Steven Rabalais - General Fox Conner: Pershings Chief of Operations and Eisenhowers Mentor

GENERAL FOX CONNER

Pershings Chief of Operations and Eisenhowers Mentor

STEVEN RABALAIS

Philadelphia & Oxford

Published in the United States of America and Great Britain in 2016 by

CASEMATE PUBLISHERS

1950 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083, USA

and

10 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford OX1 2EW, UK

Copyright 2016 Casemate Publishers and Steven Rabalais

Hardcover Edition: ISBN 978-1-61200-397-9

Digital Edition: ISBN 978-1-61200-398-6 (epub)

Mobi Edition: ISBN 978-1-61200-398-6 (mobi)

A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library

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Dedicated to the love of my life, Colleen We Are One

Map 1: Diagrammatic sketch of Western Front showing certain topographical features of military importance

Map 2: Strategical features inuencing selection of the Lorraine Front for the American Army

Map 3: Ground gained by German Offensives of March and April, 1918

Map 4: Ground gained by German Offensives of May, June and July, 1918

Map 5: FrenchAmerican counteroffensive, July 18, 1918

Map 6: Location of American divisions on Western Front, August 10, 1918

Map 7: Plan of attack of First Army, September 12, 1918

Map 8: Plan of attack of First Army, September 26, 1918

Map 9: German defensive organization in the MeuseArgonne region

Map 10: American and Allied attacks on the Western Front, September 26November 11, 1918

Map 11: Plan of ank attack of First Army against Argonne Forest, October 7, 1918

Map 12: Operations of First Army, November 111, 1918

Map 13: Ground gained by First Army, November 111, 1918

Map 14: Plan of proposed AmericanFrench attack, November 14, 1918

The maps in this work appear by courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Many wonderful people have generously given of their time and talent to bring this book to publication.

I express my sincere gratitude to Casemate Publishing for affording this previously unpublished writer the opportunity to tell the story of a forgotten giant of American military history. Tara Lichterman, Clare Litt, Ruth Sheppard, Nikolai Bogdonavic, and Hannah McAdams, as well as Steve Smith and Libby Braden before them, provided much patient and insightful guidance, for which I am deeply thankful.

Pam McPhail of Calhoun City, Mississippi made her impressive collection of information on General Conner available to me to begin my research. Members of the generals family, especially Norm MacDonald, Lori Conner, Drew Conner, and the late Macpherson Conner, allowed me access to precious family treasures, including Bug Conners remarkable scrapbook. I sincerely hope that you have all found this book worthy of your trust in me. I also extend my thanks to Ginny Brandreth for her introductions to Norm, Mac, and also to Sam Black.

Professors Karl Roider and Bob Mann at Louisiana State University were both kind enough to read earlier drafts of this work and to offer their comments and ideas for improvement. I also extend my sincere gratitude to Dr. Roider for instilling in me, during my freshman year at LSU in 1978, a love of history that endures to this day.

I also appreciate the time and critiques given me by Billy Gunn, Carl Palmer, and Greg Probstthree talented men whose perspectives, and friendship, I value greatly. Martha Bakers guidance and suggestions, always made with sweet frankness (or is it frank sweetness, Martha?), have made this a much better book than it otherwise would have been. Angela Gagliano and Zella Lopez have also both devoted many hours of assistance in countless ways.

This book would not have been completed without the love and support of my family. My brother Rob has been with me on this project since the first research/road trip to Mississippi. Alecia and Randy were both kind enough to read my earliest efforts; they nonetheless urged me to continue. My dear daughters Lindsay, Lauren, and Amanda have each helped in ways I will always treasurefrom locating obscure books at the LSU Library (a 19-year-old college students dream, Im sure) to helping me overcome computer challenges that most 8-year-olds can handle on their own. They must love me. I certainly love them.

The courage and determination of my late brother Ronnie has inspired me to see this work to completion, as have my memories of the enjoyment my mother (Maw-Maw Betty) found in having me read passages of the book to her as I wrote them. My father, Merrill Rabalais, who began his educational career teaching history, passed on to me his own love of the subject. Though all are now gone, each has continued to guide me. I also offer a special prayer of thanks to St. Francis de Salesthe patron of writers.

My deepest thanks go to my beloved bride, Colleen, whom I had the blessing to marry in 1986. I would never have begun this book, much less finished it, without Colleens encouragement and support. She has also devoted countless hours of her own valuable time to researching, proofing, and otherwise bringing this work to completion. I was able to make this book a labor of love because of Colleens love for me. My love for her transcends all things in my life.

Lafayette, Louisiana
March 2016

London, UK
July 4, 1942

The first Independence Day since Pearl Harbor was an eventful one for Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Commanding General of the United States European Theater of Operations.

On that day, almost 7 months after Americas entry into World War II, the United States conducted its first offensive operations in Europe. American airmen launched what the general called a bombing raid to celebrate July 4 against German air bases in Holland. Eisenhower, who had been appointed to command 11 days earlier by Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall, had never before ordered men into action. Before the mission, he visited the American crews to wish them luck. He also talked to the survivors who made it back to base. For the first time in his career, the general could count casualties directly attributable to his own orders.

Apart from his command duties, Eisenhower was also busy that Saturday introducing himself as the smiling and optimistic face of the American military presence in beleaguered Britain. More than 2,000 people passed through the receiving line at a reception hosted by the American ambassador. Later that evening, Eisenhower met with his general staff to discuss matters of supply for the American military force he planned to build. Eisenhower had inherited the staff; he had concern over its suitability for the task ahead.

Eisenhower, therefore, had much on his mind that Independence Day in 1942, as he penned a letter to his mentor:

Dear General,

More and more in the last few days my mind has turned back to you and to the days when I was privileged to serve intimately under your wise counsel and leadership. I cannot tell you how much I would appreciate, at this moment, an opportunity for an hours discussion with you on problems that constantly beset me.