McPherson
Banned
While reading "West Point - Two Centuries of Honor and Tradition" edited by Robert Crowley and Thomas Ginzburg, I came across these three episodes with plenty of AH potential:
Sept 12, 1918 - near St. Mihiel, France
What if.... Patton and Mac weren't so lucky on that day, and the barrage kills them both?
March 1921 - West Point
For all of his flaws, Mac worked very hard to bring the West Point curriculum into the 20th Century. His ouster as Superintendent largely left that institution revert back to a 19th Century constabulary mindset. What happens if Mac's tenure at West Point runs longer and his reforms are sustained?
Autumn 1921 - Jan 1922
What if..... Pershing wasn't so petty? Most US Army officers served stints in the Philippines back then, at one point or another in their career, but might a change here alter Mac's career arc?
Departure 1 helps in the Pacific. Hurts in North Africa, but Patton would be replaced by Devers eventually who knew his stuff better. or Adna Chaffee does not smoke himself to death and Uncle gets lucky that way. See Departure 3.
Departure 2 hurts the US Army. MacArthur's "politics" poisoned every operation and institution he touched. The last thing West Point needs to become is a hotbed of future Shoguns and Caudillos.
Departure 3 has Pershing and MacArthur fight a duel of honor instead and they shoot each other. The survivor gets court martialed and sent to Leavenworth. Winner? US Army. Uncle gets BT type tanks, a good squad machine gun and the world's first assault rifle. Might even get a successful defense of the Philippine Islands too.