Concurrently with hi. He was uninterested in other viewpoints on how the war might be prosecuted, dismissing the PROVN Study sponsored by Army Chief of Staff General Harold K. Johnson (which concluded that Westmorelands way of war was not working and could not work) and basic disagreements with Westmorelands organization and approach voiced by his brilliant classmate General Bruce Palmer Jr. 7. Commanders of Chaos: The 5 Worst Generals in U.S. History 9 Noteworthy Bog Bodies (And What They Tell Us), 12 Novels Considered the Greatest Book Ever Written, Inventors and Inventions of the Industrial Revolution, https://www.britannica.com/list/9-worst-generals-in-history. The enemy did not lose heart, did not cease aggression. After an initial attack drove back Grants troops, Pillow snatched defeat from the jaws of victory by retreating to the fort rather than breaking through Union lines to Nashville. Gamelin made the mistake of viewing the Ardennes as impenetrable and chose to defend it with ten of his weakest, least well equipped and least well trained divisions. McClellan was removed from command immediately after. After only 10 weeks into the Pacific War, Percival became responsible for the largest surrender of British-led forces in history. While there are plenty of books that analyze the keys to success, The Worst Military Leaders in History offers lessons of failure to avoid. Watchthe conversation onFP Live, the magazines forum for live journalism, orreada condensed transcript. The 5 Worst Generals in U.S. History | RealClearHistory See the vast swaths of land to the north and south that arent Paraguay? Registration for summer courses begins March 18, 2023 and ends June 7, 2023. But its not just the United States. But the rash advance into North Korea was a blunder of strategic proportions. Ukraines economy and infrastructure have been dealt blows that will take decades to recover from. Approaching his 60th birthday and exhibiting a timidity that had no place in a general about to lead an invasion, Hull also had the misfortune of facing two of the most gifted commanders ever to operate in North America. Sun Wu Sun Zi, or Sun Tzu, was a prominent military general during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) who is always regarded as one of the greatest military strategists in China and even the World. On March 24, 1976, Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1 st Viscount of Alamein, hero of World War II, died at home in England. The initial assault resulted in very high casualties for the Russians and an almost complete breakdown of morale in the Russian forces. The deplorable conduct of Charles Lee at the Battle of Monmouth has been immortalized by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Benedict Arnolds name is synonymous with traitorous behavior. Nelsons victory at the Battle of Trafalgar was so complete that it established British supremacy on the high seas for more than a century. He continued on to suffer defeats at Spion Kop and Vaal Krantz, almost letting the war slip away from the British. If pressed to rank the miscreants, I would place Wheeler first, then LBJ, and then McNamara, with all entitled to recognition as important accomplices in dooming the endeavor. On the other side of the trenches in World War I was Erich Ludendorff, commanding the armies of Germany. Sorley skillfully uses Westmoreland's own words to show time and again his duplicity at worst and his lack of touch with reality at best. Lee demonstrated an immediate grasp of McClellans demeanor, and, during the Seven Days Battles (June 25July 1, 1862), Lee drove back the Union armies from Richmonds doorstep. The 1970s were scary times. Diem's family was one of the earliest to convert to Catholicism, a religion he took . A curated selection of our very best long reads. Thus, on July 1, 1916, Haig ordered his men to go over the top at the First Battle of the Somme, and 20,000 of them had the audacity to die almost immediately (there were 60,000 total British casualties on the first day of the attack). At Yorktown, he allowed himself to be taken by surprise and outmaneuvered by Washington and the French fleet. Cornwallis later did redeem himself militarily. By the way, here is the first review I have seen of Sorleys new biography of Westmoreland, which I read in galleys last summer, and enjoyed. And how might that be impacting the world? Disobeying orders, he sailed for Cdiz instead of the Channel, allowing Nelsons fleet time to return and effectively scuttling Napoleons plans for a cross-Channel invasion. Vietnam War body count controversy - Wikipedia Had Lincoln retained McClellan in command of the Union armies, many former Americans might still be whistling "Dixie.". Scipio Africanus defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama. Driven into exile in 1845, he contacted U.S. Pres. Still, he choked in the big game. World War I provided a forum for any number of truly horrible commanders to assert themselves. By the end of May 1862, Confederate commanding Gen. Joseph E. Johnston had withdrawn his forces to Richmond, and McClellan was close enough to the Confederate capital to hear its church bells ringing. 13,091. Although he eventually disavowed Hitler, by that point Ludendorff had become so deeply involved with mysticism that few took him seriously. Bombs away! Here are the 13 worst military movies in Hollywood history Fortunately, along came Reaganif not for that, Westmorelands military reversals could well have signaled the beginning of our end. Grant left politics to the politicians and did what had to be done. Michael Ray oversees coverage of European history and military affairs for Britannica. The Vietnam War Crimes You Never Heard Of | History News Network When he made public his disagreements with President Truman, Truman rightfully fired him. Alas, call it the laws of probability or just cosmic karma, but every nation produces bad generals as well as good onesand America is no exception. The Western Front was a much bigger stage upon which to fail, however, and British commander Douglas Haig made the most of the opportunity. Cue the protests from other parts of the globe: A chorus of nations are accusing Washington of fostering unfair competition. At this point, things somehow got worse for Hull. Watch the conversation or read the condensed transcript. In the summer of 1967, the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) initiated a series of attacks in western Kontum Province. The early days of the 2003 Iraq War were bound to be a graveyard for military and political reputations, given the misperceptions and misjudgments behind America's ill-fated adventure in regime change and nation-building. A former British officer, Gates rose to fame as Continental Army commander during the momentous American defeat of a British army at Saratoga in 1777. Like it or not, the U.S. military would become the governing authority. Westmoreland: The General Who Lost Vietnam, Chinas Censors Are Afraid of What Chatbots Might Say, The U.S. What is the standard of shame for induction? After his performance at Belmonta spectacular success by Pillow standardshe was tasked with the defense of Fort Donelson, a key strongpoint on the Mississippi River. He continued to view attrition as the most effective strategy for defeating Germany; the British lost some 420,000 men at the Somme. In 1941, Graziani resigned his commission after the British counterattacked and the Tenth Army was completely defeated during Operation Compass. Who was the worst US general during the Vietnam War? While there were a host of bad generals serving on both sides during the American Civil Warmostly on the Union side unfortunatelythe one that usually gets the most credit for dragging out the war as long as he did is Union General George McClellan. He was responsible for coming up with the idea of using force to restore constitutional order in Chechnya. The Worst American Civil War Generals and Commanders These battlefield bumblers serve to provide that contrast. 10. Top 10 Worst World Leaders - Wonderslist As a military commander, Napoleon may have thebest batting averageof all time. In All U.S. Military History, These Are the 5 Worst Generals Grachev publicly promised to swiftly crush the Chechen separatist forces in a couple of hours with a single airborne regiment. He led the disastrous storming of Grozny while drunk after celebrating his birthday on January 1st. He first demonstrated his ineptitude during the Mexican-American War, where he had received an appointment to the rank of major general from his friend Pres. Westmoreland: the General Who Lost Vietnam As military professionals, we should think about more . In 1940, after increasing pressure from dictator Benito Mussolini and facing demotion, Graziani followed orders and invaded Egypt with his Tenth Army. I didn't fire him because he was a dumb son of a bitch, although he was, but that's not against the law for generals. With the Little Corporal running everything, Europe might have become a very different place. The 20 Worst World War II Generals - Ranker Who were the most feared soldiers in Vietnam? - 2023 Why our generals were more successful in World War II than in - YouTube Not good, Hannibal. Percival surrendered Malaya to Japanese forces in early 1942, defying Winston Churchills own instructions for prolonged resistance. 88,594. British Gen. Isaac Brock possessed a remarkable ability to anticipate his opponents moves and reactions, and it was not long before he had taken full measure of Hull. And how might that be impacting the world? You may opt out at any time. Todays list: The top ten reasons Gen. Westmoreland lost the war in Vietnam. But for whatever reason, some American commanders have lost the battle for history. This might have ended okay for Germany, provided they didnt do something like provoke a previously neutral country with Allied sympathies and an effectively bottomless war chest. Gates thought otherwise, and fancied himself a better commander than George Washington. Brock, sensing an opportunity, advised an immediate march on Fort Detroit. Santa Anna, a lifetime gambler, was known for his risk taking in battle, but also his brutality. Leaders of the Vietnam War - Wikipedia Judging GOFOs The Decisive Point 5. He need not be concerned, soothed Wheeler, because the weight of judgment was that the enemy cant match us on a buildup. That turned out to be one of the classic misjudgments of the war, comparable in magnitude and consequence to General MacArthurs assurances to President Truman that Chinese forces would not enter the Korean War. Lpez, possibly in a fit of madness, ordered the execution of hundreds of people, including some of his own family members. Answer (1 of 4): The former Cham general/leader Che Bong Nga was killed in the battle against the enemy Dai Viet (old Vietnam) but Che Bong Nga was LUCKY to be mentioned by the enemy Dai Viet historians to allow people to remember him. bar is to mention Vietnam. These records were transferred into the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration in 2008. That may have been true in the east (the worst of the Union generals in that theater rates his own entry on this list), but in the west it was a much different affair. Villeneuve lost 20 ships, while Nelson lost none. Years later, when Marine Corps historians were at work on their history of the war, Westmoreland met with them. It is probably not a coincidence that corruption in the military appears to have escalated since 2006, when the number of military generals started to jump sharply. In the end, Chiang sacrificed more than a million Chinese soldiers and well over ten million Chinese civilians in his bid to stay in power. When major U.S. ground force deployments were under consideration in July 1965, for example, LBJ worried that North Vietnam would respond by pouring in more men of its own. You start by being the only thing that can frustrate Napoleon more than a Russian winter. While Hull dithered, Brock captured Fort Michilimackinac, establishing British control of the Straits of Mackinac. General Westmorelands close associate, General William DePuy, later admitted the futility of the Westmoreland way of war. A Texan with the U.S. Army's 1 st Infantry Division, Nolan reportedly slipped away from his basecamp in Tay Ninh Province on Nov. 22, 1967 and turned himself over to the Viet Cong. To that Hollings responded, "Westy, the American people don't care about the ten. Many historians have said Bragg was one of the worst generals of the Civil War, having lost most of his battles. These two instances are illustrative of many, many more, ranging from his actions or lack of action in combat situations to his determination to take over the war and win it with U.S. forces to his resultant failure to build up South Vietnamese forces to the validity of body count to the decision to close Khe Sanh to his actions when Lang Vei was overrun to denying predictions he had made of an early end to the war to claims of not being surprised at Tet 1968 to denying a post-Tet request for many additional U.S. forces. Darius again was the first to flee the battle, abandoning all of his soldiers and his property to be taken by Alexander. Lyndon Johnson had no understanding of military affairs whatever, nor did Robert McNamara. The suppression of drug consumption and trade is high on the Government of Vietnam's agenda. General Earle Wheeler was essentially a staff officer with virtually no troop leading experience, much less combat acumen. As a result, American military power and prestige took a dramatic downturn. He was found guilty of 11 counts, and only the intervention by Pres. 6. Ulysses S. Grant, who replaced McClellan, understood this. Feel free to mention any others you may know of in the comments. Who was the worst US general during the Vietnam War? - Quora There is no Carthage. Considering some militants as instruments of regional influence while fighting others has had disastrous consequences. Caepio may have been a terrible general, but he was apparently an exceptional thief. Only FP subscribers can submit questions for FP Live interviews. If there was a saving grace for America, it was that he wasn't commanding an army. Tom Ricks, on his "Best Defense" blog has discussed the top 10 worst generals in U.S. history. Hull was thoroughly outclassed. He spoke up in Honolulu, during an important U.S. planning conference in February 1966, observing that we can beat up North Vietnamese regiments in the high plateau for the next twenty years and it will not end the war. Westmorelands later dismissive comment was that Ambassador Lodge does not have a deep feel of military tactics and strategy.. When two able and progressive Nationalist generals, Pai Chunghsi and Li Tsung-jen, begged the generalissimo to adopt similar methods, Chiang rejected them outright. General Westmoreland had complete freedom of action in deciding how to prosecute the war within South Vietnam. - 2 Worst: 2007 Washington Wizards. Abraham Lincoln. Here is a list of the 10 most famous Chinese generals in history. Follow him on Twitter:@Mipeck1. This was heeded about as well as any piece of parental advice, anywhere ever. The world over, countries are embarking on ambitious projects of industrial policy. These are the incompetents, the idiots, the bumblers who have represented armies or nations at war only to lead them to defeat or shame. 1. He lacked the schooling and relevant experience to understand the war and devise a viable approach to prosecuting it. Fortunately, along came Reaganif not for that, Westmorelands military reversals could well have signaled the beginning of our end. The rise of American-made chatbots has kicked off a flurry of Chinese activity. George Brinton McClellan, a self-proclaimed Young Napoleon, ran dreadful campaigns, but he doesnt make the grade because he was canned before he could lose the entire war. Hannibal. Where is Carthage you ask? LBJ's tragic "addiction" to Vietnam: The mistake that still - Salon When the War of 1812 began, Hull was commissioned a brigadier general and tasked with defending Michigan and invading Upper Canada. He was called the inevitable general. A West Point graduate, he served in World War II and Korea. This is one of the more controversial ones, but Douglas MacArthur is incredibly overrated in the annals of the US military, in my . A very significant instance was his determination to arbitrarily hold down the estimate of enemy strength during a 1967 order of battle controversy. His forces outnumbered Alexanders men by at least a 2 to 1 ratio, but Darius was still outflanked, defeated and forced to flee. In 1847, U.S. troops once again surprised Santa Anna and captured his prosthetic leg. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult individual encyclopedia entries about the topics. Luckily for the colonists, the Empire also had Cornwallis, a peer of the realm and truly pitiful commander. The Romans marched right into the ambush that Arminius laid thus leading to the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. Delivered Friday. How do you measure military leaders? (You May Also Like: The Five Best U.S. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Hull was taken prisoner by the British and was court-martialed upon his return to the United States. Top 10 Greatest Generals of Chinese History | ChinaWhisper Although he outnumbered Magruders Army of the Peninsula 10-to-1, McClellan settled in for a monthlong siege. Caepio was born into a noble family and became consul in 106 BC. James Bond Stockdale was flying his A-4 Skyhawk on a mission over North Vietnam, just days after the Gulf of Tonkin incident, when his plane took fire and hurtled d These American commanders have lost the battle for history. General William Westmoreland. But then MacArthur thrived on controversy like bread thrives on yeast. My daughter thinks 2018 was the worst year ever. I'd nominate 1968 While Muammer Al-Gaddafi isn't into the funny business in his politician reign, he most certainly is one of a highly egotistical leader and a member who represents more of the "self" rather than all else. Download the FP mobile app to read anytime, anywhere. So what is the standard of shame for induction? Delivered Thursday. Westmoreland established a headquarters known as MACV Forward in the northern provinces of South Vietnam and put his deputy, General Creighton Abrams, in charge, placing him over the Marines and also the Army forces in that region. When it came to military command, Westmoreland was everybody's all-Americanuntil he met his Waterloo. Weekly update on whats driving U.S. national security policy. Today's list: The top ten reasons Gen. Westmoreland lost the war in Vietnam By the way, here is the first review I have seen of Sorley's new biography of Westmoreland, which I read in galleys. When all is said and done, it doesnt matter how nice, brave, courageous, gutsy, loyal, or brilliant commanders theyve been. The Romans lost an estimated 80,000 infantry and perhaps 40,000 auxiliaries and cavalry, numbers that dwarf the staggering totals at Cannae. Yet, Hannibal nevertheless ranks as one of the worlds epic fails. Following on from our list of the greatest and most successful military commanders, we are presenting this list of the worst. He ran as a Democrat against Lincoln in the 1864 presidential election. MilitaryHistoryOnline.com The War of the Triple Alliance devastated Paraguay. Hull withdrew after a series of harassing attacks by Tecumsehs highly mobile raiding parties. There are issues around killing and counting unarmed civilians (non-combatants) as enemy combatants, as well as inflating the number of actual enemy who were killed in action (KIA).For search and destroy operations, as the objective was not to . The unprecedented violence of battles such as Shiloh, Antietam, Stones River, and Gettysburg shocked citizens and international observers alike. He still had his defenders, but they were in the last trench, barely holding on. These operations were designed to seek out enemy forces and engage them in decisive battle. During the darkest days of the rebellion, when Washington's army had been kicked out of New York and King George's star seemed ascendant, the "Conway cabal" of disgruntled officers and politicians unsuccessfully schemed to out Washington and appoint Gates. 2. Best Defense: Publication of the PROVN Study, whose precepts were later implemented with great success by Westmorelands successor, illustrated a matter of fundamental importance. Lpez was the son of Carlos Antonio Lpez, a dictator who had done much to modernize Paraguay in the mid-19th century. The 20th century is the most violent century in history. Because he never wanted to face a superior force, he refused to fight. In other words, this book is a "how-not-to" guide to leadership. Grachev has also been linked to corruption among the higher ranks of the military, specifically the assassination of journalist Dmitry Kholodov.