No. 8
Rank and file
in combat:
What they are doing
How they do i.t
WAR DEPARTMEN
INGTON, D. C.
Our Armies
in Europe have won their victory.
Vet-
erans of the campaigns
in North Africa and’Europe
are
now joining
forces with the veterans of the Pacific
for the
final assault against Japan.
They are coming
to grips with
a foe quite different from the German soldier,
different as
an individual
fighting man and different
in the tactics
employed.
Even
the most
experienced
soldier
of the
European battlefields will have much to learn.
We must now bring to bear against the Japanese all the
experience we have gained
in every theater.
The sug
gestions made
in “Combat Lessons” are drawn
from such
experience.
Since, to be effective,
they must reach the
soldier promptly, publication
is not delayed
to insure that
they always represent
the thoroughly digested views of
the War Department.
The great combat lesson learned from every operation
is the importance
of Im&nh~ip.
Our equipment;
our
supply, and above all, OUT men, are splendid. Aggres-
sive and determined
leadership is the pricbless
factor
which inspires a command and upon which all assess
in
battle depends.
It is responsible for s~~ccess or failure.
Con-k
Page
Leadership
..............
1
On Killing Jnps
............
12
Citation of 7th Recomnissnnce Troop
....
18
Mortar Suggestions
....
_
......
20
-On
Adjustm.ont
..
.....
_
. 21
--On Control
............
23
-On Employment
..........
25
Aim~ingStake Shortcuts
........
27
Patrolling
..............
28
Field Expedients .............
33
Jap Tricks~ ..............
41
Prepared
/ram combat reportr and published
by direc-
tion of
the Chiej of Staff
by Operationa
Division
in
collaboration with other Divisions
of the War Department
General Staff, Army Ground
Forces, Army Air Forces,
and Army Serzke
Forces.
Photos by U. S. Army Signal
Corps furnished
by Army Pictorial
Service.
Cartoons by
iMajnr Carl R. Giegerich.
Cont