Michael H. Armacost

This covers the political infighting of the various branches of the U S Military over who gets to run the rocket program. See pages 124-128 for the fight by Alabama's own Col J C Nickerson who reveals to the press that the Army group at Redstone Arsenal with Von Braun is being held back from launching a satellite two years prior to Sputnik. He was court-martialled for insubordination but proven to be correct. His team was prepared to launch a satellite two years prior to Sputnik