Grant Grant and Lee compared, to others.

The comparison of McClellan and MacArthur is one of two brilliant military minds, two exceptional military leaders and two military men who pursued their strategies which, in the end, were in conflict with those of their civilian commanders- in chief.
Arguably MacArthur suffered one of the greatest military defeats in American military history far worse then any suffered by McClellan. Comparing generals from one war to another is a very trickey propostion.
Leftyhunter
 
Arguably MacArthur suffered one of the greatest military defeats in American military history far worse then any suffered by McClellan. Comparing generals from one war to another is a very trickey propostion.
Leftyhunter
Thanks for your response.
In order for such a comparison to have any meaning, one has to narrow the focus. For example, when comparing someone to Grant, which Grant do we use? Commander of the Army of the Tennessee? Commander of the Military Division of the Mississippi? Commander of the United States Army?
Or does one limit the comparison to personality traits or specific operations or events?
Yes, it is indeed tricky.
 
Arguably MacArthur suffered one of the greatest military defeats in American military history far worse then any suffered by McClellan.
Leftyhunter
MacArthur also executed one of the greatest victories in American military history with the Inchon Landing in September 1950. It is often overlooked that he planned and carried out that offensive against the advice of virtually everyone in the US military command structure.
It is difficult to find one, single comparable military victory by either side in the rebellion.
One might suggest McClellan's victory at Antietam as his greatest moment, yet many can't even bring themselves to call it a victory.
 
MacArthur also executed one of the greatest victories in American military history with the Inchon Landing in September 1950. It is often overlooked that he planned and carried out that offensive against the advice of virtually everyone in the US military command structure.
It is difficult to find one, single comparable military victory by either side in the rebellion.
One might suggest McClellan's victory at Antietam as his greatest moment, yet many can't even bring themselves to call it a victory.
True enough MacArthur has a very complex military record. I think we agree it is almost impossible to equate generals from one war let alone one era vs another war or historical era. There are simply countless variables.
McClellan 's victory at Antietam might be best compared to General Buell at Perryville. Yes a major strategic was inflicted against the Confederacy in that after both victories neither Kentucky or Maryland was in danger of being occupied by the Confederacy.
On the other hand neither Buell or McClellan scored a knock out blow against their opponents. Then again to be fair only at the end of the Civil War did such a knock out blow occur. By that token no Confederate general could destroy or capture a Union Army.
Leftyhunter
 
True enough MacArthur has a very complex military record. I think we agree it is almost impossible to equate generals from one war let alone one era vs another war or historical era. There are simply countless variables.
McClellan 's victory at Antietam might be best compared to General Buell at Perryville. Yes a major strategic was inflicted against the Confederacy in that after both victories neither Kentucky or Maryland was in danger of being occupied by the Confederacy.
On the other hand neither Buell or McClellan scored a knock out blow against their opponents. Then again to be fair only at the end of the Civil War did such a knock out blow occur. By that token no Confederate general could destroy or capture a Union Army.
Leftyhunter
Thanks for your response.
And that shows the difficulty of making these comparisons. Difficult when they involve people in the same era; nearly impossible when they involve people generations apart.
 
MacArthur was at his best when Krueger and Eichelberger worked for him. 10 points for those who know who Krueger and Eichelberger were.

Bradley was a mixed bag and the way people go on about Patton it’s as though Simpson, Hodges, Patch and Truscott never existed though by the end of the war all were arguably better army commanders than Patton. And evidently Krueger and Eichelberger didn’t exist either. But then the average pellethead thinks the Army didn’t fight the Japanese.
 
MacArthur was at his best when Krueger and Eichelberger worked for him. 10 points for those who know who Krueger and Eichelberger were.

Bradley was a mixed bag and the way people go on about Patton it’s as though Simpson, Hodges, Patch and Truscott never existed though by the end of the war all were arguably better army commanders than Patton. And evidently Krueger and Eichelberger didn’t exist either. But then the average pellethead thinks the Army didn’t fight the Japanese.
Steven Spielberg 's father who served in the U.S. Army in New Guinea being a small example of the above. Some branchs of the military may be better at PR then the others. I could be wrong but the only major movies that I know of that dealt with the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theatre is the "Thin Red Line" maybe also"Battan Death March " if memory serves.
Leftyhunter
 
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