General Douglas MacArthur's Farewell Speech: the long gray line has never failed us.

National Center for Public Policy Research - A Conservative Think Tank ^ | May 12, 1962 | General Douglas MacArthur

[risk]

Someone must post this every few months, but it's my turn. I happened on this speech again tonight. It stands for itself. No matter what one thinks of MacArthur (and he is unquestionably one of America's greatest heroes in my opinion), this speech has a message for our time and every time when freedom loving people face a threat to their way of life.

[jamaksin]

Agreed - thank you very much for posting this on the FR website.

[I have often wondered why it is "Duty, Honor, Country" and not "Country" first ...?]

[risk]

ping

[risk]

ping

[RunningJoke]

MacArthur was a hero? What did he do that was heroic? Walked on a beach and exclaimed, "I have returned." While troops secured the area to make sure his photo-op was safe and Wainwright and the others were dieing in a death camps.

Or was it, when he tear gassed the WWI veterans and burned down the Hooverville in Washington DC disobeying two direct orders from the President Hoover not to do it. During this heroic attack on unarmed families two infants died of aphyxiation due to the tear gas.

Not we have returned, but I have returned. Only a bum would think this egotistical jackass was a hero.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Warts, blemishes, mistakes and all the rest, I'm glad he was on our side. The democratic nation of Japan is his direct handiwork.

[risk]

If I have the priviledge of being called a bum for lionizing Douglas MacArthur then so be it.

[RunningJoke]

Hate to tell you this, it was the grunt that won that war and democratized Japan not the general. It always amazed me that I know of two distinct times when MacArthur disobeyed orders from Hoover and Truman. But when Roosevelt ordered him to flee the Philippines he didn't disobey that order.

[captbarney]

MacArthur certainly was one of the great generals in history. WWI Medal of Honor. His stand at Corregidor tied down the Japanese for many more months than expected,slowing their eastward conquests. He was "ORDERED" to leave the Philippines. The photographers,movie and still, were"imbedded" with landing units(think Rosenbloom at IWO).They were already ashore when MacArthur arrived. IT WAS NO SETUP. His "Island hopping" strategy SAVED LIVES and SHORTENED WWII. The landing at Inchon was one of the greatest feats of generalship in military history. His turning Japan into a democracy was masterful leadership. He was a staunch anti-communistand is the reason he is reviled by the mass media.

[risk]

And he warned us that terror would be the result of losing in Korea.

[TalBlack]

Inchon.

If you want to make a case for or against include everything--unless ofcourse if doing so would tend to attack your position.
That you position is shakey is indicated by the angry name calling you wrap things up with.

Disagree with you and a person is a "bum". Ok genius, whatever.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The Japanese thought MacArthur was god, but built whore houses for American sailors and troops. My dad was there as part of the occupation structure (he served in the CBI) and my mom and I joined him in 1951 thru 1961. You might pick up "Embracing Defeat" by John Dower (the book won the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award) that covers this period.
MacArthur made a few mistakes here, too, but the Japanese would've reverted to their Fascist ways had it not been for his approach.

[litehaus]

bttt

[razorback-bert]

This does not mean that you are warmongers. On the contrary, the soldier above all other people prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. But always in our ears ring the ominous words of Plato, that wisest of all philosophers: "Only the dead have seen the end of war."

[razorback-bert]

I doubt I could change your mind on MacArthur, but this is a great speech.

[RunningJoke]

"Disagree with you and a person is a "bum". Ok genius, whatever."

You are correct and I apologize for the name calling. I got emotional a few things trigger my emotions. One of these is lying to the American People ala Bill Clinton and of course creating false heroes of men that probably deserved a prison term than lionization from his sycophantic followers.

No, old Generals don't fade away their bad history is covered up while their achievements are magnified to exaggeration.

MacArthur was the Wesley Clark of his time.

[Eaker]

Hate to tell you this, it was the grunt that won that war and democratized Japan not the general.

Granted a General is nothing without his grunts, but grunts without a leader are lost in the big picture. In the small picture they have performed phenomenally, but they alone could not have beaten Japan.

They needed a leader. MacArthur was their leader.

[RunningJoke]

He was the leader selected. That does not mean another leader could not have prospered, perhaps one not as vainglorious as MacArthur. Correct me, if I'm wrong but the Pacific theatre was more of a naval war. Our game plan was to go around the heavily fortified islands.

"Granted a General is nothing without his grunts, but grunts without a leader are lost in the big picture."

It's funny you bring that up. My father's unit would target the German officers because although the Germans were excellent soldiers they were more dependent on their leaders. The American soldier as well as the American citizen in general, especially during WWII, were more independent and could actually fight with the absence of officers; they would fight for each other, in what most people would call Esprit de corps. It was your job, to keep moving and take objectives. That is the greatest single point to bring home about the American fighting man. It is not blind faith in his leaders but his willingness to get the job done.

This above paragraph is what my father knew to be true and most of history is willing to write off about Americans or misplace credit to the Generals.

And here's news, the atomic bomb was probably more effective than any single reason that broke the Japanese resolve. My father was ecstatic that Truman dropped the bombs. His unit had just received his orders to ship out to the Pacific. He had already missed death three times in ETO's combat. He figured he had used up most of his luck.

[jpsb]

If you have a MacAuthur's ping list, please put me on it. The General is one of history's greatest commanders. And my personal hero.

[jpsb]

Well let's start with world war 1, Mac Author was the most decorated American (officer) in that war. He personally lead numerous patrols and recon missions into enemy territory. Two or three times nominated for the medal of honor. Also of note, is that at the time he was the division executive officer and later the division commanding officer. Here was one general that led from the front.

In one particularly difficult battle his division was order to take an objective or turn in a 100% causality report. 100% causalities, means do or die. He personally led the attack on the position and took it. I could continue and will continue until I pound into you how full of it you are.