Hadseregek, fegyvernemek története – könyvek

CROSSLAND – CURRIE : Twice the citizen (előszó)

 

The United States Army Reserve (USAR) had its official birth on April 23, 1908, in an act "To Increase the Efficiency of the Medical Department of the United States Army." From this modest beginning and limited mission, the Army Reserve has grown into a force of almost a million men and women who are very much a part of today's Total Army. The roots of the Army Reserve go back much further than 1908, however, for the concept of the citizen-soldier was an old one even at the time of the American Revolution.

The idea of writing a history of the Army Reserve originated in November 1982 during the early stages of planning for the USAR's Seventy-fifth Anniversary celebration in 1983. It became evident to Major (now Lieutenant Colonel) Richard B. Crossland and to Lewis C. Brodsky, Director of Public Affairs for the Office of the Chief, Army Reserve, that there was no readily available source of historical data about the Army Reserve. There were bits and pieces of USAR history scattered about, and there were legends enough to fill a file cabinet, but there was no comprehensive, book-length history of the Army Reserve. Major Crossland was thereupon assigned the task of writing such a book. Given the time frame in mind for the project (less than one year), it was soon obvious that this was not a oneperson job. Permission was therefore secured to bring in an Army Reserve officer on a special tour of six months or so to work on the book.

The Reserve Components Personnel and Administration Center in St. Louis was given the task of locating an individual to do the job, and the name of James T. Currie popped up. Major Currie was at that time (January 1983) serving in a civilian capacity as Historian for the United States Department of Education, and he accepted the assignment. Lieutenant Colonel Crossland and Major Currie co-authored this volume, which is the only existing history of the Army Reserve. The authors have of necessity worked rapidly, researching and writing a draft manuscript of 450 pages in less than 6 months. The authors realize that in any pioneering study there are almost certainly going to be errors, both of omission and of commission. They have attempted, however, to be as accurate as possible, and every statement of fact is based upon the most credible sources available. They have drawn conclusions from these facts where such seemed justified, but the conclusions are purely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Chief, Army Reserve, the Department of the Army, or the Department of Defense.

The title of the book is taken from Winston Churchill's statement that "The Reservist is twice the citizen," a phrase that also figured in the Seventy-fifth Anniversary High School Essay Contest co-sponsored by the Army Reserve and the Reserve Officers Association. Indeed, since 1908, members of the Army Reserve have taken on responsibilities greater than those required of most citizens, for they have given of their weeknights and weekends and summertime leisure to learn and train and prepare for the day when their country might call upon them in time of war or national emergency. From 1908 until 1948, Army Reservists received no pay except for the time they were on active duty; the many hours devoted to inactive duty drills and training went unrewarded financially. Since 1948 Army Reservists have qualified for an increasing list of benefits, including limited post exchange and commissary privileges and, if they serve long enough and live long enough, for retirement pay. As the citizen-soldier concept has matured and become an integral part of the Army, the United States has gradually given tangible recognition to the value of the Army Reserve. This belated reward does not in any way, however, diminish the fact that the Army Reservist is indeed "twice the citizen."

Within this volume, LTC Crossland was responsible for Chapters I, II, VII, VIII, and X and Appendixes G and H. Major Currie prepared Chapters III, IV, V, VI, and IX and Appendixes A through F. The authors hope that publication of this book will stimulate a greater interest in the United States Army Reserve and that their study will serve as a reference work for persons whose position calls for them to understand the Army Reserve.

 

Katalógus Crossland – Currie Tartalom
KATALÓGUS TARTALOM

 


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