Author Topic: MacArthur's final address to the Corps (Read 371 times)

AKcurly · « **on:** October 23, 2004, 01:54:32 AM »

Moving stuff, even in these cynical times.

First link is the mp3 version, 2nd link is the text.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/mp3clips/politicalspeeches/dmacarthurthayeraward.mp3

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/douglasmacarthurthayeraward.html

curly

AKIron · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2004, 10:44:06 AM »

Great speech, great man.

Hajo · « **Reply #2 on:** October 23, 2004, 01:24:33 PM »

He was dramatic to say the least.

Wolfala · « **Reply #3 on:** October 23, 2004, 02:43:56 PM »

Fantastic

Toad · « **Reply #4 on:** October 23, 2004, 02:45:31 PM »

Imagine if either Kerry or Bush could speak like that.

Now, would you follow MacArthur after a talk like that?

Dam straight.

Leadership.... communication is part of it.

Wolfala · « **Reply #5 on:** October 23, 2004, 02:57:40 PM »

Sadly...those leaders are from a time since long gone...

senna · « **Reply #6 on:** October 23, 2004, 04:12:47 PM »

That was long but interesting.

Otto · « **Reply #7 on:** October 23, 2004, 05:51:08 PM »

I never cared much for MacArthur, his leadership in the Pacific was at best 'average'. He was endlessly self-promoting and never gave credit to the Australian or New Zealanders that help win some of his victories. Also, he should have been Court Marshaled for losing all those B-17's in the Philippines and his following defense plan was flawed.

His record as Military Governor of Japan was excellent and the Inchone landing in Korea was outstanding. But, I completely agree with Truman's decision to 'sack' him in 1951. He was starting to lose sight of who gives the orders and who his Commander was.

Toad · « **Reply #8 on:** October 23, 2004, 05:54:32 PM »

Check out the casualty rates for Mac's campaigns.

Then get back to me.

Torque · « **Reply #9 on:** October 23, 2004, 05:58:15 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Otto
I never cared much for MacArthur, his leadership in the Pacific was at best 'average'. He was endlessly self-promoting and never gave credit to the Australian or New Zealanders that help win some of his victories. Also, he should have been Court Marshaled for losing all those B-17's in the Philippines and his following defense plan was flawed.

Yeah, i saw that show as well, it was a very interesting perspective.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 23, 2004, 06:18:43 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Otto
I never cared much for MacArthur, his leadership in the Pacific was at best 'average'. He was endlessly self-promoting and never gave credit to the Australian or New Zealanders that help win some of his victories. Also, he should have been Court Marshaled for losing all those B-17's in the Philippines and his following defense plan was flawed.

His record as Military Governor of Japan was excellent and the Inchone landing in Korea was outstanding. But, I completely agree with Truman's decision to 'sack' him in 1951. He was starting to lose sight of who gives the orders and who his Commander was.

He may not have given credit where it was always due, and MacArthur was nothing if not a master of self-promotion. However, he did care for the men who served under him. My grandfater served in the Philippines during WWII in the 32nd Infantry. He always spoke highly of MacArthur, and told me once that maybe another man would have made better decisions, but MacArthur was the man who was there, and he intended by God to see the job was done. Some criticize him for some of his decisions during the battle for Manilla. You have to remember Macarthur lived in the Philippines before the war and dearly loved the islands and the people. He fumed and strained and used every trick in the book to get back with troops and retake the islands while the Japanese committed some of the worst atrocities of the war there. One thing I always admired about my grandfather was his ability to "know" people. He just seemed to be able to shake your hand and know what your angle was. He always believed no matter what other people said about MacArthur, that the man made his errors out of a true passion for freeing the Filipino people as soon as possible. Maybe hindsight can show things the people under him didnt see, but I believe his motivations were honest.

midnight Target · « **Reply #11 on:** October 23, 2004, 06:55:58 PM »

unfortunately Mac would have been skewered by today's media... especially for his humane approach to Japan after the war. All the great men of the past had flaws that would be twisted into glaring problems today.

Think Churchill, a noted alcoholic, would last 5 minutes?

This is why we have such flavorless leaders today.

Raubvogel · « **Reply #12 on:** October 23, 2004, 09:52:10 PM »

You hit the nail on the head there Midnight. Any "personality" disqualifies politicians in today's arena. fediddleing shame.