Curtis LeMay: military leadership and strategic bombing

Curtis LeMay

When I first embarked upon my research on Curtis LeMay, although I was aware of the general's distinguished war record, I also knew about his political reputation as a fire-breathing conservative. LeMay is infamous for inspiring the creation of a character in Doctor Strangelove and serving as the vice-presidential candidate of George Wallace when the pro-segregation governor ran for president. However, the reality of LeMay's life was considerably more complex and more nuanced than such caricatures would suggest. LeMay was instrumental in bringing about V-J Day and his aggressive bombing of Japan was not rooted in bloodthirstiness but a genuine desire to bring about a swift end to the war for all. Even LeMay's most famous quote, his assertion that the Vietnamese should be blown 'to kingdom come' was likely misinterpreted (what LeMay meant was that the U.S. had the power to easily defeat the Vietnamese with its firepower, but was not going about doing so in the correct fashion).

LeMay did not have an idealistic or positive view of war, but this subtle point was often lost in the polarized political debates brewing in American during the 1960s. He believed in a strategy of total war like General Sherman because he thought that the idea of a moral war was an oxymoron. An army had to 'get in and get out' quickly, and a prolonged and unfocused strategy meant disaster. His belief system was underlined by a coherent philosophy, not madness, and his point-of-view regarding Vietnam is supported by many military historians. In other words, the U.S. should have prioritized the conflict and completely committed America's resources to winning as quickly as possible or not gone to Vietnam at all. There is no black and white or shades of grey in wartime, and half-measures simply bring about more causalities and folly.

LeMay was a Cold Warrior at heart and tough and unemotional but his commitment to the health and well-being of his troops also made them extremely loyal followers. He demanded obedience but also acted in a manner to win his subordinates' respect. He fought long and hard while serving in Germany during the postwar period to ensure that his men were well-trained and well-provided for in the face of threatened budget cuts. On a personal basis he could be standoffish and did not enjoy socializing with other military men during his leisure hours, preferring to keep an objective distance from his fellow professionals, lest it cloud his judgment. But his daughter remembers him as a warm, vibrant figure and praised her father for the love and attention he showed towards her, despite his busy life. The hard exterior concealed a warm heart, which should not be a surprise given LeMay's unshakable values. He believed in the American way of life and his family and his opinions remained constant, even as the political realities around him changed. Unfortunately, this uncompromising stance was not well-suited to politics and more subtle diplomatic vs. military battles, but that does not detract from the value of his contribution to American security.