Anthony McAuliffe (1898-1975) exhibited superior ability commanding airborne and regular army troops during the Normandy Invasion, Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge, three of the most critical military engagements for the Western Allies against Nazi Germany during World War II. McAuliffe was also instrumental in the racial integration of the U.S. Army, for which he was particularly proud.

Born on July 2, 1898 in Washington, DC, to a father employed by the government, Anthony McAuliffe seemed destined for a career in the service of his country. He attended public schools in Washington, DC, and secured admittance to West Virginia University in 1916. McAuliffe embarked on his life's work following the U.S. entry into World War I, transferring to the War Emergency Course offered by the U.S. Military Academy in June 1917. He completed the course in November 1918, just days before the end of the war, and...