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Article: Billy Mitchell. (Book Reviews).(Book Review)
- Article from:
- Parameters
- Article date:
- March 22, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 U.S. Army War College. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Billy Mitchell. By James J. Cooke. Boulder, Cob.: Lynne Reinner Publishers, 2002. 305 pages. $49.95.
I have never been a fan of Billy Mitchell. Most previous biographies have reinforced my distaste, although the adoring style has generally been more the cause than the actual story. Wearing my prejudices on my sleeve, I commend this latest work on a very complex and difficult man. James Cooke has done an excellent job of portraying the foibles, strengths, and failings of the first American prophet for airpower in a most evenhanded fashion.
In today's parlance, Mitchell had a seriously dysfunctional childhood. That information isn't particularly new, but ...