Military Review English Edition January-February 2017 | Page 144

and personalities that shaped the British-American
military collaboration of the time.
Barr, a widely published author, history professor, and
senior lecturer at King’s College London, presents both
sides of the alliance in a well-researched, balanced manner. Having written
numerous books on
the topic of Anglican
war, Barr’s latest effort,
Eisenhower’s Armies,
takes a more detailed
look into not only the
strategy and tactics of
the two nations during
World War II, but the
political, social, and
historical components
that led to their eventual success as an alliance.
Eisenhower’s Armies
takes the reader
chronologically through the American-British military
relationship from its inception during the formative
years of America as a fledgling nation through one of
the most destructive wars in history, full circle back to
an uneasy cooperation almost as soon as the battles have
past. By highlighting military conflict and cooperation
between the two during the early French expansion
on the North American continent, the Revolutionary
War, and World War I, Barr sets the stage for a greater
understanding of the tensions, suspicions, and early
difficulties of this on-again, off-again cooperation.
Dire circumstances and mutual need between the two
countries, however, eventually culminated in the most
successful military cooperation of all time.
Barr’s insightful account of how the tensions, tactical
collaborations, and even advances in technology affected the war gives the reader a comprehensive view of the
British-American alliance in the latter part of World
War II. He provides a strategic level understanding of
the how the situation evolved to bring about America’s
involvement in the war, how planning and operations
were organized, and even how those relationships from
across the Atlantic manifested between the soldiers on
the battlefield. By outlining various battles, decisions,
and tactics agreed upon (and sometimes disagreed
upon) by both sides, Eisenhower’s Armies presents a
142

detailed view of the war and its key players in the context of international politics and policy.
Barr’s in-depth understanding of the history, cultures, economics, and military conflict of the time,
coupled with his descriptive, engaging writing style,
makes the book accessible to a wide audience. Though
Eisenhower’s Armies seldom mentions other allies
involved, and Barr narrowly focuses on ground forces
rather than providing a comprehensive look at the entire alliance, the account reads as genuine, and the style
is engaging throughout. He successfully demonstrates
the sometimes-overlooked truth that decisions made
and implications realized as a result of the tentative
partnership between England and America were often
forged in the sitting room rather than the war room.
Barr derives military perceptions from multiple
sources concerning the personalities of the military and
political leaders of the time. The result is an engaging narrative that gives readers a unique perspective on the inner
workings of war. His strategic expertise shines through,
and the book presents a social, operational, and even
tactical analysis of a successful, albeit controversial, time
of cooperation in British-American history.

Maj. Carla Gleason, U.S. Air Force,
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

BUDDIES

Heartwarming Photos of GIs and
Their Dogs in World War II

L. Douglas Keeney, Zenith Press, New York,
2015, 176 pages

A

ll service members at any rank want the same
thing: unconditional loyalty and emotional
support. The book Buddies: Heartwarming
Photos of GIs and Their Dogs in World War II by L.
Douglas Keeney provides the reader with a view of
military members and their loyal animal companions in
everyday life during World War II.
Keeney has written more than a dozen books on
American history. Buddies, which is an addition to the
2001 publication, Buddies: Men, Dogs and World War II,
allows the reader to feel the emotion of service members and their dogs. Men who have seen the horror of
war can relax and gain comfort from their dogs. Some
January-February 2017  MILITARY REVIEW