This country is at war with Germany. We shall go on to the end.

I remember the sheets of flame which came up and almost blinded us from our guns.

During the Second World War, the United States produced a number of remarkable battlefield commanders,

men who rose through the ranks to lead in some of the conflict's toughest campaigns.

Among them was General Lucien K. Truscott, known for his aggressive leadership, sharp, tactical mind and care for his men.

Truscott commanded at Sicily, Anzio, and later in southern France and Germany.

Despite his record, he remains one of the lesser-known American generals of the war.

To tell us more about Truscott, his career, character and contribution to victory,

I'm joined by Glyn Harper.

Glyn is an Emeritus Professor of War Studies at Massey University in New Zealand and the author of General Lucian K. Truscott, a quiet talent for fighting.

Thanks for joining me. Shall we start by sketching out Truscott's early life in Texas and Oklahoma, I think, isn't it? What kind

of family did he come from? What's his background? Yeah, yeah, rural United States, born in

Texas, but spent a lot of time in Oklahoma, and started his career

as a teacher. His family were quite impoverished. There was a family scandal with his father

being a doctor who had become addicted to laudanum. So basically his practice wound up every few

years when people found out that he had this habit.

So the family had to keep moving on.

And to support the family, he left school at the age of 16 and became a school teacher

in backwater areas of Oklahoma until there was an opportunity in 1917 to actually

join the army through a backdoor entry for commissioned officers.

In 1916, 1917, the US was having some problems on the Mexican border with Bandas La Pancho Villa,

and they were aware that there's a war in Europe that may get involved in,

...