ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I sincerely thank my thesis committee—Dr. Kuehn, Dr. Bourque, and CDR Szmed—for their tremendous guidance, assistance, and advice.

Thanks to the staff of Fort Leavenworth’s Combined Arms Research Library for research assistance, an outstanding book collection, and for providing an excellent place to read and write.

Thanks to Major Michael DeBarto, U.S. Army, Retired, for his professional mentorship at the Warrior Preparation Center and friendship through the years. We spent many hours together tromping through European battlefields researching and executing Battle Staff Rides, trying to find “where it really happened.” Major DeBarto assigned me to the British sector for the Normandy Battle Staff Ride—my first introduction to the 50th Division.

This thesis would not have been possible without the support and understanding of my wife and editor, Beth, and my daughter, Lauren.