The Twilight of the U.S. Cavalry by Lucian K. Truscott Jr.

Allied forces soon became mired on the beachhead, and Truscott was given command of VI Corps, replacing the initial commander, Lieutenant General John P. In January 1944, the division assaulted Anzio as part of the U.S. In mid-September 1943, nine days after the initial Allied landings, he led the division ashore at Salerno on the Italian mainland, where it fought its way up the peninsula. The 3rd Infantry Division was considered by many the best-trained, best-led division in the Seventh Army.

The famous 'Truscott Trot' was a marching pace of five miles per hour over the first mile, thence four miles per hour, much faster than the usual standard of 2.5 miles per hour. Here his training paid off when the division covered great distances in the mountainous terrain at high speed. He led the division in the assault on Sicily in July 1943. He was known as a very tough trainer, bringing the 3rd Infantry Division up to a very high standard. Truscott took command of the 3rd Infantry Division in April 1943, and oversaw preparations for the invasion of Sicily, Operation Husky. On November 8, 1942, as a major general, he led the 9,000 men of the 60th Infantry Regiment and 66th Armored Regiment in the landings at Mehdia and Port Lyautey in Morocco, part of Operation Torch under General George S. The American unit was activated by newly promoted Brigadier General Truscott on Jas the 1st Ranger Battalion, and placed under the command of William Orlando Darby. In 1942, then-Colonel Truscott was instrumental in developing an American commando unit patterned after the British Commando units. He married Sarah 'Chick' Nicholas Randolph, a descendent of Thomas Jefferson, on 27 March 1919. After officer training, he was commissioned a second lieutenant of cavalry and served in various cavalry and staff assignments between World War I and World War II.

Truscott was born in Chatfield, Texas, to an English father and Irish mother, and joined the Army in 1917. Army General, who successively commanded the 3rd Infantry Division, VI Corps, Fifteenth United States Army and Fifth United States Army during World War II. Third United States Army (Bavaria) (Oct '45)Īuthor CIA – senior agent Germany, later Deputy Director for Coordination

Fifth United States Army (Italy) (Dec '44)

The Twilight of the U.S. Cavalry by Lucian K. Truscott Jr.