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Reminiscences

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"Reminiscences" is General Douglas MacArthur's brief in support of his life and career as they stand in judgment before the Bar of History. His statement of facts is magnificent. Beginning with his immigrant grandfather, Judge Arthur MacArthur, and continuing through the career of his father, Gen. Arthur MacArthur, (see my Amazon review of "The General's General"), Douglas sets the stage for his entry into the great play of life. Growing up in the frontier army, Douglas was admitted to West Point in 1899.

Not a typical cadet or young officer, Douglas made his first appearance before a Congressional committee investigating hazing at the Academy in 1900. Graduating in 1903, his first assignment was to the Philippines, the land in which his father had won fame and where he would spend so much of his military career. In 1906 he was appointed aide-de-camp to President Theodore Roosevelt.

With U. S. entry into World War I, MacArthur bucked the prevailing wisdom that National Guard units could not function effectively in combat. It was he who conceived, promoted and implemented the concept of the Rainbow Division, consisting of National Guard units from 26 states. During his command of the Rainbow he established the legend of his fearlessness in combat.

Returning to the peace time army, MacArthur rose to Chief of Staff, a position from which, he believed, his father had been barred by political enemies. During his tenure, Douglas presided over the dispersal of the Bonus Marchers, an action which he staunchly defends in this book, and the defense the Army from the Depression-era budget cutting knife. During one meeting with FDR, MacArthur erupted with an immediately regretted remark that has become part of the MacArthur legend, "to the general effect that when we lost the next war, and an American boy, lying in the mud with an enemy bayonet through his belly and an enemy foot on his dying throat, spat out his last curse, I wanted the name not to be MacArthur, but Roosevelt." Although he claims to have immediately regretted the remark, he did find it worth reporting.

His career in the U.S. Army seemingly concluded, MacArthur retired in 1935 to become a field marshal in the Philippine Army. In this position he built the Philippine Defenses in the years leading up to World War II. In his soon to be familiar role of advocate for Pacific defense against a Eurocentered defense establishment, he struggled to obtain funding necessary to prepare the Philippines for the anticipated Japanese onslaught. When the pre-war build up began it was too little, too late.

With the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, MacArthur relates the plans for defense which culminated in the heroic stands on Bataan and Corregidor. From this narrative we realize how serious was the defenders' expectation of a relief expedition before their surrender.

The brilliant campaigns in New Guinea and the Philippines are explained. Through this campaign, MacArthur shrewdly advanced his forces as rapidly as his advancing air cover would permit, isolating Japanese troops which would be starved of supplies rather than overrun by assault. By use of this technique, MacArthur conquered immense territory and neutralized massive concentrations of enemy troops while taking relatively few casualties. On the pages of this book, MacArthur takes us into the conferences in which the plans for the war in the Pacific were charted.

With Victory over Japan, MacArthur assumed the role of ruler of Japan. During the section of the book dealing with this portion of his life, we see the challenges which he confronted and the steps which reformed Japan into the nation which it is today.

The chapter "Frustration in Korea" signals a decided shift in the mood of the book. Here we read of the desperate state of defense during the early stages of the North Korean invasion, followed by the complete U.N. victory over North Korea after the landings at Inchon. With the Red Chinese invasion of Korea, the second retreat began. Again MacArthur masterminded the U.N. defense. Here criticism of the Truman Administration accelerates in the accounts leading up to and following MacArthur's dismissal from command.

In the final section, MacArthur shares with us his views of developments in America and the world. We hear of his shock at the substitution of prolonged indecision for victory as a national war goal. More than once we are reminded that "There is no substitute for victory." In digressions, we also learn his views on the employment of Nationalist Chinese Forces during the Korean War, as well as his views on relationships with Communism, the importance of freedom, the role of the income tax and other issues. His arguments leave us with the lingering thought that perhaps Red China would have been vulnerable to a determined defense in Korea, bombings and blockade of the mainland and an unleashing of the Nationalist Forces. It is one of the great "What ifs" of history. Near the end of the book we are treated to the transcripts of his address to congress and the final roll call at West Point.

Throughout this book we are reminded of the many honors and tributes received by the author. This book would be much shorter if the awards, congratulatory telegrams, decorations and testimonials were omitted. The author was certainly impressed with the esteem in which he was held by his fellow man.

While not as good of a biography of Douglas MacArthur as "American Caesar" (see my Amazon review), "Reminiscences" is a valuable window into MacArthur's world. Self adulation notwithstanding, this book gives us an insight into how Douglas MacArthur saw his role in the world. We see many of the powerfully charged issues of the World War II and Korean War eras forcefully promoted by one of their foremost partisans. I am glad that I read it. I will never look at General of the Army Douglas MacArthur and his era in the same way again.

Better than even Eisenhower and certainly better than Patton, MacArthur tells us a little about himself, his family and his father's legacy before seeing his first (and later decorated) action in WWI. Taking over at West Point in 1919, his book begins to expose particular weaknesses in American idealogy when it comes to the "expense of defense." As MacArthur continued his tale, I could scarcely trust my eyes. In WWII, the Pacific theater had no unified command like Europe and other theaters. MacArthur controlled only part of his forces; those not under his command were oftentimes pulled away on other missions, sometimes at the last moment. For a time he enjoyed command over his own air power, but later he lost this luxury as other missions took precedence. MacArthur's tactics and strategy are always clearly defined and easily acceptable as intelligent courses. His hope and duty to protect his men appears on every page. His objections to frontal assaults on what he termed "militarily insignificant" objectives (both to the Allies and to Japan) on Okinawa and Iwo Jima made me groan anew for the men we lost there. "Only poor commanders turn in large casualties" he wrote. His masterly reconstruction of Japan (1945-50) shows his open and fair concepts of what we now call "nation building." He knew that the reconstruction and reforms would not succeed unless authorized by the people of Japan. Shouts of rage greeted him in 1945 when he entered Tokyo; tears of sorrow witnessed his departure. In Korea, my stomach turned on almost every page, as Mac describes the indecision or timidity that put men in harm's way without a clear objective, without support, and without even the formal declaration of war. The "police action" as Truman insisted it was seemed to Mac (and to any reader or soldier) as actual war, yet the more acceptable phrase continues to be repeated today. Persons who think so today should read this book and reconsider. For instance, the mass murder in Bosnia in the 1990s was diabolically reduced to "ethnic cleansing." In the 1940s we called this "extermination." When the concentration camps ran full speed in Poland in 1945, the German clerks merely wrote "released" whenever they bothered to record names. This book gives a heroic picture of American military might and the idealogy of freedom, but also a horrid picture of inaction and misinformed policy, and a glimpse behind a curtain of US Government-propagated disinformation.

Autobiographies do not get better than this. Its packed with information about many of America's wars through the eyes of the greatest general in United States history. Like the previous reviewer stated, the last chapter itself its unbelievable. It contains content and predictions that could be lifted and applied to the modern present world. I could not believe that this book was written 40 years ago. MacArthur was truly ahead of his time in thinking. His recollection opf events is superb and very detailed for a man who has probably more memories that ordinary men have for a lifetime. I'd recommend this book to anyone, the last chapter is alone worth the price!

Reminiscences of one of the greatest military leaders. a way to understand specific facets of historical moments of recent history.
Excellent and recommended for anybody interested in recent history, security policy and military strategy.

A great book! MacArthur completed his autobiography just a few weeks before his death. He served with distinction in three major wars. This book tells his side of the story and is brilliantly written.

General MacArthur sets the record straight on his life and career. He answers the critics, and demonstrates a great love of country. A very significant work by Americas' greatest General. Well worth reading. As it turns out he was absolutely right regarding the Korean situation.

WONDERFUL book, tells MacArthur's side of the story and is very well done. Highly recommend everyone reading it.

MacArthur is one of the controversial figures in history. In Reminiscences he recounts his eventful life. He speaks about his father's great career and his numerous military campaigns. He also speaks about how over the years beginning with the bonus march he made many enemies among leftists and the communists. He explains his side of the Korean War and ominously says that one day we will fight Red China on her own terms when we could have easily crushed them during Korea. It was one of the best memoirs I have ever read.

This is a great book written about a man who could be one of the greatest generals of all time. It is an autobiography of sorts which spends a lot of time on WWII. It was written very well and was easy to read as you follow the General through many of his great accomplishments in life.

The book starts out with a little bit of childhood and then heads right into military school and his life in the military which is what he was destined to do. He has a candid demeanor and through the pages you will come to know the man and his thoughts. He gives some of his personal insight of the presidents that he knew and served under. There were a number of interesting facts revealed that I had never heard before. Also General MacArthur reveals his thoughts on the mistakes made by President Truman in regards to North Korea which have totally come to pass. MacArthur was a man who thought not only in terms of now but what our actions would have on the future. Another thing I found interesting was the way he dealt with Japan after the war. If we had followed his example and done the same things in Iraq it probably wouldn't have turned out the way it has. But the one thing that we have learned from history is that we don't learn anything from history.

You will learn of his magnificent military campaigns in the Pacific as I believe only he could tell. The way he treated his men underneath him and the way he dealt with others will give you a great sense on how a true leader should act. The only thing I would say is missing is more on his family life. About all that is revealed is that his family traveled with him even during the war. All in all this is a very fine book which any one interested in history or leadership will find enjoyable.

Although this book is now out of print, I recommend that you make all possible efforts to find a used one. This is World War II and the Cold War through the eyes of one of America's greatest generals. You will be amazed at the accomplishments of MacArthur - he is a giant among men and one of our nation's true heroes. This book is beautifully written, and the final chapter is worth reading and re-reading. You won't be disappointed. Send me your comments. Reviewed by Rep. Louis (Woody) Jenkins, 910 N. Foster Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70806.