Have to agree that in the very early days of WW II, General MacArthur did not perform well. His evacuation of Manila was badly botched and his plan to retreat and hold on Bataan/Corregidor could not succeed since food, munitions and equipment were never preplaced. Also MacArthur is an excellent example of how a flamboyant, politically well connected officer can rise quickly and achieve undeserved power and rank. Still happens today. Yet after the Philippines disaster most military historians are complimentary of MacArthur’s tactics in New Guinea. He achieved much and had a casualty rate far below other Commanders. His desire to liberate the Philippines was opposed by the other area commanders but President Roosevelt understanding the politics overruled Marshall and the other area commanders and allowed MacArthur to mount his invasion. MacArthur then became synonymous with victory in the Pacific and the “American Caesar” legend was firmly established.
There is little doubt he was a complex, troubled man and many felt he had a death wish taking inordinate risks for a Commander. The Dugout Doug moniker was very unfair. His role pacifying post war Japan was indeed a triumph. His military strategy in Korea is of course debatable but if he indeed conceived and planned Inchon, it was brilliant and demonstrated the value of his West Point military education where Civil War battles and tactics were studied extensively. Probably a lost art in today’s service Academies.
MacArthur left America with a pearl of wisdom and insight that unfortunately thus far has been ignored. The United State should never get involved in a land war on the Asian continent.
True, MacArthur had first hand knowledge of the vast distances and populations of Asia. He also accomplished a number of other important tasks and his farewell address was and is one for the ages.
My point about the Philippines campaign is that with Krueger running his army and Kenney running his air force he had two of the best generals of the war and had the good sense to let them do their jobs.
The American defenders of Bataan and then Corregidor called him "dugout Dave." They felt he was nowhere to be seen.