"There's a War to Be Won" is the landmark story of one of the greatest armies in history, a conscript force of amateur soldiers who had an unparalleled record of combat success. Herefor the first time in one volume is the chronicle of the United States Army's dramatic mobilization and stunning march to victory in World War II. In a lively and engrossing narrative that spans theaters of operations around the world, Geoffrey Perret tells how the Army was drafted, trained, organized, armed, and led at every stage of the war. Beginning with the prescient military planners of the 1930s, he offers vivid warts-and-all profiles of the farsighted commanders who would lead the way, men like Marshall, MacArthur, Eisenhower, Ridgway, Bradley, and Patton. Perret brings to life the heart-pounding action of the major campaigns, showing how training, tactics, equipment, raw courage, and, sometimes, sheer luck spelled the difference between victory and defeat. Beyond the battlefield, he sheds fresh light on topics of special interest, including the development of new weapons, the fate of combat casualties and POWs, the Army's efforts to sustain morale, and the creation of all-black combat units. Drawing heavily on important new source material in major archives throughout the United States, "There's a War to Be Won" offers new insights into the wartime Army, its commanders, and its battles. Big, bold, and brimming with fascinating detail, this book is a major work of American military history.

Introduction -- Infantry in and out of battle -- Color me green -- The old drawing board -- Three into one will go -- The right caliber -- Rolling, rolling, rolling -- The right way, the wrong way, and the Army way -- Decisions, decisions -- Wadi victory -- The point of the sword -- The Sicilian show -- Chew this boot -- With unpronounceable, awful names -- Back to the future -- Unpacific -- Confusion beyond imagination -- Logs, lists, logic...logistics -- 'Twas on a summer's day -- Blitzkrieg a l'Ameericain -- Running on empty -- Salient points -- Red snow, black rivers -- The forget-me-not war -- End of a mission -- Coalition warfare -- Fighting spirit -- On being killed, wounded or a prisoner of war -- Promises to keep -- Flaming war -- Requiem for a heavyweight.