Imagine you are a Regimental Personnel Officer for the U.S. Army in the European Theater during World War II. You are charged with the delivery of hundreds of replacements to the front lines. On occasion, you are required to drive blackout over miles of heavily mined, shell-torn roads that are subject to sniper fire. On top of these challenging and dangerous responsibilities, you and your men are required to transport, pack, assemble, and dismantle almost two tons of office equipment for a personnel office in a field setting--during a war. At the same time, you must keep your office running efficiently. Such was the experience of Captain E. J. McCully, as described in Journals of War.
Journals of War is a coming of age story, a comprehensive firsthand account of pre- to post-World War II, spanning the civilian and military experiences of E. J. McCully. Compiled from six journals, the book includes the demanding training McCully underwent in Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, his subsequent commission as an officer, and assignment to Camp Adair, Oregon. It covers his maneuvers in the Oregon desert and the California-Arizona Maneuver Area (CAMA) as well as his tenure at Camp Carson in Colorado. The book climaxes with McCully's extraordinary accomplishments as a Regimental Personnel Officer in World War II and his eventual promotion to Captain in the 415th Regiment of the 104th Infantry Division (Timberwolves).
Throughout the narrative, readers are offered a privileged glimpse into McCully's private thoughts, reflections, and feelings regarding his personal and professional relationships, military training and career, and purpose in life.
Impeccably organized with a brief synopsis before each section, Journals of War invites readers to leisurely peruse selective sections or to read the book from cover-to-cover.
