Political Indoctrination in the U.S. Army from World War II to the Vietnam War (Studies in War, Society, and the Military)

347 Pages·2006·0.89 MB·English

POLITICAL INDOCTRINATION
IN THE U.S. ARMY
from World War II to the Vietnam War
Studies in War, Society, and the Military
editors
Mark Grimsley
Ohio State University
Peter Maslowski
University of Nebraska
editorial board
D’Ann Campbell
Austin Peay State University
Mark A. Clodfelter
National War College
Brooks D. Simpson
Arizona State University
Roger J. Spiller
Combat Studies Institute
U.S. Army Command
and General Staff College
Fort Leavenworth
Timothy H. E. Travers
University of Calgary
Arthur Waldron
U.S. Naval War College
I I I
I I I
Christopher S. DeRosa
POLITICAL INDOCTRINATION
IN THE U.S. ARMY
from World War II to the Vietnam War
University of Nebraska Press • Lincoln & London
©2006 by the Board of Regents
of the University of Nebraska
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the
United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-
in-Publication Data
DeRosa, Christopher S.
Political indoctrination in the
U.S. Army from World War II
to the Vietnam War /
Christopher S. DeRosa.
p. cm.—(Studies in war, society,
and the military)
isbn-13: 978-0-8032-1734-8 (cloth: alk. paper)
isbn-10: 0-8032-1734-x (cloth: alk. paper)
1. United States. Army—Political activity.
2. United States—Politics and government—
1945–1989. I. Title. II. Series.
ua25.d42 2006
355.1(cid:2)23—dc22
2005035112
For Katie

CONTENTS
Acknowledgments [ix]
Introduction [xi]
1. Anxious to Work Bodily Destruction: Political
Indoctrination in World War II [1]
2. The Morale and Whatnot of the Army: Indoctrination
Institutionalized in the Postwar Army [51]
3.oafi e’s Voice: Political Indoctrination
in the Korean War [90]
4. An Arsenal of Democracy: The Armed Forces’
Cold War Information Materials [133]
5. Morale and the Muzzle: The Political Indoctrination
Program Besieged [176]
6. Information’s Impossible War: Political Indoctrination
in the Vietnam War [209]
Epilogue: Retreat from Political
Indoctrination [258]
Notes [265]
Bibliography [299]
Index [317]

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I had a wonderful time writing this book and owe many thanks to all
the people who made it such an enjoyable and enlightening process.
I had the privilege of being a student of the late Russell F. Weigley at
Temple University. He set for me the highest standard as a scholar. I
am grateful for his encouragement, his invariably good humor, and his
generosity with his time and talent. I could not have wished for a better
mentor or teacher, and I treasure my memories of him. Richard H.
Immerman read my chapters carefully and helped me place my research
within broader contexts. His wise counsel was always accompanied by
his infectious enthusiasm. He is the biggest reason why Temple is such
a great place to be.
I fi rst became interested in the subject of political indoctrination in the
military in one of David Alan Rosenberg’s memorable and stimulating
classes. I thank him for his critical guidance as this project took shape.
As the outside reader on my dissertation committee, Brig. Gen. Harold
W. Nelson, U.S. Army (ret.), provided me with a host of good ideas and
valuable criticisms. I thank Temple University for supporting my studies
with a teaching assistantship and my dissertation with a grant.
At every archive I visited I encountered helpful and knowledgeable
professionals, nowhere more so than at the United States Army Military
History Institute at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania. In particular I
appreciate David A. Keough’s thoughtful assistance at many points in
my research. At Monmouth University, I am lucky to have the help of
the able and tireless Linda Silverstein at the Guggenheim Library. I am
indebted to the University of Nebraska Press’s readers for their many
helpful suggestions and to Elizabeth A. S. Demers, Heather Lundine,
Beth Ina, Christopher J. Steinke, Tish Fobben, Carolyn Einspahr, Sabrina