Dissertation

The Leadership Character of Colonel Lewis Millett during the Korean War Battle of Bayonet Hill

Murphy, David W

2019

Overview

Character is a critical component of effective leadership, particularly in the chaotic and brutal combat environment. The extreme context of battle accentuates character to a degree not possible in other settings, but there is little research exploring character under fire. Military historiography features prominently in leadership literature, so research on military leaders contributes to the field of leadership studies, especially when juxtaposed against a modern understanding of the character construct. Case studies of small-unit combat leaders serve as a foundation to better understand character. One such leader was Lewis Millett, awarded the Medal of Honor during the Korean War for actions during a small engagement called the Battle of Bayonet Hill. Extant historiography on this action does not consider his combat leadership from a character perspective, nor in the context of his life experience. This gap in the historical understanding of Millett leads to the following research question: How did Captain Lewis Millett demonstrate wartime leadership character during the Korean War Battle of Bayonet Hill? Millett’s character, leadership, soldiering expertise, love of country, and love of his men all combined in a bloody, brief engagement. The way Millett told his story, like most veteran stories, did not always accurately reflect what happened but does serve to demonstrate the values that underpinned his character. The Christian faith that emerged in his post-World War II years developed into a worldview in which patriotism and faith deeply intertwined, promoting a nationalism previously identified by other research into different military leaders.

• Publisher: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
• Subject: Military history / Philosophy / Sociology
• ISBN: 9781392703090, 1392703093