Jason A. Yanda

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Description

Author: Robert F. Williams

Reviewed by: Jason A. Yanda, assistant professor, US Army Heritage and Education Center, US Army War College

In this gripping organizational history, Robert F. Williams reveals how a tight-knit group of World War II paratroopers rose to dominate the US Army’s leadership and reshape its doctrine during the Cold War. Through bold innovation and a fiercely held airborne culture, figures like Ridgway, Taylor, and Gavin transformed civil-military relations, atomic warfare planning, and airmobile strategy. The Airborne Mafia uncovers how subcultures can wield extraordinary influence, leaving a legacy that still echoes through today’s military institutions.

©2026 Jason A. Yanda

Publication Date

3-5-2026

Keywords

Cold War, military strategy, organizational change, civil-military relations, leadership

Disciplines

Defense and Security Studies | Military and Veterans Studies

Book Review: The Airborne Mafia: The Paratroopers Who Shaped America’s Cold War Army

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