Emory Upton is considered one of the most influential reformers of the U.S. Army in American history. He is sometimes referred to as the Army’s version of Alfred Thayer Mahan. A respected combat veteran of the American Civil War, today Upton is remembered for successfully leading infantry against an entrenched enemy and also for suggesting that “excessive civilian control of the military” was the greatest weakness of the U.S. military. Controversial and brilliant, Upton influenced decades of U.S. military thought and his experiences and theories regarding “trench” warfare were proven on the battlefields of World War I.

In 2013, U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel David Siry sat down with the Memorial's staff to talk about Upton’s life and legacy. At the time of the interview, LTC Siry was serving as an instructor in American History at the United States Military Academy at West Point. (26:13)

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