher (Vietnam, 1985) relates how HST pressed for greater integration of America's armed forces in the wake of WW II. As the various service branches scrambled to protect their turf (and their diminished budget allocations), a battle royal erupted over the chief executive's organizational goals. Congress nonetheless passed the National Security Act of 1947, which not only created an independent Air Force and the CIA but also put control of the military establishment firmly in civilian hands. In the meantime, Soviet belligerency precipitated the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, NATO, and allied initiatives that, while they helped contain Communism, stretched US resources to the utmost. Although theoretical objectives yielded to imperative realities during the Korean conflict as well, Truman left no doubt who was commander in chief. While Boettcher faults him on several counts (notably, partisanship and the decision to build thermonuclear bombs), he concludes that the world is a safer place for the chief executive's refusal to use atomic weapons in Korea, and for other difficult decisions. The author provides a tellingly detailed account of a turbulent era and of the larger-than-life personalities (Eisenhower, Forrestal, MacArthur, et al.) who shaped it. He also shifts his narrative back and forth in time, putting contemporary issues into clear geopolitical perspective. Cases in point range from a recap of WW I's Belleau Woods offensive (which ensured the USMC's survival) through a briefing on the court martial of Gen. Billy Mitchell, a turning point in air power's strategic development. A first-rate history with appeal for general readers as well as specialists. -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Boettcher follows Vietnam: The Valor and the Sorrow ( LJ 6/15/85) with another story of lost innocence. His central figure is Harry S. Truman, who, with a liberal's healthy distrust of the military, sought after V-J Day to curb defense spending and unify the armed forces. But the developing conflict between capitalism and communism, whose first stage climaxed in the Korean War, forced Truman and his military commanders into the unexpected, uncongenial situation of waging a limited war with all-too-limited resources. The patterns established by Truman, the author argues in this well-researched, well-written book, endured for 40 years. For good and ill, Truman's successors followed his lead in waging war on their own authority, supporting collective security, and pursuing restricted goals, refraining from using nuclear weapons despite their theoretically central role in American defense.
- D.E. Showalter, U.S. Air Force Acad., Colorado Springs
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Military Books
Washington, DC, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since July 5, 2002
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 2 to 5 business days | 2 to 4 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | US$ 7.75 | US$ 23.50 |
Payment methods
- Cash
- Check
- Money Order
- Paypal
Store description
All Books are on site and US ORDERS USUALLY SHIP THE SAME DAY THE ORDER IS RECEIVED. ------- SHIPPING TIMES: I looked at actual shipping (in transit) times for shipments this fall (2015): Media mail to the west coast is running 2 to 5 days. Most locations in the US the delivery is in 2 days. Priority to west coast is 2 to 3 days. ------- RECENT STATIC PAGE CATALOGUES of military books are view-able at http://www.rwmilitarybooks.com back to List 54 The most recent catalogue, as of July 2021, is List 98. WHEN BOOKS MIGRATE TO ABE THEY ARE MARKED UP. ------- SEND AN E MAIL TO SUBSCRIBE to e mail catalogue updates. ------- Specializing in military history of all periods and countries. Current inventory is about 36,000 volumes. Each catalogue contains between 800-1500 items. No longer issuing print catalogues. -------- Hours of operations: Monday to Saturday 8:30am - 8pm eastern. Open Sundays in November & December. Visitors may pick up orders by appointment only.…
Specialty
British Military History, War of 1812 & Mexican War, World Wars I & II, European Wars, Korean & Vietnam Wars, American Colonial Wars & American Revolution, Military Aviation, Military Manuals, Indian Wars & Spanish American War, Napoleonic, Small Arms & Ordnance, Civil WarSeller's business information
Military Books
DC, U.S.A.
Terms of sale
Selling Quality Military History for over 30 Years. Email to militarybooks@earthlink.net or by phone to 202-333-7308 or 202-248-7448 (not normally answered). Inventory as of May 2024 about 39,000 entries. Periodic catalogues issued: Books on latest catalog not uploaded to third party vendors for about a month after posting on my site. www.rwmilitarybooks.com ----- Conditions used from best to worst: New, As New, Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor. Jackets are present when a second condition is given preceded by a slash. (Fine/Fine) "NAP" means No Additional Printings are listed in the book, a possible first edition. "Jacket Priced" means there is a machine printed price on the dust jacket meaning that it has not been clipped and that the book is NOT a book club edition. "BCE" means book club edition. "Ex. Lib." means that the book has markings indicating that it was once in a public institution, typically it might have exterior labels, rubber stamps, bookplates or pockets. NOTE: if you are sensitive to musty books, please make an inquiry when you place an order so that I will double check this condition. I do not normally smell my books. Of course my nose is different than yours.... ------ ORDERS USUALLY SHIPPED within 24 hours after the order is received and will have a tracking number. Most books shipped in boxes or "stayflat" cardboard envelopes . Open weekends in November & December. SHIPPING TIMES: I looked at actual shipping (in transit) times for shipments this fall (2015): Media Mail to the west coast is running 2 to 5 days. Most locations in the US the delivery is in 2 days. Priority to west coast is 2 to 3 days. - EXPRESS MAIL shipping is available by special arrangement.---- I accept Credit Cards and PAYPAL for direct purchases only. MAKE CHECKS & MONEY ORDERS PAYABLE TO: Richard P. W. Williams. Send to 3226 Woodley Rd NW Washington DC 20008-3334. Reserved books held for 7 to 10 days to allow your check to arrive. $20.00 fee for bounced checks. ------ INSURANCE: shipment at your risk unless insured. OPTIONAL INSURANCE: In the US $2.00 for orders under $50.00, $3.00 for orders under $100.00 and $1.00 for each extra $100.00. Recommend you get USPS "informed Delivery" so you know when you package is about to be delivered. Go to their website to sign-up.. ------ FOREIGN CUSTOMERS: Shipment at your risk if you do not request insurance. Credit Cards and Paypal prefered, Checks also accepted if made on a US bank (must have an ABA code). Foreign Postal Service Money Orders & Travelers Checks also OK. Cash OK but not recommended. Foreign Shipping is by First Class Air or Priority. Postal service no longer offers a surface delivery option. ------ BOOKS MAY BE PICKED UP BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. If you make any "improvments" (any changes to the condition) to a book, it is not returnable. Thanks Richard Williams, proprietor.
Shipping terms
*Recommend you get USPS "informed Delivery" so you know when you package is about to be delivered. Go to their website to sign-up. * Hardback books mailed in boxes. All books mailed with tracking numbers. Shipping times: From DC to west coast: Media mail averages 3-4 days and Priority 2-3 days from DC to CA. Selling Quality Military History for over 30 Years. Military Books' websites http://www.rwmilitarybooks.com and http://home.earthlink.net/~militarybooks/ Email to militarybooks@earthlink.net or by phone to 202-333-7308 or 202-248-7448 (not usually answerd). Inventory as of May 2021 about 36,000 entries but only 29,500 are posted on ABE. ORDERS USUALLY SHIPPED THE SAME DAY THE ORDER IS RECEIVED. Open weekends in November & December. ------- SHIPPING IS AT YOUR RISK UNLESS INSURED. Indicate if you desire insurance in "Special Instructions". It will be assumed that you do not desire this option unless you specifically request it.----- ----- EXPRESS MAIL shipping is available by special arrangement. ----Customers may pick up by appointment only.-------- I accept PAYPAL. MAKE CHECKS & MONEY ORDERS PAYABLE TO: Richard P. W. Williams. Send to 3226 Woodley Rd NW Washington DC 20008-3334. Reserved books held for 7 to 10 days to allow your check to arrive. $20.00 fee for bounced checks. ------ OPTIONAL INSURANCE: shipment at your risk unless insured (Postal loss rate is extremely low). In the US $2.00 for orders under $50.00, $3.00 for orders under $100.00 and $1.00 for each extra $100.00. ------ FOREIGN CUSTOMERS: Shipment at your risk if you do not request insurance. Checks also accepted if made on a US bank (must have an ABA code). Foreign Postal Service Money Orders & Travelers Checks also OK. Cash OK but not recommended. Shipping charges will be quoted when you inquire about availability. Please indicate First Class or Prioirty delivery and if you want insurance. All international service is by air: Postal service no longer offers surface delivery. FOREIGN SHIPPING RATES: FIRST CLASS jumps in price substantially over 2 pounds and is good only to 4 pounds. Over 4 pounds all mail is by priority. BOOKS MAY BE PICKED UP BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Thanks Richard Williams, proprieto