Talk:John P. Lucas

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The reason for the relief of Lucas by Truscott was not, repeat not, his alleged failure to push inland to the Alban Hills immediately on landing at Anzio. All the American commanders, including Mark W. Clark and Lucas's successor, Lucian Truscott, were agreed that to sned part of his force (only two divisions) up to the Alban Hills without consolidating the beachhead would have been suicide.

Opinions on this subject break down somewhat along national lines. Though the Americans suppoerted Lucas, the British, alomst to a man, condemn him for consolidating the beachhead before driving inland. Harold Alexander was one of those holding this view. But it must be remembered that SHINGLE was Churchill's project, and it was a bad idea to start with. Lucas was a scapegoat for them. They all fell in line behind Churchill's views.

Lucas was, in the final analysis, removed because of his chronic pessimism, which was picked up by his staff. Replacing him with Truscott was the right move.

It cannot be taken away from Lucas, however, that he was in command all the time the Beachhead was in danger from Kesselring's and von Mackensen's armies. Lucas deserves better from history than he has received.

                               John SD Eisenhower
                               author, THEY FOUGHT AT ANZIO
                               to be published in the spring of 2007