Posted on 03/21/2012 4:24:27 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
As CougarGA7 mentioned in previous post on this thread, the two citations do read very similarly. This really isn't surprising given their duties. I suspect if you merged Wainwright's DSC citation with his MOH citation, it would read even closer to that of MacArthur.
It would be interesting to review archives for documentation as to who recommended Wainwright (chain of command, or member of Congress), why MacArthur recommended against Wainwright's MOH, related communications and what happened to the nomination until Sept 1945 when Truman awarded it.
I'm now going off on a tangent but I just wanted to draw attention to the text in MacArthur's citation which I highlighted in bold. One quality MacArthur had was his utter disregard for personal safety. Even field commanders describe escorting him to the front as harrowing... as if he had a death wish.
I've sometimes wondered if the Native American act of bravery called counting coup MacArthur likely heard first hand stories of while growing up on western frontier outposts influenced him? I never read of it but I wonder.
MacArthur leading trench raids while unarmed in WWI bears many similarities to a Native American charging the cavalry line, sometimes even touching a cavalryman but without harming him and then returning to his own side. Sounds difficult to imagine but it happened. Perhaps those charmed breast pieces the Indians wore occasionally worked.
WAINWRIGHT, JONATHAN M.Rank and organization: General, Commanding U.S. Army Forces in the Philippines. Place and date: Philippine Islands, 12 March to 7 May 1942. Entered service at: Skaneateles, N.Y. Birth: Walla Walla, Wash. G.O. No.: 80, 19 September 1945. Citation: Distinguished himself by intrepid and determined leadership against greatly superior enemy forces. At the repeated risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in his position, he frequented the firing line of his troops where his presence provided the example and incentive that helped make the gallant efforts of these men possible. The final stand on beleaguered Corregidor, for which he was in an important measure personally responsible, commanded the admiration of the Nation’s allies. It reflected the high morale of American arms in the face of overwhelming odds. His courage and resolution were a vitally needed inspiration to the then sorely pressed freedom-loving peoples of the world.
MacARTHUR, DOUGLAS
Rank and organization: General, U.S. Army, commanding U.S. Army Forces in the Far East. Place and date: Bataan Peninsula, Philippine Islands. Entered service at: Ashland, Wis. Birth: Little Rock, Ark. G.O. No.: 16, 1 April 1942. Citation: For conspicuous leadership in preparing the Philippine Islands to resist conquest, for gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against invading Japanese forces, and for the heroic conduct of defensive and offensive operations on the Bataan Peninsula. He mobilized, trained, and led an army which has received world acclaim for its gallant defense against a tremendous superiority of enemy forces in men and arms. His utter disregard of personal danger under heavy fire and aerial bombardment, his calm judgment in each crisis, inspired his troops, galvanized the spirit of resistance of the Filipino people, and confirmed the faith of the American people in their Armed Forces.
As CougarGA7 mentioned in previous post on this thread, the two citations do read very similarly. This really isn't surprising given their duties. I suspect if you merged Wainwright's DSC citation with his MOH citation, it would read even closer to that of MacArthur.
It would be interesting to review archives for documentation as to who recommended Wainwright (chain of command, or member of Congress), why MacArthur recommended against Wainwright's MOH, related communications and what happened to the nomination until Sept 1945 when Truman awarded it.
I'm now going off on a tangent but I just wanted to draw attention to the text in MacArthur's citation which I highlighted in bold. One quality MacArthur had was his utter disregard for personal safety. Even field commanders describe escorting him to the front as harrowing... as if he had a death wish.
I've sometimes wondered if the Native American act of bravery called counting coup MacArthur likely heard first hand stories of while growing up on western frontier outposts influenced him? I never read of it but I wonder.
MacArthur leading trench raids while unarmed in WWI bears many similarities to a Native American charging the cavalry line, sometimes even touching a cavalryman but without harming him and then returning to his own side. Sounds difficult to imagine but it happened. Perhaps those charmed breast pieces the Indians wore occasionally worked.
WAINWRIGHT, JONATHAN M.Rank and organization: General, Commanding U.S. Army Forces in the Philippines. Place and date: Philippine Islands, 12 March to 7 May 1942. Entered service at: Skaneateles, N.Y. Birth: Walla Walla, Wash. G.O. No.: 80, 19 September 1945. Citation: Distinguished himself by intrepid and determined leadership against greatly superior enemy forces. At the repeated risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in his position, he frequented the firing line of his troops where his presence provided the example and incentive that helped make the gallant efforts of these men possible. The final stand on beleaguered Corregidor, for which he was in an important measure personally responsible, commanded the admiration of the Nation’s allies. It reflected the high morale of American arms in the face of overwhelming odds. His courage and resolution were a vitally needed inspiration to the then sorely pressed freedom-loving peoples of the world.
MacARTHUR, DOUGLAS
Rank and organization: General, U.S. Army, commanding U.S. Army Forces in the Far East. Place and date: Bataan Peninsula, Philippine Islands. Entered service at: Ashland, Wis. Birth: Little Rock, Ark. G.O. No.: 16, 1 April 1942. Citation: For conspicuous leadership in preparing the Philippine Islands to resist conquest, for gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against invading Japanese forces, and for the heroic conduct of defensive and offensive operations on the Bataan Peninsula. He mobilized, trained, and led an army which has received world acclaim for its gallant defense against a tremendous superiority of enemy forces in men and arms. His utter disregard of personal danger under heavy fire and aerial bombardment, his calm judgment in each crisis, inspired his troops, galvanized the spirit of resistance of the Filipino people, and confirmed the faith of the American people in their Armed Forces.
Just goes to show that having a death wish doesn’t make you a good commander.
And nor do many other characteristics in isolation. Never-the-less, individual characteristics are good to be aware as they can sometimes provide insight into decisions.
You're right. When you take all his characteristics in total, he is even worse.
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