Posted on 04/20/2013 7:55:55 PM PDT by MNDude
There are probably many people in history who have received more credit than they deserved. Excluding any US Presidents in the past century (that would be too easy), what three historic figures do you think are the most overrated?
Dan “What is the frequency Kenneth?” Ra(th)er.
Leni
I agree. See my post right below yours, I was writing that before I saw yours.
Some people think he was a military God. I think he was a decent general who had some really good shining spots, and some really bad aspects.
Again, just my opinion...:)
The American Navy fought with dogged determination through the worst days of the war and kept that determination through the war while learning and finally outsmarting the Japanese even tho they did eventually have overwhelming superiority.
I wouldn’t agree his leadership was the highest order. He got a lot of adoring press, and he made as sure as he could that was the case.
For quiet leadership and effectiveness, I think Nimitz was perhaps the best.
If you are interested, a really amazing book about that time is “Neptune’s Inferno” about the naval campaign around the Solomon Islands.
I think for MOST overrated, I think Field Marshal Montgomery takes that prize for me.
Albert Einstein
Don’t forget Joseph Smith!
Nimitz and McArthur both submitted plans for the defeat of Japan.
Truman chose McArthur’s and it worked very very well, especially the great idea of not capturing every island.
I am sure Nimitz’s plan would have also worked but that doesn’t take away from McArthur’s actual success.
George Armstrong Custer
I think Montgomery was one of the most under rated, especially by Americans. The Germans thought he was very good.
Also McClellan has been treated unfairly by history. The Confederate Generals just about all thought he was the toughest to go up against.
Also McClellan has been treated unfairly by history. The Confederate Generals just about all thought he was the toughest to go up against.
I certainly wouldn’t say Nimitz didn’t make mistakes, that is certain.
Between the two, I am biased towards Nimitz due to his personal qualities and the way that he led men.
You look at leaders like Patton, Lemay and Halsey, and they were men who knew how to fight both with their brains and with their leadership. Of the three, I think Halsey was the least accomplished at using his intellect towards an end, he seemed to depend more on his aggressiveness and instincts.
Steven Hawking for that matter
The Germans also knew that when they were battling Montgomery, time was on their side.
Once he got moving, he was okay. It was getting him moving that was the problem.
He wouldn’t make the move until he had every single piece in place, and his ability to exploit an opening suffered. It isn’t surprising that he and Patton detested each other, they were polar opposites in that respect.
Yes the Japanese totally snookered Halsey during the Philippines battles and it almost led to disaster leaving our landing forces unprotected.
He was saved by a few Destroyer Escorts and jeep carriers who fought so hard the Japanes were fooled into thinking they were up against a main force and withdrew before what would have been a major victory for them.
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