"The Generals Who Initiated Modern Warfare Tactics in The Civil War"

Retired U.S. Army Reserve Colonel Joe Cerreto of Montrose will give a talk on “The Generals Who Initiated Modern Warfare Tactics in The Civil War” on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. at  The Little Red Schoolhouse, 297 Locust Avenue, Cortlandt Manor, New York.  Sponsored by The Van Cortlandtville Historical Society, the program is open free to the public.

An attorney, a former Cortlandt Town Board member, and member of the Historical Society,
Colonel Cerreto will relate how Generals Grant, Sherman and Sheridan practiced several aspects of “modern warfare” and applied them as an overall doctrine of battle to their advantage in The Civil War.  He will point out how these generals, particularly Grant, had the ability to see the entire war from both a strategic and operational sense.  He notes that they also understood, as only General George Washington did in the Revolutionary War, that there was a civilian control element to warfare that was as critical as combat operations.

During his military career which started when he was commissioned on July 1, 1985, Col. Cerreto has served in many legal and investigative capacities in the interrelation of both military and civilian populations during wartime.  A much-decorated war veteran, he has served in various training and command positions with the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps in the U.S. and overseas---in Iraq, Bosnia, Germany, Panama, Honduras, and at Guantanamo Bay (GITMO), Cuba, where he worked with the Office of Military Commissions and was involved in setting up the Video Teleconference Program which was going to broadcast to victims’ families the anticipated military commission trials of the conspirators of the September 11th attacks on the U.S.                                               

During his tour in Iraq with JAG, Col. Cerreto served with the Central Criminal Court of Iraq Support Cell and with the Criminal Law Division.  During Operation Iraqi Freedom 1, he was the senior legal advisor to the U.S. War Crimes Investigation Team and commanded a detachment of investigators, combat military police and related experts who compiled evidence against Saddam Hussein and his regime members.  The detachment investigated mass grave sites and other atrocities committed by the regime, as well as incidents involving coalition forces.

In Iraq he was also involved in the famous case of the captured young American soldier, Jessica Lynch.  His investigation team determined if she and other Americans captured by the Iraqis were treated properly under the Geneva Conventions related to the treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs).

Col. Cerreto is a graduate of the prestigious Command and General Staff College.  His military awards include:  The Legion of Merit;  The Bronze Star Medal;  The Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award);  The Army Commendation Medal (7 Oak Leaf Clusters);   as well as other medals and campaign ribbons for meritorious service in the U.S. and overseas.

His last assignment before retirement last year was Commander of the 4th Legal Support Organization in The Bronx, New York.

He earned a BA in History from Pace University and a Master’s Degree in History from Fordham University.  His JD Law Degree is from Hofstra University.  He is currently the Principal Law Secretary to the Hon. John W. Sweeny, Jr., Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department.

Col. Cerreto and his wife, Carol, have raised their four children in Cortlandt, where they have a home in Montrose.

The Little Red Schoolhouse is located at the northern end of Locust Avenue next to Old Saint Peter’s Church and cemetery at Oregon Road in the Town of Cortlandt.  For more information and directions, visit: www.vancort.net; or call (914) 736-7868.