by U. S. Command and General Staff College (Author)
Lieutenant General Troy H. Middleton effectively commanded division and corps formations in World War II. His previous combat experience included command of the 47th Infantry Regiment in World War I. During the interwar period, Middleton served as an instructor at the Infantry School, Command and General Staff Course, and the Army War College. This monograph examines those factors that influenced Middleton. Command at division and corps on the World War II battlefield required experience and judgment to develop sound decisions in the stressful environment of combat. General Middleton's attendance at the service schools and prior experiences in combat affected his command. He employed the cognitive model of the estimate for processing information rapidly and logically thinking through tactical problems. Middleton demonstrated an ability to remain calm in developing plans of action under the most trying of combat conditions. Lastly, Middleton's interwar education and combat experience enabled him to diverge from conventional approaches to solve tactical problems.