re: Odd factoid from the 1930s

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During World War II, LSU was one of the top four schools producing officers food r the U.S. Armed Forces. (The other schools were Texas A&M, West Point, and Annapolis). LSU had more than 5,000 former students serving as officers, including 16 who achieved the rank of Brigadier General or higher. In all, 12,000 individuals from LSU served, and over 500 died in this great conflict.

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This exact paragraph is posted on the LSU history web page. Not a single reference is given for the source of this claim, nor of several other such sales-pitch breathless prose in that write up.

Funny about academia.... there is a little thing called "reference" and "footnote" when you claim a fact... and by the way, that very LSU web page contradicts the Ponchy Tiger post I responded to. Ponchy Tiger's included this quote:

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Also, other than West Point no school produced as many officers in World War II than Louisiana State University did.

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I think PT was plainly out of bounds, juggling the ball here...good god, he didn’t even bother to acknowledge Annapolis. His statement was false by inspection, and that makes him ...what?

No offense is intended, but Ponchy Tiger could have just quoted a number and expressed pride. Fair enough.... but no, he had to make a spurious claim of LSU superiority. Unfortunately this seems to be a local trait.... "generational whatever," "8 first-round draft picks - lock," most WWII officers of any school in the country except West Point" ( uhhhhhhh.....}

Heck, I don't mind wild trolling and ridiculous claims about the village people. But please don't throw up unverified military facts to bolster your school's pedigree. LSU and Louisiana have plenty of military heroes to be proud of, but has no more (or less) claim to military glory in WWII or WWI or the Civil War than quite a few other southern States and universities.

Well, Louisiana was a major combat theatre durning the WBTS... and was devestated, fourth in total monetary destruction and percent casualties behind Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia. (the Civil War in Louisiana, John Winters).

The number of in-State campaigns were extensive...Teche, La Fourche, Morgan City, Vicksburg, Red River, Baton Rouge, Port Hudson seige (longest in history of North America), Lake Charles, etc. And LA raised almost 1,000 companies and sent about 30 regiments out of State...to the Army of Northern Virginia, Army of Tennessee, Army of Mississippi, Vicksburg, invasion of Missouri, etc. The 3rd Louisiana Infantry is usually given “credit” for burning Fayetteville AR. Actually the first regiment of black troops in the WBTS was a confederate regiment from New Orleans.

It is true that most of the South thought the Louisiana troops to be braggadocious, sinful, and “foreign,” partly because of being Catholic. And it is true the Acadians were not very enthusiastic...but the burning and destruction in Louisiana was terrible.

Outside of New Orleans which was captured intact early, almost every house, barn, structure in the State was damaged or destroyed. One/third of the wealth of the State was destroyed. Half the horses mules, sheep, cattle, pigs were killed. Two thirds of farm equipment, machinery, sugar mills, etc. wrecked.

Louisiana mobilized about 60,000 troops to the field and about 600 military engagements took place in the state. It is estimated 12,000 LA soldiers died and many more civilians.

Louisiana did their share to defend their homes and property.