Respected WW II Generals

[robycop3]

Another overlooked Pacific commander was Jonathan Wainwright. He oversaw the first Philippine campaign after MacArthur skedaddled and was right up on the front line firing a rife at times during the Bataan fighting. After the surrender he spent the rest of the war in a Japanese POW camp suffering degrading treatment.

Then to add insult to injury, MacArthur refused to sign off on Wainwrights Medal of Honor presentation for the longest time, with President Truman finally giving General Wainwright the medal despite Macarthur's opposition.

And let's not forget Gen. Robert Eichelberger who commanded MacArthur's Eighth Army. MacArthur sent him to take Buna on New Guinea "or don;t come back alive". He took Buna, & soon after, won victories on Hollandia & Biak Island. He & the 8th Army formed part of the Occupation Force of Japan, where he stayed for 3 years, retiring from the army in 1948.

 

[rsr]

MacArthur's treatment of many of his subordinates bordered upon cruelty. Wainwright's thankless task of defending Bataan and Corregidor was performed against formidable odds. MacArthur believed Wainwright should not have surrendered Corregidor despite the critical lack of supplies and air and artillery support. It was something of a miracle that the U.S./Philippine forces held out so long.

 

[robycop3]

MacArthur's treatment of many of his subordinates bordered upon cruelty. Wainwright's thankless task of defending Bataan and Corregidor was performed against formidable odds. MacArthur believed Wainwright should not have surrendered Corregidor despite the critical lack of supplies and air and artillery support. It was something of a miracle that the U.S./Philippine forces held out so long.

Yes, MacArthur had many faults, while being a great general at the same time.

Virtually all great generals or other military leaders had faults and/or made blunders. Lee lost more battles than he won. Grant unsuccessfully attacked a dug-in Reb force at Cold Harbor. Nimitz ordered an unnecessary and costly attack on Peleliu. Patton totally misjudged the Germans at Kasserine Pass. Monty's Operation Market-Garden was a costly failure. We can go on all day !

 

[robycop3]

One subordinate whom MacArthur quickly came to respect was Gen. George Kinney, his Air Force commander. early on, when Mac hollered at him, he hollered right back, and Mac couldn't argue against Kinney's successes. Soon, they formed a great working comradeship.

 

[rsr]

Patton had nothing to do with Kasserine Pass. He was assigned to planning for the invasion of Sicily and was sent to take over command of II Corps after Kasserine.

 

[Adonia]

MacArthur's treatment of many of his subordinates bordered upon cruelty. Wainwright's thankless task of defending Bataan and Corregidor was performed against formidable odds. MacArthur believed Wainwright should not have surrendered Corregidor despite the critical lack of supplies and air and artillery support. It was something of a miracle that the U.S./Philippine forces held out so long.

And all the while the government was lying to the defenders of the Philippines. "Help is on the way" they were told, but they were only left high and dry with the only thing they got was 4 years of a horrendous captivity.

 

[robycop3]

And all the while the government was lying to the defenders of the Philippines. "Help is on the way" they were told, but they were only left high and dry with the only thing they got was 4 years of a horrendous captivity.

Yes, the Chiefs of Staff and the Executive branch ALL lied to Mac & hung him out to dry. That's a black mark against FDR's other wise-excellent leadership.

And FDR wondered why his old friend Mac had become critical of some of his policies. I say Mac handled it pretty well, considering the colossal lie he'd been told.

BTW, Mac blundered badly on Dec. 7, by not allowing his AF commander, Gen. Brereton, to bomb the Japanese air base on Formosa, which would've hindered or prevented their attack on Clark Field, etc.

 

[robycop3]

Patton had nothing to do with Kasserine Pass. He was assigned to planning for the invasion of Sicily and was sent to take over command of II Corps after Kasserine.

I stand corrected ! !

Gen. Lloyd Fredendall was the US commander at Kasserine. He was relieved by Ike after that battle.

 

[Salty]

They feared Patton. Patton was the WWII Sherman. He realized that to win you had to make war Hell. He also realized that if a commander was not capable of reducing a battle to numbers (no emotion) then he could not be successful.

and thus the Motto of the Famed Second Armored Division is "HELL ON WHEELS"
The Second Armored Division was commanded by Patton and as well by his son in the Late 70's.
One other thing - in the Army -unit patches are worn on the left sleeve -
But the Second Armored wears their patch over the left pocket. - The only division who does so!

 

[Adonia]

BTW, Mac blundered badly on Dec. 7, by not allowing his AF commander, Gen. Brereton, to bomb the Japanese air base on Formosa, which would've hindered or prevented their attack on Clark Field, etc.

He also blundered by not moving the planes out of Clark and to the southern part of the Philippines.