Why did MacArthur see the Bataan Peninsula as not worthy of protecting? Given his military training, this decision to hold himself up on a completely different Island seems uncharacteristic. If he had kept the island supplied and had kept the men prepared, they might have been able to hold the Japanese off. It could not have helped moral to have a leader who didn't visit and who didn't supply his soldiers. It is interesting that he received the recognition that he did, when he was so critical of the President and especially after what happened in Bataan. The men that were captured were treated poorly by their capitors. The Death March is one of the many tragic events that happened during the war. So many soldiers lost their lives needlessly while being forced to walk to the POW camp. Do we know why General King surrendered without first informing General Wainwright? How far apart were the two units when King surrendered?
The Doolittle Raid is an amazing victory for the US. General Doolittle took on a huge responsibility when he agreed to train the group of men that would attack Japan back. The planned seems risky. I admire him for being able to get B-25s ready to take off of short carrier runways. Like all of the men who fought in the war, these men were brave. It could not have been easy knowing that not only were they flying planes meant to carry much more equipment but that they were also taking off much earlier than planned. This was proof of the spirit of America that did not die when Pearl Harbor was attacked.
Joe Lewis is an example of the many good people who helped to keep America going during the war. I had not heard about him before Wednesday's presentation. He had a lot to fight against outside of the ring. I still don't understand why it was so vital to keep the military so segregated. We needed good soldiers who were willing to do what needed to be done. It should not have mattered what they looked like. Lewis earned the medals he was awarded. It is kind of ironic that he had to fight to get equality during a war that had a lot to do with acceptance.
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units like the 332 Fighter Group (Tuskegee Airmen), the Japanese-American unit that fought in Italy, and the tank battalion that Jackie Robinson served in under Gen. Patton were all highly decorated and served very well. Along with Louis, these units had something to prove and help bring down racial barriers in the military in the years following the war.
The presentation had great highlights of General Macarthur’s WW2 involvement. He seemed to be truly effective in the Pacific in this war and also in the Korean War.
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