Fall of Bataan

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rangertough
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Re: Fall of Bataan

Post by rangertough »

Mobilized and trained maybe...led assuredly not.

My main issue comes from MacA's propensity to disobey orders that were detrimental to his ego and follow those that benefitted his career or saved his ass.

Even back in WWII when General Officers had enough of an effect on the battlefield to matter some understood that they were not the Lynch pin that the war hinged upon. Abrams, Bradley and Kota are examples of this. They properly trained replacements and staffs for the eventuality of their demise.

I cannot begin to fathom anyone who would place the same importance on MacA as IKE. IKE was the only GO all the Allies would agree to to run the show. It made sense not to put him on the landings. Who else could placate Churchill (much less convince Winnie he was a better man than Monty) prevent DeGaul from needlessly sacrificing troops to set him up as king of France and finally keep Patton under control.

Tough
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Jim
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Re: Fall of Bataan

Post by Jim »

Jim wrote:
rangertough wrote:
Jim wrote:Tomorrow is the 70th annaversery of the fall of Bataan. Followed by the "Bataan Death March." One of the low points for the US Army.


http://blogs.krqe.com/2012/04/07/albuqu ... niversary/

An event that to me proved MacArthur was a coward of the lowest order.

Tough
Tough. You aren't. MacArthur had to take the Army to Australia. He took the war to the Japaneese.
Should have been:Tough, you aren't looking at the big picture, MacArthur had to take the Army to Australia. He took the war to the Japanese, Ranger O'Kelly had it right, FDR ordered him to go to Australia.
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rangertough
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Re: Fall of Bataan

Post by rangertough »

Jim wrote:
Jim wrote:
rangertough wrote:
An event that to me proved MacArthur was a coward of the lowest order.

Tough
Tough. You aren't. MacArthur had to take the Army to Australia. He took the war to the Japaneese.
Should have been:Tough, you aren't looking at the big picture, MacArthur had to take the Army to Australia. He took the war to the Japanese, Ranger O'Kelly had it right, FDR ordered him to go to Australia.

No worries. I figured the whole message wasn't transmitted. Needed clarification.

The Army could have moved W/O him and been as or more successful without his arrogant self serving ass.

I never said I didn't understand the reasoning behind the order. I hate the cat because he would disobey orders for his self promotion but slavishly followed them for his own safety.

Tough
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Re: Fall of Bataan

Post by RangerX »

Even now, MacArthur is getting attention that should be going to the soldiers who served under him.....
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Re: Fall of Bataan

Post by colt1rgr »

Although McA and Patton had it right in the closing days of WWII. Patton wanted to kick the Russkie's asses all the way to Siberia and McA wanted to do the same to the CHICOMs. Had we allowed them to do it, we had the men and equipment and were the only nuclear power, world would be a much better place. "If IFs and Butts were candies and nuts" comes to mind.

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Re: Fall of Bataan

Post by Slowpoke »

Although it's painful, it serves us well to remember that many of our heroes had feet of clay. They were, after all, just men trying to do extrordinary things in extrordinary times.
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Re: Fall of Bataan

Post by hobbit »

TC204 wrote:U.S. forces weren't even properly trained around the time of Corregidor, plus they didn't have enough food and ammo for any kind of sustained fighting. The Japanese were well trained and fanatical, aggressive fighters. Our guys had heart, but they weren't ready for war at that time. Not with the Japanese!
Tell that to the Marines, those Battling Bastards of Bataan.
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Re: Fall of Bataan

Post by Sleepy Doc »

hobbit wrote:
TC204 wrote:U.S. forces weren't even properly trained around the time of Corregidor, plus they didn't have enough food and ammo for any kind of sustained fighting. The Japanese were well trained and fanatical, aggressive fighters. Our guys had heart, but they weren't ready for war at that time. Not with the Japanese!
Tell that to the Marines, those Battling Bastards of Bataan.
Or the men of "Suicide Charley" company, 1st Bn/7th Marines..
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Re: Fall of Bataan

Post by rgrokelley »

Something most folks don't realize is that prior to the post-WWII military, we were not a nation with a large standing army. We only had an army when we needed it. The good thing about this is that you don't spend a lot of tax money on, as Eisenhower called it, the industrial military complex. The bad thing about not having a large standing army is that you started most wars by getting your ass kicked.
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Re: Fall of Bataan

Post by Jim »

rgrokelley wrote:Something most folks don't realize is that prior to the post-WWII military, we were not a nation with a large standing army. We only had an army when we needed it. The good thing about this is that you don't spend a lot of tax money on, as Eisenhower called it, the industrial military complex. The bad thing about not having a large standing army is that you started most wars by getting your ass kicked.
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colt1rgr
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Re: Fall of Bataan

Post by colt1rgr »

Jim wrote:
rgrokelley wrote:Something most folks don't realize is that prior to the post-WWII military, we were not a nation with a large standing army. We only had an army when we needed it. The good thing about this is that you don't spend a lot of tax money on, as Eisenhower called it, the industrial military complex. The bad thing about not having a large standing army is that you started most wars by getting your ass kicked.
Task Force Smith!
My thoughts exactly. Pray for peace..... but ALWAYS prepared.... for WAR!
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rangertough
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Re: Fall of Bataan

Post by rangertough »

Jim wrote:
rgrokelley wrote:Something most folks don't realize is that prior to the post-WWII military, we were not a nation with a large standing army. We only had an army when we needed it. The good thing about this is that you don't spend a lot of tax money on, as Eisenhower called it, the industrial military complex. The bad thing about not having a large standing army is that you started most wars by getting your ass kicked.
Task Force Smith!
To be fair I think TF Smith got it's ass kicked by Korea itself. They weren't just untrained they were logistically unprepared.

Tough

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