Learning under fire

The 112th Cavalry Regiment was thrown into the heart of war in the Pacific with little training. They faced not only the Japanese enemy, but a rugged environment for which they were ill-prepared. Grappling with the continuing challenge of learning new military skills and tactics across ever-shifting battlefields, this military unit adapted to the changing demands of its tactical and strategic environment. The author demonstrates that this learning was not simply a matter of steadily building on experience and honing relevant skills, but it also required discovering shortcomings and promptly taking action to improve; often while in direct contact with the enemy. As the war neared its end, the regiment again had to shift its focus quickly from an anticipated offensive on the Japanese home islands to becoming part of the occupation force in the land of a conquered enemy.