The Military serves under the civilian president and the concept of awe doesn't enter the picture. MacArthur served honorably in WW1 and left the Service before Pearl Harbor. Why in the world Truman would appoint a 75 year old to command Troops in Korea is anybody's guess. The media loved MacArthur though and the media writes the history books.I think Truman, like many Americans, were in awe of MacArthur. My dad, who served under him, thought him a great soldier's general. MacArthur, I believe, wanted to drive to the Yalu and then establish a bridgehead in China, hopefully waiting for an UN willing to expand into China on behalf "of the free world."
Meglomania.