MAJOR “HOWDY”
Susannah J. Ural’s February 2021 article, “Texas Tough,” was an excellent look at how difficult it is to gain the trust and respect of the citizen soldier. The independent nature of the American soldier has been its hallmark of success, while also frustrating those in authority to mold these citizen volunteers into a cohesive fighting unit.
Officers like William “Howdy” Martin and John Bell Hood exemplify the qualities needed to successfully gain the trust and respect of the rank and file. Certainly, greeting soldiers with an informal “howdy” was a splendid way to let the men know
