could you include Generals like Curtis Lemay in that list, people who fought total war to win.
Curtis LeMay who ordered fire bombing of Japanese cities killing 100s of thousands of civilians in the process could have been charged with war crimes had the USA lost the war.
LeMay was a 1st Lieutenant when the War broke out and was a Major General at the end of it.
I am not an expert, or historian, but I consider General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower to be one of the most outstanding generals of WWII. There is much to be said of his Presidency, as well.
I see the two as much different, in fact, exactly different for the reasons you mention.
LeMay was willing to be flexible, adopt a radical new use of the B-29 to win the war. MacArthur was wedded to his “save the Philippines” strategy from the get go. LeMay, that I know of, was never known for protecting and harboring officers who were defying the rules just because he liked them. The new multi-volume history of the U.S. Army in WWII Pacific by McManus is quite negative on Mac. And I have no problem with dropping the bombs.