In early 1942,MacArthur supposedly threatened to retire once more, cross over to Bataan, and enlist as a 'common soldier' rather than leave the Phillipines. (Personally, I wish FDR could have replied: "Speaking on behalf of all our fellow citizens, Douglas, Eleanor and I wish you 'Good luck and God speed'!").
But, if Roosevelt had felt he could weather the political storm, and had ordered MacArthur back to the US from Australia to retire or to command a recruiting district near Milwaukee, what would have been the consequences?
Who would have been sent to Australia as the commander of US forces in the SW Pacific?
Stilwell?
Eichelberger?
Mark Clark?
Would the Central Pacific (under Nimitz) have become the dominant theater?
Would US forces have returned to the Phillipines in 1944? Or would the Central Pacific strategy have allowed more concentration of force, possibly allowing a less costly invasion of Iwo JIma in the fall of 1944 and of Okinawa in early 1945?
Would MacArthur have been a natural candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 1944?
Who would have been the Commander of US Forces in post war Japan?
Who would have commanded US Forces when North Korea invaded South Korea? Would that commander avoided the disastrous push to the Yalu in the fall of 1950?
Lot's of 'branches and sequels', right?
But, if Roosevelt had felt he could weather the political storm, and had ordered MacArthur back to the US from Australia to retire or to command a recruiting district near Milwaukee, what would have been the consequences?
Who would have been sent to Australia as the commander of US forces in the SW Pacific?
Stilwell?
Eichelberger?
Mark Clark?
Would the Central Pacific (under Nimitz) have become the dominant theater?
Would US forces have returned to the Phillipines in 1944? Or would the Central Pacific strategy have allowed more concentration of force, possibly allowing a less costly invasion of Iwo JIma in the fall of 1944 and of Okinawa in early 1945?
Would MacArthur have been a natural candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 1944?
Who would have been the Commander of US Forces in post war Japan?
Who would have commanded US Forces when North Korea invaded South Korea? Would that commander avoided the disastrous push to the Yalu in the fall of 1950?
Lot's of 'branches and sequels', right?