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Who knew MacArthur was recalled from retirement to serve in WWII?

Posted on 2/17/19 at 12:29 pm
Posted by TheHarahanian
Actually not Harahan as of 6/2023
Member since May 2017
19532 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 12:29 pm
Even without WWII, his record would have been outstanding. Per wikipedia:

“Raised in a military family in the American Old West, MacArthur was valedictorian at the West Texas Military Academy, and First Captain at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated top of the class of 1903. During the 1914 United States occupation of Veracruz, he conducted a reconnaissance mission, for which he was nominated for the Medal of Honor. In 1917, he was promoted from major to colonel and became chief of staff of the 42nd (Rainbow) Division. In the fighting on the Western Front during World War I, he rose to the rank of brigadier general, was again nominated for a Medal of Honor, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross twice and the Silver Star seven times.

From 1919 to 1922, MacArthur served as Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he attempted a series of reforms. His next assignment was in the Philippines, where in 1924 he was instrumental in quelling the Philippine Scout Mutiny. In 1925, he became the Army's youngest major general. He served on the court martial of Brigadier General Billy Mitchell and was president of the American Olympic Committee during the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. In 1930, he became Chief of Staff of the United States Army. As such, he was involved in the expulsion of the Bonus Army protesters from Washington, D.C. in 1932, and the establishment and organization of the Civilian Conservation Corps. He retired from the US Army in 1937 to become Military Advisor to the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines.”
Posted by NaturalBeam
Member since Sep 2007
14521 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 12:31 pm to
Not to be a jerk, but that’s pretty common knowledge
Posted by TheHarahanian
Actually not Harahan as of 6/2023
Member since May 2017
19532 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 12:32 pm to
quote:

pretty common knowledge


Never knew he was retired.
Posted by el Gaucho
He/They
Member since Dec 2010
53019 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 12:32 pm to
My grandpa was in ww2. He killed fiddy men
Posted by 13SaintTiger
Isle of Capri
Member since Sep 2011
18315 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 12:40 pm to
quote:

He killed fiddy men


He was the original dindu nuffin.


Posted by SEClint
New Orleans, LA/Portland, OR
Member since Nov 2006
48769 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 12:49 pm to
If you were in it, on the ground..etc.

Would you have rather fought the germans, or the Japanese?
Posted by AbuTheMonkey
Chicago, IL
Member since May 2014
8008 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 1:00 pm to
Kind of - he was in this weird generalissimo role with the Filipino Army (which he was trying to build), but the Philippines were still an American colony. He still had a lot of regular contact and communication with the staff in DC and was de facto treated as an American officer still in service.
Posted by AU66
Northport Al
Member since Sep 2006
3264 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 1:09 pm to
quote:

Would you have rather fought the germans, or the Japanese?


I would think the Germans even though they were probably better soldiers, if you were captured for the most part were pretty civil to the British and Americans, the japanese were brutal.
Posted by Ghost Hog
Earth
Member since May 2015
451 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 1:24 pm to
Had MacArthur not retired before WWII, he likely would have been the Supreme Allied Commander, not Dwight Eisenhower.
Posted by LoneStarRanger
Texas/Europe
Member since Aug 2018
2404 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 1:37 pm to
Doubtful. The brits didn’t like MacArthur. Ike was a polical choice.
Posted by cj35
Member since Jan 2014
6153 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 1:37 pm to
quote:

If you were in it, on the ground..etc.

Would you have rather fought the germans, or the Japanese?


At first I thought the Southerners in the US, then I realized I would rather fight real men.
Posted by Sody Cracker
Distemper Ward
Member since May 2016
3409 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 1:55 pm to
quote:

My grandpa was in ww2. He killed fiddy men



And lost his shins.
Posted by SEC. 593
Chicago
Member since Aug 2012
4045 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 2:05 pm to
Germans, and it isn't really close.
Posted by Jim Rockford
Member since May 2011
98195 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 2:32 pm to
When MacArthur was good, he was very good. When he was bad, he was awful. He had a 24 hour head start, and still let his air force get destroyed on the ground, and he failed to make adequate logistical preparations for the Bataan defense. To his credit, he intended to stay in the Phillipines and die with his troops. Instead he was ordered out, but not before one last blunder in giving his entire command to Wainright instead of splitting them into northern and southern components. The barely engaged southern force could have fought on as an independent command after the Bataan surrender.

He expected a courtmartial. Instead he was awarded the Medal of Honor and given command of the Southwest Pacific where he stabilized Australia and crafted the brilliant island hopping campaign.

Version 2.0 in Korea. Masterful Inchon landing turns the tide, then ignores the urgent warnings of his own intelligence staff and nearly gets overrun by the Chinese. Ultimately fired by Truman for insubordination.

Posted by White Roach
Member since Apr 2009
9457 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 3:03 pm to
Wasn't there a big conflict between Army and Navy regarding strategy in tbe Pacific? MacArthur wanted to fulfill his "I shall return" promise in the Philippines, while the Navy wanted to focus logistical support on the island hopping campaign. I've frequently read that the Luzon invasion was considered militarily unnecessary by Navy brass (and others), but MacArthur being MacArthur influenced politicians and the media.
Posted by White Roach
Member since Apr 2009
9457 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 3:07 pm to
Similar to Claire Chennault and the Chinese AVG. Those pilots all resigned their commissions, but I believe some rejoined the Army at their prior rank after the US entered the war.
Posted by thejudge
Westlake, LA
Member since Sep 2009
14061 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 3:32 pm to
quote:

Wasn't there a big conflict between Army and Navy regarding strategy in tbe Pacific? MacArthur wanted to fulfill his "I shall return" promise in the Philippines, while the Navy wanted to focus logistical support on the island hopping campaign. I've frequently read that the Luzon invasion was considered militarily unnecessary by Navy brass (and others), but MacArthur being MacArthur influenced politicians and the media.


Yes. Strategically the island hopping campaign would have been enough. You could have skipped past all the shite MacArthur wanted to do.

He got his way and we lost a shitload of men where we didn't have too. Cutting off their supply lines and attrition would have done them in.

That stubbornness and Korea debacle he was command of put a dent in his prowess command wise in my eyes.
Posted by Jim Rockford
Member since May 2011
98195 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 3:33 pm to
quote:

Wasn't there a big conflict between Army and Navy regarding strategy in tbe Pacific? MacArthur wanted to fulfill his "I shall return" promise in the Philippines, while the Navy wanted to focus logistical support on the island hopping campaign. I've frequently read that the Luzon invasion was considered militarily unnecessary by Navy brass (and others), but MacArthur being MacArthur influenced politicians and the media.


Yes. There weren't enough resources, landing craft and tankers in particular, to run two simultaneous campaigns. MacArthur and Halsey had to take turns going on the offensive. The Central Pacific was the direct route to Japan, but MacArthur had declared he would return to the Phillipines, and he had enough political clout to make sure it happened.
Posted by armytiger96
Member since Sep 2007
1215 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 3:53 pm to
quote:

and First Captain at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated top of the class of 1903.


Rumor has it his mom had a house at West Point where she would watch him to make sure he was studying.
Posted by Jim Rockford
Member since May 2011
98195 posts
Posted on 2/17/19 at 5:32 pm to
For $3300 a night you can stay in the MacArthur Suite at the Manila Hotel LINK
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