Terrible Terry Allen

"Terry de la Mesa Allen's mother was the daughter of a Spanish officer, and his father was a career U.S. Army officer. Despite this impressive martial heritage, success in the military seemed unlikely for Allen as he failed out of West Point - twice - ultimately gaining his commission through Catholic University's R.O.T.C. program. In World War I, the young officer commanded an infantry battalion and distinguished himself as a fearless combat leader, personally leading patrols into no-man's-land.". "In 1940, with another world war looming, newly appointed army chief of staff Gen. George C. Marshall reached down through the ranks and, ahead of almost a thousand more senior colonels, promoted Patton, Eisenhower, Allen, and other younger officers to brigadier general.". "For Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, Allen, now a two-star general, commanded the Big Red One, the First Infantry Division, spearheading the American attack against the Nazis. Despite a stellar combat record, however, Major General Allen found himself in hot water with the big brass. Allen and his troops had become notorious for their lack of discipline off the battlefield. When Seventh Army commander George Patton was pressed by his deputy, Omar Bradley, to replace "Terrible Terry" before the invasion of Sicily, he demurred, favoring Allen's success in combat. As the end of the Sicily campaign neared, Patton reluctantly agreed with Omar Bradley to "fire" Allen and sent him packing back to the States, seemingly in terminal disgrace.". "Once again, however, George Marshall reached down and gave Terrible Terry command of another infantry division, the 104th Timberwolves, which he subsequently led into heavy combat in Holland. Hard fighting continued as Allen's division spearheaded the U.S. First Army's advance across Germany. On 26 April 1945, Terrible Terry Allen's hard-charging Timberwolves became the first American outfit to link up with the Soviet Union's Red Army."--BOOK JACKET.