Date of Award
12-2025
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
Humanities
Committee Chair
Dr. Andrew Wiest
Committee Chair School
Humanities
Committee Member 2
Dr. Heather Stur
Committee Member 2 School
Humanities
Committee Member 3
Dr. Kyle Zelner
Committee Member 3 School
Humanities
Committee Member 4
Dr. Douglas Bristol
Committee Member 4 School
Humanities
Committee Member 5
Dr. Rory McGovern
Committee Member 5 School
Humanities
Abstract
This dissertation examines the transformation of the US Army from 1898 to 1918, focusing on how public reaction to logistical failures during the Spanish-American War catalyzed Progressive Era reforms. It argues that the national outcry over the Army's inability to adequately support its troops in 1898 led to significant changes in public support for a larger, more professional Army and the birth of modern US Army logistics. The dissertation explores how these reforms, driven by a shift in public expectations and Progressive ideals, enabled the creation of a modern, professional Army. Key legislative acts and the establishment of the Quartermaster Corps played crucial roles in this transformation. The successful deployment and support of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, particularly during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the largest offensive in American military history, validated these changes. This period represents the most significant turning point in the history of US Army logistics, marking a stark contrast to the Army's struggle to support the relatively small operations in Cuba only twenty years prior and establish the Army's winning formula for logistics in the twentieth century.
Copyright
James M. Berry, 2025
Recommended Citation
Berry, James M., "Supporting Victory: The Revolution in US Army Logistics, 1898–1918" (2025). Dissertations. 2413.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/2413