Elviss Army: Cold War GIs and the Atomic Battlefield by Brian McAllister Linn (E

Description: Elviss Army by Brian McAllister Linn When the Army drafted Elvis in 1958, it set about transforming the King of Rock and Roll from a rebellious teen idol into a clean-cut GI trained for nuclear warfare. Brian Linn traces the origins, evolution, and ultimate failure of the armys attempt to reinvent itself for the Atomic Age, and reveals the experiences of its forgotten soldiers. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description When the U.S. Army drafted Elvis Presley in 1958, it quickly set about transforming the King of Rock and Roll from a rebellious teen idol into a clean-cut GI. Trading in his gold-trimmed jacket for standard-issue fatigues, Elvis became a model soldier in an army facing the unprecedented challenge of building a fighting force for the Atomic Age.In an era that threatened Soviet-American thermonuclear annihilation, the army declared it could limit atomic warfare to the battlefield. It not only adopted a radically new way of fighting but also revamped its equipment, organization, concepts, and training practices. From massive garrisons in Germany and Korea to nuclear tests to portable atomic weapons, the army reinvented itself. Its revolution in warfare required an equal revolution in personnel: the new army needed young officers and soldiers who were highly motivated, well trained, and technologically adept. Drafting Elvis demonstrated that even this icon of youth culture was not too cool to wear the armys uniform.The army of the 1950s was Americas most racially and economically egalitarian institution, providing millions with education, technical skills, athletics, and other opportunities. With the cooperation of both the army and the media, military service became a common theme in television, music, and movies, and part of this generations identity. Brian Linn traces the origins, evolution, and ultimate failure of the armys attempt to transform itself for atomic warfare, revealing not only the armys vital role in creating Cold War America but also the experiences of its forgotten soldiers. Author Biography Brian McAllister Linn is Professor of History at Texas A&M University. Review Brian Linns history holds lessons for us: be wary about claims of revolutionary change in warfare; find ways to keep servicemen and women connected to those in whose name they serve; recognize that the American militarys advantage over potential enemies is more human than technological. This is a book for scholars, students, soldiers, and citizens. -- H. R. McMaster, author of Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to VietnamThe story of how the army sought to adapt to the atomic age is a compelling one, and Linn goes considerably beyond what has previously been written. -- Thomas G. Mahnken, U.S. Naval War CollegeA fascinating look at a neglected era in American military history—the time after the war in Korea and before the one in Vietnam—when the army was the most diverse, egalitarian, and racially mixed institution in American history. But it also was deeply troubled. -- Thomas E. Ricks, author of The Generals: American Military Command from World War II to TodayWell-researched, logically organized…Linn examines the atomic battlefield, military hardware, enlisted men, and officers, among other topics, providing a fascinating and enlightening look at the U.S. Army during a tumultuous era. -- B. T. Browne * Choice *Elviss Army immerses the reader in this world, documenting its complexities and contradictions in meticulous detail. [Linns] argument is bolstered by data from internal Army studies and the quoted recollections of those who—whether as generals, privates, or something in between—lived through the era and witnessed it from the inside. The sheer volume of material Linn marshals in support of his case is staggering, and the artfulness with which he wrangles it into thematic chapters on subjects such as doctrine, weapons, recruitment, training, and public relations is impressive. The book is dense with facts and examples, but Linns smooth, fluid prose means that it never feels like a slog. Quite the opposite: Anyone with a serious interest in one of Linns central themes—American military culture, the Cold War, or innovation—is likely to find Elviss Army compulsively readable. -- A. Bowdoin Van Riper * PopMatters *With mordant wit, a kaleidoscopic frame of reference, and deep research in army records, government publications, officers papers, and oral histories, Linn is an ideal guide to this service in continuous bureaucratic upheaval. Elviss Army will reward any student of the history of the U.S. Army. -- Christopher S. DeRosa * Journal of Military History *A highly convincing work of scholarship. [Linn] has shown the potential of War and Society to incorporate cultural, social, technological, and strategic analysis into a volume of wide-ranging academic appeal. -- Alexandre F. Caillot * Strategic Visions *Elviss Army is meticulously researched and well written. This reader found the book hard to put down and highly recommends it to all those who are interested in learning how the Army negotiated the challenging middle years of the twentieth century. -- Roger D. Cunningham * Journal of Americas Military Past *Linns book is a valuable examination of—and a cautionary tale about—the challenges of identifying a role for soldiers on the atomic battlefield. -- Glenn C. Altschuler * Reviews in American History *The real focus of this rich, readable book is the institutional transformation of the army from the end of World War II to the eve of Vietnam…Linn keeps the focus on ordinary GIs and their coping strategies, reflected in Elvis advice to new soldiers: Play it straight and do your best. -- Lawrence D. Freedman * Foreign Affairs *In his welcome new book, Brian Linn has skillfully contextualized the evolution of military strategic and tactical doctrine in the early atomic era. Elviss Army belongs on the reading lists of both beginning students and seasoned scholars of its subject. -- Gates Brown * Michigan War Studies Review *Linn presents a fascinating history of the U.S. Army and the atomic battlefield of the 1950s, during the height of the Cold War, when people believed tactical nuclear weapons could be used effectively in a European war scenario without escalation. -- William D. Bushnell * Military Officer *This is one of the most important books printed on the history of the U.S. Army in the past decade. Not only does Linn offer a detailed analysis of an understudied period of the Army, but he also provides a wealth of issues for todays military professional to ponder. -- Lt Col. Richard S. Faulkner * Military Review *Linns clear explanations, illuminating examples, and easy, occasionally cutting, prose make Elviss Army accessible to casual readers. Yet it is also a seminal work. No historian of the American army during the Cold War can ignore this important book, whilst its comprehensive treatment of the subject will make it an invaluable source for any scholar whose work intersects in any way. -- J. P. Clark * British Journal for Military History *[Linns] lucid, insightful and extraordinarily well-researched and referenced book addresses a period of military transformation—specifically for the U.S. Army—that profoundly changed the role of this institution during a critical period following World War II and leading to the Cold War, while affecting the lives of the soldiers and their families in an equally significant fashion. -- Eric B. Schoomaker * Psychiatry *Elviss Army is a cautionary reminder of the limits of technology to revolutionize militaries without accompanying adjustments in other important areas, especially force structure. It should be required reading for anyone interested in the U.S. Army during the Cold War and the delicate balance between the articulation of military strategy and the difficulty of achieving it. -- William A. Taylor * Journal of American History * Review Quote With mordant wit, a kaleidoscopic frame of reference, and deep research in army records, government publications, officers papers, and oral histories, Linn is an ideal guide to this service in continuous bureaucratic upheaval. Elviss Army will reward any student of the history of the U.S. Army. Details ISBN0674737687 Author Brian McAllister Linn Short Title ELVISS ARMY Publisher Harvard University Press Language English ISBN-10 0674737687 ISBN-13 9780674737686 Media Book Format Hardcover Residence TX, US Pages 464 Year 2016 Imprint Harvard University Press Place of Publication Cambridge, Mass Country of Publication United States Illustrations 20 halftones UK Release Date 2016-09-06 Publication Date 2016-09-06 Subtitle Cold War GIs and the Atomic Battlefield AU Release Date 2016-09-06 NZ Release Date 2016-09-06 US Release Date 2016-09-06 DEWEY 355.0097309045 Audience General We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:161736781;

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