Photograph given to the author by MacArthur with inscription reading: "To 'Rogers' of GHQ with cordial regards and best wishes. Douglas MacArthur."
The Bitter Years MacArthur and Sutherland Paul P. Rogers
New Yorl< Westport , Connecticut London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Rogers, Paul P. The bitter years : MacArthur and Sutherland / Paul P. Rogers . p. cm. Incl udes index . Includes bibliographical references . ISBN 0-275-92919- 1 (alk. paper) I. World War, 1939-1945-Campaigns- Philippines. 2. MacArthur, DOuglas, 1880-1964. 3. Sutherland , Richard K. 4. Rogers , Paul P. 5. World War, 1939-1945-Personal narratives, American. 6. United States . Army - Biography . 7. Soldiers-United States- Biography. I. Title. D767.4.R62 1991 940. 54'25-dc20 90-36984 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright Š 1990 by Paul P. Rogers All rights reserved . No portion of this book may be reproduced , by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 90-36984 ISBN: 0-275-92919-1 First published in 1991 Praeger Publishers, One Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. Printed in the United States of America
@ .. The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984). 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 I
RICHARD KERENS SUTHERLAND Lieutenant General, United States Army General Staff Corps Depury Commander and Chief of Staff for General of the Army Douglas MacArthur
War and its travels have made me sad, And a fierce anger burns within me: It's thinking of how I've wasted my time That makes this fury tear at my heart. Yuan Chi (250 A.D.) (Arthur Waley) Tools are there to be used, and use will naturally wear them out. Clauswitz
Contents
Maps
XI
Acknowledgments Introduction
xiii Xv
Part I: Interlude, January-August 1943 AMP
3
2
Restructured Command
13
3
Presidential Politics
22
Part II: Advance, September 1943-May 1944 4
"Cartwheel"
29
5
Port Moresby, 1943
44
6
Not a Chief Clerk
54
Part III: Last Summer, February-June 1944 7
WACs Arrive
65
8
Hollandia
72
Contents
VlII
9
Last Trip to Port Moresby
80
IO
Adachi's Last Campaign
86
II
Time of Pride
89
Part IV: Problems, February-July 1944
12
"Reno"
13
British Pacific Fleet
114
14
Quezon in Exile
120
99
Part V: Shadows, July-September 1944
15
Mr. Big
135
16
Great Foolishness
145
17
Seven Days of Morotai
155
18
Confrontation
161
Part VI: Parting of the Ways, October-December 1944
19
MacArthur Returns
173
20
"Sho"
183
21
One Round Lost
195
22
Down but Not Out
205
Part VII: A Dubious Victory, January-May 1945 -
23
Lingayen
221
24
Week of Doubt
233
25
Down Luzon
248
26
Manila Taken
260
Part VIII: Game Ends, May-September 1945
27
End of SWPA
275
28
Last SWP A Battle
284
29
Fall of Japan
295
Contents
IX
Appendix: Correspondence
309
The MacArthur Files
317
Notes
325
Sources
339
Bibliography
341
Index
343
Photographs follow page 170.
Maps
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
"Cartwheel" Area Bulolo Valley Battle of Bismarck Sea Huon Peninsula Hollandia
31 32 34 38 74
"Reno" Area
100
Leyte Plan
178 185 192 223 228 231 239 246 258
Battle of Leyte Gulf Leyte Battle
10.
Philippines
11. 12. 13 . 14. 15 .
Invasion of Luzon Lingayen Beach Lingayen to Tarlac Tarlac to Calumpit Eichelberger's Fast Dash
Acknowledgments
It is not possible to identify and to acknowledge separately the numerous people who contributed directly or indirectly to this book. Arlene , my wife , takes first place . Roger Egeberg, leGrande Diller, Weldon Rhoades, and Howard Christy all read the manuscript and furnished detailed information and careful and objective criticism. They provided a continuum of effort on my behalf and the book thereby has been enhanced . Other contributions have been identified and acknowledged by notes in the appropriate places . Natalie Carney, Sutherland's daughter, shared with me the memories of Sutherland as husband and father before and after the war. She permitted me to cite her letters. The story is broader, deeper, and far more human than it would have been without her help. Colonel Lyman Hammond, Mr. E. E. Boone, and Mr. Roger T . Crew of the MacArthur Memorial were unusually kind and helpful to me. Mr. Boone gave patient attention even to the most trivial and sometimes obviously foolish difficulties . Mr. Eulogio Leafio of the National Historical Institute of the Philippines must be thanked. There were many others .
Introduction
It is presumed that any reader of this book has read its predecessor, The Good
Years. As a literary creation , the two of them hang together, but the practicalities of publication required a separation . Both strategically and psychologically , the battle at Buna is a turning point. The tone of the story changes sharply. The months that fall between January 1943 and September 1944 are characterized by relatively easy, small-scale military operations, always victorious without significant casualties. It is a period of personal growth for MacArthur, Sutherland, and Rogers; a period of increasing responsibility, promotions, and consequently rising expectations for the future. MacArthur steps out of the chrysalis of the" Dugout Doug" myth and becomes a field commander. Sutherland steps into the role of international strategic planner, and is brought into direct adversarial contact with the highest level of command authority . He is no longer MacArthur's deputy commander in operations, but serves as MacArthur's deputy commander in strategic debate. Rogers becomes aware of the significance of his position and begins to assume greater responsibility as administrative assistant. It is a time of great pride for all concerned. In September 1944 the operations for the liberation of the Philippines begin in earnest. General Headquarters (GHQ) is divided into two echelons, one to accompany MacArthur to the front of the operations, the other to remain in a base area with Sutherland acting as deputy commander for MacArthur. Very quickly the separation of the two men creates difficulties. The accelerating scope and speed of operations disrupts the customary harmony of their mental processes.
Introduction
XVI
Sutherland begins to stretch to the limits of his authority. MacArthur finally finds it necessary to restore the reality of his own authority, and resumes personal control of his headquarters and his operations. The two men are pushed apart in this battle of giants, and Rogers is caught between the two centers of his existence. In three months Sutherland stands alone, humiliated and exposed, unable to escape . Rogers is commissioned by MacArthur, and gradually moved out of Sutherland's control into MacArthur's personal entourage. The changing circumstances have a paradoxical effect on Rogers. A feeling of guilt and separation overwhelms any feelings of personal triumph. At the moment of final victory, MacArthur strides ahead to higher glory . Sutherland and Rogers go home to rebuild their lives .
The bitter years : D 767.4 .R62 1991
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