The purpose of “Combat Lessons” is to give to ourofficers and enlisted men the benefit of the battleexperiences of others. To be of maximum benefitthese lessons must be disseminated without delay.They do not necessarily represent the carefully consideredviews of the War Department; they do, however,reflect the actual experiences of combat and,therefore, merit careful reading. For this reasonalso no single issue can cover many of the phases ofcombat; lessons will be drawn from the reports asthey are received from the theaters of operation andquickly disseminated so that others may apply them.The suggestions which are made or implied are notintended to change the tactical doctrine by which ourArmy has been trained but rather to elaboratethereon. Much of the subject matter has been coveredin training literature, but the comments showthat shortcomings continue to manifest themselveson the battlefield.

The paramount combat lesson learned from everyoperation is the vital importance of leadership. Ourequipment, our supply, and, above all, our men, aresplendid. Aggressive and determined leadership isthe priceless factor which inspires a command andupon which all success in battle depends. It is responsiblefor success or failure.