Called the Army's greatest combat general by President Truman, James Van Fleet led American and allied forces to battlefield victory during a career that spanned World War I and the Cold War. In this biography, a military historian who commanded a rifle company under Van Fleet in Korea defines the root of Van Fleet's success as devotion to his men and dedication to rigorous field training and mental conditioning. He describes the general's ability to inspire his men with the will to win through two world wars and in the limited wars that followed. Braim pays tribute to a poor country boy's rise to a four-star general. Published in cooperation with the Association of the United States Army.

Early life and the U.S. military academy -- First assignment and World War I -- The interwar period -- D-day to Cherbourg -- Crossing the Moselle -- From the Saar to the Ardennes -- Corps command and victory -- First army, European command, Greece -- Leading the Greek National Army to victory -- From Second Army to the Korean War -- Command of Eighth Army -- Fighting to political stalemate -- Retirement and ambassadorship -- The long, long trail -- Epilogue: the legacy of General Van Fleet.