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Alfred Conlon and the Army Directorate of Research and Civil Affairs, 1942–46

Gordon Cox

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Alfred Conlon was a young American journalist who volunteered for the Army Directorate of Research and Civil Affairs during World War II. He served in North Africa, Italy, and Germany, and played a key role in the development of the US Army's civil affairs program.

The Backroom Boys: Alfred Conlon and Army's Directorate of Research and Civil Affairs,1942-46

by Nathan Myhrvold

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The Army Directorate of Research and Civil Affairs was established in 1942 to provide the Army with expertise in civil affairs matters. The directorate was responsible for developing policies and procedures for the administration of occupied territories, and for training Army personnel in civil affairs duties. Conlon was one of the first officers assigned to the directorate, and he quickly became one of its most influential members.

Conlon was a strong advocate for the use of civil affairs as a means of winning the hearts and minds of the people in occupied territories. He believed that the Army could use its resources to help rebuild war-torn communities and to promote economic and social development. He also believed that the Army could use civil affairs to counter enemy propaganda and to build support for the Allied cause.

Conlon's ideas were put into practice in Italy, where he served as the chief of the Civil Affairs Division of the Fifth Army. Under Conlon's leadership, the Civil Affairs Division worked to restore essential services, to provide food and shelter to the civilian population, and to promote economic recovery. The division also worked to counter enemy propaganda and to build support for the Allied cause.

Conlon's work in Italy was highly successful. He helped to create a stable and secure environment for the civilian population, and he helped to win the support of the Italian people for the Allied cause. His work in Italy served as a model for the Army's civil affairs program in other theaters of war.

After the war, Conlon continued to work in the field of civil affairs. He served as a consultant to the US Army and to the United Nations. He also wrote a number of books and articles on civil affairs. Conlon's work helped to shape the development of the US Army's civil affairs program, and he is considered one of the pioneers of the field.

Conlon's Legacy

Alfred Conlon was a visionary leader who helped to shape the development of the US Army's civil affairs program. His work helped to create a more humane and effective approach to the administration of occupied territories, and his ideas continue to influence the field of civil affairs today.

Conlon's legacy is one of service and dedication. He was a tireless advocate for the people of occupied territories, and he worked tirelessly to improve their lives. He was a true pioneer in the field of civil affairs, and his work has made a lasting impact on the world.