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Grey Eminence: Fox Conner and the Art of Mentorship

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Grey Eminence: Fox Conner and the Art of Mentorship
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Author and historian Steven Rabalais provides a compelling narrative account of the life of General Fox Conner, one of the most influential, but least known, figures in American military history. Conner was not only one of the leading combat planners and leaders in World War One, he insightfully identified the young talent that would lead the nation on the battlefields of Europe in World War Two. Rabalais finally gives Conner his due, in a biography that is both dramatic and compelling. This biography not only puts Conner on the map, it highlights Rabalais as one of the truly gifted historians of the American military."
Mark Perry, journalist and author of nine books

"Fox Conner is largely unknown today, yet he was one of General Pershing’s top advisors during World War I. Steve Rabalais rescues General Conner from obscurity and shows how his impact as a military leader extended beyond the Great War, and influenced future commanders like Dwight D. Eisenhower. A well-written and important book."
Mitchell Yockelson Author, Forty-Seven Days: How Pershing’s Warriors Came of Age to Defeat the German Army in World War I, and Borrowed Soldiers: Americans under British Command"

"General Fox Conner is a figure from American military history that more people ought to know. I encourage anyone with an interest in well written (and thoroughly researched) works of history to read Steven Rabalais' new book on General Conner."
Winston Groom, author of Forrest Gump and numerous works of history including The Generals: Patton, MacArthur, Marshall, and the Winning of World War II and A Storm in Flanders: The Ypres Salient, 1914-1918 Tragedy and Triumph on the Western Front.

“Steven Rabalais’ biography of Fox Conner is an excellent piece of historical writing. Conner was a great behind-the-scenes general who served as General Black Jack Pershing's chief of operations in the First World War and was the mentor and tutor of George C. Marshall, George S. Patton, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. In 1964 Eisenhower told an interviewer that "in sheer ability and character, [Fox Conner] was the outstanding soldier of my time." Rabalais tells the story of General Conner's professional and personal life exceptionally well. . . . This is a ripping tale, and anyone interested in American military history will find it a treasure.”
Karl Roider, Alumni Professor Emeritus, Louisiana State University

“What a great book that covers a great soldier and general. I read it in a weekend, as once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down! General Fox Conner should be on the recommended reading list for all military officers and, more particularly, a “must-read” for those destined for a staff assignment in a multi-national command or headquarters. We learn from history, and if we forget the history, we lose.”
Huntington B. “Hunt” Downer, Jr., Major General, USA, Retired.

"presents the first complete biography of this significant, but mostly forgotten, figure in American military history."
West Point Grad News

“…gives an interesting insider’s perspective on the political and personality clashes of the First World War…with an easy and attractive style of writing.”
Miniature Wargames

“I have just completed my first reading of your work on MG Conner. I say my first reading knowing I will read it again more studiously having on my first reading found it flowing with the momentum of a novel, however constrained by the realities of the actual events over time, such that I could not stop my reading to ponder and fully assimilate the many fascinating confluences of this great man’s life and career. MG Conner has certainly not received the recognition he deserves. I thank you for your excellent book which hopefully will have (should have) the popular appeal to create a significantly more widely held appreciation for MG Conner’s considerable influence upon the history of the United States of America and the world.”
Dennis I. Wright RADM, MC, USN (ret)

“Fox Conner was an excellent soldier in his own right, but his mentorship of future General of the Army and President Dwight D. Eisenhower makes him a key figure in American military history. In a 1964 interview, Ike said of Conner: “In sheer ability and character, he was the outstanding soldier of my time.” (p. 249) Author Rabelais does an excellent job of relating Conner’s significant military contributions in this book, and it is highly recommended.”
The Journal of America’s Military Past

“General Fox Conner is a well-researched, and well-written attempt to shed light on the role staff officers play in enabling success on the battlefield… In General Fox Conner, Rabalais not only provides an in-depth account of the general’s life, but highlights the crucial role military staffs, and in particular, the Operations Section of the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.), played in shaping American military policy and strategy… General Fox Conner is a must read for anyone interested in American military history and the United States’ involvement in World War I.”
David Poe, Deputy Director, Pershing Foundation

“This biography of Fox Conner brings to life a forgotten soldier who, albeit behind the scenes, was the most influential American officer of the first half of the 20th century… Conner was a tactician, an intense student, instructor, theoretician, mentor, and far-reaching planner. He deserves more prominence than he has received and deserves attention from every Great War student.”
Roads to the Great War

About the Author

Steven Rabalais has had a lifelong interest in military history and in the biographies of lesser-known, but historically significant, figures. In his first published work, Rabalais combines these interests with years of extensive analysis of material available at the National Archives, the State of Mississippi archives, West Point, the Eisenhower Presidential Library, and numerous other sources to present the first full-length biography of General Fox Conner―one of the most significant, but largely forgotten, American military officers of the early twentieth century.

Mr. Rabalais obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism degree from Louisiana State University in 1982 and his Juris Doctor in 1985. He has practiced law for more than thirty years and is a founding partner of Rabalais & Hebert of Lafayette, Louisiana.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Casemate
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 13, 2016
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1612003974
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1612003979
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.45 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1 x 9.25 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #1,034,969 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #7 in WWI Biographies
- #19 in World War I History (Books)
- #152 in American Military History
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Customer reviews

196 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this biography well-written and informative, with one noting it's required reading for generals. The book provides keen insight into General Conner's life, with one customer highlighting its value in understanding the inter-war years. They appreciate the narrative style.

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18 customers mention content, 18 positive, 0 negative

Customers thoroughly enjoy the content of the book, with one customer noting it's required reading for generals and another highlighting its value for 20th century military buffs.

Excellent book involving a largely overlooked figure. The writing style is breezy and engaging, though the WWI military history has great detail....Read more

This book is a great read. Any student of American military history will enjoy learning about this lynchpin of two eras of Army leadership....Read more

...That's always and everywhere. A good read! 👍👍👍👍👍.Read more

This is an important and interesting book for a number of reasons....Read more

18 customers mention informative, 18 positive, 0 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-researched, with one customer noting its helpful insights into the inter-war years.

...so I was delighted to learn that someone had written an excellent biography....Read more

Concise, insightful and factual. Great read into the personalities of those who lead The Greatest Generation.Read more

Kudos to author Steven Rabalais. His research, writing style, and interest in this anonymous American hero culminate in a wonderful book....Read more

...It provides wonderful narrative as well as keen insight into the making of Eisenhower and Marshall.Read more

7 customers mention narrative, 7 positive, 0 negative

Customers appreciate the narrative of the book, describing it as a fascinating story.

An official excellent account of General Conner’s life. A captivating story, well written, and researched....Read more

...Gen. Connor's career is a fascinating story all the more so because he preferred to stay out of the limelight....Read more

...The Author, Steve Rabalais, does a great job of telling the story of an unsung American hero.Read more

...read, the author did a superb job presenting all the facts in an flowing narrative. The only negative is I wasn’t more depth, more detail....Read more

6 customers mention writing style, 6 positive, 0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book.

...A captivating story, well written, and researched. While he is largely overlooked, his impact on men who shaped history is unquestioned.Read more

This is a well written book about a man that doesn’t get enough attention....Read more

Kudos to author Steven Rabalais. His research, writing style, and interest in this anonymous American hero culminate in a wonderful book....Read more

Excellent book involving a largely overlooked figure. The writing style is breezy and engaging, though the WWI military history has great detail....Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

Benjamin
Excellent Read
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2025
Format: Hardcover
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This is a well written book about a man that doesn’t get enough attention. It was a easy read, the author did a superb job presenting all the facts in an flowing narrative.
The only negative is I wasn’t more depth, more detail. This isn’t the authors fault, Connor had his personal paper destroyed after his death.
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Richard S. Wells
Leadership is Not Brought by the Stork
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2018
Format: Kindle
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This is an important and interesting book for a number of reasons. It can be argued that the most important or culminating event in what we call the American Century is WWII. George Marshall and Dwight Eisenhower are the major military figures in the successful prosecution of the war effort, especially in Europe. Biographical accounts of these two men feature the role of General Fox Conner, a key member of Pershing’s staff in WWI. He recognized Marshall’s ability early on, and was Eisenhower’s mentor in the postwar period.
The military history of this period has contained a frustrating puzzle, in that there was no good biographical account of Conner. This was largely due to the fact that Conner had his papers destroyed. Edward Cox wrote a short biography that was somewhat superficial, due to the lack of detailed information. As a student of this period, I had resigned myself to the fact that this was an unfilled blank in our knowledge.
Steven Rabalais has rescued us from this fate, in a detailed, fascinating account of Fox Conner. He has done this by depending on the accounts of those who knew and worked with Conner. We hear the voices of family members, friends, colleagues, critics and enemies. The sheer research effort in finding these sources is astounding. The skillful, and judicious, use of this material is even more impressive.
From an historical perspective, the primary value of this work is recognition of how important WWI is in preparing us for success in WWII. Conner saw the inevitability of WWII. He was instrumental in development of staff capabilities for war conducted with allies. He recognized the need for adaptable unit organization. He personally educated Eisenhower with respect to leadership and command.
From a literary perspective, this is a beautifully crafted work. It has a style that is captivating. Rabalais has a gift for relating the interplay of the personal with the historical event. Once opened, this is the rare book that you hate to put down or close.
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10 people found this helpful
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Caitlyn
A Mentor to history
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2025
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An official excellent account of General Conner’s life. A captivating story, well written, and researched.
While he is largely overlooked, his impact on men who shaped history is unquestioned.
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Canopus
High Recommended Book about a General who affected 2 World Wars
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2025
Format: Hardcover
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I never new about him, and he was referred to me by a friend. Unlike the Civil War, WWII,etc it is hard to find books on the war leaders at that time, (Except Pershing). You do get snippets in the bios of McArthur, Patton, Eisenhower and Marshall. This is one of the unsung little revealed Military Minds that affected 2 world wars. Recommended.
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Nuckin’Futs
Thoroughly Enjoyed!
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2024
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This book is a great read. Any student of American military history will enjoy learning about this lynchpin of two eras of Army leadership. It provides wonderful narrative as well as keen insight into the making of Eisenhower and Marshall.
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One person found this helpful
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Jim Warner
Brilliant Commander
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2025
Format: Paperback
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Excellent book about a brilliant commander. From his start in West Point excelled and shared his knowledge with others.
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William D. Saunders
A Superb iography
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2017
Format: Hardcover
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As a reader of WWII history I noticed that the name of Fox Connor kept coming up. It was hard to find out much about him,
so I was delighted to learn that someone had written an excellent biography. Gen. Connor's career is a fascinating story all the
more so because he preferred to stay out of the limelight. He excelled as a visionary, a leader, and a teacher. His impact on history was enormous. We are fortunate that Mr. Rabalais has brought his story to the public.
W. Saunders
Whately, MA
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4 people found this helpful
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Mossy123
A biography that needed to be written!
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2019
Format: Kindle
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Well written account of the life, training, and career of one of many of America 's unsung military heroes. I knew that Fox Connor had influenced the careers and destiny of the likes of Gen Eisenhower, but I knew little of his own military career, especially his accomplishments as Pershing's G3. Our level of preparedness was so dismal that when Pershing and Staff arrived in France we had no G1, G2, etc, so we borrowed France's military
designations for Admin, Intel, Ops, Sup, etc. That was good reading! Enough maps to satisfy the reader as to which units were where on the Western Front. I think the author did a good job of conveying the disconnect which occurs between a headquarters and the units it supposedly serves. That's always and everywhere. A good read! 👍👍👍👍👍.
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General Fox Conner: Pershing’s Chief of Operations and Eisenhower’s Mentor (Leadership in Action)

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Top reviews from the United States

Excellent Read

Leadership is Not Brought by the Stork

A Mentor to history

High Recommended Book about a General who affected 2 World Wars

Thoroughly Enjoyed!

Brilliant Commander

A Superb iography

A biography that needed to be written!