1938 Trans-Pacific Travel

One reason Americans' were so "isolationist" before WW II, is it still took quite a while to get anywhere. Today, one can travel from the USA to Manila in a a day. In 1938 it took quite longer. Here is the travel itinerary of a 1938 VIP named Dwight Eisenhower as he traveled from Manila to San Francisco:

June 26th 1938 - Left Manila for Hong Kong
June 28th - Arrived Hong Kong
June 30th - Left for Yokohama Japan
July 5th - Arrived and Left Yokohama Japan for Honolulu
July 13th Arrived and Left Honolulu
July 18th - Arrived San Francisco.

22 Days to get from Manila to SF! And this was by a series of "fast" passenger ships.

However, Ike could have taken the Pan Am "China Clipper". That only took 5 days. But the "Clipper" only flew twice a week with 38 passengers and was rather expensive - $799** one-way (equivalent to the price of a top-line new car).

** Or to use another comparison. The minimum wage in 1938 was 25 cents/hour and a US Sargent made $600/year.

Ike almost fires Patton - May 1944

From The Marshall Papers - Volume four:

"Eisenhower informed General Marshall on April 30 that he had sent for Lieutenant General Patton to report and explain his actions, but based "on all of the evidence now available I will relieve him from command.” Eisenhower indicated his faith in the ability of Lieutenant General Courtney H. Hodges to replace Patton as Third Army commander, but recognized that "the big difference is that Patton has proved his ability to conduct a ruthless drive whereas Hodges has not.” He also expressed his regret that Major General Lucian K. Truscott was unavailable to OVERLORD as a result of his position in the Mediterranean theater. Eisenhower asked Marshall whether Patton should be returned to the United States in his permanent rank or sent home in some higher grade to serve in a training command. "His relief from an active theater will certainly be interpreted by everyone as definite and severe disciplinary action," wrote Eisenhower, "but you would have the immediate problem of absorbing him as a lieutenant general.” Eisenhower added, "After a year and a half of working with him it appears hopeless to expect that he will ever completely overcome his lifelong habit of posing and of self-dramatization which causes him to break out in these extraordinary ways." (Papers of DDE, 3: 1840-41.) "

Marshall Responded to Ike on May 1, 1944:

My view, and it is merely that, is that you should not weaken your hand for OVERLORD. If you think that Patton's removal does weaken your prospect, you should continue him in command. In any event, I do not want you at this time to be burdened with the responsibility of reducing him in rank. Send him home if you see fit, and in grade, or hold him there as surplus if you so desire, or as I have indicated above, continue him in command if that promises best for OVERLORD. I fear my quotation from one editorial may have resulted in over emphasis in your mind of the necessity for drastic action to meet difficult resulting situation here at home. Incidentally, the numerous editorials, while caustic regarding his indiscretion, lack of poise or dignity, suitable to his position have not demanded his release from command. Do not consider War Department position in the matter. Consider only OVERLORD and your own heavy burden of responsibility for its success. Everything else is of minor importance."

Ike reconsidered and after reprimanding Patton, informed Marshall he had decided to keep him in command of 3rd Army.

Montgomery on Eisenhower 1943-1945

Monty's First Impressions of Eisenhower - March 1943

General Eisenhower stayed the night with me. I liked Eisenhower. But I could not stand him around the place for long; his high-pitched accent, and loud talking, would drive me mad... He knows practically nothing about how to make war, and definitely nothing about how to fight battles. He is probably good at the political stuff.

Monty To Alanbrooke November 19th 1944,

I do not believe Ike is a happy man these days. Whitely says he is certain Ike is worried about something, but cannot find out what it is. I think in his own heart he knows the show is not going well. and the future does not look bright with regards to an early end to the German war, and he does not know how to put the matter right.

He never commanded anything before in his whole career; now, for the first time, he has elected to take direct command of very large scale operations, and he does not know how to do it. Do you think I should approach Eisenhower?"

Monty to General Simpson November 27, 1944:

1. As commander in Charge of Land operations, General Eisenhower is quite useless. There must be no mistake on this point; he is completely and utterly useless.
2. The American conception of War if allowed to continue will mean the war will go on all through 1945.
3. Eisenhower should revert to being Supreme Allied Commander, Bradley to be Land Commander, Monty to command north of the Ardennes (with Patton's 3rd Army transferred north) Devers to command south of the Ardennes.

Montgomery War Diary V-E Day 1945

And so the campaign in NW Europe is over. I am glad; its been a tough business. When I review the campaign as a whole I am amazed at all the mistakes we made. The organization was always faulty.
Eisenhower had no firm ideas as to how to conduct the war, and "blown about by the wind" all over the place; at that business ( Land C-in-C) he was quite useless. Tedder was completely ineffective... The staff at SHAEF were completely out of their depth all the time.

Eisenhower on MacArthur - 1932

From Eisenhower's Diary JUNE 14, 1932:

Douglas MacArthur - Chief of Staff. Essentially a romantic figure. Very appreciative of good work, positive in his convictions, a genius at giving concise and clear instructions... He apparently avoids social duties as much as possible - and does not seek the limelight except in things connected with the Army and the War Department. Placed a letter of commendation in my record - and assured me that as long as he stays in the Army, I am one of the people earmarked for his "gang".

In my opinion, he has the capacity to undertake successfully any position in the Government. He has a reserved dignity - but is most animated in conversation on subjects that interest him. I doubt he has any real political ambitions - and in these days of high powered publicity and propaganda - I do not expect to seem him prominently mentioned for office outside the War Department.

Most people that know Gen MacA like and admire him to a degree... He is impulsive - able, even brilliant - quick - tenacious of his views and extremely self-confident.

Eisenhower Rates his Generals - June 1943

From his Diary dated June 11, 1943.

I (Eisenhower) am recording here my impressions and opinions of certain senior officers for reference if I may need them at a later date:

LT General Omar Bradley: This officer is about the best rounded, well balanced senior officer we have in the service... He is respected by British and Americans alike. I have not a word of criticism of his actions to date, and do not expect to have any in the future. I feel there is no position in the army he could not fill with success.

LT. General George Patton: A shrew soldier who believes in showmanship to such an extent that he is almost flamboyant. He talks too much and too quickly and sometimes leaves a bad impression. Moreover, I fear he is a bad example to his subordinates who may be guided only by his surface actions without understanding the deep sense of duty, courage, and service that make up his real personality. He has done well with a combat corps command, and I expect him to do so in all future operations.

LT General Mark Clark - He is the best organizer, planner, and trainer of troops I have yet met in the American Army.... he is certainly one of the best we have. His only drawback now is a lack of combat experience in a high command position. This I tried to give him in the early day of organizing an American task force in the central Tunisian front. He rather resented taking any title other than Army commander, and since I could not establish an American Army in Tunisia, I gave the command to someone else. This was a bad mistake on Clark' s part, but I think he could successfully command an army in operations.

Patton in *his* diary states in July 1943 he thought Eisenhower was looking for an excuse to relieve him during the Sicily Campaign - which shows how perceptive he was. Given Ike's private opinion of him vs. Clark or Bradley- he was right. The implication from this entry is (1) Clark was Ike's first choice as I Corps Commander NOT Patton and (2) Ike considered Bradley and Clark better fit to command an Army.

Why Ike ended up commanding the Normandy Invasion

The obvious answer is because FDR picked him. Well, why did FDR pick him in December 1943? First, Ike was Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in the MTO. Secondly, FDR had decided that Marshall had to stay in DC and be Chief of Staff. Furthermore, the British, especially Churchill knew and liked Ike. So he got the job.

Since his being chosen to lead the North African invasion in July 1942 lead more or less directly to his being chosen to be the Supreme Allied Commander in the ETO. The question is how did Ike go from being an obscure COS of the 3rd army in December 1941 to being in charge of the invasion of North Africa in July 1942?

The answer is luck, ability and politics. Ike was brought to the Pentagon in December 1941, because his friends of 20 years, General Gerow and Mark Clark wanted him. Once there he was able to impress General Marshall with his ability. After his 2 1/2 years as Chief of Staff MacArthur's aide, Ike knew what a COS wanted in a subordinate. When Ike went to England in May & June of 1942 he got along extremely well with the British, especially Churchill. Not only was Ike a born politician but he had years of experience in DC, the Philippines, and Paris in dealing with foreigners and politicians.

D'este - Eisenhower a soldiers life

This biography of Ike, covers his life from beginning to the end of WW II, with the main focus on Ike's military career. The book ends in May 1945, and Ike's life during WW II covers 420 of the 700 pages. D'este covers in detail Ike's relationships with Marshall, Churchill, Montgomery, Patton, and Bradley. The best part of the book covers his command decisions as Supreme Allied Commander from June 6, 1944.

One thing particularly liked is that D'este provides a clear chronological account of Ike's military career prior to his going to the Pentagon in December 1941. I found it amazing what a politician and desk jockey IKe was. The man rarely commanded troops or was in combat. This was his career assignments from 1917 to December 1941.

1. 1917-1919 Training men for the Tank Corps. Fort Meade MD and Gettysburg PA
2. 1919-1921 Tank Corps. Ike's main focus during this time was coaching the Football team. Fort Meade, MD
3. Jan 1921- Sept 1924 Aide to General Conner, Panama
4. Sept 1924 - Dec 1924 Football Coach, Ft Meade Md
5. Jan 1925- Sept 1925 Recruiting officer, Denver
6. Sept 1925 -June 1926 Staff College, Ft Leavenworth - Kansas
7. Sept 1926-December 1926 Football Coach, Ft Benning GA
8. Jan 1927-September 1927 American Battlefield Monument Commission, DC - Unofficial aide and ghostwriter for Pershing -DC
9. Sept 1927-June 1928 War College - DC
10. June 1928-Sept 1929 Writes book on American Battlefields in France - Paris France
11. Sept 1929-Sept 1932, Planner at the War Department and aide to the Asst Secretary of War.
12. September 1932-September 1935 Aide to General MacArthur COS, DC
13. Oct 1935- September 1939 Aide to General MacArthur COS, Philippines
14. September 1939 - Nov 1940 XO and Commander 15th battalion Ft Lewis
15. Nov 1940 -June 1941 COS 3rd division and X corps. Ft Lewis WA
16. June 1941-Dec 1941 COS 3rd Army - San Antonio Texas
17. December 1941-June 1942 War Plans - George Marshall, Pentagon

Eisenhower vs. MacArthur

Similarities:
West Point Graduates
Both Chief of Staff
Both Heavy Chain Smokers
Both Heads of Theater Operations in WW II
Both Lt. Generals In WW II
Both Loved Football and followed the Army-navy Game Religiously
Neither man went to Church but both believed in God
Both wanted to Be President and run on the Republican ticket
Neither liked Harry Truman
Neither liked FDR
Both married Southerners.

Differences.
Ike never saw Combat or commanded troops in the field. MacArthur was wounded twice, won awards for bravery and saw combat in Mexico, France, and the Philippines (1903). He commanded the 84th brigade and the 42 division in combat in WW II.

MacArthur - despite the nickname of "dugout dug" often established his HQ near the front (see Leyte and Luzon), he made constant visits to the front, over saw landings from ship, and boarded C-47 airplanes to watch the paratroopers jump to the Drop zone.

Ike on the other hand, rarely visited the front. During the North African, Italy, and Sicily campaigns he spent most of his time in Algeria. He didn't visit Normandy until June 24th, or move his HQ to France until August 1944. After the line stabilized,he moved SHAEF to Versailles outside Paris.

MacArthur was a star and rose like a rocket. 1st in his class at the Academy, aide to TR at 26. General and war hero at 38, Head of West point at 39. Major General at 45, and Lt General and Army COS at 50.

Ike by comparison was the Tortoise. Graduated in the middle of West point class in 1915. Never got to France in WW I. From 1919 to 1932 he was variously a generals aide, a recruiting officer, a football coach, ghost writer, author of a book on American battlefield monuments in France, a war planner and an aide to the Secretary of War. From 1932 to 1939 he was an aide to MacArthur. Promoted to full Colonel in 1940 and finally to General in 1941, at the age of 51. But starting in 1942 his career took off. Commander of ETO, General in December 1944, along with MacArthur. Chief of staff 1945, and President 1952