Driftless
Donor
MacArthur Assassinated or Sacked - 1932
During the summer of 1932, a large body of un-employed World War One US military veterans marched on Washington DC to demand that the government advance the time of cash payment of a $1,000 service bonus from 1945 to 1932 - they needed the money during the Great Depression for basic sustainence. There were 17,000 veterans plus several thousand more family members and others involved.
The "Bonus Army" was viewed by some local and national leaders as a threat - potential communist overthrow, etc; and the situation got out of hand quickly and escalated to the police shooting and killing two marchers, and then President Hoover called in the Army to restore order.
General's MacArthur and Patton were directly involved in the routing out of the marchers from their camps, including the use of cavalry and even some tanks. Several people were injured, and the ham-fisted handling of the situation became a political firestorm.
Regardless of your opinion of MacArthur, it would seem very possible during the heat of the struggle, that one of those Bonus Army members or family could have killed MacArthur during the fight, or perhaps shortly thereafter. *edit* Or, MacArthur gets completely discredited and sacked.
What happens over the next twenty years after that assassination?
During the summer of 1932, a large body of un-employed World War One US military veterans marched on Washington DC to demand that the government advance the time of cash payment of a $1,000 service bonus from 1945 to 1932 - they needed the money during the Great Depression for basic sustainence. There were 17,000 veterans plus several thousand more family members and others involved.
The "Bonus Army" was viewed by some local and national leaders as a threat - potential communist overthrow, etc; and the situation got out of hand quickly and escalated to the police shooting and killing two marchers, and then President Hoover called in the Army to restore order.
General's MacArthur and Patton were directly involved in the routing out of the marchers from their camps, including the use of cavalry and even some tanks. Several people were injured, and the ham-fisted handling of the situation became a political firestorm.
During the military operation, Major Dwight D. Eisenhower, later the 34th president of the United States, served as one of MacArthur's junior aides. Believing it wrong for the Army's highest-ranking officer to lead an action against fellow American war veterans, he strongly advised MacArthur against taking any public role: "I told that dumb son-of-a-bitch not to go down there," he said later. "I told him it was no place for the Chief of Staff." Despite his misgivings, Eisenhower later wrote the Army's official incident report which endorsed MacArthur's conduct.
Regardless of your opinion of MacArthur, it would seem very possible during the heat of the struggle, that one of those Bonus Army members or family could have killed MacArthur during the fight, or perhaps shortly thereafter. *edit* Or, MacArthur gets completely discredited and sacked.
What happens over the next twenty years after that assassination?
1. Does that event alter Hoover's failed re-election vs FDR's first election?
2. Who replaces MacArthur as US Army Chief of Staff? Gen Malin Craig did in 1935 - does he get the nod in 1932?
3. Who becomes the Field Marshall of the Philippine Army in 1936, or does the role even get filled?
4. Who leads the US Army USAFFE, especially on Dec 8, 1941 - Wainright, Sutherland, or ????
5. Who assumes the larger command of the USAFFE in 1942?
6. Who becomes the "Ceasar" of Japan post-war (I realize that's really pushing the window of predictability)
2. Who replaces MacArthur as US Army Chief of Staff? Gen Malin Craig did in 1935 - does he get the nod in 1932?
3. Who becomes the Field Marshall of the Philippine Army in 1936, or does the role even get filled?
4. Who leads the US Army USAFFE, especially on Dec 8, 1941 - Wainright, Sutherland, or ????
5. Who assumes the larger command of the USAFFE in 1942?
6. Who becomes the "Ceasar" of Japan post-war (I realize that's really pushing the window of predictability)
Last edited: