MILITARY GEOGRAPHY
FOR PROFESSIONALS AND THE PUBLIC
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book is my legacy to the U.S. military education system that has done so much for me since 1942, from basic courses through the Army Command and General Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and the National War College. It helped me expand my professional horizons for 55 years and has kept me gainfully employed since retirement on January 3, 1996.
General John M. Shalikashvili, as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arranged a perch for me at National Defense University (NDU), the perfect place to research and write a book about military geography or any other subject related to the profession of arms. "Hard core" contacts with extensive practical experience and assorted persuasions thereafter answered countless spot requests for information, helped me overcome mental blocks, and rigorously reviewed the first draft chapter-by-chapter during the gestation period.
Two retired Army four-star generals merit special mention in that regard: General Frederick J. Kroesen identified the need for "Key Points" at the end of each chapter; General Robert C. Kingston, the first Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command, became the world's highest ranking research assistant. Lieutenant General William H. Ginn, Jr., U.S. Air Force (Ret), scrubbed bits about military air operations.
Army Colonel James H. Kurtz and Navy Captain John W. McGillvray, both former division chiefs in the Joint Staff's Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5), furnished a landslide of facts, opinions, anecdotes, and source materials on almost every subject. Colonel Bill Allen represented the U.S. Army War College. Retired Army Major General John Murray, a life-long transportation specialist, and Herb Longhelt, Deputy Chief Engineer for AMTRAC, sharpened my views about lines of communication. Dr. Ed Whitman, who works for the Oceanographer of the Navy, helped a whole lot within his field. Colonel "Westy" Westenhoff, then assigned to the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, Scot Crerar at Betac Corporation, retired Army Colonel Chester B. McCoid (my boss long ago in the 82nd Airborne Division), and Patrick O'Sullivan, a professor who emphasizes military geography, likewise made me think. So did my son Sean Kevin, whose doctorate in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology underpinned much of Chapter 7 (Inner and Outer Space).
Ed Bruner, Steve Bowman, Bob Goldich, Clyde Mark, and George Siehl, all former colleagues from the Congressional Research Service (CRS), brought broad, in-depth knowledge to bear from start to finish. Other former CRS colleagues with specialized expertise included Bob Bamberger (petroleum); Marjorie Browne (law of the sea); Ray Copson (Africa); Rich Cronin and Barbara LePoer (India and Pakistan); Ida Eustis (legal matters); Susan Fletcher (environmental problems); Rick Greenwood (minerals and metals); Dick Grimmett (U.S. overseas bases); Dianne Rennack and Barbara Hennix (finders of the unfindable); Shirley Kan (China); Julie Kim (former Warsaw Pact countries and former Yugoslavia); Jon Medalia (strategic nuclear capabilities); Al Prados (Middle East); Rinn-Sup Shinn (Korea); Stan Sloan (NATO); Marsha Smith (space); Bob Sutter and Kerry Dumbaugh (East Asia).
Nine members of the Campaign Planning Group, U.S. Army Vietnam in 1967-1968 painstakingly pieced together input for Chapter 19 (Operation Plan El Paso): Army Lieutenant Colonels Dominic Canestra, the Deputy Chief; Robert Duvall (Army aviation), Robert Rufsvold, who was wounded in action on an aerial reconnaissance mission during December 1967 (engineering); David Hutchison, his replacement; and Reed Schultz (operations); Army Majors Bert Esworthy (intelligence) and George Pitts (land transportation); Air Force Majors John Pohle (weather) and Edward Reed (tactical airlift).
The National Defense University library reference staff provided peerless support. None could have been more knowledgeable; all repeatedly stopped whatever they were doing to help. I therefore owe great gratitude to Sarah Mikel, the Director, Ann Parham, Chief of the Research and Information Services Division, Robert Adamshick, Bonnie Dziedzic (who helped a lot with maps), Jeanmarie Faison, Howard Hume (who met me many weekday mornings before 0600), Jane Johnson, Benard Strong, Bruce Thornlow (who assisted on many Saturday mornings), and Carolyn Turner.
Colonel James V. Dugar, ANG, President of the NDU Foundation, and Colonel Thomas E. Gallagher, USA (Ret.), his Executive Director, admirably administered funds that the Smith Richardson Foundation donated to convert draft maps and figures into professional products at Art Services, Inc., where Andy Hemstreet skillfully responded to all requests. Jim Peters, who is Production Coordinator for Joint Force Quarterly, helped me assemble suitable photographs. So did Fred Rainbow at the U.S. Naval Institute and Colonel Tom Vossler, who oversees the U.S. Army Military History Institute. Fred Kiley ensured that Military Geography for Professionals and the Public enjoyed a high priority at the outset. Robert A. Silano, his successor as Director of Publications, brought the project to completion and planned the book's launch. George Maerz and the entire staff of NDU Press contributed at various stages to the editorial process.
Swift, my versatile bride, performed every administrative,
logistical, and fiscal task for the Collins household while I struggled to finish this
project, which never would have reached fruition without her help. Finally, I recognize
the index finger of my right hand, the nail of which was driven into my wrist before it
finished hunt-and-peck typing the entire draft, because I was quite unfamiliar with any
computer.
JOHN M. COLLINS
Alexandria, Virginia
March 1998