Who is your favorite figure in American history and why?

Posted 16Aug2017.

In the course of my studies in American Military History, I have found that there have been many more important figures than those commonly discussed. One of which, Edward Ellsberg (1891-1983), is by far my favorite “forgotten” figures. I first came across his exploits in Joseph Gores’ Marine Salvage: The Unforgiving Business of No Cure, No Pay, and I was impressed with his tenacity, innovation, and determination in tackling the task of clearing the Eritrean port of Massawa in 1942. With very little in the way of men, equipment, and support, he cleared the ships scuttled in the harbor by the Italians and got the facility into a viable working condition in spite of the challenges and expert advice that it was “impossible” – all within 7 months. He was subsequently involved in some… interesting… operations in Oran, Algeria and finished his wartime duties involved in the implementation and improvements of the Mulberry Harbors on the Normandy coast following D-Day.

Most importantly, he was one of the many folks back then who understood the importance of keeping his correspondence and the value of writing. He started writing about his experiences in 1928 (On the Bottom), and continued to write through the war and afterwards, ending with The Far Shore in 1960. History, for some, can be viewed as a series of dry collections of secondary and tertiary sources, but Ellsberg’s books are all entertaining and offer insight into a simple, yet effective leadership/problem solving style that is often overlooked:

I was a little concerned over the opinion of all the experts who had rated it impossible. I was, a matter of fact, somewhat irritated by seeing myself denominated an “American expert” in the Admiralty inquiry. For I didn’t consider myself an “expert” in anything and besides I had a low opinion of ‘experts’ anyway. ‘Experts’ are people who know so much about how things have been done in the past that they are usually blind to how things can be done in the future. Edward Ellsberg, Under the Red Sea Sun, (New York: Dodd, Mead, & Co., 1946), 187

Along with Billy Mitchell, Ellsberg will always be a fascinating figure in American history.