MacArthur at War: World War II in the Pacific

by Walter R. Borneman

Overview

The definitive account of General Douglas MacArthur's rise during World War II, from the author of the bestseller The Admirals.

World War II changed the course of history. Douglas MacArthur changed the course of World War II. Macarthur at War will go deeper into this transformative period of his life than previous biographies, drilling into the military strategy that Walter R. Borneman is so skilled at conveying, and exploring how personality and ego translate into military successes and failures.

Architect of stunning triumphs and inexplicable defeats, General MacArthur is the most intriguing military leader of the twentieth century. There was never any middle ground with MacArthur. This in-depth study of the most critical period of his career shows how his influence spread far beyond the war-torn Pacific.

A Finalist for the Gilder Lehrman Prize for Military History at the New York Historical Society

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316405317
Publisher:	Little, Brown and Company
Publication date:	05/10/2016
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	153,751
File size:	16 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Walter Borneman is the author of eight works of nonfiction, including The Admirals, 1812, The French and Indian War, and Polk. He holds both a master's degree in history and a law degree. He lives in Colorado.

Table of Contents

List of Maps xi

Prologue: Monday, December 8, 1941 3

Part 1 Escape - 1941-1942

1 First Charge, First War 9

2 West Point to the Philippines 26

3 Manila Before the Storm 44

4 Lost Hours 63

5 Blame and Bataan 87

6 Dugout Doug 107

7 Ordered Out 127

Part 2 Exile-1942

8 Waltzing Matilda 149

9 CINCSWPA 166

10 Saving Australia 184

11 Kokoda Trail 205

12 "Take Buna, Bob…" 227

Part 3 Redemption - 1943

13 Finishing Buna, Looking Ahead 251

14 "Skipping" the Bismarck Sea 269

15 Meeting Halsey 286

16 Bypassing Rabaul 303

17 One General to Another 320

Part 4 Return - 1944

18 Gambling in the Admiralties 341

39 Hollandia-Greatest Triumph? 360

20 Presidential Ambitions, Presidential Summons 380

21 Toward the Philippines 401

22 Sixty Minutes from Defeat 421

Part 5 Resolution - 1945

23 Return to Manila 443

24 Hail the Conquering Hero 468

25 "These Proceedings Are Closed" 489

Epilogue: A Study in Superlatives 505

Acknowledgments 509

Appendixes 511

A Chiefs of Staff, US Army, 1906-1948 511

B World War II Global Strategy Conferences 511

C Code Names for Major Pacific Operations 512

Notes 513

Bibliography 561

Index 579

Editorial Reviews

"A first-rate account of its subject and an excellent history of the less-known half of the American experience in the Pacific."—Robert Messenger, Wall Street Journal

"More than any other book I have read, MacArthur at War gives readers a unique portrait of the great general with his almost incredible combination of admirable and detestable qualities. Nearly as important are the insights into unflappable General George C. Marshall, who managed MacArthur's gifts and flaws to wrest victory from near defeat in a global war."—Thomas Fleming, author of The New Dealers' War: FDR and the War Within World War II

"The special quality of MacArthur at War is its combination of research in relevant literature and archives with a fairness of presentation and judgment often missing when MacArthur is the subject."
—Gerhard L. Weinberg, History Book Club

"As he did with his previous WWII narrative, The Admirals, Walter Borneman does full justice to yet another colossus of WWII. It took flawed giants to forge victory and this account of the legendary Douglas MacArthur, warts and all, is superb history and an enormously enjoyable read. You can't ask for more."—Alex Kershaw, New York Times bestselling author of The Bedford Boys and The Longest Winter

"A no-holds-barred portrait of a controversial figure and a feast for World War II aficionados."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"This balanced account of one of the most notorious Allied World War II generals should be well received by readers interested in World War II history, specifically the Pacific Theater."—Matthew Wayman, Library Journal

"Irresistible.... A necessary read for anyone who attempts to understand the man."—Joseph C. Goulden, Washington Times

"[One of the] best examples of the middle ground lying between hero-worship and derision."—Jonathan W. Jordan, Wall Street Journal

"Borneman has found a sweet spot... a worthwhile and commendable addition to military writing."—Raymond Leach, The Virginian-Pilot

From the Publisher

05/01/2016
Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) remains a controversial figure in World War II history. Brilliant, egocentric, and at times deceitful, he was both an adept strategist and a blatant self-promoter. Borneman (The Admirals) chronicles MacArthur's career from its beginning through the Japanese surrender in 1945. Throughout, readers understand what made MacArthur "tick"—his personality, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as a picture of the general's reception and reputation among the American public and world leaders. Borneman pulls no punches, pointing out MacArthur's greatest foibles, such as his long absence at the outset of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines and wildly inaccurate reports on the results of the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. At times petty, neglecting to support awards to his subordinates that might outshine his own accomplishments, MacArthur could also be extremely supportive of those he admired. Borneman also fairly addresses his subject's finer moments, such as his adept handling of the Japanese surrender on the USS Missouri. VERDICT This balanced account of one of the most notorious Allied World War II generals should be well received by readers interested in World War II history, specifically the Pacific Theater.—Matthew Wayman, Pennsylvania State Univ. Lib., Schuylkill Haven

Library Journal

★ 2016-02-28
An examination of the reputation of Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964), at one point the most admired of all the generals on the Allied side of World War II. Borneman­ (American Spring: Lexington, Concord, and the Road to Revolution, 2014, etc.) draws on a wealth of sources to give a clear, full-length portrait of MacArthur, who carefully massaged his image with frequent press releases. In the early chapters, the author recapitulates MacArthur's career before 1941 when, as commander in the Philippines, he was caught unprepared when the Japanese attacked the day after Pearl Harbor. A desperate defense on the Bataan peninsula failed to hold the Japanese. After direct orders from the president, MacArthur evacuated to Australia to organize Allied efforts to stem the tide. Despite his loss of the Philippines, he was widely seen as a hero, something Americans desperately needed in the dark days of 1942. Borneman chronicles the buildup of American forces and the step-by-step progress of the general's return to the Philippines and the ultimate defeat of Japan. Stories of his infighting with other U.S. commanders make up much of the narrative. The author portrays MacArthur as a prima donna who regularly inflated his own exploits and bad-mouthed anyone who got between him and his perceived destiny. But Franklin Roosevelt and Gen. George Marshall recognized MacArthur's value both as a general and as a symbol, and they tried to keep him happy, as Borneman amply shows with quotes from memos and messages. The author shows a grudging respect for his subject despite an understandable impatience with some of his less admirable qualities. These included declaring battles won when there was still serious resistance—which he left to subordinates to clean up while he moved on in an aura of victory. On the other hand, he showed real personal courage, frequently touring beachheads only hours after troops had landed. The book concludes with him presiding over the Japanese surrender in the fall of 1945, one of his finest moments. A no-holds-barred portrait of a controversial figure and a feast for World War II aficionados.

Kirkus Reviews