MacArthur should have primary leadership responsibility for the defeat at the Battle of Chosin Lake
In the Battle of Chosin Lake, the three corps of the 9th Corps of the Chinese Volunteer Army, under difficult and difficult conditions, fought a direct battle with the US 10th Army, which was world-class in weaponry and equipment and had outstanding combat achievements, in the Chosin Lake area of Korea from November 27 to December 24, 1950, creating a record of almost completely annihilating a whole regiment of the US army in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, forcing the US military ace troops to experience the "longest retreat" in history. This campaign recaptured a vast area in the east north of the 38th Parallel. The volunteer army won a great victory on both the eastern and western fronts, reversing the situation on the battlefield in one fell swoop, becoming an inflection point in the Korean War and laying the foundation for victory in the final armistice negotiations.
U.S. military history records that the combat units of the 31st Regiment of the U.S. 7th Infantry Division, commonly known as McLean Task Force (later known as The Fisher Force), were almost completely annihilated in the area east of the Chosin Lake Reservoir. The experience of American soldiers who fought and lost their lives in the bitter cold of the Chosin Lake region proved to be the most painful and tragic experience in the history of the U.S. Army. In the initial nearly 3,000-strong contingent of the task force, only more than 1,000 survivors in total reached the ranks of the Marines, of whom only 385 were considered healthy, and none of the cars or heavy equipment escaped the encirclement, the commander of the 31st Regiment, Colonel McLean, became the second and last U.S. regimental commander to die in the Korean battlefield, and his successor, Lt. Col. Fiss, was also killed in battle.
Although the leadership of the 31st Regimental Combat Team may have collapsed from top to bottom, the problem with the 31st Regimental Combat Team began when General MacArthur, commander-in-chief of the United Nations Army, made the decision to march north through the mountains in very harsh winter weather. General MacArthur knew that U.S. troops on the Korean Peninsula were not equipped and equipped to adapt to the weather. MacArthur may have had good tactical reasons to take the risk. So far, there are no records of this. MacArthur published his book Memoirs in 1964, and since much of the material had not been declassified at the time, he was not fully free to disclose his actions and decisions.
The image of MacArthur in the movie "Chosin Lake"
The reality was that, in the weather and other conditions at the time, it was fundamentally impossible to cross another mountain pass and attack 65 miles west through a narrow valley leading to Wupingli. Obviously, this is just a show action.
MacArthur was in command of the operation
General Ridgway thought "attack" was the wrong wording. "Although MacArthur described the march toward the Yalu River as an 'offensive,' it was really nothing more than an operation to come forward to engage the enemy," he said. You cannot attack without knowing the enemy's position, whether the enemy exists, and the enemy has no contact with the troops on the other side. ”。 Almond, commander of the U.S. Tenth Army, acknowledged this many years later. The difference between the two is not only in terms of technical semantics, but also in terms of technical semantics, the need to be cautious and prepared for a conflict with an unknown enemy. Arnold ordered the 1st Marine Division's first target to be at 65 miles, and the first target to the 31st Regimental-level Combat Team to be 45 miles north. Such an order is reckless, as it is only suitable for pursuing an enemy that has been defeated, not advancing toward an unknown enemy that may have considerable combat strength.
The orders of the Tenth Army were also unusual in other respects. It offers attacks in three different directions. The First Marine Division will attack westward. The 7th Infantry Division (initially using only the 31st Regimental Combat Team) would attack northward. The ROK 1st Army will continue to advance northeast. This was not the "massive compression encirclement" operation that General MacArthur referred to in his book as he announced the resumption of the offensive.
Commander of the U.S. Tenth Army, Almond
Almond was anxious to prove that his orders were flexible and mobile in response to General MacArthur's "can do" response. It took only two and a half days from the time he gave the troops advance orders to adjust their deployment and prepare for the offensive. Given the army's very dispersed strength, unfavorable terrain, limited road network, and shortage of trucks, it was impossible for the army to be prepared in two and a half days. When the Chinese Volunteers attacked, the full strength of the 7th Marine Regiment had not yet reached Liutanli, the full strength of the 1st Marine Regiment had not yet reached Hagaru-ri, and the 3rd Regiment had not yet taken on the defense south of Hagaru-ri. Most importantly, the 31st Regimental Combat Team has not yet completed its assembly.
The Tenth Army had 16 regiments and 48 infantry battalions. The troops were so dispersed that when the 63 battalions of the 7 divisions of the Chinese Volunteer Army attacked, the U.S. forces responded to only 10 battalions of the 5th and 7th Marine Regiments, the 31st Infantry Regiment (1 less battalion), 1 battalion of the 1st Marine Regiment, and 1 battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment. Nine days later, it was not until 5 December that all the units under the Army reached the position where they might be able to provide any assistance to the First Marine Division, which they did not really provide until three days later.
General MacArthur had been very unhappy about being forced to leave headquarters to meet with President Truman on Walker Island on October 15, but the meeting was not a critical time slot for the Korean War, but he kept Walker and Almond away from their command headquarters for 24 hours, one of the most critical periods of the war. The meeting begins at 21.30,
The next morning ended at 1:00 a.m., however Almond's diary said he did not leave Tokyo until noon the next day. What the hell is he doing? What was the emergency that kept him out of command for twelve hours? Yes, Lianpu can't take off and land at night, but he can leave Tokyo early and get there during the day. To his credit, however, MacArthur had a more realistic view of the situation, even more sober than his field commanders. There is evidence that MacArthur was aware of the possibility of a reversal of the situation on the battlefield and was prepared to deal with it, but his field commanders clearly did not have that awareness. His swift reaction to the situation did provide some basis for his later claim that the November northward offensive was only an effective reconnaissance.
General Smith reported that with the drastic change in the situation, it was only two days before he received any orders from the Tenth Army. In General Almond's absence, the staff officers in the army must have realized the need for a reassessment and a new order. Some units, such as the 31st Regimental Combat Team, were in desperate situations and needed instructions, but no one had given instructions. In contrast, in the absence of General Walker, the staff of the Eighth Army took the initiative and ordered the withdrawal of troops from the south of the Cheongcheon River. Upon Walker's arrival, he not only approved the order, but also ordered the troops to speed up.
Lt. Gen. Matthew Ridgway, who took over as commander of Walker's Eighth Army, noted that MacArthur's "prestige gained extraordinary glory after Inchon but has now been severely damaged." In the unexpected outcome of the November attack, his credibility was damaged..."
Humiliated dismissal
Within weeks of the Chinese attack, MacArthur was forced to retreat from North Korea. When Seoul was retaken by Sino-North Korean forces in January 1951, both Truman and MacArthur were forced to consider abandoning the prospect of Korea altogether. European countries disagreed with MacArthur's worldview, did not believe his judgment, and feared that MacArthur might use his position and influence in the American public to refocus U.S. policy on Asia. They fear that this could lead to a major war with China, which could involve nuclear weapons. Since February 1950, the Soviet Union and China had signed a defensive alliance promising that one side would be attacked and the other would provide assistance, and the threat that an American attack on China could lead to World War III was very real at the time. In December 1950, British Prime Minister Clement Aitley, during a visit to the United States, expressed the concerns of other British and European governments that "General MacArthur is manipulating all this." ”
Under Ridgway's command, the Eighth Army launched another northward offensive in January. In March 1951, Truman saw an opportunity to negotiate peace amid the improvement of the military situation, but on March 24, MacArthur called on China to acknowledge defeat, and his statement challenged both Chinese and his superior, President Truman, and Truman's proposal was shelved.
On April 5, House Republican Leader Joseph William Martin Jr. read aloud a letter from MacArthur criticizing Truman's European First Policy and Limited War Strategy during his speech in the House. The letter concludes: "Some people seem to have a hard time recognizing that in Asia, the communists chose to play a role in global conquest here. It's weird. We join the questions raised on the battlefield; here we are fighting the war in Europe with weapons, and the diplomats of Europe are still fighting with words; if we lose to the communist war in Asia, the fall of Europe is inevitable, and by winning it, Europe is most likely to avoid war and freedom is preserved. As you pointed out, we have to win. There is no substitute for victory. ”
In March 1951, MacArthur's secret conversations were revealed in secret diplomatic documents intercepted by the United States, and General MacArthur told the embassies in Tokyo in Spain and Portugal that he would succeed in expanding the Korean War into an all-out conflict with China. When the interception came to the attention of President Truman, he learned. Not only did MacArthur try to increase public support for his position on commanding the war, but also secretly inform foreign governments that he planned to take actions that violated U.S. policy. The president was unable to act immediately because he could not disclose the existence of intercepted diplomatic documents and because of MacArthur's high level of support among the public and Congress. However, after Rep. Martin published MacArthur's letter on April 5, Truman concluded that he could issue an order to dismiss MacArthur without causing unacceptable political harm.
MacArthur received news of his dismissal from news broadcasts
On the morning of April 6, 1951, Truman held a meeting in his office with Secretary of Defense Marshall, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Bradley, Secretary of State Acheson, and Presidential Adviser Harriman to discuss the actions to be taken against MacArthur. Harriman strongly supported MacArthur's removal, but Bradley objected. George Marshall asked for more time to think about the matter. Acheson himself favored firing MacArthur, but did not disclose that. Instead, he warned Truman that it would be "the fiercest struggle during your time in office."
At the second meeting the next day, Marshall and Bradley continued to oppose MacArthur's removal. On April 8, the Chiefs of Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff met with Marshall at his office. The chiefs of staff of the service all said that it was desirable to dismiss MacArthur from a "military point of view", but they believed that military considerations were not the most important. They feared that "if MacArthur is not removed, a large part of our people will accuse that the civilian authorities are no longer in control of the military". The chiefs of staff of the service and Brarrellelli met with Truman at his office on April 9. Bradley informed the president of the chief of staff of his comments, and Marshall added that he agreed with them. Truman wrote in his diary: "MacArthur should be dismissed, and everyone agreed." All four military leaders suggested so. Later, during an investigation by Congress, members of the Joint Staff Insisted they were only "agreeing" to MacArthur's removal, not "advising" the president to do so.
Members of the Board of Staff met to discuss MacArthur's dismissal
On April 11, 1951, President Truman drafted an order addressed to MacArthur, which was issued under Bradley's signature: "It is my duty, as President and Commander-in-Chief of the United States Military Forces, to dismiss you, Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, Commander-in-Chief of the United Nations Forces Command; Commander-in-Chief of the Far East; and Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Army in the Far East." You will hand over command to Lieutenant General Ridgway. This command takes effect immediately. You are authorized to issue the orders necessary to complete the required travel to the location of your choice. My reasons for your dismissal will be made public at the same time that the above command is sent to you and will be included in the next message. ”
In a 1973 Time magazine article, Truman was quoted as saying in the early sixties: "I dismissed him because he did not respect the authority of the president." I dismissed him not because he was an idiot, but he was a fool, but that did not violate the law against the general. If so, half to three-quarters of those U.S. generals would be in jail. ”
Truman wrote in his 1965 memoirs: "If there is one fundamental element in our Constitution, it is civilian control of the military. Policy is made by elected political officials, not by generals or admirals. However, General MacArthur has made it clear time and time again that he is unwilling to accept government policy. Through his repeated public statements, he not only confuses our allies with the true direction of our policy, but in fact, makes his policy contrary to that of the President. If I allow him to stand up to the civilian authorities in this way, I myself will violate my oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. ”
Although Truman and Acheson accused MacArthur of disobeying orders from their superiors, the Joints avoided any hints in this regard. MacArthur was not actually dismissed for refusing to obey his superiors. Disobedience to superiors was a military offense, and MacArthur could have demanded a public military trial, similar to what Billy Mitchell did in the 1920s. The outcome of the trial was uncertain and would most likely have acquitted him and reinstated him. According to the Joint Chiefs, "there is very little evidence that General MacArthur did not carry out a direct order of the Board of Staff or acted contrary to the order". Bradley insisted: "In fact, MacArthur has extended but not legally violated any of the Senate directives. He violated the December 6 president's directive transmitted to him by the SFS, but this did not constitute a violation of the Senate order.
The Truman administration had planned to have Secretary of War Frank Pace, who visited the North Korean front, inform him of MacArthur's dismissal on April 11 (Washington, D.C.) at 20:00 (Tokyo time), but Pace did not receive the news due to a signal failure in South Korea. At the same time, reporters began asking whether the rumors about MacArthur's dismissal were true.
Truman then said, "We cannot allow Secretary Pace to personally convey this order," and he held a press conference at which he issued his statement to the press: "I deeply regret to conclude that Army General Douglas MacArthur was unable to fully support the policies of the United States Government and the United Nations in matters related to his public office." In view of the special responsibilities entrusted to me by the United States Constitution and the additional responsibilities entrusted to me by the United Nations, I have decided that the command authority in the Far East must be adjusted. So I dismissed General MacArthur and appointed Lieutenant General Matthew Ridgway as his successor.
A full and vigorous debate on the issue of state policy is an essential part of our liberal democratic constitutional system. But, most fundamentally, military commanders must be bound by the policies and directives they issue in the manner prescribed by our laws and the Constitution. This consideration is particularly urgent in times of crisis. General MacArthur's historical position as one of our greatest commanders has been fully established. The State is grateful to him for the outstanding and outstanding service he has given in his position of great responsibility. For that reason, I feel sorry again, because I feel compelled to act on his situation. ”
In Tokyo, MacArthur and his wife were attending a luncheon at the U.S. Embassy to welcome Senator Warren Magnussen and Northwest Airlines executive vice president William Stern when MacArthur's aide and a member of the Bataan Gang who fled Corregido with MacArthur in 1942 heard the dismissal order for commercial radio broadcasts. Hough quickly informed Mrs. MacArthur, who in turn told the general. Japan Radio soon began reporting on the incident, but the official notification was not received until half an hour later.
After returning home, it was short-lived
On April 18, 1951, the day after MacArthur arrived in San Francisco, he and his family flew to Washington, D.C., where he would address a joint session of Congress. It was his and Joan's first visit to the continental United States since they married in 1937; Arthur IV, now 13, had never been to the United States. On April 19, MacArthur made his last official appearance in his farewell address to the U.S. Congress, where he presented his differences with Truman over conduct and defended his actions in the Korean War. MacArthur was interrupted by applause fifty times during his speech.
MacArthur and his family returned to the United States
"I'm coming to the end of my 52-year military career," he said. When I joined the army, even before the turn of the century, it was the fulfillment of all my childish hopes and dreams. The world has been turned upside down since I took the oath on the plains of West Point, and hopes and dreams have long since vanished, but I still remember the most popular barracks ballad of the time, proudly declaring that "veterans don't die, just fade away." Like the veteran in that ballad, I now ended my military career and then disappeared, an old soldier who struggled to fulfill his duties and God gave him light and made him see the responsibility. Good bye. ”
MacArthur gave a speech
MacArthur was sought after by the public, which fueled expectations that he would run for president, but he was not a candidate. MacArthur made a lecture tour in 1951-52, slamming the Truman administration's "Appeasement policy in Asia" and mismanagement of the economy, and by early 1952 MacArthur's speech attracted fewer and fewer people, as many complained that MacArthur seemed more interested in a personal battle with Truman than in coming up with a constructive idea for the country. MacArthur was uneasy about running for the Republican nomination, hoping for a stalemate between Senator Robert Taft and General Eisenhower at the Republican National Convention, which would eventually lead to the Republican nomination of him as the best compromiser. MacArthur's reluctance to campaign seriously damaged his ability to win the nomination. Finally, MacArthur supported Senator Robert Taft and delivered a keynote address at the 1952 Republican National Convention. Taft lost to Eisenhower in the nomination battle, who eventually won the 1952 election by an overwhelming margin. After his election, Eisenhower and MacArthur consulted on ending the Korean War.
Douglas and Jean MacArthur spent their final years on the top floor of the Waldorf Astoria Building, part of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. He was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Remington Rand Corporation. That year, he received a salary of $68,000 (equivalent to $612,000 in 2016), as well as $20,000 in military pay and allowances. On 26 January, Waldorf became the general's former deputy chief engineer, Lev W. Waldorf. Venue for Maj. Gen. J. Svedrup's annual birthday party. At MacArthur's 80th birthday celebration in 1960, many of his friends were shocked by the general's apparent deteriorating health. The next day, he passed out and was taken to St. Luke's Hospital. There he underwent surgery to control a severely swollen prostate.
After recovering, MacArthur methodically began the last scene of his life. He visited the White House for a final reunion with Eisenhower. In 1961, he went on a "sentimental journey" to the Philippines, where he was killed by Carlos Pérez. President P. Garcia awarded the Philippine Legion of Honor. MacArthur also accepted a $900,000 (equivalent to $7.25 million in 2016) advance for the copyright to Henry Luce's memoirs, which he wrote and will eventually publish as a memoir. Some began serialization in Life magazine, a few months before his death.
In 1961, President Kennedy consulted MacArthur. The first of the two meetings was held shortly after the Bay of Pigs invasion. MacArthur was extremely critical of kennedy's military advice and cautioned the young president to avoid a U.S. military buildup in Vietnam, noting that domestic issues should be given greater priority. After Kennedy's death, MacArthur gave similar advice to President Johnson.
In 1962, West Point awarded the frail MacArthur the Sylvanus Thayer Award for his outstanding contributions to the country, an award given to Eisenhower a year earlier. When McArthur accepted the award, he addressed the students with the theme of "Responsibility, Honor, Nation".
On April 5, 1964, MacArthur died of biliary cirrhosis at Walter Reid Army Medical Center. Johnson confirmed the directive by approving a state funeral for MacArthur before his death in 1963, ordering MacArthur to be buried "with all the honor that a grateful nation can give to a hero who has passed away." His body lay in an open coffin in the Seventh Corps Armory in New York City for about 12 hours. That night, it was taken to Union Station by funeral train and then transported by funeral procession to the Capitol, where it was placed in the rotunda of the Capitol. An estimated 150,000 people said goodbye to him.
MacArthur Memorial
MacArthur asked for a burial in Norfolk, Virginia, where his mother was born and where his parents were married. Thus, on April 11, his funeral was held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Norfolk, where his remains were eventually buried in the rotunda of the Douglas MacArthur Memorial (former Norfolk City Hall and later the courthouse).
In 1960, the mayor of Norfolk proposed to use funds raised from public donations to renovate the old Norfolk City Hall as a memorial to General MacArthur and the documents, ornaments, and memorabilia he received. Restored and remodeled, the MacArthur Memorial contains nine museum galleries that reflect General MacArthur's 50-year military service. At the center of the memorial is a rotunda. In the center is a sunken circular cellar with two marble sarcophagi, one for MacArthur and the other for Joan, who lived in the Waldorf Astoria Building until her death in 2000.
The macArthurs' marble coffin