LUCKY FORWARD

A comprehensive history of the Third Army from the time it was reactivated under General Kreuger, who later fought in the Pacific under General MacArthur, down through its glorious and brilliant fighting in Europe under General Patton. In most part, it is Patton's story, and the author considers him the greatest strategist and military genius of the war. No doubt many books will still be written about Patton and the ETO, but for the time being this will more than do. No punches are pulled in spite of his near-worship of Patton, and there is no hesitation to criticize Eisenhower, Montgomery and other top brass, though there is great respect for Bradley. Although it does not follow the pattern of Ingersoll's Top Secret, it reaches many of the same conclusions. The battles are covered in great detail, and Patton's race, tearing the Germans to pieces, driving forward without worrying about his flanks, worrying only about sufficient gas and whether the High Command would support him -- these recapture heroic days in France and Germany. Sure of heated and bitter argument among the military sets but the average reader will enjoy it for its fine picture of our most picturesque general of World War II.