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MWSA Review
Crusader: General Donn Starry and the Army of His Times by Mike Guardia captures the fighting spirit and evolving ideas which put Starry at the forefront of developing military doctrine post-Vietnam. Relying heavily on quotes taken directly from Starry's own writing as well as interviews with colleagues and family, his story unfolds from childhood through a successful military career and into retirement. Even as a young man, Starry showed the traits which brought him to the pinnacle of success in the U.S. Army. The author reveals traits such as persistence by showing Starry getting himself into West Point despite being appointed to the Naval Academy, and his many attempts to become a pilot. Other traits are handled in similar ways, making this both a good biography and a good manual of character. Starry faced many challenges personally and professionally, and Crusader effectively shows his development.
Crusader also allows the reader to see into both the military man and the circumstances which helped create him. The book shines when showing us how he was able to change the culture of the modern army for individual soldiers, such as his work in Germany overhauling failing units by insisting that all officers master soldiering skills, or insisting that living quarters be rehabbed to decent levels. He missed active battle during World War II and Korea, but extensive experience with maintaining readiness in tank units in Germany during the Cold War era and tank warfare in Vietnam helped form his ideas on modern warfare.
Starry was one of the most respected participants in the Vietnam War, "leading from the front" as commander of 11th Armored Cavalry during the invasion of Cambodia. After Vietnam, his career continued, with appointments which added further breadth and depth to his ideas and leadership. Once Starry moved into the highest officer ranks, his intelligence and broad thinking were put to work. Inheriting leadership of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) in 1977, Starry drove the evolution of the AirLand Battle doctrine to replace Active Defense. He saw the difficulties and limitations of doctrines however, and encouraged continuous improvement rather than rigid adherence. A controversial graduation speech at West Point included as an appendix, wherein he questioned West Point's relevance to the Army itself, further shows his relentless quest for better ways for both military organizations and soldiers to protect and serve our country.
Crusader should be of interest both as military history and as biography. Starry's career as a student, soldier, and top leader is of interest to military readers. But the book also shows the character traits which allowed Starry to succeed in his various endeavors, and would be a fine biography for young people to read.
Review by Barb Evenson (May 2020)
Author's Synopsis
Although he missed combat in World War II and Korea, Donn Starry became one of the most influential commanders of the Vietnam War, and after Vietnam was one of the “intellectual giants” who reshaped the US Army and its doctrines. Throughout his career he worked to improve training, leadership and conditions for the men who served under him.
Starry was a leading advocate for tank warfare in Vietnam and his recommendations helped shape the contours for American armor in Southeast Asia—and paved the way for his success as commander of 11th Armored Cavalry during the invasion of Cambodia. When commander of Fort Knox and the Armor Center and School in the 1970s, Starry redeveloped armor tactics and doctrine and improved training. In his 16 months as commander of V Corps, he thoroughly tested the doctrine of “Active Defense,” then used his observations to create a new doctrine "AirLand Battle," which paved the way for overwhelming victory in the Gulf War. Like most battlefield commanders from the Vietnam era, Starry’s legacy is often overshadowed by the controversy of the war itself and the turmoil of the immediate postwar Army. However, with the invasion of Cambodia and the development of AirLand Battle, it is hard to imagine anyone who has had a greater impact on modern maneuver warfare. In this new biography of General Donn Starry, armor officer Mike Guardia examines the life and work of this pioneering, crusading officer using extracts from interviews with veterans and family, and from Starry’s personal papers.
ISBN/ASIN: 978-1612005447, B07FNB16TP
Book Format(s): Hard cover, Kindle, Audiobook
Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Number of Pages: 224