Douglas V. Mastriano

Colonel
Douglas V. Mastriano
Ph.D.
Nationality American
Education History
Alma mater University of New Brunswick (Ph.D.)
Notable awards William E. Colby Award (2015), Crader Family Book Prize in American Values (2015)
Spouse Rebecca Stewart
Children 1 son, Josiah
Website
http://www.sgtyorkdiscovery.com/Home_Page.php

Colonel Douglas V. Mastriano Ph.D. is an American military historian. His 2014 biography of Alvin York won the 2015 Colby Award.

Education

Mastriano has a bachelors history degree, and holds Masters degrees in Military Operational Art and Science, Strategic Intelligence, Air Power Theory, and Strategic Studies. Mastriano attended and graduated from the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. In 2013, he earned his Ph.D. in history at the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada.[1]

Career

Military

In 1986, Mastriano was commissioned in the United States Army. He started his military career in Nuremburg, Germany with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. He took part in the ending of the Cold War, and was situated on the border of East Germany and Czechoslovakia. Mastriano also served in the Gulf War in Iraq. His regiment fought against Sadaam Hussein's Republican Guards. He also held assignments in The Pentagon, 3rd Infantry Division "Rock of the Marne," and US Army Europe Contingency Plans.[1]

He served 4 years in NATO Land Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany.[1][2] Mastriano has been deployed to Afghanistan 3 times, where he was director of the ISAF Joint Intelligence Center.[1][3] He has served in tactical, operational, and strategic assignments.[3]

In June 2012, Mastriano became a part of the US Army War College faculty as a teacher in the Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations.[1][3]

Historian and writer

Mastriano published his first book Alvin York: A New Biography of the Hero of the Argonne in 2014.[3] He had done 6 years of research for the biography, studying American and German archives.[4] In all, Mastriano spent beyond 700 hours doing research on Alvin York, and combed through archives in various parts of Germany including, Stuttgart, Freiburg, Potsdam, Rottweil, and Ulm.[5] He has said that his interest in Alvin York began when he was a child, after having seen the 1941 film Sergeant York. After he joined the Army, his interest in York "deepened."[2] Along with research, the books incorporates forensic study and military terrain analysis.[3]

The book has won the 2015 William E. Colby Award [1] and the 2015 Crader Family Book Prize in American Values.[6]

Mastriano is the co-founder of the Sgt. York Discovery Expedition. The purpose of this group was to pinpoint the exact location on which Alvin York apprehended 132 German soldiers and removed a machine-gun nest, for which York was earned the Congressional Medal of Honor.[3] On October 14, 2006,[5] Mastriano, along with his friend, found the 2 .45 caliber bullets, connecting back to York.[4] A group of searchers- which included Mastriano, his wife, son, and friends- spent 1,000 hours walking the battlefield with metal detectors.[4] He organized a trail in the Forest of Argonne in France, where visitors can walk where York fought.[1]

Personal life

Mastriano's spouse is Rebecca Stewart. They have one son named Josiah.[1] Mastriano is a devout Christian.[2] His father was in the Navy.[1] Mastirano is originally from New Jersey.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 "COL Douglas V. Mastriano, PhD". William E. Colby Military Writers' Symposium. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Montgomery, Nancy (26 September 2008). "Officer says he's pinpointed York's stand". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Biographer of WWI hero Sergeant York named Winner of 2015 Colby Award". The Northfield News. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Smith, Craig S. (26 October 2006). "Proof offered of Sgt. York's war exploits". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Army Officer: Sgt. York battle site located". CBN News. 25 March 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "Author Douglas V. Mastriano Wins Crader Book Prize". Broadway World Books. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.

External links