A 1942 Bowery Boys film reveals US attitude toward Asians in WW2

[regent]

For some reason lost to history FDR managed to talk an old Soldier who had done his duty in WW1 and retired at the highest rank in the Army, into taking over the Philippine defense which was the most likely first target of the Japanese aggressive strike. The decision was a disaster. MacArthur apparently thought he was a part of the State Dept and made his home in Manila with the elitist Philippine government. When the **** hit the fan on the day after Pearl Harbor MacArthur was incoherent and allowed his entire Air-Force to be destroyed on the ground parked wing to wing even after about a 24 hour warning. MacArthur was awarded the Medal of Honor after he was evacuated and left his entire command to become prisoners of the Japanese and worse within four months of Pearl Harbor.

So who would any of the Republicans who ran against Roosevelt have appointed if they had won? It's not like the U.S. Army was huge at the time, and it was pretty much a small 'good ole boy club' at the top, and most were politically well connected, and MacArthur most certainly was well connected. It was a miracle Eisenhower was leapfrogged to the top when the war broke out.

MacAurthur lived in Manila and MacAurthur thought he was a 'part of the State Dept.' because he was the in control of the Philippine govt.'s military at the time; they were still a semi-independent U.S. colony.

Douglas MacArthur - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Field Marshal of the Philippine Army

When the Commonwealth of the Philippines achieved semi-independent status in 1935, President of the Philippines Manuel Quezon asked MacArthur to supervise the creation of a Philippine Army. Quezon and MacArthur had been personal friends since the latter's father had been Governor-General of the Philippines, 35 years earlier. With President Roosevelt's approval, MacArthur accepted the assignment. It was agreed that MacArthur would receive the rank of field marshal, with its salary and allowances, in addition to his major general's salary as Military Advisor to the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines.[99] It would be his fifth tour in the Far East. MacArthur sailed from San Francisco on the SS President Hoover in October 1935,[100]

He was 'Johnny on the spot' when the war broke out, had knowledge of and good relations with the Philippine govt., thus the logical choice.

Would a Republican have appointed somebody different? Who had a better resume? Ike had been there, but he got tapped to run the war in Europe, the higher priority at the time.

MacArthur was touted to be on the Republican ticket for president a couple of times, but at that time the Republican party was less right wing than today, so Mac never made it. Today Mac might have gotten the nomination.

 

[Picaro]

For some reason lost to history FDR managed to talk an old Soldier who had done his duty in WW1 and retired at the highest rank in the Army, into taking over the Philippine defense which was the most likely first target of the Japanese aggressive strike. The decision was a disaster. MacArthur apparently thought he was a part of the State Dept and made his home in Manila with the elitist Philippine government. When the **** hit the fan on the day after Pearl Harbor MacArthur was incoherent and allowed his entire Air-Force to be destroyed on the ground parked wing to wing even after about a 24 hour warning. MacArthur was awarded the Medal of Honor after he was evacuated and left his entire command to become prisoners of the Japanese and worse within four months of Pearl Harbor.

So who would any of the Republicans who ran against Roosevelt have appointed if they had won? It's not like the U.S. Army was huge at the time, and it was pretty much a small 'good ole boy club' at the top, and most were politically well connected, and MacArthur most certainly was well connected. It was a miracle Eisenhower was leapfrogged to the top when the war broke out.

MacAurthur lived in Manila and MacAurthur thought he was a 'part of the State Dept.' because he was the in control of the Philippine govt.'s military at the time; they were still a semi-independent U.S. colony.

Douglas MacArthur - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Field Marshal of the Philippine Army

When the Commonwealth of the Philippines achieved semi-independent status in 1935, President of the Philippines Manuel Quezon asked MacArthur to supervise the creation of a Philippine Army. Quezon and MacArthur had been personal friends since the latter's father had been Governor-General of the Philippines, 35 years earlier. With President Roosevelt's approval, MacArthur accepted the assignment. It was agreed that MacArthur would receive the rank of field marshal, with its salary and allowances, in addition to his major general's salary as Military Advisor to the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines.[99] It would be his fifth tour in the Far East. MacArthur sailed from San Francisco on the SS President Hoover in October 1935,[100]

He was 'Johnny on the spot' when the war broke out, had knowledge of and good relations with the Philippine govt., thus the logical choice.

Would a Republican have appointed somebody different? Who had a better resume? Ike had been there, but he got tapped to run the war in Europe, the higher priority at the time.

MacArthur was touted to be on the Republican ticket for president a couple of times, but at that time the Republican party was less right wing than today, so Mac never made it. Today Mac might have gotten the nomination.

Yes. He ran in Wisconsin on a Republican ticket in 1953, and was defeated, and that ended his plans for running for President. I forget if the Wisconsin run was for Senator, Congressman, or Governor. Getting elected for Governor would have been the fast track for a Presidential bid. He was probably too middle of the road for today's R's.