Although fiction, Command Decision is another reminder of the extraordinary efforts of the ordinary men and women who fought in World War II.
High Point: The focus on the impact and stress on commanders during war.
Low Point: A little too much of the plot is easily predictable.
Author: William Wister Haines
Publication Date: 1947
Genre: Fiction – War
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William Wister Haines’ Command Decision is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary efforts of the ordinary men and women who fought in World War II. Although the story is fictional, it aligns closely with actual events, dilemmas and decisions encountered by the Allies during the war.
The novel centers on a division commander trying to balance the gains from daylight precision bombing with the huge cost in lives. There is some similarity with the novel 12 O’Clock High. But while 12 O’Clock High focused on the psychological toll on commanders, Command Decision is more about the political fallout over the devastating losses, and the resultant interference from the higher-ups. The psychological strains are there, but they are more subtle as the division commander weighs the gains against the costs.
Haines’ writing style is straightforward, and the plot unfolds in a clear, logical progression. There are few dramatic surprises, but his wrap-up is efficient and satisfying.
Read the book, and then watch the 1948 film adaptation starring Clark Gable.
Command Decision is worth the time invested for readers interested in World War II fiction and, more importantly, the moral complexity of modern warfare.
Movie/TV Adaptation
Command Decision (1948)
Sources For This Book
Free eBook (Project Gutenberg): Not available
Free Audiobook (LibriVox): Not available
Available to Purchase: AbeBooks, Biblio, Thriftbooks
