Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Why ‘Once an Eagle’ kind of stinks

By Col. Robert Killebrew, U.S. Army (Ret.) Best Defense office of military-literary affairs I’m probably the only Army officer I ever knew who wasn’t particularly impressed with Once an Eagle, which I regard as an amusing but not profound military soap opera. The reason soap operas are popular is because they are such stereotypes of ...

By , a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy.
546741_131212_ricksonceaneagle7.jpg
546741_131212_ricksonceaneagle7.jpg

By Col. Robert Killebrew, U.S. Army (Ret.)
Best Defense office of military-literary affairs

By Col. Robert Killebrew, U.S. Army (Ret.)
Best Defense office of military-literary affairs

I’m probably the only Army officer I ever knew who wasn’t particularly impressed with Once an Eagle, which I regard as an amusing but not profound military soap opera.

The reason soap operas are popular is because they are such stereotypes of personalities — the deceitful husband, the stalwart wife — and so is the book. In fact, people, and military careers, are far more complicated than a soap opera. I have known officers who were outwardly Courtney Massengales who evolved into terrific commanders, and Sam Damons who were deliberately lousy staff officers — where most of us spent the majority of our lives — because they, well, wanted to be Sam Damon.

C’mon — where would you have put George Marshall, who had every outward characteristic of Massengale? I rather suspect that for his “Sam” model the author had Vinegar Joe Stilwell in mind. Everybody loves the picture of Stilwell as the tough-talking, campaign-hat-wearing simple soldier, but how did he really do at the senior levels?

If anything, I think the novel has had a negative effect on the Army, perpetuating among some senior officers that they should be just simple, hardworking country boys who don’t understand all this staff stuff and who therefore overlook it (a few recent four-stars come to mind). I’ve nothing against a good read — and the book was amusing — but that it could be seriously discussed as a model for officership is a stretch.

Thomas E. Ricks is a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy. Twitter: @tomricks1

More from Foreign Policy

The USS Nimitz and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and South Korean Navy warships sail in formation during a joint naval exercise off the South Korean coast.
The USS Nimitz and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and South Korean Navy warships sail in formation during a joint naval exercise off the South Korean coast.

America Is a Heartbeat Away From a War It Could Lose

Global war is neither a theoretical contingency nor the fever dream of hawks and militarists.

A protester waves a Palestinian flag in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. People sit and walk on the grass lawn in front of the protester and barricades.
A protester waves a Palestinian flag in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. People sit and walk on the grass lawn in front of the protester and barricades.

The West’s Incoherent Critique of Israel’s Gaza Strategy

The reality of fighting Hamas in Gaza makes this war terrible one way or another.

Biden dressed in a dark blue suit walks with his head down past a row of alternating U.S. and Israeli flags.
Biden dressed in a dark blue suit walks with his head down past a row of alternating U.S. and Israeli flags.

Biden Owns the Israel-Palestine Conflict Now

In tying Washington to Israel’s war in Gaza, the U.S. president now shares responsibility for the broader conflict’s fate.

U.S. President Joe Biden is seen in profile as he greets Chinese President Xi Jinping with a handshake. Xi, a 70-year-old man in a dark blue suit, smiles as he takes the hand of Biden, an 80-year-old man who also wears a dark blue suit.
U.S. President Joe Biden is seen in profile as he greets Chinese President Xi Jinping with a handshake. Xi, a 70-year-old man in a dark blue suit, smiles as he takes the hand of Biden, an 80-year-old man who also wears a dark blue suit.

Taiwan’s Room to Maneuver Shrinks as Biden and Xi Meet

As the latest crisis in the straits wraps up, Taipei is on the back foot.