Fredendall.

This is coolbert:

As extracted from that Internet National Interest web site article by Michael Peck:

"Commanders of Chaos: The 5 Worst Generals in U.S. History" by Michael Peck.

In this specific case the American senior commander in Tunisia prior to the Kasserine Pass Lloyd Fredendall!

 "He also issued orders to his troops in a personal code that no one else understood, such as this gem of command clarity"

"Move your command, i. e., the walking boys, pop guns, Baker's outfit and the outfit which is the reverse of Baker's outfit and the big fellows to M, which is due north of where you are now, as soon as possible. Have your boss report to the French gentleman whose name begins with J at a place which begins with D which is five grid squares to the left of M."

Without it being specifically stated, I have a oddly suspicious, intuitive and bad reaction that this "operational order" was sent by radio in the CLEAR to subordinates. NOT encrypted in any form either using code or cipher.

The general undoubtedly having the absolute confidence that his own clever use of terminology and phrasing of words would fool the German radio monitors.

NO WONDER THE AMERICAN TROOPS AT KASSERINE PASS GOT BEATEN SO BADLY BY THE VETERANS OF THE AFRIKA KORPS.

AND NO WONDER THAT LLOYD FREDENDALL WITHOUT FURTHER ADO WAS REPLACED BY GEORGE S. PATTON. I MIGHT VERY WELL THINK THAT SUCH A SENIOR OFFICER BEING RELIEVED OF DUTY AS FREDENDALL IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE WINNOWING PROCESS, THE DARWINIAN SELECTION OF NO-GO COMMANDERS THAT ALWAYS OCCURS DURING WARTIME.

coolbert.