Marshall, S.L.A. (Samuel Lyman Atwood), 1900-1977

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Brigadier General Samuel Lyman Atwood Marshall, also known as Slam, (July 18, 1900 – December 17, 1977) was a military journalist and historian. He served with the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I, before leaving to work as a journalist, specialising in military affairs.

In 1940, he published Blitzkrieg: Armies on Wheels, an analysis of the tactics used by the Wehrmacht, and re-entered the U.S. Army as its chief combat historian during World War II and the Korean War. He officially retired in 1960 but acted as an unofficial advisor during the Vietnam War. Marshall wrote some 30 books about warfare, including Pork Chop Hill: The American Fighting Man in Action, which was made into a film of the same name.

His most famous work was Men Against Fire: The Problem of Battle Command; based on group interviews, he concluded fewer than 25% of men in combat actually fired their weapons. While his data collection methods and percentages have been challenged, his conclusion that a significant number of soldiers do not fire their weapons in combat have been verified by studies performed in other armies.

The key issue remains why this is so; Marshall concluded social conditioning against killing was so strong, many could not do so even at the risk of their own lives. Others argue so-called 'low fire' is a function of training and discipline, and is a positive attribute. These debates continue; understanding the reasons helps overcome them through training, as well as dealing with actual or potential combat-stress disorder.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Marshall, S. L. A. (Samuel Lyman Atwood), 1900-1977. Reminiscences of S.L.A. Marshall : oral history, 1971. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Marshall, S. L. A. (Samuel Lyman Atwood), Jr. S.L.A. Marshall, Jr. correspondence, 1989. University of Texas at El Paso
creatorOf Marshall, S. L. A. (Samuel Lyman Atwood), 1900-1977. S.L.A. Marshall papers, 1900-1979. University of Texas at El Paso
creatorOf Marshall, S. L. A. (Samuel Lyman Atwood), Jr. S.L.A. Marshall, Jr. correspondence, 1989. University of Texas at El Paso
creatorOf Cushing, George William, 1888-1968. George Cushing sound recordings, 1942-1955. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Marshall, S. L. A. (Samuel Lyman Atwood), 1900-1977. S.L.A. Marshall photograph collection. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
creatorOf Marshall, S. L. A. (Samuel Lyman Atwood), 1900-1977. The S.L.A. Marshall papers, 1918-1970. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn Donald and Katharine Foley Collection of Penguin Books, 1935-1965 Bancroft Library
referencedIn Donald S. Leonard Papers, 1925-1966 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Records of Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, United States Army (World War II). 1942 - 1947. Staff Conference Notes National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Meloy, Guy S. Guy S. Meloy papers. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn George William Cushing papers and sound recordings, 1942-1955 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Alexander G. Ruthven Papers, 1901-1961, 1906-1951 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Marshall, S. L. A. (Samuel Lyman Atwood), 1900-1977. Marshall Collection, 1940-1974, (bulk 1956-1972). Saint Bonaventure University, Friedsam Memorial Library
referencedIn James K. Pollock papers, 1920-1968 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Murphy, Frank, 1890-1949. Papers, 1908-1949 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Pollock, James K. (James Kerr), 1898-1968. James Kerr Pollock papers, 1920-1968. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Trudeau, Arthur G. Arthur G. Trudeau papers, 1957-1962. University of Texas at El Paso
Relation Name
associatedWith Cushing, George William, 1888-1968. person
associatedWith Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969. person
associatedWith Flammer, Colonel, person
associatedWith Foley, Donald L. person
associatedWith Foley, Katharine person
associatedWith Gropman, Major, person
associatedWith Leonard, Donald S. (Donald Sparling), 1903-1976 person
associatedWith Marshall, S. L. A. (Samuel Lyman Atwood), 1900-1977. person
associatedWith McElroy, Major, person
associatedWith Meloy, Guy S. person
associatedWith Murphy, Frank, 1890-1949 person
associatedWith Pollock, James K. (James Kerr), 1898-1968. person
associatedWith Ruthven, Alexander Grant, 1882- person
associatedWith Trudeau, Arthur G. person
associatedWith United States. Air Force. corporateBody
associatedWith United States Air Force Academy. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Army corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. Airborne Division, 101st corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. Airborne Division, 82nd. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. Infantry Division, 1st. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. Infantry Division, 24th. Artillery. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. Infantry Division, 25th. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. Infantry Division, 25th. Artillery. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. Infantry Division, 2nd. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. Infantry Division, 4th. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. Infantry Division, 7th. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
El Paso TX US
Catskill NY US
Subject
War correspondents
Arab
Arab
Ardennes, Battle of the, 1944-1945
Authors
Military history
Israel
Israel
Journalism, Military
Korean War, 1950-1953
Korean War, 1950-1953
Korean War, 1950-1953
Military art and science
Military decorations
Military historians
Military history, Modern
Military research
Military uniforms
Quảng Trị (Vietnam), Battle of, 1968
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945 - Aerial operations, American
Occupation
Army officers
Author
Author
Author Historian
Historian
Journalist
Military historians
Military historians
Activity

Person

Birth 1900-07-18

Death 1977-12-17

Male

Americans

English

Information

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