John F. Shortal - Code Name Arcadia: The First Wartime Conference of Churchill and Roosevelt

CODE NAME ARCADIA

Number 167

Williams-Ford Texas A&M Military History Series

CODE NAME ARCADIA

The First Wartime Conference of Churchill and Roosevelt

JOHN F. SHORTAL

Texas A&M University Press

College Station

Copyright 2021 by John F. Shortal

All rights reserved

First edition

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Shortal, John F., 1951 author.

Title: Code name Arcadia : the first wartime conference of Churchill and Roosevelt / John F. Shortal.

Other titles: Williams-Ford Texas A&M University military history series ; no. 167.

Description: College Station : Texas A&M University Press, [2021] | Series: Williams-Ford Texas A&M University military history series ; number 167 | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020029255 | ISBN 9781623499327 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781623499334 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: United States. Joint Chiefs of StaffHistory. | Combined Chiefs of Staff (U.S. and Great Britain)History. | Washington Conference (1st : 19411942 : Washington, D.C.) | World War, 19391945CampaignsCongresses. | Combined operations (Military science)Congresses. | World War, 19391945Diplomatic history. | United StatesMilitary policy. | United StatesPolitics and government19331945. | United StatesForeign relationsGreat Britain. | Great BritainForeign relationsUnited States.

Classification: LCC D734 .S46 2021 | DDC 940.54/0941dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020029255

Cover:James A. Ernst sketch of the Arcadia Conference

(Courtesy of the George C. Marshall Foundation, Lexington, Virginia).

Dedicated to my wife, Pam, for a lifetime of constant inspiration, encouragement, and support

CONTENTS

ILLUSTRATIONS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book examines why the Joint Chiefs of Staff was created. The need for an organization to coordinate military strategy and staff work between services grew out of the first Anglo-American Chiefs of Staff Conference of World War II, code-named Arcadia, in December 1941January 1942. During my research and writing, I benefited from the advice and assistance of many individuals. It is a pleasure for me to acknowledge the friends who provided help, guidance, and encouragement. I am indebted to Dr. Edward Drea for his unfailing support and reassurance. He took time from his own research and writing to read and comment on this manuscript and to answer my questions on the Pacific war. His insights on writing style and sources were invaluable. I am grateful to Dr. Steven Rearden who also read and commented on the manuscript and generously shared his vast knowledge and expertise on the formation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Both historians helped make this book a reality.

Special thanks go to Dr. Tim Nenninger and the staff at the National Archives, College Park, Maryland; Jeffrey Kozak and Paul Barron at the George C. Marshall Library and Archives, Lexington, Virginia; Colonel (Retired) Kenneth Foulks and the staff at the US Army Center of Military History, Fort McNair, Washington, DC; Molly Bompane and the staff at the Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania; Lisa Crunk at the Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, DC; the staff at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC; and Dr. David Crist of the Joint History Office for his invaluable good will and belief in the need for this study.

I would also like to thank Dr. Jay Dew of Texas A&M University Press for his confidence and enthusiasm. His consistent passion for the book is greatly appreciated. I also want to thank Patricia Clabaugh and Dawn Hall for their superb editorial skill in improving the quality of this manuscript.