[Temujinshordes]

Concur only in part: MacArthur could have put his stars on the line and stood up to FDR. He could have refused to leave for Australia. Had that word reached the American people, FDR would have been forced to send support. Instead, MacArthur had MG Wainwright stay and suffer captivity.

[blueunicorn6]

MacArthur did put his stars on the line with FDR. People forget that MacArthur was the equivalent of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs before WWII. FDR was gutting the military, and MacArthur was fighting him every step of the way. MacArthur refused to even consider debating with FDR about cutting the number of Officers. MacArthur felt the Officer Corps was the last stand. They had to be saved to provide the skeleton to grow a large military. FDR wanted the Officer Corps gutted, too. MacArthur blew up. He said something like this.

“When the enemy sticks his bayonet into the guts of an American Soldier, that American Soldier’s last words will be f**k Roosevelt, not f**k MacArthur!” He then walked out on Roosevelt. Roosevelt sent an aide to bring MacArthur back. MacArthur figured he was done. Roosevelt told him to basically forget it. MacArthur did bet his stars. Our current admirals and generals would have just nodded in agreement with FDR.

[fso301]

Concur only in part: MacArthur could have put his stars on the line and stood up to FDR. He could have refused to leave for Australia. Had that word reached the American people, FDR would have been forced to send support. Instead, MacArthur had MG Wainwright stay and suffer captivity.

MacArthur did refuse and was ordered to leave.

[John S Mosby]

And MacArthur wept openly when he next saw his old friend. A poignant moment in the story of this much maligned leader.