A brown bag discussion September 23 will examine General Lesley J. McNair’s role during World War II.  The program led by Lieutenant Colonel ( retired ) Mark Calhoun is scheduled for noon in the Visitor’s Center Auditorium of the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene.

Calhoun will highlight previously unknown details of McNair’s career, focusing on his efforts to prepare the Army Ground Forces to serve under General Eisenhower – from North Africa to Sicily, to the D-Day landings and breakout during Operation Cobra, and ultimately to the crossing of the Rhine and victory in Europe.

Following his talk, Calhoun will answer questions and sign copies of his book which will be available for purchase in the gift shop.

Calhoun served as a U.S. Army aviator and war planner for 20 years. After retirement, he earned his PhD in History from the University of Kansas. Calhoun serves as an associate professor of history at the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies, Ft. Leavenworth.