I had not thought of the effect of Mare Nostrum on Ike’s career. Marshall was able to move Ike into command of Overlord because of his successful command experience in the Mediterranean. Ike got that command in the first place because it was never intended to be the main effort, so it was a “safe” theater to send someone of his relatively junior grade.
I wonder who would have been sent to London instead? Maybe Devers? Do you think they might have recalled MacArthur from the Pacific?
PS: There were at least two, maybe three command grade officers in the Pacific who later held commands in Europe. Can you name two of them?
Right off the top of my head I can say Patch. He was in command of the “American Division” that saw action relieving Marines on Guadalcanal. I’d have to think for a bit on who the others would be. Did you know that Patch was the first of the main Army Generals in the European campaign to die after the war. Patch had chronic lung problems that predated the war. It finally got the better of him in November of 45.
As far as who would have taken Ike’s place in London. I don’t see anyone wrenching MacArthur from the Pacific theater, but Devers would be a possibility. I think Bradley would be more likely since he was rated rather high in Marshall’s “black book”, though I think Simpson would have been the best suited if not Ike. Like Ike, Simpson was very good at listening as much as ordering which made him a quite, but effective General for the 9th Army. Let me throw this one out for a sleeper pick, General McNair, he was pretty highly regarded by Marshall and I think he was a great logistical general.