AUTHORS ARE ALWAYS INDEBTED to great numbers of people; that is no less true in my case. My debts fall into several categories; none can be repaid.
My research was greatly facilitated by the time the U.S. Naval War College’s Monterey Program gave me during my non-teaching terms. I am grateful to Fred Drake and Hal Blanton for this. The Washington Navy Yard Library and the Dudley Knox Library at the Naval Postgraduate School provided the foundational materials. Two indispensable helpers were the Dudley Knox Library’s Zooey Lober and Irma Fink. They always went out of their way to fulfill my many interlibrary loan requests.
I am indebted to my agent at POM Inc., Dan Green, for initially whipping the book into shape. My editors at Oxford University Press, Tim Bent, Dayne Poshusta, and Joellyn Ausanka, and publicist Susan Fensten, have proven wonderful to work with and made the product far better.
Many people read all or part of the manuscript and offered helpful comments or material: George Baer (who was especially encouraging), John Dunn, Mark Elam, John Griffiths, Mike Jones, Gary Ohls, Keith Poulter, Craig Symonds, and Steven Woodworth. Maria Sigala kindly took the jacket photo. Thank you all.
Last, and most important, I thank my wife, Carol, and daughter, Sarah, for putting up with my frequent absences. I dedicate this book to you. S.D.G.