June 2008
foreword
2008 ICMH Congress will meet in Trieste,
Italy in September
The USCMH is affiliated with
the International Commission
of Military History and takes
part in its projects and
programs, including
contributions to its publication
program (mainly the
International Bibliography of
Military History) and
participating in the annual
international meetings.
Prof. Dr. Massimo de Leonardis
Secretary General - Italian Commission of Military History
in this issue
2008 International Congress
of Military History ………………
1-3
President’s Message ……………..
3
ICMH News………………………….
4
USCMH Executive Committee
5
WWI Anthology Planned……….
6
News and Information…………..
6
Welcome New Members………..
6
USCMH Newsletter / June 2008
The 34th ICMH Congress will take place in Trieste, Italy, from Sunday
31st August to Friday 5th September 2008. This year the Congress theme
is Military conflicts and civil population: total wars, limited
wars, asymmetrical wars. In recent times, across Africa, Southeast
Europe, and the Middle East civilians have been directly subjected to the
consequences of war and their life has been conditioned and stressed by
guerrillas, liberation movements, and terrorism. For several hundred
years Europeans have considered, promulgated, and incorporated limited
war into their concept of war. At this Congress, military historians from
more than 30 nations will present research-based papers analyzing many
wars over many centuries. To shape the discussion, the Italian
Commission on Military History, the organizers and conference hosts,
developed a number of themes which are explained on the Congress’
website, listed below.
Colonel Matteo Paesano, President of the Italian Commission of Military
History and Chief of the Historical Office of the Italian Defense General
Staff, is confident that the theme will attract numerous distinguished
participants. A Scientific Committee, consisting of civilian and military
academics from major Italian universities, established the academic
program.
Page 1 of 7
Status of Papers:
So far some 61 proposals of papers have been received from 27 national commissions and countries. The
Scientific Committee selected papers in May and informed the presenters. Scholars who have been accepted
should send their final papers to the Scientific Committee by the end of June in one of the Congress’ three
working languages: French, English, and Italian.
Young Scholars Workshop and Book Roundtable:
For the first time at an ICMH Congress graduate students and researchers, chosen by their national
commissions, will have a chance to present their research in a special panel. A Book Roundtable will be held on
the theme: “Recent Books on Total Wars, Limited Wars, and Asymmetrical Wars.” Both sessions are open to
all and discussion is welcome.
City Environment and Congress Information:
Trieste is a port city of 212,000 inhabitants, and is the capital of the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Located in
the northern end of the Adriatic Sea, the city lies close to the border with Slovenia. The Congress will take place
at the Centro Congressi della Stazione Marittima, positioned on the waterfront in the city centre. During the
Congress, working languages will be English, French, and Italian and simultaneous translation will be
available. The registration fee is € 300 for each participant to be paid upon arrival by cash, credit card or
automatic debit card. Participants will be welcomed by the Congress’ Working Group staff at the airports of
Trieste (Ronchi dei Legionari) and Venice (Marco Polo) and at the Trieste railway Central Station, and
accompanied to their hotels. The same transfers will be organized on departure on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7
September.
On Sunday 31st August from 2.30 to 6:00 all Congress’ participants will enjoy a tour of the town, and a
welcome reception in a local restaurant. On Wednesday 3rd September all participants will visit Palmanova,
one of the most remarkable town fortresses in the world, and Aquileia, a famous archaeological and historical
site. Then on Thursday evening a concert will be held at the Teatro Rossetti, followed by a dinner buffet. The
closing banquet dinner will be on Friday, September 5th. With the exception of Wednesday evening, all
lunches and dinners will be offered to the participants, their cost being covered by the registration or paid by
the Italian Commission, the Italian Armed Forces and local authorities.
For information on the provisional scientific and social programs please visit the web site:
http://www.difesa.it/SMD/Staff/Reparti/Vreparto/CISM/CIHM/ , where English, French and Italian versions
are provided. This page also provides direct links to all pertinent information on the scientific and social
programs, conference registration, hotel reservations and post-congress tour. For enquiries about the
Congress please contact the Project Officer, Captain Alfredo Maglietta: E-mail: cihm2008@smd.difesa.it . Fax:
(+39) 0646912197.
U.S. scholars participating in the 2008 ICMH Congress
James Hogue, USCMH Vice president
Five U.S. historians have been chosen to present papers at the 2008 ICMH at Trieste, Italy. A committee
composed of Vice President James Hogue and Dr. Bianka Adams and Dr. Ed Marolda reviewed a number of
interesting paper proposals and presented a recommended slate to the Commission’s executive committee in
USCMH Newsletter / June 2008
Page 2 of 7
March 2008. The final slate of papers chosen represents a range of topics and wars, sieges, and occupations
from the late Middle Ages to the current conflict in Iraq. Authors include professors teaching in universities
and military academies. Several of the military services are represented, as well as public museums and
institutes. All of the proposals, however, are united by a shared focus on the 2008 ICMH Congress theme of
civilian populations and war. We look forward to these scholars’ presentations and exceptional discussions in
Trieste. The U.S. Commission’s presenters are:
Dr. Kelly DeVries, Loyola College of Maryland, “Standing Up to the Ottoman Empire: Civilian
Resistance to Turkish Expansionism during the 15th, 16th, and 17th Centuries”
Colonel Gian Gentile, US Military Academy, “The Problem with History and the ‘Population Centric’
Theory in American Counterinsurgency Doctrine Operations”
Dr. Ricardo Herrera, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, “Brave Rifles at Tal ‘Afar”
Dr. Geoff Megargee, U.S. Holocaust Museum, “Vernichtungskrieg: Strategy, Operations, and Genocide
in the German Invasion of the Soviet Union, 1941”
Dr. Charles Neimeyer, U.S. Marine Corps University, “The British Occupation of Rhode Island, 1776-79”
U.S. Graduate Student selected and funded for ICMH Congress
This year the ICMH will add a new feature to its academic program. Five national commissions were invited to
select a graduate student to participate in an international workshop at the conference. The workshop will
offer the students a unique academic opportunity to present and discuss their work before an audience of
international military historians and military experts. The Italian Commission on Military History has
generously offered to subsidize registration fees and hotel costs for the students. At its 2007 annual board
meeting the US Commission decided to participate in the ICMH graduate student workshop and subsidize the
cost of travel expenses for a selected student up to $1,500. Eleven graduate students from universities across
the United States responded to the call for papers. Each submitted a seminar paper which was reviewed by a
committee composed of Jim Hogue, Bianka Adams, and Ed Marolda.
Ellen Tillman, a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, was selected to
present a paper at the workshop at Trieste. Ms. Tillman will present a paper on the “Early ‘Civic Action’: U.S.
Marine Corps Initiatives during the Dominican Republic Occupation, 1916-1924.” The selection committee was
particularly impressed by the excellence of Tillman’s research, which included Marine Corps archival sources
as well as Dominican Republic sources in English and Spanish. Ms. Tillman’s topic meshes perfectly with the
conference theme of civilian populations and war and we welcome her as a member of the American delegation
to Trieste.
U.S. Commission represented by large delegation
To date, the U.S. Commission will be represented in Trieste by 45 members and guests. This is one of the
largest delegations in recent memory. The Commission’s officers, trustees, international officers, presenters,
members, and graduate students will be part of the delegation. As is customary, the American delegation will
arrange an evening dinner during the congress. Everyone is invited, plus guests. Perhaps we shall find a
rooftop restaurant overlooking the Adriatic Sea or an Italian trattoria where the wine and music flow freely. If
you have not registered for the Congress, please do so quickly.
USCMH Newsletter / June 2008
Page 3 of 7
President’s Message
Hans Pawlisch, President USCMH
Summer is upon us and on behalf of the officers and trustees of the United States Commission on Military
History (USCMH), I want to say, that we look forward to attending the annual meeting of the International
Commission on Military History in Trieste. This beautiful port city has long been the gateway to the Balkans
and home to exiled literati; one of whom, James Joyce, wrote Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and
most of Ulysses while residing there.
This year the USCMH will be well represented. A committee chaired by Vice President Jim Hogue
selected two young scholars to present papers at the conference—Dr. Ricardo Herrera, historian at the U.S.
Army Combat Studies Institute, and Ms. Ellen Tillman, a postgraduate student from the University of Illinois.
Herrera’s paper, “Brave Rifles at Tall Afar’ and Tillman’s presentation on ‘Early Civic Action: Marine Initiative
during the Dominican Occupation (1916-1924)’ are both topical and suit this year’s conference theme on war
and civil populations. On Jim Hogue’s recommendation, the Executive Committee awarded them young
scholar travel grants of $1500 each. I wish to acknowledge the generous support of the Snyder-Breidenthal
Foundation in making these grants.
The USCMH has a new set of officers this year. I have initiated measures to improve our internal
administration through our Long Range Planning Committee. This committee will seek to enhance our capital
reserves, improve our website, and increase our membership. Dr. Graham Cosmas of the Joint History Office,
who is also Treasurer of the Society of Military History, has agreed to look into USCMH financial matters. Vice
President Hogue will consider ways of improving our website, and Dr. Ken MacDonald will examine ways of
attracting new members. We should all be pleased at their willingness to serve. The Executive Committee will
examine their recommendations. I look forward to joining 45 American colleagues in Trieste. Ci vediamo lì!
International Commission of Military History News
Piet Kamphuis, Secretary-General ICMH
“Message from the Hague”
“When it’s spring again, I’ll bring again, tulips from Amsterdam.” These are the opening lines of a famous song
about beautiful flowers in Spring. Our International Commission of Military History (ICMH) has also begun a
new year. This message will inform you of key developments currently taking place in and around the ICMH.
These are many and of a very diverse nature. Together, they form a colourful, beautiful bouquet and may, in
combination with the prospect of enjoying the warm Italian sun of late August, foster good spirits. I am grateful
to Pat Harahan, the editor-in-chief of this Newsletter, for being able to offer you this bouquet.
The Italian Commission of Military History, headed by Col Matteo Paesano, is making good progress
with the organisation of the 34th ICHM Congress. The theme of the congress - "Military conflicts and civil
population: Total wars, limited wars, asymmetrical wars” - is not only interesting in a historical context, but
also relevant for present-day military operations. If you have not yet enrolled for Trieste, my advice to you is:
be quick.
The Executive Board, which met on 12 April in New Orleans, is also pleased with our Congress calendar.
We look forward to reading the briefing that the Chairman of the Portuguese Commission, Lieutenant-General
A. de Sousa Pinto, will present on the Congress, which will be held from 31 August to 5 September 2009 in the
USCMH Newsletter / June 2008
Page 4 of 7
beautiful city of Porto. A year later, 30 August to 3 September 2010, we shall be meeting in Amsterdam, the city
that during the previous week will be extending its hospitality to the world congress of the International
Committee of Historical Sciences. Brazil and France have meanwhile put themselves forward as candidates to
host the Congresses of 2011 and 2012 respectively.
Besides the Bibliography Committee and the Military Archives Committee, we will now have an
Educational Committee. In cooperation with Prof. Dr. Ruedi Jaun, statutes for the new committee have been
drawn up and subsequently approved by the Executive Board. I consider myself fortunate that Dr. Jaun has
stated his willingness to act as first chairman of the new committee and is assured of the support of Prof. Dr.
Krzysztof Kubiak of Poland as Secretary-General. The South African Commission will present in Trieste the
2007 Acta of our exceptionally successful congress in Capetown. During the General Meeting we can also look
forward to the presentation of a new instalment, number 29, of the ICMH Bibliography. Achieving this
publication is no mean feat by Dimitry Qeloz and his helpers, since on account of institutional changes the
traditional and generous Swiss (financial) contribution has largely disappeared. Finding an alternative place
for this showpiece of the ICMH will take a great deal of energy. You will undoubtedly hear more about this
dossier in Trieste.
Finally, the Chairman of the French Commission, Professor Dr. Jean Avenel and I am in the process of
producing an attractive promotional brochure for the ICMH. We will make the "basic text" of it available to the
national commissions, so that they can tailor it to attract specific groups in their own country. Greater
awareness, more members and easier access to third-party finance – these are the main goals of this exercise. I
look forward to seeing you in Trieste and bringing you up to date on all the developments concerning the
ICMH. So, warm regards until we meet at our 34th ICMH Congress!
USCMH Executive Committee
Janice McKenney, USCMH Trustee
The Executive Committee met on March 7, 2008 at the U.S. Army Center of Military History with Hans
Pawlisch, President; James Hogue, Vice President; Pat Harahan, Secretary-general; Jeffrey Clarke, Janice
McKenney, and Ann von Luttichau, Trustees. Dr. Pawlisch explained that he saw the purpose of the committee
as being to launch initiatives as well as long-range planning. He then appointed Jim Hogue (chair), J. Kenneth
McDonald, and Graham Cosmas as members of a Long Range Planning Committee to study raising the
Commission’s “endowment” to $250,000 in ten years, considering donations, charitable annuities, and
foundation support. Another issue Pawlisch asked the Long Range Committee to consider was the future of the
website, now located at the University of Illinois. The committee’s initial report will be reviewed by the trustees
and officers at the annual meeting in November.
In a departure from past practice, Jim Hogue proposed five, instead of the usual three, presenters for
the 2008 meeting in Trieste. The US Commission will ask the Italian Commission for two additional slots
needed to accommodate the nominated scholars on the international academic program. For the graduate
student program, he proposed Ellen Tillman from the University of Illinois. The Commission agreed to provide
a travel grant up to $1,500. Jim Hogue reported that he had received a letter from the chair of the
Bibliographic Committee, which stated that the Swiss Army had cut financing by 15,000 Swiss francs and that
the committee needed funds. A long discussion over the usefulness of the bibliography resulted in the general
consensus to have the issue discussed, with recommendations, by the ICMH Executive Committee. Pat
USCMH Newsletter / June 2008
Page 5 of 7
Harahan distributed both a 2007-08 membership list and a list of recent members. He reported that current
membership stands at 102 with a goal of 150.
Ann von Luttichau presented the issues covered at the 2007 annual board of trustees meeting
(membership categories, nominating committee, elections, and the office of Secretary-general). Because all of
the recommended changes have implications for other provisions in the bylaws, Hans Pawlisch decided to
reconstitute the Bylaws Committee, with Ann von Luttichau, chair; Romana Danysh; and Janice McKenney
replacing Tony Loezere. The committee will present its revisions by June 2008. Before the meeting adjourned,
Jeff Clarke suggested that the Commission publish a directory of the USCMH/ICMH membership.
World War I Anthology planned
Allan R. Millett, Vice President ICMH
The ICMH Executive Committee plans to sponsor an international anthology on the closing phases of World
War I, dating roughly from the German offensive of 1918 until the fall of 1919. Dr. Luc de Vos, ICMH president,
will be the editor-project director. The individual essays will focus on national experiences and perspectives
and may be written in the national language (preferably French or German, if not English) or be translated for
different editions. I am responsible for forwarding names, essay titles, and vitas of potential authors from the
United States, especially anyone interested in writing the essay on the United States. Details on all aspects of
the project will come from Dr. de Vos. Please contact me through amillett@uno.edu.
2008 Pritzker Award to Allan R. Millett
Pat Harahan, Secretary-general
A national panel of historians, writers, and distinguished individuals selected Allan R. Millett as the 2008
recipient of the Pritzker Military Library Literature Award. In announcing the award in Chicago on June 23 rd,
Colonel James N. Pritzker stated, "The selection committee has honored an individual whose life's work in the
area of understanding and writing about military history is at the highest scholarly level. Allan Millett's written
work, teaching and other pursuits have educated and informed us all in a most profound way.” Millett is past
president of the U.S. Commission on Military History and currently serves as the ICMH vice president.
He is currently the Director of the Eisenhower Center for American Studies and Ambrose Professor of History
at the University of New Orleans and the Maj. Gen. Raymond E. Mason, Jr. Professor Emeritus of Military
History at Ohio State University. Millett is a specialist in the history of America's military policy, twentieth
century wars, and military institutions. He is author of many books including Semper Fidelis: The History of
the United States Marine Corps; The Politics of Intervention: The Military Occupation of Cuba, 1906-1909;
The General: Robert L. Bullard and Officership in the United States Army; and In Many a Strife: General
Gerald C. Thomas and the U.S. Marine Corps. He is the co-author of For the Common Defense and A War to
Be Won: Fighting the Second World War. In the past decade, Millett also has become a specialist of
international stature on the history of the Korean War.
News and Information

Robin Higham and Stephen J. Harris’ history Why Air Forces Fail is a Military History Book Club
selection, and is No.2 on the Air Force Chief of Staff’s 2008 Reading List.
USCMH Newsletter / June 2008
Page 6 of 7

Captain Igor Amosov, Russian Federation, a colleague in international military history, died on March
14, 2008.
Welcome New Members
Ginger Anema, New Jersey
John A. Borron, Jr., Missouri
Stephen Borque, Kansas
John Bragg, Mexico
Jim Duffy, New York
Irfan Meer, Pakistan
Charles Neimeyer, Virginia
John Spinelli, Virginia
Michael Spurr, Nevada
Gary Trogdon, Maryland
Bill Williams, Maryland
William E.W. Keish, Virginia
USCMH Officers and Trustees
Officers:
President: Dr. Hans Pawlisch
Vice-President: Dr. James Hogue
Secretary-general: Dr. Pat Harahan, email harahan@verizon.net
Treasurer: Dr. Geoffrey Megargee
Secretary: Janice E. McKenney
Newsletter Editor: Dr. Sanders Marble, email uscmh_newsletter@yahoo.com
Page 10 of 10
Board of Trustees:
Dr. Jeffery Clarke
Dr. Bianka J. Adams
Dr. Barton Hacker
Janice E. McKenney
Dr. Edward Marolda
Dr. Sanandis Papadopoulos
Willard Snyder
Ann von Luttichau
ICMH Vice President
Dr. Alan R. Millett
Representative to the ICMH Bibliography Committee
Dr. James K. Hogue
Representative to the ICMH Archives Committee
Dr. Robin Higham
Interested in Joining the U.S. Commission on Military History?
We use an on-line method for registering new members. If interested, please go to our website and complete
the information. The website is: uscmh.acdis.uiuc.edu . Or simply go to any major web search network and
query: U. S. Commission on Military History. Or, give our Secretary-general Pat Harahan a call at 703-7675861.
Welcome!
USCMH Newsletter / June 2008
Page 7 of 7