Five star Generals Program

Reading many comments in this thread may expand the history a bit more than the movie, and do so in a correct historical context concerning all things General MacArthur.

Now, the Patton movie.....

 

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As I said before, my father and all of my uncles served under Mac Arthur.

 

I understand. I know what you mean.

My dad was on staff.

To MacArthur, Eisenhower, McNarney, Van Fleet, Irwin and Leonard, during his career. Then finished his career under Howse and last, Abrams.

Never served under Patton, though.

He wanted to, when Patton was slated for Allied Command Naples, Italy. Patton died before the Congressional approval.

Since you brought it up.

 

Well.....It certainly is an exceedingly sad and dumbfounding fact that the U.S. Mint has never produced a $20 gold eagle (or at least a silver dollar) to commemorative the Great Robert E Lee. In light of, and when one considers the huge 3/4 century advancements in military and communications technologies not to mention the extremely limited suppys and manufacturing available to the brilliant and courageous General Lee, One would have to admit Gen. Lee's accomplishments on the battlefield far surpass those of MacArthur

 

No they wouldn't and MacArthur faced countless challenges. The US was the underdog in WW2 using untested troops and drafted civilians against highly motivated professional experienced armies. The Axis powers should have really won that war 99 out of 100 times but some great moves and risks that paid off by the allies along with some dumb decisions and over confidence by the axis and victory was achieved against tremendous odds

 

How can you compare any general with what Mac Arthur faced?

 

I am convinced this unbiased opinion is correct. After all, I note the battle flag of the army of Virginia is in the background, so it must be an unbiased conclusion, and an opinion arrived at after 3 years of military tactics study from 1776 to 2020, taught at West Point.

It just so happens the comparison is available. The conclusion: lee based military tactics on emotion impact on the troops.
MacArthur based military tactics on pride impact on the troops.

It is worth noting that lee left West Point because of.....emotion....not commitment to cause.

Of course Lee was an excellent military Commander. After all, he had the benefit of a West Point education. The problem is, he didn't honor his oath. So.......here we are.

 

Twice.....

 

One very important fact was taught to us during combat training: If you saw it in the movies or on tv, it probably will not work.

 

Thank you for starting this post. The awesome history lessons were not enlightening. This post has been the most definitive example of the core of our hobby: It’s not just the coin, it’s the history behind it.

 

Whatever the merits are that can be pointed out in Robert E. Lee's life, the fact remains that he took up arms against his own country. Attitudes were different then. Many people felt more loyalty toward their home state than the national government.

Lee joined the Confederacy because his home state, Virginia, seceded from the Union. If Virginia had stayed in the Union, Lee might have headed up the Union Army (He was offered the position), and the Civil War might have been much shorter and less bloody. Still the problem of slavery would not have been solved. Instead Lee went with Virginia and applied his military genius to the Southern cause.

There are plenty of medals and some coins around that recall General Lee. The Antietam commemorative half dollar is one, and this medal is another one. That is enough.

 

Very accurate, and supports the West Point Finding: He based military tactics on emotion, and he betrayed his oath to the United States based on emotion, not ideology.