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Barrett · 30 June 2001, 05:47 PM

Lee: thanks for the hot news--truly better late than never!
In the course of researching the aviation MoH book I became acquainted with a coupla folks from the 19th BG, who have zero-zip-nada regard for MacArthur. He was his own worst enemy and an extremely poor judge of character in some critical positions, most notably his obnoxious, studiously abrasive, sycophantic (I run out of adjectives) chief of staff, Gen. RK Sutherland. the only comparison I can make is Martin Bormann who guarded access to the Fuhrer with similar jealousy. When Brereton arrived in the PI in November he recognized a potential disaster but couldn't get past Sutherland, with results demonstrated on 8 December--most of MacA's airpower wiped out 8 hours AFTER Pearl Harbor!
Adm. Nimitz reputedly said he couldn't stand being in the same room with Sutherland--and Chet Nimitz was Santa Claus!
Hap Arnold evidently kept George Kenney in command of 5th AF largely because of his ability to work with Mac--few could. However, Kenney's vainglory approached Mac's in taking excellent combat leaders away from command positions and largely wasting them as scalp hunters: Lynch, Kearby, and McGuire--all KIA as freelancers. Bong never had a command and never wanted one.
Another mark against Mac occurred during the WW I vets' (Mandatory Great War content) bonus march in DC. Despite orders to the contrary, Mac used force against the ex-doughboys, resulting in a PR disaster including some deaths. (Ike and Patton were also involved.) Hoover had every reason to sack Mac but chose not to rather than demonstrate an army out of control to a depression-ridden public.
If not for Inchon, MacArthur's place in history might be far less secure. Subsequently, of course, he finally ran afoul of Truman and Gen. Ridgway had to rebuild from practically zero.
Break-break.
Pershing: my best bud grew up in a high-tone DC neighborhood that included The Widow Pershing who asked my pal's dad to dispose of some memorabilia, including his M1911! It had unfortunately been stored in its GI holster for about 40 years with predictable results. However, rather than leave it intact, George's dad had the pistol refinished--and converted to a .22!
AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!

30 June 2001, 05:47 PM	#19 (permalink)
Barrett Forum Ace of Aces Join Date: Aug 1998 Location: The American West Posts: 4,809	Lee: thanks for the hot news--truly better late than never! In the course of researching the aviation MoH book I became acquainted with a coupla folks from the 19th BG, who have zero-zip-nada regard for MacArthur. He was his own worst enemy and an extremely poor judge of character in some critical positions, most notably his obnoxious, studiously abrasive, sycophantic (I run out of adjectives) chief of staff, Gen. RK Sutherland. the only comparison I can make is Martin Bormann who guarded access to the Fuhrer with similar jealousy. When Brereton arrived in the PI in November he recognized a potential disaster but couldn't get past Sutherland, with results demonstrated on 8 December--most of MacA's airpower wiped out 8 hours AFTER Pearl Harbor! Adm. Nimitz reputedly said he couldn't stand being in the same room with Sutherland--and Chet Nimitz was Santa Claus! Hap Arnold evidently kept George Kenney in command of 5th AF largely because of his ability to work with Mac--few could. However, Kenney's vainglory approached Mac's in taking excellent combat leaders away from command positions and largely wasting them as scalp hunters: Lynch, Kearby, and McGuire--all KIA as freelancers. Bong never had a command and never wanted one. Another mark against Mac occurred during the WW I vets' (Mandatory Great War content) bonus march in DC. Despite orders to the contrary, Mac used force against the ex-doughboys, resulting in a PR disaster including some deaths. (Ike and Patton were also involved.) Hoover had every reason to sack Mac but chose not to rather than demonstrate an army out of control to a depression-ridden public. If not for Inchon, MacArthur's place in history might be far less secure. Subsequently, of course, he finally ran afoul of Truman and Gen. Ridgway had to rebuild from practically zero. Break-break. Pershing: my best bud grew up in a high-tone DC neighborhood that included The Widow Pershing who asked my pal's dad to dispose of some memorabilia, including his M1911! It had unfortunately been stored in its GI holster for about 40 years with predictable results. However, rather than leave it intact, George's dad had the pistol refinished--and converted to a .22! AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!! __________________ You will not rise to the occasion: You will default to your level of training.