General Of The Army Douglas MacArthur "Duty Honor Country" to America and Mankind. Who is Your Favorite WWII General?

2015-06-29T00:08:40-04:00

I had the distinct pleasure of visiting the MacArthur Memorial on Norfolk, Virginia 28 June. I am at awe how he had an impact on the world. So grateful and inspired. He is my favorite General of all time.

General of The Army Douglas MacArthur was one of the most controversial people in American history, yet he is known as the Protector of Australia, the Liberator of the Philippines, the Conqueror and Steward of Japan, and the Defender of Korea. He was proud and many thought him egotistical, but he proved himself a capable general in three wars and an able statesman during the Occupation of Japan.

http://www.macarthurmemorial.org/

TSgt Joe C. SFC William Farrell PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC Stephen F. SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas Maj Marty Hogan MSG Andrew White SGT Private RallyPoint Member SGT Philip Roncari SPC Margaret Higgins SrA Christopher Wright SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SP5 Michael Rathbun SSG Diane R. CW5 Jack Cardwell]] Cynthia Croft SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter COL Mikel J. Burroughs PO1 Tony Holland SFC A.M. Drake

MacArthur Memorial, VA - Official Website | Official Website

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jun 29 at 2015 12:21 AM

2015-06-29T00:21:10-04:00

MG Maurice Rose CG 4Th AD Killed in France. One of the finest Armor Generals ever.

Stay on the tank.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 29 at 2015 12:36 AM

2015-06-29T00:36:37-04:00

SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas .... that would be: George C. Marshall. He epitomized duty. He wanted to be in theater in the worst way (like all of us), but the US needed him running the Army... So, he did his duty.
http://www.history.com/topics/george-c-marshall

George C. Marshall - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com

Find out more about the history of George C. Marshall, including videos, interesting articles, pictures, historical features and more. Get all the facts on HISTORY.com

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 29 at 2015 12:41 AM

2015-06-29T00:41:56-04:00

"I Like Ike". Met him and Mamie in a reception line at the National Presbyterian Church when I was a kid. As I learned more about him, I could see he was one of those rare ones who could get the other huge egos working together although begrudgingly.

I'll also give a plug for Omar Bradley. He just made everything that needed to happen, happen.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Jun 29 at 2015 12:48 AM

2015-06-29T00:48:50-04:00

I have great respect for any man who achieves the rank and honor of General or Admiral. One must have a lot of gifts, talent, drive, savvy, etc. to achieve that rank. My personal favorite is Field Marshall Erwin Rommel. Not only was he a great commander, but he did it with very constrained resources. He had a great leadership philosophy and mentored his officers to succeed. And of course, he collaborated with other Germans to kill Hitler, end the NASI regime and the war.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 1:44 AM

2015-06-29T01:44:46-04:00

I will put BG Frank Merrill, commander of the 5307th Composite Unite (Provisional), better known as Merrill's Marauders. The Marauders' exploits against vastly superior numbers in the jungles of Burma are legendary. So many Japanese Soldiers fell to this unit they tried desperately to corner and destroy it, without success.
For a brigade-sized unit, it's impact on the Southeast Asia Theater was vastly disproportionate to it's numbers. Their audacity, skill, and resourcefulness were renowned at the time. They campaigned across 750 miles of dense jungle and mountainous terrain, defeating the Japanese 18th Division in five major and 32 total engagements.
Merrill himself had two (!) heart attacks during the campaign, and only left command to his XO long enough to recover and get back after it.

My kind of guy. Tough as nails and leading from the front.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 2:31 AM

2015-06-29T02:31:49-04:00

For General, no one can touch George S. Patton. His military instincts were legendary. He was brutally honest, but far too candid for his higher ups. In my American Legion post in Treynor, IA, was a man named Roscoe Casson. Roscoe's WWII claim to fame was he was the tank commander of the Sherman on and in which General Patton most often rode, if and when he wanted to go somewhere or be seen in a tank. Oh, the stories Roscoe would tell us!!!!

Let's not forget Admiral. Rising to the top of that list would be Admiral William "Bull" Halsey. This incredible naval genius was vastly underrated against his peers by historians. He conquered the Pacific, not that prima dona MacArthur!!! Absolute best war movie ever: The Gallant Hours. It's about Bull Halsey with an all-star cast, starring James Cagney, practically Halsey's twin!!!

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 7:33 AM

2015-06-29T07:33:40-04:00

Patton

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jun 29 at 2015 7:49 AM

2015-06-29T07:49:50-04:00

Patton, he didn't take crap from anyone and he spoke his mind.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Jun 29 at 2015 8:03 AM

2015-06-29T08:03:24-04:00

I too also look towards General MacArthur as my favorite. One of my favorite quotes of his is true today as is was then.

"Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul."
Douglas MacArthur

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Jun 29 at 2015 9:29 AM

2015-06-29T09:29:56-04:00

I am going tho have to say "IKE".

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 10:02 AM

2015-06-29T10:02:33-04:00

Read books about the Philippine Insurrection for an interesting perspective on the two Generals MacArthur

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 10:04 AM

2015-06-29T10:04:51-04:00

General McArthur !!!!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 10:08 AM

2015-06-29T10:08:44-04:00

Reading Tom Ricks' "The Generals" soured me on GA MacArthur. I'll go with Jumpin' Jim Gavin as my favorite. ATW!

Response by SGT William Howell made Jun 29 at 2015 10:41 AM

2015-06-29T10:41:32-04:00

I am going to go with Chesty Puller. His leadership was one of the greatest among modern generals. He had the respect from the lowest enlisted to highest officer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesty_Puller

Chesty Puller - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller (June 26, 1898 – October 11, 1971) was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general and one of the most decorated members of the Marine Corps. Puller is the only Marine and one of two US servicemen to ever be awarded five Navy Crosses. He fought guerrillas in Haiti and Nicaragua, and participated in battles of World War II and the Korean War. Puller retired from the Marine Corps with 37 years service in 1955...

Response by SSgt Tim Ricci made Jun 29 at 2015 11:19 AM

2015-06-29T11:19:16-04:00

Omar Bradley, Led an Army of 1.3 Mil troops, largest command of a single person!

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jun 29 at 2015 11:51 AM

2015-06-29T11:51:32-04:00

My dad soldiered for Mac Arthur and despised him during the campaign in the Pacific as did many of his fellow soldiers. They called him "Dugout Doug" in reference to his abandoning Wainwright on Corregidor. Mac Arthur was also instrumental in having cavalry and tanks disperse the "Bonus Marchers", WWI soldiers who were down on their luck and demanding their bonuses as promised. To treat soldiers that way in my view is inconceivable.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Jun 29 at 2015 12:17 PM

2015-06-29T12:17:20-04:00

MajGen Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller will have to "grand-fathered" into my Favorite Generals of WWII... for he was a Colonel at the time. From PCF (1918) to MajGen (1955), the man was a "Marine's Marine." Five Navy Crosses top his resume --(I think) remaining the, still, most-decorated Marine in the Corps' history. In times of putting up with civilian-think, I will yet find myself saying "Goodnight, Chesty! Wherever you are!" I know his legacy is engrained in everyone who ever earned the right to the Eagle, Globe, & Anchor! Can I get an "Oooh Rah?!"

Response by PO1 Henry Sherrill made Jun 29 at 2015 2:51 PM

2015-06-29T14:51:40-04:00

Lt. General George S. Patton. Mainly because he told it like it was and didn't pull any punches. That and he was one tough S.O.B.

Response by SSG John Erny made Jun 29 at 2015 3:39 PM

2015-06-29T15:39:04-04:00

I have to go with LTG Patton. he was one of a kind.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 29 at 2015 4:50 PM

2015-06-29T16:50:50-04:00

He duked it out with Admiral Nimitz on the Pacific campaign. They agreed to take half of the Pacific each and met in the middle.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 10:43 AM

2015-07-02T10:43:05-04:00

Surely General George S. Patton is considered the best. He was certainly the most controversial General of WWII. George commanded the Seventh United States Army in the Mediterranean and European Theaters of World War II, and is best known for his leadership of the Third United States Army in France and Germany following the Allied invasion of Normandy. He led the Third Army in a very successful sweep across France in 1944.

Response by SGT Brian Nile made Jul 2 at 2015 10:54 AM

2015-07-02T10:54:30-04:00

I like GOA MacArthur too. He lead by example for 64 years in the Army.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jul 12 at 2016 11:49 PM

2016-07-12T23:49:25-04:00

Thanks for mentioning and honoring General Of The Army Douglas MacArthur SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL. I was cadet at West Point when the Movie about his life was being filmed. My regiment was not included in the Mess Hall scene where the famous Duty, Honor, Country speech was reenacted. I did participate in the Corps of cadets pass in review for tat movie. Since our uniforms were essentially the same as when he gave the speech we looked the part.
FYI SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2016 9:32 AM

2016-09-17T09:32:08-04:00

Patton, nuff said

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jan 5 at 2018 12:41 PM

2018-01-05T12:41:18-05:00

MacArthur, Patton, and Eisenhower were the three Generals I always heard about growing up as a kid.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jan 5 at 2018 4:23 PM

2018-01-05T16:23:13-05:00

SHERMAN and his favorite GRANT.

Response by MSG Frederick Otero made Jan 5 at 2018 11:38 PM

2018-01-05T23:38:15-05:00

General Robert Tryon Frederick

Response by MSG Frederick Otero made Jan 5 at 2018 11:39 PM

2018-01-05T23:39:34-05:00

General Robert Tyron Frederick

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jan 6 at 2018 12:48 AM

2018-01-06T00:48:01-05:00

To be honest I think General of the Army Omar Nelson Bradley is my favorite U.S. Army General SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL. I had the honor of being a member of the U.S. Army Corps of Cadets at West Point in 1978 as we conducted a Corps Wide Pass in Review in honor of wheelchair bound General of the Armay Omar Nelson Bradley.
Additionally, I was cadet at West Point when the Movie about his life was being filmed. My regiment was not included in the Mess Hall scene where the famous Duty, Honor, Country speech was reenacted. I did participate in the Corps of cadets pass in review for tat movie. Since our uniforms were essentially the same as when he gave the speech we looked the part.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx Maj Marty Hogan PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Margaret Higgins MSgt Jason McClish AN Christopher Crayne LTC Bill Koski SPC Tom DeSmet SGT Charles H. Hawes LTC Wayne Brandon SGT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Jan 6 at 2018 8:03 PM

2018-01-06T20:03:01-05:00

Gen. Curtis LeMay, often forgotten and passed over on any list, however he is the architect of deep battle and "limited total war", he was Marshall's Sherman. He was willing to do what had to be done and thus enabled the theatre commanders to win the war.