MacArthur is easily the most overrated general in US history. The problem is hating/liking him became politicized, but an objective look at his record reveals a mix of horrific incompetence (initial defense of the Phillipines, getting surprised by the Chinese in Korea) and accomplishments that aren’t nearly as great as they appear once you look at them more closely (New Guinea campaign, Inchon).
A bit odd the author attacks Petraeus for being “fastidious” but then holds up Patton as an ideal (who practiced his facial expressions in a mirror).
“...MacArthur is easily the most overrated general in US history...”
Nonsense! The record proves otherwise.
MacArthur was kind to Ridgeway in his writings while Ridgeway dumped on MacArthur but note Ridgeway made statements like “The Korean War would be the last fought completely without nuclear weapons”.
We need generals who risk being fired rather than careerists who glide along in Vietnam-like situations as decisive action gets lost to good staff work and routines.
In MacArthur's day America stood pretty much as one nation....today even our history books are fractured and 'modern' authors tend to demean both men and their military achievements. War is beyond horrible, almost unthinkable however that doesn't give anyone the right to fictionalize as to what happened through personnel opinion. Audie Murphy, Sgt. York, General MacArthur and countless others were bigger than life heroes. Leave it at that.