General Eisenhower’s moral judgement was beyond reproach in accession of Vichy French leader Admiral Darlan to the Allied Forces Headquarters Command (AFHC). As the Supreme Allied Commander, Eisenhower demonstrated unparalleled loyalty to his troops, leadership to the Allied force, and sense of duty by adding Darlan to the command team. Eisenhower exhibited unyielding loyalty to his soldiers and mission accomplishment in bringing Darlan to the AFHC. Loyalty requires senior leadership to emphasize moral purpose, the mission of the Army profession, while ensuring care for soldiers.10 Eisenhower assessed Darlan was the only Frenchman with the authority and prestige to declare a ceasefire.11 Despite a firestorm of criticism and political debate,
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Adherence to duty contends that personal interests are secondary to the requirements of the mission.19 Eisenhower’s decision to vet Darlan to the Allied cause created turmoil with various civilian decision-makers in Washington, London and France.20 Despite the political uproar, Eisenhower determined the utility Darlan brought to bear far outweighed the political concerns from the United States and Europe. In that, Darlan’s unity of command of the French forces and access to French secure seaports and airfields wielded an immense strategic advantage for the Allied forces. Therefore, Eisenhower determined Darlan was a critical asset to facilitate the immediate cease-fire, as well as, to overall strategic imperative to drive the Germans from North Africa in the push to Europe. Eisenhower’s unwavering dedication to duty is a testament to his overall commitment to accomplishing the “mission first” virtue of the Army profession.
In conclusion, General Eisenhower displayed outstanding moral judgement by selecting Admiral Darlan. His loyalty to his troops, leadership in a politically charged environment, and duty to the mission accentuated his focus in the ongoing shaping of the strategic environment in the Mediterranean
Adherence to duty contends that personal interests are secondary to the requirements of the mission.19 Eisenhower’s decision to vet Darlan to the Allied cause created turmoil with various civilian decision-makers in Washington, London and France.20 Despite the political uproar, Eisenhower determined the utility Darlan brought to bear far outweighed the political concerns from the United States and Europe. In that, Darlan’s unity of command of the French forces and access to French secure seaports and airfields wielded an immense strategic advantage for the Allied forces. Therefore, Eisenhower determined Darlan was a critical asset to facilitate the immediate cease-fire, as well as, to overall strategic imperative to drive the Germans from North Africa in the push to Europe. Eisenhower’s unwavering dedication to duty is a testament to his overall commitment to accomplishing the “mission first” virtue of the Army profession.
In conclusion, General Eisenhower displayed outstanding moral judgement by selecting Admiral Darlan. His loyalty to his troops, leadership in a politically charged environment, and duty to the mission accentuated his focus in the ongoing shaping of the strategic environment in the Mediterranean