If you are General Doug MacArthur the last 10 days of November are generallyl not considered your best memories either in 1941 or 1950 In 1941 the War Department and his own intel units are telling him that the Japanese are on the move in the Pacific. On Nov27 Doug receieves a direct order from the Army Chief of Staff to draw up Plans for offensive action with B-17 aircraft against Formosa Doug waits a day and cables back a statement which should have gotten him fired...ie he tells the Army COS that We should consider having the Philippine government state that in any comming conflict that they will be strictly nuetral This is of course not only impossible with over 30,000 US Armed forces on the Islands but also clearly the Japanese would ignore it...but Doug goes on In the event of hostilities I believe that the Philippine Army will be able to negate any Japanese advace. this is of course absurd. Marshal and FDR discuss firing Doug right there, they should have. Of course 1950 was not much better. His own intellegence again starts pikcing up warnings of a Chinese move across the Yalu. Doug gives a speech the night that the PVA 20 and 27th Corp of Chinese 9th Army cross the Yalu in force, assuring everyone the troops will start leaving by New Years. In the first Philippine campaign and the Chosin Doug is essentially out generalled. REally Doug not that good. He is constantly out manuevered by his opponents and makes catastrophic bungling decisions. On Dec 8 1941, clealry 24 hours after hostilities have started, he losses 43 or his 46 B17s on the ground at Clark Field, as he is playing Crochet. The USMC had been involved in many tough actions since WW2, pobably the three hardest it has mustered were the Chosin Resevoir, Hue City and Fallujah The frozen Chosin started 27 Nov 1950. with Doug M characteristically behind the curve. RGO
Posted on: Sun, 30 Nov 2014 01:45:38 +0000